Stephen Colbert ousted from presidential race, but Facebook fans won't give up

(Credit: Comedy Central)

Shortly after the nascent Stephen Colbert '08 presidential campaign filed to run on the Democratic ballot in South Carolina's primary, the state party voted on Thursday to kick the colorful comedian out of the race. According to the Associated Press, party officials met for approximately 40 minutes and then voted 13-3 to remove Colbert from the ballot.

Meanwhile, many members of the "1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T Colbert" group on Facebook, which currently hovers around 1,300,000 in membership, refuse to give up.

"I think it's stupid that they are trying to put a stop to his campaign because they believe it is just a ploy to further his comedy routine," one infuriated member of the Colbert Nation wrote on the message board for the "1,000,000 Strong" group. "From what I have seen he is probably the most realistic person running right now."

"You know what?" another asked. "If Arnold Schwarzenegger can be governor of California, then Stephen Colbert can certainly be president. What's wrong with these people?"

Others started posting telephone numbers for the state Democratic Party's office and began linking to offshoot groups to promote a Colbert write-in campaign.

Colbert, who hosts the Comedy Central program The Colbert Report, announced last month that he planned to run for president--but only in South Carolina as a "favorite son."

On a related note, Thursday was a sad day for purveyors of the green screen challenge everywhere: in addition to Colbert's rejection from the Democratic primary, indie-rock band and onetime Colbert foe The Decemberists canceled the remainder of their North American tour.

[Pete Bardo]

If Ronald Reagan can

There have recently been a number of comedians in charge of the White House, but they didn't have their own TV shows! So, what's the problem in South Carolina.<br /><br />Did he met the requirements? As far as I can tell the only requirement was the $2500 filing fee. I did not know that a person needs permission from the state Democratic party to run for President.<br /><br />They were afraid he'd make a joke of the process? Just what do they think the other candidates are doing?

[MyRightEye]

That's right, shoot down Ron Paul, and now Colbert

As much as I am pro Ron Paul as, surprisingly to me, many of us <br />net geeks are, and as much as I think Colberts run is just stupid, I <br />see no reason why Colbert should have been struck off. Let him <br />run.

[nicmart]

Fear and loathing

Just as the Republicans are afraid that Ron Paul's anti-war <br />message will embarrass them, the Democrats fear Colbert. The <br />political hacks fear anything that reveals their shameless <br />criminality.

[jman114]

Screw South Carolina

Show your support for Colbert!!<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.cafepress.com/lalalandshirts/3559483" target="_newWindow">http://www.cafepress.com/lalalandshirts/3559483</a>

[jellohbu]

Most realistic person?

Stephen Colbert is not even a real person! He would be running as <br />the Stephen Colbert of TV, which is a right-wing pundit. He is <br />actually just as liberal as Jon Stewart.

[this1!]

so how's that different from any other politician?

the answer is it isn't, im not trying to be clever or coy here, but the fact of the matter is all these people are putting up a front and pretending to be something there not. They're all just acting.

[bschmidt25]

All for it

A few years ago I probably would have been opposed to someone staging a publicity stunt like this. But now I think anyone that can come in and shake up the process, buck the status quo, and get these to say things instead of their pre-programmed rhetoric is a welcome addition to the race.

[jon2069]

Write-in Facebook Group

Do you really want to cast your vote for Stephen Colbert in the upcoming election? Show your intentions and your support by joining the Facebook group "Write in Stephen T Colbert for President". I'm going to be the first person to Vote for Stephen Colbert, will you be the second?<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://wmich.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5641894322" target="_newWindow">http://wmich.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5641894322</a>

[as901]

Colbert as a candidate

If a clown like Bush can get in, why not another clown?