George Phillies

Infobox Politician
name=George Phillies
caption=Phillies speaking in March 2008
nationality=American
office=


width = 150
state=Massachusetts
party=Libertarian
term_start=
birth_date=birth date and age|1947|07|23
birth_place=Buffalo, New York
occupation=Physics Professor
spouse=
religion=
website=http://phillies2008.org/

George Phillies, Ph. D. (born 23 July 1947) is a Libertarian Party activist and professor of physics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He resides in Worcester, Massachusetts. Phillies was the Libertarian Party candidate for Massachusetts' Third Congressional District in 1998. He finished third with 2,887 votes for 1.5% of the total vote. [ [http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1998/98Stat.htm#21 1998 Election Statistics - Legislative Activities - Office of the Clerk ] ] In 2002 at the Libertarian Party National Convention Phillies stood as a candidate for the Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. Phillies finished third with 123 delegate votes, behind Geoff Neale 261, and Eli Israel 178. [ [http://www.dehnbase.org/lpus/library/conv/vote-ch.html Libertarian Party 2002 Convention Election Results - Chair ] ]

On April 15, 2006, Phillies announced his candidacy for the Libertarian nomination for President of the United States in the 2008 presidential race. However, he did not receive the National party's nomination. He was, however, nominated by the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire as their Presidential candidate, and has filed the needed paperwork to be on the New Hampshire Ballot in November.

He is the former chair of the Worcester County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts [http://www.phillies2008.org/about] , and is very active in the Worcester County Libertarian Association and Pioneer Valley Libertarian Association, two regional Massachusetts organizations. He has served on the board of the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts (LPMass), but also played a role in the founding of Liberty for Massachusetts, an activism group that provided an alternative to LPMass until party elections led to Phillies becoming LPMass State Chair.

2008 presidential campaign

Phillies' campaign is based around several concepts; that he is the "serious man for serious times," that he will campaign on issues that everyday Americans care about (such as opposition to the Iraq War, protection of civil liberties, and eliminating the national debt), [ [http://www.phillies2008.com/whyme Why am I running? | George Phillies ] ] and that he will be a serious and organized presidential nominee. [ [http://www.phillies2008.com/phillies_speech_to_merrimac_valley_porcupines Phillies Speech to Merrimack Valley Porcupines | George Phillies ] ] Due to the early nature of the campaign, and the limited recognition which Libertarian candidates receive, Phillies has yet to be noticed by the national media, though he has been quoted in the San Antonio Express regarding the implications of Ron Paul's presidential run. [ [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA030407.06A.RonPaul.2fe690b.html MySA.com: Metro | State ] ] Phillies has received the endorsements of several well-known Libertarians, such as former State Representative Don Gorman, [ [http://thirdpartywatch.com/2006/09/04/gorman-backs-phillies-for-2008/ Third Party Watch » Blog Archive » Gorman Backs Phillies for 2008 ] ] and Loretta Nall. [ [http://thirdpartywatch.com/2006/09/17/loretta-nall-joins-phillies-campaign/ Third Party Watch » Blog Archive » Loretta Nall Joins Phillies Campaign ] ]

At the 2008 Libertarian National Convention, on May 25, Phillies received significant support, but was eliminated after the third ballot.

Media releases

The Phillies campaign has issued several press releases. One such press release, issued July 12 2006, voiced Phillies' opposition to the "Grandchild tax. "The National Debt," Phillies said, "is the ultimate in taxation without representation. We get the spending benefits. The tax is paid by people who haven't even been born yet," stated Phillies. [http://www.phillies2008.com/end_the_grandchild_tax_0 Although the release date says July 12, 2008, it can reasonably be assumed that July 12, 2006 is the correct date.]

On September 2, 2006 Phillies voiced his strong opposition to the Kelo Decision, proposing that governments also be required to compensate homeowners for emotional damages. [ [http://www.phillies2008.com/kelo_phillies_offers_practical_solution Kelo: Phillies Offers Practical Solution | George Phillies ] ]

Another major press releases was issued in January 2007, in response to President Bush's state of the union address. While Phillies did not directly respond to the President's statements, he did issue his own state of the union. [ [http://www.phillies2008.com/the_state_of_the_union_january_2007 The State of the Union, January 2007 | George Phillies ] ]

In January 2008, Phillies indicated that he was refusing an offer of $50,000 to repudiate his earlier criticism of Republican Candidate Ron Paul. [ [http://phillies2008.org/press/phillies_rejects_massive_pay_off Phillies Rejects Massive Pay-Off | George Phillies ] ]

Campaign activities

In a May 22, 2006 interview with the former 2008 Presidential Blog "The Next Prez," Phillies stated that the three most important issues facing the country were the Iraq War/Civil Liberties, Immigration, and the Budget Deficit. He also strongly promoted his credibility as a candidate, describing himself as having "reached a stage in my life when I will have the time and energy to focus vigorously on my campaign." [ [http://thenextprez.blogspot.com/2006/05/six-questions-with-george-phillies.html The Next Prez: Six Questions with... George Phillies ] ]

On another Presidential Blog, Conservative President 2008, Phillies again answered questions about his campaign in a December 13, 2006 interview [ [http://conservativepresident2008.blogspot.com/2006/12/phillies-answers-questions.html Conservative President 2008: Phillies Answers Questions ] ] .

In addition to these online interviews, Phillies has attended state conventions, including Presidential debates in Nevada and Florida [ [http://www.lastfreevoice.com/2007/01/22/phillies-campaign-update-1222007/ Phillies campaign update: 1/22/2007 « Last Free Voice ] ] [ [http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070318-113636-9218r.htm Washington Times - Barr calls for strengthening Libertarian Party ] ] . Phillies and another frontrunner, Steve Kubby, participated in an online debate on the online talk show Liberated Space [ [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=12085 Internet Radio, Citizen Broadcasting, Social Media Podcasts - Blog Talk Radio ] ] . He would later participate in a January forum (including both third-party candidates and supporters of major party candidates) in Fresno, California [Lacayo, Eric. "Fresno City College hosts an array of presidential voices." Fresno Bee 13 Jan. 2008 15 Jan. 2008 .] ,

On April 21, Phillies spoke before a marijuana legalization rally, called the "Extravaganja," in Amherst, Massachusetts. [ [http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-8/117722668192960.xml&coll=1 Rally aims for change in marijuana laws- MassLive.com ] ]

In a December press release, Phillies announced that he would take the oath of office on the constitution. This decision was lauded by the Arkansas Times, who described Phillies as "a smart man, and a good American [Arkansas Times Staff, "Holy War." Arkansas Times 27 Dec. 2007 15 Jan. 2008 .] ."

Endorsements

Don Gorman, former New Hampshire State Representative and 2000 Presidential candidate ["Phillies 2008 Adds to Campaign Team." George Phillies, Libertarian for President. 03 Sept. 2006. 21 Jan 2008 .]

Loretta Nall, 2006 Libertarian Party nominee for Governor of California [v]

Outright Libertarians, a group billing itself as "...an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other self-identified "queer" (LGBTQ) Libertarian Party activists and supporters. " [Power, Rob. "Outright Libertarians Endorses George Phillies for Libertarian Party Nomination." Outright Libertarians Blog. 17 Jan. 2008. 21 Jan 2008 .]

The Rolla Daily News of Rolla, Missouri, endorsed Phillies for Missouri Libertarian primary. ["RDN Endorses Huckabee, Obama." The Rolla Daily News 01 Feb. 2008 03 Feb. 2008 .]

Writings

Phillies edits "Let Freedom Ring!" and the "Libertarian Strategy Gazette", two newsletters distributed to Libertarians across the United States. He is the author of "Stand Up For Liberty!", an electronically published book on Libertarian political strategy.

References

External links

* [http://www.phillies2008.org/ Official Campaign Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/philliesforpresident Official Campaign MySpace]
* [http://www.facebook.com/p/George_Phillies_For_President/500547401 Official Campaign Facebook]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=18991 Campaign profile] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.boston.com/partners/worldnow/necn/landingpage.html?clipid=1859986&topVideoCatNo=83467&c=83467&autoStart=true&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage/ George Phillies Interviewed by New England Cable News]
* [http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_detail/C00428961 Phillies2008 FEC disclosure report]
* [http://users.wpi.edu/~phillies/ Home page at Worcester Polytechnic Institute]
* [http://www.wpiwiki.net/index.php/George_Phillies Page at the WPIwiki]
* [http://www.phillies2008.org/ Phillies 2008]
* [http://libertyforamerica.org/ Liberty For America]
* [http://www.cmlc.org/index.htm Central Massachusetts Liberty Coalition] - homepage for distribution of "Let Freedom Ring!" and the "Libertarian Strategy Gazette"
* [http://conservativepresident2008.blogspot.com/2006/12/phillies-answers-questions.html Phillies Interview - Conservative President 2008]
* [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/asher/2008/02/27/Third-Party-Presidential-Debate Interview with Phillies - Third Party Presidential Debate on Asher Speaks Live]
* His novel: http://users.wpi.edu/~phillies/#novel