"If
they want somebody who is closer to them, more connected
to them, someone who will subvert the dominant paradigm
and who is willing to gnaw into the body politic,
that
is
me." – Abe Golam
WASHINGTON, DC - Abe Golam, Director of the
Office of Political and Economic Insecurity of the US Department
of Art & Technology, joined the growing field of candidates
running for the Presidency of the United States today.
Mr.
Golam, in announcing he is forming an exploratory committee,
declared his candidacy would "stir up controversy throughout
the global computer networks, that 'non-place' where the
true battle for democracy in America will be fought and won."
Running
as an independent under the Experimental Party, "the
party of experimentation," Mr. Golam, legendary info-shaman
and digital avatar, discussed his candidacy outside his home
in the Electrosphere, where he tried to paint a sharp contrast
between himself and President Bush. He also tried to separate
himself from other Democratic candidates, and indeed from
politicians in general.
"If the American people want a lifelong,
corporeal politician in the White House, that's not me," Mr.
Golam said in a webcast news conference. "They'll have
a group of people to choose from if that's what they want.
If they want
instead somebody who is closer to them, more connected to
them, someone who will subvert the dominant paradigm, who
is willing to gnaw into the body politic, inhabit it, and
lay his demon seed, that is me."
And he challenged Mr.
Bush on what many analysts consider one of the president's
political strengths thus far, the
campaign against terrorism. Criticizing the Bush Administration's
handling of national security, Golam exclaimed, "Since
September 11, all levels of government have been pointing
fingers like never before while our airports become Keystone
cop scenarios and our border security remains a farce." Mr.
Golam said he would seek to enlist artists in the fight.
He expressed his anger at the administration for not seeking
support from the nation's artists in its response to recent
international crises.
"America's artists - indeed, artists
all over the globe - want to contribute," Mr. Golam
said. "They want
to be involved; they want to feel like they can do something
to make their nation and their world safe for collaborative
experimentation and digitally-enhanced self-expression. They
just haven't been asked."
Golam also challenged the Bush administration's
recent war in Iraq and their overall foreign policy agenda
by saying that "[b]elligerent actions by the reigning oilgarchy
are meant to pick on easy enemies who, in fact, pose no threat
to the United States of America but are simplistically portrayed
in the classic Biblical role of Evil. First it was Bin Laden,
then it was Saddam Hussein, neither of whom have been found.
Who is the next Bogeyman? Jacques Chirac? Geraldo? John Kerry?
or maybe even me."
Abe Golam is best known as
a pop culture info-shaman, a leading proponent of copyright-free
art and entertainment products.
Since his debut in the internationally acclaimed website
GRAMMATRON,
released on the net in 1997, Golam has been a political activist
and performer in various on-line and live theatrical events
as well. Being a digital
avatar
with a gift for language as well as a certain kind of virtual
charisma, he seemed well-positioned to run for President
under the Experimental Party banner. As one of the innovators
of an art movement that had a brief flash of success during
the last few years of the 20th century, Golam was able
to use his cultural influence to radically change the course
of art history and has since devoted most of his time and
energy toward developing cutting-edge positions on the
major
political issues facing America and the rest of the world
today.
Abe
Golam's "Prayer for Empire" (text version)
Abe
Golam reciting "Prayer
for Empire" in the Oval Office (video
version, requires Quicktime)
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•
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• May 1, 2003 - Abe
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