# Who would be the democrats "celebrity" candidate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 8, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336 "2016-05-08T20:12:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/1 "2016-05-08T20:12:44Z")
Lets say Trump wins. Might the democrats start looking for their own “celebrity” candidate to run as opposed to established politicians? If so, who? Hollywood is full of persons that already dabble in political issues. And some win - think Arnold in California. Actually that governor race had dozens of celebrities running like Gary Coleman. So who do you think would be a good celebrity candidate to run on the democratic ticket? [Link to Actor-politicians.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_actor-politicians) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/2 "2016-05-08T20:20:58Z")
I suppose Jon Stewart might fit the bill, but he’s never expressed interest (the contrary, actually). Al Franken sort of was, but he studied and became an issues wonk, and has been a very impressive Senator IMO. Maybe Alec Baldwin? But he’d still have nowhere near the appeal Trump does for the right. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/3 "2016-05-08T20:21:26Z")
Oprah Winfrey. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/4 "2016-05-08T20:22:02Z")
Al Franken. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/5 "2016-05-08T20:54:31Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Al Franken. Ineligible due to real political experience. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/6 "2016-05-08T20:59:18Z")
George Clooney. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/7 "2016-05-08T21:13:31Z")
Yes, I can see Oprah or Clooney. Also Rob Reiner. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/8 "2016-05-08T21:21:38Z")
The only one comparable to Trump would be Jerry Springer . . . though he’s held political office. Actually I think Springer is partially responsible for the Trump phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/9 "2016-05-08T21:21:55Z")
Alec Baldwin. Ben Affleck. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/10 "2016-05-08T22:02:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Ben Affleck. after his rant on Bill Maher, God, no! ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/11 "2016-05-09T06:22:20Z")
Warren Buffett. He’s a legitimate businessman unlike Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/12 "2016-05-09T06:34:13Z")
George Clooney. He seems serious enough about it and would likely get good advice when needed from his wife. He lacks the off-putting rage of Alec Baldwin and the dingbattiness of Rob Reiner, Susan Sarandon, Barbara Streisand, etc. His personality is pleasant and winning and he doesn’t seem as over-the-edge as many of his fellow Hollywoodites. I don’t believe any of these people, however, have the necessary connections or would know the first thing about fielding a capable team to help run the country. We’ve seen with Jimmy Carter what happens when you bring a bunch of amateurs along with you to the White House, and I think any of the people mentioned would be even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/13 "2016-05-09T09:47:40Z")
Franken’s political experience is limited, so I’d still go for him. OTOH how about Boris Johnson, former Mayor of London and Conservative MP? (The UK Conservatives are somewhat on the left of the US Democrats) Though he publicly disclaimed his American citizenship, I don’t believe he has actually done so. More American would be former Governor Jesse Ventura who describes himself as fiscally conservative but socially liberal - a perfect fit for many Americans. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/14 "2016-05-09T10:25:35Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Franken’s political experience is limited, so I’d still go for him. Franken has been a senator longer than Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio, which is why he’s done what they haven’t: yeah, he maybe got elected thanks to his celebrity status, but then he _got re-elected to the Senate six years later_, and by a bigger margin. That’s only “limited” in the sense that everyone’s political experience is limited. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/15 "2016-05-09T11:46:58Z")
Jimmy Buffett. He not only has a large following for his music, but is a very good businessman. He has several successful businesses, building a near billion dollar empire on his own, not from inherited wealth. He is also an accomplished author, sailor, and pilot, if those count for anything. I think he would probably do a good job as POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/16 "2016-05-09T12:37:28Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Warren Buffett. He’s a legitimate businessman unlike Trump. > [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Jimmy Buffett. He not only has a large following for his music, but is a very good businessman. He has several successful businesses, building a near billion dollar empire on his own, not from inherited wealth. He is also an accomplished author, sailor, and pilot, if those count for anything. I think he would probably do a good job as POTUS. Vote Buffett/Buffett in Twenty-Twenty! Kanye West has threatened to run in 2020, and if he goes with one of the two mainstream parties it’ll likely be the Democrats. He would, however, be a terrible president. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/17 "2016-05-10T02:28:44Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Jimmy Buffett. He not only has a large following for his music, but is a very good businessman. He has several successful businesses, building a near billion dollar empire on his own, not from inherited wealth. He is also an accomplished author, sailor, and pilot, if those count for anything. Jerry Garcia! He not only has a large (ish) following for his music, but has taken a LOT of acid! Second choice is Henry Fonda, because I’m old enough to have watched **Maude**. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/18 "2016-05-10T02:38:22Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Jerry Garcia! He not only has a large (ish) following for his music, but has taken a LOT of acid! > > Second choice is Henry Fonda, because I’m old enough to have watched **Maude**. Ummm, are you posting from the 80s? Because back then, these guys were more likely electable, being alive and all. I mean, if we can field dead dudes, let’s see if we can talk Walter Cronkite into running. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/19 "2016-05-10T02:40:57Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Jerry Garcia! He not only has a large (ish) following for his music, but has taken a LOT of acid! > > Second choice is Henry Fonda, because I’m old enough to have watched **Maude**. I understand Jerry’s acid intake has gone way down ever since he passed away. Mr. Fonda likewise has the slight handicap of not being among the living, although I guess that means he couldn’t screw things up too badly. Can’t believe I’m the first to mention Kinky Friedman. He’s made a couple of unsuccessful runs at office in Texas; maybe third time’s a charm. With the campaign slogan “Why the hell not”, he’d make a great counterpoint to Mr. Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336/20 "2016-05-10T03:01:37Z")
Hahaha…google ‘Democratic Celebrities’ and check out the third image from the left on the top of the page. I won’t tell you who, but it’s a laugher. 😃 ETA: Kevin Spacey. Hey, he’s already got more faux-presidential experience than Trump, and he could go full-Keyser Soze on anyone who didn’t vote for him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-democrats-celebrity-candidate/754336.md?page=2)