CHARLES JAY - Presidential Nomination Acceptance Statement

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the Boston Tea Party for welcoming me so warmly, and for entrusting me with this nomination for President of the United States, which quite obviously I accept. As I said in my pre-convention statement, I have been absolutely delighted with the dedication and professionalism I have seen. And I am looking forward to waging a campaign that everyone can be proud of.

I see this as the start of what will be an amazing journey; a tremendous experience for all of us. It's a great collaboration between people who are resolute in decreasing the size, scope and power of an all-too powerful government and increasing liberty and freedom for all Americans. The Boston Tea Party's platform and program represent the true fulfillment of what the Founding Fathers envisioned.

I look forward to the challenge of spreading a message that is consistent with those ideals, and working with a group of people who are truly committed to them. You are lynchpins of that group, who have not just talked about that kind of commitment, but have put it into action, demonstrating a degree of devotion and selflessness that is all too rare in this day and age.

I think there is a name for people like that.

Heroes.

They may be in short supply elsewhere, but not in the Boston Tea Party, and I would like to recognize some of them now, with apologies if I inadvertently left anyone out.

As I write this we are in the midst of our effort - on VERY short notice, I might add - to gain ballot access in Colorado, and Wes Pinchot has done much of the heavy lifting there. Thanks to him, and to Dan Sallis Jr., who will be the stand-in candidate for vice-president if and when we appear on the ballot. Then there is Darcy Richardson, the expert's expert on the subject of third parties in America, who is about as open and generous with his time as anyone could imagine. And Jim Davidson, our party chair, who's not afraid to get on the front lines and slug it out with the best of 'em.

Special kudos go out to all the candidates who ran for the BTP nominations - Todd Andrew Barnett, Chris Bennett, Robert Milnes - who stepped up when it was needed, not to mention Douglass Gaking, who was kind enough to host our candidate debates and is well on his way to establishing a presence for the BTP in Indiana.

And of course, party founder Tom Knapp, one of the great activists in the libertarian movement, who will undoubtedly be the most relevant and important running mate in the 2008 presidential election.

This campaign is going to be about a lot of things. It's going to be about framing a vision for the future that will help push us toward greater liberty in the years to come. It's about achieving ballot access against the "wishes" of some influential people who would like to see that effort fail. It's about educating others and getting a bit of an education ourselves. It's about developing alliances with organizations who share the our desire for smaller government, whether it be the Personal Choice Party (from whom I had already secured a 2008 nomination), the Liberty Coalition, AfterDowningStreet.org, or any others who are hell-bent for freedom. They're all invited.

Perhaps most of all, it's about teamwork. And there's no reason we can't make it happen.

Because I believe that famous quote from Margaret Mead; one that transcends any and all ideologies:

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

That's our clarion call.

CHARLES JAY
Boston Tea Party -
2008 candidate for President of the United States