Kid Rock Hits the Campaign Trail

UPDATED:

"F--- no, I'm not running for Senate!"

—Kid Rock to Howard Stern, October 24, 2017

Countable's original story appears below.

What’s the Story?

His name is Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid Kid Rock!... the distinguished Senator from Michigan?

On Tuesday, after performing one song at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the rocker left the stage and the arena went dark.

"Ladies and gentleman," an announcer boomed, "Will you please welcome the next senator of the great state of Michigan, Kid 'mother****ing' Rock!" As “Hail to the Chief” blared through the newly-built arena, Rock (née Robert James Ritchie) took his place before a lectern emblazoned with “United States of ‘Merica.” A graphic on the screen behind him flashed “Kid Rock '18 For U.S. Senate."

This event was part concert, and part senatorial campaign.

Outside the arena, protesters gathered; they objected to the rocker’s past use of the Confederate flag and his disapproval of NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. They were joined by Kid Rock supporters, some who waved Confederate flags.

Rock initially announced his bid to become "Kid Rock (R-MI)" in July. After some questioned the veracity of his political aspirations, Rock tweeted, “I have had a ton of emails and texts asking me if this website is real…KidRockForSenate.com The answer is an absolute YES.”

Standing behind the podium on Tuesday, Rock went beyond announcements. He delivered a four-minute speech about patriotism, hate groups, health care and various hot-button issues facing the nation.

On single parents relying on government assistance:

>"We should not reward those who can't even take care of themselves but keep having kid after f---ing kid. Of course, we should help them out. I don't want to stand here and sound like a jerk. But let's help ’em out with child care, job training and find them a f---ing place to work."

On white supremacists:

>"Nazis. F---ing bigots. And now again the KKK? I say f--- all you racists. Stay the hell away."

On gay and transgender rights:

>"I say let gay folks get married if they want and I'm not even close to a death trap. But things shouldn't be this complicated. And, no, you don't get to choose, because whatever you have between your legs should determine the bathroom that you use."

Rock closed his speech with a plea for unity, telling the crowd, "And I do believe it to be self-evident, that we're all created equal. I said it once, I'll scream it again: I love black people. And I love white people, too. But neither as much as I love red, white and blue."

A celebrity, with no experience in politics, who’s being dismissed as a serious candidate. Sound familiar? That’s right—it’s just like Ronald Reagan.

Celebrities and politics

Rock joins a short, but ever-growing list of entertainers, and outsiders, entering the world of politics. Jesse Ventura, the onetime governor of Minnesota, was a wrestling superstar. Al Franken, Minnesota senator, spent 10 seasons with Saturday Night Live. California’s "governator," Arnold Schwarzenegger, was a Mr. Universe turned movie star turned highest-ranking Golden State politician. And talk show host Jerry Springer, who was also the former mayor of Cincinnati, is currently considering a run for governor in his home state of Ohio.

Then there’s a certain president who has a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame for his work on a reality series, and who starred, as himself, in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and Zoolander.

Moreover, at the same time Rock was announcing his bid for senator back in July, a group was filing the "Run the Rock 2020" campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission on behalf of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The Fast & Furious star, also a WWE champ, told GQ in May that he "of course" would consider running for President in the next election. Appearing on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show a few weeks later, he was asked if he was serious, and Johnson admitted he was intrigued by the idea, and believes he could be a relatable Commander In Chief.

Kid Rock, however, has more experience in the political arena than The Rock. Rock is a staunch Donald Trump supporter; immediately after Trump’s acceptance of the nomination at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, the musician performed a 75-minute set. He visited the White House – along with Ted Nugent and Sarah Palin – in April. And his website sells a number of pro-Trump, pro-Republican shirts, most of which can’t be published here (NSFW link)—the one that doesn’t contain profanity reads, "GOD, GUNS & TRUMP."

In the past, he’s also delivered a stump speech for Mitt Romney and told The Guardian in 2015, "I am definitely a Republican on fiscal issues and the military, but I lean to the middle on social issues. I am no fan of abortion, but it’s not up to a man to tell a woman what to do. As an ordained minister I don’t look forward to marrying gay people, but I’m not opposed to it."

Rock would be running against incumbent Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow, who’s held her seat since 2000.

While Kid Rock has a backlog of incendiary comments, and a sex-tape, the President has shown these one-time political-career killers are no longer fatal. And Rock, like Trump, brings to his candidacy name recognition and a successful business (he’s estimated to be worth $80 million). And with songs like "Cowboy" and “American Bad Ass,” he’s positioned himself as a patriot, rebel, and gun-loving, beer-drinking, everyman.

President Trump is not the first celebrity politician. But with his win, the tabloid-worthy baggage he overcame, and taking his message directly to the people, Trump may have opened the door for many previously unimaginable politicians to have a legitimate chance at winning an elected office.

The Constitution only lists three eligibility requirements for president: 35 or older, a resident within the U.S. for 14 years, and a "natural born citizen" (which isn’t defined). It says nothing about “Bawitdaba.”

What do you think?

Has Donald Trump changed the political landscape? Or is the Kid Rock campaign just the next iteration of the Ventura/Franken/Trump trend of non-politicians taking over government? Share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: Kid Rock for U.S. Senate / public domain)