These words certainly resonate with the voting public. But we are not excerpting from a speech written about Senator Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump. Both men are Presidential candidates, and both are better known. Their faces have dominated the airwaves, and along with Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton,
most
Americans
naturally
assume
that statements like these would come from a short list of people running to become our next Commander-in-Chief. However, there is another candidate from Oklahoma running for America’s highest office. You may not have have heard or seen any commercials on your nightly news discussing his campaign. Yes, Joseph Maldonado, otherwise known as Joe Exotic, is also running for President of the United States of America. In preparation of this interview, Hollywood Weekly focused our attention on addressing the most controversial issues confronting our nation. We also wanted to address the public’s concerns. The following is our candid interview with the candidate affectionally known as “Joe Exotic.” According to a Facebook post composed by Jennine Roth, “Joe is a wonderful man who has dedicated his life to animals. He takes on abused or tortured animals that have given up on life, and cares for them
about a rule that was established 15 years ago that
in a loving, dignified and compassionate manner. He
serves only the Democratic and Republican nominees
works hard every single day. His place is way better
and blocks third-party candidates from participating
than any zoo.”
in the presidential debates. Mr. Maldonado feels a rule
In America there are two primary political parties.
that has the effect of excluding independents is unfair
If you are an independent, you have no chance of
and harmful to our democracy.
participating in the final fall 2016 presidential debates,
“The politicians and the Electoral College pretty much
and if you aren’t in the debates you can’t become
has the say so over who will become President in
president. Why can’t an independent stand on the
America. Until they met me… I have a platform that
stage with the Democratic and Republican nominees?
none of the others want to talk about.”
Because rules set by a commission dominated by the
It’s well known that Mr. Maldonado cares for over
two major parties stand in the way.
214 tigers and over 400 other animals located at the
For the men and women who run for president and vice
Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, located in
president of the United States, the national debates are
Wynnewood Oklahoma. The first thing on his list is
a great rite of passage in the long political campaign.
to get rid of Animal Rights Organization’s that want
Every four years, tens of millions of Americans watch
to force their life opinions on other people and stop
the nominees make their case to the voters in the
allowing them to make campaign donations. He also
final weeks before Election Day. Some voters decide
is against lobbyist hired by campaigns to swing votes
who “wins” each debate; others use the debates as the
to force Americans to live by their views and rules.
means to decide for whom to vote.
Mr. Maldonado believes it should be considered
That is why Mr. Maldonado is so deeply concerned
Domestic Terrorism, when you don’t have the right
HOLLYWOOD MONTHLY • 27
