Former Actor (Tom Laughlin a.k.a. Billy Jack) Challenging Bush in Primary

ABC ^ | 2/3/04

[areafiftyone]

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) - Tom Laughlin, best known for helping bring martial arts into American pop culture with his 1970s "Billy Jack" films, is now throwing his punches in the political arena.

The 72-year-old actor, who lives in Camarillo, is one of 13 candidates running against President Bush (website - news - bio) in the Republican primary.

Laughlin, who first ran for president as a Democrat in 1992, said he's campaigning to draw attention to a two-party system he deemed "so corrupt it can't function anymore."

He described himself as a "messenger" candidate and said he wasn't disappointed by the New Hampshire primary, in which he earned 154 votes to Bush's nearly 34,000.

"I've never run for president with any kind of thought of winning except to make a statement that we need change desperately," Laughlin told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The issues he's most concerned about: Bush's claims that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and Congress' recent approval of a Medicare bill that prohibits the purchase of cheaper health care drugs from Canada.

Political themes have long been of interest to Laughlin, whose low-budget martial arts films pitted Billy Jack, a part Indian outlaw and Vietnam veteran, against racist, corrupt politicians and greedy businessmen.

"Billy Jack was always about the little guy going against the power brokers who are out to exploit and ruin," Laughlin said. "And that's why I'm running."

[areafiftyone]

What is with these actors? They never can get back into reality. They are always acting even in real life.

[AmishDude]

Don't blame me, I voted for Pat Paulsen.

[AppyPappy]

Trust me. He's nutty as a fruitcake.

[Samwise]

Watch his feet! Watch his feet!

[robowombat]

Isn't Camarillo the location of a large state mental hospital?

[HELLRAISER II]

"I'm gonna take my left foot and Wop you on that side of your face and you know what's funny about that? There ain't a damn thing you can do about it." Crappy acting, but great for the teenage adrenaline junky back in the 70's.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Don't laugh. It isn't any more inherently dopey than throwing away one's vote for the Constitution Party. :)

[TommyDale]

..."One tin soldier walked away..."

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

My first date, I took my girl to see Billy Jack. At the time, I thought it was "heavy, man". Now I watch it and laugh! Anyone remember the Howard Hessman cameo?

Born Losers is a better movie anyhow...

[isthisnickcool]

Be careful. Sometimes he just goes BESERK!

[alnick]

Billy Jack challenges President Bush. You can't make this stuff up.

[veronica]

Former actor?

Try non-actor.

[Hatteras]

I try, I really try... but when I see this girl of such a beautiful spirit suffer this indignity... I... just... go... BERSERK!.

[areafiftyone]

Did he every do anything besides Billy Jack? I remember when that came out.

[avg_freeper]

Bush is going to put his right foot up against the right side of Tom's butt..., and there's not a damn thing he can do about it

[Ditter]

I saw Billy Jack & I thought it was the most disgusting movie I had ever seen. I was a conservative way back then & didn't even know it. LOL

[You Dirty Rats]

Billy Jack is just a bug in a black hat on the windshield of Dubya's campaign.

[Puppage]

"When I see what you've done to this country I just go.......BESERK"!!

[veronica]

Not really. And Billy Jack was schlock.

[VadeRetro]

Laughlin, who first ran for president as a Democrat in 1992, said he's campaigning to draw attention to a two-party system he deemed "so corrupt it can't function anymore."

What did he run as the last time? I can't see too many Republicans having much in common with an old fried-brain hippie time-warped ahead from 1968.