Writer and humorist Malachy McCourt is to run for New York governor on a campaign that includes disbanding the National Guard, abolishing tax for the over-70s, and providing green cards to illegal immigrants.
McCourt, a brother of Angela's Ashes author Frank McCourt, is close to getting the Green Party nomination, which will be officially decided on May 20th.
McCourt told The Irish Times he will bring "humanity and humour" to the election.
The conservative Catholic League condemned McCourt's candidacy and accused him of being anti-Catholic and anti-American.
If he gets on to the November ballot, he faces stiff opposition from New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer, who is expected to win the governorship on a landslide for the Democratic Party.
However, McCourt said many Democrats are tired of the party's inability to take a stand.
"Many people are so tired of the Democrats not taking a stand. It's an absolute disgrace. I would be the only candidate in the race that would be beholden to nobody."
McCourt, who spent his childhood in New York and Limerick, said he was standing for office, while the major two parties are running. "They're running because they have to run," he said.
His campaign platform includes disbanding the National Guard and giving its military bases to community groups and social services. He also strongly supports the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform's campaign and said only the wealthy should have to pay tax beyond 70 years of age.
He said Irish people voting Republican or conservative had a "form of brain damage". "They let their greed overwhelm their Irish generosity," he said. He added that, if elected governor, he would continue to boycott the Manhattan St Patrick's Day parade because of its exclusion of gay groups. "They wouldn't have me in the parade anyway, if they have any sense," he said.
McCourt's supporters are hoping he can get at least 50,000 votes, thereby securing an automatic place for their candidate. In 1998, Al Lewis, the union activist and actor who played Grandpa in the 1960s TV show The Munsters, won 52,000 votes for the party.
The president of the Catholic League, Bill Donohoe, called on all Catholics to work against McCourt's candidacy.
"It is not certain whether his hatred for all things Catholic rivals his hatred for all things American, but by running on the Green Party line, we expect he'll be given ample opportunity to strut his stuff," Mr Donohue said.
He claimed McCourt was a liberal extremist, pointing out the writer's support for gay marchers in the St Patrick's Day parade and his backing for far-left, anti-Iraq war campaigns.