Vermin Supreme

Vermin Supreme

Vermin Supreme in January 2012
Born c. 1961
Rockport, Massachusetts
Nationality American
Education Gloucester High School
Occupation Performance artist, anarchist, presidential candidate, and activist
Years active 1984 – present
Home town Baltimore
Political party Libertarian Party

Vermin Love Supreme[1] (born c. 1961) is an American performance artist and activist who has run as a candidate in various local, state, and national elections in the United States.[2][3][4] Supreme is known for wearing a boot as a hat and carrying a large toothbrush,[5] and has said that if elected President of the United States, he will pass a law requiring people to brush their teeth.[2][6][7][8] He has campaigned on a platform of zombie apocalypse awareness and time travel research,[9] and promised a free pony for every American.[10]

In 2011, he participated in the Occupy Boston protests.[11] He is the subject of the 2014 documentary, Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey, which follows his 2012 campaign and explores his life as an activist and political prankster.[12][13]

Personal life

Supreme grew up near Boston, Massachusetts[14][15] and is said to be the oldest of three children.[1] He graduated from Gloucester High School in the 1980s, then moved to Baltimore to attend art school, but he dropped out and began booking bands for underground clubs.[16]

In 1986, he joined the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament in protest of nuclear weapons.[1] In 1987 he began running for public office.[17] He legally changed his name to Vermin Supreme in the 1990s while still in Baltimore.[1]

In 2006, Supreme donated one of his kidneys to save his mother.[1] He is married and has no children.[1]

Political views

Supreme discussed his political views in a 2008 promotional video. He stated he was registered as a Republican at that time, but that he leaned toward anarchism. He asserted that libertarians "are just about abolishing the government and letting shit fall where it may,"[18] which he called a mistake; he also asserted that Republicans want to nullify the government, but "offer no alternative to helping people other than charity."[18] Supreme's vision of anarchism holds no need for government, but depends on citizens to take responsibility for themselves and for others, citing "mutual aid and support and care to our fellow citizens" as key elements. To that end, Supreme called for a gradual dismantling of the government, while citizens take up the slack. He asserted that Americans no longer know how to be citizens, placing some of the blame on schools that teach in "very twisted and jingoistic fashion".[18]

In the video, Supreme discussed his presidential campaign. He describes his "joke humor" campaign as a response to the lies people are fed by the media and by the government.[18]

Campaigns

Vermin Supreme working the crowds during the New Hampshire primary

2004

Supreme campaigned in the Washington, DC Presidential primary in 2004,[17] where he received 149 votes.[19]

2008

Supreme campaigned in the New Hampshire Republican primary in 2008. He received 41 votes (0.02%) in the New Hampshire primary. According to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), he also received 43 votes, nationally, in the general election.[20]

2012

Supreme glitter bombs Randall Terry during a forum at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in December 2011.

Vermin Supreme campaigned as a Democrat in the 2012 U.S. presidential election.[21][22][23]

The following are some of the milestones in this campaign:

2016

Supreme attempted another presidential run in 2016.[37] He embarked on a tour of 20 cities to build support for his campaign and sought to qualify for matching funds from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).[37][38] He filed as a candidate in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary on November 21, 2015,[39] and received 259 votes in the primary on February 9, 2016, coming in fourth after Martin O'Malley.[40] He was, however, not invited to return to the Lesser-Known Democratic Candidates Presidential Forum, due in part to him glitterbombing Randall Terry at the event in 2011.[41] Shortly before the primary, he was observed questioning Republican candidates Chris Christie and Ted Cruz through a bullhorn.[42][43] On March 4, 2016, he switched his affiliation to the Libertarian Party.[44] He received the vote of a single delegate in the first round of presidential nomination voting at the 2016 Libertarian National Convention.

Film career

Supreme co-wrote and stars in the 2009 film Vote Jesus: The Chronicles of Ken Stevenson, in which he poses as a right-wing political candidate to gain access into the world of American fundamentalism.[45][46]

In 2012, Supreme starred in a web series entitled Learnin' with Vermin that uses a fictional version of his presidential campaign as a platform to teach political concepts such as voting methods.[47]

A documentary following Supreme on the 2012 campaign trail and exploring his life and work as an activist and political prankster called Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey was funded through a Kickstarter campaign and premiered at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival on April 9, 2014.[48] The film was directed by Minneapolis-based filmmaker Steve Onderick and features founder of the Rent is Too Damn High Party, Jimmy McMillan, and Boston-based singer-songwriter and comedian Rob Potylo.[12][13] The film was released to the general public on Vimeo on Demand on January 30, 2016.[49]

Supreme has also collaborated with performance artist, activist and musician Rob Potylo in the web series Quiet Desperation.[50]

Filmography

List of acting performances in film and television[51]
Title Year Role Notes
Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey 2014 himself documentary
Learnin' With Vermin 2012 himself educational
Vote Jesus: The Chronicles of Ken Stevenson (documentary) 2009 Ken Stevenson film
2008 Uncut 2008 himself TV series
Winning New Hampshire 2004 himself documentary

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Connors, Molly A.K. (January 15, 2012). "He reigns supreme". Concord Monitor.
  2. 1 2 Kennedy, Pagan (January 11, 2004). "Merry Prankster". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dean Wins D.C. Primary". CBS News. February 11, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  4. ↑ Lindholm, Jane (January 8, 2008). "New Hampshire's other candidates". American Public Media. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  5. ↑ Duff, Lori (April 16, 2010). "Vermin Supreme". Concord Monitor. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Commentary: If Elected, No Flying Toothbrush Monkeys (audio)". National Public Radio. January 9, 2004. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  7. ↑ Conaboy, Chelsea (December 28, 2007). "5 questions for Vermin Supreme". Concord Monitor. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  8. ↑ Reinhard, Beth (November 13, 2007). "Vermin Supreme is running for president". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  9. ↑ O'Toole, James (January 8, 2012). "In New Hampshire, underdogs promote presidential agendas". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  10. ↑ Williamson, Elizabeth (December 6, 2011). "A Pony for Every American? New Hampshire Primary Has It All". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  11. ↑ Dwyer, John Stephen (October 5, 2011). "Who is occupying Boston, and why?". Blast Magazine. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey". Snow Arch Films. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  14. ↑ Garance, Franke-Ruta.Running Gag: A campaign veteran comes to the D.C. primary Washington City Paper. 9 January 2004. Web. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  15. ↑ Miller, Leslie F. (2009). Let Me Eat Cake: A Celebration of Flour, Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla, Baking Powder, and a Pinch of Salt. 9781416588733: Simon & Schuster. p. 73.
  16. ↑ Connors, Molly A.K. (15 January 2012). "Primary 2012: He Reigns Supreme". Concord Monitor. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
  17. 1 2 Franke-Ruta, Garance (January 9, 2004). "Running Gag: A campaign veteran comes to the D.C. primary.". Washington City Paper. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Anarchist Runs for President...since 1988 (YouTube). Fluxview.com. 2008.
  19. ↑ "2004 Presidential Vote". Ballot Access News. December 12, 2004. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  20. ↑ Wilkie, Christina (August 8, 2009). "Final 2008 tally in: Bill Clinton edges out Santa". TheHill.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  21. ↑ Grossman, Samantha (January 10, 2012). "Vermin Supreme: The Presidential Candidate Who Promises Free Ponies". TIME Magazine. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  22. ↑ McLaughlin, Seth (January 9, 2012). "'Vermin Supreme' rears his bearded head in New Hampshire". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  23. ↑ Moran, Andrew (January 13, 2012). "Is Vermin Supreme the next President of the United States?". Digital Journal. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  24. ↑ "First Debate of the New Election Cycle, at the IGLO Dissidents' Convention - Independents, Greens, Libertarians & Others". My FDL. April 4, 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  25. ↑ "Re: april 14 presidential debate in northampton, MA to kick off campaign 2012". Newsgroups.derkeiler.com. 7 April 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  26. ↑ Ramer, Holly (October 30, 2011). "30 Republicans, 14 Democrats sign up for NH presidential primary". The Republic. Columbus, Indiana: Home News Enterprises. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  27. ↑ Carioli, Carly (October 30, 2011). "Video: Vermin Supreme vs. Aleister Crowley: The 2012 Presidential Debate". Boston Phoenix. The Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  28. ↑ Ríos, Simón (December 20, 2011). "Lesser-known candidates bring colorful campaigns to St. Anselm". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Screw Iowa Fails Again", Des Moines Register, January 12, 2012
  30. ↑ "Summary Democratic President". New Hampshire Department of State. January 18, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  31. ↑ Bekiempis, Victoria (February 2, 2012). "Vermin Supreme Vs. Jimmy McMillan: Friendly Fascist Debates Rent Is Too Damn High Guy". Village Voice. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  32. ↑ Svennjhami (30 May 2012). "Presidential Candidate Visits High School". iReport. CNN. Retrieved 10 June 2012. The HS visited was Mount View High School in Thorndike, Maine. He introduced himself to the assembled students by saying: "I am Vermin Supreme and I am from the internet."
  33. ↑ "Speakers - HOPE Number 9". Hopenumbernine.net. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  34. ↑ Kane, Muriel (July 15, 2012). "Livestreamer Tim Pool interviews satirical candidate Vermin Supreme". The Raw Story. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  35. ↑ Giunta, Eric (August 25, 2012). "Vermin Supreme Running for President with Jimmy 'Rent Is Too Damn High' McMillan". Sunshine State News. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  36. ↑ "Peter Schiff Radio Show Presidential debate" (mp3). October 5, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  37. 1 2 Seitz-Wald, Alex (May 22, 2014). "Can a Zombie-Powered Presidential Candidate Go Legit?". National Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  38. ↑ Hofherr, Justine (May 27, 2014). "One 2016 Presidential Candidate Will Run on A 'Zombie-Powered' Platform. And He's from Mass.". Boston.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  39. ↑ Nick Reid (November 21, 2015). "Ben Carson and Vermin Supreme file for president on deadline day". The Concord Monitor.
  40. ↑ "2016 Presidential Primary Results". February 10, 2016.
  41. ↑ http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. "Inside the Beltway: Fringe candidate 'Vermin Supreme' banned from New Hampshire candidate forum". The Washingtion Times. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  42. ↑ "Vermin Supreme mocks Christie in N.H.". Philly.com. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  43. ↑ Rothkopf, Joanna. "Ted Cruz Gets Trolled by Pro-Pony Presidential Candidate Vermin Supreme". The Slot. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  44. ↑ http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/has-a-presidential-candidate-switched-to-the-libertarian-party/
  45. ↑ "Vote Jesus: The Chronicles of Ken Stevenson (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  46. ↑ "Vote Jesus: The Chronicles of Ken Stevenson". VoteJesusMovie.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  47. ↑ "Learnin' With Vermin". YouTube.com. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  48. ↑ "Who Is Vermin Supreme? A Documentary". Kickstarter. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey". Snow Arch Films. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  50. ↑ "Quiet Desperation". http://quietd.com. Rob Potylo. Retrieved 2 June 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  51. ↑ Vermin Supreme at the Internet Movie Database
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