Wikinews interviews Bob Ely, Democratic Party presidential challenger to Barack Obama

May 26, 2012

U.S. Democratic Party presidential candidate Bob Ely of Illinois took some time to answer a few questions from Wikinews reporter William S. Saturn. Ely, a graduate of, worked for 18 years as an investment banker in Chicago before leaving the industry in 2000 to become a full-time investor and entrepreneur. Last year, he opened a campaign website and filed with the (FEC) as a candidate challenging President Barack Obama for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

Thus far, Ely has appeared on the Democratic primary ballot in New Hampshire, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. His strongest showing occurred in Louisiana, where he won 6.57 percent of the vote, finishing in third place behind Obama and attorney John Wolfe, Jr.. Discussing the primary, he told Politico that despite being "a candidate who bought no ads and did exactly zero campaigning," he won 120 of Louisiana's 4,395 voting precincts, and defeated President Obama in 457. Overall, Ely has won a total of 15,502 primary votes.

On Tuesday May 29, Ely will appear on the Texas primary ballot alongside Obama, Wolfe, and historian Darcy Richardson, who suspended his campaign last month. It will be Ely's last chance to qualify for delegates. Four of his fellow challengers have already done so: anti-abortion activist and perennial candidate  both qualified in Oklahoma, Wolfe qualified in Louisiana and Arkansas, and prison inmate  qualified in West Virginia. For various reasons, the Democratic Party stripped the delegates from each of these candidates.

On his campaign website, Ely outlines a plan for a "job's bank", which would use the existing organization for to create a program where businesses can hire individuals to new positions with government salaries of. He also wants to make it easier for businesses to terminate employees, and has proposed an increase in and tariffs. He is concerned about the deficit and wishes to significantly reduce government spending. On other issues, Ely has proposed a plan for "basic health care" coverage, endorses "amnesty" for in certain situations, and supports a strong, but frugal military used only to "protect America, Americans and America’s clear national interests"

With Wikinews, Ely discusses his personal background and views of President Obama, a few details about his campaign, and such political issues as jobs, energy, taxes, and nuclear proliferation.

Personal
What are some of your proudest accomplishments?
 * Bob Ely: # 1, convincing my wife I would be a worthy husband in 1982. # 2, Stealing a 10 foot tall 1-ton bronze statue as part of a college event (prank) in 1979. Sadly, that bit a foolish mayhem is probably one of the high-lights of my life.

Have you previously been involved in any political campaigns or issues?
 * Ely: No

If you had been elected in 2008, what would you have done differently than Barack Obama?
 * Ely: Cut spending, raised taxes, really made government smaller and more efficient; made it easier for the private sector to function. Most people don’t realize that the private sector and China pays, directly or indirectly. for everything in this country.  It is unclear how long the hard-working savers in China will want to (or be able to) fund our profligate ways.  If that changes, everything will fall on the shoulders of the private sector.

Has Obama done any good things as president?
 * Ely: Yes. I give him a "B&minus;."  He was dealt a tough hand and, given he knows little about business or economics, has probably played it as well as he could.

Do you expect to support the president in November?
 * Ely: No. I will likely vote for whoever is on line 3 or write in for Ron Paul.

Campaign
Why did you choose to run for president as a Democrat?
 * Ely: I’ve always told people I am a, not a Republican. I believe the Republican party has lost its soul.

'''On your campaign website you admit that you are "inexperienced". What qualifications do you have to be president?'''
 * Ely: I’ve had to meet.

What kind of activities do you take part in for the campaign?
 * Ely: Writing the website, designing and buying advertising and paying a lawyer to fill out FEC forms.

Does your campaign end after the Texas primary?
 * Ely: Yes

What will constitute a success in this campaign?
 * Ely: I am pretty sure it is a complete failure. I had expected that combining humor, some outrageousness and a cogent "platform" would make me a safe protest vote – pardon the oxymoron.  In a way something like ’s  in Italy.  I hoped that if I got traction, I would have scared the major candidates into not being petulant brats and focus on solutions to the serious issues we face.  Oddly, Keith Judd was much more successful than I will ever be.

Policy
'''To pass your jobs program, you must receive the consent of Congress, a group of individuals that, as you say, "need to be loved" for their political survival. Based on this, is it even possible to cut s or create a "Jobs Bank"?'''
 * Ely: The, whose name has been taken in vain by every living politician, so why not me, designed the to have Congress reign in the King (President).  Now, no one reigns in anything.  But if someone is willing to be despised and to take as a point of pride low single-digit approval ratings, the Constitution gives the President many powers to get things done.  No one is willing to do it because they want to be loved and care about their legacy and how they will be viewed by history.  I am perfectly happy to have a whole new level of presidential ranking just for me, under  and.

'''You have proposed increased taxes on energy. Since businesses require energy to transport their goods to market, this likely would result in an increase in the. In such an environment, will people making minimum wage under your jobs plan, be able to afford basic necessities?'''
 * Ely: Actually I propose to increase taxes on gasoline and, if the rest of the world will get on board, . If I could make the numbers work I would eliminate the tax on  for just the reasons you cite plus the ridiculous way in which diesel has to be dyed different colors for tax purposes.  That in itself is an example of government inefficiency.  What to do about diesel engines in automobiles and light trucks?  Tax the engines (like the gas guzzler tax) to make them about equivalent to gasoline engines of comparable life.  People smarter than me may have a better solution.

'''Most agree that during a time of, government should  to increase. You propose tax increases to help balance the budget. With that in mind, how can you prevent a continuation of the current economic downturn?'''
 * Ely: First, most economists didn’t see the financial crisis coming nor the rebound. I did and invested accordingly.  Now I don’t know how to invest for what I see coming, which is why I embarked on this Quixotic endeavor.  That’s a bit melodramatic.  I do have some ideas.  But many of them are not "patriotic."  I believe when you’re in a situation you don’t like, you either have to effect change or adapt.  Getting on the ballot was my attempt to effect change.  Second, I did pretty well in sixth grade math.  With that learning, I conclude that we cannot borrow $1–1.5 trillion each year indefinitely.  Japan has proven it can go on for a long time, although they borrow mostly (93%) from themselves.  Even they won’t be able to keep it up forever (watch that space closely).  Our debt is a growing tumor.  It’s either chemotherapy today or death tomorrow.

For your "easier to get fired" plan, which allows businesses to fire employees in the first 180 days of employment for any reason, must Title VII of the be repealed since "any reason" could be construed to include the "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin" of an employee?
 * Ely: No. Any business person stupid enough to fire someone for their race when they could fire them for "no reason" should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  I know women business people, however, who are reluctant to hire women because of the potential liability if the employee ends up being a dud.

How should the U.S. president address the in Iran, or more broadly, the issue of nuclear proliferation?
 * Ely: The United States should make it very clear that any country, for example one that begins its sessions of parliament with "death to America," that we perceive has become a clear and present danger, the consequences of our military action will be the substitution of Iranian for Carthaginian in the term "."