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Meet Gubernatorial Candidate Basil Marceaux: Proof America’s Democracy Is Still Healthy

» 45 comments

A video has been going viral since yesterday evening of Basil Marceaux, a gubernatorial candidate from Tennessee, discussing his platform on Nashville’s WSMV 4 in a slightly less than lucid fashion. This was supposed to be a quick post for me (throw up the video, make a joke, get out), but I’ve been staring at my screen forever and I can’t do it. I just can’t make fun of this guy. Part of the reason is that Wonkette has already completely (and hilariously) eviscerated him, but the other part is because it just doesn’t feel right. So I’m going to take a different route and point out how this viral video works as proof of what is so great about our country.

When I first saw the video early this morning, I thought Marceaux had just kicked back a few too many drinks to calm his nerves before a big television appearance but, after viewing Marceaux’s website (which, despite what he says in the video, totally isn’t ImBasilMarceaux.com or even BasilMarceaux.com) and reading his writings, it became clear that what you see is what you get and that this is the real Basil Marceaux…or possibly the most brilliant political performance art prank since Andy Kaufman threw on some cheek puddy, faked a deeper gruff voice, and made everyone believe that there was a real man named “Richard Nixon“. On the website, Marceaux has a list of “Things I done for my citizens,” asks “why Democracy invaded the U.S. State on July 16 1866,” and promises that, if people vote for him, “I WIN I WILL IMMUNE YOU FROM ALL STATE CRIMES FOR THE REST OF YOU LIFE!” Even more amazingly, you can check out his son’s site (Basil Jr. is running for Tennessee House Representative) and find some equally terrific quotes.

So, yeah, all of that stuff is pretty easy to make fun of (and feel free to do so, it is funny), but let’s look at the facts here. Maybe Marceaux isn’t the smartest man in the world, maybe he has some out there ideas, maybe he repeatedly connects routine traffic stops to slavery for some reason, but none of that matters. He is still getting his say out there. He is still running for office. He even got to go on TV just like every other candidate, although the anchors introduced him as if they were introducing the “pity contestant” in an elementary school Talent Show. If that doesn’t scream America, a country that promises to give every single person their fair shot (and tries pretty darn hard to keep that impossible promise), I don’t know what else does.

So check out the video below. Check out his website as well as his son’s. Even check out his YouTube page which features nothing but eight minute long videos of Marceaux staring into the camera accompanied by static. Check out all of this and have a good laugh. But, once you’re done that, at least give the guy some credit; he’s kind of the American dream.

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  • writer

    Alvin Greene has found a running mate.

  • http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

    Now we know what The Real Royal King looks and sounds like.

  • axel360

    Greene/Marceaux 2012!

  • axel360

    I think that ‘R’ is for retarded…are we still allowed to use that word?

  • paulmdoro

    axel360 said:
    I think that ‘R’ is for retarded…are we still allowed to use that word?

    Depends on who you ask.

  • http://www.youtube.com/cmdrgmh cmdrgmh

    This is the Republican Party at it’s best. LMFAO.

  • sarainitaly

    oh god, he’s doesn’t have Downs does he? I’m going to be sad if he does and people are laughing at him.

    I received my ballot the other day in the mail and two Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate are Mike the Mover and Goodspace Guy.

    Alvin Greene, Basil, Goodspaceguy….what is happening?

    (I was reading about Alvin’s discharge and I think he might ride the same bus as Basil….?)

  • Rosey

    WOW…just WOW! Did he say he was a Republican? If he did just further evidence that there are idiots in BOTH parties!

  • Some_Dude

    So this guy is Republican I’m guessing? Also, how that reporter kept a straight face is beyond me.

  • writer

    Alvin Greene is the new face of the Democratic party. Let’s hope he can reach across the aisle to Basil.

  • paulmdoro

    If Americans (or at least residents of South Carolina and Tennessee) truly want bipartisanship, vote Alvin and Basil.

  • writer

    The only question is which one should head the ticket.

  • paulmdoro

    They would have to hash it out, as only true statesmen can.

  • Stratdude

    The sad part is, the backward hoopleheads on this site who are alway defending fox news, limbaugh, palin, beck, etc., are probably champing at the bit to vote for this guy.

  • writer

    The networks could reserve a three hour time slot so each of them could answer a question.

  • Jon Bershad

    Writer, clearly the one with the Bobblehead.
    http://www.mediaite.com/online/senate-candidate-alvin-greene-not-impressed-with-tacky-bobbleheads-of-himself/

    Sara, part of the reason I had such a hard time writing this is that I really can’t tell what his deal is. I do hope nothing is seriously wrong with him.

    But, yeah, forget the midterms. Greene/Marceaux 2012!

  • paulmdoro

    I want to see these guys in a debate. That sounds awesome.

  • Permatiltx

    Some_Dude said:
    So this guy is Republican I’m guessing? Also, how that reporter kept a straight face is beyond me.

    Also how smoothly she moved into a story about Playboy.

  • Penguin60

    Good God, I hope this is an Andy Kaufman moment. He just needs to start wrestling women.

  • Hugo Daun

    gordonbloyerownhorn said:
    Now we know what The Real Royal King looks and sounds like.

    The dude bears a striking resemblance to YOU, Gordy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kelly-Hays/1039033615 Kelly Hays

    It’s just not in me to make fun of this guy either, which is surprising, because I’m a royal bitch and once got paid to write snarky articles about celebrities.
    Maybe it’s because I feel like a fraud picking the low hanging fruit. Or maybe it’s because I figure, hell, at least he’s running.
    I have a lot of ideas about how I’d like to change my state too, but you’ll never see me _actually_ put my neck on the line for it– because I don’t think I’m rich enough, smart enough, or “polished” enough to win, and I don’t have the right “connections.”
    So maybe this guy’s genuinely crazy and has no concept of what a fool he looks like, or maybe he _knows_ that people are laughing at & looking down on him, but he loves his state and figured he still had to try running for office anyway. Whether the former or the later is true– whether he’s certifiably insane or just earnestly dedicated– I can’t find it in myself to make fun of someone like that.

  • Some_Dude

    The most awesome to happen ever would be for him to drop the baddest rap album in history with Alvin Green.

  • JunkJunk

    This is just lovely.

    The next time someone says to me, “Alvin Greene is one of yours,” I can turn around and introduce them to Basil Marceaux!

  • perceptorii

    Basil Marceaux, Alvin Greene, debate, now.

  • http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

    Hugo, you need your eyes examined, maybe that is why you voted for Obama.

  • tatboy

    I seriously thought that was Chris Farley in an old SNL skit. No joke here I really did.

  • JunkJunk

    One word:

    DIABEETUS.

  • Newsjunky

    Ummm… I think I have entered bizarro world.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    omg, bloyer, why didn’t you tell us you were running for governor?

  • http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

    UnReasonable, why didn’t you tell me you were running for village idiot?

  • Grammie

    I don’t really think this should have been here at all and the only reason I can see for it is not complimentary.

    I can understand the news station living up to a commitment to give EVERY candidate equal airtime but not Mediaite’s covering it.

  • http://www.abramsresearch.com/ Dan Abrams

    This is the problem with NON opinion journalism. The anchors have to sit there and act as if he is a normal candidate just like the rest when, of course, they should be saying. Huh??? Is this for real? Is this a gag? Is there something wrong with him?

  • JimBob

    I thought I was watching Alan Grayson for a moment!
    Dan, why wouldn’t you have the very same comment for Grayson?
    There are MSNBC commentators interviewing him, sitting there pumping him up and pretending HE is normal!

  • JimBob

    As an afterthought, the MSNBC commentators sit there most times and try to pretend they are normal.!

  • The Real Royal King

    Well, I have finally found the Gordon Blower Show.

    Bill O’Reilly, on the FOX Network:: “The children of America have seen with their own eyes that liars can win and cheaters can prosper.”

  • The Real Royal King

    Grammie said:
    I don’t really think this should have been here at all and the only reason I can see for it is not complimentary. I can understand the news station living up to a commitment to give EVERY candidate equal airtime but not Mediaite’s covering it.

    I don’t know Grammie, he makes much more sense than than the Tea Party Candidates in the Reprublican Party.

    Irony: Bill O’Reilly, on the FOX Network:: “The children of America have seen with their own eyes that liars can win and cheaters can prosper.”

  • writer

    King, all Fox did was show part of a video. It wasn’t in their authority to fire Sherrod. In fact, she’d resigned before Fox showed the video. Wasn’t it your guy in the White House who got her fired? Why aim only at Fox?

  • The Real Royal King

    writer said:
    King, all Fox did was show part of a video. It wasn’t in their authority to fire Sherrod. In fact, she’d resigned before Fox showed the video. Wasn’t it your guy in the White House who got her fired? Why aim only at Fox?

    My that diversion is as trite and tiring as your plentiful and now thoroughly discredited reverse discrimination argument. I have never said the FOX Newtwork caused the firing, and you know it. You lied, and you’e perpetuating your own lie. I said the FOX Network perpetuated, promoted and propogated the Breitbart lie. It did. Demonstrably.

    There is a new day in American political discourse, and your old lies are of the dark night now passed. Wake up and smell the coffee.

    Irony: Bill O’Reilly, on the FOX Network:: “The children of America have seen with their own eyes that liars can win and cheaters can prosper.”

  • writer

    King, you’re the liar. I was only pointing out that it wasn’t Fox who fired Sherrod, but that your vitriol is only aimed at Fox. I never said that you claimed Fox fired Sherrod, so you’re lying once again. Furthermore, where did I say the Sherrod case was ‘reverse discrimination’? Show me the post. I’ve accused you of ignoring black racism, as in your refusal to admit that Louis Farrakhan is a racist, but I never mentioned reverse discrimination in the Sherrod case. King, you’re lying again, but we’re all used to it by now.

  • writer

    King? King? Was it something I said?

  • PureFreedom

    Plant! Plant! Plant from a far left group.. I Heard something that it will come out…. this was a hoax in regard of the Greene situation. Watch soon on the outcome of this! Its not what it seems.

  • jimw1016

    Gee, I decide to stop by on Saturday and take a peek at what’s happening at Mediaite, it’s a first for me, usually I have something interesting and of life value to do. And what do I find? The same old discriminatory bullshit that appears Monday through Friday. Even you Republicans are making fun of him like 3rd graders. At least he’s he’s speaking for change rather than sitting here arguing about the garbage, thieving misuse our current political is dishing up, which most of your support and defend by the way. Go Basil! You are sad bunch of garbage!

  • torgman

    What are the chances of finding someone like that In Tennessee?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Toklucu/1231659870 Johnny 2Can from FL

    Wow… This is one of the Republicans Best!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Josh-Feldman/1158574704 Josh Feldman

    Alvin Greene and Basil Marceaux are living proof that retardation is a bipartisan problem.

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