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Aaron Russo: Difference between revisions
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{{Wikipedia}} | {{Wikipedia}} | ||
'''Aaron Russo''' is a | '''Aaron Russo''' is a Jewish American entertainment businessman, film maker, [[Libertarian Party]] political figure and a [[tax protester]]. | ||
[[Image:Aaron russo-cannes.jpg|250px|thumb|Aaron Russo promoting his latest film, ''[[America: Freedom to Fascism]]'']] | [[Image:Aaron russo-cannes.jpg|250px|thumb|Aaron Russo promoting his latest film, ''[[America: Freedom to Fascism]]'']] | ||
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Russo became involved in politics in the early 1990s when he produced and starred in a video entitled ''Mad As Hell'' in which he criticized [[North American Free Trade Agreement|NAFTA]], The [[War on Drugs]], the concept of a National [[Identity document|Identity Card]], and government regulation of [[alternative medicine]]. | Russo became involved in politics in the early 1990s when he produced and starred in a video entitled ''Mad As Hell'' in which he criticized [[North American Free Trade Agreement|NAFTA]], The [[War on Drugs]], the concept of a National [[Identity document|Identity Card]], and government regulation of [[alternative medicine]]. | ||
Russo ran in the [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] primary for governor of [[Nevada]] in 1998, placing second with 26% of the vote. He then endorsed the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate, | Russo ran in the [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] primary for governor of [[Nevada]] in 1998, placing second with 26% of the vote. He then endorsed the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate, Las Vegas mayor Jan Laverty Jones, who lost to Republican Kenny Guinn. Russo subsequently planned to run for governor in 2002 as an independent or a Libertarian, but he was temporarily sidelined by cancer. | ||
In January 2004, he declared his candidacy for the [[President of the United States]] as an independent, then decided to run for the [[ | In January 2004, he declared his candidacy for the [[President of the United States]] as an independent, then decided to run for the [[Libertarian Party]]'s nomination. While some considered Russo's style crude and even insulting [http://www.carolmoore.net/libertarianparty/convention2004report.html], others argued his media experience would enable him to pose a serious threat to incumbent President George W. Bush, pulling enough votes from otherwise likely Bush voters to affect the outcome in [[battleground state]]s, in the same way that Ralph Nader was considered to be in relation to [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[John Kerry]].[http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig3/tuccille6.html][http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/5/14/02051/7441][http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/21/politics/main619019.shtml] | ||
At the Libertarian National Convention in May 2004, Russo received 258 votes, as opposed to 256 for [[Michael Badnarik]] and 246 for [[Gary Nolan]], a majority being required to receive the presidential nomination. Russo went on to be defeated on the third and final ballot by nominee Badnarik by a vote of 423-344. | At the Libertarian National Convention in May 2004, Russo received 258 votes, as opposed to 256 for [[Michael Badnarik]] and 246 for [[Gary Nolan]], a majority being required to receive the presidential nomination. Russo went on to be defeated on the third and final ballot by nominee Badnarik by a vote of 423-344. | ||