Politics Today: Kinky Friedman
Politics Today: Kinky Friedman
By: Krystle Russin
Kinky Friedman is an independent candidate looking to earn enough signatures to appear on the 2006 gubernatorial ballot. Cynics expect another celebrity candidate without a campaign or message. But don't mistake Friedman's entertaining personality and use of humor for taking the gubernatorial campaign lightly. He is serious about running for governor.
"I can help in an area of spiritual lifting. I think most Texans are pretty turned off by their leadership right now, especially younger ones," says the humorist/singer/author. "I think I can get more people into the process, get people excited about it, and I think I can help us to rise and shine and bring back the glory of Texas."
Friedman explained that the campaign's atmosphere is "a little bit" of Howard Dean and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and "a whole lot of Jesse [Ventura]."
Keeping with that feel, he has already hired former U.S. Senator Dean Barkley and Bill Hillsman. If those names sound familiar, it's because they turned a wrestler into a Minnesota governor in 1998.
"These guys say they've seen a lot of similarities between Jesse's race and this one," Friedman said, while at his ranch outside Austin.
"Dean has seen it all. He's about the only guy who's actually run an independent campaign for governor and won. Bill Hillsman is, I think, one of the most creative consultants going."
Friedman refused to discuss anything about the Bush administration except to say, "There's lots I agree with, and lots I disagree with." His reason for not discussing anything in Washington was because "that's all federal stuff. I'm running for governor, not a king. I just have to deal with Texas here."
He had plenty to say on Texas politics, disagreeing with current governor Rick Perry - "I think that this governor has failed to inspire the people of Texas" - the legislature - "you can lead a legislator to water, but you can't make them think" - and career politicians - "let's get rid of these jokers; these guys are really suppressing democracy." In fact, Friedman claims to "disagree with everything that's done right now."
"I'm tired of the state being run by empty suits and empty dresses," the Kinkster (as nicknamed by his fans) declares.
Throughout the national press coverage, Friedman also gained plenty of political critics. Maybe because newspaper clips and TV coverage always showcase his flashy side - he did announce his candidacy at The Alamo while smoking on a cigar.
Friedman's answer to anyone doubting him is "the same reason people thought the world was flat: people have got to see something happen before they believe it." He then cited the Ventura campaign as a perfect example.
Sure, there is the cigar habit and how Friedman is the only singer to have written a country song about the Holocaust. What most people haven't read about is where Friedman stands on issues.
"I'm for gay marriage. I think love is bigger than government."
"We need to have life without the possibility of parole."
"As far as education goes, I want to do away with Teaching to the Test. That's ruined our education system."
He continued on. "Texas is in sorry shape. That's not all Rick Perry's fault, but it is the fault of politics as usual."
"We're first in dropouts. We're 49th in funding public education and we're first in executions For a state as wealthy as we are in the fifth richest nation on earth, for us to be 47th in child poverty with 25 percent of kids living below the poverty line, it's terrible."
If elected, Friedman plans to have a listed phone number "to keep the customers satisfied," as a way for Texans to directly voice their concerns to the governor.
"It may take a bunch of operators. It may take a lot of time on my part. But I think it'll be worth it."
Friedman doesn't know whom he would prefer as lieutenant governor but promises to fill his cabinet with "non-political" people.
"Right now, they're appointing all kinds of people to the education system that have never seen the inside of a classroom No political appointments whatsoever, so we would not see that lottery money disappear into some lobbyist's pocket."
The author of 17 mystery novels starring himself, Friedman admits there are no plans for Kinky Friedman and the Unsolved Election.
"I think I'm done with the mysteries. This is it. The character is dead, the mystery is dead and it's over."
He does agree that every day on the campaign is like living one of his books, discovering something new all the time.
"I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride right now. It's time for a musician instead of a politician. I think nothing is more important than an idea that the time has come, and I think this idea is in everybody's head in Texas."
Does the former Texas Monthly columnist have enough support to win, or at least get on the ballot?
"Over 15,000 have volunteered and taken the pledge" to sign, he said. Friedman isn't allowed to begin his petition drive until after the March primary and needs 50,000 signatures.
He believes 2002's low voter turnout was the result of Texans wanting "a choice of something more than plastic or paper" and plans to target the large percentage of eligible voters choosing not to vote that year.
"If we did have 58 percent like they had in Iraq, or 65 percent like they had in Minnesota, do you think the Republican and Democratic leadership would be happy when they saw there was a huge turnout? No, they would not be happy. They would say, Where the hell did these people come from? Who are these people?' Because they're not on their voter rolls, you see."
Asked about what he wants voters to remember, Friedman explained, "I'd like them to remember that this is the last chance for romance, that this is WWWRD: What Would Will Rogers Do? This is our chance to get rid of these career politicians and put a real Texan in for once. A real Texan is somebody who cares for everybody in the world."
He jokingly added, "I have affidavits from 2,500 sheep."
"Believe me, the teachers will be better off when I'm governor. They'll have a friend at the Governor's Mansion. So will the firefighters, the cops and the cowboys."
And what if he lost?
"I would retire on a petulant snit on a goat farm. Not speak to anybody."
Challenging an incumbent governor isn't easy to begin with, and the fact that Perry has the best-conditioned hair around doesn't make it any easier. Let's not forget the most important question: is Friedman's hair attractive enough to become governor?
"Well, I've got a head of hair better than Rick Perry's," Friedman admits. "It's just not in a place I could show you."
So there is a reason for that stage name after all.
http://www.purepolitics.com/kinky.htm