Kid Rock Eyed as Potential Senate Candidate

[CaseyJones]

http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/kid-rock-eyed-as-potential-senate-candidate


A surprising name has been thrown out as a potential Republican contender for Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow’s Senate seat next year: Kid Rock.

The rocker’s name came up as a possible candidate at a Michigan Republican Party convention last weekend. There have been no official decisions announced as of yet.

Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, once said he tended to vote Republican but qualified himself as “more libertarian” to Rolling Stone in 2013. But he has supported several major Republican candidates.

The Michigan native threw his support behind Mitt Romney in 2012 and supported Ben Carson in the 2016 presidential election. He later switched to Donald Trump as he became the party’s nominee.

Rock — or Ritchie — even started to sell pro-Trump merchandise in his official online store including t-shirts with the phrase “God, Guns & Trump” in red, white and blue-colored text.

Stabenow has been in office since 2000 and Inside Elections With Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Democrat, but Republicans feel more confident after Trump’s win there in 2016 — the first GOP presidential candidate to win there since 1988.

[CPUd]

That would be awesome


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCwXVOifomo

[Zippyjuan]

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/02/11/ronmey-mcdaniel-gop-michigan-convention/97785574/

People tossing out names of who they might like to see run. Rock has not expressed any interest so far in running for anything.


There are no announced candidates to challenge U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2018, but names dropped at Saturday's Michigan Republican Party state convention at the Lansing Center ran the gamut from a congressman to a former state senator to Michigan-born recording artist Kid Rock.

Wes Nakagiri, a Livingston County Tea Party activist who was elected to the party's central committee Friday night, said Kid Rock, who endorsed President Donald Trump, "has name I.D., is an out-of-the-box idea, and would kind of get rid of that stodgy Republican image."

The Trump candidacy could be "a template" for a Kid Rock candidacy, and "I'll bet you he would generate as much excitement as Trump did," Nakagiri told the Free Press.

Reaction among Republicans to a proposed Kid Rock candidacy wasn't quite "Only God Knows Why" — a 1998 Kid Rock hit. But many are looking at more conventional candidates and expect more names to surface than those currently in the mix.

[William Tell]

Why the hell not?

[Matt Collins]

The best thing to ever come from Michigan!

[Anti Federalist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bhqKLGeqpk

[navy-vet]

The best thing to ever come from Michigan!
amen

[oyarde]

The best thing to ever come from Michigan!

Chief Pontiac would take offense to that if he was here .

[Zippyjuan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrOvQ9JAf3g

[oyarde]

Well , one thing , he would certainly have a better understanding of economics than any Michigan Dem .

[CPUd]

Kid Rock is a big advocate for platinum

[oyarde]

Any PM is better than paper .

[oyarde]

If Pontiac's 300 had just been able to take Ft Detroit and destroy it in 1763 maybe there would not be so many liberals in Michigan today .....

[EBounding]

There's Ted Nugent :toady:
https://www.facebook.com/tednugent/posts/10154440586287297:0


If these GOP sonsabitches dont get it right this time I will come charging in as the ultimate WE THE PISSED OFF PEOPLE Mr FixIt Consitutional firebreathing shitkicker candidate from hell!

[RandallFan]

That isn't a bad move by Nugent. Just fuark with the GOP establishment. Pick this unwinnable Senate race or some useless swing district (who cares about giving Paul Ryan 240 or 241 votes) and just attack the Establicuck loverboy.

Kid Rock & Creed Frontman:

"He's like: 'What's going on here?' And I'm like: 'Whaddya mean, what's going on here?' And he asked if I minded if he got in on it.

"I'm like: 'Nah, of course I don't mind, man. Come in, take your pants off. Have a beer.' And then I'm like: 'Aren't you in a religious band?' But I was just trying to be a friend to him. He just seemed a little lost. I just figured if he hung around with a big dog he wouldn't piss like a puppy.
"I think I said to him: 'What's with the camera?' And you just know that thing's coming out one day. The thing is, if it did - and it almost did - I'd be a fucking hero; it would ruin his career."

[KrokHead]

What's with shitty celebrities being Republican?

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Rock has not expressed any interest so far in running for anything.


The article did not say that.

[jmdrake]

Why the hell not?

Because last time I checked he was a war loving neocon?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKcrE81EMXs

[jmdrake]

//

[Todd]

What's with shitty celebrities being Republican?

Fixed.

[William Tell]

Because last time I checked he was a war loving neocon?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKcrE81EMXs

OK. Didn't know that. All I knew is he described himself as libertarian leaning in the past so I figured he'd be better than someone like Cruz.

[jmdrake]

OK. Didn't know that. All I knew is he described himself as libertarian leaning in the past so I figured he'd be better than someone like Cruz.

You haven't set a very high bar there. :p

[William Tell]

You haven't set a very high bar there. :p

Well besides Rand and maybe Mike Lee everyone up there is awful. If someone's better than Cruz we are making progress as bad as that sounds. But yeah, if he's for intervention he's not worth supporting.

[jmdrake]

Well besides Rand and maybe Mike Lee everyone up there is awful. If someone's better than Cruz we are making progress as bad as that sounds. But yeah, if he's for intervention he's not worth supporting.

If you're talking the senate then yeah. Just about everyone else sucks. But Ron came to us from the house. There we have Justin Amash and Thomas Massie! Okay. It's still a paper then liberty bench but ya gotta start somewhere right?

As for Kid Rock, hopefully those "support our troops" videos were really only about the troops and not about supporting these godawful wars those troops have been sent to fight. The one good thing about Donald Trump is that he's made it safe for Republicans to say "I support the troops but not the wars." (Even through Trump has been on both sides of every recent war except Syria.)

[William Tell]

If you're talking the senate then yeah. Just about everyone else sucks. But Ron came to us from the house. There we have Justin Amash and Thomas Massie! Okay. It's still a paper then liberty bench but ya gotta start somewhere right?

As for Kid Rock, hopefully those "support our troops" videos were really only about the troops and not about supporting these godawful wars those troops have been sent to fight. The one good thing about Donald Trump is that he's made it safe for Republicans to say "I support the troops but not the wars." (Even through Trump has been on both sides of every recent war except Syria.)

Yeah I am well aware of our house friends.;) Kid likely won't even run but if he does we'll see what his positions are.

[jmdrake]

Yeah I am well aware of our house friends.;) Kid likely won't even run but if he does we'll see what his positions are.

Duh. I feel stupid. I just realized this is about Kid Rock running for senate! Somehow I was thinking it was about POTUS. Not really crazy considering....Trump. And Kanye West is considering a POTUS run.

Anyway, yet we need some more good people in the senate. And people like Kid Rock without a lot of political experience can be swayed different ways so it would be important for our sake if he's thinking about this to surround him with the right people. Seriously Dr. Ben Carson sounded a lot more sensible before those damn teocon vultures started surrounding and "advising" him on foreign policy.

[opal]

oh geeze.. well, stranger things have happened - Sonny Bono.. the current white house

it's another.. here, hold my beer, watch this - situation

[shakey1]

Credible, considering the current state of the union.

[rpfocus]

Well if our current First Lady can have soft porn nudes all over the internet, an actual pornstar Kardashian is a good follow up. Kanye 2020.

[Anti Federalist]

Says he's serious...


885240249655468032

https://www.kidrockforsenate.com/

well that could be entertaining

[phill4paul]

Kid Rock: ‘Pretty funny how scared I have them’

Musician Kid Rock on Monday defended himself against charges of racism from a Detroit-based civil rights group, claiming he wouldn’t be facing such attacks were he not considering a run for the U.S. Senate.

A Detroit-based affiliate of the National Action Network said last week it would protest Kid Rock’s six-show run opening the new Little Caesars Arena in Detroit this week, aiming to get the concerts canceled.

Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, said in a statement that people should ignore “the garbage the extreme left is trying to create!”

“They are trying to use the old confederate flag BS, etc. to stir the pot, when we all know none of this would be going on if I were not thinking of running for office. Pretty funny how scared I have them all and their only agenda is to try and label people / me racist who do not agree or cower to them!!” wrote Ritchie, who lives in Clarkston.


“My track record in Detroit and Michigan speaks for itself, and I would dare anyone talking trash to put theirs up against mine.”

In closing, he said, “I LOVE BLACK PEOPLE!!”

The National Action Network, founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton, has blasted Ritchie’s embrace of the Confederate flag in previous performances, as well as his criticism of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem.

“When you hire Kid Rock, who is known to be dog-whistling and cat-calling to white supremacist organizations and the white supremacist community, alt-right, whatever you want to call them, and you take our tax dollars to do that? That’s wrong,” the Rev. Charles Williams II, president of the National Action Network’s Detroit chapter, said on Facebook last week.

(Fuck you, Chuck. How much has your organization given back to Detroit? p4p)


In his Monday statement, Ritchie reiterated his disdain for “anyone who takes a knee or sits during our national anthem.”

Kaepernick, who is black, refused to stand during the national anthem while with the San Francisco 49ers last year in protest of police violence and racial oppression.

Ritchie said he was “very disappointed” that none of the people, businesses or charities he’s supported in Detroit have responded to the “unfounded attacks” from his critics.

“So for the unforeseen future I will focus my philanthropy efforts on other organizations besides the ones I have supported in the past,” Ritchie wrote.

(You're Gottdamned straight. Start your own charity called the Kid Rock for Senate charity and pass out turkeys at Thanksgiving! p4p)

Last week, Ritchie dismissed those calling him “racist” in profanity-laced remarks during a Grand Rapids concert Wednesday, telling Nazis and the KKK to “stay the (expletive) away.”

Ritchie has teased a potential run for the U.S. Senate, stoking anticipation with sales of “Kid Rock for US Senate” merchandise and political statements at recent performances.

At last week’s show in Grand Rapids, his announcer introduced Ritchie as Michigan’s “next senator,” and Ritchie came on stage to the tune of “Hail to the Chief.”

The group Common Cause this month filed a complaint against Ritchie with the Federal Election Commission and U.S. Department of Justice, alleging he has violated federal election law by acting like a Senate candidate while failing to register his candidacy or comply with regulations for campaign contribution limits and disclosures.

Ritchie has previously said he’s exploring a “very possible campaign” for Senate to challenge Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Lansing, who is up for re-election next year.

His campaign website sells campaign shirts, hats, yard signs and stickers that say, “Kid Rock for US Senate.” He has said proceeds will go toward an organization he plans to start to promote voter registration.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/09/11/kid-rock/105493658/

Fuck you left bullshit money hucksters. When you start helping your community instead of dividing it perhaps I might have an ear for you.

[phill4paul]

So, fuck the National Action Network and their race-baiting. In 2012 the NAN owed $900k in back taxes. Typical liberals, just like their tax dodging founder Al Sharpton.
In 2012 Rock not only paid his taxes but ponied up at least another $1 million for local charities. I wonder if Karen Dumas is going to come out and excoriate the NAN for what they really are?


Some stared, others pointed, and a few laughed as Ritchie's African-American friend and roommate at the time Karen Dumas, a Detroit native, watched the perceived outsider literally face the music.


Dumas is a former spokeswoman for Detroit Mayor Dave Bing who has witnessed Kid Rock's seflessness and gratitude help change lives in the Motor City and give opportunities to its residents that previously weren't available.

Kid Rock said modestly in November during an interview with the CBS show "Sunday Morning" he "probably" has given close to $1 million to charitable causes in the past year.

Dumas wouldn't be surprised if that's a low estimate.

"One time he handed me checks for five or six organizations, and I think the largest check was for $50,000," said Dumas, who lived in the same four-unit house on the east side of Detroit with Kid Rock in the early 90s. "He just said, 'Here, Karen. Can you get these to them?"

"He didn't do it with any fanfare or any press release. He's sincere and realizes he's been blessed."



http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/detroit/index.ssf/2013/08/kid_rocks_genorosity_detroit_p.html

[Matt Collins]

If he is going to make a serious run the he needs to start acting seriously about it.

[Natural Citizen]

If he is going to make a serious run the he needs to start acting seriously about it.

That boy's about as politically competent as a box of rocks.

As was mentioned earlier by someone, he's just another example of the fact that people want to be led. And it doesn't matter who, as long as they're being led.

[phill4paul]

If he is going to make a serious run the he needs to start acting seriously about it.

You mean like actually..commit? I think in politics this is called "feeling it out." I'm sure you learned this in one of your courses.

[Natural Citizen]

Also libertine is not libertarian.

[phill4paul]

Also libertine is not libertarian.

He wouldn't be the best. But, he wouldn't be the worst. Yay!, two party!

[Natural Citizen]

He wouldn't be the best. But, he wouldn't be the worst. Yay!, two party!

Well I agree with you about the two party system.

I'll say this and I'll shut up. During the 2014 Mid-Term we saw more Independent, third party, and Green Party candidates in modern history. Some really good people there and about, too. And we didn't hear or read a single word about any of them.

[phill4paul]

Well I agree with you about the two party system.

I'll say this and I'll shut up. During the 2014 Mid-Term we saw more Independent, third party, and Green Party candidates in modern history. Some really good people there and about, too. And we didn't hear or read a single word about any of them.

Absolutely.

[Matt Collins]

You mean like actually..commit? I think in politics this is called "feeling it out." I'm sure you learned this in one of your courses.
No, not that, but just communicating to voters in a way that a candidate should.

[Wooden Indian]

I think he'll win if he genuinely tries... and I'm okay with that.

[EBounding]

I know it's stupid and ridiculous, but he could win Michigan. His biggest problem is he can't be "Kid Rock" on the ballot.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k-IwllF8V4

[dude58677]

I know it's stupid and ridiculous, but he could win Michigan. His biggest problem is he can't be "Kid Rock" on the ballot.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k-IwllF8V4

He can just write his nickname in parentheses. No big deal!

[Wooden Indian]

While I admit that most celebrities are out of touch douches... have our lawyers and military personnel really done such a stellar job that musicians and TV personalities are any more "ridiculous" than they are?

Until mechanics, bakers, and librarians can afford to campaign, I'm okay with lawyers seeing some competition from our rags to riches musicians.

[dude58677]

While I admit that most celebrities are out of touch douches... have our lawyers and military personnel really done such a stellar job that musicians and TV personalities are any more "ridiculous" than they are?

Until mechanics, bakers, and librarians can afford to campaign, I'm okay with lawyers seeing some competition from our rags to riches musicians.

Public office is supposed to be for a cause and not a career. This is why the 2016 election is such a landmark and probably the greatest election of all time. You might not like Donald Trump or his policies but it is bigger then Donald Trump. It's so exciting that we are going to be seeing celebrities running for President while mechanics run for state and local office. Nonpoliticians are on a mission so they are more likelt ro carry out their promises than career politicians who always hold things off till the next election and nothing gets done. In the long run this will lead to a free America.

[EBounding]

I think it's funny that the democrats are protesting him, but he's out there supporting BLM and getting Republicans to cheer universal healthcare and gay marriage.


"No justice, no pizza!" (http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/09/12/kid-rock-protest-little-caesers-arena/105548386/)



Amid chants of “No more,” the Rev. Charles Williams II led a crowd of demonstrators Tuesday protesting Kid Rock’s opening act at the new Little Caesars Arena.

“We made sure that we sent a message,” he told the cheering throng.

Having led the crowd back to Grand Circus Park, where it had departed at about 5:30 p.m. for the arena, Williams, who heads the Michigan chapter of National Action Network that organized the protest, shouted: “One thing we ought to know, it’s not over. We are one Detroit and we will not stand for the divisive, hateful language of Kid Rock in our city. We don’t want to listen.”

The crowd, also chanting “No justice, no pizza” in reference to the eponymous pizza empire, grew to about 400 people in a walk from the park to protest Kid Rock’s appearance at the taxpayer-funded arena’s grand opening and his use in the past of the Confederate flag on stage.

[phill4paul]

I think it's funny that the democrats are protesting him, but he's out there supporting BLM and getting Republicans to cheer universal healthcare and gay marriage.


"No justice, no pizza!" (http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/09/12/kid-rock-protest-little-caesers-arena/105548386/)


“You will respect us,” he (Williams) said. “We will demand respect.

Doesn't work that way shit-bag race-baiter. Fuck you. No respect.

[Wooden Indian]

I think it's funny that the democrats are protesting him, but he's out there supporting BLM and getting Republicans to cheer universal healthcare....

I thought he said in that rant that you DIDN'T need to remind him the Black Lives Matter and that he didn't mind contributing to healthcare because he was rich but "we" shouldn't be forced to pay.

Guess I need to listen again

[phill4paul]

I thought he said in that rant that you DIDN'T need to remind him the Black Lives Matter and that he didn't mind contributing to healthcare because he was rich but "we" shouldn't be forced to pay.

Guess I need to listen again

That is what he said.

[RonPaulMall]

No, not that, but just communicating to voters in a way that a candidate should.

WAY too early for that. Kid Rock has universal name recognition and should wait until the very last moment before declaring himself a candidate. He is playing this absolutely the way that he should.

[EBounding]

I thought he said in that rant that you DIDN'T need to remind him the Black Lives Matter and that he didn't mind contributing to healthcare because he was rich but "we" shouldn't be forced to pay.

Guess I need to listen again

For what it's worth:

"It seems the government wants to give us all health insurance and wants us all to pay, and to be really frank, I really don't have a problem with that, because God has blessed me and made my pockets fat."

[jllundqu]

It is LITERALLY straight out of idiocracy.... his 'speech' at the concert was hilarious. Sad thing is, Murica (TM) would vote for him and he would win....

[dude58677]

For what it's worth:

"It seems the government wants to give us all health insurance and wants us all to pay, and to be really frank, I really don't have a problem with that, because God has blessed me and made my pockets fat."

And to be very frank, I really don't have a problem with that, since God has blessed me and made my pockets fat. But redistribution of wealth seems more like their plan. And I don't believe you should save, sacrifice, do things by the book and then have to take care of some deadbeat, milking the system, lazy a-- motherf---ing man.

[phill4paul]

It is LITERALLY straight out of idiocracy.... his 'speech' at the concert was hilarious. Sad thing is, Murica (TM) would vote for him and he would win....

It really was. Kinda makes me like him though. The guy ain't a dumbass, like most politicians. In the meantime he is racking up $ale$. Lol. I don't think he is serious. I think the left can protest too much that his ego might cause him to go forward though.

[Matt Collins]

Kid Rock has universal name recognition Not among average voters he doesn't. You have to remember the average voting age is somewhere around 70 years old. And they aren't going to vote for someone who acts like and looks like he does.

He needs a haircut, more professional attire, a serious attitude, and less profane language. If he does that, then yes, he can absolutely win (and part of me hopes he does).

[EBounding]

He's not running, lol

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2017/10/24/kid-rock-tells-howard-stern-running-senate/106955446/


Kid Rock made clear his intentions to run for Senate during an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” Tuesday morning.

“(Expletive) no, I’m not running for Senate, are you (expletive) kidding me?” Rock said. “Who couldn’t figure that out?”

[Swordsmyth]

He's not running, lol

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2017/10/24/kid-rock-tells-howard-stern-running-senate/106955446/

I won't believe either way until the deadline passes.