New Novel Satirizes 2016 Presidential Campaign

WALTHAM, Mass., Aug. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "Mr. Trump, I know I said 'love thyself' but you've taken it to a terrifying extreme." With those words, a cloned Jesus enters the political fray as a third-party candidate – along with his super-computer running mate, Whatson.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160815/398011
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160815/398012

Alex Bernini, a high-tech billionaire, formed the American Ideals party and cloned Jesus Christ to run for President against the Tweedle-dumb and Tweedle-delusional candidates from the Republican & Democratic parties. The campaign that ensues features a frighteningly familiar cast of characters: Ronald J. Drumpf, Shillary & Willie Clinkton, Sarah Paliorina, Barney Panders, Teed Crudz, Antony Sclerosis, and Balack Obumma. Along the way Jesus slow-jams with Jimmy Fallon, Ronald Drumpf files multiple lawsuits, Shillary Clinkton defends her $200,000 speaking fee as "only $20,000 per hour," and Balack Obumma has a final surprise.

In his black-comedy novel The Jesus Ticket (Erewhon Press, 2016), author Phil Fragasso provides an equal-opportunity savaging of both parties and brings the current level of political discourse to a new low. "It truly stretches one's creative abilities to write an over-the-top parody of the 2016 presidential campaign," explains Fragasso, "but I knew I'd succeeded when Ronald Drumpf described Jesus as Chewbacca with a shave and a bad haircut and made this complaint about his challenger: He won't even say the words. If Jesus is really God, then he should say it. I know I would."

Phil Fragasso is the author of several novels and nonfiction books and writes regularly for the Huffington Post. He is an adjunct professor at Boston College.

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