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JESSE VENTURA SPEAKS OUT ON LINDA MCMAHON'S COSTLY SENATE RUN, WHAT WRESTLING PERSONALITY WOULD HAVE MADE THE BEST POLITICIAN, WHETHER HE'LL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016, AND MORE
By WeWantInsanity.com
He's the most talked about guest in ClubWWI.com history. Now, Jesse "The Body" Ventura returns to the Club for his third (and most explosive) interview yet. Jesse speaks to James Guttman for 35 minutes (100 total in all three interviews) about everything including how Vince McMahon Jr. would fair in politics, why President Obama hasn't closed Gitmo, his own experience with IRS audits, death threats for joining WWF in the 1980s, getting wrestlers over on commentary, and tons more.
The full audio is available at ClubWWI.com. Catch a free clip and read the full list of topics at: http://www.wewantinsanity.com/am2/publish/FeaturedArticles/ClubWWI_Jesse_Ventura_Third_Interview.shtml
You can also pick up Jesse's paperback copy of "DemoCRIPS and ReBLOODlicans: No More Gangs in Government" by heading to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B008PGJ9Z8/worldwrestl01-20/
Jesse Ventura's last appearance on ClubWWI.com was back in 2010 and before WWE's Linda McMahon ran (and lost) twice for the U.S. Senate. Linda's campaign famously spent just short of 100 million dollars in her bid. James Guttman asks Jesse about this. Did Linda's tie-in with wrestling hurt her chances? Ventura's not sure, but he knows a better way that money could have been spent.
"I don't know, but I'll tell you this. If Vince would have given me that kind of money, I'd be the President. How's that for a quote?"
James laughs and says, "That's going right in the headline now."
Ventura, through laughter, continues:
"When I ran for governor, I only raised $300,000. And that's a statewide race, like the senate. I only raised $300,000. I made more money doing the job. The job of governor paid $120,000 a year. So I made $480,000 for the four years and I only spent $300,000 to get the job. If I would have had that money, I'd be the President. You give me that much money to spend on an election and I’ll be President. (laughs) I think that answers your question in a very humorous, funny Jesse "The Body" Ventura type of way."
Jesse is well known for avoiding special interest groups and money from lobbyists. His new paperback book, ""DemoCRIPS and ReBLOODlicans: No More Gangs in Government", covers how the same lobbyists appear at both conventions. Ventura has stood up to this new status-quo for years and it's brought him heat from all angles. However, it's no different than his wrestling run. In wrestling, like politics, true "straight shooters" are hard to find. JG asks Jesse who, out of all the people he's met in the wrestling industry, would have made the best politician. Jesse barely needs a moment to think as he reveals his answer to ClubWWI listeners:
"Without a doubt, the best and smoothest would be Vince McMahon Sr., not Junior. Vince McMahon Sr. was the coolest, smoothest operator out of all the promoters I ever met – out of anybody in that whole business. You could be madder than a hornet and you'd go in and meet with him, you'd walk out feeling great but accomplish nothing. You'd feel good about yourself. Yet, he didn't give you a thing. I won't go into any specifics more than that. I think that describes Vince McMahon Sr. and I think it describes him in a very positive way. That's how good he was."
Although all of Jesse's appearances on ClubWWI.com have been momentous, this one might be the biggest. Recently, it was implied that Ventura might run for President in 2016. James Guttman likes that idea and presented the question to him like this:
"This country loves firsts. John F. Kennedy was the first catholic president. Barack Obama was the first African-American president. Personally, I'm waiting for the first former AWA World Tag Team Champion president. Now it could be Doug Somers, could be Marty Jannetty. But, I'd like it to be you. Governor Jesse Ventura, will that day come in my lifetime?"
Again, The Body tells it like it is:
"If there's a grassroots movement to get me ballot access in all 50 states and if they can somehow guarantee – either they protest their brains out to make sure – I'm included in debates. Because you have to be able to debate, I would give it serious consideration. But I'm not going to spend money to get ballot access. It would have to be grassroots effort by people in every state. I need to know that. Because the thing I find most despicable about public service is the obscene money and the sellout and bribery. Jesse Ventura will not sell out to the bribery of special interests. I never took a dime of special interest money when I was governor and I never once, in four years as governor, met with a lobbyist. And I will keep that integrity. So that will require the American people to have to jump through a lot of hoops to get me to do it. Plus, it would mean I would have to leave Mexico and it will require that amount of work from you all to ever even get me to entertain the thought."
Remember, Jesse Ventura is one of over 300 guests you can hear the moment you join ClubWWI.com. From Jerry Lawler to Dennis Stamp, everyone is there in our 7 year archives. Join the Insanity today and hear all you've been missing!
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
