I Hate Third Parties But...

by Burton S. Blumert

"I personally know most of the people running for president: Pat Buchanan, Harry Browne, Howard Phillips, and Joe Sobran, before he quit," I bragged to a friend.

"Yeah, and you probably know most of the people voting for them," he observed.

Very funny.

Although hardly a card-carrying member of the Buchanan Brigade, I've been crazy about Pat ever since 1990. It's been a bumpy decade. The 1996 primaries provided the high point. Pat had swept the Republican New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries and was on a roll. Things were so hot that a pal seriously confided he wanted the U.S. Ambassadorship to the Vatican in the Buchanan Administration.

Take your pick on low points but the press conference with the commie Fulani scraped the bottom.

Which leads to my present condition. One morning last winter I awakened to the dull pain of a disease long in remission. The dreaded virus was back: Third Party Itis (TPI).

Pat Buchanan was superbly cast as the Republican outsider. His intelligence, wit, and commitment to principle exposed the rotten Stupid Party for what it was. Rotten and stupid. But that is all changed now. Pat has entered the world of third party politics, and I am having a relapse.

Pat's decision to go third party released a flood of images I thought I had suppressed. My initial exposure to fringe and third party candidates was as a victim of direct mail solicitations during the 1970s and 80s. In those days it was a ten-dollar check if the fundraiser pushed at least one appropriate right-wing button.

It never occurred to me at the time, but not one of my candidate beneficiaries ever came close to winning.

In the early 1980s I received an emergency phone call on election eve. The Council candidate in a Southern California city had a "real chance". All that was needed was a last minute media blitz. This was before Fed-Ex, and my $100 went Western Union. "We can win it " was the last thing the caller said. The candidate received 8% of the vote. Were these people crooked or dumb? No, it is pure self-delusion. Roger McBride the brilliant, flamboyant Libertarian Party Presidential candidate in 1976 used his own DC-3 aircraft to campaign, hopping from airport to airport. As the crowds grew from a hand-full of well wishers to one hundred or more, McBride actually believed there was a remote chance of victory.

Thus, what started as my innocent interest in 3^rd party candidates led to years of third party politics. Gradually and inexorably TPI sets in; reality becomes blurred, quality and shoddiness become indiscernible and critical judgment is lost.

On Saturday, May 20, 2000, elections for Reform Party presidential delegates were held all over the state of California. The Buchanan campaign was well prepared, but it was unknown how much opposition the anti-Buchanan forces were going to mount.

I was on my way to San Jose. The drive to San Jose was California freeway at its worst." Why am I doing this?" I implored the heavens. (Have you noticed how many solitary drivers hector to imaginary passengers?) I'm running as a Buchanan delegate, that's why I'm doing it. With full knowledge of my Third Party Itis medical history, and impaired judgment, the Buchanan campaign asked me to run and there I was.

All the major hotel chains are represented in San Jose, and there are several outstanding upscale sites the Reform Party might have used for the event. Guess where our meeting, followed by lunch, was scheduled? You've got it: Denny's. Its safe to say that in the realm of two party politics so important an event would be at the Ritz-Carlton or the Marriott at least.

The Reform Party regulars at the San Jose elections were split into two groups. Some were neutral about Buchanan, others were for "anybody but Pat." Not only did we outnumber them, we "out-passioned" them as well. Victory was almost complete. Districts 14 through 17 were Buchanan's.

As for lunch, my hunger overcame the wisdom of delaying gratification, and I still shudder at the memory of the overcooked burger swimming in some sort of mayonnaise derivative. See what I mean about loss of judgement?

The Buchanan campaign still has big problems in California. Winning the delegates to the Reform Party national convention was one thing, but it was important that the State party, if not friendly to Pat, at least not be hostile to his candidacy.

The Reform Party state convention took place early this month, and it was a dismal event The hotel in Los Angeles was a dump. Can you believe that my room's TV only received four channels? A bellman told me that the hotel had a disagreement with the cable company. Sounds to me like they didn't pay their bill.

The outcome of the weekend's agony was mixed. The Buchanan campaign lost several key votes, but survived a bit of treachery from the Fulani group when the convention voted down their insidious motion to essentially gag the Party's presidential candidate from dealing with "social issues". It's my guess that we won't have anything but hostility from the Fulani group from here on in and that is most likely a plus.

The really bad news was that the virulently anti-Pat elements of the party were emboldened by the results of the convention. We will learn more about all of this in the days ahead.

I've been to a dozen or so political conventions, several of the 3^rd party variety, but the Reform Party's California state convention was as amateurish as anything I've ever encountered. The parliamentarian wasn't quite comfortable with Robert's Rules and on almost every vote the delegates were unsure if "Yes" really meant "No."

Years ago I was invited to address a 3^rd party Central Committee group.

I had difficulty locating the meeting room in the large downtown hotel. I found it, eased my way in, and sat in the rear listening to the rituals and procedures for 15 minutes before I realized it was a Teamster's local meeting. So much for the distinction between form and substance.

I must confess that when Pat finally left the Republicans for the Reform Party I had grave reservations. The GOP had returned Pat's loyalty, principle and grace with betrayal, lies and plain old bad manners. They made it clear there was no place for him.

Pat is no third party type loser. He brings intellect, wit, and toughness to the debate. Pat Buchanan has no reverse gear. With luck, he can be included in the presidential debates. He may also expose the two party stranglehold on ballot access, thereby making the electoral process more equitable.

Wait a second. The point of this essay was to discredit the third party movement in this country. That is no giant task. But when all the evidence is weighed what third parties represent may be infinitely better than the corruption we presently live under.

June 13, 2000

Burt Blumert, publisher of LewRockwell.com, served on the Libertarian Party National Committee 1987-89, was treasurer of the Libertarian Party Presidential campaign in 1984, and chairman of the Ron Paul Presidential campaign, Libertarian Party 1988.