Billionaires for Bush
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Billionaires For Bush is a culture jamming political street theater organization that satirically purports to support George W. Bush for those activities which are perceived to benefit corporations and the super-wealthy.
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[edit] History
[edit] Forbes 1999
The organization had first been founded by Andrew Boyd as "Billionaires for Forbes", but Forbes left the 2000 race for the Republican Presidential nomination early due to a lack of adequate voter support. In 1999, Billionaires were present as Steve Forbes announced his candidacy for President. The Billionaire Manual describes the action:
- They wore conservative jackets and ties (but no bowler hats, etc.) and carried innocuous signs such as "Run, Steve, Run." Happy to have grass-roots support, the Forbes handlers (who believed the Billionaires were students from a nearby business school) placed them in front of the cameras, very near to the podium from which Forbes was speaking. However, each of their signs had another sign behind it. And behind their banner (which read "Forbes 2000: He wants YOU to win") was another banner, waiting. At the most dramatic moment of his announcement, the Billionaires flipped their signs, and pulled away the large banner to reveal one which read: "Billionaires for Forbes: Because Inequality isn’t Growing Fast Enough." The Billionaires started chanting "Let workers pay the tax so investors can relax!" and other slogans. Forbes and his handlers were completely thrown off, a little tussle ensued, and the Billionaires were pushed off to the side away from the cameras. Not wanting to miss the action, half the TV crews left the Forbes speech to cover the Billionaires. The action got lots of coverage.
[edit] Bush (Or Gore) 2000
During the 2000 U.S. presidential election the organization was led by Andrew Boyd as "Billionaires for Bush (or Gore)," with the message that whichever candidate became president, corporations and the wealthy were guaranteed to benefit.
[edit] Bush 2004
Their largest events to date took place as part of the 2004 Republican National Convention protest activity. A Pennsylvania state legislator who "protested" their "selling" of Philadelphia's famous Liberty Bell, and who subsequently "debated" them in the state capitol, Rep. Mark B. Cohen of Philadelphia, said "Nobody better articulates what Bush stands for than Billionaires for Bush do. They add zest and joy to any anti-Bush event. They are not afraid to let the world know how much they appreciate Bush's cutting their taxes, with the intention of getting tax revenues from other citizens."
A separate group, however, continued on in the plague-on-both-your-houses style as Billionaires For Bush Or Kerry.
[edit] Attire
Members typically dress in stereotypically wealthy attire, such as tuxedos and top hats or evening gowns and pearls and adopt names like "Mo Bludfer Oyle" (more blood for oil, a reference to the Iraq war) and "Phil T. Rich" (filthy rich).
Members may also dress in less stereotypical attire to perform more subtle pranks, as described in the Forbes example, above.
[edit] Events
Examples of Billionaire events include:
- Musical entertainment at anti-Bush events
- Thanking George W. Bush on his birthday for their tax cuts
- Protesting protests of the Bush administration
- Taking a pro-war stance at peace rallies
- Cross-country limousine tours [1]
- A petition to allow oil drilling and logging of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco
- Bush League baseball
These events and message are designed to attract friendly media coverage.
[edit] Slogans
Some of their political slogans include "Small Government, Big Wars," "Because We're All In This Together, Sort Of," "Two Million Jobs Lost — It's a Start," "Leave No Billionaire Behind," "Make Social Security Neither," and "Corporations are People Too."
[edit] Billionaire Radio
The summer of 2006 the Los Angeles Chapter, known locally as The Billionaires, created a one-hour radio broadcast co-produced by KPFK radio, 90.7 FM in Los Angeles and 98.7 FM in Santa Barbara. The show airs monthly and can be heard streaming live on KPFK Radio. It is made up of sketch comedy and music written and performed by talent from the local Billionaire membership and invited celebrities guest stars.
Billionaire Radio
Produced by Christine Blosdale for KPFK Radio 90.7 FM in Los Angeles
Engineer Mark Maxwell
Line Producer Tara Sitser
Head Writer Tina Dupuy
Contributing Writer Cliff J. Tasner
Directed by Jeanne Hartman
Music written and arranged by Cliff J. Tasner
Starring the Billionaire Players:
Jim Bean
Denis Martel
Tina Dupuy
Berit Jordahl
Christina Linhardt
Tara Sitser
Clifford J. Tasner
Michael "Tuba" Heatherton
Special Guests have included Rick Overton and Mimi Kennedy
Songs heard on the show have all been written by Billionaire member, Clifford J. Tasner (aka Felonious Ax) and can be heard on three CDs produced by Mr. Tasner for the Billionaires: "Never Mind the Rabble", "The Billionaires are in the House", and "New Regime". See Billionaires for Bush for more information.
[edit] Tina Dupuy
Tina Dupuy is a writer and stand up comic. Her character, Carol Lynn Price Billionaire Mouthpiece, became a regular member of Billionaire Radio. As a featured segment "Carol Lynn's America", added a dose of right-wing talk radio ambience to the show.
