https://twitter.com/mennynava/status/343017357465231360
Oh, dear. Think we’ve seen the BuzzFeeding of American politics? Even the White House is attempting to govern by meme. But the Mexican city of Xalapa has taken cat-meme obsession to new extremes with the mayoral campaign for “el candigato Morris.”
Morris, a black-and-white kitten, is running for mayor of Xalapa in eastern Mexico: http://t.co/Y3n2Jq5aYl pic.twitter.com/tDMYvQndQV
— KTVU (@KTVU) June 16, 2013
Cat stands for election in Mexican city… http://t.co/SgLC6TFnXf
— NEWS MAKER (@NEWS_MAKER) June 19, 2013
Morris the cat’s slogan is “Tired of voting for rats? Then vote for a cat.”
The Facebook page for the “Candigato” (gato means cat in Spanish) now has more than 130,000 “likes” – far more than those accrued by any of the candidates registered to stand in the Jalapa election to be held on 7 July, at the same time as local polls in about half the country. It tops those of Veracruz’s governor as well.
Whether Morris’ campaign is the result of political disenchantment or “an effort by the incumbent Institutional Revolutionary party to draw votes away from genuine alternative electoral options” is not clear. But supporters of the write-in candidate say, “Yes we cat!”
'Chairman Meow' oh dear. http://t.co/Gm53NrKu01
— Jallfy (@jallford) June 19, 2013
Cat to stand in Mayoral elections in Mexican town of #Jalapa. Vote Morris! #yeswecathttp://t.co/thmAKazwan
— Royston Wild (@FreelanceRoy) June 19, 2013
“@peachesanscream: He's got my vote… pic.twitter.com/J6nBxWJHH1” Morris the cat for mayor. His agenda: "to sleep and do nothing."
— Raymond (@raubrey) June 18, 2013
Este es Morris el candigato que proponen para alcalde de Jalapa, Veracruz. Buena puntada… pic.twitter.com/CtErx2Fd8f
— José Luis Carranza (@JoseLuisCarranz) June 5, 2013
yo recomiendo que el voto en jalapa sea asi; voten por el gato morris y libremonos de esos politicos corruptos,todos pic.twitter.com/quP4KRnraB
— KAMUS (@leyvastorga) June 7, 2013
En Jalapa en un mitin donde el "Candigato Morris" estrena spot y "destapa" su gabinete http://t.co/6wz0KelZ9V”
— Alberto Bastidas ∴ (@bastidas3) June 14, 2013
Morris is not alone in his quest for office. Reuters reports, “disillusioned citizens across Mexico nominated a donkey and even a chicken for political offices in the July 7 election.” Tintan the Dog is reportedly running in Oaxaca City.
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