Colbert for President: Politics as Unusual

More proof that the Republican Party is elitist: It costs $35,000 to get on the Republican Presidential Primary ballot in South Carolina, as opposed to the chump-change $2,500 necessary to land you on the Democrats’ ballot. And the Democrats’ll even let you on their ballot for free if you can score 3,000 signatures.

Which means that Stephen Colbert’s dream of running as a favorite-son Presidential candidate in both the Democratic and Republican primaries in his native South Carolina has been quashed. Perhaps if “The Colbert Report” aired on a deep-pocketed broadcast network, he could continue his charade, but 35 large is a lot of money for basic-cable to flush away on such a quixotic quest.

Oh, and there’s no guarantee that Colbert will get on the Democratic ballot, either:

“Charleston Democratic Party Chairman Waring Howe, was more blunt: ‘Over my dead body will Colbert's name be on the ballot.’ … Opponents such as Howe argue that Colbert makes a mockery of the political process.”

Well, that’s a bit harsh, and anyway, explain to me how the political process itself does not make a mockery of the political process.

On the other hand:

“‘I think a lot of people think it's a joke because it's a comedy show and whatnot, but he's a nice fellow, and if he gets on the ballot, he will come here to South Carolina and campaign across the state,’ said Charles Hamby, the second vice chairman of the state Democratic Party.”

Clearly, Hamby is eager for at least one “nice” person to run for President.

And yesterday, we discussed the burgeoning hand-wringing that his candidacy is inspiring among the punditocracy, who worry that the media is too stupid to focus on the issues while Colbert is running when in fact the media is too stupid to focus on the issues even when Colbert isn’t running, as well. So MarketWatch’s Jon Friedman comes late to this party, but it’s mainly to brag about the time Colbert mentioned him by name on his show, and that Colbert remembered him when they later ran into one another, and that instead of backing slowly, warily away from him, Colbert was actually nice to him. Good way to make your kvetching point that some political journalists are starstruck by Colbert, Jon!

So: South Carolina’s leaning toward the position that politics should be left to the politicians, because, after all, what good can a mere comic do for America? For the answer, consider Colbert’s DonorsChoose.org site, raising money for South Carolina schools. Colbert’s site has already raised more than $41,000, which is far, far more than similar sites for Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Wesley Clark combined.

Basically, the notion that seems to be forming is: Politicians can be both politicians and laughingstocks, but comedians need to stick to the jokes. Seems like they feel Colbert’s too good to lower himself into the briny murk of politicking.