Third Party 'Media Blues' Don't Discourage Former GOP Leader
by Bill Fancher
July 28, 2004
(AgapePress) - Major networks are giving one hour of prime-time coverage to the Democratic National Convention, while some cable channels are offering America gavel-to-gavel coverage. It's not that way for third parties.Third parties are getting very little, if any media coverage of their conventions. But they continue their uphill struggle for recognition. One of those parties is the Constitution Party, which has nominated the presidential ticket of Michael Peroutka and Chuck Baldwin. John Lofton of the Constitution Party says the lack of media coverage makes the party's goal harder to achieve and its message more obscure.
"Our role in the Constitution Party is right in line with the themes of the Michael Anthony Peroutka campaign," he says, "that is, to honor God first; to defend the Christian family, the God-ordained family, the man-woman only family; and to attempt to restore what our founders gave us in the form of our government."
Lofton is convinced those themes will appeal to many conservative Christians. "I literally have no idea who is going to line up in our line," he says, "but I know one thing: this is a party that is sounding a very certain trumpet."
Lofton, a former Republican Party leader, says the Constitution Party will continue to hammer away on its theme, even though that message is not getting any attention from the press. He says he is hopeful some people will hear and join their crusade to change Washington.
Puzzled by Clinton's Comments
During Monday's first night of the Democratic National Convention, former President Bill Clinton announced he had received over a million-dollar tax cut, thanks to the Bush administration. He then criticized the tax cut as a gift to the rich and bemoaned it as unfair to other Americans.
Lofton says he was puzzled by Clinton's words. "I was reading the text of his speech, and I made a note beside it saying: 'So is Clinton giving back the tax cut?'" he says. "How about let's make a little bet -- I bet 'no.'"
The Constitution Party spokesman says it will be hard for multi-millionaires like Kerry and Edwards, and now Bill Clinton, to identify with the common man -- but they will try, he says.
