Chuck Baldwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Baldwin
|
|
|---|---|
Baldwin's official 2008 election portrait
|
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles Obadiah Baldwin
May 3, 1952 La Porte, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | American Independent Party (2015–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (1980–2000; 2011–2015) Constitution (2000–2011) Democratic (before 1980) |
| Spouse |
Connie Kay Cole
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Liberty University Christian Bible College |
Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin (born May 3, 1952) is an American pastor, radio host, and politician. He is the pastor of Liberty Fellowship in Kalispell, Montana. He is best known for being the Constitution Party's nominee for president in the 2008 United States presidential election.
Baldwin was once a member of the Republican Party. He was the Florida state chairman for the Moral Majority, a political group, in the 1980s. However, he left the party in 2000 because he felt its presidential candidate, George W. Bush, was not conservative enough.
Baldwin has many strong political opinions. He believes that a political idea called Zionism is a threat to the United States. He thinks it has too much control over the media and government. Because of his views, the Southern Poverty Law Center has described him as part of the antigovernment movement.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Chuck Baldwin was born in La Porte, Indiana, on May 3, 1952. His parents were Edwin J. Baldwin and Ruth Baldwin. After graduating from high school in 1971, he went to Midwestern Baptist College in Michigan for two years.
There, he met Connie Kay Cole, and they married in 1973. He originally wanted to work in law enforcement. But he later felt he should become a minister. He moved south and graduated from a Bible institute at what is now Liberty University. He also earned bachelor's and master's degrees in theology through online courses.
Ministry and Career
Founding a Church in Florida
On June 22, 1975, Baldwin and his wife started a church in Pensacola, Florida. It was called Crossroad Baptist Church. Baldwin was the first pastor. The church grew quickly and became well-known. By 1985, President Ronald Reagan recognized the church for its growth and influence.
Political Work and Radio Show
Before 1980, Baldwin was a registered Democrat, like his father. He then joined the Republican Party. From 1980 to 1984, he was a leader in the Florida Moral Majority. This group helped register many conservative Christian voters.
In 2000, Baldwin left the Republican Party. He felt the two major parties were too similar. He joined the Constitution Party and began to criticize President George W. Bush.
Around this time, Baldwin started a daily radio show called Chuck Baldwin Live. On the show, he talks about current events. He also writes a daily column for his website. He has appeared on many TV and radio shows, including on MSNBC and CNN.
Presidential Campaigns
2004 Vice Presidential Campaign
In the 2004 United States presidential election, Baldwin ran for vice president. He was the running mate for Michael Peroutka on the Constitution Party ticket. They ran on a platform of "For God, Family, and the Republic."
Their campaign focused on traditional family values and limiting the power of the government. They also spoke out against the Iraq War. The Peroutka-Baldwin ticket received over 143,000 votes.
2008 Presidential Campaign
Baldwin decided to run for president in 2008. On April 26, 2008, the Constitution Party nominated him as their presidential candidate. He chose Darrell Castle, a lawyer from Tennessee, as his running mate.
During his campaign, Baldwin received an endorsement from Congressman Ron Paul. Paul had been a candidate for the Republican nomination. Like Baldwin, Paul supported ending the Iraq War and protecting civil liberties.
In his campaign, Baldwin called for big changes. He wanted to close the U.S. Departments of Education and Energy. He also wanted the U.S. to leave the United Nations. He received nearly 200,000 votes in the election.
Move to Montana
In 2010, Baldwin retired as pastor of his Florida church. He and his family moved to Montana. He said he believed the mountain states were important for "the freedom fight."
His move was part of a trend called the American Redoubt. This is a movement where some conservative Christians move to states like Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. They hope to create communities of people who share their values. In Montana, Baldwin started a new church called the Liberty Fellowship.
Political Positions
Baldwin holds many strong conservative and religious views.
Government and Individual Rights
Baldwin believes the government should have very limited power. He thinks the "war on terror" and "war on drugs" have been used to take away people's rights. He is against the Patriot Act, a law passed after the September 11 attacks.
He supports the right of people to own guns for self-defense. He also supports the right of parents to homeschool their children. He would like to get rid of the United States Department of Education.
Foreign Policy
Baldwin is a non-interventionist. This means he believes the United States should not get involved in the affairs of other countries. He was against the invasion of Iraq. He has said that as president, he would bring all troops home.
He is also a strong critic of global organizations like the United Nations. He believes the U.S. should not be a member. He is against trade agreements like NAFTA because he thinks they hurt American jobs.
Economy
Baldwin supports major changes to the U.S. economy. He wants to end the federal income tax and get rid of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He also believes the U.S. should return to the gold standard. This means the value of the U.S. dollar would be tied to a specific amount of gold.
Views on History
Baldwin has a different view of the American Civil War. He often calls it the "War for Southern Independence." He believes the Confederacy was right to leave the Union. He also supports states' rights, the idea that states should have more power than the federal government.
See also
In Spanish: Chuck Baldwin para niños
