American Independent Party

American Independent Party
American Independent Party · Public domain · source
Name	American Independent Party
Founded	1967

American Independent Party is a far-right political party in the United States, founded in 1967 by Bill Shearer, Max Rafferty, and other conservative activists. The party was established in response to the perceived liberalism of the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, with its founders drawing inspiration from George Wallace, Barry Goldwater, and other prominent conservative figures, including Phyllis Schlafly and Pat Buchanan. The party's early years were marked by its association with the George Wallace presidential campaign, 1968, which also drew support from Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. The party's ideology has been influenced by various think tanks, including the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute, as well as media outlets like Fox News and National Review.

● History

The American Independent Party has its roots in the California-based American Independent Party of California, which was founded in 1967 by Bill Shearer and other conservative activists. The party's early history was marked by its association with the George Wallace presidential campaign, 1968, which also drew support from Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. The party's founders were influenced by the John Birch Society and other far-right organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan and the Minutemen. The party's early years were also marked by its opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which were supported by Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr.. The party's history has been shaped by its relationships with other conservative organizations, including the National Rifle Association and the Christian Coalition of America, as well as media outlets like The Washington Times and WorldNetDaily.

● Platform

The American Independent Party's platform is based on a conservative and nationalist ideology, with a strong emphasis on states' rights and limited government. The party opposes abortion, gay marriage, and other social liberal policies, which are supported by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. The party also supports a strong national defense, including the military–industrial complex, and has been critical of United States foreign policy under Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The party's platform has been influenced by the Tea Party movement and other conservative organizations, including the FreedomWorks and the Club for Growth. The party's economic policies are based on laissez-faire capitalism and free market principles, which are supported by The Wall Street Journal and the Cato Institute.

● Notable Figures

The American Independent Party has been associated with several notable figures, including George Wallace, Pat Buchanan, and Alan Keyes. The party has also been supported by conservative activists like Phyllis Schlafly and Paul Weyrich, who were also involved with the Heritage Foundation and the Free Congress Foundation. The party's current chairman is Mark Seidenberg, who has been involved with the party since the 1990s. Other notable figures associated with the party include Jerome Corsi, Joseph Farah, and Alex Jones, who have all been involved with conspiracy theory movements and far-right activism. The party has also been supported by conservative personalities like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

● Electoral Performance

The American Independent Party has had limited electoral success, with most of its candidates running in California and other western states. The party's best-known candidate is probably George Wallace, who ran for President of the United States in 1968 and received over 13% of the vote. The party has also run candidates in congressional elections and state legislature elections, with limited success. The party's electoral performance has been influenced by its relationships with other conservative organizations, including the Republican Party and the Libertarian Party. The party has also been involved in election controversy, including allegations of voter suppression and election fraud, which have been investigated by the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice.

● Organization and Structure

The American Independent Party is organized as a grassroots organization, with a strong emphasis on local politics and community activism. The party has a national committee and a state committee in California, as well as local chapters and affiliate organizations in other states. The party's structure has been influenced by the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, as well as other conservative organizations like the National Federation of Republican Assemblies. The party's organization has been shaped by its relationships with other conservative groups, including the Tea Party movement and the Christian right. The party has also been involved in coalition building with other conservative organizations, including the Conservative Political Action Conference and the Values Voter Summit.

● Controversies and Criticisms

The American Independent Party has been involved in several controversies and criticisms over the years, including allegations of racism and anti-Semitism. The party's founders were associated with the John Birch Society and other far-right organizations, which have been criticized for their extremist views. The party has also been criticized for its homophobic and transphobic policies, which have been opposed by LGBT rights organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. The party's electoral performance has also been marred by allegations of voter suppression and election fraud, which have been investigated by the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice. The party has been criticized by liberal and progressive organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League, as well as media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post.