Colbert Out? SC Dems Decline To Put Favorite Son On Ballot

Stephen Colbert, write-in candidate? Looking that way: Colbert's bid to get on the South Carolina Democratic primary ballot was rejected today by the SC Dem executive committee by a vote of 13-3, according to MTV News.* Ouch.

Here's more from MTV News' Gil Kaufman:

The Doritos-sponsored campaign, which was announced last month, seemed to be on the road to legitimacy this week when Colbert's campaign paid the $2,500 filing fee necessary to get into the race just before the noon deadline on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.

Less than two hours later, though, the executive committee of the state's party crushed Colbert's bid when it voted not to certify the candidacy, according to Keiana Page, a communications assistant in the state Democratic Committee's office. Using criteria such as whether the candidate was recognized in the national news media as a legitimate candidate and whether they'd actively campaigned in the state, the committee put the kibosh on the Colbert bid.

According to the Politico's Kenneth P. Vogel, Colbert paid the filing fee with a personal check. Vogel also looks ahead to Colbert's options:

Colbert could still run as an independent in the general election, though he'd have to collect 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot, said Chris Whitmire, a spokesman for the State Election Commission.

10,000 signatures is probably doable — if Colbert had passed around a petition at his recent appearance at the University of South Carolina in Columbia he'd probably be well on his way (especially given his campagin promise to "crush the state of Georgia" if elected). And recent polling data shows that Colbert is doing well — a recent Rasmussen poll put him at 12% against Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani (never mind that he's kicking butt on Facebook). Still, there's no question that cutting a $2,500 check is easier. Is this the end of the Colbert Dream? Probably not — no doubt he'll find a way to get around the vote, and hilariously (maybe it's worth $35,000 to switch to the Republican ballot). Either way, don't count him out yet. Democracy wouldn't have it any other way.

Stephen Colbert's Presidential Candidacy Denied By South Carolina Democratic Party [MTV]
S.C. Dems reject Colbert candidacy [Politico]
*The Politico's Kenneth P. Vogel reports a vote of 14-3.

Related:
Are We Colbert's Punch Line? [LAT]
Stephen Colbert, I Love You, But It's Enough [ETP]

Comments

[barrycourage]

Comic relief is a good thing.

[leftLibertarian]

Typical spineless Democratic Party.

Too cowardly to impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney.

And too fearful that a Mockintator will bowl over the front runner Hilarity Clintoon.

[Bulbul]

This is good, either Colbert was hoping for this or his ego is getting too big to take anything seriously. This is a very serious time. Bush-Cheney has done severe harm to this country. We all should unite behing the DNC nominee, whoever that may be, and be supportive.
Be scared, very scared.. remember Kerry, a war hero was turned into an object of republican joke and people fell for that.

[GhostofBillHicks]

I'm sure he "accepted their apologies".

[DoctorDonut]

http://www.theweeklydonut.org/index.php/2007/10/16/we-endorse-stephen-colbert-for-president/

[rowvee]

Someone fucked up politics in this country and it wasn't Colbert. Any candidate that makes sense is laughed off as a kook while the front runners off nothing at all of substance. We're just screwed.

[godlessclif]

Colbert has proved his point. This "every boy can be President" stuff is bull@#$%.

He already demonstrated the disparity between federal election laws and the amount of money the Republican charge. A 5,000 spending limit and $35,000 to get on the ballot. South Carolina is one of the easier states to let people on the ballot.

Any Libertarian can tell you that laws to keep money out of politics guarantee to keep the little guy out and make the system more corrupt. Money dominates even more. Big money to hire lawyers and jump through all the loopholes.

American democracy is a fraud. If you do get on the ballot the voting machines are rigged. 70 percent of the people want the troops home and are ignored by the money men. I won't even vote for Nader this time.Voting is a waste of time.
The only thing to do now is move to a free country.

[Jimmyboyo]

GOOD! This election is too important to goof off for self promotion. We have to overturn the bush fiasco.

I used to watch colbert all the time, but this stunt turned me off

[squidinc]

I think for the joke to work he should have tried to get on the Republican primary ballot. After all, his on screen persona is as a blowhard conservative commentator. It would be a lot more fun if he was to try to be taken seriously by that camp rather than the Democrats.

Political gadfly, Huffington Post contributor and comedian Jeff Norman and I tried to get a television show off the ground using the same concept 2004. Not that we were all that cutting edge in the idea (as previously mentioned Pat Paulson did it from 1968-1996) but I think Jeff was particularly funny. Of course, I'm biased since I was the director.

[sheine]

South Carolina, a state that will never vote for a Democratic presidential candidate because of the racism there (if you don't believe it read Paul Krugman) not only has been authorized to hold an early Democratic primary but has had its Democratic committee, which is totally irrelevant, keep Colbert off the ballot. Given that neither Hillary nor Giuliani can be trusted to be president, it is sad that the non-racists are not being allowed to cast a decent protest vote.

For the wise men (read idiots) who write here that a vote for Colbert would be a waste, the real waste is the denial of a decent candidate for president to a nation in deep trouble. The Democratic party has been bought by the special interests and Hillary is their choice. Cry the beloved country!

[Truthsfire]

Much as I like Colbert, he's not serious about actually running, and I think it's inappropriate for him to beon the ballot. Those of us who remember the Pat Paulson campaign will note the similarity. Let's at least TRY to make this next election something of some dignity and seriousness. The country's in enough trouble without going into the election in a less-than-serious manner.

[cabgx2]

They don't want anybody qualified on the ticket.

[squidinc]

I think for the joke to work he should have tried to get on the Republican primary ballot. After all, his on screen persona is as a blowhard conservative commentator. It would be a lot more fun if he was to try to be taken seriously by that camp rather than the Democrats.

Political gadfly and comedian Jeff Norman and I tried to get a television show off the ground using the same concept 2004.

http://ranchocalamari.com/pop-movie4.html

Not that we were all that cutting edge in the idea (as previously mentioned Pat Paulson did it from 1968-1996) but I think Jeff was particularly funny. Of course, I'm biased since I was the director.

[cls105]

He's a joke. Keep him out of there. Things are seriously f*cked up and these jokers want a comedian to run!? Maybe these irresponsible people should consider all the oppressed people in the world before thinking of nominating a clown.

[chrispychilla28]

Finally someone trying to run that isn’t part of the buddy system and he is denied. He could easily receive more votes than half the people running on the Democratic side. The More I hear Hillary Clinton speak, the more it looks like the Democratic Party has far too any similarities to the Republican Fascist Party. Hillary is not too far away from being another G.W Bush…she double-talks just the same…she votes for his invasions…she accepts money from Rupert Murdoch…Democrats! Please do note vote for her in the Primaries….PLEASE!