Independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman made a stop at SMU yesterday afternoon to talk about his campaign issues.
Friedman strolled into a packed Hughes-Trigg Commons fashionably late with his trademark cigar and cowboy hat and dove into some of the theatrics surrounding his candidacy.
As he was introduced in a manner more accustomed to professional wrestling than politics, Friedman took the stage and wasted no time in tearing into his opponents.
“Recently I showed a friend of mine around Austin, and he stopped and told me what a beautiful statue we have up at the Capitol,” recounted a grinning Friedman. “I told him ‘that’s not a statue up there, that’s Rick Perry.'”
This same off the cuff, half-joking and half-serious tone persisted for the remainder of the afternoon as Friedman continued to take shots at his fellow candidates and offered up enough one-liners to fill his 10-gallon hat.
In between his display of witty wordplay and criticism of gubernatorial candidates Perry, Democrat Chris Bell and Independent “Grandma” Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Friedman spoke of legalizing gambling in Texas and the state’s dire need for an improvement of its education system. Friedman’s research has found that legalizing gambling could create a possible $6- $10 billion that would directly benefit education.
He promised that while gambling might sound threatening to some, in reality it was the next logical step in funding the state’s failing education system.
“There are five other states surrounding ours that have legalized gambling.” Remarked Friedman, “Go to a casino in any one of these places and it’s full of Texans. Texans want to gamble, and these states are stealing our potential tax revenue.”
Friedman went on to address people being left out and left behind all across the state. He stressed the importance of everything from broken Social Security and Medicare programs to helping out people he thinks are the most in need right now in Texas: its public servants.
“We’re not helping anyone who helps others,” said Friedman. “They’re just getting screwed.”
He spent just as much time outlining his stance on his issues as he did defending his own qualifications for governor.
“Politics is the only field where the more experience you have, the worse you get,” he said.
“I’ve been called a lot of things. I’ve been called a flip-flop, a racist and a politician – the latter of which is the only one that really offends me.”
After being questioned about various scandalous events being shown through out the media, he said all of it was nothing more than his opponents playing dirty with “gotcha journalism.” Friedman didn’t shy away from criticism and readily explained everything thrown at him.
“Politicians are too afraid to offend people, to be politically incorrect,” said Friedman. “But they’re so busy worrying about that they forget about the issues. I’m not afraid to take the heat for anything.”
Friedman’s unconventional approach of touting his identity as an author, musician and former member of the peace corps instead of making an attempt to politically streamline his image impressed students.
“He really seemed to understand what everyday people care about,” said sophomore Aaron Sternick, “It’s cool to see someone finally sticking up for things that real people believe in.”
Friedman’s rapport with college students comes as no surprise when considering his platform of decriminalizing marijuana possession, production and research of alternative fuel sources (headed up by Willie Nelson), and the legalization of gay marriage.
“I learned some new things about where he stood on the issues,” said student Paul Baker. “It was really good; I got a lot out of it.”
Friedman closed his speech with a call to action for students and young voters in general.
He said he thinks “young people” should be running this state, and that there’s no better way to put that into action than by voting in November and making him governor.
