# Cenk Uygur running for Pres
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [October 22, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927 "2023-10-22T17:08:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/81 "2023-10-22T21:02:11Z")
**Moderating:**
To all, Please don’t hijack the thread with the meaning of Young Turk.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/82 "2023-10-22T21:06:35Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Biden is weakened because of the age factor and his basic allegiance to donor money
I acknowledge that Biden is old but what candidate _isn’t_ beholden to donor money? Is this Cenk dude independently wealthy?
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/83 "2023-10-22T21:08:55Z")
Welk, there are donors and there are **donors**. I suspect he’ll try to go for lots of small fish, Bernie-style.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/84 "2023-10-22T21:12:07Z")
And how well did that work for Bernie Sanders?
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/85 "2023-10-22T21:15:24Z")
He was on a good track until John Conyers endorsed the big money guy. And all of those then wiped their brows and went “Phew!”.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/86 "2023-10-22T21:19:44Z")
Bernie Sanders started with _far_ better name recognition than this Cenk dude. How is Cenk planning to _get_ lots of small donors, assuming he intends to decline big-time donors?
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/87 "2023-10-22T21:21:46Z")
You got me. I never said he wasn’t the longest of long shots. But as for how you convince people of meagre means to part with their cash, maybe he has a secret recipe.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/88 "2023-10-22T21:24:54Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Cenk _is_ running. He says so.
Cenk is not running. Him saying so isn’t enough, because the Constitution says he’s not running. If he wants to make a difference in the Presidential election, then his path forward is to pick someone who’s actually running, and back them. If he wants to just get people to pay attention to him, then his path forward is to lie and say that he’s running even when he knows damn well that he isn’t.
I take note of which path he chose.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/89 "2023-10-22T21:31:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Cenk is not running. Him saying so isn’t enough, because the Constitution says he’s not running.
So, he did try to file for the Nevada primary, and had his application rejected, due to altering it:
> [@](#):
>
> Progressive political commentator Cenk Uygur, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Turkey, attempted to file for Nevada’s Democratic presidential primary using an [altered form](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24044866-cenk-uygur-declaration-of-candidacy?responsive=1&title=1) that crossed out the words “natural born” before “citizen” — a change that caused state officials to reject his application.
> **[Progressive pundit Cenk Uygur won’t appear on NV primary ballot after...](https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/progressive-pundit-cenk-uygur-wont-appear-on-nv-primary-ballot-after-altering-form)**
>
> Uygur filed to run on Oct. 11, but on his declaration of candidacy, crossed out references to the Constitution’s qualifications for the presidency clause and replaced “natural born” citizen with a handwritten “naturalized” citizen.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/90 "2023-10-22T21:34:11Z")
Also, I think I found his website for his “run,” though:
a) His SEO sucks, because upon making a Google search for “Cenk Uygur for President” a link to this site doesn’t show up until after dozens of links to news stories and tweets about him.
b) It’s entitled “Cenk for America,” and while it appears to be soliciting donations, nowhere on it does it _ **actually mention** _ that he is running for president.
> **[Cenk for America](https://www.cenkforamerica.com/)**
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/91 "2023-10-22T21:35:38Z")
> [@Jophiel](#):
>
> Until he has a much better response to the natural born citizen issue than “Nah, it’s cool”, I don’t see any reason to waste any time listening to him.
I mean, he knows damn well he can’t be President and that the Supreme Court would vote 9-0 against his case, if they even bothered to TAKE the case without laughing it right into the nearest trash can, which is actually what would happen.
This is purely a “look at me” exercise.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/92 "2023-10-22T21:36:31Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> How is Cenk planning to _get_ lots of small donors
Bumper stickers!
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/93 "2023-10-22T21:38:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> > [@Hatchie](#):
> >
> > Cenk _is_ running. He says so.
>
> Cenk is not running. Him saying so isn’t enough, because the Constitution says he’s not running. If he wants to make a difference in the Presidential election, then his path forward is to pick someone who’s actually running, and back them. If he wants to just get people to pay attention to him, then his path forward is to lie and say that he’s running even when he knows damn well that he isn’t.
Googling, he would have to get thousands of signatures on petitions to get on each state’s ballot. If he’s at all serious about this, he’d be working on getting those signatures. (Though I wonder how he would do that while avoiding big-time donors.)
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/94 "2023-10-22T21:41:01Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> I think he’s overestimating his name recognition. By a lot. The constitutional is a non-starter as well.
Yep, never heard of him.
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Schwarzenegger didn’t run, maybe if he had the Supreme Court could have been persuaded to decide on the fairness of a rule that places a completely arbitrary restriction on who can hold that one particular office.
SCOTUS rarely goes against the clear wording of the Constitution. There is wriggle room of course.
I mean Congress could make a law saying the people born in areas under US control are natural citizens, and that would let Arnie in as he was born in US occupied territory.
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> That’s my layman’s understanding. The mechanism for changing the Constitution is an amendment, not a Supreme Court decision.
Right.
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Cenk _is_ running. He says so.
So did Pat Paulsen. So did Harold Stassen. So did Gracie Allen. Also Alfred E Newman.
> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> I think Biden’s been great. My only concern is he might not win. So, yes, there’s nothing to do but help him win. If he drops out for some reason, we can consider alternatives.
Right.
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/95 "2023-10-22T21:41:50Z")
(Quoted from kenobi’s link.)
[/quote=“kenobi\_65, post:89, topic:991927”]
…attempted to file for Nevada’s Democratic presidential primary using an [altered form](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24044866-cenk-uygur-declaration-of-candidacy?responsive=1&title=1) that crossed out the words “natural born” before “citizen” …
[/quote]
Well then he’s just a joker. He can oppose that constitutional requirement all he wants. He can work to drum up support to ammend the constitution. He can’t just, sovereign citizen style, scratch off a few words on an official document. JFC.
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### Author:  [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/96 "2023-10-22T21:46:08Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Don’t know how successful it has been at raising money; not exactly a household name after several years.
His PAC raised $1.7 million in 2019/2020.
> **[PAC Profile: Cenk for Congress](https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/cenk-for-congress/C00727008/summary/2020)**
>
> Cenk for Congress raised $1,744,910 in the 2019-2020 election cycle. See the details.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/97 "2023-10-22T22:01:41Z")
Interesting. For someone with supposedly little name recognition, running for Congress in California, that seems like a lot. Good seed money if nothing else.
Money doesn’t always translate to votes, as we have seen. But I am curious where it came from; how he did it. According to the linked site, it’s called Rebellion Pac, and there were no donors of $200 or more. (And the PAC was based in Dedham, MA - we’re neighbors!)
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/98 "2023-10-22T22:05:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> > [@Loach](#):
> >
> > I think he’s overestimating his name recognition. By a lot. The constitutional is a non-starter as well.
>
> Yep, never heard of him.
>
> > [@Hatchie](#):
> >
> > Schwarzenegger didn’t run, maybe if he had the Supreme Court could have been persuaded to decide on the fairness of a rule that places a completely arbitrary restriction on who can hold that one particular office.
>
> SCOTUS rarely goes against the clear wording of the Constitution. There is wriggle room of course.
>
> I mean Congress could make a law saying the people born in areas under US control are natural citizens, and that would let Arnie in as he was born in US occupied territory.
>
> > [@kenobi\_65](#):
> >
> > That’s my layman’s understanding. The mechanism for changing the Constitution is an amendment, not a Supreme Court decision.
>
> Right.
>
> > [@Hatchie](#):
> >
> > Cenk _is_ running. He says so.
>
> So did Pat Paulsen. So did Harold Stassen. So did Gracie Allen. Also Alfred E Newman.
>
> > [@Procrustus](#):
> >
> > I think Biden’s been great. My only concern is he might not win. So, yes, there’s nothing to do but help him win. If he drops out for some reason, we can consider alternatives.
>
> Right.
What would a SDMB thread be without pedantry? Schwarzenegger was born in the state of Styria which was part of the British sector. It was not US occupied territory.
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### Author:  [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/99 "2023-10-22T22:39:00Z")
> [@Hatchie](#):
>
> Good seed money if nothing else.
He already spent $1.64 million of it in that same cycle.
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### Author:  [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)
#### Post date: [October 22, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cenk-uygur-running-for-pres/991927/100 "2023-10-22T22:58:14Z")
Yep, he fought the good fight on a limited budget. Probably saved on ad production costs, since he has the TYT studio at his disposal (wait, is that some sort of ethics violation?). But ad buys can gobble of the funds like you wouldn’t believe (yeah, like **I’d** know).
(Yikes, 100 posts, in three hours? Wait’ll I tell the **other** Hatchie, the Make Earth #1 guy, won’t he be jealous!)
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