Willie Lee Perkins, April 12, 1937 -
VP candidate for Independent (2016)
Running mate with nominee: Thomas Pierre Wiseau
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
I like to think of myself as a film buff but the Presidential candidacy of Tommy Wiseau has taught me that I am a mere poseur, an unhip Boomer trapped in the 20th century. Until I started to create this profile I had never heard of him, his 2003 movie The Room (said to be one of the worst cinematic creations ever), or any of his other entertainment endeavors. The mere fact that I am including him in this blog is proof that when a celebrity runs for President as a publicity gimmick-- it works to some degree.
References have been made to Wiseau's 2008 and 2012 Presidential campaigns but they must have been very under-the-radar efforts ("The 2012 election didn't work out for me because I planned too much. Moral of the story? I'm learning from my mistakes 'Don't plan too much, it may not work out right'"). A Tommy Wiseau for President 2016 Facebook page launched the day after the 2012 election.
The Facebook campaign site had a lot of inside esoteric jokes and catch-phrases enjoyed by the Wiseau fanbase. The lack of a political platform was made up for with humor.
Although fans seemed to agitate for The Room co-star Greg Sestero to run as the VP, on Apr. 13, 2013, an entry stated: "BAM! This guy might be my running mate." It contained a Youtube link to Willie Perkins (aka Mister Willie aka Bam Man) an upbeat Walmart greeter in Maumelle, Ark.
Perkins' method of greeting was to give the customers a fist-bump and then make an explosion gesture with his hand while exclaiming "Bam!" Once this went viral on Internet, the local icon joined the galaxy of Internet meme characters.
As the national campaign entered the last quarter, some serious electioneering/marketing posts were created. Note there is no mention of gaining ballot access or registering as a write-in--
Sept. 23, 2016
Three easy ways to help Tommy Wiseau emerge from this crazy election season as our next President of the United States:
1. Tell friends. Spread the word. Let's get this thing going like wildfire before the second presidential debate. If Tommy starts to poll at 15%, he will grace the stage with Trump and Clinton and tear them apart in an intense exchange of ideas. Get as many people as possible to "like" this page! We're doing great, but we can do a lot better!
2. Print up a flyer that says "Tommy Wiseau 2016". Feel free to use any images from this page in the design, or make your own, and maybe include a certain cherished quote about what would make the world a better place to live. Also don't forget, and this is important, to add something that lets people know about and directs people to this Facebook page. Feel free to post images or PDFs of whatever flyers you come up with on here! You would be doing a great service to your country.
3. What to do with those flyers? Get them out there of course! Get them SEEN! Maybe tack a few up on college bulletin boards or just hand them out. Again, you would be doing a great service to your country.
At this point in time, our great country seems to be very divided. What we need now is leadership that will bring us together. And it is clear nobody is as good at bringing people together as Tommy Wiseau. Will you answer this call to action? Will you help your country forge a path to a better tomorrow? Will you stand for justice and democracy? Will you stand for "We the People"?
Sept. 26, 2016
If you traveled back in time a couple of years and told anyone that Donald Trump would make it into the final presidential debates while polling slightly ahead of the other major party candidate they probably wouldn't have believed you. If you tell anyone now that Tommy Wiseau will be president at the end of this year or in 2020, they won't believe you. But don't let that tear you apart! Keep standing up for the candidate you believe in, and it's not to late to get him high enough in the polls to be able to participate in the next debate! #OpenTheDebates
A Wiseau/Perkins victory would have faced the Constitutional hurdle of the standard bearer having been born a citizen of some European nation, most likely Poland, making him ineligible to hold the office he sought.
Shortly after the 2016 election Wiseau began his 2020 campaign.
Election history: none
Other occupations: US Marine Corps, asphalt contractor, Walmart greeter, part-time preacher
Notes:
Perkins can also be found on Youtube in his role as a Baptist preacher.
