Anybody who discounts him is shortsighted. I don’t think anybody should discount him. Nobody thought that we would see him in the position he is in right now. He is certainly the front-runner with no signs of that fading. I think he has a really great opportunity even if he doesn’t win the Republican nomination to do something I think the country has needed for a long time, which is to try to break this stranglehold of the two-party system. I kind of hope he decides to stick with it and maybe give people another option outside of the Republicans and Democrats.”
— Singer Clay Aiken, who ran for a North Carolina congressional seat in 2014 and crossed paths with Trump on Celebrity Apprentice, in an interview with Billboard
Terry Green
I don’t discount him at all…I appreciate that he will drive voters to liberals…
Jayme Dohrn
This is whyClay shouldn’t think.
Charlie in Charge
Agree, let him run for the Republicans, let’s see how this goes.
Ladbrook
Narcissistic fame-whore who also happens to be gay…. who cares what he thinks? Aiken was a contestant on Trump’s show and, like Trump, isn’t happy unless a camera is following him around or unless some idiot reporter is begging him for his opinion on something. I followed his “campaign” last year (for those of us in NC, it was hard not to), and it amounted to “HEY! Vote for me! I’m famous!” A sentiment he no doubt learned from Trump. Ugh.
William Meyer
Shut up Clay…..and thanks anyway!
Avery Alvarez
Still trying to hold onto even the slimmest piece of relevancy, girl?
Ra Hill
Is he part of the Log Cabin group ignored by the GOP?!??
Dave Basora
I’ve officially lost all respect for Aiken
NomNomNom
What’s with the nastiness? Are you jealous that he’s rich and famous and you’re not?
Nathaniel McManus
Dirty pig bottom
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
“it amounted to “HEY! Vote for me! I’m famous!””
Which proves that you did NOT follow his campaign.
Cam
Looks like Clay is planning to run again.
Remember, last time he ran he kind of distanced himself from the gay issue.
And just like during the election the screename NomNomNom appears to freak out on anybody who doesn’t declare their love for Aiken.
NomNomNom
@Terry Green: “I don’t discount him at all…I appreciate that he will drive voters to liberals…”
Trump’s ego won’t allow him to just walk away when he loses the GOP primary. He’ll go Independent. split the GOP vote and make it a win for the liberals. Clay knows what he’s talking about.
NomNomNom
@Cam: And here you are again crapping on Clay. You turn up like a bad smell every time Clay is mentioned.
By the way Clay will run again but not till 2020.
Kevin J Desmond
Clay … STFU you sorry ass hasbeen.
Rodney Church
Who asked for her opinion?
SeeingAll
@Cam: You hate on anyone who’s openly gay.
Cam
@NomNomNom:
Interesting that in your world, disagreeing with “Clay” is “Crapping all over him”. I didn’t know that using somebody’s own words was attacking them.
Is life fun in your obsessive world?
Victor Barry
Its a wonder Clay can remember lyrics.
darian
See this is the problem I have with trump supporters, it’s always “he’s gonna do great things for this for this country” when he hasn’t said one reasonable thing he would do to “make America great again”.
NomNomNom
@Cam: You’ve been posting nasty negative opinions about Clay for many years on Queerty. You’re never had a decent thing to say and fair is not in your vocabulary.
Yes you turn up like a bad penny every time Clay is mentioned. You are his self-designated hater.
NomNomNom
@darian:
Who is the Trump supporter? Not Clay Aiken. He says not to discount Trump because too many people are too comfortable thinking he’s just a joke, which he is, but he’s also winning over the GOP. He has a large following and needs to be watched and de-railed at all costs.
Ladbrook
@NomNomNom: Is that you, Clay?
I should also point out that Clay lost to RENEE ELMERS, a dimwitted Republican that even most of the Republicans in her district can’t stand. And why was Clay the Democrat’s nominee, when he actually lost the party’s primary? Because the man who won, Keith Crisco, DIED a week after he defeated Clay. So not only did the district not want him, but even the Democrat Party didn’t want him.
So please… run again, or whatever, but if he wants to win, he’d better do something substantive in the meantime to prove that he’s a worthy representative and just some crazy man-boy in search of a headline.
Cam
@NomNomNom:
Actually once again, read what I wrote, please point out where I was a “Hater”. I posted a factual opinion.
You on the other hand, flip out when anybody disagrees with something the guy said. doesn’t being an aging fangurl get exausting?
My comment simply stated that it looks like Clay is planning to run again. And then I mentioned how he distanced himself from the gay issue last time he ran.
Both of these are true, and yet you go on the warpath. Don’t you see how crazy and obsessive you seem?
Alex Rothwell
Oh please ! He’s got to be kidding us.
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
“Because the man who won, Keith Crisco, DIED a week after he defeated Clay.”
See? I told you you didn’t follow the campaign. Clay won the Primary on May 6th. Keith Crisco died on May 12th after having demanded a recount and losing the second time.
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
“I should also point out that Clay lost to RENEE ELMERS, a dimwitted Republican that even most of the Republicans in her district can’t stand”
Have you heard about gerrymandering? Its where a district is drawn to include a vast majority of voters in one direction or another. Renee Ellmers was in a deep RED district deemed so safe for Republicans that she didn’t even have to campaign.
Dieter Michaels
Clay Aiken is a fricken MORON.
NomNomNom
@Cam:
“doesn’t being an aging fangurl get exausting?”
As an aging Glambert frau you should know.
Ladbrook
@NomNomNom: Do you jerk off as you type all of this stuff, Clay? Or do you just edge for a few days?
SeeingAll
Cam, I’m always gonna tease you about Clay now.
Kieran
How dare he have his own political opinions as a gay man! Heresy!!
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
Nice try changing the subject when you’ve been thoroughly taken to task. It would be much more graceful to just admit you know nothing.
Kieran
I couldn’t be happier that Donald Trump, a man that has attended at least one gay wedding and called it “beautiful”, is whipping the homophobic asses of Rick Perry, Lindsay Graham, Santorum, Huckabee and Walker. Love it. Go Trump!
tusgold
I don’t mean to be a downer but his political expertise goes as far as running a congressional seat and was just destroyed likr 3%. Now if Nate Silverman tells me that I will listen.
Cam
@NomNomNom: said….
“@Cam:
“doesn’t being an aging fangurl get exausting?”
As an aging Glambert frau you should know
__________________________________
WOW! You fangurls are creepy. So now, anybody who apparently says anything about Aiken running that isn’t faltering is involved in some sort of invented Adam Lambert/Clay Aiken feud? Seriously? This is how you think?
Um…..take a look at what you’ve posted, seriously, read through it, that right there is the life you’ve built for yourself, that is how you think, that is the world you live in. Seriously, you need to reevaluate some of your choices and come back to reality while you can.
NomNomNom
@Cam:
No Cam, I’m specifically talking about YOU the big fangirly Glambert who just lurves him some Adam and hates him some Clay. I’m talking about years and years of reading your shit and KNOWING who you are by what you have said. Not just today but every damn time.
Don Hanover
something good is be a loser candidate for the loser partyâ?¦ yep
Dan Steele
I agree with Clay. Trump would bring BUSINESS back to the government…and eliminate politics. Politics killed our government with special interest crap. Trump is only worried about ONE thing…money. If we have money, our country will be great again. He’s got several other great points too. I agree with 99.9% of them.
Tony Chaplinski
still waiting for aiken to do something good
darian
@NomNomNom: Haha ok it may have been presumptuous of me think he supports trump.
Now what we are not going to do mr. Aiken is act as if trump is breaking a two party stranglehold. He’s being a child and other grown children are the only people taking him serious. So please spare us this don’t count him out b.s.
Cam
@NomNomNom:
Please feel free to point out any time I have engaged in some sort of Adam Lambert Fandom, but again, the fact that you think …
1. What I said was an attack on Aiken
2. Anybody not cheering for him is engaged in some sort of anti-Aiken conspiracy because of being a fan of Adam Lambert
Shows that you are really trapped into a narrow, scary world of conspiracy fandom. Seriously, go talk to somebody, there is help to be had, but you really need to crowbar your life away from your obsession. It makes you see things in creepy conspiratorial ways that really is disturbing to anybody looking in from the outside.
Wendy Semko
Like seriously?
Keebler ILF
Everytime I’ve seen someone from The Apprentice talk about Trump, they always praise him. Makes me wonder if they had to sign a contract promising not to say
anything negative about him.
On the other hand, Clay has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the political process after he ran for office. https://youtu.be/SIDLRBKrJ-I
I think he looks at Trump as someone who can shake up the system.
Raymond Smith
If you think Trump is good and accomplish something You go be with him .
NomNomNom
@Keebler ILF:
“Everytime I’ve seen someone from The Apprentice talk about Trump, they always praise him.”
So you missed the twitter feud between Trump and Penn Jillette I assume? Oh and Dee Snyder telling him to knock it off with using his song on the campaign?
You’re way off the mark here. Clay isn’t praising him either. He’s saying that his effect, although unintended, will be to shake up the system.
McShane
OK, so. This is fun. What have I learned today? Clay Aiken is obviously the second coming of Christ, I mean… duh. Cam, is “a bad penny” who by sheer luck or coincidence also happens to be the founder and President of the anti-Aiken conspiracy club. Trump, well thankfully Trump is still crazy as a sh!thouse rat.
@NomNomNom:
*crosses fingers* please be Giancarlo, please be Giancarlo, please be Giancarlo.
Did I miss anything? Oh, yeah… Clay Aiken killed Kurt Cobain!!! I REGRET NOTHING!
Shirley White
You must have lost your mind @ClayAiken
Cam
@McShane:
Oh My God you figured out everything!!! 😉
Chris Turk
who honestly cares?
Ladbrook
@NomNomNom: I know all about the recount, sweetie. I also know that poor Crisco’s death more or less killed (sorry for the pun) any actual conclusion to that mess… but you know, whatever.
Of course, the bigger point is the thin-skinned lunacy attached to so many Claybots and Claymaniacs when your Christ is criticized. You’re not that different from the Palin loons.
So when’s the next Clay meet-up? At the latest New Kids on the Block reunion concert?
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
” I also know that poor Crisco’s death more or less killed (sorry for the pun) any actual conclusion to that mess…”
Obviously not. Mr Crisco died a full 6 days after Clay won the Primary. The poor man just couldn’t accept the loss so he demanded a recount. When he lost that too he had a massive heart attack and dropped dead. Poor guy.
What part of the facts are you having a hard time accepting? I hope you don’t have a heart attack too.
Patrick Cremeans
Uh, Trump couldn’t even keep his new hotel in Vegas in business for 5 years.
Ladbrook
@NomNomNom: My heart is fine. Thanks for asking. Now go back to your group of homely spinsters and carry on with your “OMG he can’t be GAY!” whining and head-banging. Maybe play one of his CD’s. It’ll make you feel better. All Hail, Clay! All Hail, the Christ!
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
Post comments that are relevant to the article, written in clear language and that avoid personal attacks on editors and your fellow commenters.
Try sticking to the topic m’kay?
aliengod
@Dan Steele: I agree with you. So far, I’ve liked a lot of the things Trump has said. He’s someone I could possibly vote for.
David Hechenberger
I guess the good will be splitting all Rep. vote !
Ladbrook
@NomNomNom: Clearly, you don’t spend much time in Queerty’s comments section.
Here’s my final word on Clay and his statement: I question his motives. He clearly wants a career in politics (for reasons I can’t even begin to understand) and when he was asked a question about Trump, he sucked up, blew faint praise in his direction so that the powers-that-be know that Clay is available for stage appearances if Trump is still around come NC primary time. It was cynical, but if it works, then good for him.
In the meantime, if Clay is thinking about running again for the House, then he might need to relocate to a bluer district. As you pointed out, Ellmers has a safe seat in a rigged red district. If she’s to be knocked off, it’ll take someone other than Mr Aiken. My suggestion is that Clay try a run at the NC House, or maybe for mayor. Until then, he’s just a pop star looking for the next shot at celebrity. Unfair, maybe, but it is what people think.
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
Well, you don’t get to have the last word. I’ve been reading and commenting here for many years so don’t get all possessive on me.
Clay is a resident of NYC as of the first of this year, although he also maintains his residence in NC.
He said he’s not planning on running for at least the next 2 elections. Maybe 2020.
Ellmers will be knocked off by a rival Refug next election.
The next re-drawing of districts is not until 2020 unless the court case is successful.
Clay is much in demand and doesn’t need any Trump attention.
What a shame that there are so many people who are so quick to pounce on Aiken without taking 2 seconds to figure out what he’s really saying.
This guy gets it.
“Clay is very clever here, actually. By cashing in on his connection to Trump through The Apprentice show, he is warning us not to get complacent, and also voicing support for Trump running as a 3rd party candidate, and also suggesting that Trump ‘may not win’. Using flattery, and challenges to Trump’s ego, he is voicing public support for Trump running as a 3rd party, and thus ruining the GOPs chances of winning.”
Ladbrook
Uh huh. Well, good with all of that.
Ladbrook
@NomNomNom: Let me try that again.
Uh huh… well, good LUCK with all of that.
Robert Christian Show
Clay is a great singer but should leave politics alone. He ran a race in NC and failed remember? oh yea and under the Flagship of the GOP party
lauraspencer
@Terry Green:
Are there liberals running? Other than Bernie Sanders the Democrats seem pretty close to center and typical politicians.
Matthew Katz
SCHMUCK!!!!
NomNomNom
@Robert Christian Show:
Clay ran as the Democrat he is.
Finrod
@Nathaniel McManus: “Dirty pig bottom”
Good for you, but did you get Queerty confused with Grindr?
Keebler ILF
@NomNomNom:
Thanks for that info. I’ll check it out.
It’s good to know Penn and Teller still don’t put up with ‘bull$**t’.
Jerry Mitchell
Donald Trump 2016
Scott Halleck
dude is smart – stay on trumps good side if you have no reason not to.
Giancarlo85
@aliengod: Of course you would vote for Trump. He’s an ignorant asshole who can’t manage any sort of business. He would be a shitty candidate and an even worse President. Goodness me, the man drives everything he touches into the ground. Even Carlos Slim gave him an ultimate slapdown.
What ideas does Trump have that would serve this country and make it a better place? NONE.
@lauraspencer: Was Mitt Romney a “centrist” too when you voted for him lol?
Clay Aiken is a moron… much like some of the posters on here who spout off without any real facts behind them, like Mcshane.
@Dan Steele: Oh that’s wonderful. Do you actually use your brain before you post? Donald Trump has seen several bankruptcies and made comments that cost him tens of millions of dollars. Seems like a SHITTY businessman. It’s funny Trump spouted off crap about Mexicans when one certain Mexican could drive him to being homeless (again that would be Carlos Slim).
http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/30/news/companies/carlos-slim-donald-trump/
Shitty businessman with a big mouth who said the wrong things that effectively ruined him financially.
Maybe Trump should consider Carly Fiorina as VP if he gets the nomination! TWO SHITTY CEOs that manage to turn any company they touch into shit.
Giancarlo85
@NomNomNom: You don’t know shit about politics. Please stop commenting. You have received plenty of smack downs on here. Time to run away with your tail between your legs.
Giancarlo85
Wow all the right wing gays come out of the woodwork in this article… I can’t believe all the stupid shit that I read on here.
@Kieran: Except Trump is a homophobe who is against same sex marriage. But asides from that… he pushes shitty policies.
NomNomNom
@Giancarlo85:
Tsk tsk tsk. Another possessive moron. Piss off and mind your own business.
Giancarlo85
@NomNomNom: This is a public website, you ignorant fool. Do you even know what is going on in this country, numnum? Aiken basically buried himself in his own political grave. The guy will never run for anything again and will continue being the wash-up he is.
dwbyers1960
You gays are two faced assholes, plain and simple. Being gay is nothing more than a mental issue.
Giancarlo85
@dwbyers1960: No you have it back-ass-wards. Being right wing is a mental disease. Maybe you should commit yourself to a local mental hospital?
Cesar Fortun
His brain must be made of clay…
Desert Boy
Clay is such a loyal Aunty Tom.
Nathan Eason
no mam no ham no burger
lauraspencer
@Giancarlo85:
You are correct. Romney wasn’t a centrist. Not sure why you are talking about Romney. He is so 2012.
The issue is 2016 and Trump. I commented on the word “liberal” from one of the postings above.
Try to stay on topic.
Giancarlo85
@lauraspencer: Um, that was just the last Presidential election and one of your shitty voting choices. You’ll probably vote for Trump or whoever wins the GOP nomination this time around.
you are not a moderator and you don’t get to tell others to “stay on topic”. You don’t direct the conversation, idiot.
NomNomNom
@Giancarlo85:
You’ll be voting for Aiken and doing it gladly once you get your head out of your ass.
Giancarlo85
@NomNomNom: You’re the one that needs to get your head out of your ass and stop defending an idiot like Aiken. Why would I ever vote for him? He can continue trying to run in some backwards republican state and get defeated by double digits. He’s just a wash-up. Nobody really cares anymore about him.
NomNomNom
@Giancarlo85:
Use the correct pronouns, moron, and don’t speak for anyone but yourself. You obviously know nothing about Mr Aiken so your meltdowns and abuse are meaningless. I hope your head explodes.
Giancarlo85
@NomNomNom: Oh wow… we have a grammar na*zi here now. Funny how his own sentence structure is a pile of shit. Don’t type in run-on sentences and don’t forget punctuation. I know plenty about Aiken to know he hasn’t been relevant in years.
Giancarlo85
Aw poor thing… I attacked Mr Aiken and he gets his panties in a bunch. I’m so sorry that I offended your sensibilities. I didn’t realize Clay was so important to you.
Donald Jecker
Bye Felicia!
(and your little dog, too!)
Jayson A Messner
Joshua Andrew
martinbakman
Lance Bass said something similar, that Trump would be a great Republican candidate for a debate with Clinton. These gay pundits!!
Sev Kirchem
Go back too singing…you can sing.. Can you?!?
Michael Finnegan
David O'Flaherty
Clay is just a silly queen
John DeGregory
Clay Clay Clay………stop it !
jar
I don’t get the fuss. The message is correct; it’s Trump as messenger that’s the problem. But he is encouraging Trump to run third party, which would only benefit the Democrats. I think Clay may be punking the donald by appealing to his vanity.
Kelly Keigwin
An embarrassment to the lgbtq community.
Barry Aneda
Clay…grow up!
Louis
I love his music but not his way of thinking.
The only thing Donald Trump will bring is an even bigger division and intolerance in this country then there already is.
Hes already made extremely hateful and discriminatory comments about Mexicans, blacks, and gays and this narcissistic jackass actually thinks the entire country wants him to be their president.
What a deluded self absorbed rat haired little fool Donald Trump is.
Smh.
Louis
I also wish he would shutup already about Obama Obama has done more for the LGBT community then any other president ever has and I for one will miss him when he leaves the White House.
I fear for who his replacement is gonna be and for this country and for our community and the ramifications of what will happen whoever the next bigoted president will be.
I mean look at the candidates unless we somehow get Hilary or Biden we are screwed .
Cody Delancy
Since when does anything he says matter?
Richard Nodine
Clay Aiken isn’t gay, he’s just queer…in a very strange way!
Dominic Mancuso
lauraspencer
@Giancarlo85:
As I have said many times and you refuse to listen….I’m an independent. I have yet to see any candidate who impresses me. Seeing that we are still over a year away from the election it is a bit premature for me to choose. I’m looking forward to the debates.
At this time I’m liking the idea of a Biden/Bernie ticket.
lauraspencer
@Louis:
What did Trump say about gays? I’m curious. I haven’t read anything. Can you please point me in the right direction? Thanks.
Giancarlo85
@lauraspencer: You are clueless. you are not an independent. You are a conservative. I don’t even know why you would consider supporting Biden. You didn’t support him in 2012. You support Paul Ryan over him. Your story changes all the time.
Ladbrook
@Louis: Pray for Biden. I just can’t believe that anyone on the Obama team wants to hand over the keys to the WH to a Clinton. They will tank her campaign, one way or the other. I’m hoping they do it during the primary once Biden is officially in. They’d prefer E. Warren, but Biden over Hill is a no-brainer.
NomNomNom
@Ladbrook:
It seems that Clay agrees with you.
Clay Aiken ?@clayaiken
This sounds a bit tabloid to me… consider me #teamjoe http://t.co/8I6KZ7QTwj
Ladbrook
@NomNomNom: Meh…
After the indictments are finalized by Justice, sealed, and dropped on the President’s desk, B.O. will call Hillary and let her know that she has 48hrs to withdraw from the race or else go to prison. A day or so later, a “health crisis” will send her to the hospital. CNN and MSNBC will hold vigil over the place 24/7… crying, ripping at their flesh, yada yada. A day or two later, she sends a spokesman/woman out to do her dirty work for her. All of this before Jan 2016. Biden wins Iowa, NH, SC in a cakewalk. Obama’s legacy secure.
lauraspencer
@Giancarlo85:
My voting record does change. As people grow up and see the world they evolve.
I have supported Biden in the past in 2008 and I’m happy to support him again in 2016. He and Bernie would be a good ticket. Let’s see how it plays out.
crowebobby
You weren’t thinking, Clay. You were just thinking you were thinking.
Giancarlo85
@Ladbrook: You really have no clue what you are talking about.
@lauraspencer: See the world and evolve? If you voted for Romney and Ryan you didn’t evolve. And economic conservatism is the opposite of Biden and certainly Sanders. Economic conservatism is regressing… Not evolving.
Ladbrook
@Giancarlo85: Sure I do. You actually think that Jarrett and others have forgotten the brutal primary and the repulsive r@cist crap the Clintons pulled once things got started? You think the Clintons are loved in the current White House? You aren’t that naïve.
It’s a working theory… just don’t be surprised when some version of it plays out.
Giancarlo85
@Ladbrook: You know what? You subscribe to histrionics and not any real argument. Your hatred of the Clintons is obvious. You let it cloud what little objectivity you have.
Ladbrook
You’re right about one thing… I do, very much, despise that woman. And so does Obama.
o.codone
I love trump…. love him. !!!!!
Giancarlo85
@Ladbrook: You really have no clue.
@o.codone: Of course, you love haters because you are illogical.
Louis
@lauraspencer:
It’s like in golf. A lot of people—I don’t want this to sound trivial—but a lot of people are switching to these really long putters, very unattractive. It’s weird. You see these great players with these really long putters, because they can’t sink three-footers anymore. And, I hate it. I am a traditionalist. I have so many fabulous friends who happen to be gay, but I am a traditionalist.
There is one comment honey .
After indicating to the Des Moines Register that he will compete in next year’s Iowa caucus should he decide to seek office, Trump was questioned on his stance concerning same sex marriages.
“They should not be able to marry,” the Celebrity Apprentice star asserted.
Trump also admitted that he hasn’t developed a “fully formed” opinion on extending medical and civil benefits to gay couples, but he added: “As of this moment, I would say no and no.”
There is a second one.
Louis
@Ladbrook:
I’m hoping either one I really like both of them.
Will L
@Terry Green: Exactly. We’ve seen some totally extreme Republican behavior this year. These crazies are definitely appealing to the hillbilly fringe. Unless a moderate appears from nowhere, the sane Republicans will be voting Democrat. So LET ‘EM BE CRAZY! The more unhinged, the better. Let the world see what they are truly made of.