Oct 24, 2008 8:00 am US/Eastern
DeFede: Gonna Party Like It's 1773
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
As early voting continues across Florida, some voters perusing their ballot for the first time may be surprised to learn that in addition to Barack Obama and John McCain, there are almost a dozen other presidential contenders to choose from in Florida.
Some, including Ralph Nader and Bob Barr, are relatively well known, but there are also socialists, environmentalists and even prohibitionists. And one of those presidential candidates is from right here in South Florida.
Charles Jay is the standard bearer for the Boston Tea Party, whose slogan is: We're going to party like its 1773.
And what was so good about 1773?
"I have no idea," Jay told me this week. "I'm concerned about the here and now. I wasn't crazy about the name. It doesn't Google well. You have to go through 41 pages before you get to the party's website."
Google, however, is the least of Jay's worries. From a small house in Hollywood, Jay has been running his quixotic campaign for the nation's highest office.
Jay, who won his party's nomination through an online convention, is on the ballot in Florida, Colorado and Tennessee, which means even if he wins all three states and their 47 electoral votes, he would still be 223 electoral votes from the White House.
"Rarely are third party candidates running for the purpose of winning," he said. "If you are running for that purpose, you have delusions of grandeur."
Politically speaking, the Boston Tea Party, which was formed about two years ago, is a splinter group within the Libertarian Party, a movement that demands personal responsibility and very little government control.
"No Corporate bailouts," Jay said. "Let's legalize all drugs. I believe the government should be out of the marriage business all together. I believe in the right of everybody to destroy themselves whatever way they want. some do it with sugar, some do it with cigarettes, and some do it with alcohol."
And some, I note, do it by running for president.
"And they run again," he agreed.
"And again," I said.
"I hope not," he sighed. "Don't say that."
Four years ago Jay ran for president with the Personal Choice Party. (He was on the ballot in Utah and received a total of 946 votes.) One of the ways he secured that party's nomination was by recruiting former porn star, Marilyn Chambers, to be his running mate.
"She's not what I would call a policy wonk," he admitted. "She's not really a political person."
Jay, 46, became involved in presidential politics for one very simple reason.
"It outraged me that online gambling was illegal," he said.
Which makes sense, since when he is not running for president, Jay makes his living as an odds maker for sporting events and writes for several gambling websites. He has buttons and flyers and a few yard signs in Tennessee, but hasn't been able to get them down to Florida.
"We're trying to get them down here before the election," he said.
The Boston Tea Party campaign is being run on less than $5,000.
"I'm trying to come up with what is known as an over/under on how many votes I'm going to get not only here but in the other states over all," he said. "I haven't come up with a number yet."
He seemed offended when I suggested whatever the number is, folks should bet the under.
"There are people that have recognized me," he said.
"Really?" I asked skeptically. "There are people who have recognized you?"
"We may, we may," Jay paused, choosing his words. "Well won't surprise anyone."
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