2012 America's Party Platform ratified in convention [Feb. 18, 2012]

America's Party ^ | Feb. 18, 2012

[EternalVigilance]

America's Party ratified its 2012 Platform in national convention yesterday, making an already-great conservative document even better, with the expansion of its solid property rights plank and the addition of the Equal Protection for Posterity Resolution as its primary pro-life language. Text included below for your consideration.

[EternalVigilance]

Thank you for your kind words.

The party is America's Party.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

I like that platform. I have voted third party before. I have been more a fan of the Constitution Party at times that of the Republican Party.

But I cannot see voting third party at this juncture—not with Santorum doing well. I would even vote for Newt before going third party. Efforts such as America’s Party is undertaking seems to merely siphon off votes needed by one of the more conservative candidates. If Romney gets the nomination, though, I’ll consider going third party, since I won’t be voting for Mitt.

[DNME]

Since Democrats and Republicans are so much alike (it boils down to who will drive us off the cliff slower?) then a viable Third Party is badly needed.

But this is not the time to push for a strong third party. The time for that was right after the 2008 election, so we could have a united front prepared against the Usurper-in-Chief and the RINO herd.

At this late stage, a conservative third party would only draw votes away from other conservatives (such as they are), leaving Obummer with clear sailing to four more years of national destruction. No thanks. Sorry.

[EternalVigilance]

We were pushing from 2008 onward. Where were you?

[OHelix]

Respectfully (and that’s not just lip service, EV) I think going third party is (with rare exception) cowardly, delusional, and counter productive to what I believe is your true desire.

It is essentially surrendering your party to the left in the delusion that you will somehow be better positioned to be victorious nationally, when you clearly aren’t willing to do what it takes to win an internal struggle.

It’s like finding a loop hole that allows you to run in a race despite losing the semifinals, and patting yourself on the back that you’re a finalist when you haven’t really earned it.

[EternalVigilance]

Sorry, I fought the “internal struggle” in the GOP as hard as anyone for twenty years. I know the score, intimately. It ain’t me that is delusional. It’s anyone who continues to willfully close their eyes to what became obvious quite some time ago, that the formerly grand old party will do NOTHING to return this republic to the principles upon which its survival depends.

We either build a new vehicle to forward the cause of life and liberty, or America has no chance. None.

[OHelix]

What I think you are missing is that even if a third party does grow to become anything of consequence it’s going to be subject to the exact same internal battles you’ve already retreated from.

If you don’t have the mettle to stand your ground in the battle for one party, you deceive yourself that retreating to safe and undisputed territory is anything other than cowardly desertion and betrayal of your brothers in arms.

A wound from a friend.

[Steve Schulin]

America's Party has structural design elements which make it different than any other party. For example, the "affiliation agreement", which is required in order for folks to have a say in who we nominate or endorse, is different than the open association nature of the GOP or Democrats.

When Iowa state GOP literally prevented any votes for Alan Keyes from being tallied beyond the precinct level in 2008 caucuses, the various GOP state and national committees remained silent. What do you do when your party refuses to count your vote? I'm grateful to the thousands of Republicans and others who have helped get America's Party established.

[OHelix]

I’m sorry for the late reply, Steve.

I don’t have anything specifically against the AIP. I’m sure I and your membership are like-minded in many ways. However, I do stand by my characterization of third parties in general, especially the “counter productive” part.

Its net effect will be to weaken like minded people in the Republican Party, compounding the issue that drove you away from them, and delivering victory for those who would like there to be no difference between the two main parties. However it will have miniscule, if any, positive effect on the nation’s government. A net loss for the great nation that our founding fathers established.

If AIP (or any other idealistic third party) ever does become effective enough to prove my last statement wrong, this statement will be true: It will be infiltrated and compromised just like the Republican party has been... in which case, you will again have the choice to either fight for the heart of the AIP, or leave in disgust to form a new “pure” party, surrendering the AIP to those who have corrupted it.

It is the act of leaving in disgust, instead of fighting the corruption, that gives victory to those who would undermine what it once stood for. I’m sure you have seen this dynamic in many organizations. Think of how many once biblically based denominations have followed the same pattern: A few vocal people champion liberal causes with some success, driving some conservatives away in disgust, which leaves fewer conservatives to oppose them... so they have more success... so even more leave in disgust, until ultimately liberals have fundamentally changed a once great organization, to a liberal one, controlling all the the assets abandoned by those who left.

Leaving in disgust does not do anything but weaken your own side. How would you look on a lesser American Revolutionary General if at some point he had chosen to give up the fight and tried instead to convince as many soldiers as he could that there were just too many powerful Americans loyal to the Crown to win, and that it would be better to just go look for an uninhabited island somewhere else and start a new nation that way, abandoning America and abandoning those who had pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the cause.

How is abandoning the fight in one party to start new “pure” party not like that?

I was very aware Alan Keyes’ campaign was sabotaged as much, if not more, from members of his own party than from the left, particularly his Illinois Senate run. I can only speculate as to why, but I’m seeing a very similar treatment of Newt Gingrich. I believe he, however, is not only more resolved, but better equipped, to make a stand on both fronts as necessary.

The Republican Party is no more a lost cause than the Nation as a whole. Political parties are corporate entities just like nations are corporate entities. If you are not willing to be eternally vigilant at one, you deceive yourself that you are eternally vigilant at the other.

Iron sharpens iron.

[EternalVigilance]

The problem here is that you have absolutely no idea how revolutionary America’s Party truly is, in a myriad of ways, both in terms of principles and practical process. You can’t think outside the old pathetic paradigm of the formerly grand old party and the run-of-the-mill failed third parties that have existed over the last century in American politics.

So, we’ll just have to show you how it is supposed to be done.

[OHelix]

I’m certainly willing to hear your case. But candidly, I would prefer you begin with a single convincing example of where the characterization of third parties I put forth is flawed in regard to AIP, as opposed to language such as “myriad of ways”. You will lose me with statements that are unspecific and too hyperbolic to have any credibility.

You have my ear.

[EternalVigilance]

It’s all explained in exquisite detail at the following links:

http://www.selfgovernment.us/about.html

http://www.selfgovernment.us/platform.html

http://www.selfgovernment.us/affiliate.html

http://www.selfgovernment.us/be-a-leader.html

http://www.selfgovernment.us/no-donations.html

http://www.nccrb.com/

http://www.tomhoefling.com/

http://www.can-do-usa.com/

http://www.secureliberty.us/

http://www.minutemanrkba.com/index.html

http://www.usbordersecurity.org/

http://www.v-usa.org/

http://www.independenceforever.us/

http://www.aitp.us/

http://www.alwaysinprayer.com/

http://www.equalprotectionforposterity.com/index.html

http://www.defendthenaturalfamily.com/

http://www.freethefirst.com/

http://www.ctmsr.com/

http://www.americasprinciples.com/

That should give you at least a taste of how we’re something completely different than anyone has seen before.

[musicman]

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[EternalVigilance]

AIP

We're not AIP any more. We're America's Party.

[OHelix]

Thank you for that clarification. I was uncertain why I had seen both ways, and was worried I might be using the wrong one and not know it.

[OHelix]

I have asked you for a single convincing example of where my characterization was flawed in regard to America’s Party.

What specifically in those twenty web pages can you point me to, that demonstrates at the very least one specific way in which my characterization of third parties is flawed in regards to America’s Party? I think it is incumbent upon you to make that case, and to start with your strongest argument.

If you are unable or unwilling to offer an explicit reasoned argument, or at the very least, point out where from the links I could make such an argument myself, then the implication that these twenty links are but a “taste” of a vastly greater preponderance of evidence, is absolutely absurd, and is neither worthy of respect nor consideration.

[EternalVigilance]

It’s all laying right out in the open at the links I gave you.

Starting with the fact that, in keeping with G. Washington’s wise words to the nation in his Farewell Address, we make our decisions electorally based on principle, not party affiliations. In other words, we are beyond being a mere party. A “meta” party if you will.

If the Republicans find candidates who live up to the first, non-negotiable, obligations of the oath of office, we will support them.

Believe me, this is not the norm, either with the Republicans, the Democrats, or any of the existing “third” parties.

There’s a lot more, if you’ll just look closely and think.

If you want to, that is.

[OHelix]

Thank you for responding. I was a little disapointed when I saw you on another thread having not heard back form you. I thought it might indicate that I wouldn’t. I’m pleased that’s not so. ;o)

I’m not sure I follow what you mean by a “meta” party. I’ve got some background in both computer science as well as Greek and the word has significance from both... but I’m not sure how you are meaning it. I would like you to explain if you are willing.

I have, by the way, looked at all the links. I think my last response might have given an impression otherwise...

I apparently missed anything like “If the Republicans find candidates who live up to the first, non-negotiable, obligations of the oath of office, we will support them.” if it was in there.

I’m pleased to hear that... not because of a blind faith to the Republican party, but because I believe third parties (with rare exception) are most effective regarding their stated goals, when they work as a voting block within whichever one of the larger parties they most closely align.

Regarding the links... candidly, I did not find any wealth of apologetics or even descriptive info regarding the party.

The emphasis on not taking donations was in there a few times, and is demonstrative of how AP is different.

However, I don’t think there was anything that struck me as suggesting my unflattering characterization is flawed. If I am missing something, I would greatly appreciate you pointing it, specifically, out to me.

Respectfully,

OHelix

[EternalVigilance]

From the top of the “Affiliate” page:

“Principle before Party

Personal Affiliation with America’s Party is made without regard to your existing party voter registration.

If you agree with America’s Principles, and are prepared to consistently act on them in concert with other patriotic Americans, we need you!”

http://www.selfgovernment.us/affiliate.html

From the top of the “Be a Leader” page:

“Every Citizen a Leader

The first step for any leader we endorse, whether they are America’s Party Affiliates or not, is to make sure right up front that they are fully committed to the simple principles and clear purposes that are succinctly stated below, and that they will remain accountable to those principles and to We the People. These principles are already at the core of the duties encompassed by the sacred oath of office, so it’s not too much to ask or expect.”

http://www.selfgovernment.us/be-a-leader.html

[EternalVigilance]

One of the reasons you may not be able to find as much material as you might like is that our main website, americaspartynews.com, which was formerly aipnews.com, is currently down. Major server crash. It is hoped that our volunteers are going to have it back up and running this weekend. There are four years of archives there.