Obama Supporters Worked To Keep Colbert Off Ballot - Can't Say That I Blame Them

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Hmm, perhaps Barack Obama's campaign isn't above doing a few underhanded tricks. CNN reports that key Obama supporters in South Carolina lobbied the state Democratic Executive Council to keep the one true American in the race, Stephen T. Colbert, off the ballot.

"The Obama people, they just didn't want him at all," said one anonymous council member, who claimed to have been lobbied by former state Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum, who has endorsed Obama.

"I think lobbying was too strong a word," Tenenbaum told CNN. "I called them to see what they were thinking, and if they had made up their mind. I am a volunteer in that campaign, and so I am not a staffer. And I thought it could have taken votes away from a lot of people."

Had Colbert made it to the ballot, he may have attracted the votes of college students who would otherwise have gone for Obama.

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/11/obama_supporters_worked_to_keep_colbert_off_ballot.php

He polls higher than Kucinich, gravel, and Dodd, for christs sake.

Is this the sort of undemocratic behaviour we should expect from Obama?

The Obama campaign fought to have a political opponent removed from the ballot. It's simple.

ratings, not to get elected President.

By the way . . .

"The Columbia-based lawyer who represented Colbert in his bid to be placed on the ballot, Dwight Drake, is a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton. Drake has told CNN in the past he was initially contacted directly by Colbert's surrogates to assist in the comedian’s bid."

I would guess he was running to boost his ratings AND make a point about the state of politics.

You know that the Obama campaign didn't decide.

ba-da-bing.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

I'm hoping for a serious election in '08.

If only a few thousand people voted for a joke candidate, it could tip an election.

If a few thousand people want to vote for someone, shouldn't they be allowed to in a democracy?

I am guessing there will be a huge write in campaign. Or is that not allowed in SC?

...or write him in, yes.

Colbert is trying to get ratings for his show, and sales for his book. He was and is not interested in governing. The only people who should be on the ballot are those who are actually seeking office.

Put the communist on the ballot. The socialist. The Nazi. The Libertarian. The MOR and wingnuts, any of the above or others, IF their motive is to govern.

People can (and do) write in the joke candidates if they choose. Pogo and Snoopy have done fairly well as write-ins.

..it is an implicit 'motive check'. If you really want to govern, you'll do the work.

Adding a candidate isn't as simple as many folks think. It takes many hours of hard work for elections workers, costs quite a bit, and adds complexity to the process, increasing the odds of error. (I know that most folks haven't worked behind the scenes on an election, so this is not widely known.)

Comedians (and Colbert is damned good one) can pay for their own punchlines, not saddle the taxpayers with them.

keeping someone off the ballot is completely legitimate. It's just as legitimate as winning an election. It's all part of the campaign's strategy. And, the strategy worked. Congrats!

Of course, I'm old.

"According to state party rules, for a candidate to be placed on the ballot, he or she must demonstrate national viability as well as spend time campaigning in the state."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/11/06/obama-supporters-pressed-democratic-party-officials-to-keep-colbert-off-ballot/

I suggested that Colbert would cause Obama problems because they attract the same voter base (young).

BTW, I disagree that party bosses should get to pick who is a serious candidate and who isn't.

Drake supports Clinton and fought to get Colbert on the ballot.
He even paid Colbert's filing fees!

Underhanded tricks indeed.