Thursday, March 12, 2009

Deterring Party Officers from Hijacking our Presidential Nomination

Problem: Through Article 12, Section 1 of these bylaws, our state affiliates have mutually contracted to nominate the Presidential candidate selected by the delegates at a national convention. However, other than a vote of the LNC to disaffiliate, there is no mechanism for enforcement of this provision.

Solution: Provide a penalty for placing on the general election ballot anyone other than our nominee or an approved stand-in.

Benefits: Avoid the sorts of problems we had in one state in 2000 and two states in 2008.


ARTICLE 12: PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS

1. Nominations of candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States may be made only at the Regular Convention immediately preceding a Presidential election. Any officer of the Party or of an affiliate party who signs any document, other than a nominating petition, to place on the general election ballot a Presidential or Vice-Presidential candidate other than the Party's nominee or a stand-in approved by the National Committee shall be thereby expelled.

3 comments:

The Mudslinger said...

Ah, the Phillies Rule Part 2.

See comments on the Phillies Rule Part 1, above.

Unknown said...

This doesn't appear to be a Phillies rule; it's a Ron Paul rule, and it's a bad one.

Should I want to support Dennis Kucinich as a better advocate for Liberty than, say, Bob Barr, I will do so. If this means the LNC (or somebody) will 'expel' me from the LP, then I will be gone.

The Mudslinger said...

Nope, it's designed in the wake of the NH situation, not Paul, because Paul was never placed on any ballot as a LP candidate, ans Phillies was.

Such direct control of state officers and members by the national body is uncalled for.