Michael Peroutka
Encyclopedia
Michael Anthony Peroutka (born 1952) is a Maryland
lawyer
, the founder of the Institute on the Constitution
. He once held a position in the United States Department of Health and Human Services and was the Constitution Party
candidate for president in 2004. He is co-host of The American View radio program.
Peroutka was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Elizabeth and Anthony J. Peroutka. His paternal grandparents were the children of immigrants from Bohemia
. He is a graduate of Loyola College in Maryland
and the University of Baltimore
School of Law
. He was the Chairman of the Constitution Party of Maryland and a member of the Executive Committee of the Constitution Party National Committee. He is one of four children.
, he was the Constitution Party
candidate. His campaign theme was "God, Family, Republic" and he emphasized the Bible
, the traditional family, and the need for constitutionally
limited government. His running mate was independent Baptist
minister Chuck Baldwin
. He gained support from many paleoconservatives
, and was also endorsed by the America First Party
and Alaskan Independence Party
. Peroutka was also endorsed by the League of the South
and supported by a group called "Southerners for Peroutka". Peroutka accepted the endorsement from the League at their 2004 national convention. Radio host Alex Jones
stated he would be voting for Peroutka.
He appeared on the White Nationalist radio show, The Political Cesspool
to promote his campaign, describing it as a "Christian/Constitutionalist radio program" and "a great blessing to our cause".
Political commentator Pat Buchanan
stated on the September 7, 2004 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews
, "There is a chance I would vote for Peroutka." The November 8, 2004 issue of The American Conservative
contained endorsements by Taki Theodoracopulos
and Howard Phillips (the latter having founded the party Peroutka represented). He was also endorsed by the late Samuel T. Francis. Peroutka received just over one-tenth of one percent of the national popular vote, finishing fifth nationally with just under 150,000 votes. This was a showing similar to previous Constitution Party candidacies of Howard Phillips - however, it was the only third party to increase its share of the vote in 2004.
without exception. He opposes a Federal Marriage Amendment
, believing the federal government should not be granted jurisdiction over marriage. He advocates for free market capitalism. He supports the right to keep and bear arms and strongly opposes the war in Iraq, calling it ungodly, immoral, and unconstitutional. He supports the right to homeschool and believes the federal government should not regulate or fund education.
In 2006, he voted in favor of disaffiliating the Independent American Party of Nevada from the Constitution Party.
Peroutka's supporters, however, collected enough signatures to get his name approved as a write-in candidate
in Georgia for the 2008 presidential election.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, the founder of the Institute on the Constitution
Institute on the Constitution
The Institute on the Constitution mission is to help individuals across America to understand and appreciate their own history and heritage by reacquainting them with the worldview and vision of our Founding Fathers....
. He once held a position in the United States Department of Health and Human Services and was the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
candidate for president in 2004. He is co-host of The American View radio program.
Peroutka was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Elizabeth and Anthony J. Peroutka. His paternal grandparents were the children of immigrants from Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
. He is a graduate of Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
and the University of Baltimore
University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore , located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood at 1420 N. Charles Street, is part of the University System of Maryland. Through the Freshman Initiative or Lower Division Initiative, UB has transformed from an upper division university to a...
School of Law
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
. He was the Chairman of the Constitution Party of Maryland and a member of the Executive Committee of the Constitution Party National Committee. He is one of four children.
2004 presidential campaign
In the United States presidential election, 2004United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, he was the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
candidate. His campaign theme was "God, Family, Republic" and he emphasized the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, the traditional family, and the need for constitutionally
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
limited government. His running mate was independent Baptist
Independent Baptist
Independent Baptist churches are Christian churches generally holding to conservative Baptist beliefs. They are characterized by being independent from the authority of denominations or similar bodies. Members of such churches comprised three percent of the United States adult population according...
minister Chuck Baldwin
Chuck Baldwin
Charles Obadiah "Chuck" Baldwin is an American politician and founder-pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. He was the presidential nominee of the Constitution Party for the 2008 U.S. presidential election and had previously been its nominee for U.S. vice president in 2004...
. He gained support from many paleoconservatives
Paleoconservatism
Paleoconservatism is a term for a conservative political philosophy found primarily in the United States stressing tradition, limited government, civil society, anti-colonialism, anti-corporatism and anti-federalism, along with religious, regional, national and Western identity. Chilton...
, and was also endorsed by the America First Party
America First Party (2002)
The America First Party is a paleoconservative third party in the United States.The party was formed in 2002 when a group of Pat Buchanan supporters left the Reform Party. The party is pro-life, opposes all gun control, seeks to end affirmative action, racial quotas, and illegal and unlimited...
and Alaskan Independence Party
Alaskan Independence Party
The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates an in-state referendum which includes the option of Alaska becoming an independent country...
. Peroutka was also endorsed by the League of the South
League of the South
The League of the South is a Southern nationalist organization, headquartered in Killen, Alabama, which states that its ultimate goal is "a free and independent Southern republic." The group defines the Southern United States as the states that made up the former Confederacy...
and supported by a group called "Southerners for Peroutka". Peroutka accepted the endorsement from the League at their 2004 national convention. Radio host Alex Jones
Alex Jones (radio)
Alexander Emerick "Alex" Jones is an American talk radio host, actor and filmmaker. His syndicated news/talk show The Alex Jones Show, based in Austin, Texas, airs via the Genesis Communication Network over 60 AM, FM, and shortwave radio stations across the United States and on the Internet...
stated he would be voting for Peroutka.
He appeared on the White Nationalist radio show, The Political Cesspool
The Political Cesspool
The Political Cesspool is a weekly talk radio show founded by James Edwards, and syndicated by Liberty News Radio Network and Accent Radio Network in the United States...
to promote his campaign, describing it as a "Christian/Constitutionalist radio program" and "a great blessing to our cause".
Political commentator Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
stated on the September 7, 2004 edition of Hardball with Chris Matthews
Hardball with Chris Matthews
Hardball with Chris Matthews is a talk show on MSNBC, broadcast weekdays at 5 and 7 PM hosted by Chris Matthews. It originally aired on now-defunct America's Talking and later CNBC. The current title was derived from a book Matthews wrote in 1988, Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who...
, "There is a chance I would vote for Peroutka." The November 8, 2004 issue of The American Conservative
The American Conservative
The American Conservative is a monthly U.S. opinion magazine published by Ron Unz. Its first editor was Scott McConnell, his successors being Kara Hopkins and the present incumbent, Daniel McCarthy....
contained endorsements by Taki Theodoracopulos
Taki Theodoracopulos
Taki Theodoracopulos , originally named Panagiotis Theodoracopulos is a Greek/American journalist, socialite, and political commentator.Better known as Taki, diminutive for Panagiotis, he is a Greek-born journalist and writer living in New York City, London and Switzerland...
and Howard Phillips (the latter having founded the party Peroutka represented). He was also endorsed by the late Samuel T. Francis. Peroutka received just over one-tenth of one percent of the national popular vote, finishing fifth nationally with just under 150,000 votes. This was a showing similar to previous Constitution Party candidacies of Howard Phillips - however, it was the only third party to increase its share of the vote in 2004.
Political positions
Peroutka emphasizes the Bible and America's Christian heritage. He opposes abortionAbortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
without exception. He opposes a Federal Marriage Amendment
Federal Marriage Amendment
The Federal Marriage Amendment H.J. Res. 56 was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would have limited marriage in the United States to unions of one man and one woman...
, believing the federal government should not be granted jurisdiction over marriage. He advocates for free market capitalism. He supports the right to keep and bear arms and strongly opposes the war in Iraq, calling it ungodly, immoral, and unconstitutional. He supports the right to homeschool and believes the federal government should not regulate or fund education.
In 2006, he voted in favor of disaffiliating the Independent American Party of Nevada from the Constitution Party.
Split from the National Constitution Party
In 2006, the Maryland Constitution Party disaffiliated from the national party along with other state parties following a schism at the national party's 2006 convention, in which it failed to disaffiliate the Nevada party despite its chairman and gubernatorial candidate's support for legal abortion in some cases. Peroutka stated "At this point I could not, in good faith, represent the Constitution Party nor endorse any of its candidates. Unless serious changes occur, I could not run for President in 2008."Peroutka's supporters, however, collected enough signatures to get his name approved as a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
in Georgia for the 2008 presidential election.