AHC: President Tom Hanks

[John Fredrick Parker]

Latest possible PoD, needs to happen by 2020 -- preferably, after he wins an Oscar for Philadelphia, bonus if Toy Story and Saving Private Ryan are also unaffected.

EDIT ADD: Oh yeah, and he has to have the same politics (liberal) and enthusiastic related interests (WWII and Space Exploration)

[SergeantHeretic]

Latest possible PoD, needs to happen by 2020 -- preferably, after he wins an Oscar for Philadelphia, bonus if Toy Story and Saving Private Ryan are also unaffected.

EDIT ADD: Oh yeah, and he has to have the same politics (liberal) and enthusiastic related interests (WWII and Space Exploration)

Just have friends and allies convince him that a Republican victory in 2016 is unacceptable and he is the one candidate that they do not dare try to smear.

[Meerkat92]

Just out of curiosity, what are Tom Hanks's political beliefs? I know you said "liberal", but what kind of liberal?

[John Fredrick Parker]

Just out of curiosity, what are Tom Hanks's political beliefs? I know you said "liberal", but what kind of liberal?

According to Wikipedia -- supports same-sex marriage, is big proponent of clean energy (esp electric cars), and an Obama supporter.

[SergeantHeretic]

According to Wikipedia -- supports same-sex marriage, is big proponent of clean energy (esp electric cars), and an Obama supporter.
ANd he's the one guy the Flash over substance appearence over reality myth over fact Republicans and Tea Partyers don't dare smear.

[titulus regius]

Forrest Gump for President? Could be, compare a recent incumbent who won two terms.

[marcus_aurelius]

Have him pull a Reagan some time in the late 2000s and enter politics? :p

Marc A

[SergeantHeretic]

Forrest Gump for President? Could be, compare a recent incumbent who won two terms.
"My momma says Stupid is as stupid does"- FOrrest Gump

"Is our children learning?"--GWB

[Admiral Ackbar]

Have Jerry Brown decide not to run for Governor of California in 2010, then have the Democratic party and Obama personally ask Hanks to run for the job that year. He beats Whitman and wins again in 2014, then he'll be the front runner for the nomination in 2016, wins the primaries easily, then wins the general election.

He still has to contend with the possible reluctance of Californians to elect another actor so soon after Schwarzenegger, and 2016 depends on the economy and if Obama wins a second term. If the economy is still bad and Obama is President then it will be tough for Democrats to win that year.

[Wendell]

Tom Hanks runs in-and wins-the California Recall. He gets reelected in 2006, and gets the Democratic nomination for President in 2008 after startling victories in the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire primaries. Bill Richardson is appointed Vice President after the 2011 resignation of Vice President Edwards following indictment on criminal charges relating to his failed presidential ampaign.

[John Fredrick Parker]

Was thinking about this recently, wondering -- what kind of changes, if any, would have to happen in Hanks' film career for him to seriously consider getting into politics? (Also, would he be more likely to enter the 2003 recall or running in 2006, if a Republican won the governorship in 2002?)

[Sicarius]

ANd he's the one guy the Flash over substance appearence over reality myth over fact Republicans and Tea Partyers don't dare smear.What is this based on?

[Mike Stearns]

What is this based on?

Well, for a start, he goes to church. He was raised by a Catholic and a Mormon.He's been married more than once, but unlike a lot other Hollywood actors, his personal life hasn't completely imploded in a orgy of booze and drugs and he hasn't been in any messy tabloid feuds or scandals. It would be very hard for the Republicans to do a character assassination of him.

[Sicarius]

"Goes to church" "raised religious" and "not a substance abuser" are pretty low bars. Plenty of our presidential contenders have been all that, and their opponents always found ways to attack them.

[midnight77]

Well, for a start, he goes to church. He was raised by a Catholic and a Mormon.He's been married more than once, but unlike a lot other Hollywood actors, his personal life hasn't completely imploded in a orgy of booze and drugs and he hasn't been in any messy tabloid feuds or scandals. It would be very hard for the Republicans to do a character assassination of him.

Plus, he's known for playing all american characters. He's Forrest Gump, for gods sake.

[Sicarius]

What's more, there are always political smears, aside from personal ones. If we assume Tom Hanks is running after an ATL career in politics, he'll have taken stances that can be attacked. Or if he didn't have a career, he'd be attacked as inexperienced.

Edit: People might like Castaway but that doesn't mean they're going to be like "Hey I don't like government healthcare but if the dude from Turner and Hooch is for it..." George Clooney's dad faced attack ads just because he was George Clooney's dad, and I'm sure some of the people who voted against him loved Ocean's 11

[Mike Stearns]

"Goes to church" "raised religious" and "not a substance abuser" are pretty low bars. Plenty of our presidential contenders have been all that, and their opponents always found ways to attack them.

By Hollywood standards those are fairly high bars and will win him points with voters. That by itself wouldn't be enough to win him the election, or his party's nomination, but it does say something about his stability as a candidate.

[MarkWhittington]

There have been a number of incidents in Hank's recent past that has tended to tarnish his all American guy image.

For instance, when the Pacific War miniseries was first broadcast on HBO, Hanks suggested that WWII in the Pacific was a "war of terror and racism" and that so is the current War on Terror.

http://nation.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/03/12/hanks-war-terror-war-pacific-driven-racism-and-terror

There was also the incident during a fund raiser at the private school where his children have attended when a man showed up wearing black face and wearing a Zulu warrior costume and Hanks, then running an auction, is seen not objecting. He later apologized, once the incident came to light years later, claiming that he had been "blindsided."

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/03/21/tom-hanks-apologizes-for-involvement-in-blackface-skit-at-2004-fundraiser/

Hanks was also an unabashed supporter of Obama and before him Clinton, something that would not endear him to center-right voters.

Hanks is also somewhat shy about leaving his comfort zone of Hollywood and some of the more left wing media, something he would have to do if he were to enter elected politics.

My guess is that he has no desire to get into politics as he has garnered far too much satisfaction as an actor and a producer. Being a politician for him would be a step down.

[Emperor Norton I]

Not everyone wants to be president.