Paul Anthony Stanton (born 1985) is an Iraq war veteran, computer programmer, and former Libertarian candidate for US Senate in Florida in 2016. After serving in the Army, he protested the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and with the American Civil Liberties Union, he sued an airport for his right to hand out copies of the U.S. Constitution in protest of Transportation Security Administration policies. On October 22, 2017, Stanton resigned from the Libertarian Party, citing concerns of white nationalism within his state affiliate.[1]
Paul Stanton | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 18, 1985 |
| Political party | Independent (since 2017) |
| Other political affiliations | Libertarian (before 2017) |
| Occupation | Computer programmer |
Army service edit
Stanton joined the Army after the September 11 attacks in 2001. He served in the United States Army for six years, including a tour of duty in Iraq. His experiences with war helped shape his views on politics. He became an advocate for peace, and in 2012, after meeting Gary Johnson, he joined the Libertarian Party.[2]
Airport lawsuit edit
In 2010 the Transportation Security Administration began to use full body scanners in their screening process for airline passengers. These scanners produced what looks like a nude image of the person being scanned. Opting out of these scanners required a new, more aggressive patdown.[3] Stanton decided to protest these measures by handing out copies of the U.S. Constitution and other materials in the Fort Wayne International Airport.[4] However, the airport's policy stated that he would have to stand in a specific place outside the terminal and would have to apply for a permit, to be approved by the executive director of the airport authority, at least seven days in advance in order to protest. As a result, Stanton and the American Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit against the Fort Wayne – Allen County Airport Authority, claiming that this policy violates First Amendment rights to free speech.[5] A federal judge ruled that airports were a nonpublic forum, meaning free speech could be limited for the general feeling of safety, stating that the Authority's right to amend constitutional free speech law "is related to the protection of its interests in maintaining a secure environment, reducing congestion, ensuring the free and orderly flow of pedestrian traffic."[6] The airport later changed its rules to allow free speech in more areas, and by 2013 the TSA had replaced the unpopular nude-image full body scanners with less-invasive scanners.[7][8]
2016 senatorial campaign edit
In 2016, Stanton began his campaign for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian, taking part in the first ever Libertarian Party Senate primary in Florida.[9] He defeated his opponent, attorney Augustus Sol Invictus, with 73.5% of the vote.[10] Stanton then faced incumbent Senator Marco Rubio (R) and Congressman Patrick Murphy (D) in the general election. Stanton has said he hoped the Presidential campaign of Gary Johnson would bring more attention to his run for Senate.[11]
Stanton has polled at 10% and 9% in three-way polls conducted by Public Policy Polling in September 2016.[12][13] According to Brian Doherty of Reason magazine, this could have placed Stanton in at least one televised debate.[14]
Stanton lost the election, finishing third with roughly 2% of the vote.
Political positions edit
Stanton will propose to cut taxes for companies with less than $500,000 in revenue completely, and work to reduce taxation for all businesses as much as possible.[15] He supports the immediate decriminalization of all drugs, and the end of mandatory-minimum sentencing for drug-related offenses.[16] Stanton advocates eliminating FICA taxes for all workers under the poverty line and believes direct charitable help to the poor should be encouraged, and that this can be done by instituting a dollar-for-dollar tax rebate for charitable donations.[17] He advocates a complete and full audit of the Federal Reserve,[18] and will oppose all efforts to provide weapons to foreign governments and insurgent groups.[19] He has stated that he wants to help fix environmental problems in Florida by ending subsidies to the Big Sugar industry.[2]
Electoral history edit
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Stanton | 2,943 | 73.5 | |
| Augustus Invictus | 1,059 | 26.5 | |
| Total votes | 4,009 | 100 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Marco Rubio (inc.) | 4,833,429 | 52.0 | |
| Democratic | Patrick Murphy | 4,119,235 | 44.3 | |
| Libertarian | Paul Stanton | 196,794 | 2.1 | |
| Independent | Bruce Nathan | 52,430 | 0.6 | |
| Independent | Tony Khoury | 45,787 | 0.5 | |
| Independent | Steven Machat | 26,894 | 0.3 | |
| Independent | Basil E. Dalack | 22,223 | 0.2 | |
| Write-ins | 280 | nil | ||
| Total votes | 9,297,072 | 100 | ||
References edit
- ^ Frankle, Paulie (October 25, 2017). "Paul Stanton makes motion to remove Ryan Ramsey from Florida LP exec comm, then resigns himself". Independent Political Report. SpinJ Corporation. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ a b Harper, Mark (September 11, 2016). "Iraq vet from DeLand wins way onto U.S. Senate ballot". Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ Martin, Hugo (November 23, 2010). "Poll finds 61% oppose new airport security measures". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ "ACLU: Airport violates 1st amendment". WANE.com. WANE-TV. January 24, 2011. Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ Nelson, Jennifer (January 24, 2011). "Lawsuit challenges free-expression restriction at airport". Indiana Lawyer. IBJ Media. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ "Forty Wayne Airport Authority's Rules on Airport Expressive Activities Upheld by Federal Court". Airports Council International. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ^ Francisco, Brian (September 13, 2016). "Ex-resident is U.S. Senate candidate in Florida". Political Notebook (Journal Gazette blog). The Journal Gazette. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ Kravets, David (January 18, 2013). "TSA Pulls Plug on Airport Nude Body Scanners". Wired. Condé Nast. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ Bousquet, Steve (August 18, 2016). "U.S. Senate Libertarian primary, Augustus Invictus v. Paul Stanton". Tampa Bay Times. Times Publishing Co. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Florida Senate Races Results". Politico. Politico LLC. September 9, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- ^ Commission on Presidential Debates owned by DNC & RNC – Jill Stein campaign manager to FishTank (Television production). RT America. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
- ^ Clark, Kristen M. (September 7, 2016). "Rubio-Murphy race a toss-up in latest Senate poll". Naked Politics (Miami Herald blog). Miami Herald Media Company. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ Clark, Kristen M. (September 29, 2016). "Poll: Marco Rubio continues lead over Patrick Murphy". Naked Politics (Miami Herald blog). Miami Herald Media Company. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ Doherty, Brian (September 29, 2016). "Libertarian Party Senate Candidate in Florida Might Meet the Stated Criteria to Get Into Televised October Candidate Debate". Hit and Run (Reason blog). Reason Foundation. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ Stanton, Paul. "Paul Stanton on Business Taxation". Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ^ Stanton, Paul. "Paul Stanton on Drug Reform". Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ^ Stanton, Paul. "Paul Stanton on Poverty". Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ^ Stanton, Paul. "Paul Stanton on Monetary Policy". Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ^ Stanton, Paul. "Paul Stanton on Peace". Retrieved September 3, 2016.
- ^ "Florida Department of State – Election Results".