Chuck Baldwin

Apparently, every year Chuck writes an article about his life, beliefs and convictions, and shares them with the world. This one just happens to coincide with his Presidential campaign under the Constitution Party.

Here are some highlights:

Strictly Personal

​…I believe the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, is the greatest civil document ever devised by man. I steadfastly support the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence. I believe America’s Founding Fathers to be the greatest generation of Christian philosophers and patriots to ever live.

​…I believe there is a conspiracy by elitists within government and big business to steal America’s independence. I believe many, if not most, pastors today have become little more than glorified politicians, and I am very disappointed in the way today’s national Christian leaders seem to have sold out to political and commercial powers.

​…Besides Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida and the Constitution Party, the only organizations to which I belong are Gun Owners of America, and The National Rifle Association. I especially support GOA, as it is the only Second Amendment advocacy group that refuses to compromise for the sake of political correctness.

…My favorite news magazine is The New American. I heartily recommend that every American read it.
​

​…Chuck Baldwin is Founder-Pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. In 1985 the church was recognized by President Ronald Reagan for its unusual growth and influence.

​…Dr. Baldwin is the host of a lively, hard-hitting syndicated radio talk show on the Genesis Communications Network called, “Chuck Baldwin Live” This is a daily, one hour long call-in show in which Dr. Baldwin addresses current event topics from a conservative Christian point of view.

Source

Well, Baldwin appears to be a real “man’s, man”–member of Gun Owners of America, reads The New American–just what America needs.

His doctorate is honorary, by the way. I don’t like it when ministers use the title, “Dr.”, especially if it’s honorary. But that’s a personal matter. I just thought I would throw that out there.

​2008 Presidential Campaign

Baldwin was chosen as the Constitution Party nominee on April 26, 2008 at the national convention held in Kansas City, Missouri. He received 383.8 votes, ahead of Alan Keyes, another former Republican, who drew 125.7 votes from delegates. Baldwin then asked the convention to nominate attorney Darrell Castle of Tennessee as his running mate, and this request was honored.

Source

However, Steve Gunn, of the Muskegon Chronicle, had a different account of the convention than the abbreviated Wikipedia entry.

'Mad Max' not the life of the Constitution Party

​Despite the small number of votes, Riekse claimed his third-place finish made him the favorite of the delegates for the vice presidential nomination.

But according to Riekse, party leaders then caused an uproar by announcing their own choice for vice president, attorney Darrell Castle of Tennessee, and saying there would be no delegate balloting for the position.

After several hours of heated argument, a roll call of delegates was finally taken, and Castle came out on top, Riekse said.

“They had already picked a huckster lawyer from Tennessee (for vice president) and they weren’t going to allow a roll call,” Riekse said. “I was extremely disappointed in the Constitution Party.”

Riekse, a former Republican, left the convention bitter and disillusioned with his new party. He claimed that Howard Phillips, one of the founders of the party, manipulated the entire process to his own liking and ignored delegate preferences.

“Overall, it was a great experience, but I expected more of the party of principles, and more of Chuck Baldwin,” Riekse said. “They displayed no more principles than the Democrats or Republicans.

“I’m not going to participate in this party anymore.”

Source

That’s slightly different from what Political Fix reported:

At KC convention, Constitution Party picks pastor for president

​Later Saturday, the party selected Darrell Castle of Tennessee as its vice presidential nominee.

Meanwhile, Alan Keyes — a former Republican presidential candidate who attended the Constitution Party’s convention in quest of its presidential nominee — apparently contends that he was treated unfairly.

Source

Factually true, but not quite the whole story of the confrontation experienced that afternoon.

In case you can’t tell, I’m not a big fan of Chuck Baldwin, and apparently the Constitution Party.

Update: The link to the Muskegon Chronicle article is no longer available. However, I was able to find a copy of it at the Internet Archive. I also saved a copy as a PDF, you know, just in case. But before I found the archived copy, the only similar story, at the Muskegon Chronicle, I could find on this subject was this article (dated one day before the convention) about Max Riekse being a VP hopeful for the Constitution Party. I’m sure it’s merely a coincidence that this article still exists, but an article mentioning any conflict at the convention conveniently disappeared.