Kenneth L. Gibbs
VP candidate for Independent American Party (aka Constitution Party of Oregon aka Independent) (2012)
Running mate with nominee: Will Christensen (b. 1937)
Popular vote: 4,456 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Will Christensen, an Arizona/Utah-based Amway salesman and perennial candidate was the Presidential nominee of the Independent American Party. In Aug. 2012 he was selected by the Constitution Party in Oregon, which was not affiliated with the national party in that year. His running-mate was Ken Gibbs of Fresno, Calif.
Along with several other states, the Oregon Chapter of the Constitution Party disaffiliated with the national party in 2006 when the latter decided that abortion could be permitted in cases of incest, rape, or if the mother's life was at stake. That was apparently way too liberal for Oregon members, so off they split.
Gibbs' path to the IAP was outlined in the campaign webpage--
Once becoming aware at the level of bureaucratic red tape affecting his own industry, Ken did what any sensible American would do; He got involved. Too much government was choking the life from the very industry that provided the life’s work. That must be stopped. Ken reviewed the Republican Party that he had belonged to for decades and found they were not even on the same page he was. Ken left the Republican Party and went Independent. He also joined the Tea Party Patriots and made his voice heard.
Watching the many in-justices and gross mismanagements of our present government, he found this simply rubbed against all he grew up believing. “God and Country, and the American Way must still mean something to folks?” So Ken decided that he would have to roll up the sleeves and help fix it. Along with his fellow Patriots of the Independent American Party, it was time to change things for the better.
The IAP platform included--
The Secretary of Defense will have the assignment to bring our troops safely, but rapidly, home from foreign wars. This will save trillions of dollars per year.
The Secretary of Education will have the assignment to transfer all educational control to the states or respective school districts while phasing out the Department of Education. This will save billions per year.
The Secretary of State will have the assignment to shepherd bills through Congress to: Halt all foreign aid, which is little more than international welfare. Withdraw from the UN, NATO, SEATO, NAFTA, WTO, IMF, World Court, etc.
The Attorney General will have the assignment to determine which legislation passed in the last hundred years runs counter to the Second Amendment. These laws will not be enforced by the Executive Branch pending remedial action by Congress. The Director of the BATF&E will be directed to transfer to the states such functions which are not counter to the Second Amendment prior to the Department being abolished.
Drugs, alcohol, & tobacco are state issues. The federal war on drugs will be terminated.
The Patriot Act and the National Defense Act of 2012 (NDAA) are clearly outside of the Constitutional authority of Congress, therefore they will not be enforced pending removal by Congress.
Marriage is a state or local issue. We will not enforce law that is outside of the Constitutional authority of Congress to pass.
The IAP had a "Coat of Arms" badge system, where actual badges sort of like merit badges awarded in Boy Scouts, were used as an incentive/reward device depending how well the recipient was able to internalize the Party principles and then become an activist. They had names like the Proud Patriot Badge, Praying Patriot Badge, Impassioned Patriot Badge, and badges named after colonial revolutionaries. In 2012 the Christensen/Gibbs ticket introduced something called a "Prayer Mission," emphasizing the pursuit of the Praying Patriot Badge which had the following requirements--
Read the IAP Mission and Platform (http://www.independentamericanparty.org/)
Sincerely pray every day for 2 weeks about specifically the 1) principles AND 2) destiny of the Independent American Party. As you pray, you are encouraged to ponder and search the scriptures for evidences of patriotism, and related principles.
Advice on prayer (optional)
Pray out-loud (Mark 11:23, Matthew 7:12)
Pray with Faith (James 1:7)
Pray specifically (Matthew 6:9-13)
Pray “Thy will be done” (Luke 22:42)
Pray in the spirit (Romans 8:26)
Look up each of these scriptures on prayer
The Christensen/Gibbs "Dream Cabinet" as listed on their campaign webpage included--
Attorney General – Judge Andrew Napolitano
Secretary of Defense – Representative Allen West of FL.
Secretary of Education – Ezola Foster – President of Black Americans for Family Values, author of “What’s Right for All Americans”.
Secretary of Homeland Security – Stewart Rhodes (Founder of Oath Keepers)
Secretary of the Treasury – Ron Paul
Ambassador to the United Nations – John McManus (President of the John Birch Society.)
Other "dream" appointees for unspecified positions included Chuck Baldwin, Robert Bork, Jerome Corsi, Roy Moore, and "Members of the Austrian School of Economics."
Christensen/Gibbs were on the ballot in Oregon where they finished 5th out of 6, with 0.25% of the vote. They were also write-ins in 11 other states.
Election history: none
Other occupations: US Army, aerospace machinist, HVAC/R industry, computer consultant
Notes:
Gibbs spent his earlier years in Florida.
