Joseph L. Martin

 

Joseph L. Martin, December 6, 1968 -

VP candidate for Reform Party of Kansas (2012)

Running mate with nominee: Charles Obadiah Baldwin (b. 1952)
Popular vote: 5,017 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

The Kansas branch of the Reform Party of the United States of America appeared to have disaffiliated from the national party at some point between the 2004-2008 elections. In 2008 they crossed parties and endorsed Constitution Party nominees Chuck Baldwin/Darrell Castle. In June 2012 they once again nominated Baldwin but this time with Joseph Martin as his VP.

It would seem Baldwin had nothing to do with the Kansas Reform Party nomination. Since the 2008 election he relocated from Florida to Montana, where he became an even more outspoken anti-Zionist and embraced the survivalist American Redoubt concept--

God has led us to the conviction that Montana (along with other Mountain states) is going to be the tip of the spear in the freedom fight; and we believe God wants us to be part of that fight. We plan to start a new ministry where I can preach and my family can sing and minister (you should hear them sing!). Once we get established and can raise the funds, I definitely plan to livestream my messages on the Internet as we have been doing at Crossroad for the past year and a half. And if God opens the door, I will not rule out a run for State office. Yes, the freedom message is both spiritual and political; and I am afraid of neither!

For years, people have been asking me, “Chuck, what can we do?” Well, this is what God has led my family and me to do. We are convinced that the only way freedom has a chance to survive in these States united is to recapture the spirit of liberty–one State at a time. (To continue to focus on Washington, D.C., is a waste of time and energy!) And God has led us to the conclusion that Montana (and nearby states) is the place where freedom-minded patriots have a fighting chance to prevail. Instead of telling you what to do, my family and I are showing you what we believe we should do.

Baldwin had rejoined the Republican Party in order run for the position of Lt. Governor in Montana, but aborted that campaign prior to the 2012 primary.

His running-mate Joseph Martin was in Statesville, NC during the 2012 election but he had been a longtime activist with the Kansas Reform Party since 2000 when he joined as part of the Pat Buchanan wave. A Christian conservative, he was not happy when the national party backed Ralph Nader in 2004. Martin had run for Lt. Governor and Secretary of State under the Reform Party banner in Kansas. He was allied with Ron Paul supporters and said he was part of the effort to "put Chuck Baldwin on our Reform Party of KS ballot line in 2008." It appears he moved to North Carolina around 2010.

When Martin ran for Kansas Secretary of State in 2006 he provided an answer to those who used the abortion issue as a political litmus test--

Yes, I am Pro-life. All of our candidates are pro-life, some without exceptions, some with reservations like "life of the mother" and rape.

I am completely pro-life. Abortion should not be a legal medical procedure. If invasive surgery is required to save the mother, then that procedure should be to save her life and not to kill the child.

I am also completely against the use of embryonic stem-cell research. It is unethical, inhumane, and a contemptuous assault on human dignity. In addition, the research so far has been largely a complete failure: God and His Nature are trying to show mankind that this is unacceptable and useless.

I support reasonable research on adult stem-cells, which has been showing promise.

I am also against the forced harvesting and sale of organs from political dissidents against their will. This is a booming business in China, while our country's leaders do nothing about it, and our media are almost completely mute on this crime against humanity being done by our "Most Favored" trading partner.

Kansas has an entity called the Kansas Objections Board which is comprised of the Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General. In Sept. 2012 they heard two pleas. First was from the Reform Party of the United States of America. The national party had nominated Andre Barnett for President and wanted the ballot line occupied by Baldwin. Secondly, it was reported the Reform Party of Kansas wanted to rescind the Baldwin nomination and replace his name with that of Constitution Party nominee Virgil Goode and was planning to make their appeal to the Objections Board. The Board rejected the the former request, and appears to have said no to the latter as well if they did make the request.

Meanwhile, Martin was living in North Carolina and had become involved with the newly created Christian Party, which provided this self-description on their webpage--

About the Christian Party

For government truly to provide freedom to the people in our country, both the concepts in the Bible and the Constitution are necessary. Therefore, it is our goal in the Christian Party of North Carolina to empower Christians politically to glorify the Lord, by influencing government through the political process so that it conforms to both Biblical principles and the Constitution.

The Christian Party of North Carolina came into existence in response to the need for there to be a political voice for Christians in our state. On 9/3/10 the Christian Party of North Carolina was officially registered with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

We are affiliated with the Constitution Party of America, a new national political party which is also Christian and 100% Pro-life. We welcome you as a fellow Christian to join us in restoring true Biblical leadership in government. To that end we ask that you please check out our “Get Involved” page.

For his part, Baldwin mostly stayed clear of the Kansas situation. However he did weigh in on his webpage that he believed Romney was going to win--

Posted on Nov 1, 2012
A Word About The Elections

With the 2012 Presidential election just a few days away, it is almost superfluous for me to engage in any kind of in depth discussion, as most people cannot, for the life of them, get past the political theater that is currently crescendoing to a climax. Therefore, I will simply provide readers with a few passing thoughts regarding the elections next week.

I think Mitt Romney will somewhat comfortably win the Presidential election. This will cause “conservatives,” Christians, and most Republicans to go into a state of deep hibernation, which will allow Romney to wreak havoc upon the Constitution and liberties of the people. In 2012, Barack Obama is the “Boogeyman” that must defeated at all costs. But the fact is, with the exception of Romney’s more business-friendly approach to economics, the differences between Obama and Romney are negligible.

The Baldwin/Martin team took 0.43% of the Kansas vote.

Election history:
2006 - Kansas Secretary of State (Reform Party of the United States) - defeated
2008 - US Senate (Kan.) (Reform Party of the United States) - defeated

Other occupations: computer programmer.

Notes:
Martin has a BS in Mathematics from Georgia Institute of Technology, 1992.
Baldwin joined the Independent American Party after the 2012 election.

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.