McCain Meets with State Chair of N.Y. Independence Party

This Newsday story, published May 31, says that U.S. Senator John McCain met briefly with the state chair of the Independence Party of New York, Frank MacKay. The story hints that McCain is seeking the Independence Party’s nomination. The story says that only 7 states allow fusion, but for president this is not true. Approximately half the states allow fusion for president. It is impossible to say an exact number of states, because it depends on whether one is talking about fusion between two qualified parties, or fusion between a qualified party and an unqualified party, or fusion involving a party and an independent candidate.

The New York Independence Party in the past has always supported a minor party or independent presidential candidate. It nominated Ross Perot in 1996, John Hagelin in 2000, and Ralph Nader in 2004.


Comments

McCain Meets with State Chair of N.Y. Independence Party — No Comments

  1. WTF I hope not if so the Independece Party of New York are complete sell outs. There was a rumor over at TPW of Nader meeting with Frank MacKay but I have no idea of this is true. I hope they shut the doors on McCain and nominate an independent.

  2. Well wanted to put a quote.

    “These disenchanted Democrats, often they’d rather cut their own arm off before they’d vote on a Republican line,” MacKay said, adding that in New York, “if he’s going to compete, McCain’s going to need our line to do it.”

    Sounds like MacKay is a sell out to independent ideals what a farce.

  3. The Independence Party of NY has never really had an ideology, per se, they really seem more interested in being “players”, “having a seat at the table”.

    I mentioned elsewhere; I wonder then who the Conservative Party of NY will nominate for pres? I wonder if they will take on some neocon protest candidate?

  4. Ralph Nader was kept off the ballot here in Pennsylvania in 2004, eventhough he had the requisite number of registered voter signatures, on the grounds that he was running as an Independent in PA while appearing on other states’ ballots as the Reform Party nominee. If McCain winds up appearing on New York’s ballot as the “Independence Party” nominee, while running as the Republican Party nominee elsewhere, then Pennsylvania sure as hell better exclude him from the ballot this year. Otherwise, that will be indisputable proof that this state discriminates against 3rd party candidates.

  5. My guess is that the Conservative Party of New York will nominate Senator John McCain for president.

  6. Actually, Nader was kept off the ballot in Pennsylvania in 2004 because enough of his signatures were thrown out to put him under the unusually high threshold that year. Many of these signatures were rejected on extremely questionable grounds.

    As far as I know, no state kept Nader off the ballot on the grounds that he ran on different ballot lines in different states. In several states (including, I believe, Pennsylvania), the Democrats argued that Peter Camejo could not run as an independent presidential candidate because he was enrolled in the Green Party of California, but I do not believe this argument was successful anywhere.

    The Democrats threw all sorts of frivolous legal arguments at Nader in 2004. In Florida, they tried to argue that the Reform Party was not a legitimate political party because it was broke. Harvard’s liberal Constitutional law talking head, Laurence Tribe, actually attached his name to this ridiculous argument. Ultimately, though, what stuck were signature challenges.

  7. I have to give McKay credit he is agile.Just this year he has been able to jump from Mike Bloomberg to Ron Paul to John McCain without missing a beat.
    New York State has a Lt.Governor’s position open.I would be glad to see him appointed to that if he would resign as State IPNY chair.

  8. Eric Prindle is right. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said a candidate cannot be kept off the ballot on the theory that he ran under one label in one state and another label in another state. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court isn’t a very good court, but at least they got that right.

    No presidential candidate has ever been kept off any November ballot, based on either his or her choice of what party to be registered in, or because he or she ran on different labels in different states, or because he or she is a sore loser (except that Lyndon LaRouche was kept off Mississippi in 1992 because he was a sore loser; he filed a lawsuit but then dropped it before it was adjudicated).

    As Eric said, Nader wasn’t on in Pennsylvania because it was determined he didn’t have enough valid signatures.

  9. Frank MacKay met with Ralphn Nader in 2008.
    Now Frank MacKay has met with another candidate.

    State Chairman meet with candidates. It’s part of the job. When you are a third party state chairman in a state with fusion, like New York, you have more options, and a bigger job.

    As state chairman, quite frankly it isn’t just about who is the strongest candidate for the nation.

    It’s about who builds your state party. It’s the state chairman’s job.

    The one aspect of this story NOT mentioned here:
    Frank MacKay’s role – a very different role – as national Chairman of the Independence Party of America. The alliance formed in January to put Michael Bloomberg on the ballot for President.

    That group might now form an alliance with the National Green Party and the Vermont Progressive Party….to support the Green Party nominee.

    …talks are rumored to be underway…

  10. The “rumor” out of yesterday’s IPNY meeting in Albany is that MacKay is not interested in supporting a 3rd party candidate.
    It’s one thing to meet with candidates it’s something different when a state chair keeps announcing support for various candidates.Last year MacKay was trying to draft Donald Trump.I give him credit for hanging in there though.

  11. That Donald Trump thing was waaayy back..

    With all that money and media notarity…Donald Trump would make a great Green Party Presidential, or Vice Presidential candidate.

  12. I hear MacKay is meeting with Obama, Naderm and even Bob Barr next.

  13. OK, so that is the explanation for Nader’s absence from the ballot in PA in 2004. At any rate, I recall that the Secretary of State reluctantly allowed write-in votes to be cast for Nader. So I wrote his name in, only to learn the next day (according to my local paper) that the election board for my county (York) wouldn’t count write-in votes for President. This state (and local governments) are incredibly hostile to 3rd party candidates and independents.

  14. It is and has been obvious that this MacKay is a political prostitute. He says is the State party Chair of the NY State Independence Party. Then he says he has started and is the National Chair of the Independence Party of America and actually signs up a few States. Then he flies out to a apartment in California and pays the Reform Party Vice Chairman $500.00 and is declared Executive Director of the Reform Party, but still is Chairman of another National Party, then a month later he declars hinmself National Chairman of BOTH the National Independence Party of America AND the Reform Party of America. What next????

    Someone please get this man some meds.

  15. California Prisons and Reform Party USA:

    REFORM PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES

    STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN RODNEY MARTIN REGARDING CURRENT LEADERSHIP AND LEGAL STATUS OF THE RPUSA

    As the Public is well aware, the RPUSA has been deadlocked in years of litigation and disputes regarding its leadership and direction.

    The Party that once came very near capturing the White House as a result of the grassroots efforts of every day people obtain ballot access in all 50 States, just 10 years ago, has today devolved into a handful of State Party Organizations divided in to two Camps, just 5 States remain

    have ballot access.

    Recently some State party groups joined the new Independence Party of America, who themselves are attempting to seize the RPUSA Marks and Name, while still building their own separate National 3rd Party, of course this can’t happen.

    Finally, the two sides came together and in the 193rd Judicial District Court of Texas, Judge Carl Ginsburg appointed a Court appointed Receiver for the RPUSA and declared the prior 2005 Yuma Convention of the RPUSA, which had only been attended by a handful of individuals from Arizona and California, to be invalid and ordered a new Convention to be held in accordance with the 2003 RPUSA Constitution. The Judge issues strict Guidelines as to who may participate and enjoined the RPUSA from conducting non routine business not in accordance with the 2003 Constitution and ruled that ALL State parties had to receive Notice for ALL Meetings.

    The Judge’s Orders are posted at http://WWW.REFORMPARTYUSA.US.

    Chairman Rodney Martin directed the implementation of a interim Reform Party Web Site at the request of Party Members after former RPUSA member refused to publish relevant legal information or even publish a web site or newsletter at all, and when a web site was eventually published, it directed the public to the National Chairman of the Independence Party of America’s personal e-mail and personal web sites.

    With the appointment of the Court Appointed Receiver, Mrs. Kay Crews, by Court Order on April 11, 2008, Mfrs. Crews for all purposes became Trustee for the RPUSA and all former Officers no longer exercised any binding authority. Chairman Martin according respects the decision of the court and directs all RPUSA business to be either deferred until after the July national Convention where new Leadership will be elected under Court Supervision, or direct any inquiries to the Court appointed Receiver, Mrs. Kay Crews. Anyone wishing the RPUSA to forward any inquiry to Mrs. Crews may do so via e-mail.

    The Public is cautioned that regardless of any representation or any official type looking materials produced by former officials of the RPUSA or officials of the Independence Party of America, this includes Messers John Blare and Frank MacKay. These groups of individuals or entities cannot and do not legally spe

  16. Via Donlake@sbcglobal.net:

    “Frank MacKay” , jblare@earthlink.net
    From: “John Blare” Add to Address BookAdd to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
    Yahoo! DomainKeys has confirmed that this message was sent by yahoogroups.com. Learn more
    Date: Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:01:53 -0700
    Subject: [reformtalklist] NY Supreme Court Order 28 May 2008 Enjoining and Restraining KAY ALLISON CREWS, CHARLES FOSTER, DAVID COLLISON, JANICE MILLER, RUBEN HERNANDEZ JR, MATTHEW (MATT) JOHNSON, BEVERLY (BEV) KENNEDY, and those acting in concert with or on their behalf et.al.

    NY Supreme Court Order 28 May 2008 Enjoining and Restraining KAY ALLISON CREWS, CHARLES FOSTER, DAVID COLLISON, JANICE MILLER, RUBEN HERNANDEZ JR, MATTHEW (MATT) JOHNSON, BEVERLY (BEV) KENNEDY, and those acting in concert with or on their behalf et.al.

    Attached is the 28 May 2008 signed NY Supreme Court Order enjoining and restraining Defendants KAY ALLISON CREWS, CHARLES FOSTER, DAVID COLLISON, JANICE MILLER, RUBEN HERNANDEZ JR, MATTHEW (MATT) JOHNSON, BEVERLY (BEV) KENNEDY, John and Jane Does 1-10 their agents, servants, employees, Internet web hosts, Internet domain hosts, and Internet email hosts (including email distributors) and all persons acting in concert with or on their behalf individually or collectively. As a convenience, a text version of the enjoining language is below with the full order attached.

    All recipients of this communication, by direct or indirect receipt, are so advised including recipients
    as may occur through redistribution of this email directly or by 3rd parties.

    Substantive reports of inappropriate behavior pertaining to this order sent to the email addresses below will be passed to Plaintiff legal counsel.

    jblare@earthlink. net – John Blare, RPUSA Secretary
    frankmackay@ yahoo.com – Frank MacKay, RPUSA Chair

    John Blare
    RPUSA Secretary

    cc: RPUSA National Committee

    ==========
    28 May 2008 NY Supreme Court Order

    P R E S E N T :

    HON. ____________ __JOSEPH C. PASTORESSA ____________ ___
    J.S.C.
    ———— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— x
    FRANK MacKAY, RPUSA CHAIRMAN and
    REFORM PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES Index No.
    OF AMERICA, and INDEPENDENCE PARTY OF
    NEW YORK

    Plaintiffs,

    -against- ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

    KAY ALLISON CREWS,
    CHARLES FOSTER,
    DAVID COLLISON,
    JANICE MILLER,
    RUBEN HERNANDEZ JR,
    MATTHEW (MATT) JOHNSON,
    BEVERLY (BEV) KENNEDY,
    John and Jane Does 1-10

    Defendants.
    ———— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— -x

    Upon reading and filing of the annexed affidavit of FRANK MacKAY, Chairman of REFORM PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , sworn to May 28, 2008, the verified complaint being simultaneously served herewith and the exhibits annexed hereto,

    Let the above defendants (hereafter “Defendants”) or anyone acting on their behalf or in concert with them, separately or collectively, or their attorneys show cause at an IAS Part to be assigned by this Court at the Courthouse located at One Court Street, Riverhead, New York on June __16____, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. or as soon thereafter as counsel(s) may be heard, why a preliminary injunction should not be granted pursuant to CPLR 6301 and 6311 enjoining above Defendants, or anyone acting on their behalf or in concert with them separately or collectively, including their agents, servants, employees, Internet web hosts, Internet domain hosts, and Internet email hosts (including email distributors) pending the hearing and determination of this action, from holding out as representative( s) of REFORM PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (hereafter also abbreviated as “Party”, or “RPUSA”, and referring inclusively to any similar name variant which could likely be taken to refer to the national Reform Party) or holding anyone other than Frank MacKay out as Party Chairman (including claims of office vacancy) or using the name or logo of the REFORM PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (“Party” including variants) in any manner or acting on behalf of said Party including without limitation calling or holding conventions, meetings or otherwise conducting business under the Party name or collecting any funds using the name or logo of said Party, and in the meantime, it is

    ORDERED, that pending the hearing and determination of this motion for a preliminary injunction, the Defendants, their agents, servants, employees, Internet web hosts, Internet domain hosts, and Internet email hosts (including email distributors) and all persons acting in concert with or on their behalf individually or collectively be and hereby are temporarily enjoined and restrained from holding anyone out as Party Chairman other than Frank MacKay, holding out anyone as representative or agent of the REFORM PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (“Party” including variants) or using the name or logo of the REFORM PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (“Party” including variants) in any manner or acting on behalf of said Party including without limitation calling or holding conventions, meetings or otherwise conducting business under the Party name or collecting or soliciting any funds using the name or logo of said Party, or issuing statements using the name or logo of said Party, and it is further,

    ORDERED, that sufficient reason appearing therefore, the Party including without limitation, the Party’s National Committee Frank MacKay Chairman, John Blare Secretary and the Party’s proper officers Frank MacKay Chairman and John Blare Secretary, may and shall continue to be conduct proper business unencumbered and without interference from Defendants their agents, servants, employees, and all persons acting in concert with or on their behalf (individually or collectively) , and it is further,

    ORDERED, that sufficient reason appearing therefore, let service of a copy of this Order, and the papers upon which it was granted, upon Defendants by overnight mail and regular mail on or before June __ 7 ___, 2008, be deemed good and sufficient service; and that Defendant’s papers in opposition to this application, if any, shall be served on the attorneys for plaintiff for delivery to them at least 72 hours prior
    to the return date or as otherwise agreed by the attorneys for the respective parties hereto.
    E N T E R

    ____________ JOSEPH C. PASTORESSA__ _________ __
    J.S.C.
    Granted May 28 2008

  17. Why is the National CAIRMAN OF THE Indpendence Party of America, Frank MacKay asking a NY Cort to do anything regarding the Reform party? I found it most interesting that his document ommitted the fact that all of the matters are currently under litigation in a court in Texas. According to Court Orders posted at http://www.reformpartyusa.us, a Court Appointed Receiver has been appointed and that person is the Kay Crews that MacKay is suing and he does not tell the NY Court that either.

    MacKay needs meds, the Receiver is the legal authority for the Reform Party since their appointment by the Court. I would still like to know how he can tell people with honest face tht he is the Chairman of two different National Political Parties, Oh ya, honest face, nevermind. He can pay another $500.00 for this Blare guy to do it for him.

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