John Avlon Profiles Independent Candidates and the State of the Independent Movement at CNN

From John Avlon at CNN:

With the election just days away, most Americans disapprove of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, while 58 percent of our fellow citizens say it's time for a third party. So let's break out of the two-party mold and take a look at some of the independent candidates across the country who are surging or struggling as Election Day approaches.

VA: Modern Whigs Endorse Independent Candidate for House in VA-2

From the press release wire:

Kenny Golden (www.kennygolden.com) and the Modern Whig Party (www.modernwhig.org) announced today at a joint press conference they will be cooperating to help Kenny Golden bring solutions oriented public service, and end partisan bickering in Washington D.C., to the people of Virginia’s 2^nd Congressional District.

Kenny Golden is the third Modern Whig candidate this year and the second candidate in Virginia to carry the banner of the newly reorganized Whig party.  Revived by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the grassroots movement has quickly attracted tens of thousands of members.

Kenny Golden had this to say about joining forces with the Modern Whig Party, “I was quite impressed with the philosophy of the Whig Party. It matched well with my own philosophy and beliefs. I believe the Democrats and Republicans are out of touch with the electorate and concern themselves far too much with getting re-elected, instead of doing what is right for the country.”  He further stated, “It is time to end the partisan bickering in Congress.  The only way I know to do that is to put ideology and party loyalty in second position behind the people’s business,” Golden said.

VA: Four Third Party and Independent Candidates for Congress Profiled in Roanoke Times

From the Roanoke Times:

Polls suggest that people are unhappy not just with Democrats, who hold majorities in both houses of Congress, but also with Republicans. The four men running for Congress under independent and third-party banners in Western Virginia's three House districts share that frustration.

Jeff Clark in the 5th District and Jeremiah Heaton in the 9th are running as independents with the ability to perhaps at least influence the races between the major party candidates, while Libertarian Stuart Bain and Modern Whig Jeff Vanke both hope the absence of a Democrat in the 6th District will give them an opening against Republican incumbent Bob Goodlatte. All four are decided underdogs. But each is convinced that he can tap into voter discontent.

MA: Modern Whig Party Endorses Candidate for State Representative

From Wicked Local:

The Modern Whig Party (modernwhig.org) announced this week that they will be helping Lalig Musserian bring solutions oriented public service, not the partisan bickering that currently plagues Beacon Hill, to the people of the 24th Middlesex District. Lalig Musserian is the third candidate endorsed by the Modern Whig Party this year and the first candidate in Massachusetts. . . .

Lalig Musserian had this to say about her endorsement from the Modern Whig Party, “The Modern Whig party represents moderate voters who are from all walks of life, and who choose values based on common sense and non partisan solutions to the myriad of issues that face us in Belmont, North Cambridge and East Arlington. As one of 30,000 Americans across the country that associate themselves with the Whig party in the last few years, I am working in conjunction with an organization that reflects my political beliefs. Like many independent Americans, I have been disappointed in the partisan bickering found in the two main American parties as well as certain groups that state they represent the independent voice, but in fact are like the two parties and continue to bicker with no solutions. I know that the Modern Whig Party and I stand for the same ideals as a majority of moderate American voters. As a candidate for state representative I want only what is best for residents of the 24th Middlesex District."

Whig National Chairman Andrew Evans said, “Lalig Musserian is very involved in her community in a meaningful way. Lalig’s approach, common sense for uncommon times, resonates with all voters, especially those flocking to the Modern Whig Party. Voters in general are disgusted with the bickering between Republicans and Democrats, and are more concerned with solutions from all levels of government that keeps the real needs of real people in mind.”

Meet the Whigs: Will Cain Interviews Andrew Evans, Chairman of the Modern Whig Party

From Cain and Table, earlier this month:

Last week I spoke to Andrew Evans, Chairman of the Modern Whig Party. The Modern Whig Party is a centrist political party that hopes to focus on each issue individually – without any tie to ideology – and to “find solutions that work.” But I worry, and ask, if Modern Whigs are unprincipled. I also ask Andrew if Modern Whigs are closeted Democrats? What is the Whig position on abortion? The War on Drugs? What is the Whig position on entitlements? Check out the interview and find out more about Modern Whigs at www.modernwhig.org

The Angry Moderate? An Interview with Alan Reynolds, Deputy State Chairman of the California Modern Whig Party

The Modern Whig Party received a boost last week with a front page article in the Wall Street Journal that profiled the group and detailed its efforts to "tap the angry middle." The story led to coverage of the group by a number of other media sources, including the Daily Show's Indecision Forever blog, and Brian Lehrer's morning program on NPR in NYC. One of the Modern Whigs quoted in the WSJ story was Alan Reynolds, the Deputy State Chairman of the party's California affiliate. I contacted Mr. Reynolds, and he kindly agreed to answer a few questions via email. Our discussion covered his response to the WSJ article, his motivation for getting involved with the Whigs, their immediate plans in California and his take on the state's gubernatorial race, among other things.

What did you think of the Wall Street Journal article on "the angry middle"? Did you find it reasonable? skewed? accurate?

Reynolds: I think it painted a realistic view. A political party is not created overnight, nothing is. We have an uphill battle, and do not necessarily expect our numbers to be those of longer established parties. I believe our view of focusing on Methodology over Ideology to be a good one, especially in a time when practicality dictates realistic changes that people can embrace, instead of the far right or left. Also, I don't believe we are a political party for only the "mild mannered," though they are free to join with us, we believe strongly in what we stand for, but are willing to adapt.

The article quotes you saying "the cards are stacked against us." Would you elaborate on this?

Reynolds: I believe that this means that, in what is in effect a two-party system, as a third party in general, it is difficult to penetrate onto the level of the Republicans and Democrats, and as as Modern Whigs we are a new party, which makes things even more difficult. This quote from the WallStreet Journal article was actually from Andrew Evans [oops! sorry. -d.] and I asked him to address it as well. Andrew writes: "the cards are stacked against us and this means that we realize we have a lot to do to be able to be to the point where we can be an option for the American people in every race, every election. There are very difficult and biased ballot access laws, which we and other parties must overcome. We know that our goal to offer Americans non fringe, moderate, practical solutions will take time to realize but we are committed to giving our all to serve the American people."

How did you get involved with the Modern Whigs? What attracted you to them? What turned you off to the major parties?

Reynolds: During the primaries for the 2008 presidential election, I found myself not being happy with any of the major party candidates, and started to look around for alternatives. While I had taken a look at the Libertarian party and even voted for them in the past (as well as Republicans and Democrats) they did not quite fit with me. The basic tenants of the Modern Whig party did fit, and the development of the "Methodology over Ideology" works well with my personal focus on results and frustration with partisan bickering. As a party we are composed of both people on the left and right who want to focus on the issues that can be changed without being drawn to extremes on issues that are divisive. While we may individually have views on these issues, we can still work together.

What are your responsibilities as Deputy State Chairman of the party?

Reynolds: Our State Chair in California is a busy individual, as he is also our Western Region Chair and serves on the Executive committee for National. What I try to do is provide guidance and answers to interested members and those that might want to take on a more active role in the party as well as provide leadership for various ongoing issues and projects. In addition I intermittently manage a Twitter page, @CAModernWhig, and generally work with our members and leadership on whatever needs to get done.

What kind of work are you (i.e. the Modern Whigs) doing in California? What are your immediate goals?

Reynolds: Our focus is on continuing to develop our message and let people know that we are a real option for them. We are working toward our goal of becoming a qualified political party in California, which is an ongoing project and encouraging people to make their presence felt in local government, whether that is to run for office, appointed positions, or just to be involved.

While the Whigs are organizing, what would you like to see result from this year's elections in California?

Reynolds: As we have no candidates of our own running for Federal or State positions our focus is to find candidates in other parties that we feel somewhat reflect our values in order to recommend them. There is also a strong sentiment from certain members that we need to have a change in our elected officials and that most of them should be replaced with new people. Considering the state of matters in California, I do not believe this to be a surprising view. In essence we need to support candidates that will listen to the voters and legislate what their constituents believe in, of course keeping in mind both the US and CA Constitutions, whether these are Independents, Republicans, Democrats, or third party candidates. In addition we will be posting a Voters Guide on the propositions on the ballot.

In an analysis on the CA Whig Party website from July, you size up a number of candidates for CA governor, and come down in favor of Chelene Nightingale, but state you could be swayed in favor of another candidate. Have you changed your opinion in this regard, or do you still stand by that analysis?

Reynolds: The analysis you refer to specifically did not include the Republican or Democrat candidates, not because I felt either of them to be lacking, but because I felt people might already know more about them than their 3rd party counterparts. The comments made in the analysis were my personal views and meant to get people to think about their options. At this time I have not completed an in-depth additional analysis, and while none of the listed 3rd party candidates fits my views 100%, I would still lean towards Chelene Nightingale among them, but have not yet decided who I will vote for.

On the front page of the CA Whig Party website, an announcement highlights the candidacy of independent/Whig Jeff Vanke in Virginia, stating that he is "competing in what is tantamount to a two-person race against a vulnerable Republican. There is no Democrat in the race while Vanke, a moderate, is currently polling in double digits." Given that this is in fact a 3-person race, with the Republican polling 71%, Vanke at 12% and the Libertarian Bain at 7%, is this not a misleading description of the situation in Virginia? I expect misleading statements from Democrats and Republicans, but have higher expectations for independents and third parties. Would you commit to placing a more accurate description of this race on the CA Whig website?

Reynolds: I believe that the statement mentioned is intended to be read to mean that due to there being only one candidate from a "Major Party" and with the Whig candidate, Jeff Vanke, being the other candidate polling in "double digits" (at the time of the poll) the race is essentially focused on the 2 individuals in the lead.

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions!

Modern Whigs Ask: What is a Moderate?

From the CA Modern Whig Party blog:

Some have accused moderates of a lack conviction or strong feelings.   Some have said moderate means you don’t care.   As Modern Whigs we defy this generalization.

So what IS a moderate?   Being a moderate means seeking results as more important than the means.  A moderate knows what they want to see, but does not cling to one path to get there.  A moderate feels strongly about his goals, but is willing to work with anyone who can present a realistic idea of how to get there.   A moderate will make comprimises on the methods, and will take small steps toward his goal if that is what it takes.

In addition, moderate speech is something we see all too little in politics.  It means that we can see both sides of an issue.  It does not mean we agree with both sides, but we have enough sense to know its a difference of opinion, or somtimes a difference of perception, or someone could be plain wrong.  We do no believe, in most cases, that others motivations are necessarily greed, corruption, or incompetence, for proposing an idea which opposes ours.

This is easy to write, and hard to put into words.   A couple of case examples from todays controversy can draw an excellent illustration.

A Center-Right Analysis of the Modern Whig Party

From Notes from the Cab:

In the endeavor to explore viable third parties (if there is such a thing) I have been been checking out the Modern Whig Party. They recently have merged with the American Centrist Party of which I was at one time a member. . . . I have always been a hawk on security and usually stood on the middle ground of most domestic/social issues but now find myself moving rightward. That being said let us explore the stance of the Modern Whig Party on various issues. . . . . .

[Conclusion:] All in all the Modern Whig Party appears to be a slightly right of center political party which would be be able to accommodate those that stand left of center. It is somewhat weak on some issues and fairly strong on others. It appears that this party wants to avoid extremism which can be smart when most issues are considered.

Otter Limits Puts Spotlight on Third Parties

The Otter Limits blog has begun a series of posts spotlighting various third parties, including the Constitution Party, the Boston Tea Party and the Modern Whig Party.  On the Modern Whigs, Otter writes:

Something that appeals to me about this party is their focus on state's rights.  In their tenet on Fiscal responsibility they state that their philosophy "is to empower the states with the resources to handle their unique affairs" and in their tent on States' rights they state that "Each state can determine its course of action based on local values and unique needs."

I really like the idea of letting the states handle most of its affairs and making the federal government handle only what it is prescribed to do so in the United States Constitution. You remember that? The document our country was founded on?

American Centrist Party Merges with Modern Whig Party

From The Whig:

We are pleased to announce that one of the largest moderate political movements in the nation has unanimously voted to merge with the Modern Whig Party. This means that we are being joined by a list of about 16,000 Americans who had initially signed on in support of the American Centrist Party. This merger is a natural fit as we both have been working toward a viable, mainstream and non-fringe political movement that values common sense, rational solutions ahead of partisan bickering and ideology.

On a practical level, we are receiving an infusion of a new core of moderate leaders throughout the nation. While the Modern Whig Party was revived by post-9/11 veterans, the effects of this merger further demonstrate the diverse makeup of this political movement. Work is now underway in other areas to expand our reach and maximize our potential while maintaining a foot in reality in terms of the continuing difficult task ahead.

Again, thank you for your continuing support of this political movement and our mutual goal in creating a viable, mainstream and non-fringe political movement.

Best regards,
Executive Committee
Modern Whig Party

Memorial Day Message from the Modern Whig Party

From the Modern Whig Party:

The Modern Whig Party pauses this Memorial Day weekend to recognize the sacrifice of our nation's fallen, as well as the prime place in American society that our veterans and active/reserve service members hold.

The Modern Whig movement was revived by veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Those veterans quickly built a growing national movement that was recognized as a viable and mainstream political phenomenon. Its moderate stance and common sense, rational approach quickly inspired a diverse array of Americans of all political stripes.

Since 2010 began, the party began building its infrastructure in order to scratch its way back into the mainstream conscience. However, countless members have clamored in recent months for the current wave of Modern Whig leaders to be more action oriented and "lead from the front." Not surprisingly, these demands came largely from veterans -- many of whom participated in the numerous 2008/2009 Whig gatherings that quietly took place overseas in places such as Iraq.

These concerns have been heard loud and clear. Various active duty, reserve component personnel, and veterans are joining with non-military individuals to once again grab the reins of this historic movement.

The country needs a non-fringe movement that values common sense, rationality as opposed to partisan bickering and ideology. The Modern Whig Party will continue to build and inspire.

Whigs Begin Series of Seminars on History of Whigs in America

From the Modern Whig Party blog:

A Modern Whig View on the British General Election

From the Modern Whig blog:

But because the UK's somewhat dysfunctional electoral system, even though Labour is third in most polls, they could come out with the most seats (though still not enough for a majority)...We American can relate to such confusion. The UK has a electoral system similar to our "Winner Takes All" system called "First Past the Post" which limits the ability for third parties to win a great deal of seats. Most in the UK predict if the Liberal Democrats do well, they could form a Alliance government with Labour and in return they will likely demand election reform to move the UK closer to a proportional voting system (which favors smaller parties like the Liberal Dems). So what can the Modern Whig Party learn from this? Plenty.

IN: Hoosier Whigs Retool and Restructure

From Hard Cider, the Hoosier Whig blog:

Hoosier Whigs will continue its goal of repairing the broken social mechanism. The organization is to become a PAC/think tank for the modern Whiggery in Indiana. However, Hoosier Whigs is not affiliated with the Modern Whig Party or any other political party. We want to be a non-partisan group supporting anyone who believes in modern Whiggery, regardless of political party. For those interested in continuing their involvement with the Modern Whig Party in Indiana, please contact Brendan Galligan, new chairman of the Whig Party of Indiana

HuffPo Diarist Discovers Modern Whig Party

From the Huffington Post:

Taegan Goddard posted an item yesterday titled "Whig Party Revived", detailing how Steven Gerritzen, "a 39-year-old 'electronics assembler,'" was bringing the party back in order to run against Representative Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) in the 2010 election.

Immediately, I thought to myself, "Terrific! There just isn't enough vocal opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson these days!" But in fact, Gerritzen is running as a candidate for the Florida Whig Party, which turns out to be like a "Tea Party" for calm and approachable moderates who don't mind Scandinavia. He's one of five candidates who will be doing to in 2010.

NV: Whigs Rally at Tea Party Protest

The Las Vegas Sun reports on the recent protest-rally against Harry Reid in Searchlight Nevada:

While fractious, the Tea Party movement is united by the overwhelming sense that government has overstepped its bounds . . .  Kathleen Kendra, 60, a chiropractor from Riverside, said the administration and Congress are “railroading our citizens into socialism.” Disgusted with both major political parties, Kendra joined with friends to revive the Whig Party in Riverside. The group elected officers in January and is fielding candidates in local races.

CA: Modern Whigs Call for Action Against Incumbents

From the California Whig Party:

it is the PRESENT members of our elected bodies that have created the havoc we now find ourselves in and it is they who, due to their constant bickering and game playing, have not been able to straighten out the very messes they have created. It is not enough to remove some and leave others… we can only send a strong message by removing them all. It doesn’t matter if you wish to vote Republican or Democrat or Independent… just make sure the present official is replaced. You cannot change things by leaving them as they are and not voting leaves things exactly as they are. Not voting as a protest is a guarantee that the very thing you are protesting will remain the way it is.

Modern Whig Party Organizing in CA, VA, GA and NC

From the Modern Whig Party blog:

The Executive Committee is pleased to confirm the appointment of Robert Shelley as State Chairman for California. Andy Trinidad has decided to spearhead the movement of the Modern Whigs in the Los Angeles County area. . . . Virginia: The Modern Whig Party of Virginia reports that it is now registered as a Political Action Committee. This status, among other items, allows the Virginia Whigs to accept donations as it continues to grow and develop.

The recent Virginia report can be viewed in full here that describes a number of benchmarks that the Virginia Whigs have met.

Western Region: The Western Region of the national Modern Whig Party continues to grow and develop. This includes attracting new members and leaders, as well as arranging meetings. For example, the Riverside County (California) Modern Whig Party recently held its regularly scheduled meeting.

Georgia & North Carolina: The revived Whig Party also is seeing noticeable growth in the Southeast. For example, the Georgia Whig Party is spearheading the cutting edge "Methodology over Ideology" element. This effort is being put to practice through several meetings throughout the state with members, prospective members, media, political activists, business leaders and others.

In North Carolina, recently approved chairperson John Chappelle has announced plans to develop a push into the state. The first Web site of the North Carolina Whigs can be viewed at www.ncmodernwhig.org.

The Modern Whigs: Methodology Over Ideology

I recently got a chance to exchange emails with Drew Scholtens, Chairman of the Georgia Modern Whig Party and member of the Modern Whigs National Executive Committee. The Modern Whigs is a revival of the previously defunct political party which was last active in the 1800s. Prominent Whigs included Abraham Lincoln, John Quincy Adams, and Millard Filmore.

From their web site:

Established in 1833, the Whigs are one of America's oldest mainstream political parties. We were the original party of Abraham Lincoln and four other U.S. Presidents. Revived by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the grassroots movement has quickly [attracted] new members. We represent the moderate voters from all walks of life who cherry-pick between traditional Republican or Democratic ideals in what has been called the Modern Whig Philosophy. This Washington DC-based national movement values common sense, rational solutions ahead of ideology and partisan bickering. This includes general principles of fiscal responsibility, strong national defense and educational/scientific advancement.

Curious about what makes the Modern Whigs different from other third party and grassroots protest and political movements, I sent a few questions to them and was fortunate enough to get a response from their leadership.

Full article at the An Ordinary Person blog.