GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

[BobGreenwade]

Here's a possible long-term scenario idea that would only work for a superhero who:

 

• Operates under a Public Identity, one that is a matter of public record, or at least one that a significant Hunter with NCI knows.
  
• Is at least 35 years old.
  
• Is a natural-born citizen of the United States of America.
  
• Has been a permanent resident of the United States for at least the last fourteen years.
  

Some of you probably figured out that last one before reading it. Yes, I'm talking about running the character for the office of President of the United States.

 

But no, I'm not talking about encouraging him to run. I'm talking about his enemies launching a campaign to get him elected.

 

Their idea, of course, is that the PC would be too restrained by the Secret Service, and too busy dealing with administrative responsibilities over various crises (the economy, natural disasters, the Gulf oil spill, nuclear weapons in Iraq and North Korea, what have you) to go out and crush their plans.

 

Of course it hasn't occurred to the enemy that the PC would be able to bring the full force of the United States government against them. Or maybe it has, and the idea has been dismissed as a fair trade. Or maybe the enemy already has the full force of the United States government against them, and is standing up just fine. Or maybe the enemy has enough influence in the United States government (through bribery, placement of double-agents, and such) that it's just not a concern.

 

The development of the Presidential campaign could go any of several directions, and probably could go several at once. Some enemies, realizing the good part of the plan, might jump on board. Others would naturally oppose the idea, either in principle or because they realize what the PC could do from the Oval Office.

 

Some enemies might even decide that the PC really is the best choice for President, and go straight to serve as an example for the PC's good works.

 

And what about the heroes and other allies? The reactions from that side would be so variable that I won't even bother trying to enumerate the possibilities.

 

But there's one other twist. If the enemy is known as a corrupt individual or organization, then any revelation of his involvement in the PC's campaign could not only torpedo the election chances, but seriously tarnish the PC's reputation in general for years to come. And maybe that's the point of the enemy's whole project in the first place.

[Greywind]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Worked for Lex...

[BobGreenwade]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Worked for Lex...

Lex ran himself, not Clark.

 

I'm talking about something like Dr. Doom launching a secret campaign to elect Reed Richards.

[Cygnia]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Well, the first step is to convince your Public ID hero that he/she wants to run in the first place.

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Let's not forget that Nighthawk* was the President of the United States. And we all know how that turned out.

 

 

 

 

*Kyle Richmond of the Squadron Supreme, Earth 712, that is.

[Ockham's Spoon]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

This is a neat idea, but unless the villains are just going for a rep smear, I think the hero has to have a genuine interest in running for office (or be mind-controlled). The villains might subtly suggest that the hero to consider it and then build grass-roots support to convince the hero he has a chance to seal the deal, but unless the hero wants to be elected he won't make it onto the ballot. (okay, I guess an imposter could set him up and he could be put on as an independent candidate and then major misfortune could befall his opponents and no one believes his repeated declarations he isn't running... this becomes increasingly complicated but still possible...)

 

Another way to get the hero into office would be some kind of constitutional crisis wherein he is essentially appointed the post (is that really possible? Read "Shelley's Heart" by Charles McCarry - it is excellent), but that would require a lot of subterfuge as well and misses the potential fun of an election campaign.

[Greywind]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Lex ran himself, not Clark.

 

I'm talking about something like Dr. Doom launching a secret campaign to elect Reed Richards.

But does Lex know that Supes moonlights as Clark?

 

And we all know how Lex's presidency ended.

[CrosshairCollie]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

If you try this, you also find a way to get him to nominate a VP candidate who's working for you. He's bound to get tired of the BS and quit, or die, or get zapped to another dimension for a few months or something, which means you just snuck your guy into the top spot.

[BobGreenwade]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

The villains might subtly suggest that the hero to consider it and then build grass-roots support to convince the hero he has a chance to seal the deal....

This is kind of what I had in mind -- though the rest of what you say is still good.

If you try this' date=' you also find a way to get him to nominate a VP candidate who's working for you. He's bound to get tired of the BS and quit, or die, or get zapped to another dimension for a few months or something, which means you just snuck your guy into the top spot. [/quote']This is quite clever! I hadn't considered it. I'd been trying to figure out a way to work in the VP slot, and this would do the trick. (Of course, the VP candidate would have to appear to be as above reproach as the PC.)

[Yansuf]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Of course, if the HERO doesn't want to run, he can "take a Sherman."

[Shadow Hawk]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Of course' date=' if the HERO doesn't want to run, he can "take a Sherman."[/quote']

 

Would that be "If nominated, I will not run, if elected, I will not serve."?

[CrosshairCollie]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

This is kind of what I had in mind -- though the rest of what you say is still good.This is quite clever! I hadn't considered it. I'd been trying to figure out a way to work in the VP slot' date=' and this would do the trick. (Of course, the VP candidate would have to appear to be as above reproach as the PC.)[/quote']

 

Two words, twice: Dan Quayle. Joe Biden.

[brionl]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

I'm pretty sure you need to personally sign your name somewhere to actually get on the ballots.

[Matt Holck]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

maybe the hero signs documents everyday turning in job applications

[Yansuf]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Would that be "If nominated' date=' I will not run, if elected, I will not serve."?[/quote']

 

Yes.

[hfergus]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Our entire hero group only has one with a public ID, and he is not native born. Foxbat has suggested the Constitution be changed just for him. Why? Because Foxbat is crackers, and would love to see a 748 year old mage from another dimension in charge. Olorin would not do it even if Constitutional unless it was the only hope for the US.

[Logan D. Hurricanes]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

What about being a write-in candidate? That could work well for a let's-get-him-elected-against-his-will kind of campaign, and if the hero wins even one state he'll have some thinking to do.

[Cygnia]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

Wasn't there a similar story with Captain America back in the 80's or so about a grass roots campaign trying to get him as President (and him turning it down)?

[Matt the Bruins]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

I don't think it was so much a grass-roots campaign as backroom power brokers in both political parties competing to see if he would run as their candidate.

[Shadow Hawk]

Re: GMs: for your Public Identity heroes

 

I don't think it was so much a grass-roots campaign as backroom power brokers in both political parties competing to see if he would run as their candidate.

 

Like the D's and R's with Eisenhower in the early 1950's? I could see it with some characters (Captain America, Superman*) but not others (Spider Man, Batman).

 

*not eligible, not born in the U.S. Or not natural born. Or did they retcon it again?