Would you vote for Stephen Colbert? Well technically you can’t because he was not on the ballot in South Carolina (or yet elsewhere). But a road block like that is laughable to Colbert.

Last week a South Carolina poll put the comedian’s popularity at 5 percent, ahead of former Governor John Huntsman (some think this humiliation helped to hasten Huntsman’s departure from the Presidential race).

This prompted Colbert to announce his intention to form an exploratory committee to decide if he should make a run for the White House. It seems as though he might test his luck.

Now, South Carolina doesn’t have write-ins, and Colbert is about two months late to file, so he decided to do the next best thing; run using someone who’s name is already on the ballot. So to quote the Colbert “A vote for Herman Cane is a vote for me.” Herman Cain, received over 6000 votes in the South Carolina primary.

USDemocrazy has never endorsed anyone but we are very eager to see how the Colbert campaign develops. Maybe this time next year we will be inaugurating President-Elect Rev. Sir. Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA.

Image from the Daily Kos!

This year could be a big one for supporters of marriage equality across the country. State legislatures in Washington, New Jersey, and Maryland are all engaging the issue this year.

In order for marriage equality to pass, supporters need both Democrats and Republicans to vote for it.

But Republicans who decide to support the measure have to break ranks with their party to do so – and for many that could mean angering conservative constituents and tempting primary challenges.

But the numbers are telling a different story for those Republicans who support marriage equality.

While some supporters are touting the economic benefits of marriage equality for states,  the newest round of campaign finance reports tells of a different kind of economic benefit that comes along with supporting same-sex marriage

The New York Times published an article this week reporting that the four Republican senators who split with their party to support gay marriage in New York have seen HUGE jumps in their fundraising.

One senator received 27 times as many donations in this most recent fundraising period compared to the same one in 2009, before his vote.  Much of the donations came from people who often identified as both gay and far left.  Many had never supported a Republican before, but money started flowing into the four senators for their support.

These four senators aren’t the only ones making some moo-la from marriage.  Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose fervent support was credited with the measure’s success, raised over 6 million dollars in the six months after his effort.  And three Wall Street Executives donated $350,000 to the NY Senate Republican Campaign Committee – who came out AGAINST the bill – as a thank you for allowing the vote to take place.

A strategist for the Human Rights Campaign, one of the national organizations working on LGBT equality issues, explained that

It was essential to send a clear signal around the country that we will support those who support equality, irrespective of party.  We were able to win marriage in New York with a bipartisan coalition of fair-minded elected officials. We need to replicate that if we are to keep winning.

So what do you think – are these political contributions better than a thank you note?  Will donors follow suit if Republicans in WA, MD, and NJ also break ranks?  And should Republicans making up their minds about marriage equality take these possible benefits into consideration?

Poor Mitt Romney. He tries hard to be just a regular guy and is often mocked for it. Like the time he tried to relate to voters’ uncertainty of the job market,

“I know what it’s like to worry about whether you’re going to get fired. There were a couple of times I wondered if I was going to get a pink slip.”

We didn’t know weather to laugh or cringe at this statement coming from a man who makes as much from one speaking engagements than many Americans will make in a year. (Just to give you an idea of how loaded Romney is… according to him,  $374,000 a year  for speaking fees is “not very much.” In all fairness $374 thousand is small compared to a net worth of $200 million)

But unfortunately for Romney, he handles his wealth with all the grace you would expect from someone with no social skills.

He has tried to delay the release of his taxes until a time when he will have either secured or lost his party’s nomination. It’s a conversation he just doesn’t want to have.

But most embarrassing of all for the Candidate is the revelation of the tax rate millionaire Mitt pays for his meager income.  He enjoys a tax rate of 15%, which is about the same rate you would pay if you made $40-50,000 per year.

So what’s the problem here? Other than the Romney campaign’s inability to control the narrative, there is none.

In fact if Romney were to become president he wouldn’t be the wealthiest man to do so. Adjusted for inflation George Washington was worth over 500 million dollars, and John F. Kennedy was worth nearly a billion dollars.

Washington and Kennedy are outliers but millionaires are not strangers to the White House. All but three presidents of the the 20th century were millionaires, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Harry Truman.

The more Romney demurs, fumbles, stone walls, and stutters through questions about his wealth the more it becomes a talking point. What do you think; does it matter how wealthy a candidate is?

Image from MSNBC!

What better way to spend your Saturday than getting ready for the announcement of South Carolina’s primary results tonight?  Check out the stories below and get excited for a primary party tonight!

Endorsements Galore!
Rick Perry drops out and endorses Newt.  VA Governor Bob McDonnell endorses Mitt.  SC Governor Nikki Haley endorses Mitt.  Jon Huntsman endorses Jon Huntsman…I mean, Mitt.  And Stephen Colbert endorses Herman Cain…or is Herman Cain endorsing Stephen Colbert?

Debate Highlights!
Haven’t had a chance to tune into all of the South Carolina debates?  Luckily, we’ve got some highlights for you.  John King versus Newt Gingirch and the marriage question.  The Sumter Item breaks down the bests and worsts.  And oh yeah, and Ron Paul – “He was there, too!”

Poll the Pols!
Public Policy Polling has Gingrich up by 9  points.  But that’s okay by Mitt – Romney says he won’t win every primary.