Several weeks ago I penned an opinion of what happened in Tampa called "The 99% Rule". The premise of that was if a state affiliate of the Constitution Party National Committee was only 99% pro-life that was now OK as far as the National Committee was concerned.

Well since then there has been a lot of banter flying about via email and listservs. And earlier this week CP National Committee chairman, Jim Clymer, released a statement titled "Setting the Record Straight and Healing the Rift" in which he admonishes those who have been a bit overzealous in their attacks on the CPNC leadership.

So, now it's time for me to speak out again. Not that I lack anything else to write about; in fact I'm half way through with a commentary on Iraq, black gold and the American dollar. Hopefully I'll have that done for next week, but today it's all about the Tampa vote.

With no disrespect intended or directed at Chairman Clymer, my personal opinion is that he is missing the point. And the only question I have: Is the point missed intentionally or is the current leadership really so ignorant as to believe this will just go away?

I'm not sure if you're on the CP National email list but Mr. Clymer's statement rightfully wags the finger of shame at those who have accused Howard Phillips of backing away from his principles. I have read posts on lists and via email attacking Mr. Phillips and I don't believe the things people are saying are warranted, respectful or helpful in any way.

I don't know Howard Phillips as well as many others do but the time that I have spent with him, listening to him speak, gaining insight from his experience and wisdom, leads me to believe that he is absolutely a man of impeccable integrity and not deserving of some comments that I would consider slanderous.

On the other hand, the things I've heard said about the other "heavy hitter" in this debate, Mr. William Shearer of California, I can honestly say I am in agreement with. I have witnessed Mr. Shearer label those on the Pro-disaffiliation side as religious Nazi's and have read some of his articles that are themselves downright slanderous. While he was, in my opinion, quite tempered in Tampa I have seen the other side of Bill Shearer and it is as ugly as some of the very nasty things he has written about very well-intentioned, good hearted Christians.

Anyway, Mr. Clymer mentioned in his note that Chris Hansen is running for Governor in Nevada on the IAP ticket. He also stated that the CP will not be endorsing or supporting his campaign because of his known stance on abortion.

I was under the impression that if a state affiliate supported candidates who did not support the Platform that was grounds for disaffiliation.

The evidence is now overwhelming with Janine's printed material from 2004, her public statement in Tampa last month and Clymer's own statement acknowledging Chris Hansen's blatant and willfull disregard for the no exceptions, pro-life Plank, and yet defending the continued affiliation on the grounds of a pledge. You know, I stopped reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance" several years ago because I will make no pledge to anyone or anything other than the Cross of Christ. Many others feel the same way so how come the CPNC takes a pledge made by fallible humans more seriously than the actions of those same fallible humans?

I know very well that there are some who see this as a religious issue against Mormons and to you I say "SHAME!" The Constitution Party is not a church and since I'm already an active member of my church I have no desire to join another one! I have no problem at all working along side my fellow Americans, regardless of religious affiliation or background, who wish to see Biblically based, Constitutionally limited government restored to our once great nation.

I see this issue for what it is - the IAP supports candidates and officers who have publicly stated they do not hold to the 100% pro-life, no exceptions, plank of the Constitution Party Platform. They do so with full knowledge of the position these individuals hold, and I believe the NC has the obligation to vote for disaffiliation over this issue.

Janine Hansen said quite plainly in Tampa that the IAP will continue to do what they have been doing for decades, regardless of the vote. I fully support her position and hope to see it through. May the IAP continue putting candidates on the ballot in Nevada. However, the CP does not need that presidential ballot line so badly as to continue the affiliation with a state who flat out lies about their support of the pro-life Plank.

I hope and pray the National leadership will recognize the real issue and stop beating around the "we don't have the right" bush so we truly can move forward. The pot is boiling sir, it's time to skim off the dross that is the IAP. We do not need to sing another round of "Kum-Baya"...

As to the CPoW, I'm still waiting for our leadership here to schedule a meeting of the Executive Committee with the NC reps so we can discuss what happened in Tampa and how the CPoW should respond.

I believe those who voted "no" in Tampa were misled, deceived, hoodwinked, whatever you want to call it. Those who did not support the resolution fell hook, line and stinker for the mantra that the CPNC cannot dictate how State affiliates handle their own, internal affairs, like who is elected Chairman.

On the surface I wholeheartedly agree with that. But while everyone was focusing on the section of the CPNC's Constitution which states: "Nothing in this Constitution or the bylaws of the Constitution Party shall confer upon the national party any authority to direct the internal affairs of any state affiliate.", no one bothered going up one line to read: "The National Committee shall have the power to grant AND REVOKE state affiliation status." (emphasis mine).

What needs to happen next is those who stick around, and have more abilities than do I, need to draft another motion, one that addresses the specific actions of the Nevada affiliate which violate the affiliation agreement, and vote again to disaffiliate. If that fails, then we draft another motion and bring it up in the spring of 2007.

Until then, the most important thing to remember is - I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE CONSTITUTION PARTY!!!   NO ONE IS!

There is no such thing as "membership" on the National level. Everyone who is a "member" of the CP is a member of their own state organization. For me, that's the Constitution Party of Wisconsin. For you it's the state organization where ever you live.

Our sovereign (if I may use that adjective here) State Parties have joined together to form a National Committee and that Committee has created its own structure of organization with its own Constitution and Bylaws (required by the FEC I'm sure) and its own National Platform.

The current perception is that the National Platform has been weakened by the NC's decision to retain a state affiliate whose leadership has publicly stated they do not hold to the tenets of one Plank of that Platform, while at the same time claiming their State Platform is as "rock solid" as the National when it comes to the pro-life issue.

Personally I've not read the IAP's Platform nor do I intent to. I feel the hypocrisy is blindingly obvious, but those in Tampa on April 21 where still operating on the opinions expressed in Salt Lake and to some extent Columbus. The CPNC reps who voted against disaffiliation did so out of a belief they were voting on a procedural policy rather
than on a violation of the affiliation agreement.

I don't say that to try and justify what has been done, I just believe "our side" was out-maneuvered in Tampa and the best strategy now is to regroup and come at them again in Concord this fall. But let's use the time between now and then to formulate and prepare for the battle ahead. The time for licking our wounds has passed and we must move forward or stagnate.

In the mean time, I am still a member of the Constitution Party of Wisconsin and the CPoW is a 100%, no exceptions, pro-life political Party who's focus is on promoting the return to Biblical and Constitutionally limited government through the election of Statesmen to public office, in Wisconsin.

We have a fall election coming up and work to do here in our state to ensure our ballot access will continue for another four years. I'm sure those of you who are members of the Montana or the Ohio or the Michigan or whatever state you are from, Party have work to do where you live too. But that doesn't mean we can't work together and achieve a more desirable outcome next time.

To conclude on a positive note - CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Jose and Celeste Figueroa are 24 hours into the expansion of their family! Forrest Benjamin Figueroa was born May 17 at 5:08pm, weighing in at 8 pounds even and 20.5 inches long. Mother and baby boy are doing great and I could hear Jose's pride stretching the seams of his shirt as he filled me in. I couldn't be happier for the two of them and wish their growing family all the best a life in Christ has to offer.

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