Kid Rock as the next United States Senator from the Wolverine State? According to Michigan GOP press officer Sarah Anderson, the notion of a Senator Rock “would be awesome.”
Born Robert James Ritchie in the town of Romeo, Michigan (30 miles south of Detroit), Kid Rock’s name is being bandied about to make a run for the US Senate.
Livingston County Tea Party activist Wes Nakagiri has been advocating that the state’s GOP give serious consideration to the self-proclaimed “American Badass” to take on Democrat Debbie Stabenow in 2018.
As reported by the Michigan-wide news portal MLive.com, Nakagiri said of the entertainer;
” … has name I.D., is an out-of-the-box idea, and would kind of get rid of that stodgy Republican image,” Nakagiri told the Free Press. “I’ll bet you he would generate as much excitement as Trump did.”
But then comes the inevitable questions of suitability.
Especially in light that he ran away from
home at the age of 15 to nearby Detroit, and when there was forced by a local street gang to sell drugs for them.
Considering how poorly America’s elected officials have represented themselves, especially in the US Congress, as Donald Trump recently rhetorically asked, ” what do you have to lose?”
According to a recent Monmouth University poll, the percentage of the public that approves of how Congress has been conducting business is at a measly 23 percent.
Yet the saga of Mr. Ritchie doesn’t quite follow the same script as the average singer that goes from utter poverty to multi-millions overnight.
With no overt signs of a patriotism-heavy background or particular affinity for the Armed Forces, with the sudden fame of Kid Rock came with it a conspicuous love for both his country and those in uniform.
And Ritchie hasn’t exactly been shy when it comes to showing his love for both.
Politically, Ritchie as described himself as somewhere between a Libertarian and a Republican. He personally appeared at pro-Mitt Romney rallies in 2012, and during the 2016 election cycle, before publicly endorsing Trump, he was on-board with the Dr. Ben Carson for President campaign.
During the course of his 27-year music career, the Hip-Hop/Rapper/Rocker/Country crooner has shown either he’s personally good when it comes to managing his money, or he has the wisdom to hire trustworthy individuals to do that for him.
Either way, he reportedly has amassed a fortune of $80 million.
Ever the capitalist, Ritchie’s website not only sells vinyl records, clothing, various alcohol imbibing paraphernalia, beach gear, Christmas ornaments, flags, to even his hardcover collector’s edition book entitled “I’m Kid Rock, What’s Your Excuse?”
In regards to a certain NFL player who takes a knee when the National Anthem is played, but has done precious little to put his money where his mouth is, Ritchie has quite the philanthropic streak.
He’s founded The Kid Rock Foundation which has as its mission statement;
I can’t stop the war, shelter homeless, feed the poor. I can’t walk on water. Can’t save your sons and daughters. I can’t change the world to make things fair. This is the least that I can do. The Kid Rock Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit raising funds for and awareness of local and regional charities helping disadvantaged children, victims of war and natural disasters, and those suffering from illness.
It’s also cited;
Rock donated $10,000 to a Boy Scout troop in Florida, to replace camping equipment which had been stolen from behind a church.
Having made his mark on the world of music with over 25 million records sold, he now embraces the opportunity to act as a community leader. Kid Rock is a supporter of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, Youthville Detroit, Friends of Belle Isle, Made in Detroit Endowed Scholarship and The Rainbow Connection, among many other charities.
Furthermore, Ritchie has donated thousands to the following charities:
- EasterSeals
- Habitat For Humanity
- Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
- Not On Our Watch
- Operation Homefront
- Stand Up To Cancer
- United Service Organization (USO)
For those that still fret that Ritchie has no real public service under his belt, there is WMMQ radio citing MLive.com’s report that he’s been “listed as a reserve police officer for the department in Oakley, MI.”
For the uber-stubborn that still question Ritchie’s bona fides for membership to the upper chamber of Congress, keep in mind that this guy is the junior US Senator from Minnesota.
