[lbo-talk] Homer Simpson, the greatest American

Ian Murray seamus2001 at attbi.com
Thu Jun 12 12:34:52 PDT 2003


[the BBC] Last Updated: Thursday, 12 June, 2003, 18:11 GMT 19:11 UK

Homer eyes 'best American' prize

Doh! Homer Simpson looks set to beat Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jnr to the title of greatest American in a BBC online poll.

The ham-fisted but lovable head of the Simpson family is - so far - topping the list of 10 famous Americans with over a fifth of the votes in the strictly unscientific survey.

The poll is being carried out ahead of a live 90-minute global television debate about America's place in the world, which the BBC will screen along with 10 other national broadcasters.

Homer Simpson comes in as the favourite with 20.7% ahead of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin (6.2%) and the country's first president, George Washington (7.9%).

The 10 shortlisted candidates came top in nominations from News Online readers.

Another irreverent choice was Mr T from the TV show The A-Team, currently polling just over 8%.

Folk music legend Bob Dylan is also the choice of just over 8% of more than 8,000 votes so far.

But languishing at the bottom of the list is former President Bill Clinton with 4.5%.

"Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Fourteen percent of all people know that" Homer Simpson

There is still time for you to register your vote before What the World Thinks of America is screened on Tuesday.

Hosted by the BBC's political editor Andrew Marr, it will be shown in the UK on BBC Two at 2100 BST.

It will also be broadcast on the programme's website.

Other countries taking part are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.

Who is the greatest American? Homer Simpson: 20.65% Abraham Lincoln: 15.13% Martin Luther King Jnr: 13.91% Thomas Jefferson: 9.26% Mr T: 8.09% Bob Dylan: 8.03% George Washington: 7.87% Franklin D Roosevelt: 6.37% Benjamin Franklin: 6.22% Bill Clinton: 4.48% Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion



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