A tearful Kanye West launches presidential campaign with rambling rally

By Pete Schroeder

 

Rapper Kanye West holds his first rally in support of his presidential bid in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. July 19, 2020. REUTERS/Randall Hill

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In his first rally for his last-minute presidential campaign, rapper Kanye West ranted against abortion and pornography, argued policy with attendees and at one point broke down in tears.

 

West, 43, a former supporter of President Donald Trump who has left voters befuddled over whether his campaign is genuine or a publicity stunt to help sell albums or merchandise, delivered rambling remarks during the event at a Charleston, South Carolina, wedding venue and convention center.

 

In remarks that lasted just over an hour, he denounced abortion, swore, called on random members to speak, appeared to be putting forward policy proposals on the fly, and made comments that left even those in attendance muttering in disbelief.

 

"Harriet Tubman never actually freed the slaves. She just had the slaves work for other white people," he said at one point when discussing economic inequality.

 

The event, which was livestreamed on YouTube and carried on local television stations, did little to clarify whether West is genuinely attempting to win the presidency. The campaign he launched with a July 4 tweet has already missed https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-election-kanye-west/what-would-kanye-west-have-to-do-to-launch-a-late-white-house-bid-idUKKBN2460S2 several deadlines to appear on key state ballots.

 

At times, he even seemed to suggest he was more interested in disseminating a message than winning the presidency.

 

"Freedom does not come from an election. The freedom comes from you not loading up the pornography. The freedom comes from you not taking the Percoset," he said at one point.

 

West appeared on stage with "2020" shaved into the back of his head and wearing what appeared to be a military-style vest. He argued that abortion should be legal but heavily discouraged, suggesting he would promote a policy as president that anyone who gives birth to a child be given $1 million "or something in that family."

 

West referred to the Bible and Christian teachings multiple times, and broke down in tears at one point while describing how he was nearly aborted by his parents.

 

"The only thing that can free us is by obeying the rules that were given to us for a promised land," he said. "Abortion should be legal because guess what? The law is not by God anyway, so what is legality?"

 

The event carried few similarities with typical polished candidate events. The venue appeared to lack audience microphones, so West repeatedly told the crowd to be silent so audience members he called on could be heard.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-20

 

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I like that he's out there doing this, it exposes the circus the whole electoral process has become.  If you've never seen the movie Network (1976) now is a good time.  That the whole thing begins app. one and a half years before Election Day is part of the mockery.

 

 

Edited July 20, 20205 yr by bendejo

And a cross-dresser as Vice President.

 

Caitlyn Jenner wants to be Kanye West's Vice President in 2020 US election bid

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/caitlyn-jenner-run-vice-president-22369434

 

 

23 minutes ago, bendejo said:

I like that he's out there doing this, it exposes the circus the whole electoral process has become.  If you've never seen the movie Network (1976) now is a good time.  That the whole thing begins app. one and a half years before Election Day is part of the mockery.

 

 

 

At this point West would be as good as anybody. Why not?

It's all about disenfranchising voters.  Not just this stunt but pretty much everything Republicans do on a daily basis.  The less people that vote, the better for Republicans.  They don't care about democracy and are just blatantly cheating now.

Edited July 20, 20205 yr by shdmn

The puppet almost doesn't even matter anymore... the lemmings will VOTE for just about any clown right now... look at who America has now. It's all a contrived sh#% show folks. 

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

At this point West would be as good as anybody. Why not?

Yea especially that joe Biden all that horrible experience in government that terrible thing he and Obama did saving us from the Great Recession oh the horrors let’s not forget the trust and and respect from our allies that unity’s kinda scary to if you think I’m beeing sarcastic you are correct imo a unifier is exactly what we need that’s not Conway west and certainly not trump 

I liked the audio, after his brilliant take on Ms. Tubman, on one video I saw...

 

"We're outta here."

 

 

Edited July 20, 20205 yr by mtls2005

The guy is ill and needs to be sectioned. Come to think of it, all of that family are ill, or deformed, probably both. 

Edited July 20, 20205 yr by Pilotman

A post using slanderous trolling comments toward Biden has been reported and removed as well as the replies.  Please be advised the same slanderous trolling comments toward Trump are fair game for removal.  

He went against pornography?! Well, he barely started and already screwed it up! 
 

Just what his megalomaniacal ego needs - becoming president of the US! 
 

Wouldn’t be surprised if he made it, though, which would be the ultimate proof of just how much of a joke American politics have actually become! 

Speaking of Big pharma. He could benefit from some of their products. 

Is having a serious mental condition a prerequisite of running for President now? 

 

This guy is off his trolley and has been for years.

 

On a positive note, the standard of first lady's is dramatically increasing since the Obama years. Melania Trump potentially followed by Kim Kardashian. Great stuff ????????.

8 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

At this point West would be as good as anybody. Why not?

Why not someone all Americans can relate to?

 

 

55 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

He went against pornography?! Well, he barely started and already screwed it up! 

Look at the history of that clan.  Who had ever heard of Kim K before the leaked sex tape?  Obviously leaked it herself.  Anti-pornography indeed!

 

 

What a joke America has become ! Once a great country, now being destroyed by all the left wing cretins and the super rich who support and control them, by George !

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

the standard of first lady's is dramatically increasing since the Obama years.

there is a technical mistake there somewhere in your sentence!

 

 Kanye West seems like a sensitive soul. He also is apparently from what I gleaned in the papers going through a manic phase and has bipolar disorder. Makes good sense. The dreadful and avaricious family he married into should be looking out for him here. Poor guy, hope he will be OK. 

9 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

At this point West would be as good as anybody. Why not?

  

Kanye West and presidential campaign in the same sentence?

 

Words fail me.

after voting in trump  what do you expect / a grown up 

29 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

there is a technical mistake there somewhere in your sentence!

 

 Kanye West seems like a sensitive soul. He also is apparently from what I gleaned in the papers going through a manic phase and has bipolar disorder. Makes good sense. The dreadful and avaricious family he married into should be looking out for him here. Poor guy, hope he will be OK. 

He is an irritating, ego driven bore with a megalomaniac complex, who can't sing and can't rap and is married to a deformed publicity seeking moron.  He should make an excellent President for you American chappies. 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The freedom comes from you not taking the Percoset

What kind of corset? had to google that one...

Another idiot Yankee seeking fame as his career as an indifferent and modestly talented musician goes down the drain. He has tried everything from marrying Kim to a presidential bid. Enough already. Trump is unpresidential enough.

1 hour ago, phantomfiddler said:

What a joke America has become ! Once a great country, now being destroyed by all the left wing cretins and the super rich who support and control them, by George !

Nothing to dog with left wing. Trump has destroyed the moral fibre of the country.

Illustrative of the idiocy of the current political landscape in the once great USA.

13 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Nothing to dog with left wing. Trump has destroyed the moral fibre of the country.

And continues to do so on a daily basis.

1 hour ago, opalred said:

after voting in trump  what do you expect / a grown up 

Kanay makes Trump look like Einstein.

... really just auditioning for the new Opening Skit on the next SNL

I have to admit I can't see the attraction of that guy.

But a relative beautiful and super rich woman married him. He has to have something.

2 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

Once a great country, now being destroyed by all the left wing cretins

And I thought the cretin who currently destroys the country is right wing. Strange...