Constitution Party Years
He is one of the founders of the U.S. Taxpayers Party (which changed its name to the Constitution Party in 1999), a third party associated with conservative, pro-life issues, and constitutional government ideas on both social and fiscal issues. He was that party's presidential candidate in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 elections for President of the United States. Phillips first campaign for president in 1992 ended in a seventh place finish. The campaign received 43,369 votes for 0.04% of the total vote. In 1996 the Phillips campaign finished sixth with 184,656 votes for 0.19% of the total vote. In the 2000 election he received 98,020 votes for 0.1% of the total vote and a sixth place finish. In the 1996 campaign, Phillips also endorsed the Republican U.S. Senate nominee, Woody Jenkins in Louisiana, defeated by the Democrat Mary Landrieu, in a close outcome which Jenkins unsuccessfully disputed before the senators. After the 1992 National Convention in New Orleans, it was discovered that Michael Skaggs, the party's first convention manager, was fired by nominee and founder Howard Phillips because Skaggs did not vote for Phillips at the convention for president. Skaggs, who was also a delegate representing the District of Columbia and was at no time told his vote was a requirement for remaining employed, instead voted for Arizona Governor Evan Mecham. As a result of his vote he was fired from his position with Phillips' group, the Conservative Caucus. The only reason Phillips gave for the firing was Skaggs' vote for Mecham. Skaggs filed a lawsuit for wrongful firing which was settled out of court for a very small amount. At no time has Phillips admitted wrongdoing or taken responsibility for denying Skaggs' First Amendment Voting Rights. The story was reported to a number of conservative news outlets, including "Human Events", "The New American", and "Southern Partisan". Phillips was chosen by an overwhelming majority of delegates at the National Convention of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, in San Diego, California, on August 17, 1996 to serve as its presidential candidate.
Read more about this topic: Howard Phillips (politician)
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