Constitution Party National Convention to Meet in Nashville (Starting today, Wednesday 18 April)

Constitution Party National Chairman, Jim Clymer, announced the 2012 National Convention of the Constitution Party which will be held April 18-21 in Nashville, Tennessee.

“American voters who support limited, constitutional government, traditional American values, the protection of American jobs and preservation of individual liberty can take heart! They will not be limited to a difficult choice between Obama and Romney as the one likely to be the least threat to their life, liberty, property and other interests. The Constitution Party will be offering the Constitutional option in 2012,” said Clymer.

The venue for the Constitution Party National Convention will be the beautiful Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, TN. The public is invited to attend but registration is required and anyone wishing to do so should contact the Constitution Party national office at 717-390-1993 for further information. Registered guests will be admitted to all sessions and events, including the gala Saturday night banquet to be held after the conclusion of the Convention, but only delegates who are selected by the respective state party affiliate organizations will be allowed to vote.

Among those seeking the Constitution Party Presidential Nomination is former Congressman Virgil Goode. Goode, who represented Virginia’s 5th District from 1997 – 2009, was a member of the Liberty Caucus, chaired by Ron Paul. Known in the House of Representatives for his outspoken opposition to illegal immigration, his support for trade policies that protect the interests of American workers, for limited government and for cuts in spending along with a balanced budget, Goode joined the Constitution Party in May of 2009 and is now a member of its National Executive Committee.

Other candidates seeking the Constitution Party Presidential nomination include Robby Carr Wells of North Carolina, a former NCAA Division 1 football coach at Savannah State University, Laurie Roth, of Washington, a talk show host and columnist and Susan Ducey, a constitutional activist from Kansas.

The general session of the convention, which will include adoption of the 2012 Constitution Party National Platform and the selection of the party’s presidential and vice-presidential nominees, is set for Friday April

20 and Saturday April 21, with the presidential nominee’s acceptance speech scheduled for 1:30PM Saturday, April 21.

“To the millions of American voters--be they traditional Democrats who once believed that their party spoke for America’s working people, honest, representative government and freedom or Republicans who used to believe that their party represented limited government, fiscal responsibility and individual liberty—who feel abandoned by their own political parties, I issue an invitation to find out about a new path for America-the Constitution Party (www.constitutionparty.com) and to join the campaign to Save America by supporting the Constitution Party Presidential ticket in 2012,” concluded Clymer.

Thanks for asking! Here’s Virgil’s overall background, per www.ontheissues.org.

Like anyone, he’s not firewall perfect, but his stances are far, far more conservative as a whole than Obamney.

VIRGIL GOODE ON THE ISSUES — OVERALL

Virgil Goode on Abortion

Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
Voted NO on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Voted YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
Voted YES on funding for health providers who don’t provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
Voted YES on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
Voted YES on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
No federal funding of abortion, but no litmus test. (Dec 2000)
Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance. (Dec 2006)
Prohibit transporting minors across state lines for abortion. (Jan 2008)
Grant the pre-born equal protection under 14th Amendment. (Jan 2007)

Virgil Goode on Budget & Economy

Voted NO on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
Voted NO on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on defining “energy emergency” on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
Voted NO on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
Allow $3 on 1040 form to pay off National Debt. (Sep 2000)
Supports Balanced Budget Amendment & on-budget accounting. (Dec 2000)
Maintain public information about M3 money supply. (Mar 2006)

Virgil Goode on Civil Rights

Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Voted NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
Rated 7% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 22% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Amend Constitution to define traditional marriage. (Jun 2008)

Virgil Goode on Corporations

Voted NO on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on replacing illegal export tax breaks with $140B in new breaks. (Jun 2004)
Voted YES on Bankruptcy Overhaul requiring partial debt repayment. (Mar 2001)
Rated 87% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

Virgil Goode on Crime

Voted NO on expanding services for offendors’ re-entry into society. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime. (Jun 1999)
Rated 40% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation. (Dec 2000)

Virgil Goode on Drugs

Voted NO on more funding for Mexico to fight drugs. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on prohibiting needle exchange & medical marijuana in DC. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. (Sep 1998)
War on Drugs has abused Bill of Rights . (Dec 2000)
Rated -30 by NORML, indicating a “hard-on-drugs” stance. (Dec 2006)
Ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs. (Mar 1999)

Virgil Goode on Education

Voted NO on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on allowing Courts to decide on “God” in Pledge of Allegiance. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror. (Nov 2001)
Voted NO on requiring states to test students. (May 2001)
Voted YES on allowing vouchers in DC schools. (Aug 1998)
Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools. (Nov 1997)
Abolish the federal Department of Education. (Dec 2000)
Rated 17% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer. (May 1997)

Virgil Goode on Energy & Oil

Voted NO on tax credits for renewable electricity, with PAYGO offsets. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (May 2008)
Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)
Voted YES on criminalizing oil cartels like OPEC. (May 2007)
Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jan 2007)
Voted NO on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on scheduling permitting for new oil refinieries. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on authorizing construction of new oil refineries. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy. (Jun 2004)
Voted YES on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy. (Nov 2003)
Voted NO on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels. (Aug 2001)
Voted NO on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR. (Aug 2001)
Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)

Virgil Goode on Environment

Voted NO on environmental education grants for outdoor experiences. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump. (May 2006)
Voted YES on deauthorizing “critical habitat” for endangered species. (Sep 2005)
Voted YES on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects. (Nov 2003)
Rated 20% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)

Virgil Goode on Families & Children

Click here for 3 full quotes on Families & Children OR background on Families & Children.
Voted YES on establishing nationwide AMBER alert system for missing kids. (Apr 2003)
Voted YES on reducing Marriage Tax by $399B over 10 years. (Mar 2001)
Rated 100% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)

Virgil Goode on Foreign Policy

Click here for 10 full quotes on Foreign Policy OR background on Foreign Policy.
Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
Voted NO on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
Voted YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
Voted NO on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
Foreign aid often more harmful than helpful . (Dec 2000)
International Criminal Court decisions not valid for US. (Mar 2003)

Virgil Goode on Free Trade

Voted NO on promoting free trade with Peru. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization. (Oct 2007)
Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on implementing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. (Jul 2004)
Voted NO on implementing US-Singapore free trade agreement. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on implementing free trade agreement with Chile. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on ‘Fast Track’ authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)
No restrictions on import/export; but maintain sovereignty . (Dec 2000)
Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
Block NAFTA Superhighway & North American Union. (Jan 2007)

Virgil Goode on Government Reform

Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations. (May 2007)
Voted NO on granting Washington DC an Electoral vote & vote in Congress. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
Voted YES on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on limiting attorney’s fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on restricting frivolous lawsuits. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
Voted NO on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
Limit federal power, per the 10th Amendment. (Dec 2000)
Unlimited campaign contributions; with full disclosure. (Dec 2000)

Virgil Goode on Gun Control

Voted YES on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. (Apr 2003)
Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1. (Jun 1999)
Support the Second Amendment . (Dec 2000)
No lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jan 2001)
Rated A+ by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003)
No United Nations taxation on firearms. (Sep 2003)
Individual right to self-defense at home and as self-defense. (Jan 1999)
Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC. (Mar 2007)

Virgil Goode on Health Care

Voted YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare. (Jul 2008)
Voted NO on giving mental health full equity with physical health. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on Veto override: Extend SCHIP to cover 6M more kids. (Jan 2008)
Voted NO on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Oct 2007)
Voted NO on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay. (Feb 2006)
Voted YES on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages. (May 2004)
Voted YES on limited prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. (Nov 2003)
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on small business associations for buying health insurance. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on capping damages & setting time limits in medical lawsuits. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on allowing suing HMOs, but under federal rules & limited award. (Aug 2001)
Voted YES on subsidizing private insurance for Medicare Rx drug coverage. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning physician-assisted suicide. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on establishing tax-exempt Medical Savings Accounts. (Oct 1999)
Abolish federal Medicare entitlement; leave it to states. (Dec 2000)
Limit anti-trust lawsuits on health plans and insurers. (Mar 2002)
Rated 11% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
Remove restrictions on estriol (menopause medication). (Jun 2008)
Expand medical savings accounts for employers & individuals. (Feb 1999)

Virgil Goode on Homeland Security

Voted NO on requiring FISA warrants for wiretaps in US, but not abroad. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on Veto override: Congressional oversight of CIA interrogations. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on restricting no-bid defense contracts. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. (Apr 2006)
Voted YES on federalizing rules for driver licenses to hinder terrorists. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. (Feb 2005)
Voted NO on supporting new position of Director of National Intelligence. (Dec 2004)
Voted YES on adopting the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. (Oct 2004)
Voted YES on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Apr 2003)
Voted YES on permitting commercial airline pilots to carry guns. (Jul 2002)
Voted YES on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on deploying SDI. (Mar 1999)
End draft registration; all-volunteer forces . (Dec 2000)
Federal duty to provide missile defense . (Dec 2000)
Allow assassination of terrorist leaders. (Jan 2001)
Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)
Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11. (Dec 2007)
Set minimum spending on defense at 4% of GDP. (Dec 2007)

Virgil Goode on Immigration

End diversity visas to limit Muslim immigration. (Dec 2006)
Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on preventing tipping off Mexicans about Minuteman Project. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on reporting illegal aliens who receive hospital treatment. (May 2004)
Voted NO on extending Immigrant Residency rules. (May 2001)
Voted NO on more immigrant visas for skilled workers. (Sep 1998)
No student visas from countries that support terrorism. (Jan 2003)
Rated 100% by FAIR, indicating a voting record restricting immigration. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by USBC, indicating a sealed-border stance. (Dec 2006)
Government services in English only. (Mar 2008)
Declare English as the official language of the US. (Feb 2007)
Declared English the official language of the US. (Jan 1999)

Virgil Goode on Jobs

Voted YES on extending unemployment benefits from 39 weeks to 59 weeks. (Oct 2008)
Voted NO on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on end offshore tax havens and promote small business. (Oct 2004)
Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on zero-funding OSHA’s Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B. (Mar 2001)
Member of the Congressional Rural Caucus. (Jan 2001)
Rated 20% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003)

Virgil Goode on Principles & Values

Restrict immigration or we’ll have more Muslims in Congress. (Dec 2006)
Religious affiliation: Baptist. (Nov 2000)
Member of the Republican Liberty Caucus. (Dec 2000)
Rated 0% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation. (Dec 2006)

Virgil Goode on Social Security

Voted YES on raising 401(k) limits & making pension plans more portable. (May 2001)
Voted YES on reducing tax payments on Social Security benefits. (Jul 2000)
Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox. (May 1999)
Invest surplus Trust Fund in market certificates. (Jan 2003)
Rated 10% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)

Virgil Goode on Tax Reform

Voted NO on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes. (Dec 2007)
Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on making permanent an increase in the child tax credit. (May 2004)
Voted YES on permanently eliminating the marriage penalty. (Apr 2004)
Voted YES on making the Bush tax cuts permanent. (Apr 2002)
Voted YES on $99 B economic stimulus: capital gains & income tax cuts. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years. (May 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the Estate Tax (”death tax”). (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the “marriage penalty”. (Jul 2000)
Voted YES on $46 billion in tax cuts for small business. (Mar 2000)
Overhaul income tax; end capital gains & inheritance tax. (Dec 2000)
Phaseout the death tax. (Mar 2001)
Rated 64% by NTU, indicating “Satisfactory” on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)

Virgil Goode on Technology

Voted YES on retroactive immunity for telecoms’ warrantless surveillance. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on $23B instead of $4.9B for waterway infrastructure. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on establishing “network neutrality” (non-tiered Internet). (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on increasing fines for indecent broadcasting. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on promoting commercial human space flight industry. (Nov 2004)
Voted YES on banning Internet gambling by credit card. (Jun 2003)
Voted NO on allowing telephone monopolies to offer Internet access. (Feb 2002)
Promote internet via Congressional Internet Caucus. (Jan 2001)
Permanent ban on state & local taxation of Internet access. (Oct 2007)
Let companies share Y2K plans with no risk of lawsuits. (Oct 1998)

Virgil Goode on War & Peace

Voted NO on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days. (May 2007)
Voted YES on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on approving removal of Saddam & valiant service of US troops. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Voted YES on disallowing the invasion of Kosovo. (May 1999)
Strengthen sanctions on Syria & assist democratic transition. (Apr 2008)

Virgil Goode on Welfare & Poverty

Voted NO on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients. (Feb 2003)
Voted YES on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. (Jul 2001)
Voted NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations. (Nov 1999)
Abolish federal welfare; leave it all to states. (Dec 2000)

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