VP candidate for Independent (2012)
Running mate with nominee: Jasper Benjamin Herrod Jr. (b. 1954)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
The one question I see repeated many times in the course of researching Jay Herrod is whether or not he was serious or was he playing an elaborate joke? Or was he treated as a political version of Henri Rousseau by condescending sophisticates?
Jasper "Jay" Herrod announced his candidacy for US President on Youtube. Although he said he was "of Clinton, Louisiana" it seems he was recording these works from his apartment in Colorado Springs. Many of his videos were accompanied with a transcription of his presentations, something which makes my task as a documentarian much easier--
I, Jay Herrod of Clinton, Louisiana do hereby announce on this date, Saturday. February 13, 2010. that I am running for president of the United States in 2012. I will be running as an Independent. I am doing this because out of the love for my country. I am sick and tired of the way things have been run in Washington over the years.
I want to change this because it appears to me Washington is being run mostly by bureaucrats who do not know what in the world they are doing. This needs to change and I am the person man enough to do it ready to grab the bull by the horns. Enough is enough!
I am not new to politics. My late parents were involved in Louisiana politics when I was a child growing up and after I grew up. Many times I went Louisianas state capital in Baton Rouge with my parents. My family attended many parties in which I met senators, congressmen, and the like. My late parents trained me well in politics so I know pretty much what is going on Washington.
I want to get Washington the way it use to be. A Washington that will listen to Americans with an open mind and not close minded the way it is now. Please help me help our beloved country. Please help me get our beloved country back to the way it use to be when it was ok to say prayers in schools and at sporting events. United we stand, divided we fall. Unite with me to help our beloved country in 2012 by electing me president for together, we can make a change, hand-in-hand.
His platform was anti-Obamacare ("a form of communism, plain and simple") -- took a hard line on illegal immigration to the point of encouraging civilians to shoot illegals on sight at the border -- supported all Americans being required to possess a photo identification -- "I am firmly against same sex marriage because God forbids it in the bible and everyone knows it" -- "Abortion, I am against it unless the life of the mother is threatened" -- "Julian Assange and those associated with him at Wikileaks.com should be imprisoned for life for leaking top-secret government documents" -- Cease bilingualism in America -- pro legalization of marijuana.
Herrod supplied his autobiography in a May 17, 2010 Youtube--
I am Jay Herrod, a candidate for president in 2012 and people have wanted to know more about me so here it is. I am 56 years old, straight, six feet one and half inches tall with an average weight of 230 pounds. I have brown hair and eyes. I am from Clinton, Louisiana. I am currently married to my third wife Jocelyn Herrod. She is in the army stationed at Fort Carson, which borders Colorado Springs, CO to the south. I have two children by my previous two other marriages; two boys ages 22 and 14. Both live in the Hammond, Louisiana area. I am well educated with an I.Q. of at least 125.
As a person I am an easy-going, caring, and humorous person. It is said I have a big heart. I am a very honest and straightforward person. I will talk about any issue. When I take care of business, I take care of business. It is well known I wear skirts because of sever heat rash in which a doctor told me I had to and I am not embarrassed about it. I currently dont wear kilts because they are so expensive. I also wear scrubs and dress pants. The only time I usually wear a suite is for weddings and funerals.
I go by who a person is on the inside and not by their looks, weight, or race. Its because who a person is on the inside that matters most to me. I always take the time to talk to someone when in public when approached. I always return phone calls. I do not generally take unknown or withheld phone calls. Why would a person hide their phone number unless they are hiding something is the way I see it. Oh, and by the way, my cell phone number is 225-719-7389 and my e-mail address is JAYHERROD@AOL.COM so anyone can contact me if they want.
So this is the me, the real me, nothing more, nothing less. As president you would know whom you elected. A friendly, fair, and open-minded president. Now my question to you the public is do you want a flashy candidate whom you would not really know or me, a non-flashy, down to earth person whom you would know. It will be up to you in 2012.
THANK YOU
He added this on July 10, 2010--
I would not be uploading this but, the same video on Myspace would not upload to REALITYWANTED.COM. Story below.
I am Jay Herrod, from Clinton, Louisiana. I am 57, have brown hair and eyes; am 6 foot 1 ½ inches tall, and currently weigh 220 pounds. I have a large frame. I am currently married to Jocelyn Herrod, age 39. I am a professional portrait photographer, landscaper, actor, and comedian. I am currently running for president of the United States in 2012. I am also a world famous celebrity having been interviewed by countless radio stations across the country and Canada. I was in the National Enquirer's May 5th, 2008 on page 8 issue. I have countless videos out on CNN's "i"Reports, Myspace, and Youtube. I am also on Facebook and Twitter.
I am generally an easy-going, comical person but, will stand my ground for which that is right and just. I like to travel, hike, climb mountains, make friends, and fish. Photography will always be my first love being I am trained and naturally good at it. I can be reached either via my e-mail at "JAYHERROD@AOL.COM or via my cell phone at 225-719-7389.
THANK YOU
By May of 2011 Herrod, who now had managers, set up a fan web and Facebook page. On May 29, 2011 he announced he wanted the actor Al Pacino as his running-mate--
Al Pacino, a good solid actor with a really strong voice and he is my first choice as a running mate in my bid to become president in 2012. He is of good character, appears to have good morals, and appears stand behind his beliefs. Al Pacino appears to be man enough, and has the guts to stand up for which that is right and just. He would make a damn good vice president. Of course, it is up to him if he wants to be my running mate or not, it's his choice. This is Jay Herrod for president in 2012, thank ya.
On Facebook Herrod indicated Sean Penn would be his second choice. Apparently he briefly met Penn once.
As Herrod's fame grew, his Presidential campaign seemed to have been sidelined as attention was diverted to other videos he created such as "Women, Facts A Man May Or May Not Know," and "Selena Gomez totally control of me, yes." Herrod addressed his growing celebrity in a Youtube from Aug. 6, 2011--
Quite a few people have asked me what it's like to be a world famous celebrity so I am going to tell you all. First of all, it's a 24 hour/7 day week job with no time off ok? My phone rings so much I leave on silent most of the time. I have to, people sometimes call at say 3 AM and I am like: "Get real people, I need to sleep and get some rest." Oh, by the way, when you call me, you get me, not some agent, Ok? Way I am. Then there are tons of text and e-mail I get everyday. Then, I have to be careful what I say and do either in person, on the phone, in text or e-mail because everyone is watching and listening at all times. Then there are dead lines to be met and people don't care if you are sick, tired, or both. Hey, what can I say, it's the entertainment business. For what's it worth, I live a crazy and fun life and I work hard but honestly, I would not have it any other way. This is Jay Herrod, thank ya.
Herrod announced a change in the campaign on Dec. 11, 2011. It seems Al Pacino did not jump on the Herrod bandwagon, so the candidate announced a new VP-- Chris Trew. Trew had actually introduced himself to Herrod's Youtube viewers exactly one year prior as being in the role of his showbiz manager. Trew was a comedian originally from Louisiana but based in Austin Tex. who said he wanted to help Herrod "further his comedy career." As Trew delivered this message, he imitated Herrod's rather stilted delivery style.
On Aug. 2, 2012 Herrod revealed he was a spiritual medium who could communicate with the dead. Shortly after that revelation his Youtubes suddenly stopped. In the late Youtubes we saw Herrod breaking character in a normal voice during preparation, demonstrating that his usual presentation was a dramatic performance.
The Herrod/Trew ticket could not be found on any ballots nor were they registered as write-ins. In the event of their victory on Election Day there would have been a Constitutional problem with the pair assuming office since Trew was under the age of 35.
Herrod made noises about running in 2016 and 2020 but in both cases it was difficult to ascertain if he was simply musing out loud in an exploratory kind of way in order to see how much support was out there for such an endeavor. I could not solidly confirm a running-mate for 2016 or 2020 if indeed he was in the race.
Election history: none
Other occupations: comedian, writer, actor, co-founder of The New Movement comedy theater and training center, professional wrestling manager, sports podcaster
Notes:
I first saw Pacino on the big screen in 1972 when The Godfather was initially released. I love his operatic style of acting. Pacino movies in my VHS/DVD collection include The Godfather, Scarface, Heat, Scent of a Woman, Dog Day Afternoon, The Insider, Serpico (another one I first saw on the big screen), Devil's Advocate, And Justice for All, The Merchant of Venice, Dick Tracy, Righteous Kill, and vastly underrated Gigli.
