Modern Whig Party
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| Modern Whig Party | |
 |
|
| Party Chairman | Mike Lebowitz |
|---|---|
| Senate Leader | N/A |
| House Leader | N/A |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | 2141 Wisconsin Ave NW Suite C-2 Washington, DC 20007 |
| Political ideology | Modern Whig philosophy Centrism Pragmatism Syncretic politics Transpartisanship |
| Political position | Fiscal: Moderate Social: Moderate |
| International affiliation | None |
| Seats in the Senate |  |
| Seats in the House of Representatives |  |
| Color(s) | Blue and Buff |
| Website | www.modernwhig.org |
The Modern Whig Party is a United States political party whose stated intention is to be a "party for the rest of us."[1] It is recognized as a mainstream and non-fringe "middle ground" between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.[2]
Founded by Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, the party has over 30,000 members nationally, with a sizeable proportion affiliated with the American military.[3]
The Modern Whig Party has gained significant mainstream and online media coverage touting the movement as a "political phenomenon" with wide appeal, potential viability, and proven ability to attract disenchanted moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats, according to a Times-Standard editorial.[4]
The Party plans to run three candidates for federal office in 2010 and also a small amount state and local candidates in 2009 in order to maintain what it calls a manageable, quality-driven slate of viable candidates rather than merely quantity.[5] The general platform of the Modern Whig Party relates to fiscal responsibility, strong national defense and social progression.[6][7]
An editorial in one newspaper referred to the Modern Whig Party as the "fastest-growing mainstream political movement in the nation."[8] A Sunday op-ed piece by a prominent North Carolina columnist was highly favorable toward the party, including a review that "there is nothing fringe about the Modern Whig platform."[9]
Contents |
[edit] History
According to the Raleigh News & Observer, "the national Modern Whig Party, as it calls itself, was started in the most unlikely of locations—the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan by U.S. troops.[10] The Modern Whig Party was organized as a national party in late 2007 as a successor to the historical Whig Party.[11] Among its founding members were military veterans who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq and become dissatisfied with the deep ideological divide between the Republican and Democratic parties.[12]
The Party has a national headquarters in Washington, DC and an executive committee.[citation needed] Less than a year into its creation, the Modern Whig Party attracted over 30,000 members nationally.[13] A Board of Benefactors selected a national chairman and three-person national executive committee, at least one of whom must be a military veteran or military spouse, to run the party.[citation needed]
National Chairman Mike Lebowitz is a Washington, DC attorney and advocate for veterans' issues.[14][15] He also served in Iraq as a paratrooper in the Pathfinder Company of the 101st Airborne Division and testified at US House and Senate hearings on May 14, 2008 in regard to improving military whistle blower legislation.[16]
The Party describes itself as a mainstream, middle-of-the-road grassroots movement that caters to those voters who believe in various Republican issues but also believe in various other Democratic issues.[17]
The Party announced their first victory on election day with the election of Ken Belcher[18] as Constable of Lee County, Alabama.[19] Immediately after the election of November 4, 2008, a push began to attract moderate/conservative Democrats and members of the Republican Party who felt disenchanted with both the GOP's failings and its perception as moving farther to the right.[20] In fact, those seeking a non-ideological political movement reportedly began joining the Modern Whig Party as soon as the election results came in.[21]
On 19 May 2009 during a national online meeting, the Modern Whig Party and Florida Whig Party jointly announced the first federal Whig candidate since the 1850s: Paul C. McKain of Florida.[22][23] Ballot Access News also reported that a candidate for the 2009 New Jersey Assembly elections was on the ballot under the Modern Whig Party designation.[24]
[edit] Political platform
The MWP follows a six tenet philosophy that it does not specifically associate with centrism, but instead has been referred to as "Modern Whig philosophy"[citation needed] due to the fact that the movement does take stands on issues while ranging across the mainstream political spectrum.[citation needed]
The six tenets of the Modern Whig philosophy include:[25]
- Fiscal responsibility - "The Modern Whig philosophy is to empower the states with the resources to handle their unique affairs."
- Energy independence - "Reduce dependence on foreign oil by developing practical sources of alternative energy. This will have the simultaneous effect of changing the national security dynamic."
- Education/Scientific advancement - "Increased public and private emphasis on fields such as space, oceanic, medical and nanotechnology. Also, providing common-sense solutions to enhance our educational system from pre-school to university-level studies."
- States' rights - "Each state can determine its course of action based on local values and unique needs."
- Social progression - "Government should refrain from legislating morality."
- Veterans affairs - "Vigilant advocacy relating to the medical, financial, and overall well-being of our military families and veterans."
There are also self-described "general principles" of Modern Whig philosophy that are included along with the tenets:[26]
| “ | ...This includes general principles of fiscal responsibility, strong national defense and bold social progression. | ” |
[edit] State and territorial affiliates with ballot access
[edit] State affiliates
The Modern Whig Party currently has official chapters in the 26 states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado,[30] Florida,[31][32] Hawaii, Illinois,[33] Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,[34] Missouri,[35] Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York,[36] North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, [37] Oregon, Tennessee,[38] Texas,[39] Virginia and Wisconsin.[40]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.modernwhig.org
- ^ http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/06/modern-whig-party-3000-members-and-growing/
- ^ On Lincoln’s 200th birthday the "Modern Whig" Party makes a comeback http://www.richmond-dailynews.com/news.php?id=2674
- ^ http://www.times-standard.com/davestancliff/ci_12337878
- ^ http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/08/modern-whig-party-nears-10000-members
- ^ http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2008/09/25/front/doc48daacb5a71fc951019104.txt
- ^ http://www.emissourian.com/site/news.cfm?dept_id=544418&newsid=20240322
- ^ http://www.huntsvillevoice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=679:iraqafghanistan-veterans-revive-lincolns-longtime-party&catid=85:local-news&Itemid=26
- ^ http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1501272.html
- ^ http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1501272.html
- ^ "Modern Whig Party has Appeal to Some Troops: No Candidates Yet, but with Moderate Stance, it’s Starting to Catch On" as published in the Marine Corps Times, Army Times and Air Force Times newspapers in June 2008
- ^ WTFK 107.1 FM "Viewpoints with Lockwood Phillips http://www.wtkf107.com/images/002VPWEBCAST%20%20DAILY%20HR%202.mp3
- ^ http://www.richmond-dailynews.com/news.php?id=2674
- ^ http://www.aplegal.com/ourattorneys.html
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/30/AR2007053002627_pf.html
- ^ http://thirdpartywatch.com/2008/08/06/military-veterans-turn-to-modern-whig-party
- ^ http://www.modernwhig.org
- ^ Ken Belcher website
- ^ http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/11/a-new-party-with-an-old-name-elects-its-first-candidate-for-office/
- ^ "Republicans are Bald, Put on your Whigs" by Kyle Munzenrieder on Nov. 7, 2008 in Miami New Times
- ^ See Miami New Times article
- ^ http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/05/22/whig-party-name-may-again-appear-on-ballots/
- ^ http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/05/modern-whig-party-announces-its-first-candidate-for-congress/
- ^ http://www.ballot-access.org/2009/06/03/minor-party-candidates-for-state-office-in-new-jersey/
- ^ http://modernwhig.forumotion.net/modern-whig-party-discussion-f1/inventing-new-political-philosophy-t296.htm
- ^ http://www.modernwhig.org/#about
- ^ http://www.floridawhig.com/
- ^ http://www.geocities.com/ncmodernwhig/
- ^ http://www.texaswhig.org
- ^ http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/09/modern-whig-party-adds-two-new-state-chapters/
- ^ http://www.floridawhig.com The Florida Whig Party is registered with the Florida Division of Elections as a minor party.
- ^ http://election.dos.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/ComHtml.exe?account=45020 Florida Department of State website confirming Florida Whig Party was ballot approved in 2007.
- ^ http://www.illinoiswhig.org
- ^ http://modernwhigmn.org
- ^ http://www.missouriwhigs.org
- ^ http://www.nymodernwhig.org
- ^ http://www.modernwhig.org/states.html
- ^ http://mwptn.webs.com/
- ^ http://www.texaswhig.org
- ^ http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/08/modern-whig-party-adds-michigan-chapter/
