TLHines.com: Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed, Mr. Karr.
Darren Karr: Glad to participate. And please, call me Darren.
TL: Okay, Darren. I also notice your campaign website is darrenforpresident.com. You're obviously more comfortable being called "Darren" than "Mr. Karr." So if you're elected, should we call you "President Darren"?
DK: When George Washington asked to be called "Mr. President", he did so because he was humble and didn't want to be referred to with a title of nobility or anything of the like. He was a servant of the people. The President needs to have this same humility in order to truly represent the people. "Mr. President" has become a title of nobility of sorts and wouldn't fit me as President. I will always prefer to be called "Darren" or "Darren Karr, President".
TL: So "Grand Poo-Bah" is probably out of the question?
DK: Very funny.
TL: Okay, what's the central theme of your campaign? Why are you running?
DK: I'm running for President because the Republicans and Democrats are corrupt representatives of special interest. I want someone in the office of President who will represent my best interest and uphold the Constitution. There's no one like that running who has a chance in hell to win so I decided that I would do it.
TL: What's the single most important issue to you?
DK: Simple. Remove the career politicians from all federal offices and replace them with citizen Statesmen. When that's done, everything else will fall into place. As long as special interests run the country as they're doing now, nothing will get better for the American people.
TL: So what will be your first official act as President?
DK: The very first thing I'll do is show the American people my dedication to them and the Constitution. My first day in office I'll find the President's power of making law through Executive Orders to be unconstitutional and remove that power from myself and every future President. I'll then repeal every single Executive Order enacted by every past President and refer them to congress to be made into law, legally.
TL: Those certainly aren't the kinds of ideas you hear from the traditional two-party candidates. Anything else that sets you apart from them?
DK: I set myself apart by being completely opposite of the Republican and Democrat candidates. I'm 34 years old, I'm not a career politician, I'm ethical, I'm not a millionaire, I don't represent special interest, I won't try to buy your vote, etc. I'll break the unconstitutional rules made by the Republicans and Democrats to keep people like me out. It's not possible to win when playing by their rules; ask any third party. The only way to beat them is to call them out in front of the American people and challenge their actions.
TL: You also founded Party X as an alternative to the traditional parties. Why? What's Party X all about?
DK: Party X is not only an alternative to the traditional political party, it's more of an "anti-political party". It's a middle finger to the establishment, the two party system that's ruined this country with unethical practices and unconstitutional laws. It doesn't matter if you're left, right, or anywhere in between, Party X is something that everyone who believes in ethics and wants to return this country to the people can support. Party X is made up of Americans who don't want to be labeled and purchased by the political elite. Find out more about Party X at www.party-x.org.
TL: Party X is certainly a cool name, but do you ever get people coming to your site searching for nude photos of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson?
DK: Well, if people come looking for porn, they haven't directly asked me for it. And if that's the reason they end up at my site, then I'm a happy guy.
TL: You're also the first candidate I've interviewed who has a blog: rejection2004.com. How does this site fit in with your overall presidential campaign?
DK: I created Rejection 2004 as an independent site where I could publish my opinions as articles and get feedback from people. The feedback has been very scarce but I hope that will change soon.
TL: As you mentioned above, you don't like to call yourself a "politician." Instead, you prefer the term "statesman." Explain.
DK: "Politician" is a nasty, dirty word. It means "a person who lies, cheats, and manipulates for political and self gain." Being a "politician" is not a good thing in my opinion.
A "Statesman" is a man OR woman who is an unbiased, ethical representative of the people who elected him or her.
Which would you rather be?
TL: I work in advertising, so I'm probably not the best person to ask that. Most people think ad folks are paid to lie for--
DK: It was a rhetorical question.
TL: Oh, sure. Give us a few details on your background. What have you done, and how has it made you the best presidential candidate?
DK: I have no background in politics. I have no formal education in politics. I'm a middle class American struggling to survive in the same world as you. Because of this, I'm the best candidate to represent the American people in 2004 and 2008.
TL: Hey, already campaigning for that second term. I like a guy who can think ahead.
DK: Thanks.
TL: Given any thought to who might be your running mate?
DK: I've thought about it and I've heard talk about who John Kerry will select as his running mate. What does one have to do with the other? Kerry is choosing his running mate based on who will get the most votes for the ticket. This is typical for the Republicans and Democrats. To hell with who would be the best VP, they want who will get the most votes.
My running mate will be like me and probably someone not too well known.
TL: Hey, I'm not too well known.
DK: Nice try.