Apparently he is not just trying to make the Democratic party look bad, or so he would lead you to believe.
Democratic Veteran says he gave a good interview. (Big suprise, the man's a talk show host).
Interview with Jerry SpringerCheck out my interview with Ohio Senatorial hopeful, Jerry Springer over on Kos' Political State Report. It'll be up here later tonight too. He's pretty much of level-headed populist. I think that he makes a lot of sense and has a pretty damn well-founded and rounded view of the world. What folks may think of his "public image" may change as the Senate campaign heats up and he has a chance to spend more time talking about ideas and spends less time defending his TV persona. I believe that he can be force in Ohio politics (he's been the Mayor of Cincinnati already) and a welcome addition to an otherwise mediocre group of Professional Politicians in our party. Here's a quote:
JF: "What is Senator Springer's vision for Ohio and America?"
JS: "Stripped to its essentials, it is this: an Ohio and an America where regular, ordinary, hard-working people aren't ignored at best, and screwed at worst by their own government. I know it might sound hokey, but I am living proof that at least once upon a time, the American dream really could and did work. In one generation, I went from a family that was largely exterminated in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany to this ridiculously privileged life I live today by virtue of my getting lucky with my television show. But I also believe that many, if not most, American families today do not have the benefit of equal opportunity. I want to turn that around and help redeem the American dream...I want to be in the forefront of a populist, grass roots movement that will demand economic and tax justice, equal educational opportunities, and access to basic health care and health insurance. Too many people today don't vote because they see no point; they don't identify with either Party because they believe ---and correctly, I might add ---that they and their concerns are not on the radar screens of the power structure...that it doesn't matter if a Democrat or a Republican wins because their lives never change no matter who wins. Those are the people I want to attract to the polls. And let's face it: if everyone voted, do you really believe we'd have the economic policies we have today that favor the wealthy and the privileged? That we'd have 41 million Americans with no health insurance? That our public schools in states like Ohio would be so unevenly funded? Of course not."
Interesting guy. Full interview up here later, or hop over to Polstate now.
Interesting indeed, as are most of the guests on his show. Needless to say I don't feel that qualifies someone to be in the Senate. I still think the world would be a much better place without Howard Stern, Jerry Springer, and Jay Leno. Nonetheless, this is just another interesting example of how celebrity trumps almost everything when it comes to who Americans consider relevant. Witness Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid to replace the unpopular Gray Davis as governor of California:
California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley said on Tuesday he had received 376,008 recall signatures for the period ended June 16. If organizers get more than valid 897,158 signatures by mid-July, the issue will be on the ballot this autumn and give Republicans a real chance at the job.In such a scenario, a well-known Republican such as actor Arnold Schwarzenegger could muscle his way into office.
"The leading candidate will be somebody like a Schwarzenegger," said Cain. For Republicans "the one hope is a personable, charismatic guy with money and who is hard to pin down on the issues. That's the ideal formula, and that describes Arnold Schwarzenegger, for sure."
Austrian-born Schwarzenegger has indicated an interest in the job and is enjoying a sweep of publicity around the release of his latest film, "Terminator 3," which opens next week.
A fall vote "certainly favors anybody who starts out from the perspective of being well-known and having the resources to put into a campaign that will evolve very quickly," said Mark Baldassare, author of "California in the New Millennium: The Changing Social and Political Landscape." He added, "That certainly includes a Schwarzenegger."
