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| America First Party | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chairperson | Jonathan M. Hill |
| Senate leader | None |
| House leader | None |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | 1630 A 30th Street #111 Boulder, CO 80301 |
| Ideology | Paleoconservatism, economic nationalism, non-interventionism |
| Political position | Fiscal: Right-wing Social: Right-wing |
| International affiliation | None |
| Official colors | Red, white, blue |
| Seats in the Senate | 0 |
| Seats in the House | 0 |
| Website | |
| www.americafirstparty.org | |
| Politics of the United States Political parties Elections |
|
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, however, his books are for sale on the party's website "[A]utographed... specially for the Party".[1] The AFP has attracted individuals such as former Boston mayor and Vatican ambassador 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.
Contents |
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 Agreement (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.
Issues
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 Development 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.
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 prayer 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.
Tax reform
The party believes that the 16th Amendment was never properly ratified and must be repealed. The income tax 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 sales tax. (They oppose having both an income tax and a sales tax simultaneously.[citation needed])
Size and scope of the party
Ballot access
The America First Party was formed on the ballot in the following states in December 2004:
Recent candidates and conventions
The America First Party ran 11 candidates for public office in the U.S. general elections of 2002.
On 30 March 2004, America First Party candidate Jeffrey W.T. Buck was elected to the Representative Town Meeting Assembly of Framingham, Massachusetts representing the 13th Precinct—thus becoming the party's first elected official.
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 Mr. 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.
Candidates elected
- Florida: Martin Scott McClellan: Planning and Advisory Zoning Board[citation needed]
- Massachusetts: Jeffrey W. T. Buck: Framingham Town Meeting Member Precinct 13[citation needed]
- Massachusetts: Richard J. Parsons, Natick Town Meeting Member Precinct 9[citation needed]
See also
- Conservatism in the United States
- Pat Buchanan
- Independent American Party
- Constitution Party
- Third parties in the U.S.
- List of political parties in the United States
References
External links
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