POW! BAM! SMACK!
Ordinarily, these would be the sounds, written out in large, thick letters, of comic book battles between heroes and villains.
Now they're the sound of superheroes jostling one another politically.
DC Comics characters The Atom, Batgirl, Batwoman, Cyborg, Green Lantern, Superman and Wonder Woman, as well as Marvel Comics favorite Spider-Man, are running for mayor of the District of Columbia in a mock election put on by a campaign training organization.
The eight superhero candidates are "battling it out to determine who can lead our fair city through crucial issues ranging from the budget to the goings-on of evil villains," jovially reports Roll Call.
But, the paper adds, the campaign "is turning increasingly bitter, with the superheroes attacking each other via Twitter and in Web videos that are quickly going viral."
The New Organizing Institute is putting on the race, meant to teach the use of traditional campaign messaging tactics with new online tools---and a dose of irreverence.
Green Lantern, for example, highlights his capture of former D.C. mayor (and "local nuisance") Marion Berry as he accosted a woman in the night.
The Atom, meanwhile, spoofs Fox host Bill O'Reilly's notorious profanity-filled outtake in a NSFW video viewable here.
All the candidates' Web pages are gathered here.
Voting commences Friday on the NOI Web site. DC and Marvel do not appear to be involved in or condoning the faux contest.
-- Mike Sheehan
Tags: atom, batgirl, batwoman, bill o'reilly, cyborg, dc, dc comics, district of columbia, green lantern, marion berry, marvel, mock election, new organizing institute, spider-man, superman, wonder woman
It is a great idea to have superheroes in politics. Just think what will happen when they use their superpowers to screw the public.
Speaking for the Green Lantern team, I'd like to urge you to vote for us, please.
We're the true environmental candidate. Green Jobs can save DC. Also, the Green Lantern did save you from Marion Barry. Surely that means something.
Learn more here: http://votegreenlantern.com
The significance of using cartoon characters to teach the use of traditional campaign messaging tactics with new online tools has to be one of the most dehumanizing political programs ever. Why not make up a game as well? Total Mayhem.
Hey, speaking for the Green Lantern, I'd encourage you all to check out http://votegreenlantern.com and learn more about my campaign.
Thanks!
http://votegreenlantern.com
This election is a joke! Obviously, Cyborg, with his experience as long-time leader of the Teen Titans, would make the best mayor for Washington D.C.
The Atom, while a certified genius, didn't even realize his ex-wife was a serial killer until it was too late. We need someone who we can trust to not only make the smartest choices for the city, but who will be a good judge of character when making political appointments. Batwoman, while a strong candidate, would just be another old-money politician with no idea of the struggles the middle and lower classes face. Spider-Man has no business running for office in this economic climate when he can't even get himself out of debt.
Superman and Wonder Woman would be just plain too busy to give the office the attention it deserves. Besides, Wonder Woman is already heir to the throne of Themyscara! We don't need foreign royalty telling us what to do.
Cyborg, however, can sympathize with the plight of the common man, while bringing respectability to the office. As a former troubled teen who grew up to becomeone of the most respected members of the super hero community, he is perfect for the job! Vote Cyborg 2009!
Wow. That is a hell of a good political analysis. I guess I'm voting cyborg for sure.
And yet still, some doofus will probably write in Ron Paul.
The request was for cosmic adults, not comic adults neoCons.
I don't know about Green Lantern. His jurisdiction is so big would he give D.C. the time it deserves while he is defending a whole sector of space.
I refuse to support a Green Lantern candidacy simply because they refuse to specify which Green Lantern we're talking about! There are four based on Earth alone, and hundreds more in space! But, while we're at it:
Hal Jordan: While possessed by Parallex, he killed a lot of people. A whole lot of people. Granted, he was possessed, but mass murder is still a pretty big turnoff for a lot of voters.
Guy Gardner: He's a douche!
Kyle Raynor: He's Green Lantern, he's Ion, he's Green Lantern again... Pick a side, we're at war!
John Stewart (the fictional black guy, not the real Jewish guy (no 'h' for that one)): Undeniably qualified, but the office would be a waste of his skill set (architecture). Still, he was the one who first got in Hal Jordan's face in the 1970's and asked him what he'd done for the black man while he was busy helping the blue man and the purple man (not the Purple Man, but, you know). If Cyborg didn't make it past the primary, he'd probably be my second choice, but we all know there's no chance of that, right?
Vote Cyborg! The self-made man (GET IT?)!