Why do some people run for office when they don't have a chance to win?
@thegreatdebater (7316)
United States
July 20, 2012 11:46am CST
I have often wondered why this is, but then I read a story about Samuel Wurzelbacher. Samuel is a former, not licensed, plumber who made headlines four years ago when he questioned Obama about his policies. Today he is running for office, and his campaign is not doing so good. His latest issue is his quarterly reports which show he has been paying himself $3,842 a month. But, his latest report shows him making $10,000 a month as his "salary". He also bought himself a suit, which isn't allowed under the law, but he can just pay for it from his monthly "salary". This may not surprise many that you can pay yourself to run for office, but it did surprise me. Do you think that candidates should be paid to run for office? And, it $10,000 a month a lot of money to you for this?
http://business.toledoblade.com/Politics/2012/07/17/Kaptur-outraises-challenger-in-quarter.html
7 responses
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
20 Jul 12
To give people options. You never know what will happen in the course of a political campaign. Forget not that Barack Obama, who is president of the US, became senator because his competitor was forced to drop-out of race.
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
21 Jul 12
That is very true. The district this guy is running in was made by republicans to be a democrat district. The created the most ignorant district in the country, because they can. If you ever look at this district it goes from Toledo to Cleveland, into the middle of Lake Erie.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
24 Jul 12
democrats draw lines in the middle of buildings to create districts in Chicago. 
@knoodleknight18 (917)
• United States
21 Jul 12
Underdogs win from time to time, that's why we have elections. Nothing really surprises me when it comes to politicians getting money. What does surprise is how much money plumbers must actually make. I never realized plumbing was so lucrative. Anyways, I'm off to learn to fix sinks so I can pay back my student loans.
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
21 Jul 12
Plumbers to make a good living, but it is debatable if Joe was really ever a plumber, and I can guarantee you he hasn't been a plumber for years now. He has spent most of his time making statements that not many people agree with, and running for office.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
20 Jul 12
On your opening question, I don't know. Perhaps some part of them believes they do have a chance. Remember that guy with no money who won the Democratic primary to go up against Sen. DeMint? He sure as he1l seemed to have no chance yet he beat out an established local politician who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on that primary.
Joe the Plumber might have had a chance back in 2010, but his 15 minutes of fame is way too far past and frankly, he's made an a$$ of himself in just about everything he's said and done since then.
I did NOT know that candidates could pay themselves a salary. I find that very odd. I remember that stink over Christine O'Donnell spending campaign money on meals and rent for an apartment that she used as a campaign office. If you're allowed to pay yourself a salary, I suppose she could have avoided the whole issue by just paying herself a juicy salary and spending her "salary" on those things.
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
21 Jul 12
I honestly didn't know you could pay yourself either. I have heard of people paying their family, or consulting firms that are either run by a family member, or has some kind of family connection. I don't think I have ever heard of a candidate actually paying himself a "salary".
I do remember that O'Donnell story, I bet if she saw this article she would be so upset that she missed a loophole in the system.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
24 Jul 12
We spend all kinds of time railing against 'career politicians' and now we are railing against a common citizen running for office. Something is wrong with that picture in my mind. Tell me, we distrust the career politician, now we question the common citizen running for office, just WHERE are we to expect our representatives and senators and presidents to come from?
As for the money, if he is a 'common citizen and NOT a fatcat millionaire career politician, just what is he suppose to live off of while he campaigns? Just wondering....
as for his views, I have not a clue. But I like the idea of 'just folks' running for office.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
5 Sep 12
No, they shouldn't. In fact, I think that government-jobs should be spare-time jobs, that all government-officials should make most of their money doing something other than government.
@Fatcat44 (1141)
• United States
20 Jul 12
I do not understand a couple of things here. Some of your info does not jife. Where to you get $10,000. Worse case it was $5,000 for two months, if I understand your scenario because it was at the first of the month and the end of month, which I assume is two months, not one month.
And wow, he bought a suit, general they rent which would cost more money in the long run, so he is fugal in my words. I sons went to prom, and instead of renting a tux, we bought them suits for about the same money and they wore them every Sunday to church. How many $1K+ shoes has Michelle O. bought?
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
24 Jul 12
Fat, it doesn't say that in the article. Do you have more information I don't see?
@petersum (4522)
• United States
20 Jul 12
In British English, an unlicensed or unqualified tradesman is known as a "cowboy".
He certainly isn't the first cowboy to run for office!
$10K seems a very small amount compared with the millions that others waste. Doesn't each President spend more on his campaign than the salary he receives in four years? It doesn't surprise me at all.
