(November 6, 2010 - Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America)
I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.
So, country music/marijuana icon Willie Nelson endorsed Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson for President of the United States. Sounds kinda bizarre, right? I certainly thought so, but the story was too hilarious to pass up. The endorsement and the subsequent “acceptance” and press release from the Johnson camp led me to post this here yesterday.
Even though I have a sense the two are probably one and the same… Just in case you skipped that post - because you’re lazy or because you only found your way over here because of the inclusion of the words “Willie Nelson” and “pot smoking” in the title, here’s the short of it.
Willie Nelson is the “face” of the Teapot Party – an obvious spin-off and reaction to the TEA PARTY which has captivated a political nation and motivated millions to become engaged in the political conversation. For all intents and purposes, the Teapot Party is a similar humble coalition. The only difference is, this one’s devoted to… pot. But more on the Teapot Party in a minute…
So, the Teapot Party “endorsed” Gary Johnson; and the story went viral yesterday as many like myself just couldn’t resist the temptation to share the news with our readers.
A little background on Johnson if you’re wondering why anyone – let alone a bunch of pot smokers – would give a presidential endorsement 18 months out even a second look…
Gary Johnson is a former governor currently seeking the Republican nomination for President in 2012, and he is by all accounts libertarian through and through. Somewhat distracting from his ideological perspective, and somewhat directly attributed to it, Governor Johnson has been one of the most outspoken advocates for the legalization of marijuana. And no, we’re not just talking about the “for medicinal purposes” argument. We’re talking about the whole kit and caboodle.
I think you’re probably beginning to figure out how and why Willie “caught wind” of Mr. Johnson. There’s a very familiar scent in that there air.
Anyways, Governor Johnson was more than pleased with the endorsement and had this to say about Mr. Nelson and the Teapot endorsement.
“I am truly gratified to have the endorsement of such an iconic entertainer, philanthropist, innovator and champion for individual rights as Willie Nelson. Not only is he a superstar talent, he is a bold advocate for social change. Americans are demanding the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams without interference from a heavy-handed government, and Willie Nelson lends a tremendous voice to those demands.”
Like I said, the story went viral. Johnson supporters loved it (for obvious reasons and others), and much of the Right latched on to the story because once again Johnson was putting his pot campaign ahead of his political one.
And then day broke on the story’s second full day of coverage; and it seems old Willie was having second thoughts – not just on the endorsement of Gary Johnson, but on getting in the business of endorsements, altogether.
You can read the full account at the Teapot site here... or you can simply follow the timeline below…
- November 28, 2010: Willie Nelson is arrested in Texas for possession of marijuana (kinda fitting/ironic)
- November 30, 2010: Willie has an epiphany (smoking pot) and decides that there needs to be a pot-alternative to the Tea Party (for pot smokers).
- “48 Hours later”: The “movement” has a Facebook presence – and 30,000 supporters (openly proud pot smokers)
- “Several Months Later”: Chapters spring up across the country (road trip pot smokers)
- The Teapot Party begins endorsing candidates (politicians committed to pot smoking causes)
- All of them are defeated (pot smokers don’t vote)
- “Ten Days Ago”: Johnson, who was in Austin for a rally, met with Willie after a concert in New Braunfels (no reports of pot smoking at the meeting – ha)
- “Two Days Later”: Willie sends an email stating “I think we should endorse him.” (Willie emails?)
- Tuesday May 17, 2011: The Teapot Party announces its endorsement of Pot Smoking Gary Johnson
- Wednesday May 18, 2011: Nelson catches wind of all the buzz about his party’s endorsement and he begins to have second thoughts saying “My position is it too early for me to endorse anyone. And I think every one should vote their own conscience.” (pot paranoia?)
After being reminded that he had approved the endorsement, Willie said “I know I said that, but I think I will wait and see where he stands on other things. My bad. Sorry. (pothead’s answer for everything) I still think he is a good guy but so Is Dennis (Kucinich) and if he decided to run I would personally vote for him. If it came down to either him or Gary I’m already committed to Dennis. They both have said they support legal pot.” (pot confusion)
More from Willie…
“I still say that the people have the power to change things and they will if they vote… The Teapot Party started as a joke but it could still be a way for people to speak out about important things. I am not a criminal. (pot denial) The millions of pot smokers in this country are not criminals. (pot innocence by association) We don’t like being treated as such and I for one will stand up for what I believe in and will vote for anyone I choose. You should do the same. We are not ever going to agree on everything and everybody. The best advice I ever got was from my ex father-in-law. He said take my advice and do what you want to. End of story.”
“This will blow over and the world moves on. No harm done. We sound like a bunch of pot smokers, that’s all… The more I get into politics the more I realize that I am a guitar player.” (pot finally being put to good use)
—–
“We sound like a bunch of pot smokers, that’s all… The more I get into politics the more I realize that I am a guitar player.”
I think that says it all.
UPDATE: Scratcher posts with a reaction to the news…
In a development that will surely amuse my gracious host, Willie Nelson has un-endorsed Gov. Gary Johnson for President.
Two words: Very Amused.
…sigh… You’re very funny, I’ll give ya that. I laughed even more at this post than the other one. (‘Course, that mighta been the pot smoke getting to me.)
Really, this can’t be held against Johnson. Clearly, ol’ Willie has burned a little more than your average…well… forest fire, actually.
“All of them are defeated (pot smokers don’t vote)”
Here’s where I think/hope you’re wrong, my friend. The dirty, dreadlocked, tie-dyed, wanna-be hippies don’t vote. But you make a mistake in assuming every pothead is blatant. The vast majority of potheads are underground – meaning they may tell their close friends and acquaintances, but they’re too smart to advertise their recreational activities. I’d bet my left hand you know at least two people who smoke that you have no clue about.
Those people who work, pay taxes, raise families *and* smoke vote all right. And the reason pro-pot candidates don’t win is many of them are single issue. (Or so fringe as to be off-putting… ahem, Kucinich.)
A decent man, with an impressive fiscal track record and experience, who just *happens* to be pro-legalization also… well, that’s a whole ‘nother candidate. And I think the underground smokers will back him, if he can keep his face in the news long enough.
“The dirty, dreadlocked, tie-dyed, wanna-be hippies don’t vote. But you make a mistake in assuming every pothead is blatant. But you make a mistake in assuming every pothead is blatant.”
I get that. I do. And trust me when I tell you that I know plenty of pot smokers – some that are even very close to me. I just don’t know that many “potheads” – I think we both know there’s a difference.
It’s just my take that the casual pot smoker cares more about 420 other issues than pot. So maybe you’re right that most “pot-friendly” candidates lose because their one-issue candidates, but I can’t help but believe that it is a self-fulfilling prophecy because once they put it out there, it dominates everything else. Look at Gary Johnson. You and people like you are running around doing everything you can to get the word out about this guy’s track record, and he’s running around graciously accepting endorsements from Willie Nelson.
If pot-friendly candidates want to get out of the fringe, they have to be willing to distance themselves from it in the interest of discussing the real core of their platforms. Until they do, the only people taking them seriously will be the potheads – and again; they’re not getting up to vote.
“the casual pot smoker cares more about 420 other issues than pot”
You’re exactly right. I wouldn’t vote Johnson based on that. In fact, I’d support and admire his other positions and record if he took that topic off the table tomorrow.
“he’s running around graciously accepting endorsements from Willie Nelson”
That was a terrible judgement call, IMO. Nelson’s always been more left than right. And the farm subsidies would have been another weapon against Johnson. (Gonna be interesting to watch Bachmann on that topic, too.)
“they have to be willing to distance themselves from it in the interest of discussing the real core of their platforms”
Difficult to do when that’s all anyone asks about. When he was on Hannity’s radio show, Hannity started off with pot… then said “Well, that’s not all you’re about, so” they talked about something else. Then Sean brought it right back to pot. Then they switched topics, and then Sean brought up pot again. In a 15 minute segment, Hannity is the one who didn’t want to talk about anything but marijuana. (Of course, he’s in the tank for Newt, which says a lot about Hannity, too.)
Even at the SC debate, Johnson got what? Three questions? (And you can’t count that lame-ass Miss USA question about a reality show.) And what did they ask him about? Tax cuts? No. Balancing a budget? No. Cutting government growth? No again.
The problem is as much (or more) the media as Johnson himself.
[...] Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was also extended an invite, but Thursday told the local news affiliate co-hosting the event “I don’t think I’m going to be there. Thank you for asking though.” No news as to why Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson failed to make the cut. Would have thought that Willie Nelson endorsement would have done wonders for his chances. Oh that’s right, he took it back. [...]
Tip top stuff. I’ll eepxct more now.
[...] Willie Nelson Rescinds Pot Smoking Gary Johnson Presidential Endorsement [...]