.gif)
America First Party (2002)
Encyclopedia
The America First Party is a paleoconservative
third party
in the United States
.
The party was formed in 2002 when a group of Pat Buchanan
supporters left the Reform Party
. The party is pro-life
, opposes all gun control, seeks to end affirmative action
, racial quotas, and illegal and unlimited immigration. Buchanan himself has never publicly professed any affiliation with the party, though his books are for sale on the party's website "[A]utographed... specially for the Party". The AFP has attracted individuals such as former Boston mayor and ambassador to Vatican Raymond Flynn
and former John Birch Society
president John McManus. The party's web page shows recent press releases and articles on current issues which showcase the organization's positions. The AFP also publishes a 12-page newspaper which illustrates its policy positions and focuses on current problems in government.
(NAFTA) and World Trade Organization
(WTO). The America First party opposed the 2003 invasion
and subsequent occupation of Iraq, and refers to the Iraq war as unconstitutional
. On constitutional grounds, the party calls for an end to all foreign aid, without exception.
The party supports transferring more resources to United States National Guard
personnel to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.
and Education
. The party also seeks to eliminate all federal funding for schools, believing that federal government money has led to more federal control over schools–control, the party believes, that should rest in the hands of local governments.
in public places, especially in public schools, as well as allowing displays of religious icons (such as tablets of the Ten Commandments
) by the government on public property.
would then be replaced by half of Federal revenue coming from excise
taxes and tariffs, and the other half coming from usage fees and a National Retail Sales Tax
. (They oppose having both an income tax and a sales tax simultaneously.)
2002
2006
The party's 2003 convention was canceled due to infighting. Alleged white supremacist Bo Gritz
was scheduled to speak, much to the dismay of many party members. Ultimately, the party released a press release condemning Bo Gritz saying: "anyone who supports theories that we hoped had died with Adolph Hitler is not welcome in the America First Party."On October 12, 2004, the America First Party endorsed Constitution Party
candidate Michael A. Peroutka for President of the United States
.
The only AFP candidate that was running in the 2006 general election
was Martin Scott McClellan for Brevard County School Board - District 1 in Florida. He lost with 24% of the vote, running second in a three-way race.
For the 2008 Presidential election, the AFP encouraged voters to make up their mind between either Libertarian Party
candidate Bob Barr
or Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin
.
Paleoconservatism
Paleoconservatism is a term for a conservative political philosophy found primarily in the United States stressing tradition, limited government, civil society, anti-colonialism, anti-corporatism and anti-federalism, along with religious, regional, national and Western identity. Chilton...
third party
Third party (United States)
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The party was formed in 2002 when a group of Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
supporters left the Reform Party
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
. The party is pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, opposes all gun control, seeks to end affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
, racial quotas, and illegal and unlimited immigration. Buchanan himself has never publicly professed any affiliation with the party, though his books are for sale on the party's website "[A]utographed... specially for the Party". The AFP has attracted individuals such as former Boston mayor and ambassador to Vatican Raymond Flynn
Raymond Flynn
Raymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:...
and former John Birch Society
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society is an American political advocacy group that supports anti-communism, limited government, a Constitutional Republic and personal freedom. It has been described as radical right-wing....
president John McManus. The party's web page shows recent press releases and articles on current issues which showcase the organization's positions. The AFP also publishes a 12-page newspaper which illustrates its policy positions and focuses on current problems in government.
Party composition
The party believes that the federal government's role should be very limited in domestic matters, limited in foreign affairs in the Washingtonian sense, and they hold that these positions are required by the constitution. They support enforcement of laws against illegal immigration, and on constitutional and economic grounds, they seek to end U.S. involvement with the North American Free Trade AgreementNorth American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA) and World Trade Organization
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
(WTO). The America First party opposed the 2003 invasion
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
and subsequent occupation of Iraq, and refers to the Iraq war as unconstitutional
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
. On constitutional grounds, the party calls for an end to all foreign aid, without exception.
The party supports transferring more resources to United States National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
personnel to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.
Smaller federal government
The party seeks to eliminate several Cabinet departments within the Executive branch of the U.S. federal government, such as the departments of Housing and Urban DevelopmentUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
and Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
. The party also seeks to eliminate all federal funding for schools, believing that federal government money has led to more federal control over schools–control, the party believes, that should rest in the hands of local governments.
Church/State issues
The party opposes the idea that the Constitution bars expressions of religious faith in the public square. It supports allowing mandated organized prayerPrayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
in public places, especially in public schools, as well as allowing displays of religious icons (such as tablets of the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
) by the government on public property.
Tax reform
The party believes that the 16th Amendment was never properly ratified and must be repealed. The income taxIncome tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
would then be replaced by half of Federal revenue coming from excise
Excise
Excise tax in the United States is a indirect tax on listed items. Excise taxes can be and are made by federal, state and local governments and are far from uniform throughout the United States...
taxes and tariffs, and the other half coming from usage fees and a National Retail Sales Tax
FairTax
The FairTax is a tax reform proposal for the federal government of the United States that would replace all federal taxes on personal and corporate income with a single broad national consumption tax on retail sales. The Fair Tax Act would apply a tax once at the point of purchase on all new goods...
. (They oppose having both an income tax and a sales tax simultaneously.)
Ballot access
List of states for which The America First Party achieved ballot access by year of first appearance on ballot:2002
- New Jersey
2006
- Florida
- Mississippi
Recent candidates and conventions
The America First Party ran 11 candidates for public office in the U.S. general elections of 2002.The party's 2003 convention was canceled due to infighting. Alleged white supremacist Bo Gritz
Bo Gritz
James Gordon "Bo" Gritz is a former United States Army Special Forces officer who served in the Vietnam War. His post-war activities notably attempted POW rescues in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue have proven controversial. Gritz lives near Sandy Valley, Nevada with his wife...
was scheduled to speak, much to the dismay of many party members. Ultimately, the party released a press release condemning Bo Gritz saying: "anyone who supports theories that we hoped had died with Adolph Hitler is not welcome in the America First Party."On October 12, 2004, the America First Party endorsed Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
candidate Michael A. Peroutka for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
The only AFP candidate that was running in the 2006 general election
United States general elections, 2006
The 2006 United States midterm elections were held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. All United States House of Representatives seats and one third of the United States Senate seats were contested in this election, as well as 36 state governorships, many state legislatures, four territorial...
was Martin Scott McClellan for Brevard County School Board - District 1 in Florida. He lost with 24% of the vote, running second in a three-way race.
For the 2008 Presidential election, the AFP encouraged voters to make up their mind between either Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
candidate Bob Barr
Bob Barr
Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr. is a former federal prosecutorand a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 7th congressional district as a Republican from 1995 to 2003. Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the impeachment of...
or Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin
Chuck Baldwin
Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin is an American politician and founder-pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. He was the presidential nominee of the Constitution Party for the 2008 U.S. presidential election and had previously been its nominee for U.S. vice president in 2004...
.
See also
- Conservatism in the United States
- Independent American PartyIndependent American PartyThe Independent American Party officially started in 1998. It began as the Utah Independent American Party. The founders claim to have been inspired by a speech given by Ezra Taft Benson, former United States Secretary of Agriculture, entitled “The Proper Role of Government”. The initial party...
- Constitution PartyConstitution Party (United States)The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
- Third parties in the U.S.Third party (United States)The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a...
- List of political parties in the United States