warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Clay Aiken Running For Congress

Dale Chong |
February 5, 2014 | 3:46 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

(Creative Commons)
(Creative Commons)
Pop singer Clay Aiken has formally declared his bid for Congress.  The North Carolina native singer announced his bid on Wednesday with a video on YouTube, as well as his campaign website. 

In this video, the 35-year-old "American Idol" veteran alluded to the "golden ticket," from the reality singing show. He also stressed his upbringing by a single mother and his days as a special education teacher, tying it all together to explain that he wants to serve for the people who don't have a voice (or a "golden ticket," in this case). 

Even though Aiken still has to win the Democratic primary in May to run against Ellmers, it looks like the race has already gotten personal.

Aiken is planning to take on Rep. Renee Ellmers, chairwoman of the Republican Women's Policy Committee. Ellmers shrugged off Aiken's candidacy in a radio interview saying, "As we know, he doesn't always fare that well. He was a runner-up," according to USA Today

Since his time on "American Idol," Aiken has been recording in the studio and appeared on Broadway. He also spoke out against North Carolina's amendment banning same-sex marriage and has been an active advocate on gay and lesbian issues. 

"I'm not a politician. I don't ever want to be one, but I do want to help bring back--at least to my corner of North Carolina--the idea someone can go to Washington to represent all the people, whether they voted for you or not," Aiken said.

Well he's right about one thing, he's not a politician. Or at the very least he isn't want many would consider to be one. But for never wanting to be one? Come on, he's running for Congress, it just screams politics. 

Perhaps Aiken just isn't cut out for the music and entertainment industry, so he's taking a new route through politics (without being a politician, of course). Is this a mid-life crisis? 

Whatever Clay Aiken is planning to do, he played the empathy card and it sure sounds like he wants to fight for the people of North Carolina…whatever that means. 

Reach Executive Producer Dale Chong here. Follow her on Twitter here


 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness