Swift Terror 0 Report post Posted February 3, 2004 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...l_arts_politics CAMARILLO, Calif. - Tom Laughlin, best known for helping bring martial arts into American pop culture with his 1970s "Billy Jack" films, is now throwing his punches in the political arena. The 72-year-old actor, who lives in Camarillo, is one of 13 candidates running against President Bush (news - web sites) in the Republican primary. Laughlin, who first ran for president as a Democrat in 1992, said he's campaigning to draw attention to a two-party system he deemed "so corrupt it can't function anymore." He described himself as a "messenger" candidate and said he wasn't disappointed by the New Hampshire primary, in which he earned 154 votes to Bush's nearly 34,000. "I've never run for president with any kind of thought of winning except to make a statement that we need change desperately," Laughlin told The Associated Press on Sunday. The issues he's most concerned about: Bush's claims that Iraq (news - web sites) possessed weapons of mass destruction and Congress' recent approval of a Medicare bill that prohibits the purchase of cheaper health care drugs from Canada. Political themes have long been of interest to Laughlin, whose low-budget martial arts films pitted Billy Jack, a part Indian outlaw and Vietnam veteran, against racist, corrupt politicians and greedy businessmen. "Billy Jack was always about the little guy going against the power brokers who are out to exploit and ruin," Laughlin said. "And that's why I'm running." http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/elect...nhunknowns.html On the Republican side, Tom Laughlin -- the actor who played "Billy Jack" in a series of 1970s movies -- is one of 13 challengers to President Bush. His campaign slogan is the same as Billy Jack's credo: "I just go berserk." I loved his character in the movie (also 'Born Losers' trashy but fun). Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Billy Jack released before any of Bruce Lee's movies made to the States? It was my first exposure to martial arts in movies and Billy Jack was the first true 'bad ass' to make an impression on me. Dirty Harry and Bruce Lee followed shortly thereafter. Too bad he appears to be a nutjob in real life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Justice 0 Report post Posted February 3, 2004 His campaign slogan is the same as Billy Jack's credo: "I just go berserk." Bah. I can get that from Howard Dean any day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
