National Chairman's Letter
November 2000
Dear Members and Friends of the Independent American Party,
The Republican and Democrat parties have gone to war! There are no holds
barred in this momentous struggle between the Bush and Gore camps to wrestle
control of the White House. One candidate will "win" and the other
will "lose." But the real loser already is the American people. We
lose with either Gore or Bush. Yet worse, we lose because our Constitution and
our system of free elections are being overtly trampled upon. And in the larger
sense, our Christian values, national sovereignty and liberty are being
threatened regardless of which major political party holds power. Perhaps now,
the American people will awake from their two-party complacency or apathy and
start caring about the preservation and future of our nation.
While Bush and Gore are virtually tied at 48% in the national popular vote,
the various third party candidates made a dismal showing. Ralph Nader of the
Green Party got 2.67%. Pat Buchanan of the Reform Party, 0.43%. Harry Browne of
the Libertarian Party, 0.37%. Howard Phillips of the Independent American and
Constitution Parties, 0.10%. John Hagelin of the Natural Law Party, 0.08%. Even
with some fairly significant media exposure for Nader and $12.5 million of
federal funding for Buchanan, all third party presidential candidates combined
polled less than four percent.
In Utah where the Independent American Party had 27 candidates on the ballot,
we did somewhat better. The statewide and congressional candidates averaged
about 2%. The highest tally for an IAP candidate in a traditional state
legislative race (with both a Democrat and Republican) was 6.47%. The highest
for a non-traditional race (with only one major party candidate) was 15.36%. The
overall averages were slightly less than what the Utah IAP polled in 1998.
However (except for the presidential race) the Utah IAP out-polled the
Libertarian Party in all races by nearly two-to-one, and out-distanced the other
third parties by an even greater margin.
To the glee (perhaps) of many Democrats and Republicans, all third parties
took a real hit. It is perhaps a dark moment. Washington had his dark moments
during the Revolutionary War and the Constitutional Convention. Lincoln had his
dark moments during the Civil War. But by the benevolence of God, right
prevailed, and we were blessed with a free nation, a divinely inspired
Constitution, and a preserved Union. As the two major parties are embroiled in
their election war, perhaps now is the time for the viable emergence of a third
party -- such as the Independent American Party! Even though our liberty and
Constitution seem to be hanging by a thread: With God's help, again, America can
and will prevail!
Yours for Freedom!
Bruce Bangerter
IAP National Chairman
