Newsweek writes: Could Kinky Friedman sneak into the Texas statehouse?



In a state known for its cast of larger-than-life political personalities, Kinky Friedman may be the most eccentric Texan ever to throw his Stetson into the political ring. At the very least, he's the first Jewish cowboy to seek the governor's mansion and probably the only gubernatorial candidate in the country who boasts about never having held a real job. His campaign slogans: "Why the Hell Not?" and "How Hard Can It Be?" Wherever he goes, he spouts corny, populist one-liners that can make him seem like a thawed relic from another era—which, truth be told, he kind of is. "I'm for the little fellers," he exclaims, "not the Rockefellers!"

Newsweek writes: Could Kinky Friedman sneak into the Texas statehouse?

A Very Kinky Campaign

An unpopular incumbent. A lackluster field. Could Kinky Friedman sneak into the Texas statehouse?

By Holly Bailey
Newsweek

July 24, 2006 issue - The temperature gauge reads 93 degrees, and in the blazing Texas sunshine outside Carl's Corner truck stop near Dallas, about 100 people stand sweltering in the dusty gravel parking lot, waiting to celebrate the grand opening of a new biodiesel fuel plant partly owned by Willie Nelson. Most have dressed for the heat, but not Kinky Friedman. The man who aspires to be Texas's first independent governor since Sam Houston arrives looking like an outlaw cousin of Johnny Cash: a long-sleeved black shirt, alligator boots, a black cowboy hat and a leather fringe vest, which he proudly notes was a gift from Waylon Jennings.
Story continues below ? advertisement
Click Here

"The governor has arrived!" Friedman booms. And with that, the best-selling mystery writer and former lead singer of the Texas Jewboys digs into his vest pocket, which is stuffed with Cuban cigars—fat Montecristo No. 2's, the same kind Fidel used to smoke. "It's gonna be a long day, so I came prepared," Friedman declares and lights up, oblivious to the barrage of no smoking signs plastered on the nearby fuel tanks.

In a state known for its cast of larger-than-life political personalities, Kinky Friedman may be the most eccentric Texan ever to throw his Stetson into the political ring. At the very least, he's the first Jewish cowboy to seek the governor's mansion and probably the only gubernatorial candidate in the country who boasts about never having held a real job. His campaign slogans: "Why the Hell Not?" and "How Hard Can It Be?" Wherever he goes, he spouts corny, populist one-liners that can make him seem like a thawed relic from another era—which, truth be told, he kind of is. "I'm for the little fellers," he exclaims, "not the Rockefellers!"

The other candidates put down his campaign as a novelty act, when they acknowledge he exists at all. "What can he offer besides comic relief?" mocks Texas Democratic Party chair Boyd Richie. But there's one thing his opponents can't ignore: much to their dismay, he's suddenly a serious contender. A Survey USA poll of likely Texas voters conducted last month put Friedman's support at 21 percent, running second to Gov. Rick Perry, the Republican incumbent, who clocked in with only 35 percent. Friedman has climbed to a paper-thin lead over his two other opponents—Democrat Chris Bell, who polled at 20 percent, and Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a Republican turned independent, who checked in at 19 percent.

It's been an ugly year in Texas politics. Voters are tiring of Perry, who has gotten a rep as a do-nothing governor, and antipolitician hostilities are high, especially after Tom DeLay's troubles. But Friedman has another thing going for him: his campaign strategists are Bill Hillsman and Dean Barkley, the brains who turned pro wrestler Jesse Ventura into Minnesota's surprise governor. They know how to make voters take a stranger-than-fiction candidate seriously. "I don't go to work for people who I don't think have a real chance of winning," Hillsman says. "Kinky can win."

Friedman claims he's in the race because he needs the closet space, but the idea to run came after a near-death experience in Cabo San Lucas a few summers ago. Swept to sea by a wave, Kinky ended up stranded on a jagged cliff for more than 24 hours with nothing but a soggy cigar. His friends thought he had faked his own death, but Friedman had an epiphany. "I had achieved a lot of my dreams," he says in a serious tone. "And I decided that I wanted to see younger Texans have the chance to achieve their dreams, just like I did."

It's a story Hillsman and Barkley believe will resonate with voters. Only 29 percent turned out in the last election, and the campaign is looking to attract other disaffected types who could put it over the top. It's vintage Ventura—but Texas isn't Minnesota. Friedman won't benefit from same-day voter registration, which gave Ventura his biggest boost. And he can't beat his rivals in the fund-raising game. He's counting on lots of free publicity and help from his celebrity friends, like Ventura, who will join the campaign next month for a college tour. Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett are planning benefit concerts in the fall.

As for Friedman, he'll stick to what he does best: being Kinky. At Carl's Corner, he shakes every hand that comes his way, poses for every picture and signs every autograph. "I feel it!" he says, firing up another stogie. "People are breaking our way!" Reaching into his pocket, he grabs a bandanna and dabs his sweaty brow. "The governor is hot," he says.
© 2006 Newsweek, Inc.

When this story was posted in July 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

---

Jody Olsen is acting Peace Corps Director The Senate confirmed Gaddi Vasquez to head the FAO on June 30. Jody Olsen will be acting Director until the President makes a permanent appointment. Olsen has been Deputy Director of the Peace Corps since 2002. She has previously served as Chief of Staff for two directors, as regional director for North Africa, Near East, and Asia and the Pacific, and as country director in Togo. She served in Tunisia as a PCV.

---

---

The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world.

---

Changing the Face of Hunger In his new book, Former Congressman Tony Hall (RPCV Thailand) says humanitarian aid is the most potent weapon the United States can deploy against terrorism. An evangelical Christian, he is a big believer in faith-based organizations in the fight against hunger. Members of Congress have recently recommended that Hall be appointed special envoy to Sudan to focus on ending the genocide in Darfur.

---

PC will not return to East Timor in 2006 Volunteers serving in East Timor have safely left the country as a result of the recent civil unrest and government instability. Latest: The Peace Corps has informed us that at this time, the Peace Corps has no plans to re-enter the country in 2006. The Peace Corps recently sent a letter offering eligible volunteers the opportunity to reinstate their service in another country.

---

Chris Dodd considers run for the White House Senator Chris Dodd plans to spend the next six to eight months raising money and reaching out to Democrats around the country to gauge his viability as a candidate. Just how far Dodd can go depends largely on his ability to reach Democrats looking for an alternative to Hillary Clinton. PCOL Comment: Dodd served as a Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and has been one of the strongest supporters of the Peace Corps in Congress.

---

The RPCV who wrote about Ben Hogan Probably no RPCV has done more to further the Third Goal of the Peace Corps than John Coyne with the Peace Corps Writers web site and newsletter that he and Marian Haley Beil have produced since 1989. Now John returns to writing about his first love - golf in "The Caddie who knew Ben Hogan." Read an excerpt from his novel, an interview with the author and a schedule of his book readings in Maryland and DC this week.

---

Vasquez testifies before Senate Committee Director Vasquez testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination as the new Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture replacing Tony Hall. He has been the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Loret Ruppe Miller and Sargent Shriver. PCOL Comment: Read our thanks to Director Vasquez for his service to the Peace Corps.

---

First Amendment Watch Maine Web Report hit with Federal Lawsuit Website wins trademark suit against Jerry Falwell

---

Interview with a Hit Man RPCV John Perkins says that for many years he was an "economic hit man" in the world of international finance whose primary job was to convince less developed countries to accept multibillion dollar loans for infrastructure projects that left the recipient countries wallowing in debt and highly vulnerable to outside political and commercial interests. In this exclusive interview for "Peace Corps Online," Colombia RPCV Joanne Roll, author of Remember with Honor, talks to Perkins about his Peace Corps service, his relation with the NSA, "colonization" in Ecuador, the consequences of his work, why he decided to speak out, and what his hopes are for change.

---

PC Program in Chad temporarily suspended Director Vasquez announced the temporary suspension of the Peace Corps program in Chad on April 14 and that all 29 Peace Corps volunteers have left the country. With a program dating back forty years (See Page 4 of the April 1966 "Peace Corps Volunteer"), RPCVs hope that volunteers can return to Chad as soon as the situation has stabilized. Congratulations to the Peace Corps for handling the suspension quickly and professionally.

---

Peace Corps stonewalls on FOIA request The Ashland Daily Tidings reports that Peace Corps has blocked their request for information on the Volkart case. "After the Tidings requested information pertaining to why Volkart was denied the position — on March 2 — the newspaper received a letter from the Peace Corps FOIA officer stating the requested information was protected under an exemption of the act." The Dayton Daily News had similar problems with FOIA requests for their award winning series on Volunteer Safety and Security.

---

PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

---

History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

---

RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

---

Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

---

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

Read the stories and leave your comments.