| | In 1976, when we founded the LPNC, getting signatures was our first hurdle.
With help from National, we were able to achieve that goal (with near exhaustion for all the crew).
Because of the refusal of our preferred gubernatorial candidate -- one Wilbur Smith of Wilmington, who wanted to be the candidate of both the LPNC and the American Party -- to submit to interrogation of his true political beliefs, the gauntlet was thrown to me.
Thirty years before Kinky Friedman said it, I responded to Chairman Bert Weiner's request with, "Why the hell not?"
I left North Carolina in 1977. I understand that the party gained ~15% in the 1978 elections, after which time it was taken over by anarchists and leftists.
I voted LP in 1980 and 1984, and even in 1992 when I was working in the White House. But sometime during the national LP campaign against our placing missiles in Europe to counter the Soviets, the LP left me. Even the CATO guys departed the increasingly unrealistic organization.
I am sorry that small parties are once again being screwed by the State. But any national party that could possibly run a Presidential candidate such as Harry Browne or the one in 2004 is not to be taken seriously. (About like the national Democrat party.)
Good luck with any new political ideas and campaigns, but thirty years later the LP is a failure, in my book. (It was fun but quixotic.)
Cheers,
-Arlan Andrews
1976 Gubernatorial Candidate of the LPNC
(Google for other activities since...)
PS: If anyone knows Craig Springer, or Tom Ball, or Bert Weiner, or any of the other crew from that revolutionary time, please ask them to post here so that I may contact them.
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