Students cheer Friedman's off-beat message

Students cheer Friedman's off-beat message
By PATRICK McGEE
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
ARLINGTON — Texas’ counterculture-musician-turned-politician Kinky Friedman tried to get young people on his drive for the governor’s mansion Tuesday at the University of Texas at Arlington.
"When we get on the ballot, the soul of Texas is going to be riding on this campaign," Friedman said as some of his supporters circled through the crowd of about 200 gathering signatures to put the 61-year-old on the ballot as an independent.
Friedman wore a black coat and cowboy hat and had his trademark cigar and wit.
"My goal is to get the politicians out of politics," he said. "I have no experience whatsoever. None. I have a lot of human experience."
Students in attendance cheered and said they liked his off-beat message.
"He’s the only candidate for prayer in schools and gay marriage. I think that was pretty groundbreaking," Cody McCafferty, 21, a junior.
Jesse Porter, 21, also a junior, showed up at the outdoor speech with a sign that read, "Let’s get Kinky."
"I saw him on the news, and I just knew he’d be something new and different. He seemed really genuine," Porter said.
McCafferty, Porter and Elizabeth Beck-Johnson, 23, a sophomore, said they signed the petition to put Friedman on the ballot.
"I think he’s a refreshing change for Texas," Beck-Johnson said. "I think he’s got growing support."
Friedman pledged to do away with state testing of schoolchildren and put more power in the hands of teachers. He said people of many vocations should be brought into the schools to show students different career options they have and inspire them to pursue their dreams.
He said gambling should be legalized so property taxes could be cut and the Lone Star State could make money off its namesake poker game, Texas Hold ’em.
Friedman also said he would shun lobbyists and only appoint competent people.
source: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/14152456.htm