"I think that it's a real possibility": Let's face it, "The Rock" is eventually going to be our president

We started this, so no complaining. It’s celebrity presidents all the way down now.

The guy’s obviously cut out for the job. Easy charm, talks a lot about “inclusion,” self-described “feminist,” appealing multiracial biography, no meaningful political experience. He’s another Obama, except, you know, a man.

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[Dwayne “The Rock”] Johnson doesn’t hesitate when I ask him whether he honestly might one day give up his life as the highest-paid movie star on earth—which is unquestionably easier, more fun, and more lucrative than being president of the United States—in order to run for office. “I think that it’s a real possibility,” he says solemnly…

“What are your thoughts on the Muslim ban?”

“I completely disagree with it,” he says without hesitation. “I believe in our national security to the core, but I don’t believe in a ‘ban’ that bans immigrants. I believe in inclusion. Our country was built on that, and it continues to be made strong by that. And the decision felt like a snap judgment. I feel like the majority of, if not all, Americans feel that protection is of huge importance. But the ideology and the execution [of national-security initiatives] is where we really have to be careful of not making those snap decisions, because there’s a tail effect… Within 24 hours, we saw a ‘tail effect.’ It grew to heartache, it grew to a great deal of pain, it grew to a great deal of confusion, and it had a lot of people scrambling.”…

Johnson describes himself as a “feminist” raised by “strong women.” He’s spoken openly about his experiences with depression and has positioned himself as a mental-health advocate. His popularity as a professional wrestler gives him a strong heartland base, and the fact that he grew up all over the United States—while his dad worked the wrestling circuit—gives him local ties, literally, from coast to coast (Connecticut, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, California, Washington, and Hawaii).

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Is The Rock a Democrat or a Republican? His travel-ban answer led me to assume he leans left, but according to this CNN piece from last year he’s a GOPer. Probably he’s a “Schwarzenegger Republican” — pro-business but decidedly Hollywood on cultural issues. We missed our first chance to elect a hugely famous, hugely muscle-bound center-right actor thanks to ye olde Natural-Born Clause in the Constitution. That’s not a problem for Johnson, a California native. Look at it this way: He couldn’t possibly do worse primarying Trump in 2020 than John Kasich will.

Even if he runs as a Democrat, there are benefits. Someone’s going to have to stop Mark Zuckerberg and the total Facebook takeover of America. Maybe only an action hero can do it. “Man versus machine” would be a sweet campaign theme for The Rock in a country increasingly panicked about automation. And if you thought Trump destroyed Jeb Bush when he branded him eternally as “low energy,” wait until Johnson starts calling Zuckerberg “pencil neck.”

Besides, does it matter if President Rock is a Republican or Democrat? The die is already cast. From now on, the GOP is stuck with Democratic presidents whatever their party registration technically might be.

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Whichever route Johnson takes to the general election, a match-up with Trump would be a media dream come true. In one corner: A vain, shallow actor turned politician with a wrestling pedigree running for the White House on a lark. In the other: The Rock. Exit question: Is this all Mary Katharine Ham’s fault?

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John Stossel 12:00 AM | April 24, 2024
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