‘These Boys Better Watch Out’: Roemer’s Third-Party Run for the White House
On a sunny Saturday teeming with DC tourists, not even being a presidential candidate can get an appetizer delivered to the table within 45 minutes.
And yet the former governor of Louisiana is relaxed and easy despite our AWOL chicken nachos, eagerly chatting about his campaign and sharing stories of the Reagan Era in Washington as he sips a couple cups of hot decaf.
He even advocates what he says is the choicest grub from his home state. “Louisiana alligator, it’s the best,” Buddy Roemer raved. “Crawfish, alligator; New Orleans has the best food in America. Block for block, there are more great restaurants. New Orleans is coming back, so I’m proud to say that.”
Roemer, the only presidential hopeful to have served four terms in Congress and as chief executive of a state, characterized his statement-making candidacy as thus: “I’m a broom.”
Running on a strict campaign-finance reform platform, Roemer originally tried for the GOP nomination but is now attempting to forge an umbrella coalition of third-party groups. He’s vying for the Americans Elect nomination, which is already on the ballot in all states, through online primary voting. He’ll also be asking the Reform Party for its backing at its convention this fall.
Roemer said his campaign tried to get into the Republican primary debates but would get shuffled around each time, and when a contact would get through to the decision-makers, “each time it was a different yardstick — at first it was one percent, then it was two percent, then it was you had to raise a half-million dollars in the past 90 days. It was nonsense. Just making stuff up. And we were consistently ahead of two or three people in the Republican Party.” Jon Huntsman? “We were ahead of him in every poll!” Roemer exclaimed.
“I’m comparing my pitiful poll numbers at two and three percent with guys who were getting in on every debate at two or three percent,” he reiterated.
Before we walked around Dupont Circle to the restaurant, a documentary camera crew in tow, Roemer spent an hour and a half speaking with a room full of high school juniors at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership.
“I’m running for president and most people have never heard of me,” he told the kids. “Is this a great country or what?”
They weren’t too young to get an explanation of why Roemer, 68, is running on a passionate drive to get money out of politics. Democrats and Republicans, he explained, are “married at the billfold.”
“We’ve become a government of big checks,” he said. “I don’t think Washington’s broken, I think it’s bought.”
Roemer said his first bill as president would be a full-disclosure campaign finance measure that requires 48-hour reporting, bans lobbyists from bringing in checks, does away with super PACs and stipulates that a political action committee cannot give more to a candidate than an individual.
“I won’t sign another bill until this bill becomes the law,” he vowed
And he wanted the youths to know why he’s running for the highest office in the land, as well.
“If not me, pick a better person,” he said. “I have no ego. Man, I’d like to go fishing some days. But I think our country is at risk.”
“It’s embarrassing to say you’re running for president,” the plain-spoken Southern man who seems like little would embarrass him confessed. “I feel like I have some weaknesses for political BS I can’t tolerate.” When later in our conversation I bring up some current committee business in the House, he readily admits when he hasn’t caught up enough on a topic to give a credible answer.
He knows that a third-party candidate faces enough hurdles on the campaign trail, especially a campaign that’s saying “no” to the big PAC money that is fueling the major party efforts. But he has a short-term goal to first get on the debate stage with the Democratic and Republican nominees. To do so, he’d have to get a poll average of at least 15 percent support. That means pulling the undecideds — and those unenthused about the other two options — into his corner.
“We need to make 15, and good things will happen,” he told the students.
“I think the biggest party in America is the independents,” he added. “What the American people are telling me is we’re not sure what to do here.”
Roemer started his career as a Democrat — one of the House’s “Boll Weevil” caucus, predecessor of the conservative Blue Dogs — and switched to a Republican while Louisiana governor. The third-party move, he said, is “necessity — all my other options were gone.”
“The Republicans figured out the best way to beat me was to not include me, and I’m not gonna stand for it,” he vowed.
He credits his legislative experience for giving him a valuable window on Washington, and knowing how it works in order to develop a plan to fix it.
“It can be overdone, but legally and practically I know the system, I’ve been a part of it, I’ve shown my independence while I was. … I am unafraid to do this job,” Roemer told me. “I’ve watched it done by the master, Ronald Reagan. I’ve watched it done by the disaster, George Bush and Obama. I learned from both.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle when one of the teens asked Roemer if he’s used social media in his campaign. The governor’s no-holds-barred Twitter reputation, from interacting with voters to giving his own live debate answers, is why as many Americans know about him as they do now, and why he’s amassed more individual contributors, by his count, than Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).
“The 21st century lets me run,” he told the teens. As his 30-year-old campaign manager indicates, Roemer says, his campaign staffs young — including the two staffers who help him tweet — and thinks young.
“It’s been awesome,” he told me. “I mean, I meet people on the street and they tell me, ‘I’m so-and-so. I tweeted you yesterday!’”
Buddy Roemer is the Ross Perot for 2012. He’s designed to syphon off just enough votes to allow Barack to be reelected. Don’t fall for this ploy. Whether you like Mitt Romney as the Republican candidate, if you dislike where Barack is taking the country, you must vote against Barack by voting for Romney.
He knows full well that he will be spliting the vote..
I believe these people are merely obama operatives..
WHY??? BECAUSE they know the damage they wil do to the conservative vote
“Buddy Roemer is the Ross Perot for 2012″.- that sums it up nicely
I don’t know anything about Buddy Roemer, but I do know this:
Whether his motives are good or not, the result is the same. He’ll siphon votes and swing the election.
Not that Romney needs any help throwing this election, though.
I’m sure one of the contributors he’s bragging about is David Axelrod.
Maybe we need to revitalize the ‘Nader for President’ effort. Is Rosie O’Dumbbell still in it?
If he wants to help Obama this badly why doesn’t he just join ACORN and help get out the illegal vote?
Roemer may get some of the Ron Paul votes out there, but all he’ll do is take votes away from the Republicans. It will make Romney’s job that much tougher and Obama’s job that much easier to get elected. So stay away from this guy, unless you want four more years of what we have now. Who knows, maybe Roemer will be the next John Anderson (remember him), where his run for president didn’t matter at all in 1980. But why do we need to take the chance? The choices in this election are so distinct and the results of this election are going to be so monumental, that I think most people will come to their senses and vote Republican. I hope.
“Running on a strict campaign-finance reform platform”
Because that’s the most pressing issue of the day.
I’ve voted Libertarian since 1980, until 2004, a certain event in 2001 has made me preclude voting in protest. Now the only thing for me is getting out of office a guy who has a marxist world viewpoint.
If he is the leader the country so desperately needs right now remains uncertain- what is certain is that he represents a growing number of productive people who understand that neither Romney or obama have the desire or will to do what is imperative to sustain our nation. The two parties have become locked in nothing more than a power struggle devoid of principle. People who support both parties right now do so on the basis of emotion not facts.
People who support third-party candidates do so on the basis of emotion, not facts.
The fact is, no third-party candidate can accomplish anything more significant than splitting a needed voting bloc.
Perot did it for Clinton, and Nader did it for Bush.
If I were going to cast a protest vote this year, I sure as hell wouldn’t waste it on Buddy Roemer.
Besides, I can live with Romney if it means getting the Obama, who is very likely the absolute worst and most destructive President in US history, out of the White House before he can wreak even more havoc without another election hanging over his head to restrain him.
WOW, all these people that are complaining that he will split the vote from Romney so Obama will win. This is funny, because I can find as many articles of the Dems complaining that all he will do is split the votes from Obama so Romney will win. I see both sides shaking in their boots, worried that he will take equal amounts from both sides, and all the other intelligent voters that want to pick a President, not a Party into office. Take off your party blinders and see that he is the most competent person running.
You must work for the Roemer campaign…because no one could say that with a straight face unless they were drawing a paycheck.
Either that, or you’re a good comedian.
No I dont work for him, I live in Nebraska. I would never vote for that egotistical 1% er, Romney. He it’s so lost on how we live in the real world. Pull your head out of the GOP’s backside, and think. Obamney are exactly the same, you think it will be any different, you are a fool. Obama needs to go, and Romney just needs to go back to one of his multiple houses, and burry his head back in the sand.
“Head… in the sand,” you say. Speak for yourself. Anyone who considers Obama & Romney to be one & the same is so far removed from reality, one can be sure their head is in some place where the sun never shines. It’s time for you to come up for air.
I told you to pull your head out of your Republican a$$. Out of touch “I’ll bet you $10,000″, who is out of touch, Mitt, thats who. He is no better than Obama, show me the money, I will do what ever you want.
Spoken like a true troll, If you can’t see the ast differnce between Obama and Romney, you are unqualified to vote. You ought to be ashamed to admit that you are so absolutely clueless.
Who’s trolling, you are. This article is about Buddy, not Mittens. Go find some pro Romney articles to comment on. Or can’t you find any?
Once again you are wrong, the article is about a no chance nobody on a vanity campaign to hurt the country and make himself feel like a big man. If you want that then go ahead and be pure and destroy the country.
You people make me sick, you’re like spoiled children who, when they don’t get their way, sulk and go home crying. You supposedly want perfection but you’re never satisfied with anyone who can win. Screw all of you, losers who excuse losing by holding out for perfection.
An inquisitive alien visits the planet to check on our progress as a species, and gets into a conversation with the first person he meets. The alien discovers that we live under the rule of a thing called “government”, and wants to understand more about what “government” is, what it does, and why it exists. Government Explained
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EUS1m5MSt9k#!
I am a little more concerned with John Stossel and Judge Napolitano vowing to vote Gary Johnson for president if Paul does not run 3rd party. These 2 men have a loyal following of Libertarians which could generate a lot more votes than Nader. This maybe a very hard climb for Romney.
As much as I would prefer a true libertarian as our next president, a third party run that would siphon conservative votes could mean re-electing Obama. I am not all that fond of Rommeny but I could live with a Rommney presidency. Obama must not get re-elected. I fear he will make himself president for life! Re-electing Obama is re-electring George Soros!
The time to go public screaming foul was months ago. We already have an ineffectual cry-baby in the White House. Once bitten twice shy. I naively voted for Ross Perot and got Slick Willy Clinton. Never again! A vote for Roemer is a vote for Obama, and Roemer KNOWS THAT!!!
“Other favorites who have served in the Oval Office are Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy”.
I really don’t see what all the whining and crying is about with this guys candidacy. He IS just another big government progressive as evidenced by his presidents list. I would think he would bring just as much damage to one statist party as he would the other.
Either way we will get what Americans really seem to want. The socialist status-quo.
roemer and romney will cause much confusion for those of us with dyslexia
I scouted this guy out when I was shopping my vote around.
I like him, but I won’t be voting for him. I agree that he should have been allowed to debate, after all in some polls last fall he was ahead of Santorum. I also like the idea of campaign finance reform. Many Republicans oppose this, but they’ll think differently about it when they learn that Obama is going to outspend Romney.
If Buddy had gotten the GOP nomination I would have been happy to vote for him. As it is, I find myself having to vote against someone by voting for Romney. I like voting for people rather than against other people but what can I do?
Rohmer would have been a fine candidate for President. Unfortunatly, he’s just another spoiler.
MarcH hit the nail on the head. Ross Perote for 2012. I have no doubt that the money for this comes, via an untraceble route from George Soros, BHO’s lord and master. Obama can’t win a fair fight. the left is pulling out all the stops to ensure there isn’t one,
If you would like to learn more about Buddy Roemer, go to this website and read the comments by Buddy’s supporters and a critic. Also examine the web pages they cite, which will provide you with independent analysis.
http://fantasypoliticsusa.com/?p=5604
Obama is not able to win this election; however, the Republicans are quite capable of losing it. Of course, folks like Roemer and others may contribute to the Republicans’ loss, but this election is the Republicans’ to lose.
Well said.
I think they are going to lose it.
Well, it is not as if Romney won the nomination, he bought it, using RINO cash. He deserves to lose, but I do not deserve either one of these Bozos. Crazy Uncle in the Attic 2012.
The “Crazy Coon A$$” better just stay “back in da bayou” and not split the ticket.
Given its association I’m surprised that Roemer would use the “broom” analogy. Maybe he thinks people don’t know or remember Huey Long, an infamous member of a long line of colorful Louisiana governors, whose supporters used brooms to symbolize their belief that Long would sweep away political corruption. Of course, once Long attained office he happily resorted to pay-to-play schemes and cronyism to consolidate and grow his power. I’m deeply suspicious of any politician who uses the broom image with a straight face.
Studying Long’s career gives great insight into the populist playbook. Obama, in his current populist incarnation, must be very familiar with Long’s retrograde methods because he readily employs them in his dishonest “share the wealth” rhetoric and insistence that “public works” projects are a pathway to prosperity.
This is a no brainer.
A political void is staring We the People right in the face. And nature hates a void. Enter everything peripheral to America’s political process…including Ross Perot, left, right, center, independent,et al.
Who created this void? Why, of course, none other than We The Elite People of culture of corruption in Washington DC. This is purposeful, deliberate and calculated…Greed and Power. Pure and simple.
See, MSM, DNC, RNC, and Wall Street are united in their strategy to gerrymander everything American in their favor. Need Proof?
O.K. Let’s start with RNC’s deliberate attempt at putting on a kabuki theatre presentation for We The People. A host of “also rans, has beens and maybe cans” was aligned against Romney (hand picked by Priebus for nomination). The “Punch-and-Judy” phase of this dog-and-pony show got out of hand…enter planted innuendoes, lies and outright smears (by RNC operatives). This didn’t stop Newt, Santorum and Paul from staying the course. The final cabosh came with “SuperPacs.” Massive amounts of cash just stifled everything “anti-Romney.” Where did this come from? Yep, you guessed it…RNC.
“And the beat goes on, la-de-dah, and the beat goes on.” The void, generated, perpetrated deliberately, by We The Elite People of culture of corruption in Washington DC, is still there for all to see…and no one American there to fill it. God Bless America. Paul Revere is really riding very,very hard. Heed his call. Amen.
I find it very interesting that the myth that Perot elected Clinton still lives on when all facts and data prove otherwise. Perot drew equally from Democrats and Republicans 38% each and the rest of the vote were Independents and first time voters and disenfranchised voters who do not vote. All data shows that even if Perot was not in the race Clinton still would have won the election. Perot did not win any electorial votes so it is impossible for Perot to shift any election period based on the ectorial system. All data shows that those Republicans and Democrats who voted for Perot would have went back to their respective party’s. Bush 41 never lead in any polling throughout 1992 polling in any polls period. If you go through the 1992 Presidential debate contract by Bush 41 and Clinton. It was Bush 41 who demanded Perot be included in the debates to take votes away from Clinton. The Bush adminstration and Republican Party knew this the entire time. They needed Perot to take votes away from Clinton or he would have lost by a larger percentage. This data is archived and publically availible but never used except by a few. With Obama and Romney the ideaology is the same. You have Obamacare and Romneycare, the largest contributor to both campaigns is Goldman Sachs. Neither is talking about prosecuting the control and accounting fraud comitted by Wall Street and the Banks. The same circle of people will gain positions in DC no matter which one of these two are elected. With this nation struggling with a $15.6 Trillion national debt, $454 billion had to be borrowed just to pay the interest on the debt for last year, endless wars, corruption is the norm, record setting trade deficits, unemployment is the norm and the list is endless. The sad part is that the discussion is about hate and ideaology and not about solutions to our nations problems behaving like Americans who give a damn about the nation. This is the scary part. One would think that everyone would welcome honesty, discussion or real issues and problem into our political process rather than attack ads and stupidity by both major candidates. One thing that Perot did for this nation was focus the nation on it’s out of control national debt and made the debt a national issue and forced both political party’s to deal with the debt in the 90′s. We now see today since there is no one else but the major two candidates that the debt has now skyrocketed to $15.6 Trillion in which we are all on the hook plus the $30 Trillion the Federal Reserve has dumped into the econmy in which we the tax payers are on the hook for. What a sad nation when ideaology take precedence over realty with honest solutions and disccusion. I am all for more people being allowed in the process since both have proven to be failures and have given us the tax payers this mess we are in.
Very good post, savetheusa. Time to cut down on all the vitriol and get back to what is the most important issue getting our financial house in order.And speaking of money, I am really getting tired of people saying that Romney is so rich that he just can’t help but be out-of-touch. Total bullshit! You never heard anyone criticize John Kerry (who served in VietNam) for being too wealthy, and he’s a whole lot richer!!
Everybody talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.
Same-same politics. That has got to change, as we are in a collision course with catastrophe. It is not that the inmates have taken over the asylum, but that the psychopaths are taking over both government and finanace.
http://mandynamerica.com/blog/2012/01/12/the-corporate-psychopaths-among-us/
Roemer’s single term as governor of Louisiana was a disaster. He’d say one thing and do another. I don’t think he could get elected dog catcher in this state.
Charlie
great post savetheusa; i agree with everything you said. The two party system, both looking into each side of a mirror and seeing the same thing. It doesn’t matter who’s at the helm, the two party system is killing us. We need a viable third party. I am hoping Ron Paul runs against Obama / Romney. He is the best available candidate.
The top 5% of the money is ruling and all the politicians are their puppets.
I don’t see Paul and a puppet. He’s been too consistent in his message.
I was in Louisana when Roemer was governor and he was known for wearing a rubber band around his wrist and snapping it when he had a negative thought. He is a nice guy but has no chance of being president. He can only hurt Romney.