On Tuesday’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart and correspondent Michael Che mocked the role of “brand name politics” in the upcoming 2016 presidential election should Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush — both owners of household last names — decide to run for the Oval Office.
Stewart sent Che out to gauge the excitement that individuals have for the “brand names” they may see — and have the opportunity to vote for — in the next presidential election.
In particular, Che interviewed Republican strategist Chip Saltsman, who wore proudly his enthusiasm for the Bush and Clinton brand names.
“If it’s a Clinton brand, you’re all good to go,” Saltsman said. “A Bush brand? All good to go.”
“So, Obama, he’s like a generic brand almost, like an off-brand?” asked Che.
“Yeah, he was a brand that we had not heard of before,” replied Saltsman.
“When I was a kid, I remember my dad got me four-stripe Adidas,” Che detailed. “I don’t want a four-stripe Adidas president.”
Che said facetiously that Americans will have names they “trust” come 2016 and won’t have to regrettably “shop for a president at Family Dollar.”
Che also added that we have to “get back to what works,” which, in his opinion, means “white dudes.”
Much to Che’s dismay, political scientist Jonathan Zimmerman disagreed with the need for name brand politicians, arguing that we should cast “the widest possible net” to find a suitable president and that bloodlines don’t matter. Che took the opportunity to challenge him.
“Would you vote for Philip Hitler?” Che inquired.
“I don’t think anybody named Hitler is going to run for president or anything else,” responded Zimmerman.
Zimmerman suggested that “Hitler” might change his last name to “Hoover” to better his chances, but that he himself wouldn’t “personally care” about any presidential candidate’s last name.
Slightly swayed by Zimmerman and past comments from Barbara Bush, Che embarked on a quest to compromise and find a “new old brand” that might be less recognizable than Clinton or Bush — the “Coke and Pepsi of politics,” as he dubbed them — but would still carry weight in a presidential election.
Watch “The Daily Show” clip to see who he discovers.
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