William Tore Tint

 

William Tore Tint, October 25, 1973 -

VP candidate for Freedom USA Party (2016)
VP candidate for Independent (2016)

Running mate with nominee (Freedom USA Party): Thomas Lineaweaver (b. 1956)
Running mate with nominee (Independent): Robert Rankin Doggart (b. 1951)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Tom Lineaweaver, a former Republican who ran as an Independent write-in candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2014, was back on the campaign trail within a few months but this time he was aiming for the White House. Running under the banner of his Freedom USA Party, his running-mate was William Tint of South Carolina.

Lineaweaver performed his electioneering online via social media and forums. Some samples--

Mar. 12, 2015
TIME FOR ACTION

by Tom Lineaweaver

We need your help. For William Tint and I to be successful, we need all the help we can get. And the biggest reason for getting us elected is, if we don't, this Country is doomed. In reading the political tea leaves, I can see the Republican Party is pushing Jeb Bush, and the Democrat Party is pushing Hilary Clinton. We don't need another Bush to carry on the family's treacherous and evil ways. I urge you the check out Prescott Bush, and even his father.

The Country is weary of the Bushes. Therefore, Hilary Clinton will be the next President. That is unless the third party movement, the Independents, and all the Constitutionalists get behind the Lineaweaver - Tint team.

Why us and not someone else? Let's say, Ron Paul? If he remains a Republican, he doesn't have a chance. Then there's the age factor. He is already 79. He'll be 81 in 2016. That doesn't necessarily bother me, but what about the rest of the American people?

William Tint and I basically has the very same message as Ron Paul. Getting back to the Constitution politically and economically. We have a non-interventional Foreign Policy. We have a plan to fix the economy and increase jobs by the millions. Of course, we'd have to get the plan through Congress. So, while you are at it, you need to support and elect Constitutional candidates for Congress.

I feel very strong about this. I keep looking for a better alternative, and there is none that I could find. William Tint and I are the best chance we have to save America. But, if we do not unite, America is doomed. The only solution at that point would be an armed rebellion, and William Tint and I would like to prevent that. Millions of Americans will die in an armed struggle with the evil, despotic, tyrannical, Government that we have now. Or haven't you noticed, police departments all over the Country are becoming militaristic. But we can prevent that by electing pro-Constitution candidates for every office in the Country.

If we don't do this folks, you will lose your money, your freedom and possibly your lives. If we don't change the direction of this Country soon, it's going to crash.
Time for a change. Time to get back to the Constitution.

Mar. 13, 2015
THEN, NOW, THE FUTURE AND WHY

by Tom Lineaweaver

Back in 2010, I explored the possibility of running for President in 2012. That went nowhere. I had rather much given up the idea of running for anything. Then it happened.

What could be called the defining time of my political career. I was listening to the Bob Durgin show on WHP-AM 580. It was in the summer of 2011. I had rather much given up of me ever running for anything. But, on this particular show, someone called and introduced the topic of an 8 year old girl, in I think York County, Pennsylvania, her lemonade stand was shut down. I don't remember why. I do remember how it made me feel. In fact, I probably said out loud, "They've gone too far." I decided I had to do something, although running for office was not the something. What I did was call Mauree Gingrich's office. She was my State Representative at the time. I called State Senator Mike Folmer's office, who has been a friend for about 25 years at the time. And, I called the Governor's office. It was Governor Corbett's first year in office. I voiced my concerns, about how this Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Liberty. About the Declaration of Independence, etc. So, I reminded them of our founding, and asked how we got so far away from that to make it illegal for an 8 year old to have a lemonade stand on her parent's land.

Well, my concerns fell on deaf ears. These people just didn't seem to care. I got to thinking what else can I do. I decided that the best thing to happen is if we had a Constitutional Governor. For the remainder of 2011, and for much of 2012, I searched for someone that would be a Constitutional Governor. The only one I could find that seemed to be interested in challenging Corbett was Bruce Castor. I now know there were others. But, the media didn't acknowledge them at all. So, all I did hear about was Bruce Castor. So, I checked into Bruce Castor, and determined he was just another politician.

Finally, in the beginning of 2013, I decided, if I want something done, I better do it myself. I decided I was going to try to win the Republican nomination for Governor. I opened a page on Facebook for that purpose. And I opened a forum at Son of David Forums. Between the two, I was trying to gain support. I did get a little, but not near enough. I sent e-mails to media outlets. And I got very little coverage. I did get some coverage on the internet from the Green Page, I think it was called. And there were other internet pages. I got a nice write up in a Pittsburgh Newspaper, and I have been told I got a nice write up in a Northeastern Pennsylvania Newspaper. But, I got no volunteers to help me circulate nominating petitions. Then I began running a write-in campaign for the Republican nomination. But, that went nowhere as well. I do believe, if I was able to get on the ballot, I could have defeated Corbett, then as a Republican, I could have defeated Wolf. But, that obviously was not to be.

After the Primaries, I left the Republican Party, and registered Independent, and began a write in campaign. This time instead of a page, I opened a group on Facebook. The Page was converted to "People for Constitutional Government." This all happened from February 2014 to the Primaries.

Obviously, I didn't win the Governorship. But, I did gain some National attention, to the point, in October of 2014, I received a phone call from a man in Louisiana. We had a nice talk about the Constitution. He talked about all the groups he was part of. Then he made the offer. If I were to run for President, those groups he talked about would support me. Woe! How can anyone say "no" to an offer like that? I told him I would think about it. In our next conversation, I told him I would run if he was my campaign manager. But, it didn't quite work out that way. However I was given a gift I could possibly build on. And I did.

After a while, I thought, in political realities, it is best to have a Party structure to get anywhere. I considered other parties. But, I was just not comfortable. I needed a Party I felt comfortable in. That's when I started Freedom USA Party. It is designed to unite the best parts of all the parties, but specifically to promote Constitutional Governance. We simply must get back to the Constitution if we are to salvage the United States of America.

I chose a running mate by the name of William Tint. But, let me tell you. Neither he nor I are perfect. But, both of us want the Country to get back to the Constitution. Both of us care about the people of America who are struggling greatly. And both of us understand that it is the Federal Government that is causing the American people to struggle. Obamacare is a great example of what makes American struggle. And that is much of where we are today.

Now to the why. Why should I be the next President? It's because I care. When you look at the actions of the Federal Government in the most recent decades, can you honestly say there is anyone in Washington D.C. that care about the people of this Country?

Did Ronald Reagan care about the people of this Country when he chose George HW Bush as a Vice President? Then George HW Bush became President. Did he care about the American people when he signed the American Disabilities Act, which has done more harm than good? And do you remember what happened at Ruby Ridge, ID? The Government murdered American citizens, and practically with impunity. George HW Bush should have gone to jail for the rest of his life, because he's a murderer. Along came Bill Clinton. Did he care about the American people when he signed a law that forced the banks and financial institutions to make loans to people that probably could not pay them back? Did George W. Bush care about the American people when he signed the Patriot Act? That is one of the most unconstitutional laws ever passed by Congress. And now they are using it to spy on anyone they feel threatened by. Did Barack Obama care about the American people when he signed the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare? I don't have to tell you the harm that has done and will do. Unless you had your head in the sand, you should know.

There is no one in Washington DC that cares about the American people. William Tint and I do care about the American people.

Of course, our campaign is not official as of yet. We need a few things before that happens. A campaign manager that understands Federal Election laws, which, by the way, are unconstitutional. There is no such thing as a Federal Election. All elections are State elections. But, we have to deal with reality. Then when in office, we can make a difference.

At this point we are doing our best to gain support, and really, we are in an exploratory mode. If this campaign comes together where we unite in our cause. Where can get on the ballot in all 50 States, I really believe we have a chance.

If you want the change we speak of, then please come on board and help us get there.

Time for a change. Time to get back to the Constitution.

Later in March 2015 the ticket experienced a split. Tint bailed from Lineaweaver's team and switched to Robert Doggart's Presidential campaign. The announcement was made by Tint on Blog Talk Radio / Patriot Nation as he and the host also discussed conspiracy theories regarding a potential civil war and a military exercise known as Jade Helm 15. Lineaweaver's reaction was not one of surprise--

Mar. 24, 2015
DOGGART - TINT 2016
There is no more doubt. The Doggart - Tint team materialized. It was announced on Blog Talk Radio / Patriot Nation.
Personally, I believe this has been in the works for a while. And, I believe it has to do with my view on Israel. I know Bob Doggart disagrees with me about Israel. William Tint has encouraged me not to be public with what I believed about Israel. But, I did not hide it. Why should I? Everything I said about Israel is true. In 1967 Israel attacked the USS Liberty, and killed 34 U.S. Sailors. For a long time that was covered up. On March 16, 2003, Rachel Corrie was murdered by Israelis. There weapon was a bulldozer. Rachel was unarmed. She was working for peace. She was peacefully protesting Israelis destroying the homes of Palestinians whether there was anyone at home or not. Israel killing Palestinians, and some were Christians. In 2009, there was a Baptist church in Gaza having New Year's Eve services. Israeli forces bombed a nearby building and in the process destroyed the church killing the Pastor an many attendees. I personally don't believe that was by accident.
Lately there has been news reports that Israel, along with the United States and other Countries has been supporting ISIS. Iran stopped the shipment or arms from Israel to ISIS.
Tell me why we are supporting this murderous Government. And, based on my conversations with Bob Doggart, he is a big supporter of Israel.
You can hear the Blog Talk Radio/Patriot Nation program where William tint made the announcement here
blogtalkradio.com
www.blogtalkradio.com

Robert Doggart of Tennessee had become a cause célèbre among those in the far Right conspiracy community. He had run for Congress as an Independent in 2014. Doggart had a Ph.D. from LaSalle University in engineering management and had been a federal employee with the TVA. He was also a minister with the Christian National Church (Congregational).

Doggart had been planning a terrorist attack on Islamberg, a Muslim communal settlement in the area of Hancock, N.Y. His Facebook included a post: "Our small group will soon be faced with the fight of our lives. We will offer those lives as collateral to prove our commitment to our God. We shall be Warriors who will inflict horrible numbers of casualties upon the enemies of our Nation and World Peace."

The Presidential campaign of Doggart/Tint appeared to have ceased at the time of Doggart's Apr. 10, 2015 arrest.

When Tint joined the Doggart ticket, they both had already been wiretapped by the Feds who were tipped off by informants and undercover agents. Lineaweaver's conversations with Doggart were also picked up. Some of Doggart's taped comments were played in court--

If there’s a gun fight, well there’s a gun fight. And I want to come home ’cause I love my family and I want to see my kids again. But I also understand that if it’s necessary to die then that’s a good way to die.

When we meet in this state, the people we seek will know who we are. We will be cruel to them. And we will burn down their buildings (and) if anyone attempts to, uh, harm us in any way, our stand gunner will take them down from 350 yards away ... The standoff gunner would be me.

[Islamberg] is vulnerable from many approaches and must be utterly destroyed in order to get the attention of the American people.

Those guys (ought or have) to be killed. Their buildings need to be burnt down. If we can get in there and do that not losing a man, even the better.

We’re gonna be carrying an M4 with 500 rounds of ammunition, light armor piercing. A pistol with three extra magazines, and a machete. And if it gets down to the machete, we will cut them to shreds.

I actually think we can get in and out of there without getting caught. There’s only four policemen in town. The fire department is a volunteer department, so it’ll take them 35 minutes to get there while that building will be burned down already. And we’ll be long gone by then.

I’ve got this battalion that I command and they want to go up to uh a place and take action. There is all these people all over the country that what to start what we call a flash point. … so sick and tired of this crap that the government is pulling that we go take a small military installation or we go burn down a Muslim church or something like that.

I don’t want to have to kill children, but there’s always collateral damage.

I wish somebody would kill Obama. Just do it and get it over with.

The Times Free Press reported Tint "offered to provide 50 men from South Carolina and another 150 from New York, and said he had experience in demolitions, and agreed the men should meet."

Tint was questioned on Apr. 13, 2015 and on the following Sept. entered a plea of guilty to the charge that he "did knowingly and willfully make a false, fraudulent, and fictitious material statement to FBI agents during their investigation." In June 2016 Tint was sentenced to three years probation, apparently as part of a plea bargain.

On May 27, 2015 Tint made a remark on Facebook indicating he was running for President--

Over the past few months I have withdrawn my quest for the constitutional ticket for the seat of President of the United States however I have decided whith several other people to continue to run and I will be bringing with me several members running for Congress and Senate it is my intention to restore the Constitution and free the American people.

In Aug. 2015 Tint began to show enthusiastic support for the campaign of Ed Baker, an Independent from Oregon who embraced a large number of conspiracy theories such as "No One Died at Sandy Hook," geoengineering, and later, Pizzagate.

On Election Day 2016 Tint posted--

next election I will be running and I won't have them push me out again.its time for real American people to be in control of the country. constitutionalist!!!!!

Meanwhile Lineaweaver, who apparently never settled on a running-mate after Tint, dropped out of the race in the fall of 2016 and endorsed Darrell Castle of the Constitution Party. He began his 2020 campaign for President shortly after the 2016 election.

Doggart is currently in prison serving a long sentence.

Election history:
2016 - US President (Independent) - defeated

Other occupations: US Marine Corps, militia member, military surplus dealer, South Carolina National Guard

Notes:
Tint's vision of a 2020 Presidential campaign did not seem to materialize.

John Richard Myers

 

John Richard Myers, January 3, 1963 (Great Falls, Mont.) -

VP candidate for Constitution Party of Idaho (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Arlon Scott Copeland (b. 1963)
Popular vote: 2,356 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

In a convention process that apparently created division and rancor, the Constitution Party nominated their 2008 VP candidate for President in 2016. Darrell Castle's running-mate was Scott N. Bradley of Utah.

Among the many factors that tore the Party asunder was Castle's own on-off-on again availability. He was one of the contenders early in the game, but withdrew for health reasons. After his healing had taken place, he was willing to be back in the arena.

Idaho [PNW trivia alert!!] walked out and nominated their own Constitution Party ticket of Arlon Scott Copeland and John Richard "J.R." Myers, but Castle and Bradley managed to also be listed in the Spud State under the banner of "Independent."

The Constitution Party actually held a primary in Idaho, where Copeland and Myers placed first and second. Castle did not run in that contest citing his health as a reason he failed to file, which did not sit well with the members of the Constitution Party of Idaho. State Chair Floyd Whitley told the press, "Mr. Castle is the insider, or the party elite or the establishment, if you will, in the Constitution Party ... He apparently did not believe he needed to compete in Idaho, because it was his party, so to speak."

Copeland filed with the FEC as a Constitution Party candidate on May 5, 2015. His campaign website provided a biography--

About Scott

Reverend Scott Copeland

Scott was born on October 7, 1963, in Jackson, Mississippi. The native Mississippian was transplanted by God to Texas. He married his wife Jackie on January 7, 2007. By a previous marriage he has two sons, Joshua (23) and Caleb (13). Scott’s family roots come from the area northeast of Philadelphia, Mississippi. He is a graduate of Mississippi College and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Scott is an ordained and licensed minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a minister of God, Scott served for three and one half years in the northwest part of the U.S. traveling with a mission group called “The Proclaimers Straight From The Carpenter’s Shop” . He also served as a Youth Minister for three and one half years in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, and as a Pastor for seven years in Mineral Wells, Texas. He helped in the development and structure of the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention and served on the Executive Board for three two year terms. Scott also served on the Credentials Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.
       
Scott has worked in several family owned businesses. Scott worked for the MSDOT in the Right of Way Division for over nine years becoming the youngest supervisor to date. He prepared the Engineering Section’s budget for personnel, computer request, and served as the Division PC Adminstrator & Education Coordinator for CADD Intergraph Systems. Upon departing MSDOT Scott started a CADD service business working with many clients in the Civil Engineering and Land Surveying business as well as bidding and working on projects for the MSDOT Right of Way Division as a sub-contractor.
    
Scott has been involved in problem solving and the implementation of new policies for most of his life. He has authored one book entitled “Your 2012 Middle Class President”. Scott is not a politician, but believes firmly God has called the United States of America to be a leader in God’s created world. Scott is committed to the Word of God as a life building guide to a personal relationship with God. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Ammendments are firmly based in Judeao-Christian values and morality, and the citizens have the God given rights to demand the government remain true to these documents and America’s politicians be held accountable for their actions. The videos and website have been developed as alternatives to the gridlock ideas of the establishment parties. Scott offers a sound restoration of intended constitutional tax structure (details maybe seen at www.constitutionparty.com/ttaxes), downsizing of the federal government, strengthening state rights, and increasing the military to protect our borders and interest abroad.

Scott, praise God, has never held public office. However, he has entered the 2016 Presidential race and is seeking the nomination of the Constitution Party.

Copeland's platform mirrored the same theocratic-leaning and conservative policies of the Constitution Party, although it would be safe to say he was probably more of a political purist than Castle.

J.R. Myers, more of a political animal and party hopper than Copeland, had also tried to gain the nomination of the American Independent Party in 2016. Plus he was also running for the Alaska State House of Representatives under the Constitution Party banner that year. Myers filed with the FEC as a Constitution Party candidate for President on Nov. 26, 2015. He has run for public office ever since he was in high school in Great Falls, Mont.

His campaign website included an autobiography--

I was born in Great Falls, Montana, January 3, 1963.  My parents are still married to each other and reside on the East Shore of Flathead Lake in Montana.  I have an older sister Rebecca, who lives in Montana, and a younger sister, Rhonda, who lives in Iowa.  I have five nephews, a niece and many relatives across the USA.  I am the descendant of pioneers from several Northern & Central European countries, as well as the Cree/Metis people of Canada and Montana.

I graduated from Charles Marion Russell (CMR) High School and while there, was a Peer Counselor, President of the Native American Club and a National Merit Semifinalist.  I graduated a semester early and became the youngest Licensed Realtor in Montana.  At that time, I was elected by the Great Falls Native American community to serve on the Board of Directors of the Great Falls Native American Association and Health Clinic.  I was also a founding member of the Great Falls NAACP along with the late Reverend Philip Caldwell.  I was a Reagan Republican and was later elected as a Republican Precinct Committeeman and Served on the Flathead County Republican Central Committee.  I earned my B.S. in Liberal Arts, Cum Laude from the University of Great Falls, where I eventually earned both a Master of Human Services and Master of Professional Counseling degrees.  My political resume includes affiliation, service and leadership in the Montana Republican, Libertarian and Reform Parties, the last two which I chaired.  Since returning to Alaska in 2003, I was a member of the Alaskan Independence Party for seven years, rising to become AIP Vice Chair.  In 2010 I founded and continue to Chair the Alaska Constitution Party, which is a formal affiliate of the national Constitution Party.  I was also recently elected to a two year term as President of the Alaska Counseling Association by the annual conference of my peers.  

My family has deep ties to Alaska that precede statehood.  My late grandfather, Les Myers, called, "Mush", by his friends, first came to Alaska in the Army Air Force during WWII.  My late grandmother, Eleanor, had worked for Alaska Airlines and always had a special love for Alaska.  My grandparents homesteaded in the North Pole  area in the 1950's.  My father had his own sled dogs there.  They were used for daily transportation.  They did not have snowmobiles back then.  Their refrigerator/freezer was a hand dug hole in the permafrost.  Several of my aunts, uncles and cousins have called Alaska their home over the years.  Many of my family lived through the Great Quake of 1964 in Anchorage, and I grew up listening to stories about that, the Northern Lights, volcanoes, wildlife, climate and the people of this Great Land.  My father participated as a HAM radio operator in Anchorage to re-establish communications with the outside world after the devastating aftermath of the '64 Quake.  I learned to talk in Anchorage in 1964.  My first word was, "Peppermint".  My parents, my sister Rebecca and I returned to Montana in 1965.  I visited relatives in Alaska a couple times in the 1970s, driving up the AlCan with my grandfather once.

In 2003 I returned to Alaska, again for a third time via the Alaska Highway, to make it my home.  Before moving to Haines over two years ago, I lived on the Kenai Peninsula for eight years, where I still own property.  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, NationaI Certified Counselor and Chemical Dependency Counselor.  I can usually be found every Sunday at the Haines Christian Center (Assembly of God) where I often teach adult Sunday School and sing in the Praise and Worship team.  I have dedicated my life to the service of others, striving to provide hope and healing in the Last Frontier.  I am stepping forth in faith to offer my service to the people of The United States of America as their President in 2016.

In the voters guide for the American Independent Party primary in California, Myers' entry included--

My Top 3 Priorities

    Review and repeal of all unlawful Executive Orders.
    Decentralize most government services and control of federal lands to the states.
    Uphold immigration laws, protect our borders.

I Support the Seven Principles Of The Constitution Party:

    Life: For all human beings, from conception to natural death;
    Liberty: Freedom of conscience and actions for the self-governed  individual;
    Family: One husband and one wife with their children as divinely instituted;
    Property: Each individual's right to own and steward personal property without government burden;
    Constitution And Bill Of Rights: interpreted according to the actual intent of the founding fathers;
    State's Rights: Everything not specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government, nor prohibited by the Constitution to the states, is reserved to the states or to the people.
    American Sovereignty: American government committed to the protection of the borders, trade, and common defense of Americans, and not entangled in foreign alliances.

Myers formally ended his Presidential campaign on Aug. 6, 2016.

Copeland/Myers placed 7th out of 8 on the Idaho ballot, with 0.34% of the vote in that state, behind the Castle/Bradley ticket. The Constitution Party of Idaho chose to disaffiliate with the national party in 2018, other states would either follow suit or seriously considered it. Myers would go on to form the Life and Liberty Party as the Constitution Party experienced a serious meltdown in 2019.

Election history:
1981 - Great Falls School District Board (Nonpartisan) - defeated
1982 - Montana State Senate (Republican) - primary - defeated
1984 - Great Falls City Government Study Commission (Nonpartisan) - defeated
1994 - Montana House of Representatives (Republican) - primary - defeated
1994 - County Government Review Commissioner (Nonpartisan) - defeated
1996 - Montana House of Representatives (Libertarian) - withdrew
1998 - Montana Public Service Commission (Republican) - primary - defeated
2000 - Montana Secretary of State (Reform Party of the United States of America) - defeated
2014 - Governor of Alaska (Constitution Party) - defeated
2016 - American Independent Party nomination for US President - defeated
2016 - Constitution Party nomination for US President - defeated
2016 - Alaska State House of Representatives (Constitution Party) - defeated
2020 - American Independent Party nomination for US President - defeated
2020 - Constitution Party nomination for US President - defeated
2020 - US President (Life and Liberty Party) - defeated
2024 - US President - pending

Other occupations: realtor, counselor, Board of Directors of the Great Falls Native American Association and Health Clinic, Flathead County Republican Central Committee, Central Emergency Emergency Service Area Board of Directors (Soldotna, Alaska), Board Member Haines Borough Fire Service Area #1, Founder & Chairman Alaska Constitution Party, Vice Chairman Alaskan Independence Party, Chairman Montana Reform Party, Chairman Montana Libertarian Party

Notes:
Copeland/Myers placed 23rd nationally in tickets with ballot access. With Copeland from Texas and Myers living in Alaska, they definitely had the landmass advantage over other parties, whatever that means.

I had several relatives in Anchorage during that quake in 1964. When it hit, normal kids were watching Fireball XL-5, but the goody-goodies were viewing Davey and Goliath, according to my sources. A few months after Alaska, we in Washington experienced a 6.5 quake which I remember well.

Scott Nelson Bradley

 

Scott Nelson Bradley, September 13, 1951 (American Fork, Utah) -

VP candidate for Constitution Party (aka American Constitution Party aka Independent aka US Taxpayers Party aka Independent American Party) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Darrell Lane Castle (b. 1948)
Popular vote: 203,107 (0.15%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

In a convention process that apparently created division and rancor, the Constitution Party nominated their 2008 VP candidate for President in 2016. Darrell Castle's running-mate was Scott N. Bradley of Utah.

Among the many factors that tore the Party asunder was Castle's own on-off-on again availability. He was one of the contenders early in the game, but withdrew for health reasons. After his healing had taken place, he was willing to be back in the arena.

Idaho walked out and nominated their own Constitution Party ticket of Arlon Scott Copeland and John Richard "J.R." Myers, but Castle and Bradley managed to also be listed in the Spud State under the banner of "Independent."

Castle told one reporter: "This isn't the first time I've done this, but in all my time with the party, there has never been a political opportunity like this moment. I don't say this to be egotistical; I say this to be honest — this is the best two candidates for the Constitution Party that we've ever had. Scott and I understand the principles and can communicate them effectively. These two people that represent the Democratic and the Republican parties don't even have principles ... The problem with America is the same problem facing the rest of the world, and that can be summed up in two words: human nature. The Founders understood human nature. They understood that people are wicked by nature, and that wickedness has to be restrained. The states came together to form a contract, a compact, a written Constitution, to give the government 17 enumerated powers. It is the abuse of that power that has caused the problems we face today. Power itself has got to be limited, or it will burst its chains and terrible things will happen, and it's happening now everywhere we look."

At first blush the CP stand on the issues did not seem to be that far removed from the Republicans. If anything, the Trump Party appeared to have co-opted, at least in their rhetoric, much of the long-standing CP platform of theocracy, isolationism, and deregulation. One wonders why the CP did not endorse the Republican nominee. 2012 Constitution Party Presidential candidate Virgil Goode actually did just that.

But Bradley, himself a former Republican, told a reporter in May 2016, "It's an interesting phenomenon. People say to me a vote for a third party is a wasted vote, but you can look back at the track records of the two major political parties and see they're taking us down the same paths. It's really amazing to me that people say to me you have to vote for the lesser of two evils. I consider them to be the evil of two lessers."

The Castle/Bradley ticket finished in 6th place nationally with the highest number of popular votes to date in their Presidential election history. Some pundits felt that both the Libertarian and Constitution parties were beneficiaries of "Never-Trump" conservatives in 2016. They were on the ballot in 24 states and registered as write-ins in 17 more. They also cracked 1% a few times, with their strongest results in Alaska 1.21%, South Dakota 1.10%, Hawaii 1.03%, Wyoming 0.79%, Utah 0.71%, Idaho 0.64%, North Dakota-Washington-West Virginia 0.53% each.

Election history:
2006 - US Senate (Utah) (Constitution Party) - defeated
2008 - Constitution Party nomination for Vice-President - defeated
2010 - US Senate (Utah) (Constitution Party) - defeated

Other occupations: Utah Air National Guard, LDS missionary, executive at AT&T, administrator at Utah State University, Founder and Chairman of the Constitution Commemoration Foundation, author, lecturer

Notes:
Winner of the 2006 election was Orrin Hatch.

Darrell Lane Castle

 

With Ron Paul

Darrell Lane Castle, October 11, 1948 (Kingsport, Tenn.) -

VP candidate for Constitution Party (aka Independent aka Alaskan Independence aka Reform Party of Kansas aka US Taxpayers Party aka Nebraska Party aka Independent American Party) (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Charles Obadiah Baldwin (b. 1952)
Popular vote: 195,186 (0.15%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Chuck Baldwin, the 2004 Constitution Party VP nominee, had told journalists that is was up to God whether or not he would run for President in 2008. In 2006 Baldwin told the Conservative President 2008 website, "In order for me to even consider running in 2008 would require several 'miraculous' signs of reassurance that, frankly, I cannot see happening. However, I am always open to God's will." As late as Mar. 25, 2008, Baldwin told The Miller Report, "I am very honored that anyone would suggest that I should be considered as the CP presidential candidate. There are many great people in our party that, in my opinion, are much more qualified than I am. I have always tried to be open to God's will. At this time, however, I have no inclination that this is God's will for me." In late 2007 Baldwin endorsed Ron Paul for the Republican Presidential nomination.

But God must have given him the sign in short order since Baldwin jumped into the race for the CP nomination on Apr. 10, 2008 right before the convention. Other contenders included "Mad Max" Riekse but it was the threat of Alan Keyes grabbing the prize that may have inspired Baldwin to run. Keyes, who had only recently left the Republican Party after continually failing to achieve elected office, was considered acceptably conservative on social and domestic issues but a total pro-war Neocon in terms of foreign policy. Baldwin handily won the nomination and selected Tennessee attorney Darrell Castle as his running-mate.

A major loss for the Constitution Party was in California. In that state the American Independent Party had been an affiliate of the CP since the early 1990s, but in 2008 the AIP split over Baldwin and Keyes. The California Secretary of State and subsequently the court backed Keyes, and Baldwin was forced to run as a write-in in the Golden State.

The CP had a few other stray ends in 2008. The Constitution Party of Montana, like several other state chapters across the nation at the time, had disaffiliated with the national party in 2006. It seems many state groups did not agree with factions of the national Party that abortion was acceptable in cases of rape, incest, or saving the life of the mother. Also in that same year they elected their first member to the Montana State House of Representatives. Meanwhile, across the country in Maryland, another state where the local Constitution Party took a walk, 2004 Constitution Party Presidential nominee Michael Peroutka jumped ship and considered himself part of the American Heritage Party.

Rather than support Chuck Baldwin, the official Constitution Party nominee in 2008, the Montana group on Sept. 5 filed the names of Ron Paul and Michael Peroutka as their ticket of choice. State Party Chair Jonathan Martin told the press, "Ron Paul did not seek it, but he did not oppose it. He allowed it." Ballot Access News reported, "Ron Paul was aware that the party planned to do this, and has said that as long as he can remain passive and silent about the development, and as long as he need not sign any declaration of candidacy, that he does not object."

It seems Rep. Paul had a change of heart and wrote in a letter dated Sept. 10 to the Montana Secretary of State, "It has come to my attention that I was nominated by the Constitution Party of Montana as its presidential nominee. While I certainly appreciate the Constitution Party of Montana’s nomination, and all the hard work of its members, I am writing to respectfully request that you remove my name from the ballot in Montana as I did not seek nor consent to this nomination." Paul's request was denied on Sept. 15 on the grounds he acted too late. Paul/Peoutka won 2.17% of the vote in Montana. Paul himself endorsed Baldwin.

Peroutka had also won write-in votes for President in Georgia, and Castle the same in Indiana.

In Kentucky, Baldwin's running mate was Robert E. Thornsberry.

On the campaign website, every policy essay began with a quote from Baldwin. Here are a few to act as a summation--

The Education of Young Americans
"If I were President, I would disband the Department of Education."

The Second Amendment Protects Our Liberty
"To help keep your family safe and your country free, go buy a gun."

A Free And Sovereign Republic, Not A World Empire!
"We will stop this international meddling...this international empire building. When Chuck Baldwin is sworn in as President of these United States the 'New World Order' comes crashing down!"

Freedom Of Choice In Health Care
"I strongly support the freedom of choice of practitioner and treatment for all citizens for their health care"

There Is Still Hope For America
"I am personally convinced that, as we get out our message is received by the people of America we will find a ready audience for our message of freedom and hope!"

A Strong National Defense For America
"We will have a national defense that is second to none, with armed forces that serve only under our flag, whose mission is to defend these United States of America!"

Personal Freedom In America
"Free people do not have to check in with government officials and show them their papers--that doesn't work in these United States of America!"

Preserving An Independent American Nation
"The globalists, with their ideas of a common currency here in the United State with a North American Union and a NAFTA Superhighway are after our sovereignty, our freedom and our national independence."

The Sanctity of Life
"I will use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to demand that Congress enact Dr. Ron Paul's Sanctity of Life Act which would set forth that every unborn child is a 'person' under the Constitution, entitled to equal protection of the law and therefore, no unborn child could be killed without due process of law."

The United Nations Will Have To Find A New Address!
"When I am President of these United States all funding for the United Nations stops!"

Baldwin's dislike for the Republican Party seemed to be even more passionate than his views on the Democratic Party. Some Baldwin quotes from different sources in 2008 campaign--

Republicans tout themselves as being “pro-life.” Yet, the GOP controlled both houses of Congress and the White House for six years and did absolutely nothing to overturn Roe or end abortion-on-demand. Under my administration, we could end legal abortion in a matter of days, not decades. And if Congress refused to pass Ron Paul’s bill, I would use the constitutional power of the Presidency to deny funds to protect abortion clinics. Either way, legalized abortion ends when I take office.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “If I Were President” , May 2, 2008

There is absolutely no reason for us to be dependent upon OPEC. There is enough gas and oil under the soil of Alaska (not to mention the Dakotas and the Gulf of Mexico) to meet the energy needs of the United States for the next 150-200 years. There is also no reason that gas should cost more than $1.50 a gallon (which is about what it was before Bush became President) ... We must begin drilling for the domestic oil that we know exists; we must build more refineries and nuclear power plants.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “If I Were President” , May 2, 2008

As President, I would end foreign aid. I would also end the current infatuation with nation-building, empire-building, and interventionism. America is not the world’s policeman. Neither are our military personnel the personal militia of the United Nations ... Remember that President Bush told the U.N. in 2003 that the reason we invaded Iraq was for the purpose of securing the “peace and credibility of the United Nations.” (I lie not; that is what he said.)
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “If I Were President” , May 2, 2008

The Democrats basically want the illegals to continue to come across the border at will for the sake of getting votes. The Republicans, on the other hand, want the borders to remain open for the purpose of being able to obtain cheap labor. Regardless of the reason, neither major party has any desire to secure our borders.
Source: Charles Geraci in The Herald Journal, Cache Valley, Utah , Jul 5, 2008

Not only does the Bush administration not secure our borders and ports, it wants to provide a “path to citizenship” for illegal aliens. It allows tax dollars to be used to pay for illegal aliens’ education, social services, and medical care. It offers birthright citizenship for illegal aliens. And it prosecutes and imprisons Border Patrol agents for shooting (but not seriously enough to prevent his escape back into Mexico) a known illegal alien and drug trafficker.

No wonder the flood of illegal aliens has skyrocketed since George W. Bush became President. And is there anyone who does not understand that a John McCain Presidency will be more of the McSame? A McCain White House promises continued open borders and ports. Plus, McCain will also push forward with his plans to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. When it comes to illegal immigration, amnesty, etc., there will be no relief from an Obama White House. Both Barack Obama and John McCain are pro-open borders, pro-amnesty twins.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “Open Borders Prove” , May 23, 2008

Basically, the only difference between the Republicans and the Democrats today is that the Democrats want to tax and spend, and the Republicans want to borrow and spend. But both of them want to spend. They spend like drunken sailors, except that’s an insult to sailors because at least sailors are spending their own money.
Source: Charles Geraci in The Herald Journal, Cache Valley, Utah , Jul 5, 2008

Secret ‘suspicious activity reports’ filed by financial institutions and reviewed by teams of agents spread around the country. The American people are largely unaware that they are now living in a universal surveillance society. Virtually every major financial transaction--as well as much of their travel--is reported and monitored by the federal government. This total surveillance system, that began in earnest under Bill Clinton’s administration, has mushroomed into a ubiquitous and finely tuned science under George W. Bush. Dare I say that Dubya’s neurotic fixation with spying on ordinary citizens rivals Comrade Stalin’s paranoiac obsession with a total surveillance society?

You and I are constantly being watched, listened to, monitored, taped, and stalked by our own government. So, do any of us really believe that we still live in a free country? A Chuck Baldwin Administration will bring an immediate end to the surveillance state.
Source: 2008 Presidential website, baldwin2008.com, “Issues” , May 27, 2008

I opposed the preemptive invasion of Iraq, and I continue to oppose the occupation of that country. I believe the Bush administration was untruthful about the motivations for going to war with Iraq and continues to deceive the American people to this very day.
Source: Chuck Baldwin Live column: “Strictly Personal” , May 9, 2008

Baldwin/Castle placed third in Utah with 1.26%. They were in 4th in Idaho (0.72%), Alaska (0.51%), South Dakota (0.50%), Oregon (0.42%), Nebraska (0.37%), West Virginia (0.35%), and Mississippi (0.20%). They were in 5th place nationally, on the ballot in 37 states where they were one of only six tickets with the theoretical potential of gaining enough Electoral votes to win. Baldwin was also a write-in in the remaining states except for Oklahoma, North Carolina + the District of Columbia. In spite of losing the California ballot placement, 2008 was their highest national popular vote up to that time, and their second highest percentage.

Darrell Castle would be the Constitution Party Presidential nominee in 2016.

Election history:
2012 - Constitution Party nomination for US President - defeated
2016 - US President (Constitution Party) - defeated

Other occupations: US Marine Corps (Vietnam War), attorney, board member of the Conservative Caucus, US Taxpayers Party Elector 1996

Notes:
Personal trivia- Given Mr. Castle's birthplace and surname, it is highly possible we are distant cousins.
Was trained in the Marine Corps by Oliver North.

James N. Clymer

James N. Clymer, May 4, 1948 -

VP candidate for Independent (aka Constitution Party) (2004)
VP candidate for Constitution Party (aka Independent aka American Constitution Party aka US Taxpayers Party aka Independent American Party) (2012)

Running mate with nominee (2004): Michael Anthony Peroutka (b. 1952)
Running mate with nominee (2012): Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. (b. 1946)
Popular vote (2004): 2,899 (0.00%)
Popular vote (2012): 122,417 (0.09%)
Electoral vote (2004, 2012): 0/538

The campaign (2004):

After three consecutive runs, Howard Phillips declined to campaign for President in the 2004 election as the standard bearer for the Constitution Party. The torch needed to be passed.

Controversial Judge Roy Moore of Alabama toyed with the idea of running for President as the Constitution Party nominee, and it would have been his for the taking. But he decided to remain with the Republican Party.

Maryland attorney Michael Peroutka was drafted for the job, and he modestly said he would accept but would be willing to step down in the event another candidate with star power wanted the nomination. In May 2004 Peroutka was chosen, by default apparently since no Big Names stepped forward, and in turn he selected Chuck Baldwin, an independent Baptist minister, protégé of Rev. Jerry Falwell, and radio host in Florida. "The day that I received the phone call from Michael Peroutka asking me to be his running mate was one of the most shocking days of my life," Baldwin said, "Never in my wildest imagination did I anticipate such a call. I did not seek this position. I never saw it coming."

With no real competition in the form of a marquee candidate like Ron Paul or Pat Buchanan, the Peroutka/Baldwin ticket had the Right wing purists pretty much all to themselves, which might explain why they were one of the very few third parties to see an improvement in their percentages when compared to the 2000 election. They almost had some competition from a party splintered off the Reform Party in 2002 by Buchananites called the America First Party, but it imploded after a short time due to a fiasco involving the invitation and then disinvitation of Bo Gritz to speak at their convention. In 2004 the barely existent AFP endorsed Peroutka. Apparently the AFP is still around today.

The ticket was also endorsed by the white nationalist League of the South (designated as a hate group by the SPLC), the Georgia chapter of the Southern Party, and radio tabloid conspiracy host Alex Jones. They almost snagged Pat Buchanan's nod, but he eventually endorsed Bush and returned to the Republicans after leaving the Reform Party.

In the course of meeting filing deadlines before their actual convention, Party Chairman Jim Clymer was inserted as a stand-in name for Vice-President. He made it clear to the media he had no intention of becoming the permanent VP, "Michael Peroutka is running, I'm not."

It seems they were unable to replace Clymer with Baldwin only in Kansas, where the Peroutka/Clymer ticket finished 5th place out of five with 0.24% of the vote in that state. Clymer was also running as the 2004 Constitution Party candidate for the US Senate in Pennsylvania in a race won by Arlen Specter.

The campaign (2012):

Virgil Goode had covered several political affiliations by the time he became the 2012 Constitutional Party Presidential nominee. As a member of the Virginia Senate 1973-1997 and US Congress from Virginia 1997-2009 he started out as a Democrat, declared himself an independent 2000-2002, and joined the Republicans 2002-2010. He was defeated for re-election in 2008.

In most third parties someone with Goode's extensive public service in elected office would be a plus, but in the Constitution Party it could prove to be fatal particularly since Goode's voting record included supporting some neoconservative issues such as the Patriot Act and Bush administration military initiatives. However at the convention Goode was nominated over 2008 VP nominee Darrell Lane Castle. It seemed to be an indicator the Party was starting to mature as they were willing to embrace a true professional politician and all the real-life compromises that entails.

In a game of political musical chairs, Constitution Party 2004 VP and 2008 Presidential nominee Chuck Baldwin had rejoined the Republican Party about the same time Goode was leaving it.

Goode selected Jim Clymer, who was the outgoing national Party chair, as his running-mate.

Among other things Goode advocated the use of troops and walls to halt Mexican illegal immigrants from crossing the border, eliminating Obamacare, pulling the US military out of Afghanistan, ending free trade agreements, and replacing income and estate tax with sales tax.

But the press didn't really cover Goode's platform as much as they speculated how much his campaign was going to hurt Republican Mitt Romney. And for sure it seemed Goode spent more energy attacking Romney than Obama. News coverage of the Constitution Party's struggle for ballot access in the face of active Republican opposition (e.g. Pennsylvania) also overshadowed their message.

Nationally the Goode/Clymer ticket finished in 5th place and they did not end up playing the role of spoiler in any state that I can ascertain. On the ballot in 26 states and write-ins in 14 more, their strongest percentages were in South Dakota 0.65%, Wyoming 0.58%, North Dakota 0.37%, Idaho and Michigan and Virginia 0.34% each, Nevada 0.32%, Missouri 0.29%, Utah and Washington 0.28% each, Colorado and Tennessee 0.24% each.

Election history:
1992 - Pennsylvania Auditor General (Libertarian Party) - defeated
1994 - Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania (Constitution Party) - defeated
1998 - Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania (Constitution Party) - defeated
2000 - Pennsylvania Attorney General (Constitution Party) - defeated
2003 - Lancaster County Board of Commissioners (Penn.) (Constitution Party) - defeated
2004 - US Senate (Penn.) (Constitution Party) - defeated
<2013/14 - 2020> - Manor New East Precinct, Manor Township, Penn. Judge of Elections (Constitution Party)

Other occupations: attorney, Chair of the Constitution Party

Notes:
Clymer is one of the few Constitution Party members  to win an elected office.
Goode endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 election