Boston Tea Party elects new officers, works on program and bylaws

Oct. 25, 2008 - PRLog -- Midway into its second biennial convention -- held entirely online -- America's new libertarian political party has chosen a new slate of national officers, adopted the program of "the Ron Paul R3VOLution," and partially completed work on amendments to its bylaws.

The party elected Jason Gatties of Michigan and Douglass Gaking of Indiana to terms as chair and vice-chair of its national committee. Michelle Luetge of Texas ran unopposed (except for the bylaws-required "None of the Above" option) for a second full term as secretary, beating NOTA handily.

The party's program is re-written every two years and consists of a maximum of five points. Members voted overwhelmingly in favor of adopting four points, transcribed verbatim from the Campaign For Liberty's joint candidate statement, endorsed by Boston Tea Party presidential nominee Charles Jay, as well as Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party, Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party, independent candidate Ralph Nader, and Bob Barr of the Libertarian Party. Baldwin, McKinney and Nader appeared at a press conference with US Representative and former Republican presidential nomination candidate Ron Paul (R-TX) to promote the four-point program. The four points address foreign policy, privacy, the national debt and the Federal Reserve.

The party's bylaws were also amended to make member appeals of national committee decisions easier; to term-limit national committee officers; and to address conflicts of interest between service on the national committee and working for party campaigns.

Members will continue to consider program points, bylaws amendments, and resolutions over the next 48 hours. Four elections to at-large positions on the national committee will wrap up as other convention business comes to a close.

The party's one-sentence platform is not up for amendment -- the party's bylaws forbid changing it. It reads: "The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."

The Boston Tea Party's presidential candidate, Charles Jay of Florida, will appear on voters' ballots in Colorado, Florida and Tennessee on November 4th. Jay is also a write-in option in some other states.

Boston Tea Party web site: http://www.bostontea.us

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Platform of the Boston Tea Party: "The Boston Tea Party supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose."