posted 04-08-2004 01:31 PM            

FOR LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

posted 04-08-2004 01:43 PM            

Born in Brooklyn, New York to hard-working middle class parents, Russo learned the value of hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit, and social responsibility. These are the same principles that have helped Russo achieve success as an award-winning producer, a fiscally responsible businessman, and a NAACP Image award winner. It is these same principles, which drive Russo to speak out on behalf of the frustrated people of America.

“I have a sincere belief that the Constitution and Bill of Rights as envisioned by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Ben Franklin, are the documents that America is supposed to be governed by. Unfortunately, neither political party respects the vision of our founding fathers, and these documents have been relegated to the dustbin. I want to dust them off and restore them to their proper role in our lives. That is why I am running for President.”

At the age of sixteen, Russo was an extraordinary baseball player and was invited to tryout for the New York Yankee organization, which he turned down (one of his only regrets.) At the age of 19 he entered the family business, where he introduced the ladies’ bikini cut lingerie into the US market, while putting on music shows at night. Five years later he left the family business to begin his career as an entrepreneurial businessman. At the age of twenty-four he built a nightclub in Chicago, The Kinetic Playground, which quickly became a tour stop for major rock bands, and made Russo the second most influential rock producer in America. He was the first to bring Led Zeppelin to America and produced shows with The Who, Grateful Dead, Rod Stewart, and countless other performers of that caliber. Soon after, Russo began to manage Bette Midler, then a struggling entertainer. With Russo at the helm, Bette Midler’s career began to skyrocket due to her enormous talent; Russo's business savvy; dedication to Midler; the accuracy of his judgment and the strength of Russo's conviction.

“Russo is a born leader.” – Bette Midler 1977

In 1975, he also began managing Manhattan Transfer, producing their weekly summer television series that featured Bob Marley in his only American television appearance. In 1978, he won the Emmy for producing the best television special of the year “Ol’ Red Hair is Back” starring Dustin Hoffman, Bette Midler, and Emmit Kelly. He then produced his first motion picture “The Rose” starring Midler, for which she received an Oscar nomination for best actress in her very first film. He went on to produce “Trading Places” starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy for which he won the NAACP award for best picture. This film, considered a classic, plays every Christmas across the world. He also produced the highest grossing show of any Broadway play at the time (in a ten week period) “Clams on the Half Shell Review” starring Bette Midler and Lionel Hampton, for which he won an honorary Tony. And in 1978, concerned about education in California, Russo produced a live show featuring Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, and many more talented artists at the Hollywood Bowl to benefit the Save Our Human Rights organization.

Russo is known for the unique combination of being highly creative yet fiscally responsible. His management talents have been recognized with an Emmy, a Tony, Golden Globe nominations, and many gold and platinum records as well as six Academy Award nominations for his films. In an industry known for severe budget overages, Russo has managed to complete every film, TV, Broadway, and music production, on budget and on time. As a self-made entrepreneur, Russo truly understands the bottom line. The key to Russo’s success in all endeavors has been straight talking, perseverance, and the ability to stay focused on the objective.

By all standards, Russo had reached the pinnacle of success. However, he was also “Mad As Hell”© as he realized that Americans’ civil liberties were being systematically eroded by a government that disregards the Constitution and Bill of Rights, run by a two-party political system which truly doesn’t serve the best interests of the American people. So Russo took action, putting his money and his mouth on the line by creating a political television pilot called “Mad As Hell”© (in which he was in front of the camera) based on a character in the 1976 film, “Network.” The premise of the TV show was to raise awareness that our government was usurping the American peoples’ constitutional rights. The format was purposefully controversial in style and although it never aired on commercial television, hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) were copied and distributed for free with Russo’s blessing. Due to the grassroots interest in the show, Russo was invited to Nevada to speak to a small gathering on civil liberties. To everyone’s surprise, over 1,100 people turned out to hear him speak. This outpouring of support for his ideas and his common sense approach to government motivated Russo to take a more active role in speaking out.

“Aaron Russo is a man of his word.” – Jack Nicholson 1998

Aaron Russo decided to run for Governor of Nevada in the 1998 election, even though he had never run for or held a political office. Against all odds, he received 26% of the vote in a four-way race in the Republican primary, while building the largest grassroots volunteer organization in Nevada gubernatorial history. At the height of his campaign, Russo earned an unexpected 47% in the polls as a political outsider, posing a serious threat to his political opponents. After that highly successful experience, he resigned from the Republican Party, and registered as an Independent, believing that both major political parties don’t serve the American public's interest and actually cause great harm. As the result of his support in Nevada, Russo helped mobilize a large enough coalition of people to vote to legalize the medical use of marijuana against the Governor’s opposition. He was geared to run again for the 2002 gubernatorial election in Nevada, but withdrew to battle cancer.

While successfully battling bladder cancer, (using alternative medicine, against his doctor's wishes, combined with surgery) Russo watched the government implement the unconstitutional and immoral Patriot Act followed by the unsanctioned War on Iraq. As his health strengthened, so did his resolve. As the adage goes, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, and for Russo this meant taking on his greatest challenge – to enter the Presidential race in order to steer this great country back onto the course established by the Constitution. He wants to return the federal government back to its proper role in people’s lives and bring our troops home from Iraq and the rest of the world.

“If I could count on only one man to take on the federal government to defend alternative medicine, it would be Aaron Russo” - Dr Robert Atkins 2001

“I believe that every American owns their life and government’s primary function is to protect the individual’s freedom so that every person is free to do with their life as they choose, other than infringe upon the freedom of another. Unfortunately Government today believes they are the master and we are the servant, I intend to put an end to that perversion.”

Aaron Russo is a concerned citizen. He is the father of two sons, Max and Sam, with his best friend, Heidi. He is an active, well-respected member of the entertainment community being a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Directors Guild of America. Russo wants to live in a free America and is committed to ushering in real change. Russo is a patriot and is running as a Libertarian.