Kinky Friedman is the best thing to happen to Texas politics since Ann Richards. He’s an independent, freethinking Jewish cowboy who supports school prayer AND gay marriage. On Sunday, he appeared on 60 Minutes to explain his candidacy. Here’s what he had to say:
60 Minutes: YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PRETTY RELIGIOUS STATE. YOU’VE COMPARED YOURSELF TO JESUS. A LOT OF PEOPLE, RELIGIOUS VOTERS, I’M SURE, ARE OFFENDED BY THAT.
Friedman: WELL, I JUST SAID THAT… THAT JESUS AND I WERE BOTH JEWISH AND THAT NEITHER OF US EVER HAD A JOB, WE NEVER HAD A HOME, WE NEVER MARRIED AND WE TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE IRRITATING PEOPLE. NOW, IF THAT’S COMPARING MYSELF TO JESUS– I DON’T REALLY THINK IT IS– BUT THE JESUS IN MY HEART IS A JESUS WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR, AND, PERSONALLY, I THINK HE’D BE ENJOYIN’ MY CAMPAIGN AS MUCH AS ANYBODY RIGHT NOW. I THINK HE IS.
60 Minutes: BUT THE ISSUES THAT DO GET THE HEADLINES, FOR EXAMPLE… AND YOU… WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS, PRESUMABLY, ARE GAY MARRIAGE, PRAYER IN SCHOOLS. ALL OF THESE…
Friedman: WELL, WE’LL…
60 Minutes: …VERY FAMILIAR HEADLINE KIND OF ISSUES.
Friedman: WELL, WE… I’LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW: I’M FOR PRAYER IN SCHOOL. I SAY WHAT’S WRONG WITH A KID BELIEVING IN SOMETHING. I DON’T CARE IF IT’S A TREE OR A ROCK OR SOMETHING, HE SHOULD BELIEVE IN SOMETHING. I’M ALSO… I ALSO SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE. I SAY THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE JUST AS MISERABLE AS THE REST OF US. AND I’LL TELL YOU ANOTHER THING, YOU WON’T FIND ANY CANDIDATE THAT SUPPORTS PRAYER IN SCHOOL AND GAY MARRIAGE. FOR THAT REASON ALONE, PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE FOR AN INDEPENDENT- THINKING PERSON.
Running with nothing to loose, Mr. Friedman is doing his part to widen the frame of the debate in Texas politics. This is much appreciated and long overdue.
PABE 