Billionaires for Bush

Billionaires for Bush is a nonpartisan campaign to expose politicians and systems of power that are supported by, and aligned with, corporate interests at the expense of the majority of Americans. It is a unique, grassroots approach that uses irony, humor, street theater, and blatantly outrageous slogans and statements to convey its positions. Because the Billionaires for Bush are able to attract public attention through comical antics and signature ball gowns, tuxedos, and political songs, the organization has been effective in spreading its views through major media venues, including television, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other popular outlets. Billionaires for Bush is an outcrop of United for a Fair Economy's Billionaires for Steve Forbes 1996 campaign. In 2000, the campaign Billionaires for Bush (or Gore) began as people trained in street theater and media activism and well versed in political humor arranged demonstrations at key political events.

The group literally dress like billionaires, complete with top hats, decadent jewels, and sometimes ready for a game of croquet. They wield banners and signs and sing poignant, outlandish songs in support of the most unpopular policies and positions of well-known politicians. Slogans include “Make Social Security Neither,” “Widen the Income Gap,” “Leave No Billionaire Behind,” and many slogans that target Bush's policies in particular, such as, “We Paid for Eight Years,” “Privatize Everything,” and “Four More Wars!” With the vision statement of a world where no industry lobbyist has to ask twice, the Billionaires' goals include allowing corporations to run for office, one dollar for one vote, paying appointed officials and public servants in stock options, eliminating corporate liability, and scrapping social programs. A strong point of this particular grassroots organizing is that the campaign is not tied to any single issue so it can react to current events and abominations.

Billionaires for Bush consists of a board of directors, each with a pseudonym, such as Phil T. Rich and Dee Forestation; a board of advisors, such as Hal E. Burton and Paul Tax; and national cochairs and [Page 240]affiliates, such as Countessa Frie de Marquette and Felonius Ax. As of January 2006, Billionaires for Bush was a network of 90 chapters nationally, with an online community of more than 10,000. The Billionaires for Bush website (http://billionairesforbush.com) keeps members and aspiring billionaire activists informed by administering a B4B Listserv that posts upcoming events, pictures, videos, and descriptions of recent events. Billionaires for Bush is run entirely by volunteers; money is raised for events, supplies, and administrative costs through key contributors, online donations, and event revenue.

The largest events are the Re-Coronation Inaugural Ball, last held in January 2005 to “celebrate” George W. Bush's victory, and the “Get on the Limo Tour.” It has been said that political leaders are more afraid of satirists than of their political opponents, as it is easier to silence criticism than laughter. Using language, slogans, and songs designed to elucidate and highlight horrific trends and disturbing top-level policies, Billionaires for Bush is a campaign designed to emphasize the structural, class-based injustice of the American political system, and its effect in just a few short years has been impressive.

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