It's official -- Jerry (Springer) is running for the Senate

[CatWoman]

and I don't have a problem with it.

Not so much that I don't live in Ohio, but Jerry sounds like he'll make a credible candidate.

To me, anyway.

July 14, 2003 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jerry Springer, the talk show host whose nationally syndicated program often spotlighted strippers and skinheads, officially filed papers on Monday to run for the U.S. Senate from Ohio.

The Senate clerk received the statement of candidacy and organization for the "Jerry Springer for U.S. Senate" committee on Monday afternoon, according to a spokesman at the clerk's office. The documents were sent by certified mail last week.

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/07/14/springer/index.html

[davidinalameda]

1. The Republicans Wet Dream just came true

Gods help the Ohio Democratic Party!

EDIT--there is a credible candidate running on the Democratic side

http://www.fingerhutforsenate.com/

[ShaneGR]

54. From an Ohioan

The problem with Fingerhut is that he has zero name recognition outside of Cleveland (Where Voinovich has a good base because of the good job he did as Cleveland Mayor). He's viable, but, in my humble opinion he's not ready to take on Voinovich who hasn't lost a race in a LONG time... 2 terms as Cleveland mayor, 2 terms as Ohio governor, and working on his second term as a Senator. It would take something unusual to beat him.

As for the Republican "wet dream," I do agree that they think it's a great thing for them but all indications are that Springer is about to undertake the largest voter registration drive in Ohio history. So, nothing is out of the question. A longshot, but it will definitely help organize the Democratic base in Ohio. This is a good thing. We control every city in Ohio (Including Cincinnati and Dayton) but we're getting our butts dragged through the mud in the suburb and rural areas. Perhaps the "trailor" viewpoint will be sympathetic to our cause? Who knows.

[MattNC]

2. JERRY! JERRY! JERRY! n/t

[maveric]

3. Is he a dem or a repug? n/t

[maveric]

4. Thank you, my question is answered. n/t

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

11. He's a liberal

And a flaming one, at that.

I think it's interesting to note that in one recent poll, Springer trailed Sen. George Voinovich by only 52-48%. He's gained a lot of ground and raised a lot of money for local Democrats during the past six months.

While I have serious misgivings about Springer as a candidate, it's not because of his philosophy. But I would rather that he quit his "silly show" and spent the next two years on the rubber chicken circuit in preparation for a run for Ohio Governor in 2006.

This much is certain. The 2006 Senate Race is going to be interesting in Ohio, and Springer a lot of people who don't normally vote are going to be paying attention to the election. To the extent that Springer brings non-voters to the table and increases turnout, there could be a definite benefit to local races.

[lazarus]

66. He was on Olbermann's show last night

And impressed the hell out of me. I thought it was just silliness, but that man knows how to speak, and he's got all the right answers.

I was seriously impressed. And that doesn't happen often.

[maxsolomon]

5. ohio dems got nothing else.

& why not jerry? he's a perfect populist candidate. plenty of yahoos think he's great! he can motivate the apathetic to register, go to the polls & stick it to the man!

his dirty laundry is already on the table. his name recognition can't get better. he's got the cash. he's as qualified as moron is to be president, and more qualified than arnold is to be governor. i think the GOP underestimates him & loses. the ohio dem. party should jump in his boat IMMEDIATELY.

yes i grew up in cincinnati.

[Droopy]

7. I'm already in his boat.

I'm from Ohio and I can't say I care for his show much, but I'll be happy to vote for him. Both Senators from Ohio are repukes with long time involvement in Ohio politics. I'll be glad to see one of them go.

[CatWoman]

8. I'm all for Jerry

but you can see from other sentiments, some are not.

[Friar]

29. dirty laundry?

Oh yeah, he wrote a check to a prostitute. At least he owned up, made no false apologies and "moved on". No one's perfect and only hypocrites pretend to be. You don't even want me to confess my shortcomings. You'd have a heart attack.

[jos]

45. You're right

The Ohio Dems are in pathetic shape. Fingerhut will likely lose to Voinovich anyway. So there's really nothing to lose with Springer. Plus the increase in turnout could help the Dem presidential nominee.

[ibegurpard]

6. If Sonny Bono can do it why not Jerry?

Wasn't he the former mayor of Cinncinati, one of the most conservative large cities in the U.S.? I'm not really familiar with his political views but I suspect that his ideology is probably close to that of many DUers. I would vote for him but I don't like him...I think he has a lot to answer for for his contribution to stupidification of and sensationalism in the media. I suspect that I'm not the only person who holds that view of him and I'd be surprised to see him pull it off... Hope he does though.

[CatWoman]

9. Ibegurpard, I like your thinking

:thumbsup:

[madrchsod]

24. bono???

what about ronny reagen? springer`s smarter than him..in fact jerry has a law degree...

[Guaranteed]

60. Ronald Reagan????

How bout ARNOLD, the Terminator himself? Everyone's saying he's going to be the next governor of California.....budda budda budda YEOWWWWWWW BOOM! :)

[Friar]

28. You can't fault a guy for making some $$

So he went on TV and got paid for whatever that show was (is?). It doesn't mean he's invalid. I mean inVALid, not INvalid. Damn English. It's such a curse. If you listen to him talk about political and social issues the guy is right on.

[MisterP]

10. it's about time someone restored dignity to the Senate!

[Eloriel]

47. ROTFL - probably the best line of the whole election season

I'm with CatWoman. I'm all for Jerry. We've had worse. His politics are WONDERFUL. And as I've said before, he's the first to admit that his show stinks and is trash.

People will come out to hear him just for curiosity, and when they do they'll be pleasantly surprised by a guy who knows what he's talking about, is a populist in the best sense of the word, and is intelligent and articulate.

Eloriel

[Guaranteed]

61. LOL Right on

Nuff said

[newyawker99]

64. Hi BullGooseLoony!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[KG]

12. go, Jerry, go!

i say we all get behind Jerry!

he's a democrat and that's good enough for me!

Vote for Jerry - because the worst democrat is better than the best republican! right?


right?


:)

[dsc]

21. Take a look at Voinovich's record

He is a menace to the enviroment. Terrible on race, women, and sexual orientation. Agrees with Bush well over 80% of the time. Springer would be eons better in terms of governance than Voinovich could ever be.

[BeachBuckeye]

13. Great! Now if only Pee Wee Herman will run too!

Nothing like instant credibility huh! The Repubs will have field day with this from now till the election. I can see the tv ads now: "The Democrats are the Party of Jerry Springer and we Republicans are the Party of Abe Lincoln!"

[KG]

14. hey, i think Peewee could win big in FL

he's got plenty of name recognotion in the Sarasota area! :)

[foo_bar]

17. don't wrinkle your nose

Morbid fascination is the best thing going for us right now.

[chiburb]

18. Yes, "Bedtime For Bonzo" was MOST dignified...n/t

.

[tridim]

19. Springer has said many times

that he thinks his show is "Stupid" and "One of the worst shows on TV". He can handle whatever crap they throw at him, even chairs. :) I say bring em on!

[Friar]

32. Some Angels informed me

Lincoln has drilled through his coffin from spinning in his grave at being mentioned in the same breath as the current Republican party.

That's not true but I thought it was funny. :silly:

[JanMichael]

39. Sure they'll attack him but, unlike many Dems, he'll bite back.

He's a thoughtful, articulate, speaker that if he gets any momentum will probably win that seat.

My guess is that he'll tap the WWW like Ventura.

[KG]

40. besides, he's a democrat - and isn't that the important thing?

:)

[dsc]

15. Ohio does have something to lose here

Ohio is a very difficult state to run in statewide. Often one has to lose first then run and win. I am pretty sure Voinovich is not able to be beat. Thus I would rather have Fingerhut run and lose and be able to run for something in 2006 than have Springer run and lose and then presumedly go back to his show. Also Springer is entirely personality driven. He will build no party infastrcture at all. Even if he were to win this Senate seat, and I think there is a better chance of us growing tomatoes on Mars, it will literally do us no good on the state level. I would like a citation of that 52 48 poll. That would be amazing given the 70 to 25 drubbing just a few months ago.

[jiacinto]

38. I have the same fear

nt

[ShaneGR]

56. I disagree on the infrastruce thing

The infrastrure (In statewide races) isn't there already. I believe his money will help build it back up. Why? Last year Tim Hagan ran against Bob Taft (perhaps the worst governor in Ohio history) and Hagan didn't raise any money, didn't run any commercials, and got his ass handed to him.

Like it or not, money runs the show. And look at it this way, at least the Repugs will have to spend a fortune to keep up.

[dsc]

59. Spending money to promote Springer

is of no help to us. I honestly don't know the solution to this problem but to develop a farm team of some sort. Maybe Hagan should run again in 06 and Fingerhut against DeWine in 06 as well. Maybe Stephanopolis can run. But in any case a one time flash in the pan is the very last thing we need.

[mitchtv]

16. at least he works for a living

that's more than * can or could say. Not only that , but he is smart and liberal and brings new voters to the booths

[Incognito]

20. Jerry Springer

is a very intelligent man. His first love has always been politics...his show was to make him rich. I've heard his political commentaries and believe me, he has a very good chance of winning. In fact, when Jerry first started his talk show, it was more like the old "Donahue" show. He did a lot of political topics/current event shows. Then they started playing to the teenage crowd and throwing chairs..for ratings, I suspect.

[BeachBuckeye]

43. Look, most of us HERE know the truth about Springer....

We know he is well-spoken, articulate, savvy, an astute political animal and more. WE know it but how does he overcome the reputation that EVERYONE knows about? I don't care if he spends 100M on the election, he'll still have a hard time knocking down his show-biz image. I'm all for him doing it and as one who lived most of my life in Ohio and was heavily involved in Democratic Party politics in the Buckeye state I wish him well but we must consider the overall damage it may do to the national scene.

[jobycom]

22. Geeze. First Limbaugh on ESPN, now Jerry running. Repubs are happy.

Which do you think will hurt Democrats more? Limbaugh talking about sports, or this grandstanding synonym of bad taste running on the Democratic ticket? No matter his politics, he chose to create and market and continue a show which routinely encouraged people to humiliate themselves, fight, strip, and demonstrate the worst side of human nature, all so they could be mocked by a national audience. He lowered the standards to where they are now, allowing the various "reality" shows on tv.

That's not what being a Democrat is about for me. I hope he loses big, even if it means to a Republican.

[chiburb]

25. Or just maybe his show...

Is a showcase for Freepers? Don't you have to be pretty much of a moran to go on in the 1st place? Don't even the Repub soccer moms turn their noses up at the trash that appears there?
Who knows? Maybe Springer has been holding up a mirror on the dregs that would blindly support a Shrubco.
And, once again, tell me how "Bedtime For Bonzo" was so dignified. It didn't stop St. Ronnie did it?

[jobycom]

52. Bedtime for Bonzo?

I don't anyone here would argue that Reagan should have been president.

[jobycom]

53. Bedtime for Bonzo?

I doubt anyone here would argue that Reagan should have been president.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

26. That's refreshing

I always like to see people putting their aesthetic sensibilities above all else.

So when kids start dying of childhood diseases because funding for immunization programs have been cut, we'll all sleep better knowing that at least Jerry Springer wasn't there to stop it.

I'm not saying that Jerry is a perfect candidate. But for cryin' out loud, can we get a little perspective on the subject?

[jobycom]

55. Good question, let's see

Can we get some perspective on the subject? How many Americans are going to take him seriously if he wins? How many radio show hosts will use him as our posterchild? How much damage will he cause?

As for what he can do, I don't care how smart or articulate he is, look at his show. That's the choice he made. That speaks louder than any words he says. I don't respect him. It isn't about asthetics, it's about whether he has any integrity. Watch his show. Look what he does for ratings, for money. Would you say yes? What happens when it becomes more popular and profitable to support Bush after the next terrorist attack? Will he?

I don't trust him. I repeat-- I'd rather see a Republican win that spot than someone who has his morals and has made his judgements. It's not about asthetics. Some people seem so caught up in the desire to win that they've forgotten what the fight is about.

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

62. Please...

Hillary Clinton is raw meat for the conservative attack dogs, and how many of us were opposed to her running for the Senate?

As to his integrity, he hosts a goofy, trashy daytime talk show that serves as an object lesson in traditional morality, if you take the time to really think about it. The human freak show that shows up on his stage is walking testimony to how people shouldn't live their lives.

I will repeat that Springer is not a perfect candidate, and I wish he were running for governor in 2006 rather than the Senate in 2004. But the fact is that he has the money to run an effective campaign (something that the Democrats in Ohio haven't had for more than a decade), and he has instant name recognition; among young voters, he's actually more well known than the incumbent.

[maxsolomon]

27. exhibit A

of why the center-left is self defeating.

jerry can do it; ohioans are idiots.

[Friar]

23. Good for him and Ohio

I've never seen his show except for the little clips we get now and then but I've seen him on the MW talk shows and he comes across as an intelligent and well informed guy with his head in the right place. I'd vote for him except I live in San Diego and I have only Darryl Issa to try and defeat.

[Touchdown]

30. Can you imagine C-Cpan???

Byrd: "I think that Lott fella is a ho!"
Lott: "You take that back, you hillbilly trash!"
Bill Frist: "Geezer fight!!!"
Hillary: "Ted, beat him up."
Kennedy: "Of course Ma'am."
Lott: "AHHH, Ted's sitting on me! I can't breathe!"
Liz Dole: <bleep>

[Friar]

34. LOL

too funny.

[bookworm65t]

51. Mr. Speaker, can I pat John McCain's head??

:bounce:

[lazarus]

67. if he ever makes Speaker

He can just tell the minority to "talk to the hand", right?

[Trek234]

31. DAMN IT

Well here is one seat we can mark republican as of today.

The democratic party should NOT support him. Let him go independent There MUST be another democrat who can run.

[poskonig]

33. You guys are snobs.

nt

[Friar]

36. and?

hehe. We do get snobbish, at least I do. I try to curb that tendency but damn! It's so hard to not feel superior, considering the opposition.

[Trek234]

44. Yes snobs...

Snobs for not wanting the democrats to loose yet another seat to the republicans.

I better go hurry and vote Bush before I become a "snob".

[jobycom]

57. What's snobbish about not liking an elitist?

Springer sits like a lord of his manor over a freakshow he's concocted only to show the rest of the world how superior it can be. That's not egalitarian.

Some of the people on his show are going through real crises, and this garbage man makes them. THAT's why I dispise him-- not for any "asthetic" reasons. He's anti-Democrat in spirit, if not in name.

[jiacinto]

35. I hope this campaign doesn't crash and bring down the

rest of the ticket.

[jobycom]

58. Good point-- ask Texas about Tony Sanchez

We nominated a guy with lots of money to run for governor in 2002. We didn't care that he had a history of money laundering and S&L corruption. He had money! He had a name! He claimed he was a Democrat!

The rest of the voters cared. We lost two other very winnable seats-- US Senate, and Leutenant Governor. Part of the reason was because of the distaste Tony Sanchez created in people's mouths. Seems that the average non-partisan voters weren't as impressed with his ability to spend a lot of money on our party, they cared a little more about his character.

[Kamika]

37. He should just give me his campaign money

So it wont be wasted :p

I cant believe hes serious

Didnt they find him having se with two prostitutes some time ago? that had been on his show?

[Lady President]

41. Won't get my vote

I'm an Ohio voter and he will not get my vote. A few of my liberal friends and I discussed this possibility over the weekend and we will all be voting for a third party candidate. It may be a lost vote, but at least I'll maintain my values.

I think his candidancy will only serve to embarrass our party. I'd much prefer Fingerhut run and lose, but not humiliate us.

What I can't understand is how everyone can let him off the hook for his show by saying he thinks it's stupid himself. I won't be such a hypocrite that I will slam Reps. for abusing lower class workers and then say it's okay for Springer to just make a buck with his horrible show. It may have started like Donahue, but that doesn't matter to me because of what he allowed it to become. It's his name on the show and he needs to take responsibility for what it is and what he is.

And, don't get me started about him paying for a hooker with a check. I don't care when it happened or what anyone's views are about prostitution, giving a check to a hooker is plain stupid!

[Trek234]

42. I wonder how many people support Jerry...

But say Kucinich can't run because he is too liberal.

[ryharrin]

46. I'm one.

Just because I think Jerry can win and Kucinich can't. What's one of the biggest problems someone has when running against an incumbent? Name recognition. Not a problem here. Money isn't either. Also, his fiery rhetoric and huge popularity with regular people will serve to bring a huge amount of new people out to vote. Peolp who have never voted before will see the front page of the paper and say "Jerry Springer? I love his show, I'll vote for him" People who hate him will say "Jerry Springer? Who does he think he is, running for the senate? He better have some good ideas." and they'll find that he does.

[joshcryer]

48. Hell yeah! Jerry for Senate!

:D

[karlschneider]

49. Why not? Muricans managed to get a crappy actor elected as president,

a pro wrestler as governor, and a 5 time loser and military deserter as, again, president. Can we do any worse?

[AnAmerican]

50. Jerry has my vote

I have been disliking Voinovich intensely ever since he was Mayor of Cleveland. He did of mediocre job as Governor and is absolutely appalling as a Senator.

I have heard Jerry speak and he has great ideas regarding education and other topics. So he has a stupid show, so what?? The rightwing's "great savior" Ronnie Raygun was a B movie actor.

Just goes to show that past profession bears NO impact on political success.


AnAmerican

President Kucinich and Senator Springer...hmmmm Nice ring :)

[Terwilliger]

63. The Mayor of Cincinnati?

Hey...he had a successful TV show...doing better than Bush did.

[theboss]

65. We deserve to be the minority

Ohio has how many people? This is the best we can come up with?

A man stupid enough to pay a whore with a check. A man who had a threesome with a mother and daughter porn star team and had it videotaped. This is the type of judgment I want exercised by my candidate.

Letterman had fun with this last night.

"When you hear the name Jerry Springer, you immediately think of two words. 'Teen hookers.' "