"What kind of contracts do these contestants have to sign?

""Multiple contracts," says Bruce Friedrich, Norfolk-based head of vegan campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He was chosen this week to be one of 10 contestants on a Showtime summer reality show called The American Candidate, in which people vie to be chosen as the best possible presidential candidate, for a chance to address the nation — and $200,000. "I signed a million and one things."

Chosen from 1,500 applicants, Freidrich says he filled out a 50-page application, made a 20-minute video of his life, and flew to L.A. for four days of role playing and psychological and personality tests.

He says there are general rules and episode rules; both involve being sworn to secrecy. "I can't say anything without their permission until two years after the final airing of the show." But he figures it's all worth it: "When other little kids wanted to be an astronaut or a football player, I wanted to be president." " (Ann Oldenburg, USA Today, June 10, 2004)

Note: "Friedrich is no stranger to the national spotlight. He recently captured the number five spot on Details magazine’s list of the "50 Most Influential Men Under 38," beating out Tiger Woods, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Justin Timberlake. Whether he’s streaking at a meeting of the Queen of England and President George Bush at Buckingham Palace with his backside painted with the message "Go Vegan" or forcing McDonald’s executives to implement changes in their suppliers’ farming and slaughter practices, Friedrich is tireless in his quest to stop the cruelty that is inherent in raising and killing animals for food. Friedrich is available for interviews.

Playing David to food-industry Goliaths, Friedrich achieved a string of successes for animals in 2000 and 2001. Following a campaign in which PETA exposed McDonald’s meat suppliers’ abusive factory-farming practices, the fast-food giant agreed to make precedent-setting animal-welfare concessions less than two years ago. Friedrich immediately turned his attention to rival fast-food chains, and in 2001, Burger King and Wendy’s made similar concessions. Now, as part of his "Kentucky Fried Cruelty" Campaign, which has included more than 2,000 demonstrations at KFC restaurants worldwide, Friedrich has enlisted high-profile support from hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, comedian Richard Pryor, rock icons Sir Paul McCartney and Chrissie Hynde, civil-rights leader Dick Gregory, and others." (Bruce Friedrich, Press Release, June 7, 2004)

In a phone conversation with Reannon Peterson, Assistant Manager of Vegan Campaigns, we learn that PETA has previously used their membership rolls to make phone calls in support of Bruce Friedrich's candidacy in New Hampshire and in Pennsylvania to respond to 'American Candidate' challenges (June 18, 2004).

And, according to our sources, individuals in our area have begun to receive automatically generated membership voicemail phone calls from President of PETA Ingrid Newkirk encouraging people to attend the Charlottesville town meeting for 'American Candidate' in support of Bruce Friedrich.