Porn Star for Senate?

[Themightytom]

http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/06/p ... enate-run/

She got her start in porn and now she’s thinking politics. Stormy Daniels is considering running against Louisiana’s Republican senator, David Vitter, in 2010. Vitter was linked to the D.C. Madame and her prostitution services in 2007. Daniels has launched what she is calling a listening tour in Louisiana. She spoke to Kiran Chetry on CNN’s “American Morning” Wednesday.

Kiran Chetry: You are considering this possible Senate run in Louisiana against Senator David Vitter and he is infamous, I guess you could say, for his link to the D.C. Madame. So as a former porn star, is there a little bit of irony here?

Stormy Daniels: I think so. I think that’s one the things that people find kind of entertaining about the whole thing but you’ve got to remember what I do is legal and what he did is not. So, yeah, I think that people find that very interesting. I hear the word karma a lot.

Chetry: You still haven’t filed the papers yet, right? How seriously are you considering this run for Senate?

Daniels: Well, I’m seriously considering it. That’s the whole reason why I’m here this week doing the listening tour. I think that before I can decide whether or not I’m going to move forward with actually campaigning and undertaking a possible candidacy, I want to do the responsible thing and do a listening tour so I can get a better feel of what the people here really want me to do.


Chetry: You had your first experience with that yesterday in Baton Rouge. What was the reaction from people? Are they taking you seriously and do they hold your past in adult film against you?

Daniels: You know what, I was really, really overwhelmed by how positive and how good the turnout was yesterday. Every seat in the place was taken. There was tons of news there. Everyone had very serious, positive questions for me. I was expecting at least a little bit of controversy but surprisingly there was none. And everyone’s questions seemed to be very serious.

Chetry: And so what did you tell them when they were seeking answers about help with the foreclosure situation there, help with job losses? How are you telling them you’re going to be able to make their lives better?

Daniels: Well you have to remember this isn’t the actual campaign, this is the listening tour. So the whole idea of me going there yesterday was I was supposed to be asking the questions to them. I wanted to get their feedback so that I could decide what my platform was going to be on each of those topics. I was very impressed with the turnout. I was very pleased with the turnout and the response but I was, quite honestly, I was a little disappointed that more people didn’t speak up and let me know what their issues were. I think they were very intimidated by the amount of television crews and cameras that were in the room. Of course everybody wanted know to how I felt about taxes. A couple of people wanted to know about David Vitter and the same thing that I said yesterday is I wasn’t there to talk about him. I’ve done enough of that. If they had questions about David Vitter they needed to go and talk to David Vitter about that, but overall I mean I am here to listen to decide what their opinions are.

Chetry: So your supporters have this website up, draftstormy.com. They say it’s a chance to start with a clean slate, to elect a representative we can be proud of, who will work tirelessly, who will change the status quo. If people are saying okay maybe this isn’t a joke, what are you saying to convince them that you would make a good Senator?

Daniels: The whole draft story came about, like I said before, I had nothing to do with it. I largely ignored the situation in the beginning and the only reason why I am moving forward and I’m sitting here talking to you guys today is because everyone is encouraging me and I’ve gotten so much positive feedback. And the only thing I have to say to people is you know, I don’t have a hidden personal agenda or political agenda. This wasn’t my idea. I’m strictly doing it because I have been called to duty if for nothing else and I think that by taking the steps in this listening tour and really listening to what people have to say and what their concerns and their issues are and forming a way to help them with these things, I think that they are really beginning to take this seriously. Anyone who knows me and has worked with me in any of the businesses that I’ve been involved in before knows that I never take anything lightly. I work extremely hard. I’m always up for a good fight. And I don’t undertake anything that I don’t think that I can be the best at.

I can't even read the last two sentences with a straight face, but this keeps popping up in the news. Am I unfair to assume that experience as a porn star doesn't really imply prerequisites for being a senator?

[Darth Wong]

If Sonny Bono could be a Senator, I see no reason why a pornstar isn't qualified.

Of course, one might argue that only those with an elite education should occupy such positions, but that's "elitist", and elitism is baaaaad, right? You already had a self-indulgent spoiled-brat C-student President; you might as well have a pornstar Senator.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I can't even read the last two sentences with a straight face, but this keeps popping up in the news. Am I unfair to assume that experience as a porn star doesn't really imply prerequisites for being a senator?

Well, she's probably used to getting screwed, taking it in the ass, getting shit on by the public, and changing positions quickly.

And so on, and so on... lots of jokes here.

[Duckie]

If there were a pornstar senator, Louisiana would be the place. They've had a neo-nazi KKK member white supremacist governor nominee (republican) in ninteen-fucking-nintey one of all years who was defeated by the incumbent governor who advertised his political corruption with the slogan "Vote for the crook: it's important".

Louisiana politics is bizarre.

[Darth Wong]

If there were a pornstar senator, Louisiana would be the place. They've had a neo-nazi KKK member white supremacist governor nominee (republican) in ninteen-fucking-nintey one of all years who was defeated by the incumbent governor who advertised his political corruption with the slogan "Vote for the crook: it's important".

Louisiana politics is bizarre.

It seems to me that the level of politics is dictated by poverty. The poorer a region is, the more ridiculous its politics will be.

[Samuel]

If there were a pornstar senator, Louisiana would be the place. They've had a neo-nazi KKK member white supremacist governor nominee (republican) in ninteen-fucking-nintey one of all years who was defeated by the incumbent governor who advertised his political corruption with the slogan "Vote for the crook: it's important".

Louisiana politics is bizarre.

It seems to me that the level of politics is dictated by poverty. The poorer a region is, the more ridiculous its politics will be.

Actually that occured for the same reason you Jacques Chirac against Jean-Marie Le Pen (France 2002 election)- they have a run off system that results in unusual canidates. I believe "vote for the crook" was also a slogan.

[Themightytom]

If Sonny Bono could be a Senator, I see no reason why a pornstar isn't qualified.

Of course, one might argue that only those with an elite education should occupy such positions, but that's "elitist", and elitism is baaaaad, right? You already had a self-indulgent spoiled-brat C-student President; you might as well have a pornstar Senator.

I feel like someone with appropriate professional experience would have a claim of legitimacy equal to someone with a formal background, but what transferrable skills are there between politics and pornstar? At least lawyers have experience interpreting the law and advocating for their interpretation to become application.

Like, what committees could she become a part of? where would being elected actually lead to?

what the hell outcome is she expecting?

[RedImperator]

Well, she couldn't possibly be any worse than David Vitter. So that's something.

[Themightytom]

Well, she couldn't possibly be any worse than David Vitter. So that's something.

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE OF THAT???

[The Original Nex]

Well, she couldn't possibly be any worse than David Vitter. So that's something.

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE OF THAT???

Vitter's record and beliefs for one...

[Tolya]

Wasn't Vitter the guy involved in a sex-scandal (caught with a prostitute, DC Madam case if im correct?).

[The Grim Squeaker]

Wasn't Vitter the guy involved in a sex-scandal (caught with a prostitute, DC Madam case if im correct?).

Kiran Chetry: You are considering this possible Senate run in Louisiana against Senator David Vitter and he is infamous, I guess you could say, for his link to the D.C. Madame.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Italy had a porn star in their government for years.

[Tanasinn]

Isn't the Italian government a dysfunctional farce, though?

[Darth Wong]

Isn't the Italian government a dysfunctional farce, though?

Unlike the US government?

[Prannon]

If Sonny Bono could be a Senator, I see no reason why a pornstar isn't qualified.

Of course, one might argue that only those with an elite education should occupy such positions, but that's "elitist", and elitism is baaaaad, right? You already had a self-indulgent spoiled-brat C-student President; you might as well have a pornstar Senator.

I feel like someone with appropriate professional experience would have a claim of legitimacy equal to someone with a formal background, but what transferrable skills are there between politics and pornstar? At least lawyers have experience interpreting the law and advocating for their interpretation to become application.

Like, what committees could she become a part of? where would being elected actually lead to?

what the hell outcome is she expecting?

Addressing both of these points, in the US you can be a politician no matter what you do. The qualifications depend entirely on how well you get your message out, how well you raise money, and on how well you represent your constituency's interests. Even if you're a porn star, if the people feel like you're "one of them" and that you will represent them well in Congress...well, to hell with proper qualifications! She's my Senator!

[Tanasinn]

Isn't the Italian government a dysfunctional farce, though?

Unlike the US government?

My point is that the fact that a porn star has been elected in a country known for having governmental troubles doesn't really say much in favor of the idea.

Not that I see how a porn star can be any worse than the aforementioned neo-nazi governor candidate or Chimpy the Clown.

[Elfdart]

Actually that occured for the same reason you Jacques Chirac against Jean-Marie Le Pen (France 2002 election)- they have a run off system that results in unusual canidates. I believe "vote for the crook" was also a slogan.

They had the same slogan for Edwin Edwards, the LA governor best known for being a crook and damn proud of it, as well as a pussy hound who made Bill Clinton look like a celibate monk. Edwards won because the Republitards ran David Duke (a member of both the KKK and American Nazi Party) against him. Edwards' best-known lines from that campaign:

"I'm no different from David Duke. We're both wizards under the sheets!"

and

"As long as I'm not caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy, I'll get re-elected!"

I am shocked to see that people think Stormy Daniels meets the qualifications to be a Senator. I mean, she can't really be thirty, can she?

[The Yosemite Bear]

Well we had one run for Gov. Against Ahhhhnuld here in CA.

[The Spartan]

I am shocked to see that people think Stormy Daniels meets the qualifications to be a Senator. I mean, she can't really be thirty, can she?

Well, wiki claims that she was born in March of 1979...

But then it's wiki and pornstar birth dates have a tendency to be unreliable on the internet in general.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Well that reminds me, Traci Lords should be over 40 now.

[Akkleptos]

Italy had a porn star in their government for years.

Crap! You beat me to it!

But seriously, Cicciolina, nee Iona Staller, former porn star/pop "singer" was elected a member of the Italian Parliament in 1987. I seriously think Daniels might even be more apt for the job than at least some of the people already serving.

And, oh, it's not like they're all that picky in the US, is it?
For fuck's sake, they had a wrestling star as a governor (Minn.), a former action movie actor is currently serving in California... and a another Hollywood star was elected president... twice! And then there's that other president that DID get pornstar-like fame, albeit rather unwillingly.
[EDIT: not that they all did a bad job, necessarily]

Those, just off the top of my head.

[The Romulan Republic]

If Sonny Bono could be a Senator, I see no reason why a pornstar isn't qualified.

Of course, one might argue that only those with an elite education should occupy such positions, but that's "elitist", and elitism is baaaaad, right? You already had a self-indulgent spoiled-brat C-student President; you might as well have a pornstar Senator.

A university education provides no certainty of being a good leader, of being honest, or even of being particularily intelligent. Furthermore, who sets the criteria to determine what knowledge and experience exactly are relevant? Which degrees qualify you for office, and how do we ensure that the criteria are not set in such a way as to favor certain social, political, or cultural backgrounds? Moreover, in nations where a university education is fucking expensive, how does this not entrench political power more firmly in the hands of the middle and upper classes?

There's a lot more to this than knee-jerk anti-intellectualism, though I'm sure you already knew this.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Well if you want a college education and brains there's still Asia Carrerra, and Sasha Grey....

[Thanas]

If Sonny Bono could be a Senator, I see no reason why a pornstar isn't qualified.

Of course, one might argue that only those with an elite education should occupy such positions, but that's "elitist", and elitism is baaaaad, right? You already had a self-indulgent spoiled-brat C-student President; you might as well have a pornstar Senator.

A university education provides no certainty of being a good leader, of being honest, or even of being particularily intelligent. Furthermore, who sets the criteria to determine what knowledge and experience exactly are relevant? Which degrees qualify you for office, and how do we ensure that the criteria are not set in such a way as to favor certain social, political, or cultural backgrounds? Moreover, in nations where a university education is fucking expensive, how does this not entrench political power more firmly in the hands of the middle and upper classes?

There's a lot more to this than knee-jerk anti-intellectualism, though I'm sure you already knew this.

And lo and behold, Obama managed to graduate from top schools in the country despite having little wealth to prop him up. The fact of the matter is that the truly exceptional will shine (be it through granst and scholarships) even under the american system and I'd rather have them lead me than some idiot Bush who only got into school because Daddy pulled some strings.