Posted on 04/23/2012 10:27:06 PM PDT by Perseverando
The Constitution Party nominated the Franklin County native in Nashville on Saturday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Constitution Party has nominated Virgil Goode to run for president of the United States.
Goode was nominated Saturday morning on the first round of voting at the party's convention in Nashville, according to Jim Clymer, the party's national chairman. Goode received 203 votes; 202 were required for a majority.
Goode, 65, of Rocky Mount is a former Virginia senator who served six terms in Congress.
"There was some spirited competition" for the Constitution Party nomination for president, with a total of six candidates, Clymer said.
Darrell Castle of Tennessee, national vice chairman of the Constitution Party, came in second with 120 votes. He entered the race at the virtual last minute -- on Friday, Clymer said.
Other candidates were Robbie Wells from North Carolina, former football coach at Savannah State University; Dr. Laurie Roth of Washington state, who has radio talk-show program; Susan Ducey of Kansas; and Don Grundman.
A total of 403 delegate votes were cast, Clymer said.
The convention also adopted a new platform, one not much different from its 2008 positions, Clymer said. The platform includes: pro-life; pro-gun/pro Second Amendment; stop illegal immigration; fair trade as opposed to free trade; restricting the size and scope of government to its constitutional authority; nonintervention in foreign affairs; and bringing troops home, Clymer said.
The majority of delegates felt Goode "has experience and understanding of the issues; is with us on virtually all issues; is a proven, principled constitutionalist; and overall would be the most effective of the candidates in getting the message out," Clymer said.
According to Goode's presidential campaign website, his positions include: having a smaller, less costly government; reducing the deficit; balancing the budget; reducing regulations and becoming energy independent; support for building the Canada to Texas pipeline; reducing legal immigration; stopping illegal immigration; terminating the current IRS Code so it can be replaced with something simpler and fairer; tort reform to help control medical costs; preserving and protecting Social Security; and ending Obama's health care reform legislation.
Goode is opposed to gay marriages/civil unions and supports the federal Marriage Protection Amendment, according to the website.
Among his other positions, Goode supports cutting U.S. defense spending around the world and bringing home U.S. troops from Afghanistan now. He also backs funding for veterans' health care.
Goode would continue to oppose abortion and would submit a budget with no funds for Planned Parenthood and similar entities.
He opposes placing U.S. forces under United Nations command, and says, "We need to curtail expenditures to the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and to foreign nations." He opposes any union between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. He opposes international trade agreements, such as NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Act).
He supports term limits for members of the U.S. House and Senate.
Goode was in Virginia's Senate from 1973 to 1996. He then served six terms in Congress before he lost his seat to Tom Perriello in 2008. Perriello was defeated by current 5th District U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt two years later.
A Democrat when he first was elected to Congress, Goode later became an independent and then a Republican.
It has long been my opinion that the Constitution party is our best “third party” option. It is already established and has the same conservative platform that we generally agree with. If Newt’s plans fail, I may well vote for Goode. I think we should take a serious look at growing the CP into the party to eclipse the GOP-e.
And I voted for Perot once.
What a mistake.
So what's the freakin plan?
He sounds like one of the last Blue dogs.
And as much chance of winning the general election.
/johnny
Sorry FRiend
200 some backers in Va is not a platform
He’s a populist. Just look at his trade stance. But, populism has been lacking for a while.
RE: So what’s the freakin plan?
The plan is to get Goode elected because we’ve already seen what Obama’s & Romney’s plans are and they don’t look good for America.
THAT is his platform. You know, like the republican platform that you can find here.
If you don't know the difference between a platform and backers, I can't help you.
But neither Goode nor Romney stand a chance in the general election, either way. And Romney may not make it to the general.
/johnny
No one knows the name.
There is no plan.
Ive always said Romney sucks in the GE because he cant compare and contrast to Obama.
Perry has actually kicked the PA square in the nuts since he was forced out.
EPA
/johnny
RE: No one knows the name.
There is no plan.
Then I guess we’re all doomed. What’s your plan again?
I’m Campaigning against Obama and for down ballot votes that will hold our nominee’s feet to the fire
See #17
RE: Then I guess we’re all doomed. What’s your plan again?
Shall we vote for Obama and go over the cliff at 90 mph, or vote for Romney and go over it at 60 mph? Ummm.
Really? Chuck Baldwin only got 199K votes out of 130+ million cast in '08. The Libertarians more than doubled that with 524K. If anything, the Libertarians would be considered the more viable of the alternate options, if you can call half a million votes viable.
I just watched Goodes speech at their Convention this weekend. There was a wall sconce and HVAC thermostat behind him like they were holding it in a Ramada Inn conference room. I don't think the party is as big as you think.
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