--- title: This Fake Candidate Just Beat Jeb Bush in a Straw Poll description: "Honest Gil" Fulbright, a satirical presidential candidate, beat Jeb Bush, Lindsey Graham and George Pataki in a recent straw poll. canonical: https://time.com/4069962/honest-gil-fulbright-jeb-bush/ author: Tessa Berenson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-10-12T16:24:03.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:32:26.202Z article:section: Politics og:title: This Fake Candidate Just Beat Jeb Bush in a Straw Poll og:description: And Lindsey Graham. og:url: https://time.com/4069962/honest-gil-fulbright-jeb-bush/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt47a2af67ff61ee04/698864d1ab6d77b8c46a6493/honest-gil-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5472 og:image:height: 3078 og:image:alt: honest-gil og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Fake Candidate Just Beat Jeb Bush in a Straw Poll twitter:description: And Lindsey Graham. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt47a2af67ff61ee04/698864d1ab6d77b8c46a6493/honest-gil-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Fake Candidate Just Beat Jeb Bush in a Straw Poll > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0da7c1cd-bcb8-4358-88b3-fd71ecb3cb07&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch: Gil Fulbright Addresses the 2015 Republican Liberty Caucus [Watch (HLS stream): Watch: Gil Fulbright Addresses the 2015 Republican Liberty Caucus](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ZQicqdIJ.m3u8) (10:00)  _Published 2015-10-12. Watch: Gil Fulbright Addresses the 2015 Republican Liberty Caucus_  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Oct 12, 2015 4:24 PM UTC Watch: Gil Fulbright Addresses the 2015 Republican Liberty Caucus  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Oct 12, 2015 4:24 PM UTC “Honest Gil” Fulbright’s presidential campaign is literally a joke, but that didn’t stop him from beating Jeb Bush and Lindsey Graham in a New Hampshire straw poll over the weekend. Played by actor Frank Ridley, Fulbright is a mock-candidate who skewers typical politicians for Represent.us, a nonpartisan group that is pushing for campaign finance reform. He’s not even on the ballot anywhere. But after he gave a stump speech cracking jokes about Republican candidates at the libertarian Republican Liberty Caucus’s national convention in Nashua, Fulbright beat some of them in the straw poll. “Face it, I am a puppet for special interests and lobbyists,” Fulbright said. “And I will break any campaign promises that rub my donors the wrong way.” Fulbright picked up a dozen votes, putting him way behind Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who won with 445 votes, [according to the New Hampshire _Union Leader_](http://www.unionleader.com/Dan-Tuohys-Granite-Status-2016-emerges-as-year-of-women-in-Granite-State-politics). But that was still ahead of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York Gov. George Pataki. His stump speech may have helped on that front, as it included digs at Bush and Graham. “Now there’s a guy who has raised hundreds of millions of dollars without saying anything of appreciable substance,” Fulbright said of Bush. “His donors even call him a straw man, stuffed with cash.” “Some have pointed out that I’m not on the ballot anywhere,” Fulbright said. “But despite this obstacle, I’m still in a dead heat with Lindsey Graham.” Josh Silver, director of Represent.us, said the straw poll success was a “pleasant surprise, but not a huge one.” “Voters on both sides of the aisle are fed up with politicians who represent special interests and lobbyists instead of the American people,” he told TIME. “Honest Gil strikes a chord because he exposes our corrupt political system for what it is.” The [board of Represent.us](https://represent.us/about/) includes an actual presidential candidate, Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig, who is running for the Democratic nomination on a platform of enacting campaign finance reform and then resigning as president. Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, who briefly ran for the Republican nomination in 2012, is also on the board. **Read Next:** [_Lawrence Lessig Thinks a Single Issue Might Make Him President_](http://time.com/4008492/lawrence-lessig-president-bernie-sanders/) ## Transcript [00:00] [ APPLAUSE ] My name is Honest Gil Fulbright, [00:04] and I wanna be president of these United States. Now [00:07] it seems that every candidate's got some kind of [00:11] gimmick these days, so here's mine. I will be 100 % [00:16] honest with you about everything. Face it, I am a [00:19] puppet for special interest and lobbyists, and I will [00:22] break any campaign promises, that rode my daughters [00:25] the wrong way. I guarantee it. But I will do it [00:29] straight to your face. Now [00:33] friends, as a life long Republican Or [00:38] Democrat, whoever's picking up the tab. [ LAUGH ] I [00:41] have traveled all over this great country of ours, and [00:44] pretended to listen to people. [ LAUGH ] I listen to [00:47] them as they talk about our broken political system. [00:51] Oh, the liberals, they like to complain about evil [00:54] corporations buying politicians. Putting profits ahead [00:58] of what is best for our country. Conservatives are upset [01:02] about high takes and wasteful spending, and a [01:05] government that's out of touch with the people. But the [01:08] truth is, our government is working. A [01:13] lot of regular people say Hey! It's not working for me! [01:16] Well, to the special interest who bankroll my campaign, [01:19] it's working up a treat my friends. [ LAUGH ] Now I [01:22] know this crowd, they want a small government that [01:24] doesn't interfere with their lives. But friends, big [01:27] moneyed interest, they love a big, expensive [01:30] government. It pays. For example, the [01:35] last two years, 200 big companies have invested more [01:37] than $ 5 billion in lobbying and campaign [01:42] contributions, and for that they get $ 4. 4 [01:47] trilllion in tax payer money. [01:51] And this is gonna be spent in subsidies. Pork projects, [01:55] private contracts, union handouts, the like. Now, [01:59] these companies are donating, right now, to most of [02:01] the Republican candidates. Promising to reduce the [02:04] size of government and cut wasteful spending. But [02:08] they're also donating right now to most of the [02:10] Democratic candidates, promising to stand up. To the [02:13] power of big corporations. Now it's this kind of [02:15] bipartisan leadership that we need. [ APPLAUSE ] [02:19] Members of both parties coming together to [02:21] compromise our most heartfelt beliefs in exchange for [02:25] some money. [ LAUGH ] [02:28] Now this is the part of the speech where I vaguely [02:30] mention policy ideas that later you can't hold me [02:33] accountable for. [ COUGH ] I have solutions. Solutions [02:37] like, repealing Obama Care, and replacing it with [02:41] bigger handouts for Insurance providers and drug [02:43] companies. [ APPLAUSE ] [02:49] My friends, I have a plan to fix immigration. But I don't [02:53] know what it is yet, because I cannot find a donor who [02:55] specializes in building big walls or retractable [02:58] domes, but soon as I do, trust me, I'll make that work. [03:03] I think it's time that we shore up our military's [03:07] defense contractors. Now, the Navy and the Army [03:11] they don't want aircraft carriers filled with exciting [03:14] laser tanks. Well that's just what they're gonna get. [03:17] [ LAUGH ] And friends it is this [03:21] kind of cronyism that our government excels at. As [03:25] some president said once, I'm paraphrasing here. I [03:29] ask not what your country can do for you. Be a [03:32] lobbyist, ask your country what it can do for you. [03:34] [ APPLAUSE ] Is that what he said? [ APPLAUSE ] Now [03:40] there are some naysayers out there that say that I can't [03:43] win. Some claim that I'm fake. Some say that [03:47] I'm making a mockery of the entire political process [03:51] well friends these are just strong traits that I share with [03:53] many of my fellow candidates. [ APPLAUSE ] [03:58] Now others have pointed out that I'm not actually on [04:01] the ballot anywhere But despite this obstacle, I'm still [04:05] in dead heat to Lindsey Graham. [ LAUGH ] [04:09] [ APPLAUSE ] But [04:14] the truth of the matter is the competition are stiffs. The [04:18] competition is stiff. [ LAUGH ] [ COUGH ] Excuse me [04:22] Take Jeb Bush. Now there's a guy who's raised [04:25] hundreds of millions of dollars without saying anything [04:28] of any appreciable substance. His donors actually call [04:31] him a straw man that's stuffed with cash. Then [04:36] their's Hillary. Now, she's smart and she's full of good [04:38] ideas. I'm just not sure what they are. They probably [04:41] got erased with her email history. My hat is off to both [04:45] of them because they can fundraise. Oh man can they [04:48] fundraise and that's what it's all about. In fact, this is [04:50] true. The same lobbying firm that raises money for [04:53] Hillary Clinton is also raising money for Jeb Bush, John [04:57] [ UNKNOWN ] and Marco Excuse me. Rubio [ LAUGH ] [04:59] [ APPLAUSE ] Marco Rubio. [05:13] [ LAUGH ] My point [05:17] is, and I do have one. In fact, I will say anything To [05:22] get your money. There it is. Liberty, [05:27] eagle, Ronald Reagan. Thank you. What [05:32] about the flag? The flag, [05:36] yeah. American flag, even. All of [05:41] us establishment politicians. Well, they're all the same. [05:43] We give lip service to this money issue. but behind [05:47] closed doors in back rooms, we making some deals. [05:51] Now, the difference, the Gil Fulbright difference is I [05:54] promise to make those back room deals in the front [05:56] room, outdoors. I, whatever. Well, now, obviously, I [06:01] need to, normal people to think that I care about them. [06:04] Cause the donors love that. They love that! And you [06:07] know we always have some sort of five point plan to do [06:10] something good. So here is my five point plan. [06:14] Number one I propose that all Americans be [06:18] independently wealthy. [ LAUGH ] Trust me that is a [06:22] great way to get heard. It's a great way cuz you can [06:24] donate tons of money to campaigns and [ UNKNOWN ] [06:27] and trust me people will listen. Second, be a lobbyist. [06:32] Lobbyists they get to get cozy with politicians, they [06:35] actually get to write laws and generally they just have a [06:38] fistful of our legislators Right by the bills. [ LAUGH ] [06:44] Third, don't not be a lobbyist. [06:49] This is very important. [ LAUGH ] Because if you are [06:51] not a lobbyist in the first place, you know you can't be [06:55] one if you're not a lobbyist in the first place. [ LAUGH ] [06:58] Makes you think, doesn't it. [ LAUGH ] [ LAUGH ] [07:02] And, and fourth, for goodness sakes, have a sky box [07:05] seat to some renting skin dance, would you? [ LAUGH ] [07:07] You know, and fill that sucker up with cocktail weenies. [07:11] I love cocktail weenies. Really, I would hand over the [07:13] nuclear codes for a plate full of cocktail weenies. [07:14] [ LAUGH ] Now, that is my [07:18] five point plan [ LAUGH ] And it takes concrete steps [07:23] to make sure we can foster even more lucrative [07:27] political corruption. Now of course there are those who [07:31] wanna stop this corruption. Can you believe that? They [07:33] wanna end the party in Washington. This would be a [07:37] disaster for politicians like me. If legislators can't [07:41] be bought, then we would have some sort of what, [07:44] constitutional republic where any Joe six- pack or Susie [07:48] boxed wine has a voice in government. Do you really [07:51] think that our founding fathers wanted a government [07:55] of, for, by, for the people? No. [08:01] No one would put that many prepositions in a [08:03] sentence, would they? [ LAUGH ] Don't make sense. [08:05] Bad writing. So [08:11] I'm here today to challenge. My fellow candidates [08:15] on both side of the aisle. I want them to pledge to do [08:19] nothing. Do nothing. Sign my pledge, do nothing, [08:23] and keep taking money from special interests and [08:25] lobbyists, keep that sweet, sweet cash flowing. Keep [08:29] paying lipsers to the issue of corruption but don't do [08:31] anything about it, for goodness sake. Let's keep the [08:34] party going in Washington, I'm having a grand time. [08:37] And I'm proud to announce almost all the candidates [08:39] have implicitly signed this pledge, and I want to thank [08:43] them for their continued support. I mean, the blank [08:45] stare I take as a yes. [ LAUGH ] [08:52] And finally, my friends, the American people, they're [08:56] speaking loud and clear They are sick of politicians [08:59] who say one thing and then do another. They're sick of [09:02] cronies who sell them out behind their back. And [09:06] they're sick of fake politicians who make a mockery of [09:08] our government. It's time to do something real about it. [09:10] So I want you to remember that straw pole, you'll get [09:13] the chance again tomorrow. Vote for [ UNKNOWN ] [09:16] Write my name in the ballot and let's send a message [09:17] loud and clear, we do not want another spineless [09:20] mouthpiece for special interests and lobbyists. We [09:23] would like a spineless mouthpiece for special interests [09:25] and lobbyists. My name is honest Gil Falbright and I [09:29] want to be your next spineless president. Thank you. [09:31] God bless you. God bless money. [ APPLAUSE ] [09:31] [ APPLAUSE ] Go Gill Go! Go Gill Go! Hi, It's [09:47] Honest Gil Fulbright and this is what I like. If [09:51] you want to throw some money at me go to our [09:53] Indiegogo page so we can make more of these videos. 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