A Need and Approach to a Third Party Presidential Coalition

By Lee F. McKenzie (Utah)

29 March 1999

[Ed note - Mr. McKenzie has approached the leadership of a number of third parties in his efforts to bring about a coalition as outlined below.]

PURPOSE

The objective of this communication is to as concisely as possible outline a proposed method of bringing several like minded conservative third parties together behind a single Presidential candidate.

LIKE MINDED THIRD PARTIES WHICH ARE TARGETED IN THIS EFFORT

The political parties which are targeted in this coalition include those which have a focus on:

• Moral Values
• Opposition to Big Arrogant Government
• The Preservation and Restoration of Genuine Constitutional Rights
• The Preservation of U.S. Sovereignty

In alphabetical order the third parties which are specifically targeted in this effort include:

• The American Party
• The Constitution Party
• The Constitution Action Party
• The Independent Party
• The Prohibition Party
• The Puritan Party
• The U. S. Independent American Party
• The U. S. Taxpayers Party

Additional like minded political parties, small groups and individuals can be found on the internet and merit an invitation to participate in this coalition. One very prominent group is the Republican Assembly. This group has organizations in most states and consists of many good Republicans who are dismayed by the serious decay of values in the Republican Party. When these people finally give up on the Republican Party they will find pleasant company among the several like minded third parties mentioned above.

THE PRESERVATION OF INDIVIDUAL THIRD PARTY IDENTITY AND AUTONOMY

Numerous factors make it extremely difficult for individuals to break ties with the third party affiliations they have selected. Attempts to formally merge parties and dissolve former organizations would be met with serious confusion and loss of support. For this reason it is essential that a coalition not attempt to replace old parties with a new one.

FOCUS ON A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Rather than attempt to merge the several like minded third parties into a single third party and face a quagmire of litigation and fallout, it would be much better to focus on providing a single Presidential Candidate that will be acceptable to all. Each of the participating third parties can then be called upon by the chosen Presidential Candidate to render support to the election campaign.

BALLOT ACCESS

The critical problem that each third party faces is the terrible cost of obtaining ballot access. In the proposed coalition, the Presidential Candidate will gain ballot access in certain states in the name of one particular third party, but gain ballot access in certain other states in the name of another third party. For instance, the U.S. Taxpayers Party might provide ballot access in California, the American Party ballot access in Colorado, the Prohibition Party ballot access in Tennessee, and the U.S. Independent American Party ballot access in Utah. In some states where none of the participating third parties can normally achieve ballot access, the combined efforts of all could bring about access in a state that has here-to-fore been thought to be lost. The cumulative effect would be that by combining the strength of several like minded third parties, much greater ballot access will be achieved. When a cumulative effort is required to achieve ballot position, the candidate should run under the Independent label, where possible. This will insure maximum effort of the stronger parties to achieve ballot position, not merely waiting for the coalition to put them over.

ACHIEVING ENDORSEMENTS FOR A SINGLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FROM THE SEVERAL LIKE MINDED THIRD PARTIES

As the prospective Presidential Candidate faces the task of obtaining the endorsements and nominations of the several like minded third parties, he or she must plan on attending the several national conventions of the respective parties. In preparation for these visits the candidate will need to review the accomplishments, specific concerns, platform issues and merits of each party being approached. Party membership along with delegate status at the particular convention to be visited might be particularly helpful. E-Mail contact and communications make such arrangements much more achievable than ever before.

If the coalition is to succeed, it is vital that a prospective coalition Presidential Candidate start now and not miss the early nominating conventions. Some of the older third parties have the practice of holding their nominating conventions the year before the elections in order to provide enough time to face the difficult task of achieving ballot access. According to my knowledge, the first two nominating conventions scheduled from the above mentioned like minded third parties are:

• The Prohibition Party (28-30 June 1999)
• The U.S. Taxpayers Party (early Sept 1999)

Because of the ballot access capabilities of these two parties, it will be critical that the prospective coalition Candidate for President not miss these two conventions. Assuming that the Candidate can win the nomination of these two parties the resulting demonstrated ballot access capabilities will provide a very persuasive influence in obtaining the endorsements of additional like minded third parties.

"THE EYE CANNOT SAY UNTO THE HAND, I HAVE NO NEED OF THEE"

As I consider the tragic state of moral values and Constitutional Rights in America today I recognize the need for a miracle and plead to God for aid. Many of the good people who have chosen to take a stand for truth in the above mentioned third parties recognize in their hearts that they are moved upon by the Spirit of the Lord to do so. It is important for each of us to realize that we are not alone and that there are a great many Americans who are experiencing the same influence as we. Each, it would seem, has a little different perspective and none has a perfect picture.

When God appoints a time to save America, it will not be done in a way where any one individual or political party can rightly claim the credit. All will realize that the real credit must be rightly given to the Lord. So if the Lord is to work through each of us we must begin to recognize the worth of each individual part of the army.

"And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: ............. "I Cor.12:21-22

I believe that if we are to apply the scriptures in our approach to the political problems of our time we must take the above scripture from I Corinthians most seriously. A coalition of third parties need not mean that the eye, the hand, the head or the foot lose their identity, but only that they be individually respected as essential and allowed their proper place and honor as part of the whole.

Lee McKenzie may be contacted by e-mail at leemck413@aol.com