I hate to admit it, but there are some times that I wonder if taking the third party route I have chosen was really the best way to go.  After all, am I really making that much of a difference?  Well, after reading the news this morning, I am once again confident that my choice of the Constitution Party was right on the mark!

This morning, the big news here in the Boston area is focused on State Senator James Marzilli.  According to the Boston Herald account, “State Sen. James Marzilli was arrested in Lowell yesterday after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault a stranger sitting on a park bench, gave police a false name and then led officers on a foot chase that ended in a downtown parking garage, law enforcement officials said.”

How shamefully sad for the people this man represents. What is all the more shocking is, this is not the first time for the distinguished Senator.  At least two other women have come forward in the past with similar accusations.  These charges came just about three weeks ago.  The prosecutor decided not to file charges.   Apparently, Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone decided to give Marzilli another chance.  Of course, he did take another chance, at another woman!

This is just another example of politics as usual.  Here we have one politician covers for another politician.  Marzilli has been in public office for many years now and believes he is above the law and not accountable to the people.  He is a sexual predator among the very people he was elected to represent.  

But what I fear even more than any of this is the culture that allows for such unthinkable action.  Politicians believe they can do whatever they wish to do, regardless of the law.  They believe themselves to be above the law.  This attitude is evidenced not just in dirty old men like Marzilli, but in state legislatures around the country, the US Congress and even the President Himself.  They all believe themselves to be above the law.

We are witness to this all the time, every day.  Sure, most elected officials are not out there harassing women (though some are) and committing heinous crimes.  However, most in government are ignoring and think themselves above the most basic and fundamental law in our nation, the US Constitution. 

Each and every day this historic document is trampled on and rendered irrelevant by lawmakers.  There is no concern to stay within the realm of constituted boundaries.  This why the President can throw us into the horrors of war without a Congressional declaration.  This is why  Congress can spend money like a drunken sailor, leave our grandchildren with a crippling national debt and rob us of more and more of our hard-earned money under the guise of a “tax.” 

As if this were not enough, here in Massachusetts, we add even more fuel to the fire.  We have a governor who openly detests the idea of the people having their will be done.  He asked the state legislators to ignore our own state constitution and deny the people their right to vote.  He also wanted to give special privileges to illegal immigrants by granting them in-state tuition rates to our local colleges.  When the folks upon on Beacon Hill, the ones supposedly representing the people, made it clear they would have nothing to do with it, Governor Patrick went searching for a way to by-pass the people and legislative system altogether.  Like a tyrant believing himself to be above the law, he wanted to find a way to enact this himself.  Incredible!

I was recently interviewed on the millerpolitics.com blog. The interview covered my thoughts concerning the Constitution Party presidential nomination.

You can read the interview here - http://www.millerpolitics.com/6/post/2008/04/kevin-thompson-on-the-constitution-party-in-2008.html

Most conservatives I know are deeply disturbed by the results of this year’s election. What happened? Where is the conservative-standard bearer we were all hoping for? I think the more important question that must be asked is this – if conservatives do not like McCain, how in the world did he get the nomination?

Some would suggest that the conservative vote was siphoned off by a number of different candidates. In other words, conservatives failed to back one candidate and so their support was weakened by supporting a number of different candidates such as Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. Yet, as I recall, conservatives were not happy with those selections either, and with good reason. 

The truth is, there were real conservatives in this race – Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul and Alan Keyes. However, no one was willing to throw their support behind these men. Their conservative message and principles never caught on within their own party – at least on a national level.

It is time to wake up and realize what has happened here. The Republican Party, quite frankly, is no longer a conservative party. Conservative parties are made up of conservative voters who nominate conservative candidates. The GOP did not even come close to this. It is time conservatives understood this, they have been betrayed.

So what is a conservative voter to do? They could support the lesser of two evils, hold their nose, and cast their vote for McCain – the lesser of two evils. At least that way we prevent a Democrat from taking office. Of course, should you choose this route, please realize you have done nothing to promote your own values or principles. You will have still failed to elect a conservative. 

Is there another option? Yes. We can follow the lead of Dr. Alan Keyes. A lifelong Republican, Dr. Keyes has announced he has finally had enough. On April 15, he announced his departure from the Republican Party? Where will he go? He is openly expressed a desire to run with the Constitution Party.

As I Constitution Party member since 2006, I admire the courage of Dr. Keyes and others like him. I too had to make this decision, and it was not easy. But enough was enough. I could no longer support a party who refuses to protect our borders or even to protect innocent human life in the womb. You have to draw the line somewhere. 

This year is an exciting year for the Constitution Party. On April 26, next Friday, we will select our Presidential nominee. Our two leading candidates are Dr. Alan Keyes and Dr. Chuck Baldwin. Unlike the choices in other parties, our nomination is between two excellent candidates, either of whom I would be more than happy to support.

Dr. Alan Keyes is a proven champion of family and moral values. Our country does not have a more passionate, eloquent defender of the pro-life cause. Dr. Keyes’s name recognition and national campaign operation would be a valuable asset to the party. Just his name alone would attract more people into our fold. Learn more by logging on to www.alankeyes.com. 

Dr. Chuck Baldwin was our 2004 Vice Presidential candidate, an outspoken pastor not afraid to speak out on the issues that matter most. He is often referred to as the “Conscience of the Constitution Party.” Baldwin hosts a daily radio program and writes a widely syndicated newspaper column. Learn more by logging on to www.chuckbaldwinlive.com.

Both candidates have their strong points and their weak points. But, either way, we will have a strong candidate who will fight to restore the Constitution and defend the liberties we hold so dear. 

To my fellow conservatives still remaining in the GOP, I say this, haven’t you had enough? Aren’t you tired of being in a party where your views are merely tolerated, instead of championed? Come, take a brave step of faith, and join us over here. You’ll have a home with others who are like-minded. Do we have a chance of winning? Some say no. I say otherwise. Yet ultimately, this decision rests in your hands. Candidates are elected only have the people have spoken. How will you use your voice? Should you chose to support McCain, he may just win and our candidate would lose. If enough patriots decided to vote their conscience, then there is absolutely no telling what could happen.

Two weeks ago it was my humble honor to walk upon the famous Lexington Green in Lexington, MA. Here, hundreds of years ago, a shot was heard around the world, the start of a war that would lead to our country’s independence. This war was waged not between two armies of equal strength and might, but between the most power army on the face of the earth and rag-tag bunch of farmers with little to no battle experience. Yet, within this much smaller “army,” was a desire for freedom that would never be satisfied with anything less than their liberty. One author once told us to never doubt a small group of concerned citizens who claim they will change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. 

Will we win? The choice is yours? Do you have the courage to make the right decision?

Kevin Thompson is an Assistant Pastor in MA, a former candidate for the US House of representatives, as well as a member of the Constitution Party of Massachusetts state committee. You can visit his website at www.kevinjthompson.info, read his blog at http://kevinjthompson.wordpress.com, or listen to him weekly on the Understanding our Times internet radio broadcast at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/understandingourtimes.

Dear Friends of the Constitution,

Ever since December of 2006, I have been thinking that one man really ought to be our next President – Pastor Chuck Baldwin.  However, at the time, I just dismissed the thought as wishful thinking.  Many people today would make good Presidents, but there can only be one and it takes a lot of money, publicity and comprises to get there.  Oh well…

Yet, since joining the Constitution Party around that same time (November of 2006), my eyes have been opened to many new things and ideas.  I made the vow never to vote for the lesser of two evils again.  Our Founding Fathers handed down to us a republic based on the idea of representation.  Therefore, it is my job as a citizen to vote for the candidate who best represents my views and opinions.

I know many people who are greatly discouraged at our current line-up of mainstream Presidential candidates.  Even the Republican Party is not happy with the candidate they have all but nominated.  Conservatives find themselves in a pickle.  True conservatives could never bring themselves to vote for John McCain.  But who should they vote for?  What other option is there?  My proposal – vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party.

Chuck Baldwin is an unquestionable champion of Constitutional liberty.  Baldwin has the character and backbone to stand up to those who threaten our God-given freedom.  He will not begin auctioning off his beliefs one by one as the pressure mounts to become part of the mainstream, status quo, bureaucratic mess that has taken over Washington.

Yet, this all stands second to his commitment first to the Lord.  Pastor Baldwin understands the sovereignty of God in all matters and willfully submits to this Authority.  Instead of merely seeking to limit the scope of abortion, Chuck Baldwin would be our greatest ally in abolishing this wicked act forever.  He would stand in defense of our families in his rigid opposition to those who seek to push their radical homosexual agenda.

President Baldwin would never engage our military in tyrannical empire-building overseas, sell out to the United Nations, or allow our nation to merge in a deplorable North American Union.  He would, however, seal our borders, keep America safe, and send deportation notices to all those who are here illegally.

But most of all, Chuck Baldwin would bring our government back to its constitutionally limited size.   Some seek to limit earmarks, Chuck Baldwin would eliminate all unconstitutional spending and restore the Ninth Amendment!  He would put an end to illegal wiretaps and government intrusion into our personal lives.

If you are already familiar with Dr. Baldwin, I am sure you already know of all this.  If you are not, please visit www.chuckbaldwinlive.com and acquaint yourself with this fine Christian, patriot.  

Now, I can already hear the objections – he’s not well known!  I realize this.  Perhaps our party would be better off with someone with more name recognition such as Bob Smith, Judge Roy Moore or Alan Keyes.  All of these potential candidates are great men and worthy of your consideration.  Of course I, along with many of you, jumped on the Ron Paul bandwagon.  I was the Paul Precinct captain here in Brockton, MA.  I endorsed the man, and I don’t regret it.  However, he made it clear he would not run third party, though it is clear to all the GOP will never let this man take their nomination.

Dr. Baldwin is the only of these candidates who is actually a member of the party!  He has shown his loyalty time and time again.  He is regarded by some to be “the Conscience of the Constitution Party.”  While others may want to use our party for their own advancement, Chuck Baldwin is clearly here for the duration.

Besides, let me throw one other idea out there.  Perhaps this is the idealist in me speaking, but shouldn’t we consider more the person who ought to be our President than the person who has the best chance of winning?  In other words, perhaps we ought to be rooting for the right man than just the man who can go the furthest?  If that were all I was looking for, I would not have left the Republican party in the first place.

Maybe instead of looking for someone with the most visibility, we should be putting our efforts into making the best man visible.  My feeling is we should make Chuck Baldwin our nominee, and work harder than we ever have to give him the platform, visibility and recognition that he actually deserves!  This will be a lot of work, I understand that.  It may even border impossible.  Yet, with my God, all things are possible!

I want to get out there and campaign for a candidate I actually stand with.  I don’t want to use my valuable time stumping for a guy I still have some reservations concerning.  Just for once, I want to be able to support a man I believe in whole-heartedly.  That man is Chuck Baldwin.

At least at this point, Pastor Baldwin has not officially decided to seek the nomination of the Constitution Party.  I urge you to write him an encouraging note.  Let him know he has supporters.  Let him know what we already know – America needs Chuck Baldwin in the White House!  You can contact Dr. Baldwin through his website – www.chuckbaldwinlive.com.

You can also make your thoughts known on my new blog – http://draftchuck.wordpress.com.

Because of Grace,

Kevin Thompson
www.kevinjthompson.info

Kevin Thompson is an Assistant Pastor in MA, a former candidate for the US House of representatives, as well as a member of the Constitution Party of Massachusetts state committee. You can visit his website at www.kevinjthompson.info or read his blog at http://kevinjthompson.wordpress.com.