Richard Vincent Campagna, May 5, 1952 (New York, NY) -
VP candidate for Libertarian Party (aka Independent) (2004)
Running mate with nominee: Michael John Badnarik (b. 1954)
Popular vote: 397,265 (0.32%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Michael Badnarik, a software engineer from Texas, began his quest for the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination shortly after the 2002 midterm elections. He had previously made a couple bids for the Texas House of Representatives in 2000 and 2002 under the Libertarian banner and was now heading for a more ambitious goal.
By the time of the Party convention in late May 2004 he was considered the dark horse in a three-way race between himself and the better known Gary Nolan and Aaron Russo. Conventional wisdom (pun intended) was that the debate between the prospective nominees that took place on C-Span during the event turned the tide in favor of Badnarik. After the second ballot Nolan threw his support to Badnarik. In spite of being outspent at least 3 to 1 by Russo, the Party had an unexpected nominee when Badnarik won on the third ballot. "If I can win the nomination, there's no reason I can't win this election," Badnarik proclaimed.
Badnarik was initially drawn to the Libertarians on the issue of gun rights, but also had strong feelings about other issues in line with the Party. He said he had not filed income tax for several years and would not "until such time as the IRS provides them with an explanation of its authority to collect the tax." Apparently his campaign made sure this potential problem was handled before the election. He also refused to obtain a drivers license since Texas required the applicant to provide fingerprints and Social Security numbers. He also refused to use Zip Codes because they delineated "federal territories" he deemed as illegal.
For the VP position the convention nominated Richard Campagna of Iowa, a self-described "multi-disciplinary professional" with a law degree and an interest in existential philosophy. During his campaign for the nomination, Campagna assembled this intriguing list:
Ten Things
(I've learned so far while pursuing the Libertarian Party's Nomination for the Vice Presidency of the U.S.) - by Richard Campagna
1. I DON'T have 1,000 friends (yet) scattered nationwide who will contribute $100 or more towards my VP campaign but I DO have about 500-600 such friends and supporters.
2. I will dedicate much of my time to profitable ventures in order to expand my travel budget. Print media and talk radio, in Iowa and elsewhere, is increasingly supportive of our efforts.
3. There are many eclectic, free thinking business executives out there who love personal and political liberty.
4. Many people in the mainstream (my principal constituency) still think Libertarians are racially and ethnically insensitive individuals with a penchant for conspiracy theory. They also think that Lyndon LaRouche was and is our standard bearer. My campaign aims to disabuse them of such preposterous thought patterns and if I accomplish this, I will consider it successful.
5. This is a relatively painless process because I believe in and love what I am doing.
6. I would be delighted to run with any Libertarian who gets the party's nod for President. I am open to a draft for any position in which I can serve the party.
7. I am still trying to analyze the effect of Schwarzenegger's entry into politics on our party's future. I welcome input from party members with respect to the recall effort and Arnold's political philosophy.
8. There is a great deal of enthusiastic support for my campaign in the midwest, southwest, southeast and California. I am making overtures to the Latino and Portuguese communities and am making symbolic trips to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
9. My personal philosophy of optimistic, spiritual existentialism and my political philosophy of "traditional Libertarianism" do in fact go hand in hand. In fact, they mesh well with the principles and beliefs of the Judeo-Christian tradition, those of all other religions as well as with those of individuals who profess no religion whatsoever.
10. By the time of our national convention, I will know, as well as the party's delegates, whether I am the right person for this nomination. I respect our party's process enormously in this regard. The campaign continues, the slightly revised strategy for fund raising is in place and our Iowa Libertarian Party and the National Party are stronger and more national/international in scope and appeal than before, as a consequence of all our joint efforts in this endeavor. I thank you for all you have done so far and all you will continue to do.
Badnarik was a very active campaigner. His campaign website provided what I would term an elevator speech version of his views on the issues:
Immigration, Borders and National Security
Immigration and borders are two separate issues. When they are mixed, the result is both deadly to peaceful immigrants and subversive of the security of the United States.
Civil Liberties
The erosion of our civil liberties since 9/11 does not represent a new phenomenon. It represents an acceleration of long-existing trends.
Rights of the Accused
Of all the infringements upon our Constitutionally protected rights, the most egregious in living memory may be the post-9/11 "detention" of individuals—American and non-American—in secrecy and without charges or access to counsel.
The Draft
If a free America were ever subjected to attack, most Americans would be more than willing to defend themselves, their homes, and their families against the foreign aggressors.
Free Trade vs. State Corporatism
The twin tenets of peace and free trade are mutually dependent. As French visionary Frederic Bastiat once said, "If goods don't cross borders, soldiers will." When countries rely upon each other in peaceful commerce, the people of those countries have every incentive to avoid violent conflict.
How to Stop Crime Before It Starts
"Crime rates go down when offenders must compensate their victims and responsible citizens are permitted to carry concealed weapons. Privatizing police gives them incentive to emphasize prevention and focus on violent, rather than victimless, crimes."
Military Policy and the War in Iraq
More and more Americans are coming to oppose the war, the war hawks and high government officials are beginning to distance themselves from the president, and the U.S. seems more willing than ever to pull out of Iraq.
How to Make Health Care Affordable
"Health care and insurance costs will plummet if excess regulation is eliminated and malpractice awards are made only on the basis of strict liability. Lower costs, along with the savings from downsizing regulatory bureaucracy, will fund tax credits for those who establish Health Savings Accounts for themselves, their families, Medicare/Medicaid recipients, and the needy."
Gun Control Means Being Able to Hit your Target
If I have a "hot button" issue, this is definitely it. Don't even THINK about taking my guns! My rights are not negotiable, and I am totally unwilling to compromise when it comes to the Second Amendment.
How to Empower Minorities Without Reverse Discrimination!
"Prejudice is fading, yet minorities still lag behind economically. A labyrinth of licensing laws and regulations constitute the hidden roots of modern racial and ethnic discrimination."
Should Gay Couples Be Allowed to Marry?
"Marriage partners, not government, should define the terms and spiritual orientation of their union in accordance with our nation's guarantee of religious freedom."
How to Keep the Economy Up and Unemployment Down!
"Excess regulation and government spending destroy jobs and increase unemployment. Every regulator we fire results in the creation of over 150 new jobs, enough to hire the ex-regulator, the unemployed, and the able-bodied poor."
Medical Marijuana and the Federal War on Drugs
In the 2000 campaign for president, George W. Bush said that the federal government should not interfere with the medical marijuana policies of the several states. Like so many other promises, he went back on his word and has closed down medical marijuana facilities permitted by state governments.
How to Slash Pharmaceutical Prices Virtually Overnight
"Excess regulation has increased new drug development time by a decade since the 1960s and multiplied development costs 5-fold. Consequently, our seriously ill die waiting for life-saving medicines and pay exorbitant prices when they finally can purchase them. Since these excess regulations kill many more people than they save, they can be safely eliminated, slashing pharmaceutical prices virtually overnight!"
One of the tempests in the teapot regarding the ticket was Campagna's Ph.D. from the American College of Metaphysical Theology, which was regarded as an unaccredited diploma mill where one could earn the title of "Dr." for less than 300 dollars. Campagna himself also had an impressive roster of degrees from Brown University (B.A.), New York University (M.A.), St. John's University (J.D.), and Columbia University (M.A.), but it was the ACMT that drew attention from critics. It was enough of a distraction that Campagna felt obliged to address the issue on July 29, 2004:
To be quite frank, I am proud of the ACMT degree and the unique methodology I employed to obtain same. It has served me and my students well in the fields of education, counseling and spiritual development. It has also served to provide a useful "political" experience. The institution in question is not a fraud; it does exactly what it says it will do. It promises no qualifications for licensure. It has theologically based underpinnings. For the record, the ACMT degree requires reading of approximately 20 full length books, preparation of a detailed annotated resume and the preparation of a substantial essay, similar to, although obviously far less rigorous than a traditional Ph.D. thesis. Considering the travels I have engaged in, the practical experience obtained and the time, energy and moneys expended to finally obtain this degree, I do not feel compelled to blush from mentioning this degree in my resume.
The manner of obtaining this degree (and all of my education and professional experience, both formal and informal) is part of my campaign, part of my identity and in a way, part of my platform stance on "freedom of choice" in education.
On the ballot in 48 states + DC, and write-ins in New Hampshire (Oklahoma was the only state where they were not an option), the Libertarians saw their popular vote slightly increase since 2000, but their percentage actually dipped. They remained in sort of a holding pattern while Nader had once again elbowed his way into the position of the first third party choice.
The Badnarik/Campagna ticket's strongest percentages: Indiana 0.73%, Idaho 0.64%, Illinois 0.62%, Arizona 0.59%, Georgia 0.56%, Alaska 0.54%, Texas and Massachusetts 0.52% each, Wyoming 0.48%, Washington 0.42%, California and Oregon 0.40% each.
Badnarik had teamed up with the Green Party Presidential candidate David Cobb on at least two occasions. First, both were arrested when trying to crash one of the Bush-Kerry Presidential debates. Second, they became partners in seeking a recount of votes for Ohio.
Election history:
2002 - Lt. Governor of Iowa (Libertarian Party) - defeated
Other occupations: psychologist, interpreter, college professor, specialty travel agency, attorney, author
Notes:
Fluent in six languages.
Moved to Iowa in 1991.
"In education, law and life, the 'existential' and 'libertarian' approaches are most consistent with the
human condition. Isn't it about time we introduced these philosophies and approaches into our daily
existence and our government?"--Richard V. Campagna
Supported Ron Paul in the 2012 Republican primaries.
