Everyone has a story. What's yours?
 Linda Thomas
twitter: @TheNewsChick
About Linda
Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

If you have a news tip or story idea, I'd love to hear from you...

To leave a voice message for Linda about any of her stories call toll free 1-855-251-2363

Follow Me on Pinterest


Macklemore.jpg
Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" went platinum, which means there have been 1,000,000 downloads of the song. He's celebrating with a run for Seattle Mayor, in 2025. (Photo, screen grab from Macklemore's video)

Seattle rapper Macklemore to run for mayor. Really?

January 4, 2013 @ 6:17 am (Updated: 10:24 am - 1/4/13 )

A Seattle rapper has accomplished something in music that hasn't happened for about 20 years and he's looking ahead to running for Mayor in 2025.

It was the summer of 1992, the last time a Seattle artist had a platinum single in the music world.

Sir Mix Alot's "Baby got Back" has been replaced. On Thursday, Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" - by the way parents, offensive language warning on that video - went platinum, which means there have been 1,000,000 downloads of the song.

If you're familiar with Macklemore, it's likely because you have a teen in your house or you might remember his tribute song to Dave Niehaus "My Oh My."

His song "Same Love," in support of same-sex marriage was recently in the news because a teacher was reprimanded for playing it in class.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have quietly become a national success. Their album "The Heist" reached number one on iTunes, he's playing sold out shows, and now he's announcing political goals.

Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, says he's running for Mayor of Seattle.

"I'm running: 2025 is the year," he tells me after getting off a red eye flight back from a concert in Hawaii. "It's time to fight for the city and stand up for the people.

It'll happen in 2025, he says, because his rap career will probably be winding down by then and he'll be able to focus on other goals.

"Politics is the new hip hop," says Macklemore.

Cool phrase, but what does that mean?

"I'm going to make that the new phrase in 2025, and I'll figure it out by then," he says.

Haggerty, who grew up in Seattle and went to public schools here, says education needs to be embraced as the "engine of our robust economy." He also supports gun control and wants affordable, safe housing for all.

There's more.

"We need a modern transportation system. We're a growing city we need to meet those needs, and hopefully that means hover boards," he says.

Seriously?

"Yes," Macklemore says with a smile in his voice. "In 2025 I'll make sure all the kids in Seattle get hover boards."

He's gotten thousands of likes on a Facebook post about his plan to run for Mayor of Seattle. Some people even say they'll move to the city if he's in charge.

Others, think maybe he's taking his New Year's resolutions a little too seriously and is "going a little crazy on us."

"Absolutely not," he says. "I'm enjoying life."

By LINDA THOMAS

My teen daughter who loves Macklemore will be 30 if/when Ben Haggerty runs for office.

Exterior photo courtesy Macklemore's Facebook page

More from Linda Thomas

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (34)


  • Add A Comment

  • Newton wrote...
    What Leaders in Seattle or any where else.
    January 5, 2013 12:04 am
    This State is Doomed. At least we all get to watch the collapse with glazed eyeballs do to the marijuana bill passing. College education is a complete Failure. I know lets build a failed transit system and force the people to pay for it. No wait lets build a stadium and then fix it up, then blow it up Ya thats great idea. Then build another stadium and put a garbage can team to play for us for years and years Ya! thats good idea. Wait lets build another failed idea stadium and pay way more then we should and get sucker punched agian Ya thats good Idea. Christ! for get it!. I'm done pay taxes to the rich who want to flat out steal from citizens.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    am i the only person
    January 5, 2013 7:36 am
    ..that has NEVER heard of this "artist"?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    Nope
    January 5, 2013 10:38 am
    This is the first I have ever heard of this freak too...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    Wouldn't it really be something if...
    January 5, 2013 9:38 am
    ...the Kirov reporters actually went out and dug up some real news? I can hardly believe the garbage the newsless chick puts on here. There must not have been any homo stuff on the ap for her to copy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Certain to run as a democrat...
    January 5, 2013 12:30 pm
    "Politics is the new hip hop," says Macklemore.

    Cool phrase, but what does that mean?

    "I'm going to make that the new phrase in 2025, and I'll figure it out by then," he says.

    Here's a clue Macklemore...you don't have to have a meaning to your slogan. "Hope, change, forward" ring any bells? You don't need to fill those up with meaning. Better to leave them hollow and let people think it means what they want it to mean...it worked for the clown in office now. Of course you have a low bar there...democrat voters are the classic low information voters...it's like shooting fish in a barrel...doh! can't shoot...maybe netting fish in a barrel for the leftist's sensibilities.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    netting fish in a barrel !?!
    January 5, 2013 3:49 pm
    oh heavens--that's animal cruelty
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Transit/college/marijuana
    January 6, 2013 2:35 am
    May be seen as failure to the SUV worshiping (ever-widening seat size) conservative... but remember that you are free to move to the South (or Bible belt) if you dare. My bet is you'll stay right here because ACTIONS speak louder than right-wing whining... and take it ;)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    cigarfan
    January 6, 2013 10:29 am
    May be seen as failure to the SUV worshiping...

    Speaking of SUV's...when they were arguing for global warming the left blamed SUV's...now that the claim is starting to be global cooling will the left now advocate more SUV's to offset the cooling? Be careful how you bash SUV's...it may be your "salvation" by leftist "logic".

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Global cooling?
    January 6, 2013 12:35 pm
    I go to some of the UW libraries every week and am on Seattle Campus a lot. Lemme know when that global cooling catches fire (no pun intended) because unless the research is conducted by non-carbon non-fossil fuel funded scientists, not unlike the Tobacco industry, I'll be looking to public research Universities for peer-reviewed analysis.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    cigarfan
    January 6, 2013 4:24 pm
    ...unless the research is conducted by non-carbon non-fossil fuel funded scientists...

    Oh yeah, much better to have the "opinion" of scientists who make their living by arguing there is global warming. They've even been caught falsifying data but it's a religion for the left...facts need not apply.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @rational
    January 6, 2013 6:02 pm
    It's difficult to get a man to understand something especially if his job depends on him NOT understanding. -Upton Sinclair TRANSLATION: I'll take the word of my Environmental professor (who doesn't stand to profit) OVER the opinion of a Tobacco or OIL industry scientist who literally has BILLIONS of $$$ to create doubt using corporate media and corporate think tanks.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    cigarfan
    January 6, 2013 7:55 pm
    I'll take the word of my Environmental professor (who doesn't stand to profit)...

    You obviously are willfully ignoring the fact that those environmental professors live on the research grants...they are 100% dependent upon continuing their conclusions regardless of fact.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    Global warming...
    January 6, 2013 4:37 pm
    For years, the Elites of the West have cranked up the myth of Man Made Global Warming as a means first and foremost to control the lives and behaviors of their populations.

    http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/04-01-2013/123380-global_warming-0/

    Even the leftist Pravda says global warming is a scam.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @rational
    January 6, 2013 7:46 pm
    See that word in the URL you typed that says "opinion" ? It's right between the ru/ and /columinists. The University of Washington is able to go beyond this.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    cigarfan
    January 6, 2013 7:58 pm
    LOL...you continue to prove that hypocrite is a core trait of a progressive. So you'd take the word of the environmental professor whose entire livelihood is from grants over a leftist source such as Pravda that has no profit in reporting that AWG is a scam? Obviously you don't really buy into that Upton Sinclair quote you tossed out a few posts ago.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Professors
    January 7, 2013 6:40 am
    The UW professors I know are paid by state salary...and don't earn their living by grants. Why don't you visit the UW college of the Environment? http://coenv.washington.edu/
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    cigarfan
    January 7, 2013 5:22 pm
    Non-sequitur...the "leading" AGW proponents are, in large part, on grants. I don't believe you're really that dense, now are you? Are the UW profs the only ones advocating AGW? Do you claim to know all AGW proponents worldwide? It's a multi-billion dollar industry.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @rational
    January 7, 2013 8:15 pm
    I can only deal with the UW professors I know....why don't you give a specific example using Seattle people?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    cigarfan
    January 7, 2013 10:20 pm
    Why limit to Seattle and are you really trying to argue that there isn't a good number of AWG "scientists" who collect research grants?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @rational
    January 7, 2013 11:14 pm
    So I can go talk to the person(s)....I interact with UW Environmental students and professors...and If some AWG "for profit" corporations are coercing these professors and/or students in the puget sound area ...I want to look into it!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    he should run for president
    January 6, 2013 8:25 am
    he doesn't have any qualifications either...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Oh good grief what another idiot wants an office job.
    January 7, 2013 1:42 am
    Nobody cares about this whatever it is. Looks to me like another freak show.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }