“Vote for Nobody” (satire)
“Vote for Nobody” is a satirical campaign that has been printed on bomper stickers and T-shirts. Nobody will lower the deficit. Nobody will stop the wars. Nobody will balance the budget. Nobody cares. Vote for Nobody!
The joke was popularized in 1964. “Nobody: G.O.P.‘s Top Candidate” was a newspaper column by Arthur Hoppe (1925-2000) in April 1964. “Nobody Is Perfect; So Cast a Vote for Nobody” was a newspaper column by Bill Vaughan (1915-1977) in October 1964.
The Museum of Hoaxes
The Top 20 Satirical Candidates Of All Time
#1. Nobody For President
Why vote for Nobody? Because Nobody is the best candidate. Nobody cares. Nobody will keep election promises. Nobody will listen to your concerns. Nobody tells the truth. Nobody will lower your taxes. Nobody will defend your rights. Nobody has all the answers.
Nobody has run for President of the United States in every election since 1964, when journalist Arthur Hoppe first launched a campaign on his behalf. In 1975 comedian Wavy Gravy and Curtis Spangler took up Nobody’s cause, hosting rallies for him across the country as the candidate of the Birthday Party. Their campaign had a serious side, urging that Nobody (or “None of the Above”) should be included as an option on all ballots so that voters wouldn’t be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. Their campaign continues at nobodyforpresident.org.
29 April 1964, The Evening Star (Washington, DC), “Nobody: G.O.P.‘s Top Candidate” by Arthur Hoppe, pg. A-23, cols. 2-3:
Nobody has, of course, taken an unqualified stand on the issues. His positions are set forth in an attractive brochure, titled: “What Nobody Can Do for You.” They include wiping out the Federal debt, abolishing taxes while quadrupling Government services, and decrying pie-in-the-sky proposals. But the campaign promise which will appeal most to any experienced voter is, simply: “Nobody Will Keep His Campaign Promises!”
25 October 1964, Sunday World-Herald (Omaha, NE), “Nobody Is Perfect; So Cast a Vote for Nobody” by Bill Vaughan, pg. 13-F, col. 1:
On my desk he slapped a bumper sticker: “Vote for Nobody.”
On a portable phonograph he played a record:
“Who is there upon the slate
In a country, county, city, state,
Who is truthful, brave and wise?
Loves welfare and free enterprise?
Whom are we referring to?
Nobody, that’s who!”
He carried a placard on which was the slogan: “Nobody Is Honester than Anybody.”
Google News Archive
2 August 1976, Florence Times/Tri-Cities Daily (AL), “Yippies Split On Nomination” (UPI), pg. 28, col. 5:
“Then there are others who want nobody to be elected. Nobody made a very good showing in New York. Nobody understands us. Nobody cares. Nobody will lower our taxes and nobody will stop the imperialistic third world wars.”
Google Books
The Nation
Volume 225
1977
Pg. 535:
Nobody will put an end to inflation. Nobody will fix the balance of payments. Nobody will respect our rights. (...) Let’s every one vote for Nobody. Elect Nobody. Nobody for President.
Google News Archive
28 February 1984, Spokane (WA) Chronicle, “Humor rears its refreshing head in New Hampshire” by Andrew Mollison (Co News Service), pg. A2, col. 5:
“Vote for Nobody,” they (anonymous Californians—ed.) told everybody. “Nobody will keep all his promises. Nobody will eliminate the deficit. Nobody will win!”
The Burning Platform
VOTE FOR NOBODY
Posted on 19th May 2015 by Administrator
VOTE FOR NOBODY
NOBODY WILL KEEP ELECTION PROMISES
NOBODY WILL LISTEN TO YOUR CONCERNS
NOBODY WILL HELP THE POOR & UNEMPLOYED
NOBODY CARES!
IF NOBODY IS ELECTED, THINGS WILL BE BETTER FOR EVERYONE
NOBODY TELLS THE TRUTH