Boston Tea Party (political party)

Infobox Political_party
name_english =Boston Tea Party
name_native =
logo =
leader =
president =
chairperson =
spokesperson =
leader1_name =Thomas L. Knapp, founder, spokesperson
leader2_name =James Eric Davidson, Interim Chair
leader3_name =Todd Andrew Barnett, Vice Chair
foundation =2006
dissolution =
headquarters =
newspaper =
membership_year=2008
membership = 381
ideology =libertarian
national =
international =
europarl =
colors =
website = [http://www.bostontea.us/ bostontea.us]
footnotes =The Boston Tea Party is an American libertarian political party founded in 2006 by people who were unhappy with the direction the United States Libertarian Party was taking. Their entire platform is a single-sentence:

After an early period of activity, it became moribund in late 2007. However, there was a flurry of new activity by party members in late spring of 2008, and on June 16 2008 it nominated Charles Jay of Hollywood, Florida for President of the United States and Thomas L. Knapp of Greendale, Missouri for Vice President of the United States. [ [http://www.bostontea.us/release061708 Release: Boston Tea Party nominates 2008 presidential ticket | the Boston Tea Party ] ] (Knapp is also simultaneously a Libertarian Party candidate for U. S. Congress for Missouri's 2nd congressional district. [ [http://knappster.blogspot.com/2008/06/three-reasons-why.html KN@PPSTER: The three reasons why ] ] ) Two days later, on June 18, it submitted a slate of Presidential Electors to the Colorado Secretary of State [http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10413956] . The party has its presidential nominee on the ballot in Florida [http://www.examiner.com/x-900-Tampa-Bay-Politics-Examiner~y2008m9d26-A-plethora-of-possible-parties] and Tennessee [http://tiptonco.com/docs/tipton%20newspaper%20ballot%20G08.pdf] for the Presidential election of November 2008. Volunteers with the party completed write-in registrations in Montana and Arizona in late September 2008 [http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/09/update-on-boston-tea-party-organizing-efforts-and-endorsements/] .

Jay ran for president in 2004 for the Personal Choice Party, whose name also appears on his website. [http://www.cj08.com/ http://www.cj08.com ] ]

The national party has state affiliate parties in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas [ [http://www.bostontea.us/contact Contact | the Boston Tea Party ] ]

The Boston Tea Party is a member of the Coalition for Free and Open Elections, along with the Constitution, Green, Libertarian, and Socialist parties. [ [http://www.bostontea.us/release061808b Release: Boston Tea Party joins elections coalition | the Boston Tea Party ] ]

Beginning in July 2008, the Boston Tea Party is endorsing candidates from other parties who support the party's small government platform. Endorsements include Phil Rhodes for Lt. Governor of North Carolina, Susan Hogarth for statehouse in North Carolina, Christopher Cole for U.S. Senate from North Carolina, Lisa Leeds for State House Dist. 58 in Tennessee [ [http://lisaleeds2008.com Lisa Leeds for Tennessee House District 58 Campaign ] ] , Daniel Lewis for U.S. Senate from Tennessee, Morey Straus for statehouse in New Hampshire, and Jim Y. Casarjian-Perry for Billerica, Massachusetts planning board. Mr. Casarjian-Perry is one of two Boston Tea Party members serving in public office, and the only elected official in the party, currently serving as a representative for precinct nine to the Billerica Town Meeting. [ [http://bostontea.us/release070908 Release: Boston Tea Party adds affiliates, endorses candidates | the Boston Tea Party ] ]

Candidates

In 2008, the Boston Tea Party has the following candidates:
*Charles Jay for President
*Tom Knapp for Vice President and U.S. House (MO) [ [http://tomknappforcongress.com/ Tom Knapp, Libertarian for US House ] ]
*Darryl W. Perry for U.S. Senate (AL) [ [http://senate.dwp2016.org/ Write-in Darryl W. Perry US Senate ] ]
*Wes Upchurch for Missouri Secretary of State(MO) [ [http://www.wesupchurch.com/ Wes Upchurch for Missouri Secretary of State ] ] [ [http://bostontea.us/voterguide 2008-2009 Voter Guide | the Boston Tea Party ] ]
*Jason Gatties for Lake Michigan College Board (MI) [ [http://votegatties.org/ votegatties.org ] ] [ [http://bostontea.us/voterguide 2008-2009 Voter Guide | the Boston Tea Party ] ]
*Jim Y. Casarjian-Perry for Billerica Planning Board.

Officers

2008 party officers include James Eric Davidson chair, Todd Andrew Barnett, vice chair, and Michelle Luetge as secretary. At-large members of the national committee include Chris Bennett, Elle Larkin, Kent McManigal, and Mike Blessing. [http://bostontea.us/contact]

Program

In addition to its platform, the Boston Tea Party currently has the following program, which was adopted August 21, 2006: [http://www.bostontea.us/program]

cquote|1. The Boston Tea Party calls for a complete and unconditional withdrawal of US troops from, and a cessation of US military operations against or within, Iraq.

2. The Boston Tea Party supports repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act.

3. The Boston Tea Party calls for an end to the federal prohibition of marijuana and hemp.

4. The Boston Tea Party calls for the immediate repeal of the REAL ID Act and any and all National ID plans.

5. The Boston Tea Party calls for legislation adopting an annual, regularized increase in the personal exemption to the federal income tax of $1,000 or more, and the additional application of said personal exemption to all FICA/Social Security taxes paid by employees and employers.

Heading into its convention on October 24, 2008, the party is considering adoption of the following four points from Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty as its program: [http://bostontea.us/node/261]

cquote|1. Foreign Policy: The Iraq War must end as quickly as possible with removal of all our soldiers from the region. We must initiate the return of our soldiers from around the world, including Korea, Japan, Europe and the entire Middle East. We must cease the war propaganda, threats of a blockade and plans for attacks on Iran, nor should we re-ignite the cold war with Russia over Georgia. We must be willing to talk to all countries and offer friendship and trade and travel to all who are willing. We must take off the table the threat of a nuclear first strike against all nations.

2. Privacy: We must protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons under US jurisdiction. We must repeal or radically change the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the FISA legislation. We must reject the notion and practice of torture, elimination of habeas corpus, secret tribunals, and secret prisons. We must deny immunity for corporations that spy willingly on the people for the benefit of the government. We must reject the unitary presidency, the illegal use of signing statements and excessive use of executive orders.

3. The National Debt: We believe that there should be no increase in the national debt. The burden of debt placed on the next generation is unjust and already threatening our economy and the value of our dollar. We must pay our bills as we go along and not unfairly place this burden on a future generation.

4. The Federal Reserve: We seek a thorough investigation, evaluation and audit of the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationships with the banking, corporate, and other financial institutions. The arbitrary power to create money and credit out of thin air behind closed doors for the benefit of commercial interests must be ended. There should be no taxpayer bailouts of corporations and no corporate subsidies. Corporations should be aggressively prosecuted for their crimes and frauds.

References