Tiririca - Fausta's Blog

December 7, 2017 By Fausta

Brazil: Tiririca would rather be an honest clown than a crooked politician

The clown and politician who as been in the Chamber of Deputies since 2010 is calling it quits,

A professional clown in Brazil who ran for congress and won by a huge margin says he will not stand again in 2018.

Francisco Everardo Oliveira Silva, better known as Tiririca, is coming to the end of his second term in the Chamber of Deputies.

He complained that he was one of only eight out of more than 500 lawmakers who regularly turned up to sessions.

Tiririca said he was “ashamed” of his colleagues’ behaviour and would return to being a full-time clown.

Tiririca’s stage name means Grumpy. His 2010 campaign slogan was “It can’t get any worse.”

He would get my vote.

Cross-posted at WoW! Magazine.

September 8, 2014 By Fausta

The postponed amnesty Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

LatinAmer How convenient: Abandoning his pledge to act by the end of summer, President Barack Obama has decided to delay any executive action on immigration until after the November congressional elections, White House officials said.

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The week’s posts:
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At Da Tech Guy Blog:
The week in the administration

Just what are “immigration rights”?

January 11, 2012 By Fausta

Sony fined $656k over Tiririca song

The clown and politician is in the Brazilian headlines, again,
Race Matters: Sony Ordered To Pay Half A Milli In Damages After Brazilian Song Calling Black Woman “Stinking Beast” And Comparing Her Hair To Scouring Pads Is Deemed Racist (h/t GoV)

The lawsuit was brought forth by 10 non-governmental organizations that fight against racism. Humberto Adami, the defense attorney of the NGOs, argued that black women were offended, exposed to ridicule and felt violated due to the lyrical content of the song.

“This decision is a direct message to show how the issue of racial inequality should be treated. It is a moment to celebrate. The compensation won’t even go to the authors of the lawsuit. The money will go to the Diffused Rights Fund of the Ministry of Justice,”commented Adami.

Adami claims that the damages paid in the suit are the highest ever paid for compensation of a racist act in Brazil.

A representative for Sony maintained that the song was not intended to offend women and that Tiririca was in fact alluding to his wife in the song and that the terminology used in the song are used by Brazilians in reference to not only black women but white women as well.

In case you wonder if this is too much, take a look at the appalling lyrics.

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October 6, 2010 By Fausta

Let’s hear it for the clown: 15 Minutes on Latin America

In today’s podcast at 11AM Eastern, a roundup of news regarding Tiririca’s win in Brazil.

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October 5, 2010 By Fausta

Brazil edition: Where are the clowns? Congress! VIDEO, UPDATED

A few days ago I was posting on clowns at the US Congress. Now the Brazilians have done that one better, and elected this guy: Tiririca the clown!

Tiririca won big:

His nom de humor means “grumpy,” and his campaign slogans included “It can’t get any worse.” And today, Tiririca the clown — “The Handsome Candidate” — is a member of the Brazilian Congress after winning more votes yesterday than any other candidate.

Tiririca (aka Francisco Oliveira Silva) collected more than 1.3 million votes and will represent Sao Paulo.

Here’s his ad:

Eat your heart out, Al Franken!

UPDATE:
At the Beeb,

Tiririca’s sucess could also have a bearing on other election races, as he can pass on his excess votes to other candidates in his party’s coalition, which includes the governing Workers Party.

Tiririca survived a last-minute legal challenge to his candidacy amid evidence that he did not meet the literacy requirement for elected office.

However, the electoral authorities indicated he could be removed from office if he failed to show he can read and write after the election.

Other winners were two pro soccer players who scored big,

Romario, the striker who helped Brazil win the 1994 World Cup. Fellow footballer and 1994 team-mate Bebeto was elected state deputy for Rio

Can’t wait for Cicciolina to show up for the inauguration.

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