Posted on 05/09/2015 1:17:58 PM PDT by cripplecreek
FLINT, MI -- What started as a local attorney's way to draw attention to an unusual mayor's election has turned into an international phenomenon as Giggles the Pig makes headlines around the globe.
News organizations from Russia and the Netherlands have picked up the story of the small porcine from Flint whose owner is attempting to enter into the mayor's race. Even CNN ran a story Friday, May 8, about Giggles' attempt to take on the Vehicle City's political establishment.
Attorney Michael Ewing announced Giggles' campaign on Facebook on May 4 following news this week that no names would appear on the upcoming mayoral primary ballot because the clerk's office gave the wrong campaign filing date to candidates.
Four candidates, including Mays, were informed that they filed enough signatures to be certified, but wouldn't be on the ballot because they missed the deadline by a week.
The state said the city must proceed with an all write-in candidate election.
Ewing said he believed an all-write-in mayoral race could result in residents electing an unqualified leader, and Giggles' campaign aimed to bring more public attention to the race.
"It's grown much larger than I've ever thought," Ewing said of the campaign.
Requests for T-shirts and yard signs supporting Giggles have poured in from around the country. People from around the globe have even logged on to Giggles' Facebook page to pledge their support.
However, not everyone has been supportive of Giggle's campaign.
Flint councilman and mayoral candidate Eric Mays has accused the campaign of racism and Mayoral candidate Karen Weaver, who along with incumbent Mayor Dayne Walling and councilman Wantwaz Davis were notified their names wouldn't appear on the primary ballot, called Giggles' candidacy and the deadline snafu a "mockery of the democratic process."
But, while the media attention has been nearly overwhelming for Ewing, he said he and Giggles still plan to hit the streets to try to educate voters about the importance of the upcoming mayoral election and "shed light on the dark corners of Flint politics."
Yeah, this will provoke the muslims!
I wonder if we can convince Joni Ernst to endorse Giggles?
Undoubtedly will do a better job than exists in many cities around the country, and for that matter in the Nation's capital, as well.
Giggles cheerleader!!
Funny how this little story has become international in attention gained. I guess other countries appreciate a little comic relief too from time to time, just as we do.
I still don’t quite get why he’s doing this, but the pig owner has certainly earned his 15 minutes of fame.
Giggles should hire a photographer who does portraits of Livestock.
Giggles the pig might do a better job than the moron in the white house. Hell he might be smarter...
Giggles’ brother is Mo Hamhead.
Flint, MI?
Michael Moore is running for mayor?
I’m Mo Hamhead and I endorse Giggles for mayor.
He may make a better mayor, and he has the benefit of not costing the taxpayers a dime of pension money. After his term of office ends the citizens can celebrate by roasting him at a barbecue.
Y'know, it's awfully hard to be respectful of somebody so stupid as Eric Mays, that he should immediately assume Ewing is putting him and whoever the other black is down.
Presumably, the other two candidates are white (or something). Why does Mays assume that they are not the targets of Ewing's little joke.
Because Mays himself believes that the whites are "more than a pig", while he is "less than a pig"?
People like Eric Mays shouldn't be allowed to make public statements. It just reveals their utter ignorance.
The human candidates are worried that they'll lose to Giggles; the sitting politicians are worried about the inevitable scrutiny of Flint politics. Thanks cripplecreek.
Give me bacon or give me death!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.