Louis Carl Dobbs, September 24, 1945 (Childress County, Tex.) -
VP candidate for Independent (2008)
Running mate with nominee: Richard Howard Clark (b. 1960)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Richard H. Clark of Maryland filed with the FEC as an independent for President in Jan. 2008. He outlined part of his qualifications on his website--
Are you smart enough? This question is important, because you have to be sure your President can understand and adapt to the changing challenges that the world, and our economy often present. Let me answer this by saying: I’ve tested in the top 1% of every aptitude test I’ve ever taken. I’ve also tested at an IQ over 140. Brainpower... not a problem: I’m a member of MENSA.
Clark made an unsuccessful attempt for the New American Independent Party Presidential nomination and subsequently become one of eventual nominee Frank McEnulty's many running-mates. He was considered the official VP nominee for Guam, Hawaii, Maryland, and Virginia, but the McEnulty/Clark ticket did qualify for any ballots in those states or register as write-ins.
On his webpage Clark also indicated his desire to be a Presidential candidate for Unity08. This was, for a short time, a movement to create a centrist consensus political party as a response to the divisive partisanship of the major parties. Some of the speculative Presidential candidates included Michael Bloomberg, Chuck Hagel, and Sam Nunn. But the effort lost steam in early 2008.
As late as October 2008 Clark's webpage still had him running for President as an Independent so it is possible he never withdrew from the race as a Presidential candidate.
His platform was spelled out in detail, but he also had a thumbnail quick list for readers--
Anti
War
Free Trade
Politics
Budget Deficit
Trade Deficit
Eminent Domain
Corruption
Big Government
Junk Science
Religion in Government
Record Oil Profits
Career Politicians
Cheap Foreign Labor
Illegal Immigration
Federal Income Taxes
Outsourcing
Pro
Peace
Fair Trade
Free Health Care
Balanced Budget
Balanced Trade
Homeowner Rights
Revised Pension System
Smaller Government
Worker Rights and Benefits
Life and Choice - both
Military
Union / Organized Labor
Schools and Education
College Tuition Reform
Solid Core Family Values
Term Limits
Fair Tax System
Fair Business Practices
Fair Pay
Personal Life
Freedom and Diversity
Fully Secured Borders
Reading his full platform reveals a mixed bag. On the Right, Clark is a global warming denier, virulently anti-PC, pro nuclear power, pro term limits. On the Left he is for getting out of Iraq, pro Gay marriage, accessible health care, and supports the theory of evolution.
Clark also made this prediction--
Prediction: 6/12/07
We will be at war with Iran before the end of 2008.
The administration has already started one war under false pretenses.
Our Congress has shown us that they do not want to stop the war in Iraq.
The administration is already creating false pretenses with Russia, Iran, and Pakistan for reinstating the draft.. The British tried to create a scenario by having their sailors captured, but failed. Iran was too smart and played nicely.
There are many more reasons to expect a war with Iran. But I can’t think of one single reason why the administration would not. They have absolutely nothing to lose. It’s really a shame too, because Iran is ready for a peaceful takeover by the moderates. They made the mistake of electing a fanatical President, and have learned not to do that again. They mock and make fun of him, just like we do with our own President. We are both ready for change.
Get ready for The Draft.
Say goodbye to your sons and daughters.
They will die for greed and corruption.
As for a running mate in his own Presidential race, Clark told an interviewer in Feb. 2008--
No running mate as yet. What I'm looking for is intelligence, honesty dedication, and the kahoonas to kick me in the butt if I start to stray.
And, quite frankly, after talking to quite a number of Third Party and Independent candidates, there is a lot of that out there! The choice will actually be rather difficult. There are a lot of great VPs out there. That's part of the problem. There are too many good candidates, and we need to narrow the field down a little and all get behind just a few.
On his website Clark wrote he wanted CNN talking head and conspiracy theorist Lou Dobbs (or someone like him) as his running mate.
I want Lou Dobbs.
Yes, I would truly like someone like Lou Dobbs for my VP. Why? Well, mostly because we appear to see eye-to-eye on just about everything. Secondly, and just as important, is that he’s not a “yes man”. I have found through my years of experience that the “no man”, the guy who will point out problems, who is not afraid to speak up, who is willing to smack you up-side-the-head for a reality check, is far more valuable than someone who simply agrees with everything you say. Better decisions are made because they force you to think. Better decisions are made because of the influx of new ideas. Everything just works better. It’s not always a honeymoon, but the results of working together with this type of person are far superior.
I fully intend that the position of VP will be an active one. A right-hand man, active in everything that I want to get done. You know the old saying: Two heads are better than one.
I am going to be President, and I am going to do it right. I like to hire people as smart as I am. They help make my job easier.
In 2008 Lou Dobbs was the host of Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN. His show was noted for railing against illegal immigration and mainstreaming ideas that had their origin with white supremacist groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center began documenting Dobb's activity long before the 2008 election. The veracity of his sources for several of his stories and unsubstantiated claims were also seriously questioned by his colleagues and had an adverse impact on his career and professional standing.
Early in the campaign season there were efforts to draft Dobbs for President as a third party candidate, mostly based on his anti-immigration stance. Most prominent was a PAC called Americans for Legal Immigration (ALIPAC), an organization identified by the SPLC as a hate group.
Dobbs would later go on to work for Fox and gained a reputation as a conspiracy theorist and rabid supporter of Donald Trump. Dobbs embraced the birthers, disdained the science behind global warming, encouraged war with China due to their computer hacking, saw the Deep State behind every corner, said that George Soros' "tentacles were spreading globally," etc., etc. Dobbs would apply the "fake news" label to any facts he found inconvenient.
Best described as a Right-wing populist, Dobbs left the Republican Party in 2001 and became an Independent.
Election history: none.
Other occupations: radio host, electronic journalist, television celebrity pundit, author, columnist
Notes:
PNW trivia alert!!! Dobbs spent his teenage years as a resident of Rupert, Idaho.
Washington State trivia alert!!! Dobbs once worked for KING-TV in Seattle.
