Ken Bone: The Election Phenomenon

This Halloween, be on the look-out for red sweaters, mustaches and microphones. Why? Because of Ken Bone.

With this presidential election growing and spreading throughout social media, it's not surprising the campaigns and debates with our two favorite corrupt candidates spawned many a meme. Among them, one Kenneth Bone. During the second presidential debate, Kenneth Bone was the last one to ask a question of the candidates. As he stood and took the mic, the camera focused on a jovial middle-aged man with square glasses and a simple mustache gripping a microphone. The question he asked didn't itself lend him fame:

So what made him win over the Internet's attention? Could it be his red sweater? His funny name, subject of endless innuendos? Or perhaps it's his disposable camera, used to take pictures after the debate? Maybe it was his admitting that he used to have 7 Twitter followers, his grandmother accounting for two of them? What made Ken Bone an instant meme and beloved across social media?

Was so sad and ashamed throughout the entire spectacle but then KEN BONE rose like a Phoenix from America's ashes and there's laughter again
— Ramzy Nasrallah (@ramzy) October 10, 2016

Given that this election has been full of tension, anger and drama, as nominating a former television show host who lives to be controversial will achieve, the American people were in need of a Ken Bone. We needed someone as down-to-earth and focused on the issues, earnestly looking for answers on energy policy for this country, as Ken Bone. We needed an average-looking guy in a red sweater to take that microphone and restore some sanity to this hopeless and insane election.

Ken Bone created such a nationwide comic relief and diffused some of the tension with his one question that it was nearly impossible for there not to be some fixation upon him. Add to that that he was the final question, and that he went around winding up a disposable camera, not a smartphone in sight, excitedly taking pictures after the debate, and it's not hard to see what prompted his virtual fame.

However, maybe making idols out of average people should be done with caution. Since his fame grew, the internet started to take a closer look at who Ken Bone is. And not all of it has been pretty. He has quite the unsavory history on Reddit, for example. Some of his opinions might make it clear why he's undecided and can't see why Trump is certainly not a great option. The debate might have caused him to revisit such stances. As America has revisited its stances and opinions of the candidates after the debates. Ken Bone is much like many white male American voters. He doesn't seem to mean any harm, and is in many ways charming, but he's flawed like everyone. He has biases and views that one can only hope this election will change. As one hopes the country will change the truly ugly parts of itself which were brought to light for all to see.