Friday, October 26, 2007 - Posts
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sponsorship
This is the fifth entry in "The Fringe," a periodic look at the lesser-known candidates for president. Read the rest of the series here.Cap
Fendig is the fringe man's Mike Huckabee. The Republican presidential
candidate wants to keep the troops in Iraq, supports the fair tax, and
promotes pro-life policies. But while Huckabee's profile continues to
rise, Cap Fendig is hoping to grab four percent of the votes in Iowa,
at most. That's what happens when the highest public office you've held
is county commissioner.
The 53-year-old man certainly looks presidential, and speaks in a southern drawl that would make John Edwards swoon. His high-quality Web site
has pictures of him and his wife looking like the all-American
couple—complete with an out-of-focus background to imply Fendig is a
stark contrast to the murky America that surrounds us all.
Fendig
recently sold his tour company in Georgia to fund his campaign, but it
was his business that inspired him to run in the first place. He said
his platform consists of policies the "American people" want. Of
course, most of those Americans are his conservative tour clientele.
Fendig
is not ashamed to tell you that he thinks the constitution ought to be
changed. First up, the Fair Tax, which would repeal the 16th
amendment that allows the government to collect an income tax. Next, he
wants to solve the immigration problem by scrapping pieces of the 14th
Amendment. Under the Fendig administration, babies born in the United
States would no longer be automatic U.S. citizens. Their parents would
have to be citizens, as well. Unclear on whether America would make it
a habit of deporting children before they leave the hospital. Oh, and
don't forget to tack on a gay marriage amendment while you're at it.
(Fendig said homosexuality is a lifestyle choice America cannot endorse
but should protect.)
Constitutional changes aside, Fendig is making one novel recommendation: He wants to impose term limits on congressmen so that the legislative branch has a "rotation of fresh ideas and energy."
Fendig,
though, has more pressing concerns—like getting people to take him
seriously. When Fendig delivered his official announcement speech at a
county meeting, the video shows that the woman sitting behind him couldn't help but let loose a laugh.
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