Dems reject Colbert bid to get on presidential ballot
Reader poll
Were the SC Democrats right when they refused to allow comedian Stephen Colbert on the primary ballot?
- Yes. He was making fun of something serious. 23% 80 votes
- No. Anyone who follows the rules should be allowed on the ballot. 76% 254 votes
334 total votes.
South Carolina Democrats squashed Stephen Colbert's fanciful White House bid Thursday.
Colbert, a Charleston native who poses as a conservative talk-show host on "The Colbert Report," filed to get on the ballot as a Democratic candidate in South Carolina. His campaign paid a $2,500 filing fee just before the noon deadline, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler said.
After about 40 minutes of discussion by top party officials, the executive council voted 13-3 to keep Colbert off the ballot.
"It was a pretty spirited discussion," said Waring Howe, chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party and a member of the executive council. Howe voted no because he said Colbert "is really trying to use South Carolina Democrats as suckers so he can further a comedy routine. ... (He) serves to detract from the serious candidates on the ballot."
But state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter told the committee Colbert could showcase the state "in a way that none of the other candidates on the ballot have been able to do."
"I think you're taking this a little too seriously," she added.
The rejection of Colbert and another little-known candidate leaves eight names on the Jan. 29 Democratic primary ballot. They're the same slate that has participated in the two previous debates in this state: Joe Biden, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson.
When Colbert announced his candidacy on his show last month, he said he would run only in this key primary state.
Democrats say he will get his $2,500 back.
The GOP filing fee is $35,000; the deadline was Thursday night and Colbert did not try to get on that ballot.
State GOP Chairman Katon Dawson certified 11 candidates, including relative unknowns, for the GOP ballot: Hugh Cort, John Cox, Cap Fendig, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo and Fred Thompson.
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Comments
MHA (anonymous) says...
Howe voted no because he said Colbert "is really trying to use South Carolina Democrats as suckers so he can further a comedy routine. ... (He) serves to detract from the serious candidates on the ballot."
... has Howe looked at the remaining democratic candidates? The entire ticket is a comedy routine. It's kind of a Shakespearian tragedy-comedy.
November 2, 2007 at 5:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
marcus74bishop (anonymous) says...
This was perhaps the dumbest thing the Democratic Party could have done. Colbert was energizing the fans of his show to participate in the process and a linkage to a specific party would have helped the party overall. Any policial party that is incapable of laughing at itself is one who does not take the people's greater interests at heart. Instead of people learning about the process all they saw was an elitist 13 people who flat-out don't understand what is going on around them and who have just disenfranchised the 25 and under demographic for their party.
Way to go boneheads...
November 2, 2007 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillytheKid (anonymous) says...
Looking at the field of both parties and I thing Colbert is a good fit within them.
I will be voting in the Democratic Primary only because I want to drive out the damn republicans. Those guys are evil.
I will be writing in "Colbert" for Pres.
November 2, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
doiseeu2 (anonymous) says...
I would expect something like this from the Republicans, but, I'm very disappointed in the state Dems! I know they have to pay tens of thousands for each name on the ballot, but Colbert supporters raised more than that for state teachers within a couple of days. It would've been done!
Shame on you, Dems! You're On Notice!!!!
November 2, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blackwoman (anonymous) says...
Now, you didn't exactly think for once South Carolina would take a progressive stance on anything did you? Was what they did even legal?
November 2, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ParkCirclePride (anonymous) says...
I'm a big fan of the Colbert Report, and I think it was great that Colbert chose his home state to "run" for president, but I think the Dems did the right thing in rejecting his bid. He repeatedly said that he wasn't interested in the presidency, and he was not going to register or campaign in any other state. He didn't meet the requirements, so he shouldn't be on the ballot.
You guys were really going to throw away your vote on a guy that wasn't even running? That's sad.
November 2, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
I agree with Parkcircle. He was making a mockery of the whole process.
November 2, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PB (anonymous) says...
marcus74bishop said,
"Instead of people learning about the process all they saw was an elitist 13 people who flat-out don't understand what is going on around them and who have just disenfranchised the 25 and under demographic for their party."
I think people did just learn something about the process.
November 2, 2007 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
n4dhs (anonymous) says...
This guy is a complete and total idiot! - its bad enough how the media treats the conservative cause but for this guy to make money off it is beyond me!
November 2, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
n4dhs (anonymous) says...
And as far as evil - what do we have - Hilary the terrible - Obama (whose father wasnt even BORN here) - and the Ambulance Chaser Edwards - Vote Fred IN!!!!!
November 2, 2007 at 11:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
swtnchas (anonymous) says...
n4dhs, I had no idea that your dad had to have been born here in order to be president.
November 2, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
How do we write in Colbert on an electronic machine. He is fast and owes nothing to liberals and big business. Best man for the job. Republican for 30 years and sick of them but there is no choices all of the candidates are a bunch of idiots personal goal seekers and not a one of them care about or want to be around the middle class. What interest have they taken for us, immigration, china goods, Iraq -increase programs and taxes. Unemployment is down cause all of the people who lost their jobs have had to take at least 2 jobs to make ends meet. We are in a mess, We don't make anything or even feed our selves.
November 2, 2007 at 12:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
n4dhs (anonymous) says...
Um sw did I say that he HAD to be????? - what I said AGAIN was he wasnt even born here - I think Obama seems to be a nice enough guy - for a Democrat at least......
November 2, 2007 at 12:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captaincrunch (anonymous) says...
I don't care where any candidate's daddy was born, as long as they can improve our country and it's standing in the world. Hell, the one we have now is the son of a former president for what it's worth! He's also a Republican. None of that seems to make him capable or competent! I'm voting for the person regardless of party affiliation/race/gender/who's your daddy/etc. because I'm tired of this BS!
November 2, 2007 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jbr1039 (anonymous) says...
I think that the Dem party is just a little bit worried that Colbert has enough presence, charisma and a national nightly platform that he just might be the ultimate spoiler. Not that he would necessarily win, but enough people would vote for the guy to nullify the chances of a mandate for any of the other candidates. I think it is a shame however. I resepct and admire people like Colbert who are attempting to pull the curtain back and reveal all the crud we are fed every day. The dems have an even bigger problem now. If they think that by not validating him for the ballot that he will go away quietly, they have another think coming. Keep an eye out for the Independant ballot, and a nightly thumping of both parties and the entire SC race on national TV every night.
November 2, 2007 at 2:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mac0cm4 (anonymous) says...
Nothing is more a mockery than the way the two mainstream parties bicker like children and often fail to represent their constituents. Let's not mention the Republicans' use of religion to further divide the people. I think deep down the Democrats here were afraid he'd win!
November 2, 2007 at 6:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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