This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/26/willie-wilson-democratic-party-candidate-youve-never-heard-of

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Willie Wilson: the Democratic party candidate you've never heard of Willie Wilson: the Democratic party candidate you've never heard of
(35 minutes later)
With all the fuss over Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders it is easy to forget that in South Carolina at least, there is a third Democrat in the race for president: Dr Willie Wilson.With all the fuss over Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders it is easy to forget that in South Carolina at least, there is a third Democrat in the race for president: Dr Willie Wilson.
Wilson, 67, was born into poverty in Louisiana. He left there and started working as a janitor at McDonald’s. After a chance meeting with founder Ray Kroc, he ended up managing several franchises.Wilson, 67, was born into poverty in Louisiana. He left there and started working as a janitor at McDonald’s. After a chance meeting with founder Ray Kroc, he ended up managing several franchises.
From there he set up his own business selling medical supplies. He has received two honorary doctorates for humanitarianism on his was way to becoming a millionaire. He is a millionaire with a hankering for the White House, having run for mayor of Chicago in 2015. From there he set up his own business selling medical supplies. He has received two honorary doctorates for humanitarianism on his way to becoming a millionaire. He is a millionaire with a hankering for the White House, having run for mayor of Chicago in 2015.
“I could have been the Donald Trump of the Democratic party,” Wilson said this week, lamenting that he had not been invited to participate in debates. “Not beholden to any special interests. My only special interest would be for the people.”“I could have been the Donald Trump of the Democratic party,” Wilson said this week, lamenting that he had not been invited to participate in debates. “Not beholden to any special interests. My only special interest would be for the people.”
At a town hall event in St Helena Island, South Carolina, on Thursday night, Wilson put forward his case. He wouldn’t actually be like Trump, of course, although from listening to his pitch, he does have something of a Donald Trump-meets-evangelical-meets Bernie Sanders vibe. At a town hall event in St Helena Island, South Carolina, on Thursday night, Wilson put forward his case. He wouldn’t actually be like Trump, of course, although from listening to his pitch, he does have something of a Donald Trump-meets-evangelical-meets-Bernie Sanders vibe.
Someone said to me: ‘But we’ve never heard of you.’ And I said: ‘They had never heard of Jesus either'Someone said to me: ‘But we’ve never heard of you.’ And I said: ‘They had never heard of Jesus either'
“I’m not bought, I’m using my own money,” he told the crowd. “I am not and will not accept money from any major corporation.”“I’m not bought, I’m using my own money,” he told the crowd. “I am not and will not accept money from any major corporation.”
Referring to his relative lack of publicity, he said: “Someone said to me: ‘But we’ve never heard of you.’ And I said: ‘They had never heard of Jesus either.’Referring to his relative lack of publicity, he said: “Someone said to me: ‘But we’ve never heard of you.’ And I said: ‘They had never heard of Jesus either.’
“Jesus came to town to do good. I came to town to do good. I came to town not looking for anything from anybody but a vote.”“Jesus came to town to do good. I came to town to do good. I came to town not looking for anything from anybody but a vote.”
Wilson followed that up with: “I believe America should have free education for its citizens. If third-world countries like Cuba can have free education, or China can have free education, why not America?”Wilson followed that up with: “I believe America should have free education for its citizens. If third-world countries like Cuba can have free education, or China can have free education, why not America?”
This commitment to education – he would cancel student loan debt if elected – is not the only thing Wilson has in common with Sanders. Both are accomplished musicians and have released albums: Wilson several gospel-inspired records, Sanders an experimental folk music/spoken-word collection of protest songs. This commitment to education – he would cancel student loan debt if elected – is not the only thing Wilson has in common with Sanders. Both are accomplished musicians and have released albums: Wilson, several gospel-inspired records; Sanders, an experimental folk music/spoken-word collection of protest songs.
The only African American in the Democratic race was appearing at the Penn Center on St Helena Island. The Penn Center is the site of the former Penn School, which was established during the civil war as a school for African Americans.The only African American in the Democratic race was appearing at the Penn Center on St Helena Island. The Penn Center is the site of the former Penn School, which was established during the civil war as a school for African Americans.
About 25 people, some of whom spoke after Wilson, were in attendance. They seemed impressed.About 25 people, some of whom spoke after Wilson, were in attendance. They seemed impressed.
“Listen to this, Mr Newsman,” one speaker shouted in my direction. “You go back and tell them that Dr [his name] is going to support Dr Wilson, because he is the one who is going to make sure we can feed our children.”“Listen to this, Mr Newsman,” one speaker shouted in my direction. “You go back and tell them that Dr [his name] is going to support Dr Wilson, because he is the one who is going to make sure we can feed our children.”
(The first doctor came over afterwards and asked that his name not be used.)(The first doctor came over afterwards and asked that his name not be used.)
In many states, Wilson has not made the ballot. He was not listed in Iowa, New Hampshire or Nevada, the first three to vote. South Carolina is his first chance to show what he can do.In many states, Wilson has not made the ballot. He was not listed in Iowa, New Hampshire or Nevada, the first three to vote. South Carolina is his first chance to show what he can do.
After posing for photos, and eating some of the food provided – chicken wings, pasta and green beans – Wilson came over for an interview. He gave me literally the firmest handshake I have ever received in my life, then told me about his campaign.After posing for photos, and eating some of the food provided – chicken wings, pasta and green beans – Wilson came over for an interview. He gave me literally the firmest handshake I have ever received in my life, then told me about his campaign.
He is financing it all himself, and has spent almost $1m so far. Most of that has gone on television and radio ads. Then there’s the $20,000 it costs to get on the ballot in South Carolina, and the money Wilson has spent on his grassroots crisscrossing of the state.He is financing it all himself, and has spent almost $1m so far. Most of that has gone on television and radio ads. Then there’s the $20,000 it costs to get on the ballot in South Carolina, and the money Wilson has spent on his grassroots crisscrossing of the state.
Although Wilson has run for public office before – he came third in Chicago – campaigning for president is a new experience. He is enjoying it, though, showing no sign of fatigue.Although Wilson has run for public office before – he came third in Chicago – campaigning for president is a new experience. He is enjoying it, though, showing no sign of fatigue.
“I don’t get tired because I exercise every day,” he said. He runs on the treadmill and lifts weights. “And I love what I’m doing.”“I don’t get tired because I exercise every day,” he said. He runs on the treadmill and lifts weights. “And I love what I’m doing.”
There is one downside: “My wife misses me. She’s sending me four or five text messages every day.”There is one downside: “My wife misses me. She’s sending me four or five text messages every day.”
Wilson’s goal is to get 15% to 20% of the vote in South Carolina and pick up some delegates for the convention in July. He is on the ballot in around 10 other states, but lamented that he has been unable to follow up elsewhere. Wilson’s goal is to get 15% to 20% of the vote in South Carolina and pick up some delegates for the convention in July. He is on the ballot in about 10 other states, but lamented that he has been unable to follow up elsewhere.
If had known the Democrats would be like this I would have ran as an independentIf had known the Democrats would be like this I would have ran as an independent
“If had known the Democrats would be like this I would have ran as an independent,” he said. The process for getting on the ballot varies across states, from collecting signatures to being nominated by party officials. Wilson feels he could have been given more help.“If had known the Democrats would be like this I would have ran as an independent,” he said. The process for getting on the ballot varies across states, from collecting signatures to being nominated by party officials. Wilson feels he could have been given more help.
“It makes us proud and awake to have a black candidate running for the White House,” said Theresa White. She had already voted by absentee ballot in South Carolina – she wouldn’t say for whom – but she was impressed with Wilson.“It makes us proud and awake to have a black candidate running for the White House,” said Theresa White. She had already voted by absentee ballot in South Carolina – she wouldn’t say for whom – but she was impressed with Wilson.
“He’s bringing some issues that no one else is going to address,” she said. White liked “his commitment to represent the black community as their voice and not being [funded] by nobody”.“He’s bringing some issues that no one else is going to address,” she said. White liked “his commitment to represent the black community as their voice and not being [funded] by nobody”.
Wilson said he was aiming to be a voice for “the poor, people of color, and all people”. He is extremely unlikely to win the Democratic nomination. But it won’t be for lack of commitment. Or sincerity.Wilson said he was aiming to be a voice for “the poor, people of color, and all people”. He is extremely unlikely to win the Democratic nomination. But it won’t be for lack of commitment. Or sincerity.
“I’d like people to know that every minute of the way I’ve been working 100% on behalf of the people, without wanting anything for myself,” he said.“I’d like people to know that every minute of the way I’ve been working 100% on behalf of the people, without wanting anything for myself,” he said.
“And I want them to know that I tried for them. I tried to help them.”“And I want them to know that I tried for them. I tried to help them.”