Sidelined by Democrats, Larry Lessig considers running against them

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

Five Democratic candidates for president are officially invited to tomorrow's CNN-sponsored debate in Las Vegas. Over the weekend, some of the network's reporters revealed cheeky plans to expand the debate, if needed: A clean, bubble-wrapped podium reserved for Vice President Joe Biden, should he decide to enter the race even one minute before the faceoff.

If Biden doesn't run, the podium will go unused. That may be the greatest indignity yet visited upon Larry Lessig, the Harvard academic and anti-corruption scholar who announced a crowd-funded presidential bid last month. As of now, he's running. Biden isn't.

"If they invited me today, it would be like that classic nightmare where you have an exam and but haven’t prepared for it," Lessig said in an interview this morning. "I haven’t spent any time in debate prep. Now, would I go? Of course I would."

Lessig, who made a dramatic entry into politics last year with "the super PAC to end super PACs," has raised $1.2 million since he asked supporters to crowdfund his campaign. Most of that came in before the announcement, when Lessig said he'd run as "the first referendum candidate for president" if people put $1 million behind him.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/12/sidelined-by-democrats-larry-lessig-considers-running-against-them/

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Perhaps Mr. Lessig can explain how to allow him into the debate without including the 85 other registered Democrat candidates with <1% support?

[geek tragedy]

1. Lessig's candidacy is a slacktivist stunt, not a bona fide effort to get himself elected nt

[oasis]

2. Go for it. You still have 2 minutes remaining of your 15.

[blackspade]

3. He had 1% until he was conveniently left off the polls.

[RBInMaine]

4. Every cycle you get some people with no credentials trying for the limelight. Give it up Lessig.

Remember that actor from the Billy Jack movies? Remember Ron Kovic? Remember that mayor from Irvine, California? Remember the NUTCASE Lyndon LeDOUCHE? And MANY others over the years.

The party will and SHOULD only allow airtime and resources to SERIOUS candidates for the presidency, not these unqualified people trying to make a big name for themselves. That means members of Congress, cabinet members, governors, BIG CITY mayors, high level military officers, and SOMETIMES very high level business people (though this is quite RARE unless they have other experience such as Mitt Romney). (Look how NUTTY the other side is. Their top three are grossly unqualified, especially the KOOK who is Carson (with the other two not far behind). ZERO qualifications. ZERO. But that's the clown car for you.)

[RBInMaine]

5. He is grossly unqualified and the party must draw lines or every kook out there would want it.

[madville]

6. I'm trying to figure out why

Webb and Chafee are even there, everyone knows they have zero chance at the nomination, pretty much just wasting time.

[RBInMaine]

7. Because it is EARLY and they are MAJOR figures and QUALIFIED to be President.

[madville]

8. This first debate is in no way early

It's extremely late as far as debates go. If this was the beginning of summer I would agree with you

[cprise]

9. Supposedly, Lessig is getting more donations than Webb or Chafee

But Lessig is using the process for a single issue.

[geek tragedy]

10. Because there's no way to keep them out without booting O'Malley too? nt

[NuclearDem]

11. I'll get my own political party. With blackjack. And hookers.