Chuck Baldwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Baldwin
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Baldwin's official 2008 election portrait
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| 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 |
Chuck Baldwin (born May 3, 1952) is an American politician and radio host. He used to be a pastor at Crossroad Baptist Church in Florida. Today, he is the main pastor at Liberty Fellowship in Montana. In 2008, he ran for president of the United States for the Constitution Party. Before that, in 2004, he ran for vice president. He has a daily radio show called Chuck Baldwin Live and writes articles for his website.
Mr. Baldwin was once a member of the Republican Party. In the 1980s, he led a group called the Florida Moral Majority. However, he left the Republican Party in 2000. He supported Ron Paul for president in 2008. Paul then supported Baldwin for president in the same election.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Chuck Baldwin was born in La Porte, Indiana, on May 3, 1952. His parents were Edwin J. "Ed" Baldwin and Ruth. He finished high school in La Porte in 1971.
He went to Midwestern Baptist College in Michigan for two years. There, he met Connie Kay Cole. They got married on June 2, 1973. Mr. Baldwin had first planned to work in law enforcement. But he felt called to be a pastor. He moved to the South and studied at Thomas Road Bible Institute. He also earned degrees in theology through online courses.
His Work as a Pastor
On June 22, 1975, Chuck and Connie Baldwin, with four others, started Crossroad Baptist Church. It was in Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Baldwin was the first pastor.
The church grew very quickly. By 1985, it had built new buildings many times. President Ronald Reagan even recognized the church for its growth.
Political Activities
Before joining the Republican Party in 1980, Mr. Baldwin was a Democrat. From 1980 to 1984, he worked for the Florida Moral Majority. This group was started by Rev. Jerry Falwell. Mr. Baldwin helped President Reagan win votes in Florida twice. He said he helped register about 50,000 Christian voters.
In 2000, Mr. Baldwin left the Republican Party. He felt that the party's candidates, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, were too liberal. He believed the two main parties were too similar. He then became an independent and joined the Constitution Party.
Around this time, he started his radio show, "Chuck Baldwin Live." It is still on the air today. He also writes articles for his website and newspapers. He has appeared on TV and radio shows. He was a main speaker for the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Pensacola.
In 2006, Mr. Baldwin said he was only a member of his church, the Constitution Party, Gun Owners of America, and the National Rifle Association of America.
Running for Vice President in 2004
In the 2004 presidential election, Mr. Baldwin ran for vice president. He was the running mate for Michael Peroutka of Maryland. They ran for the Constitution Party and other smaller parties. Their campaign slogan was "For God, Family, and the Republic."
They spoke out against the Iraq War. They focused on the Bible, traditional family values, and limited government. The ticket finished fifth in the election. They received 143,630 votes.
Supporting Ron Paul in 2008
On August 30, 2007, Mr. Baldwin supported Ron Paul for the Republican presidential nomination. He said Paul was the only choice for conservative Republicans.
Mr. Baldwin also started a group called the Black Regiment in 2007. This group was for "spiritual leaders" who supported strong borders. They also disagreed with President George W. Bush's policies.
Running for President in 2008
After his vice presidential run, many people thought Mr. Baldwin would run for president in 2008. He said he had "no desire to run" but was open to God's will.
On April 10, 2008, he announced he would be available for the Constitution Party's nomination. He was nominated on April 26, 2008. This was after a tough contest. He asked the convention to choose Darrell Castle as his running mate.
After Ron Paul left the Republican race, he stayed neutral for a while. But on September 22, 2008, Paul announced his support for Mr. Baldwin. Paul said he would vote for Baldwin.
In his campaign, Mr. Baldwin spoke against Barack Obama and John McCain. He also suggested that the September 11 terrorist attacks might have been an "inside job." He wanted to close some federal departments, like Education and Energy. He also wanted the U.S. to leave the United Nations.
Mr. Baldwin received 199,314 votes in the election. This was 0.15% of the total votes. He came in fifth place.
Moving to Montana and Liberty Fellowship
In 2010, Mr. Baldwin left his job as pastor at Crossroad Baptist Church. He moved with his family to Montana. He believed God told him that the mountain states were important for freedom.
In 2011, he wrote about the American Redoubt movement. This plan suggests that five western states (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, eastern Oregon, and eastern Washington) are safe places for conservative Christians. He chose the Flathead Valley in Montana for his family's home. He liked Montana's people and its support for the right to keep and bear arms.
He started a new church in Montana called Liberty Fellowship. It is in the Kalispell area. The church has attracted people who are against the government.
Later Political Activities
In 2011, Mr. Baldwin was chosen as the running mate for Bob Fanning, a Republican candidate for governor of Montana. However, Mr. Baldwin withdrew his candidacy in February 2012.
In July 2012, the Kansas branch of the Reform Party nominated Mr. Baldwin for president. He received 5,017 votes in Kansas.
In 2013, Mr. Baldwin started a group called Second Amendment Pastors. This group opposes registering firearms. Also in 2013, he became the national chaplain for the Oath Keepers group. This group is against the government. In 2014, he gave a speech at a stand-off between activists and federal agents in Nevada.
Views on the COVID-19 Pandemic
Mr. Baldwin told his church members that he believed COVID-19 was real. However, he said that government health measures were a "pretext for civil tyranny." He called them "Medical martial law" and a "psychological ops campaign."
He left his position with the Oath Keepers in April 2020. This was because the group supported public health measures. Mr. Baldwin said they were "attacking virtually every constitutionally protected liberty."
He decided to hold an in-person Easter gathering in 2020. This was against the state governor's rules. He said he would not let "misguided physicians and government bureaucrats" tell him how to serve God. His YouTube channel shared a video claiming that the CDC was making the number of coronavirus deaths seem higher. He also called Anthony Fauci a "Big Pharma fascist."
His Political Beliefs
Moral Issues
Mr. Baldwin holds beliefs common among Independent Baptists. He believes in the importance of local churches. He also supports strict diet and exercise. He thinks America has become a "matriarchal society" and is losing its "inner toughness" of masculinity.
Foreign Policy
Mr. Baldwin supports American independence. He is against what he calls the New World Order. He says fighting against a one-world government is his main goal. He believes global government has led to many problems. These include illegal immigration, the United Nations, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He wants the U.S. to leave the United Nations.
Mr. Baldwin believed the war in Iraq was "absolutely unnecessary." He said his presidency would remove troops from Iraq. He argues that Iran is not an enemy. He says the real enemies are "warmongering miscreants in Washington, D.C., Tel Aviv, Riyadh and London."
He has written that the Mexican government is trying to harm American society. He strongly opposes "amnesty" for illegal immigrants. He wants to stop illegal immigration.
Mr. Baldwin has suggested reopening the investigation into the September 11 attacks. He believes "alternative" theories about 9/11 should be looked into.
He has long criticized neoconservatism. He argues that recent wars in the Middle East are "waged on behalf of the Zionist state" of Israel. He opposes U.S. involvement in wars in Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Iran. He thinks these wars are meant to help Israel create a "Greater Israel." He also opposes Donald Trump, calling him a "Zionist puppet."
Economy
Mr. Baldwin says he would end all federal income tax. He would also get rid of the Internal Revenue Service. He believes a tax on foreign goods would protect American jobs. It would also raise money for the government.
He has said he would make the federal government smaller. He would also use oil reserves in Alaska, the Dakotas, and the Gulf of Mexico. He believes the United States should return to the gold standard.
States' Rights and the Civil War
Mr. Baldwin believes that "the South was right in the War Between the States." He uses terms like "War for Southern Independence" and "War of Northern Aggression." He says the leaders of the Confederacy were not racists.
He criticized George W. Bush for not ending orders that he felt harmed states' rights and private property rights.
Individual Freedoms
Mr. Baldwin believes that the "war on terror" and "war on drugs" are excuses. He thinks they are used by people who want more power. He says they harm freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights. He opposes the Patriot Act. He says it takes away people's rights.
Regarding the separation of church and state, Mr. Baldwin believes America was founded as a place for Christians. He supports showing the Ten Commandments in government buildings.
He supports freedom of choice in health care. He says the government should not force people to get vaccinations. He also wants to get rid of the Food and Drug Administration.
Mr. Baldwin supports homeschooling and private schools. He wants to close the U.S. Department of Education. He says he would be a great friend to homeschoolers if he were president.
He believes the right to keep and bear arms should not be limited by the government. He has supported militia movements since 1995.
Mr. Baldwin opposes women serving in military combat. He says it does not help combat or family life. He also opposes mixed-gender service and homosexual service.
Awards and Recognition
Mr. Baldwin has received two honorary doctor of divinity degrees. One is from Christian Bible College. The other is from Trinity Baptist College in Florida.
