Randy Credico
Encyclopedia
Randy Credico is an American political comedian and activist and the former Director of the William Moses Kunstler Fund for Racial Justice. Once active on the comedy circuit, including an appearance on the Tonight Show at age 27, he began a seven year campaign against New York
state's Rockefeller drug laws
, which he thought were too harsh, disproportionately affecting the poor and minorities. Small changes softening the stiffest penalties were passed in the state legislature, which Credico thought was insufficient. Credico spent four years in Tulia, Texas, bringing national attention to a racially charged mass drug arrest. The Kunstler Fund produced an award winning documentary on the subject entitled Tulia, Texas: Scenes from the drug war, written, directed and edited by Emily Kunstler
and Sarah Kunstler
. Credico is the subject of the film Sixty Spins Around the Sun, directed by comedian Laura Kightlinger
. Credico is also alleged to have imitated political consultant Roger Stone's voice in a threatening phone call to New York Governor Elliot Spitzer's father, which caused Stone to be fired as a consultant to the New York State Senate by Joe Bruno. Credico was able to clear his name by proving that he was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the day of the profane call to Mr. Spitzer.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2007/08/the_credico_connection.html
In 2009, Credico attended a meeting of the New York State Senate
on Open Government
dressed as the Greek Philosopher Diogenes the Cynic seeking an honest politician. He resigned his position with the Kunstler Fund in order to run as a Democratic primary challenger
against Senator
Chuck Schumer in 2010. Credico submitted petitions along with Jimmy McMillan
and other candidates in an effort to get onto the Democratic Party primary ballot. The party chairman claims that Credico only submitted a few pages' worth of petitions to the state, far short of the 15,000 necessary, a charge Credico denies. If Credico is bumped from the primary ballot, he has threatened to throw his support to Republican candidate Carl Paladino
in the gubernatorial race. Credico already has the endorsements of the Libertarian Party of New York
and the nascent "Anti-Prohibition Party" of Kristin "Manhattan Madam" Davis
for the same Senate seat, though those parties do not have permanent ballot access and will have to petition their way onto the ballot as well. Credico finished with 25,975 votes, in last place among four candidates; in most jurisdictions, Credico was only given one ballot line despite petitioning for two.
Credico was featured on the 1988 comedy album, "Strange Bedfellows: Comedy and Politics" along with Jimmy Tingle
, Barry Crimmins, and Will Durst
.
Credico produced, directed and wrote the radio program 60 Mimics.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state's Rockefeller drug laws
Rockefeller drug laws
The Rockefeller Drug Laws is the term used to denote the statutes dealing with the sale and possession of "narcotic" drugs in the New York State Penal Law. The laws are named after Nelson Rockefeller, who was the state's governor at the time the laws were adopted...
, which he thought were too harsh, disproportionately affecting the poor and minorities. Small changes softening the stiffest penalties were passed in the state legislature, which Credico thought was insufficient. Credico spent four years in Tulia, Texas, bringing national attention to a racially charged mass drug arrest. The Kunstler Fund produced an award winning documentary on the subject entitled Tulia, Texas: Scenes from the drug war, written, directed and edited by Emily Kunstler
Emily Kunstler
Emily Kunstler is an activist and a documentary filmmaker. Kunstler grew up in New York City's West Village neighborhood.- Education :...
and Sarah Kunstler
Sarah Kunstler
Sarah Kunstler is a documentary filmmaker and lawyer.- Education :Kunstler graduated from Yale University with a BA in Photography in 1998, and from Columbia Law School with a JD in 2004.- Family :...
. Credico is the subject of the film Sixty Spins Around the Sun, directed by comedian Laura Kightlinger
Laura Kightlinger
Laura Kightlinger is an American actress, comedian and writer. She may be best known for her role as Nurse Sheila on Will & Grace.-Early life:Kightlinger was born and raised in Jamestown, New York...
. Credico is also alleged to have imitated political consultant Roger Stone's voice in a threatening phone call to New York Governor Elliot Spitzer's father, which caused Stone to be fired as a consultant to the New York State Senate by Joe Bruno. Credico was able to clear his name by proving that he was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the day of the profane call to Mr. Spitzer.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2007/08/the_credico_connection.html
In 2009, Credico attended a meeting of the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
on Open Government
Open Government
"Open Government" is the first episode of the BBC comedy series Yes Minister, first broadcast 25 February 1980. In this episode, the final ' Yes Minister ' is uttered by Sir Humphrey Appleby.- Plot :...
dressed as the Greek Philosopher Diogenes the Cynic seeking an honest politician. He resigned his position with the Kunstler Fund in order to run as a Democratic primary challenger
United States Senate election in New York, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in New York took place as scheduled on November 2, 2010 along with elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator...
against Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Chuck Schumer in 2010. Credico submitted petitions along with Jimmy McMillan
Jimmy McMillan
James "Jimmy" McMillan III is an American political activist, perennial candidate, Vietnam War veteran, and karate expert, as well as a former postal worker and private investigator from Brooklyn, New York. He is best known as the founder of the Rent Is Too Damn High Party, a New York-based...
and other candidates in an effort to get onto the Democratic Party primary ballot. The party chairman claims that Credico only submitted a few pages' worth of petitions to the state, far short of the 15,000 necessary, a charge Credico denies. If Credico is bumped from the primary ballot, he has threatened to throw his support to Republican candidate Carl Paladino
Carl Paladino
Carl Pasquale Paladino is an American businessman and political activist from Buffalo, New York. Paladino is the founder and chairman of Ellicott Development Company, a real estate development company he founded in 1973. He was the 2010 Republican nominee for the New York gubernatorial election,...
in the gubernatorial race. Credico already has the endorsements of the Libertarian Party of New York
Libertarian Party of New York
The Libertarian Party of New York is a political party in the United States active in the state of New York. It is the recognized affiliate of the national Libertarian Party....
and the nascent "Anti-Prohibition Party" of Kristin "Manhattan Madam" Davis
Kristin Davis (politician)
Kristin M. Davis, formerly known as the Manhattan Madam, is a former madam famous for having run one of the prostitution rings that Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer frequented prior to the scandal leading to his resignation....
for the same Senate seat, though those parties do not have permanent ballot access and will have to petition their way onto the ballot as well. Credico finished with 25,975 votes, in last place among four candidates; in most jurisdictions, Credico was only given one ballot line despite petitioning for two.
Credico was featured on the 1988 comedy album, "Strange Bedfellows: Comedy and Politics" along with Jimmy Tingle
Jimmy Tingle
Jimmy Tingle is an American comic and occasional actor.-Life and career:Tingle was the American correspondent for Sir David Frost’s show for PBS and the BBC, The Strategic Humor Initiative. He completed two seasons with 60 Minutes II on CBS as the humorist / commentator in the Andy Rooney spot...
, Barry Crimmins, and Will Durst
Will Durst
Will Durst is an American political satirist; he considers himself a modern mix of Mort Sahl and Will Rogers....
.
Credico produced, directed and wrote the radio program 60 Mimics.