Amar Manil Patel

 

Amar Manil Patel, December 7, 1973 -

VP candidate for American Solidarity Party (aka Independent) (2020)

Running mate with nominee: Brian Thomas Carroll (b. 1949)
Popular vote: 40,652 (0.03%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

For their second Presidential campaign, the new American Solidarity Party nominated two teachers, Brian Carroll of California and Amar Patel of Illinois.

In my observations this appears to be one of the under-the-radar political parties that is rising fast. Based on Catholic Social Teaching and spinning off a bit from the Christian Democratic parties of Europe, the ASP embraces a "whole life" philosophy, or "consistent life ethic."

Patel's biography was supplied on the ASP webpage-- 

Amar Patel was born to Indian immigrants who came to this country in the late 1960s. His father worked as a civil engineer for the city of Chicago and his mother worked as a union laborer in cleaning supply factory. His parents sponsored the immigration of many family members during his childhood and he grew up with several aunts, uncles, and cousins in his family home at once. He received Bachelor’s Degrees in Math, Chemistry, and Psychology and a Master’s in Education from the University of Illinois. After meeting his wife at the Newman Center during college they moved to the Chicago suburbs where they have been teachers for the last 20 years. They have two children in high school.

Amar has spent years on many committees for school and curriculum development, given talks at state conferences, worked on several church councils, and organized major speech competitions. He has coached speech team, math team, tennis, golf, soccer and basketball. He serves his community through the Knights of Columbus and other local organizations. He is a published novelist, lead singer for a band, member of a competitive softball team, but his passion is in building community and bringing people together.

The VP nominee was the subject of an interview here in Oct. 2019, providing this blog with an excellent overview of the 2020 ASP platform--

https://thirdpartysecondbananas.blogspot.com/2019/10/amar-patel-2020-vp-american-solidarity.html

By Election Day, the interview with Patel had accounted for nearly a quarter of the hits on this blog. The ASP had been energetic in linking it to various social media platforms as part of their political marketing. It was the most striking case of networking and mobilizing I witnessed of the 11 candidates who graciously contributed their interview answers to this blog.

The Carroll/Patel ticket finished in 10th place nationally, at the end of what I would consider the second tier of third parties in the 2020 election. They were on the ballot in 8 states and registered write-ins in at least 26 others. Their ballot results in the popular vote: Illinois and Wisconsin 0.16% each, Rhode Island 0.15%, Arkansas 0.14%, Louisiana 0.12%, Mississippi 0.09%, Colorado 0.08%, and Vermont 0.06%. One could possibly pose the thesis they were spoilers in handing Wisconsin to Biden. Of course the same could be said for the Libertarian and Constitution parties. The ticket's write-in vote was impressive, revealing a growing base of support hovering in various states in the 0.01%-0.04% range.

Election history: none

Other occupations: high school math teacher, novelist, musician

Notes:
Patel is a former Republican.

Christopher Michael Lauer

 

Christopher Michael Lauer, April 11, 1980 -

VP candidate for Unity Party of America (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Roger Eugene Nichols (1961-2019)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Roger Nichols, a pastor and coach of Maryville, Mo. announced his intention run as the Unity Party of America candidate for President in June 2013. He filed with the FEC on May 6, 2015. It wouldn't be until April, 2016 that Nichols and his running-mate, Chris Lauer of Watertown, Conn. would be officially nominated by the Party.

Although the Unity Party of America had been around since 2004, the Nichols/Lauer nominations appeared to have been their first national ticket. Interestingly, their names do not surface in the Party's Wikipedia entry nor in their own institutional history on the current UPA website--

Unity Party History: An American Story

One day in September of 2003, Bill Hammons was on a training run for the New York City Marathon in the hills of Central Park, mulling over what more he could do to support the Presidential candidacy of General Wesley Clark, who had just declared for the White House (Hammons had been active in the Draft Clark grassroots movement).

Then, at the top of the park, it struck Hammons that he and others could run marathons to raise campaign contributions. The idea of “Runners for Clark” was born, RFC raised a bit of cash for Clark’s campaign, and the nascent organization had spread to 14 states before the General bowed out of the Primaries the following Spring.

Clark might’ve been done, but Hammons wasn’t, and Unity Runners was started with this website of unityparty.us to support Centrist candidates throughout the country (one thing Hammons had become increasingly dismayed with was the seeming inability of the major American political parties to appeal to Centrist voters who don’t necessarily adhere to any particular ideology, other than Common Sense).

The 2004 election was done that November, but Hammons still wasn’t done, and the Unity Party of America was born on November 4, 2004, the day after that election. Bill’s fellow Unity Runners basically said “good luck with that,” and his father Rich was party member #2.

Hammons moved to Colorado the following April to trade the skyscrapers of Manhattan for the peaks of the Colorado Rockies, and he soon decided to run for office himself, as a Unity Party candidate in 2008. He became the first of only two 3rd party candidates to successfully petition onto the General Election ballot in Colorado history (Approval Voting candidate Blake Huber followed in Bill’s footsteps in 2018 before joining the Unity Party of Colorado’s United Colorado Committee).

As a direct result of Bill’s successful petitions onto the statewide General Election ballot (he also ran for US Senate in 2014 and 2016), the Unity Party was placed on and remained on Colorado’s voter registration form as one of only six voter affiliation options (“Unity”).

Then, on June 6, 2017 (D-Day), the Unity Party of Colorado achieved full party status in the Centennial State thanks to the number of voters who had checked the “Unity” voter affiliation box. With this new status, Unity Party of Colorado candidates (including Presidential candidates), no longer have to petition onto the General Election ballot, but instead are nominated at the election year Unity Party convention. In 2018, Hammons, his Gubernatorial running mate and friend Eric Bodenstab, and other candidates went on to shatter all new-party records in that year’s General Election.

And stay tuned for more exciting developments! Hammons returned to his home state of Texas in 2019 partly to enjoy some fine year-round weather, partly due to the 12th Amendment, and partly to help expand the Unity Party in Texas, Colorado Springs veteran Rebecca Keltie declared as the first-ever female Unity Party Candidate (for Congress), Stephan “Chairman Seku” Evans became the first African-American Unity Party nominee (to represent Colorado in the US Senate), and multiple candidates across the country vied to be the first Unity Party Presidential candidate to appear on official ballots (the Hammons/Bodenstab Unity Party Presidential ticket is appearing on multiple state ballots in multiple regions of the country in 2020).

The pre-2016 UPA platform consisted of six planks summarized as-- Balanced Budget Amendment, Eliminate the Federal Income Tax, Health Care Tax Deduction, Social Security Tithe Pool, Term Limits, Judges not Gerrymandering. By the time of the Nichols/Lauer election cycle it had been expanded to 23 issues. Their platform came across as sort of a conservative/Libertarian-lite--

Balanced Budget Amendment
Unity supports the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment in the interests of the nation's fiscal and economic health. Any short-term stimulative benefits gained by deficit spending are far outweighed by the long-term damage that spending inflicts on the economy. It's time to stop spending our children's inheritance, and it's time for the state legislatures to apply to Congress for a new Constitutional Convention to pass this and other amendments, per Article V of the US Constitution.
    
Affirm the 2nd Amendment
The Unity Party of America affirms the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Affirm the 4th Amendment
The Unity Party of America affirms the 4th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects shall not be violated.

Eliminate the Federal Income Tax
Unity supports replacing federal income taxes with a revenue measure based on the carbon content of fossil fuels as a simple way of balancing the budget, combating global warming, and encouraging the development of alternative energy sources. A reduction in fossil fuel consumption would enhance American power abroad by making this nation less dependent on foreign sources of oil.

Health Care Tax Deduction
Unity supports a full tax deduction for the health care costs of all Americans forced to pay for their own health coverage.

Social Security Tithe Pool
Unity supports the replacement of federal payroll taxes with a "tithe pool" of less than 10% of earned income. At the end of every fiscal year, the pool of revenues collected that year would be apportioned to guarantee Social Security benefits, Medicare, and other entitlement programs for the following calendar year.

Supporting our Military
Unity supports our military service members, both active duty and retired, the many brave men and women who have honorably defended our great nation. Unity supports all efforts to get our military better healthcare and retirement benefits as well as making it easier for all veterans to get access to the benefits they need, no question asked.

Free and Fair Trade
Unity supports global free trade in the interest of long-term economic development, so long as provisions are made for a Global Minimum Wage to protect workers both here and abroad, and for carbon tariffs to fight global warming and protect American manufacturers.

Term Limits
Unity supports limiting US Senators to two six-year terms in office, and limiting US Representatives to four two-year terms in office.

Judicial Term Limits
Unity supports an amendment to the US Constitution which imposes term limits of 12 years on Federal Judges, including US Supreme Court Justices.

Enhance Electoral Security
In this age of hackers and other criminals willing to do anything to advance their own agenda and subvert American democracy, Unity supports the requirement that all individual votes in Federal elections, whether they be cast electronically or by other means, be recorded with paper receipts.

Judges, not Gerrymandering
Unity supports outlawing the drawing of legislative districts along partisan lines, and supports the appointment of panels of retired judges to draw the boundaries of legislative districts.

Put Campaign Finance on Solid Foundation
Unity declares that all Federal political contributions, whether they be spent directly or indirectly on campaigns for Federal office, should be reported on a timely basis in terms of individual source and should be limited to no more than the current limit of $2,700 per individual donor, adjusted for inflation going forward; if corporations are real people and money is speech, corporations should be held to the same standards as real people and money still can't be tossed onto the roaring bonfire of corruption threatening the very structures at the heart of American democracy.

Resign to Run
To give the American Taxpayer relief from subsidizing the careers of incumbent officeholders, elected Federal officials seeking office higher than the one they currently hold should resign immediately upon filing for a primary election; the timing of such resignations would allow for the holding of replacement elections in a seamless and efficient manner.

Make Minimum Voting & Donating Ages 16
When Americans are old enough to drive at 16, they're old enough to make political donations and vote in elections; conversely, Americans should not be able to make political donations if they're not allowed to vote in the first place.

The American Space Program
Unity supports a focused, efficient and aggressive US space program which leads the world. An American space program that sets the pace will not only inspire Humankind, but will lead to many short and long-term benefits for our nation. Space exploration and the eventual building of colonies on the moon, Mars and planets beyond will provide us with the 'life jacket' Humankind might need.

Call for DC Statehood
Taxation without Representation for Hundreds of Thousands of American Citizens in the US Capital is symbolic of the dysfunction of the two-party duopoly; the Unity Party supports DC Statehood with appropriate provisions for Federal property.

Self-Determination of All Peoples
Unity supports the right of self-determination for all Peoples, including their right to establish new States within the United States of America as appropriate.

Chris Lauer, an activist for homeless vets, was named Nichols' campaign manager in Aug. 2014 before getting the VP nod--

Aug. 31, 2014
Effective immediately, Chris Lauer replaces Bill Hammons as Nichols for President Campaign Manager.  It's all good: support for Roger's campaign is reaching new levels and Hammons will be better able to focus on his two other jobs of chairing the national party and running for US Senate in Colorado; he's the first Unity Party candidate to make the General Election ballot for US Senator and has put the party on the State's voter registration form!

Although the Party presented itself as centrist, their 2016 nominees were definitely coming from the Right wing on social issues if their Internet accounts were any indicator. Nichols' Facebook campaign page provided links to the Tea Party, anti-Islamic/pro-Christian activists, the Heritage Foundation, FreedomWorks, and the Christian-based American Center for Law & Justice Fox & Friends. He also expressed strong views supporting Israel.

However, Nichols' did reveal a shift to the Left on economics when it came to helping those on the margins of society, much like those in the Catholic-based American Solidarity Party. Here is a statement he made in Jan. 2016--

The strength of Our Nation is the Citizens of Our Great Country. American's working together as true Patriots, creating employment, investments and currency in order for survival & growth for the future. Restructuring and systematizing of the current system is a necessary step forward improving the damage's done from spending our taxpayer money in areas of neglect, abuse,waste & fraud. Unemployment and poverty is imperative. Granting an absolute and essential subsidy to low-income families and individuals and annually raise Senior Citizens’ social security income and social disability income in accordance with the cost of living. Provide a tax credit for all Citizens investing in our Country, Charity and contributions. In order to reduce our debt, the ultimate approach would be to apply all stimulus money to help the States of affairs. The critical issue at hand now, is to cease all double dipping loans, spending and of course, pork expenditures, all of which inflates the deficit. It is crucial to balance the budget by eliminating unproductive programs and maintain beneficial programs for our Citizens.
Our government is responsibility to its citizens, and not the rest of the world. As the saying goes, “talk is cheap and action to solve,” Now is the time for our Government to take inventory of the budget and balance our deficit.
We should be proud to be an American and Citizens of this great Country. It is imperative that we Stand Up & not allow our rights from being stripped from us. We need to continue to find and unsurpassed solution to the difficulties we are experiencing in our Country right now there is the separation of Citizens and government. We are in dire need of a Leader to works for the citizens of this great nation and a leader who takes an interest in the citizens and their needs. By having a Leader like that, the government and Citizens will work together as a team. In some instances separation is useful for freedom however, we need unity in times of crises to enable us to sought our solutions in the best interest of our Country.
I will be the leader who stands up for The People,Our County, Veterans and America first before others.Within the Heart,Mind & Soul, united together we will prevail!. We The People build Our Country,We The People created jobs, We The People pays taxes, We The People Stands Up for the Constitution & Freedom, We The People want's Our Country issues solve with solution's,America First before others.God Bless USA & We The People!

VP nominee Lauer expressed himself as more militantly ("awaken the sheep!") Right wing on his social media. His Homes for Homeless Vets and Unity Sweep of The People's House,Senate and Congress and 2016 Presidential Candidate Roger E. Nichols Campaign Manager Facebook pages included alarm over the "New World Order," support for anti-Islamic sentiment, a contention that President Obama was a traitor and should be impeached, support for birtherism, endorsing the idea that Hillary Clinton should be jailed, highlighting the "Clinton Death List," getting the US out of the UN, and providing links to Fox talking heads, the Tea Party, Breitbart, the NRA, and more esoteric conservative websites--

Nov. 24, 2015
America Wake up until we break the chains that bind us things will never change and why we need a Team Of Independents for independence in our House , Senate and Congress with fairness and representation of We The People not the elites, bankers, corporations , NWO and UN‼️
Break the chains now
www.facebook.com/SweepHouseSenateCongress
Semper FI America
Marine Veteran Patriot
2016 Presidential Campaign Manager
2016 Vice Presidential Candidate with
Roger E Nichols
Unity Party 2016 Presidential Candidate
www.facebook.com/nicholsforpresident
Also a Patriot and Pastor 🙏
God bless this opportunity to defeat the evil main party control and restore the power to We The People
www.facebook.com/unitypartyofamerica
Americans First!

Jan. 14, 2016
Obama under the NWO direction and a puppet player and plant under direction of Kissinger is supposed to instill NWO and get why our Gov't from House, Senate, Congress and State levels need a real change with hope that's really action not just talk like we got with this current regime!
Let's change this America and I'm ready are you?
Semper FI America

Trump did not escape criticism either--

Jan. 18, 2016
Trump the same man who paid $900 Million for powerBall tickets because he didn't want anyone to win and is this the man We The People need who will sell us out if he can do some stunt like this but if he really cared to help America and the Homeless Vets crisis he could have put $900 million to better use I believe and don't forget #Fox gave him $30 million of free air time who else got that much coverage?
Nobody really and Wakeup America
Media manipulation I'd say!
He still plays for the elites and main party corruption run wild by the NWO , UN , Corporations, Lobbyists, crooked Politicians and if we keep electing Main Party Candidates we will never win for
We The People!
Let's elect a Gov't this time for the People, by The People, for the People,
We The People❗!
Hear  the #Wolves cry #America
For our #FoundingFathers are rolling in their graves when 80% or maybe more do not trust this self serving #Government
Yet are not doing a thing about it being sheep, silent and asleep you better do something you never done before in your life
by stepping up with
Roger E Nichols
2016 Presidential Candidate and I  Chris Lauer
2016 Vice Presidential Candidate
Not because we Love #Politics who does but because we hate the way it's run as the Gov't our ForeFathers warned us about‼️
The House, Senate,Congress and State level corruption and with the Puppet Master Puppets will always be in control if we elect main party Candidates and will never change and I don't care if you elect ten #Trump and ten #Cruz it won't make a difference due to the team playing for the American People isn't there!
Why have they made it so no Independents
Get in the White House well since #Washinghton  and why has the #Democrats ruled the House for way to long and why are both main parties against We The People!!???
When our Gov't is out of control We The People must take control and thousands of hits daily on The Party and Platform page
www.facebook.com/unitypartyofamerica
And
Website
www.unityparty.us
We still need to grow the pages for the rest of the mission to save America ourselves since our #Govt will not!!!
We believe in your gun rights America!
This is why I'm either a #Republican or #Democrat  America First
America Wakeup America
Maybe you're done America with #Politics but I'm not and would love you all fellow Patriots ,brothers and sisters to join the fight of Independents for Independence with a team and Party for Americans First and Politics last not for the elites , NWO , UN , Lobbyists , Corporations and both Main Party interests!
What America deserves is representation in House , Senate , Congress and State level for all Americans First and Politics last
Roger E Nichols
#ThePeoplesPresident
www.facebook.com/nicholsforpresident
2016 Presidential Candidate of Unity Party of America welcome all
Friends and Fellow Patriots we are taking the steps as we speak to be on the 2016 Ballot and an honor would be to have all of you together We The People bring the fire to burn with passion on our team and party of Independents with a 1776 attitude.
www.facebook.com.unitypartycampaignmanager
 When I was in Iraq 2003 buildup , invasion and push yes we were pouring concrete foundations for intent of staying and yes our Gov't has gotten away from We The People not in our control but the elites and haven't been for We The People in decades and We are all in this together must take control back from the NWO, Elites, globalists , lobbyists and UN even❗️
America we will
Lose to them and their agendas if we don't play to win❗️
www.facebook.com/SweepHouseSenateCongress
Roger E Nichols
2016 Presidential Candidate of
Unity Party of America
United We Stand❗️
www.facebook.com/nicholsforpresident
#ThePeoplesPresident
#SWEEPtheWHITEHOUSE2016
Roger is a Coach , Mentor ,Patriot & also a
Pastor for We The People❗️
 How can you serve the people with just a Presidential Candidte❓
I would say pretty hard to do unless you have a great team and platform behind you and guess what We DO❗️
www.facebook.com/unitypartyofamerica is 37 states and growing with no slowing to go fourth for our today and tomorrow plus future of USA to be on the ballot for 2016❗️
The website is also www.unityparty.us
www.facebook.com/unitypartycampaignmanager
 Independents for Independence❗️
Type in page ;
Vote Democrats and Republicans out of office
Tired of both main parties screwing the nation and our people for decades and so are we❗️
Americans First and Politics Last❗️
Semper FI Marine Veteran Patriot
Chris Lauer
USMC 99-03 including Iraq invasion and time to save our nation.
Unity Party Of America CT State Rep.
2016 Presidential Campaign Manager &
Vice Presidential Candidate

Feb. 14, 2016
Americans complain about the downfall of our society and our Gov't yet the support they have for #Democrats #Sanders and #Hillary just make me sick that this is what a lot of Americans want!
I get reports from the White House including Hillary's messages about her Campaign and asking for me to pledge a dollar and I won't give a penny‼️
I didn't forget #Benghazi!
So she went on a rant about Socialist Sanders receiving $6 million in the last couple weeks and how can Americans give that much to this Man and not much less to her?
All the promises of free stuff and do these people realize who pays for it?
The #Taxpayer!
This is what the NWO wants , backed by 620 plus corporations. The UN influences and the corrupt main two party system will stay corrupt under these two as #President and don't forget Bernie has ties with Rothschilds as a cousin see how that makes him a key opponent to push their agenda on the American People!
We have Options with Solutions however!

Homes 4 Homeless Vets
Feb. 28, 2016
If you come here badmouthing my page and or my Politics my admin and I will remove you and yes of course on my page I do post Politics too with a audience here and many of my other pages to awaken the people the possibility to have a 2016 Vice Presidential Candidate in our White House that actually cares for our Veterans , freedom, our nation , way of life as well for We The People!
Not for the Elites!
Not for out Gov't!
Not for the corporations!
Not for the NWO!
Not for the illuminati!
Not for the UN!
Not for the Lobbyists!

Facebook provided a number of fact check editorial blurbs countering the claims of some of the memes Lauer posted.

Oddly, as most other campaigns were in overdrive during the final weeks of the campaign season, the Nichols/Lauer electioneering became strangely silent online with no given reason for most of October. As the ticket was not on any ballot nor registered as write-ins, no votes were reported.

A week before the election Nichols stated in an interview he was planning to run again in 2020 and 2024. A couple 2017 entries on his Facebook confirmed that plan--

Judge yourself before you judge others, search your heart, mind & soul. Pray for wisdom, knowledge & peace. I'm running for President in 2020. Standing and Kneeling in Unity for our country & the people. God Bless all with many blessings.

Don't get me wrong I like sports but I love the Lord, Family & Country. There are many issues that needs solutions. I'm running for President in 2020.Together with the people issues will have solution. I stand & kneel in unity for all the people. God Bless with many blessings.

Unfortunately his plans were cut short by his untimely death on Jan. 2, 2019.

Election history: none

Other occupations: US Marine Corps, Homes for Homeless Vets, rap artist

Notes:
According to the current website of the Unity Party of America, Lauer is now serving as the Party chair in New Haven County, Conn.

Charles Frederick Clauss

 

Charles Frederick Clauss, November 9, 1960 (San Francisco, Calif.) -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Non Affiliated) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Matthew Roberts
Popular vote: 156 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Dr. Matthew Roberts, a political science teacher from Grand Rapids, Mich., inserted the middle name of "None of the Above" in order to stand out among the write-ins. "Is there a better alternative to the system we have now? That's the conversation we need to have," Matthew "None of the Above" Roberts told the press. Part of his motivation was also using the campaign as an educational experience for his students. His social media blitz and serious effort to be an official write-in began on June 1, 2016.

Roberts' detailed his agenda on his electioneering website--

Issue #1
NOTA as a ballot choice, nation-wide
What exactly are we suggesting?

Election ballots, whether physical or electronic, should include a "none of the above" option that allows full participation in the election while registering disapproval of the candidates available. In addition, election results must be reported with the inclusion of total NOTA votes.

Scope. At a basic level, the NOTA option should be available in all elections for state-wide or federal offices (e.g. governor/lieutenant governor, President, United States senator, member of the United States House of Representatives). Having the NOTA option available for other elections (e.g. state representative, mayor, etc.) may be desirable, but its practicality depends on how the policy is implemented.

Impact. NOTA proposals vary based what happens if the NOTA category receives a plurality of votes. In the "light" approach to NOTA, the results are reported with NOTA's victory highlighted, but the next highest human vote-getter takes office. In the "harder" version, a NOTA plurality triggers a new election or other consequences. For example, if a political party receives fewer votes than NOTA, it may find that it does not receive automatic ballot access in future elections. Harder versions may be more difficult to pass into law since they will directly impact the power of existing office holders. From a policy position, it might also be wise to limit the number of instances where new elections are triggered by a NOTA victory. Elections have a direct and negative impact on state and local budgets, unlike other consequences.

What challenges does this policy face?

With only a few exceptions, states are in control of elections. As a result there's no easy way to establish a national standard about adding "none of the above" to ballots. Being successful will require either coordinated grassroots action across the states or some level of extraordinary action at the national level.

"None of the above" voting also directly challenges the power of the two major political parties. To be successful, we will need a strong and sustained grassroots lobbying effort to push for change when the political establishment begins dragging its heels.

 How could states implement this policy?

    Through constitutions. One option for implementing NOTA voting is to amend state constitutions. In most states, this process is much easier than amending the federal constitution. Unfortunately, when amending a constitution becomes easier, it also means that the constitution offers a lot less protection.
    Through laws about ballots. Nevada's election law (NRS 293.269) requires that ballots for statewide offices include a separate line for "none of these candidates." Other states could follow suit, providing an option that voters can see on their ballots and which will register an official protest vote.
    Through vote counting. An actual ballot entry for "none of the above" would be the ideal choice. Much of the same effect can be achieved, though, by altering laws about vote counting. If every vote that could be reasonably interpreted as a vote for "none of the above" (e.g. nobody, no one, none of these, etc.) were counted and reported as such, it would still be possible to measure the number of protest votes in an election.

Why is this policy a good idea?

There are many reasons why elections in the United States need a "none of the above" option. We say that we believe in "free, fair, and open" elections. While this doesn't guarantee that the election result will be exactly what you want, it does mean you have the right to cast a vote of your choosing. Your vote serves as an official record of your opinion. And right now, the only opinion you're not allowed to have is "none of the above."

"None of the above" voters often decide to stay home instead of voting on election day. Others encourage this and suggest that it's the way you show political disapproval in our country. This is both misguided and politically offensive. Non-voting happens for many reasons—political apathy, for example. But dissatisfaction is NOT apathy. It may in fact be the exact opposite. To suggest that dissatisfied voters should stay home and not vote hides the voice of protest. It is also tantamount to disenfranchisement.

Finally, adding a NOTA option to ballots can fill an important role in maintaining a peaceful political order. At the moment, dissatisfaction is forced out of the regular political process. It hides in the shadows, uncounted and unrecognized, masquerading as non-voting or as a vote for a "lesser of two evils" candidate. Or maybe it doesn't hide at all. Instead it boils up in protest and the potential for violence. Providing a NOTA option can't cure unrest, but it can provide official recognition for dissatisfaction. And when dissent has been made visible, the political establishment will be unable to deny its existence.

How can we pursue this policy?

    The Legislative Approach. Use the NOTA organization to coordinate a grassroots campaign to lobby state governments. At the same time, encourage states to adopt NOTA legislation by making certain federal funds conditional on states adopting pro-NOTA policies (an approach upheld by the Supreme Court in South Dakota v Dole, 1987).
    The Constitutional Approach. A nation-wide policy on adding NOTA to ballots could be achieved through a constitutional amendment. Given the requirements of the amendment process, this option would be far more difficult to implement than the legislative approach.
    The Judicial Approach. Previous social movements have achieved national policy changes through the court system. There's no clearly established argument for challenging election laws that fail to include NOTA options. However, the Supreme Court at least tacitly approved of NOTA when it failed to a take a case that challenged Nevada's "None of these Candidates" law. With the right case and a carefully crafted set of legal arguments, it may be possible to establish that the right to vote must necessarily include the right to cast a disapproval vote.

Other Issues

Our campaign is focused on 1) promoting "none of the above" voting as a national policy; and 2) registering collective disapproval of the candidates for president in the 2016 election.

While campaigns can focus on single issues, administrations cannot. Information and positions on additional issues may become available if NOTA supporters request it.

Paid for by Matthew Roberts and Americans Want None of the Above for President

The running-mate was Charles "Charlie" Clauss of Minnesota, who called Roberts "one of my former students." Clauss appeared to be a progressive Christian and expressed some interest in the American Solidarity Party.

In the website for the Living Church Foundation, Clauss' biography states--

Charlie Clauss was born in San Francisco and came of age in Georgia. Now he has lived in Minneapolis longer than anywhere else. His family belonged to Lutheran Church in America congregations, which became part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

When Charlie and his wife arrived in Colorado Springs in the mid to late 1990s, they joined an Episcopal church. Living in the South, with a Baptist church on every corner, Charlie was a Lutheran. Now living in Minnesota, with a Lutheran church on every corner, he is an Episcopalian.

He has served on the vestry and as warden at Messiah Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Charlie tried being an engineer (Georgia Tech, chemical engineering, 1984). Then he tried teaching high school (Teacher Education Certificate, math, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, 1988). And back to engineering (University of Minnesota, MS, civil engineering, 1996). He has taken classes at Trinity School for Ministry.

From 1997 to 2015, Charlie worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry, doing campus work in Minnesota.

He works as a technical support representative for a humidification company.

When he is not reading with a cat curled up nearby, playing volleyball, playing in a flight simulator, watching science fiction, or keeping up with his two daughters, Charlie is probably surfing the web.

According to Roberts' campaign website, he was officially registered as a write-in in 14 states.

Election history: none

Other occupations: chemical engineer, software design, minister, teacher

Notes:
I find myself wondering if Clauss followed up on his interest in the American Solidarity Party.

Joseph David Moreaux

 

                                                  Above, Moreaux ; Below, Schriner and van clan

Joseph David Moreaux, September 16, 1981 -

VP candidate for Unaffiliated (aka Non Affiliated aka Independent) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Joseph Charles Schriner (b. 1955)
Popular vote: 75 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Before there was the American Solidarity Party perennial Independent Presidential Joe Schriner of Ohio had been incorporating the concept of Catholic Social Teaching into his political platform ever since his first run in 2000. Billing himself as "Average Joe" and "Joe the Painter," he journeyed across America with his family in a recreational vehicle that was essentially a campaign billboard on wheels.

He filed with the FEC for his 5th run on Oct. 8, 2015. His running-mate was another Joe, Joe Moreaux of North Hills, Calif.

On Facebook Schriner posted what was basically a help-wanted ad, Aug. 16, 2016--

HELP WANTED:  Independent presidential candidate urgently seeking vice-presidential candidate of like mind.  Criteria: 35 or older; natural born citizen; have lived in the U.S. at least 14 years; reside in a state other than Ohio (where I'm at).  Note: My platform (across the board) matches up with Catholic teaching.  www.voteforjoe.com  Message me, or contact me through our website.

Schriner actually had several responses. On Aug. 25 on his campaign website he announced the selection of Moreaux as his VP--

Drumroll (literally)…
Joe Campaign announces VP pick

Our vice-presidential candidate for 2016 is Southern California’s Joe Moreaux.  Our platform spins primarily around the principles of Catholic teaching and Joe is a veritable walking dictionary (or, okay, Google) when it comes to Catholic teaching.

What’s more, and even more important, he lives his faith.

For instance, he and his wife Carolanne have been married since 2004.  And they consecrated their marriage “… to Jesus through Mary via a method suggested by St. Louis de Montfort.”

When I heard that, the vetting process stopped and I simply said:  “You’re hired!”

Joe, whose heritage includes a Hispanic, French, German and Native American mix (covers most of the voting populace), is originally from the San Fernando Valley.  He said his heroes growing up were not, first and foremost, Dodgers players (although he is a fan); but rather his main heroes were:  “Mother Theresa and Pope John Paul II.”

And as coincidence would have it, his favorite band featured John, Paul… George and Ringo (aka The Beatles).  Besides being a manager with a firm that does flood restoration work – I would have sent Joe to Louisiana for the recent tragedy – he plays drums for a local band at night and on the weekends.

We figured this would save on money for a band at the Inaugural Balls.

Joe’s main issues:

He wants to tackle ending world-wide poverty, hunger, lack of clean drinking water.  What’s more, he and his wife have been involved with a street ministry to the homeless for years in California.

Joe also wants to see a dramatic increase in Restorative Justice in our prison systems, where inmates are rehabilitated on every level possible.

“We need to find the bridge between the entire “…lives matter” movements.  Seeing the plight of many inmates and the persecution of the poor and minorities breaks my heart,” said Joe.

He also believes “unborn lives” matter and he is adamantly opposed to abortion, which he sees as a “genocide.”  Joe also carries a “Consistent Life Ethic,” that sets him against the death penalty, euthanasia and unjust war.

Joe is also “pro-environment,” with an exponent.  

“My wife and I live a vow of simplicity and try to do our part to conserve water, recycle, eat organic, and be good stewards of the green and blue earth God gave us,” said Joe.

He added that he has both the Benedict medal and Jerusalem Cross tattooed on himself (this should help with the Millennial vote).  And he studies the Bible and Catholic Catechism daily.

He added that he decided to sign on with the campaign because:  “Joe Schriner has a broad vision rooted in common sense and wisdom, which appeals to the deep desires of the hearts of families and individuals, both nationally and globally.  America does not need a revolution… she needs a reawakening!”

Oh, and besides all of this, we thought, well:  “Joe & Joe” would be easy to remember and all.

--Joe S.

Note:  Joe’s wife Carolanne also grew up in the San Fernando Valley and Joe and Carolanne met through a church music ministry.  (Carolanne has a great voice and will be singing the National Anthem at the Inauguration.)  Growing up, Carolanne was a gymnast, did karate, played soccer…  She also was involved with youth ministry that included outreach to the homeless.

“Carolanne strives to see her purpose in life through and eternal perspective and is my constant reminder to always trust in God – no matter what,” said Joe.

Carolanne’s favorite quote comes from Mother Theresa:  “It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”

She is also continually inspired by St. Francis’s:  “Preach always, and only when necessary: use words.”

Carolanne is also a licensed insurance agent, a vegan – and loves cats.

We’re actually thinking about changing the national symbol from an eagle to, well, a cat – just for Carolanne!  LOL.

Schriner/Moreaux were registered as write-ins in at least 9 states. The bulk of their reported votes came from Ohio.

Election history: none

Other occupations: drummer, street minister

Notes:
Moreaux currently manages Schriner's campaign Facebook account.

Juan Antonio Muñoz

 

Juan Antonio Muñoz, August 28, 1978 (San Antonio, Tex.) -

VP candidate for American Solidarity Party (aka Non Affiliated) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Michael Andrew Maturen (b. 1964)
Popular vote: 6,777 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Founded as the Christian Democratic Party USA in 2011, the new party endorsed an Independent, Joe Schriner, in the 2012 Presidential election. Shortly after that they renamed themselves the American Solidarity Party and ran their first full fledged nominees for the 2016 election.

Based on Catholic Social Teaching, the Party sees itself as being consistent across the board on "pro-life" issues such as opposition to abortion, capital punishment, and right to die initiatives. The Party could be characterized as centrist, leaning Left on economics and Right on social issues.

In an online convention on July 9, 2016 the Party nominated Dr. Amir Azarvan, a political science teacher at Georgia Gwinnett College, for President. His running-mate was Mike Maturen of Michigan, who worked in sales and was a magician, and was a former Republican. Apparently Azarvan's employer had some issues with a member of their faculty running for President and he withdrew from the campaign after having been the nominee for a brief time. Maturen stepped in as the new standard bearer and Juan Muñoz of Cypress, Tex. became the new VP.

Muñoz grew up in San Antonio during the Reagan/Bush years and considered himself a conservative Republican of the Rush Limbaugh variety. In college he was an active Republican but had "flirted" with the Libertarian Party. Marriage and family life had given Muñoz a new political focus and in the course of finding an alternative he discovered the American Solidarity Party.

The campaign was very active on social media, networking and laying the foundation for what would become a fast-rising third party.

The ticket was on the ballot in Colorado (placing 12th with 0.03%) and were registered write-ins in at least 17 states. Not all of those states reported their write-in tally, but for those that did the American Solidarity Party did pretty well in terms of activating their base (especially for a new party), earning over 1000 votes each in California and Texas, and seldom less than 200 in the remaining states where they were active.

Election history: none

Other occupations: bookstore assistant manager, restaurant manager, sales, customer service

Notes:
Any relation to Maria Elizabeth Muñoz, New Alliance Party VP in 1992?

Jennifer A. Ryan

Jennifer A. Ryan

VP candidate for Christian Freedom Party (2004)

Running mate with nominee: Thomas James Harens (b. 1954)
Popular vote: 2,387 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Thomas J. Harens had been a former legislator in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1981-1982) as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Stating he did not feel welcome in that organization due to his anti-abortion views, he joined the Reform/Minnesota Independence Party under which banner he ran for Mayor of Saint Paul in 1997. In 2004 when he formed the Christian Freedom Party, he said he also considered himself a member of the Minnesota Independence Party as well.

Raised as a Catholic, Harens called himself a progressive Christian and had a platform with a liberal economic agenda. In many ways he anticipated the present American Solidarity Party. "There are millions of progressive Christians who don't feel represented," he told the press. "In this new testament chapter the Democrats are the amoral rabble, by the Christian Right Wing and their allies of republicanism are the new Pharisees, the ones Jesus chased out of the temple," he also said.

The candidate, frequently adorned with a beret that had a paramilitary style to it, did enjoy some statewide press coverage and managed a webpage that had no mention of his running-mate Jennifer A. Ryan who was also apparently a resident of Minnesota. If indeed she was a Minnesotan then the duo would have faced a Constitutional problem in the event of their victory.

Republicans wondered if Harens was a stalking horse for the Kerry campaign, designed to hurt the Republican vote. Harens denied any contact with the Democrats.

Only on the ballot in Minnesota the Harens/Ryan ticket won 0.08% of the popular vote in that state.

Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Notes:
Another mystery VP

Barbara A. Marlinski

Barbara A. Marlinski, January 16, 1944 -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Non-Partisan) (2004)

Running mate with nominee: Joseph Charles Schriner (b. 1955)
Popular vote: 142 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

A former journalist, substance abuse counselor, and "lay Catholic speaker," Joe Schriner has run for President in every election since 2000. In his debut campaign the man who bills himself as "Average Joe" originally began as a Republican and then switched to Independent. His main method  of electioneering was criss-crossing the country in an old recreational vehicle, usually with his family.

In the 2004 campaign season he was back, except this time he started from Day One as an Independent and later acquired a running-mate (I could not identify one for his 2000 run).

Although he had position papers for each of the following planks, his platform in brief was--

Healing the Family
"We believe if you heal the family, you'd heal the country." --Joe, NBC News, Monterey, CA. ~ Stepped up community programs on relationship building, healthy parenting...

Agriculture
~ Return of the small family farm, all over.
~ Stop harmful chemical applications.
~ Farming classes from grade school, up.

Crime
~ Less.
~ More Community Oriented Policing and more Citizen Patrols.
~ Peace-time military to aid local police.
~ More creative prisoner rehabilitation; instead of 'dead-end' warehousing.

Gun Control
"High school shootings; inner city gang shootings; armed robbery... this stuff isn't happening in a vacuum." -- Joe
~ Eliminate poverty and heal families.
~ Teach conflict resolution in the schools.
~ Stiffer penalties for offenders.

Military
~ adhere only to "just war" criteria.
~ Make military more field proficient and cost effective.
~ U.S. takes the lead in nuclear disarmament.
~ More help for those who have served.

Immigration
~ No quotas, just compassion.
~ More help assimilating.
~ More foreign help to those who'd rather stay in their homeland, but because of poverty, or war, might not be able to.

Past Wrongs
~ Tangible amends to Native Americans and African-Americans.

Energy Policy
~ Use a whole lot less energy.
~ Develop "walkable communities" nationwide.
~ Dramatic shift to wind and solar.

Taxes
~ Abolish the income tax.
~ Abolish the IRS.
~ Switch to a National Sales Tax (with monthly "prebate" help for people near the poverty level).
"The tax code book in D.C. now has over 15,000 pages (honest). Hasn't the whole thing gotten, oh, a little out of control?" --Joe

National Debt :
~ Tighten our belts and pay it off so our children don't inherit it.

Work Life :
~ Push for a shorter work week and/or more job sharing. (This will provide more time for God, family, community.)
~ In tandem, promote the Voluntary Simplicity Movement, with a focus on cutting back lifestyle wise.
~ Improve work place environments.
~ Fair wage for all.
"A migrant worker picks food. A Wall Street broker pushes paper. In the scheme of 'the stuff of life,' which, ultimatley, is more important?" --Joe

Revitilization :
~ Promote Downtown Revitilization nationwide.

Sister Cities :
~ Nationwide Sister City Project with Russia.
~ Nationwide Sister City Project with the Third World.

Foreign Debt :
~ Push to forgive Third World debt to give the poor, worldwide, a much better chance for adequate food, health care...

Peace Corps :
~ More incentives for involvement in Peace Corps.
~ More Peace Corps programs tailored to retirees.
"There are currently 12,000 people in the Peace Corps. We'd like to see millions." --Joe

U.S. Department of Peace :
~ Establish a U.S. Department of Peace
~ Become much more proactive, worldwide, in promoting peace.
~ Use models like Atlanta's Jimmy Carter Center to promote peace internationally.

Terrorism :
~ Impact it at it's roots.
*Piqua, Ohio's, Ellen Johns told us her response to Sept. 11 was to financially adopt an orphan child near the Pakistan / Afghan border through Child Reach International.

"Kids in dead-end life situations in inner city America join gangs. Kids in dead-end life situations in the Third World join terrorist cells." --Joe

Life
~ No abortion.
~ Many more local safety nets for moms & dads in crisis pregnancy.
~ No death penalty, no euthenasia.
~ No embryonic stem cell research and no cloning.
~ Respect for God's sovereignty and natural order.

Environment
~ Promote tremendously increased production of non-polluting wind, electric and solar alternatives. Rows of wind turbines on farms in Kansas, Oklahoma, anywhere it's windy.
~ American energy use: cut back.
~ Recycle, almost everything.
~ Heal and restore America's eco-system.

Education
~ More in hands of states & parents.
~ More curriculum flexibility to match student needs.
~ One-third of curriculum: community volunteer work.
~ More classes on "race and culture" to promote better community building. ~ More classes about family life and relationship building.

Health Care
Prevention
~Much more focus on prevention strategies...
~Promote more employee fitness programs.
~Heightened focus and emphasis on school physical education classes
.~More school and community nutrition education.

Social Security
~ Dynamic programs to reestablish the elderly as active, and highly valued, members of their community.
~ Maintain Social Security fund

It isn't clear when and how Barb Marlinski of Lakewood, NY became Schriner's running-mate. In his online campaign diary, he mentions her on July 5, 2004:

We headed north to Jamestown, New York where The Post-Journal reporter Dennis Phillips asked why I was running. I replied: "We’re concerned about violence in society – including to the unborn – drug abuse, the break down of the nuclear family and the extremely overt and addictive sexual acting out in the media and society in general." Phillips also interviewed Barb Marlinski, who we had met earlier, for the article. Barb said: "He is for everything that's important to me and I think he is important for everything that should be important to everybody in the United States."

Later in October he provided a bit of biography for Marlinski:

Barb Marlinski, an "average Jane," if you will, from Lakewood, New York. Barb, who is a Catholic, puts her faith first in her life. In addition, she is on the same page with us on all the issues. She is a wife, mother and a piano teacher. What's more, she told me several years ago she mounted a drive to keep out a proposed "News Store" that was going to sell pornography in her small town of Lakewood, New York. She won. Barb is the type of unsung, "extra-mile" American who is so representative of what makes up the real moral fabric of our country.

Schriner was a certified write-in in Idaho, Maryland, Ohio, and Utah. Most of the votes for the Schriner ticket came from his home state of Ohio.

Election history: none

Other occupations: piano teacher

Notes:
Much of Schriner's platform anticipated the American Solidarity Party, a party which in fact he unsuccessfully sought the Presidential nomination in the 2020 election.

Frank Atwood, Approval Voting Party 2020 VP and 2016 Presidential nominee

Frank Atwood, Approval Voting Party 2020 VP and 2016 Presidential nominee

In 2016 the Approval Voting Party ran Frank Atwood for President and Blake Huber for VP. They appeared on the ballot in Colorado.

In 2020 they have switched roles. Huber is the Presidential nominee and Atwood is the running-mate. Sort of a vice versa thing. Get it? "Vice" versa? My attempt at a political ticket joke. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Well, anyway.

In case you are wondering what the concept of Approval Voting is all about, on April 24 Mr. Huber sent me this nice summation in an email:

In a nutshell Approval Voting allows a voter to mark his ballot for more than one candidate with the candidate marked on the most ballots is the candidate that is elected. The voter can choose all the candidates she agrees with on issues or the ones that have the correct resume for the current election period instead of voting for only one candidate.

Currently each voter marks his ballot for only one candidate, often resulting in voting for the lesser of two evils, the voter also has to consider the concept of electability as a criteria for casting her single precious vote. This concept of vote for one and only one is an archaic concept and limits our choices.

Our efforts are designed to change the voting method to allow voters to honestly and sincerely select the candidates they support and to elect the candidate that has the broadest popular support.

Earlier I interviewed Blake Huber with the same questions:
https://thirdpartysecondbananas.blogspot.com/2020/04/blake-huber-approval-voting-party-2016.html

I would like to thank Eric Bodenstab, VP nominee of the Unity Party of America, for helping me make contact with the Approval Voting Party. The following is my email interview with Frank Atwood, Approval Voting Party 2020 VP and 2016 Presidential nominee--

--------------------------------------------------------------

Q: From what I can ascertain, both of you have a history with the Libertarian Party in Colorado. Did that experience play a role in becoming activists for Approval Voting?

FA: Yes, in 1996, I discovered I was a Libertarian – being both fiscally responsible and socially accepting, the best of what both major parties say they advocate for.  I took the Advocates for Self-Government's "World's Smallest Political Quiz" and realized for myself that as an individual who supported both marijuana decriminalization and Second Amendment rights, I had found a home in the Libertarian Party.  For a decade I vigorously campaigned and advocated for Libertarian candidates watching their support deteriorate in the last month of campaigns from 15 to 5% usually because of the "wasted vote" argument.

Approval Voting - letting the voter vote for all the candidates he approves of, resolves this "wasted vote" dilemma by letting a voter express both his heart and mind.  He can be honest with his heart and strategic with mind.  Another voting possibility is: if he hates one of the candidates, be he / she a Donald or a Hilary, the voter can vote for everyone except that despised candidate.

Q: I see there are Approval Voting groups in different parts of the United States, but you have decided to actually create an authentic and official political party as a vehicle for change. How did that choice come about?

FA: If you study Richard Winger's newsletter Ballot Access News, you'll see that Colorado was not practicing blatant ballot suppression in 2016 and we decided to use the ballot as a vehicle to promote Approval Voting.  When in 2018 the legislature and governor tightened up ballot access we felt we needed to become a party.

Q: Do you see yourselves as a single-issue party?

FA: Yes, we are.  Election reform that successfully minimizes spoilers and sabotage, yet gives viability and visibility to alternative factions is too significant to dilute with any broader distractive agenda.  Stay focused on the message: Election reform through Approval Voting.

Q: Is Ranked Choice Voting an option worth promoting as well?

FA: Both Approval Voting and Ranked Choice Voting are far superior to our current system; however, a century of evidence in the Australian lower house shows RCV single winner method as perpetuating egregious two-party dominance.  I acknowledge neither system promises victory to third parties, however Approval Voting will provide more transparent viability and visibility for third parties than RCV as evidenced in Australia's lower house over the past century.

Q: One critique of Approval Voting I found read, "Approval voting violates 'one person, one vote' and is unconstitutional." How do you respond to that?

FA: I'll let my running mate Blake Huber discuss the technicalities.  Already numerous voters in their municipal at-large elections are voting for more than one candidate.

Currently, we live with "One person, one ballot, vote for as many candidates as there are seats to be filled.  The candidate(s) with the most votes wins."  The Approval Voting Party is focusing on letting the citizen cast his vote for more than just a limited number of candidates.  Approval Voting advocates supporting all the candidates the voter approves of.

Q: What are the demographics of your support base? What part of the political spectrum do you think they are coming from? Are other third parties supporting your efforts at least in spirit?

FA: Our base is disgruntled disappointed voters trapped into voting for the lesser of two evils without the option of expressing themselves further.  The American Solidarity Party, Libertarian Party and elements of the Natural Law Party advocate for Approval Voting.  People are frustrated and they want a better voting system. 

Q: Are you experiencing any backlash to your ideas, and from where?

FA: The faction objecting most to voting method reform are unpopular incumbents scared that a voter will express support for a third party. This faction wants to control / limit / manipulate the outcome to perpetuate his own incumbency.

Q: It is pretty rare to see the same nominees switch the Presidential and Vice-Presidential slots between elections. Lawrence Holmes and Gloria La Riva of the Workers World Party did that in 1992. How is that working out for you two?

FA: Quite well. Blake Huber is bringing fresh enthusiasm for the party.  We expect to double our votes this coming year.

Q: Any life lessons learned from the 2016 campaign that you are applying to the 2020 effort?

FA: Yes, when two such unpopular candidates still get 95% of the vote, without an alternative party getting beyond 4%, the system is broken and it is time for Approval Voting.

Q: What sort of national and support network exists for proponents of Approval Voting?

FA: The most active think tank is The Center for Election Science.  They continue to research other alternatives, yet find themselves continuing to support Approval Voting most recently in Fargo, ND, and through an initiative in St Louis.

Q: How will you measure the success of your 2020 campaign?

FA: The campaign's success will be measured by more voters and candidates endorsing Approval Voting.

Q: Where can interested voters contact you?

FA: The easiest way to reach the party is: our web site Approval Voting Party.com that takes you to our Facebook page, or phone / text 720/439-6000.  I can be reached at 720/260-1493 or Frank.Atwood@Hotmail.com.

Q: Thank you very much for contributing to this project. Please feel free to add any additional information not covered by my questions.

FA: These paragraphs provide additional background to my political activism:

 In the 2000 Bush / Gore presidential election the Nader campaign in Florida reminded me of the significance of spoilers and sabotage which may have prompted the book in 2008, Gaming the Vote why elections aren't fair and what can be done by William Poundstone.  Reading that book and Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Sealey convinced me that the simplest best easy solution for voting reform was Approval Voting.  Letting the voter vote for more than one candidate.  Let the voter mark his ballot for all the candidates he approves of.

There are two very significant political quotes.  The first is Churchill's:  "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others".  What's so good about democracy?  The feedback loops!  The governed express their opinions to the governing and choose who the governing will be.  The exceptions are sometimes spoiler (e.g. Nader in 2000) or sabotage (Perot in 1992) distorting the will of the people.

The second quote is JFK's: "Those who make evolution impossible make revolution inevitable."    How do we provide viability and visibility for alternative factions before they become violently revolutionary?

Approval Voting solves these problems.  With approval voting if you want to vote for a Nader or a Perot, you can hedge your preference with voting for Gore or Bush to minimize the impact of a spoiler or saboteur.  Also, by voting for Nader and Perot you the voter give viability and visibility to third parties and alternative ideas.

In summary, Approval Voting minimizes spoilers and sabotage for the established parties, yet provides viability and visibility for new alternative parties.
           
Historical speculation

However, democracy is about minimizing the trauma of political change and resolving crises peacefully.  There are two famous quotes about democracy.  The first from Winston Churchill: "Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others."  The second quote is from President Kennedy: "Those who make evolution impossible make revolution inevitable."

American History has two poster children of trauma: prohibition and slavery.  One was resolved peacefully, the other with violence.  Might mid-19th century statesmen have used Approval Voting to provide compromise and less violent binary choices to resolve the slavery issue?

Amar Patel, 2020 VP American Solidarity Party

From the American Solidarity Party website--

"Amar Patel was born to Indian immigrants who came to this country in the late 1960s. His father worked as a civil engineer for the city of Chicago and his mother worked as a union laborer in cleaning supply factory. His parents sponsored the immigration of many family members during his childhood and he grew up with several aunts, uncles, and cousins in his family home at once. He received Bachelor’s Degrees in Math, Chemistry, and Psychology and a Master’s in Education from the University of Illinois. After meeting his wife at the Newman Center during college they moved to the Chicago suburbs where they have been teachers for the last 20 years. They have two children in high school.

Amar has spent years on many committees for school and curriculum development, given talks at state conferences, worked on several church councils, and organized major speech competitions. He has coached speech team, math team, tennis, golf, soccer and basketball. He serves his community through the Knights of Columbus and other local organizations. He is a published novelist, lead singer for a band, member of a competitive softball team, but his passion is in building community and bringing people together."

https://solidarity-party.org/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Q: I understand you became interested in politics via the pro-life issue, starting with voting for President Bush in the 1992 election. Did you remain an active Republican voter until you joined the ASP? Had you ever considered running for office before now?

I voted Republican in the larger state wide and national elections and would sometimes crossover on local elections when the position was basically non-partisan. I wasn't always happy with the Republican candidates and choosing the lesser of two evils definitely began to weigh on me.

Q: Had you ever considered running for office before now?

Not before the last couple of years, no.

Q: Where the Libertarian Party, generally speaking, has a progressive social policy combined with a conservative economic policy the ASP seems to be the polar opposite with what would be considered a conservative social policy combined with a progressive economic policy. The ASP uses the concept of Catholic Social Teaching as a foundation for the Party. Can you summarize for us what CST means?

Catholic Social Teaching as a concept refers to the applications of moral attitudes in public life. Issues like economic justice, subsidiarity, promotion of the common good, and the role of the state can be understood with reason based on natural law but have been studied back to the time of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. The focus of CST would be a particular attention to the flourishing of human dignity.

Q: I see the allied term "Whole Life Party" used frequently for the ASP. What is that?

Often, you see the Republicans touting themselves as Pro-life for their abortion stance and the Democrats decrying the GOP for not valuing life after birth through societal protections like healthcare, welfare, and social security.

In the ASP, we declare that all policy decisions should be weighed on its impact towards the flourishing of all human life and that the common good is best served when society sacrifices their own personal interests for the benefit of the least among us.

Q: I'm curious if you are aware of or have any contact with the American Free Soil Party? They appear to be the General Lutheran Church, Inc. version of your party. Has there been any effort to work with other American Christian or faith-based political parties?

The founder of the AFSP is a current member of the ASP. They have 30 followers on Facebook where we almost have 10000. While we subscribe to principles of traditional Christian Democracy as formulated most clearly in Europe and South America, we consider our platform to be a secular platform that can be appreciated by both people belonging to faith traditions and those who don't.

Q: In a recent election the Illinois ASP, which is your territory I think, endorsed conservative Democratic Congressman Dan Lipinski over an actual Nazi running as a Republican for US Congress. How unusual is it for the ASP to endorse mainstream party politicians?

That race was clearly a race that wasn't going to involve the lesser of two evils. I met with Congressman Lipinski at the March For Life and told him that he is a rare candidate that seeks the common good in his policy making and politicking.

 Q: Out here where I live in rural western Washington I have evangelical Protestant neighbors who believe President Trump is, in the words of one of them, "anointed by God." How do you respond to people who worship Trump with this sort of fervor?

The national media, social media, and politicians have long fueled this intense tribalism that causes erstwhile clear thinking individuals to not only defend the lesser of two evils, but then to double and triple down on their support. I remember doing mental gymnastics to defend the American occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan during the Bush years even though deep down I knew they were unjust actions. I feel that the time for a reminder that we are indeed our brother's keeper and loving our neighbor as ourselves are mottoes that should be spoken easier for Christians than "Make America Great Again" or "Build the wall"

Q: Where are your new ASP recruits coming from? I imagine you are having moderate Republicans and blue dog Democrats climbing on board?

Yes and yes, but also people who radically never fell in either party fully because both parties have always fallen short of the Christian Democratic set of principles.

Q: Which political flank gives you the most grief in terms of criticism, the Left or the Right? Or ...?

The toughest thing I have to do is convince passionately pro-life people that refusing to work in a whole life manner is detrimental in completing the mission of saving the unborn in the long run. From the left, we are generally summarily dismissed because we are pro-life so discussion don't get very far.

Q: Your platform states "The natural family, founded on the marriage of one man and one woman, is the fundamental unit and basis of every human society." I take it ASP is opposed to same sex marriage? And if elected would take steps to stop it?

The platform is very clear on what we oppose as a matter of policy and what we emphatically support as a matter of principle. The conclusion of that section of the platform is "In order to promote stable families, it is in the interest of the state to support marriage recognized as the exclusive union of one man and one woman for life. At the same time, we recognize that the state must support the needs of people—especially children, as well as the elderly and disabled—in families of all kinds."

Identifying the ideal doesn't preclude state care of all people.

Q: I realize the ASP is attempting to broaden the popular definition of "Pro-Life," but as I scan various webpages and social media regarding your party I must say the instant first impression of "anti-abortion" is what greets me. How do you go about being seen as something other than a single issue party?

In the upcoming election Brian Carroll and I will be very clear about immigration reform, the environment, economic justice and universal health care. The GOP would like to ignore us and the Democrats have moved so far to the left on abortion that anything short of full term abortion is anti-abortion, misogynistic and a war on women. We will see what we can do.

Q: What is the campaign game plan for 2020 in terms of getting on the ballots? Will you be running candidates for other offices?

There are several states where we will be on the actual ballot and will likely be write-ins in the rest. The exact number will generally come down to elbow grease and fundraising. We have some other candidates who will be running in local races. The exact number will be determined after we fully launch the campaign.

Q: What regions of the USA would you say gives ASP the strongest following?

There is no specific region that dominates. California, Texas, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina all have active chapters.

Q: How do you see the role of being a running mate, the Vice-Presidential nominee?

My primary role is that of support, which is fairly traditional. Since I am also serving as ASP Chair, I am also in a role of creating structures that I hope will out live the campaign and carry us into the upcoming years for more growth and more candidates. One of my aims is to clearly articulate what Christian Democracy is, what distributism is, and what the Consistent Life Ethic is and how the American Solidarity Party falls at the intersection of all three.

Q: Has this nomination as VP taken you outside of some comfort zones? What sort of new challenges are you encountering?

No, "Discomfort" is my middle name. I am sure there will be challenges yet to come. Since we haven't quite gotten our ducks in a row to take "the show on the road" it is hard to predict what will happen.

Q: And finally, the questions I wanted to ask since reading your biography. What is this band you are a lead singer for, what sort of music, and where can people hear you? Also, please tell us about your novelist self.

Ha! My band is called Hard Lockdown. We play once a year at a fundraiser for scholarships for students in my school district. We have a Facebook page that you can look up. I wrote The Joy Of the Lord under my pen name of Mark Andrews.

Q: Thank you Mr. Patel for contributing to this project.