Council Bluffs National Meeting Propels Constitution Party Forward Toward 2008 Election Campaign!

by Gary Odom
National Field Director

Optimism and energy prevailed as Constitution Party leaders and activists from all across the country gathered in America’s heartland to participate in the Constitution Party’s Fall National Committee Meeting this past week. The well-attended meeting, chaired by Jim Clymer of Pennsylvania, was held at the Holiday Inn in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and focused heavily on plans and preparations for the Constitution Party National Convention, which will be held next April 23-27, in Kansas City, Missouri and, of course, for the very crucial 2008 Presidential election year.

The meeting was jam packed with highlights:

Chuck Baldwin, of Florida, gave an electrifying address at Thursday evening’s banquet wherein, among several other things, he pointed out that the surest way to the preserve "traditional values" in America is to elect representatives at all levels of government who are actually faithful the Constitution of the United States;

Dr. Jerome Corsi, of New Jersey received a long and rousing standing ovation following his Friday luncheon speech in which he proudly declared his membership in the Constitution Party, outlined the current status of the drive to merge the United States into a North American Union through the imposition of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), and called upon the Constitution Party to lead the political battle in defense of America’s Sovereignty;

Virginia’s Howard Phillips, the Founder of the Constitution Party, presented an educational and extremely moving address at Friday night’s banquet which provided an excellent historical perspective on many of today’s Constitutional issues;

John Clark of Americans for Immigration Control previewed the group’s brand new documentary titled "Rule of Law or Anarchy ?" The video explores the dramatic consequences of the breakdown of law and order brought about by massive illegal immigration.

Missouri State Representative Jim Guest, founder of Legislators Against Real ID (LARI), discussed his group’s successful efforts to stop implementation of the Real ID Act at Friday’s banquet and visited individually with many of the party leaders that evening and the next day;

A detailed presentation was made by Convention Committee chairman, Thom Holmes, of Oklahoma, concerning plans for the party’s 2008 National Convention in Kansas City next April. Timetables and rules for delegate selection, credentials certification and platform committee selection and participation were set and distributed to committee members present, and will be distributed to all state leaders not in attendance at the meeting;

Mary Starrett, of Oregon, the Constitution Party Communications Director gave a comprehensive overview of progress in the party’s efforts to expand its media exposure and to reach the voters through alternative media, particularly the Internet. She announced that a new has been established for Constitution Party videos HERE. Currently only her already well-known and excellent Constitution Party promotional video is available for viewing on the site, but that will soon change and more videos will be available in the near future;

Thor Call, of Utah, gave a very impressive presentation regarding his state party’s development of a series of radio advertisements which will soon be available for use for the national and state parties. For an example of one of the spots that was presented at the meeting (narrated by Utah national committeeman Jim Noorlander), please visit TurnToTheConstitution.com;

The Joan Johnson Servant Leadership Award was awarded to Missouri State Chairman, Donna Ivanovich, who has spearheaded the unprecedented growth of the revitalized Constitution Party of Missouri over the past year. Donna’s leadership, supported by a remarkable group of Missouri Constitutionalists, is fast turning the Constitution Party of Missouri into one of the premier affiliates in the Constitution Party;

The Ed Frami Star Spangled Banner Award was awarded to the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Constitution Party’s National Veterans Coalition, General Charles E. Jones , (USAFR) ret., who has worked so diligently to establish the party’s Veteran’s outreach program, which is credited with bringing ever-increasing numbers of America’s military veterans into the ranks of the Constitution Party. The presentation of General Jones award was made by the current National Veterans Coalition Chairman, Darrell Castle;

The Eileen Shearer Eternal Vigilance Award was awarded to one of the most devoted members to the Constitution Party anywhere in the country, Dr. Curtis Caine of Mississippi, who has long served on the National Executive Committee and who currently serves as the Constitution Party National Committee parliamentarian;

The Constitution Party National Committee passed a formal resolution endorsing the the National Clean Elections Lawsuit (N-CEL). The suit has been filed against ten states: New Hampshire, Iowa, Ohio, Florida, California, New York, Illinois, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas. The Constitution Party warns against electronic voting in its platform, pointing out that since 1988 all but a handful of the 3,142 counties in the US have delegated the "counting" process, done in secret, to several mega companies, Diebold, ES&S, Hart and Sequoia. All 50 secretaries of state have approved these systems. The Clean Elections lawsuit, in the process of expanding to all 50 states, charges that the use of any computer (direct-recording-electronic- or DRE) systems which obscure ballots from the people for any period of time before a count is completed and the results are announced are unconstitutional;

Former Ambassador, Alan Keyes, met with the Constitution Party’s National Executive Committee Thursday morning and shared his perspectives on current events and political developments;

And, finally, attendees at the Constitution Party National Committee Meeting were the beneficiaries of an excellent, intensive two-day" grassroots political school" seminar provided by the Leadership Institute of Arlington, Virgina. This instruction will provide invaluable assistance to many of those who are going back to their respective states with plans to run for office or to help in the campaigns of Constitution Party candidates.

Particularly encouraging to national party leaders was the number of state party leaders who were attending a national committee meeting for the very first time. State party leaders enjoying their first national meeting experience included Ohio State Chairman Robert Owens, who, with his wife Teri, lead a six member delegation from the Buckeye State; Arkansas State Chairman, Tom Mayfield ; Mark Richey, the new State Chairman of the Constitution Party of Iowa (who was joined by fellow Iowa party leaders Bryan and Joan Samuel); South Dakota State Chairman, Steve Willis; and Indiana’s State Chairman, Mark Pool .

The Council Bluffs meeting, which was very well represented by states from all regions of the country, was especially well represented by affiliates from the Midwestern States. A very effective and well attended regional caucus of the Midwestern state parties was held Friday morning, chaired by Area Co-Chairmen Randy Stufflebeam, of Illinois and Scott Bartlett of South Dakota.

Congratulations and thanks go out to the state parties in Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey and California, who brought the largest delegations to the meeting.

Unfortunately, not every state was able to be represented at the Council Bluffs meeting, but those who could not attend no doubt share the sentiments of Ted Libby, the new State Chairman of the Constitution Party of Maine who stated, in a message to the National Committee, "I am sorry that neither I, nor any from our Maine state party are able to attend this meeting. I know the wisdom to be gained would help our efforts greatly. You have lined up some tremendous speakers, and the experience I am sure will be awesome for all those who attend. I will look forward to meeting the members of the Committee in person someday soon. I hope that you will keep us, and our State in your thoughts and prayers."

Well, Ted and anyone else who was unable to make it to this event, look at it this way...there are only about 6 months until the 2008 Constitution Party National Convention in Kansas City! Every Constitution Party leader, member, activist, and supporter in all of the 50 states and the District of Columbia will want to plan on being a delegate to that great event! Every Constitution Party state affiliate will want to plan on having a full delegation participating in Kansas City!

Fasten your seat belts,

’cause things are really going to take off now !