I figured out who I’m voting for in 2020
And it’s not who you think
Now that you’re here, I’m not about to waste your time. I’m voting for Dave Chappelle for President of the United States of America in 2020. You think I’m joking. I’m serious.
Suspend your disbelief for a moment while I make the case. (Leaders are important, but the first follower is even more important.)
Here are the reasons I’m voting for Dave Chappelle, and why you ought to consider it too (especially if he decides to, you know, run):
Let’s start with the basic premise that I believe a majority of American voters agree with: neither candidate is inspiring. I’m not saying Biden isn’t a better choice than Trump (he is). I’m saying neither candidate comes anywhere near the inspirational threshold this moment calls for.
But I’m not going to focus on them. I’m going to tell you why Dave Chappelle is the right person for the job.
Let’s start with the basics. Dave Chappelle is the GOAT of stand up comedy. Don’t you think in 2020, we all could use a laugh?
He knows the importance of being able to tell a joke. He also knows when the joke’s gone too far.
He’s from and lives in Ohio, a critical swing state, where he’s beloved. His Midwestern values will speak for him.
He also appeals to the young folks on the coasts.
He understands the moment we’re in as a country. Not in platitudes, but to his core.
Unlike his would-be Republican opponent, he knows what he doesn’t know.
He has an increasingly mainstream view on drugs and the War on Drugs.
He’s willing to give others a chance in a political climate where it seems like cooperation and collaboration are dead on arrival. He’s also not afraid to admit when he’s wrong. He’s not beholden to any corporate interests.
He’s part of the last public institution, stand-up comedy, that we Americans still trust. The current media system is broken. In our public spaces, one of the few places with a diversity of views and a healthy room for debate is stand-up comedy.
He’s not ancient like the other candidates.
Can you imagine Chappelle skewering Trump or Biden in a public debate? His wit, stage presence, and conversational style would be perfect for neutralizing Trump’s absurd approach.
He’s non-ideological. He’s willing to take on both sides. He doesn’t pretend to know what he doesn’t know, so he’d probably be someone who surrounded himself with real experts.
Ok, so what’s wrong with his candidacy.
Well, he’d be a historically late entrant.
Was there ever a better election for that?
We are in the midst of a global pandemic and nearly unprecedented social unrest. We have high unemployment rates and mandatory shelter-in-place orders. This close to an election, in modern history, we’ve never had less momentum behind the respective Presidential campaigns. There have been fewer rallies and fewer public appearances. There’s dissatisfaction all around. With this pandemic, you can throw all traditional thoughts on timing out the window.
Mark Cuban was considering a run as recently as May.
Michael Bloomberg, with a later-than-usual run, made some noise.
LeBron James, one of the most influential voices in America, just announced his effort, More than a Vote, to energize voters and fight voter suppression. You think that wouldn’t help a Chappelle-voting demographic in getting out the vote?
You think Chappelle, a man whose name is eponymous with a legendary Block Party, couldn’t rally a last-minute vote?
The media have very strong views on him, just like they did on Trump. That would drive coverage, ratings, and ultimately, exposure. With Chappelle’s deep connections in the entertainment world, from Oprah to LeBron to musicians to the late-night hosts, he would be able to drive a ton of engagement faster than almost anybody.
Yes, he’d be a very ‘unqualified’ candidate.
Was there ever a better election for that?
In an ordinary world, that shortcoming may be debilitating. He may be viewed as a joke.
In this case, he’s running against someone even less qualified and has already been in office!
Trump is a B-list celebrity that was better known for his troubled business endeavors and his turn as a reality TV show host than for any political expertise.
He brings nothing from a foreign policy point of view at a time where America’s geopolitical standing is critically important.
He spent time in South Africa when he left Chappelle’s Show? More seriously, he’s the type of person that will surround himself with expertise that can make this work.
He’s a comedian. How would anyone take him seriously?
He just released a 30-minute special with hardly a joke in it.
On YouTube, it has 22m views less than a week later.
You think people don’t want to hear what he has to say on serious topics?
Look, he’s not a perfect candidate and I don’t agree with all his views. But I’m not looking for someone I completely agree with. I’m looking for someone who rejects the extremes for common sense. Rejects the appetite for conflict with an appetite for conversation. Rejects the need for division with a deep desire for unity.
And most importantly, a candidate I believe can win in November.
This may seem like some form of misguided celebrity worship. But Dave Chappelle is not a comic. He is a genius who happens to also be the funniest person on the planet. Spend 27 minutes and watch his latest special. Spend 8 minutes and watch his Mark Twain award acceptance speech. Forget that he’s a stand-up comedian and imagine instead these were stump speeches. Would you want someone like that to lead us through this tough time? Someone who is unafraid to say what’s on his mind, to broach tough subjects, and to provoke thought while evoking trust.
The biggest issue is he’ll never do it.
He already walked away from fame. He wants to work on his own terms.
To take on this thankless job at this incredibly challenging time in our country is a herculean task, and it’s a lot to ask. But here I am, asking anyways.
#Chappelle2020