Project White House got some attention earlier this week in the East Valley Tribune–sorta. Trib writer Paul Giblin mentioned that “political pranksters” had filled up the ballot. Giblin didn’t tell his readers that many of these pranksters had been inspired by Project White House, although he was kind enough to mention our Reality Journalism escapade in passing in a blog entry and a Sunday notebook item a few days earlier.
What caught our eye in Giblin’s story was a suggestion from Secretary of State Jan Brewer that the requirement for running for president in Arizona be increased to stop so many people from participating in the democratic process in the future.
Brewer, the state’s top election official, said she favors changing state law to raise the requirements for candidates to appear on Arizona’s ballots.
“Certainly being registered to vote might be a start,” she said. “In our presidential preference elections, you do not have to be registered; you have to be qualified to be registered. So it would be nice, I think, that if you’re going to participate in the political process, if you’re going to play in that arena, that at least you can vote for yourself.”
Wait–is Hillary Clinton able to vote for herself in Arizona? Mitt Romney? Ron Paul? Barack Obama? Seems like only one candidate would benefit from that requirement: Sen. John McCain.
This article appears in Dec 20-26, 2007.
Speaking of things that are designed to benefit John McCain…
Lately I’ve been playing a fun little game called the Arizona Republic Front Page McCain Watch.
It seems the editors and publishers of the AZ Rep have a big fat hard-on for McCain, because they will use ANY excuse to put McCain on the front page.
This applies not only to McCain but to his wife. The other day, she showed up for a modest charity event, and WHAM — here’s a big front-page photo.
If McCain hits his funny bone on an armrest, it seems it is A-1 material to the editors of the Arizona Republic. Stories that belong on A-6 or deeper are ALWAYS on A-1 if they involve a McCain.
Don’t take my word for it, watch the paper….and join in the fun! Too bad I’m not an alcoholic who drinks first thing in the morning, because it would make an excellent drinking game.