Why the wrestler won’t get on a plane: Former Governor Jesse Ventura on flying and other political advice for voters
Top Line
Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura is a lot of things -— he is a former professional wrestler, a former Navy SEAL, a devoted fan of surfing, and an Independent with a deep distrust of political parties ... and the TSA.
The TSA? That's right. Ventura has tried, unsuccessfully, to sue the TSA for invasion of privacy, for what he says are intrusive screenings at airports. And as a result, Ventura won't get on a plane. Even Mexico, where he spends much of each year surfing.
But one place that Ventura isn't driving these days is Washington DC. In a new book, Ventura declares the political system in this country broken and compares the two parties, to rival street gangs — forever engaged in violence, but with no end or positive outcome in sight.
"Don't vote for a Democrat or Republican, I have never voted for one in my life and I never will," said Ventura, author of a new book "DemoCRIPS and ReBLOODlicans: No More Gangs in Government." In it, Ventura compares the two main political parties of the United States to two famous, violent rival gangs of Los Angeles, Calif.: The Crips and The Bloods.
Equating politicians and public service with people who deal drugs and shoot people is rather extreme, even for Ventura.
"I'm trying to show people that these gangs, as I call them, that control our government are bad. And go to chapter two, I have some pretty good allies: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. And John Adams especially, he said the downfall of the United States, if it ever happened, would come from within and it would come when political parties take over the government," said Ventura. "They are gangs just like the street gangs, only they wear Brooks Brothers suits."
The two-party system has been around for more than 200 years, and Ventura said they have been gang-like from the beginning.
"It's always been this bad. What do they do if a third party tries to rise up? Just like the gang, they either beat 'em up and get rid of them, or they absorb them," said Ventura.
The former politician isn't advising voters to stay home come November's election, but he sure isn't endorsing Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.
"You can vote for former Governor Gary Johnson like I'm going to do," said Ventura, endorsing the Libertarian candidate.
"And this stuff that [third party candidates] can't win? Well the media in Minnesota, all they said was "Jesse Ventura can't win, you can't vote for Jesse Ventura, he can't win." Lo and behold, I beat Skip Humphrey, I beat Senator Norm Coleman and I did win," added the former governor.
Check out this week's Top Line for more of our interview with the former governor -- including a lawsuit with the TSA which keeps him grounded and driving everywhere — even to Mexico.
ABC's Sarah Burke contributed to this report
