Springer: If I can help Democrats, I'll run

The Vindicator ^ | 5/1//03 | David Skolnick

[LdSentinal]

YOUNGSTOWN — Talk show host Jerry Springer, who is considering a 2004 run for the U.S. Senate, sees himself as the only chance a Democrat has of breaking through the stranglehold Republicans have over Ohio.

"Right now, the Democrats can't win in this state," Springer said. "If I can be helpful, I'm running."

Springer, a former Cincinnati mayor who hosts one of television's most outrageous shows, talked like a candidate in midstump during an interview Friday with The Vindicator.

Springer criticized U.S. Republican Sen. George Voinovich, the war in Iraq and the federal government for failing the middle and lower classes, and he took a shot or two at President Bush.

Talk show an obstacle

Calling his own talk show "silly" and "stupid," Springer acknowledges it is an obstacle, even though it has made him a multimillionaire.

"I'm doing a show that's chewing gum," he said. "It's a one-hour escape from life."

Springer, who has delivered speeches at Democratic dinners all over Ohio, including Boardman on Friday night, said he will decide by July whether he will seek the position. State Sen. Eric Fingerhut of Cleveland is the only announced Democratic candidate for the seat.

"If I can break through the clutter of the show, I'll run," he said. "If I can't, I won't run. If I ran, it would be for the purest of motives. It won't make me rich or famous. I'm not thinking of this as a career move. ... Even if you hated me, I can't see a motive you could attach to me running for the Senate other than I want to help people."

Criticism of Voinovich

Springer said Voinovich, a self-proclaimed deficit hawk, didn't show enough leadership in fighting Bush's $550 billion tax-cut package. Voinovich favors a $350 billion package and is in a position with a divided Senate to play a key role in the decision.

Voinovich "could have said "No tax cut, and that's it'; there's a hero," Springer said. "He's a working-class guy, but his policies have been absolutely elitist."

Marcie Ridgway, Voinovich's spokeswoman, declined to discuss Springer's potential candidacy.

"The senator's concentration right now is focused on the economy, and giving it a shot in the arm and passing important legislation to give jobs back to the United States," she said.

In one breath, Springer called Bush a "good man, he's not evil at all," and then a few minutes later said the president is "evil" because he said on national television that people have the right to not buy Dixie Chicks CDs over statements their lead singer said about Bush. Springer compared Bush's statements to McCarthyism.

Ideas for economy

Springer mentioned a number of ways to stimulate the economy and improve the lives of Americans, including emphasizing early childhood education, providing free college to those majoring in math or science in return for their spending time after graduation teaching those subjects in impoverished communities, and making the first $10,000 to $20,000 earned by each American tax free.

Springer couldn't give a cost for his proposals but said it would be cheaper to fund them than the invasion of Iraq.

[chance33_98]

Run Forrest Run!

[doug from upland]

Jerry Springer is the DemocRATic Party. It is a band of gypsies, tramps, and thieves.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yes, Jerry, please run. We're begging you. Now if only the 'Rats will run their OH favorite son and fellow Cincinnati troglodyte Larry Flynt for Governor in '06.

For sleaze and perversion in Ohio, vote 'Rat !

[Paleo Conservative]

I wonder what format the debates would have? I bet they would be interesting to watch.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

It would be great if Springer would endorse Sharpton!

[WorkingClassFilth]

You can help, Jerry! Run with Al Sharpton as the Democratic dream team of all time!

It really fills the heart with pride of all good Americans to see such a fine field of players in the team of Democracy! All of America (at least her prisons) are represented with a robust ticket of rapists, sodomites, killers, pornographers, lunatics, thieves, liars, psychopaths, drunkards, addicts, con-artists, swindlers, racists, drug-dealers, Communists, Nazis and, of course, lawyers and teachers.

The Democrats could really, really use an effective amoral panderer right about now, Jer. Give 'er a shot!

[klute]

Actually, when I worked for a couple of Republican Cincinnati city council members about 25 years ago, Jerry Springer was in the next office. He was an intelligent, serious politician with a keen intellect (even though he was also a serious liberal) He is the Democratic party in that he placed no value on integrity when the time came for him to make his choices in life.

[ladyinred]

Of course he is a democrat! His lack of morals and good sense seem to fit right into the platform. Let's hope the rest of the state doesn't agree with his anything goes outlook.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Wasn't there a scandal of some sort with Springer crossing the Ohio to Covington, where he would visit brothels?

[sweetliberty]

Let the chair throwing begin.

[klute]

He wrote a check to a prostitute. He resigned, only to make a comeback a few years later. I remember seeing footage of him on VH-1 giving Congressional testimony about lowering the voting age to 18 in the sixties. Even though I disagree with him politically, he had a bright future in politics at one time.

[chance33_98]

crossing the Ohio to Covington, where he would visit brothels?

I live in Ohio myself, have to investigate this. Perhaps they need someone to help with their computers...

[Kudsman]

Springer said. "If I can be helpful, I'm running."

You are helping. Please run Jerry. The country needs to see you taken seriously by the Democrats. Talk about drawing clear distinctions for voter choice. Ooh I just wiped the slobber from the RIGHT side of my face at the prospect.

[F16Fighter]

Springer mentioned a number of ways to stimulate the economy and improve the lives of Americans, including emphasizing early childhood education, providing free college to those majoring in math or science in return for their spending time after graduation teaching those subjects in impoverished communities...

Funny, but for a guy who's spent the last ten years of his life polluting the airwaves with his freakshow sub-culture of mutants, perverts, and tri-sexuals, Springer's is awfully interested in the "education" of our youth.

Shouldn't the community worry about a Jerry Springer wielding ANY public office at this point?

[MadeInOhio]

Exactly, Sweet Liberty.

"If I can break through the clutter of the show, I'll run," he said. "If I can't, I won't run."

I'll spare you the trouble, Jer. The answer is you can't. As hard up as Democrats are in the Buckeye State, I don't see them descending to Springer's level to select an opponent for George Voinovich.

[UNGN]

Wrong Jerry. That was Jerry Rivers. :)

[sweetliberty]

"I don't see them descending to Springer's level"

Surely you jest. The lowlife they put in the white house makes Jerry Springer look like a boy scout, and they've been plunging for even greater depths ever since. Even the thought of something being "LOW" is not on their radar.

[sweetliberty]

Point taken, but there were plenty of chairs to go throw around for both of them.

[Rockpile]

Speaking of Larry Flynt, I met a guy years ago from northern Kentucky who said that Flynt was into clubs, prostitution and porn shops and was "mobbed up". He was talking about Flynt's pre-Hustler days.

Haven't seen any stories along these lines so don't know whether to put credence in them or not.

Now IF there's any truth to the above then one's got to wonder if Flynt knew Springer in the "old days" and if so how they become acquainted.