An Internet legend entered the Tennessee gubernatorial race in an effort to get back his pet raccoon, who was seized by authorities last year.
Mark 'Coonrippy' Brown, 55, stole the Internet's heart after videos of him showering with his pet raccoon, Rebekah, went viral on YouTube. Since July, he's been fighting to regain custody after wildlife officials went to his home in Gallatin and confiscated her.
He feels that his best chance to get Rebekah back is to challenge incumbent Gov. Bill Haslam in the Republican primary in August, the Gallatin News Examiner reports.
Brown's latest move follows two unsuccessful attempts to get his raccoon back. His letter requesting a permit from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency went unanswered, and a petition to Haslam with more than 60,000 signatures was reportedly never opened.
"Governor Haslam ignored the cries from the entire United States," Brown told the paper.
His bid for governor, which began on Jan. 4, is "all about the raccoon." His first campaign speech (video below) was as kooky and endearing as the story that brought him into the national spotlight.
"We are one nation under God -- not above God," he says in the video. "And just like the purity of this apple ... well, I don't know where I was going with that, but I guarantee there will be changes made. Changes you'll like. You call me, I promise I'll answer the phone."
He said he's not deterred by the fact that he has no campaign experience, and hopes he can ride his Internet fame on his way to freeing the raccoon. Brown has taken to his Facebook page to garner support.
Last year, a TWRA spokesman Don King said Rebekah was seized when a neighbor complained. King told The Tennessean at the time that raccoons simply aren't suitable as pets and can be unpredictable.
Still a better governor candidate than anything Texas has seen in a couple decades
Hey you still get those Cheap Lightbulbs, quit your bitching. Perry Said he wouldn't force the lightbulb law.
Not that it matters since those bulbs are not being made anymore anyway.
I am all for him having the raccoon as long as she gets her rabies and distemper shots and all that (like any dog or cat). Clearly he took good care of her.
Racoons are not supposed to be pets, they are wild animals. I doubt this man will get anywhere, he should consider getting an acceptable pet like a dog.
Racoons are not supposed to be pets, they are wild animals. I doubt this man will get anywhere, he should consider getting an acceptable pet like a dog.
Pets are just wild animals who we have trained to behave in a certain way. A raccoon can certainly be a pet.
Racoons are not supposed to be pets, they are wild animals. I doubt this man will get anywhere, he should consider getting an acceptable pet like a dog.
Pets are just wild animals who we have trained to behave in a certain way. A raccoon can certainly be a pet.
No, a raccoon is a wild animal. It is not meant to be a pet but is supposed to live in the wild.
Racoons are not supposed to be pets, they are wild animals. I doubt this man will get anywhere, he should consider getting an acceptable pet like a dog.
Pets are just wild animals who we have trained to behave in a certain way. A raccoon can certainly be a pet.
No, a raccoon is a wild animal. It is not meant to be a pet but is supposed to live in the wild.
There is no animal "meant" to be a pet. There are animals that used to be wild that we domesticated though. All animals are "wild" animals. Hence the existence of feral cats and dogs. Again, pets are just wild animals we have trained to behave in certain ways.
Any animal can be a pet. Some are just easier than others. Much easier.
I know of someone that had a tiger as a pet. A family had a buffalo as a pet. Heck, last night I saw a video of a guy playing with his pet fox (which was just ADORABLE).
So it would be possible to have a raccoon as a pet.
Any animal can be a pet. Some are just easier than others. Much easier.
I know of someone that had a tiger as a pet. A family had a buffalo as a pet. Heck, last night I saw a video of a guy playing with his pet fox (which was just ADORABLE).
So it would be possible to have a raccoon as a pet.
250
100
100
