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Mitch Campbell - Founder, American Independent Movement |
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Republicans represent the Republican Party
and its special interest supporters.
Democrats represent the Democratic Party
and its special interest supporters.
Independents aren’t owned by any political party
or special interests. Independents represent the people.
This is one of the signs that hung at Mitch Campbell's booth at the Twin Falls County Fair over Labor Day weekend. This is one of the largest county fairs in Idaho, and Mitch Campbell, founder of the American Independent Movement, his wife Laura and a neighbor recognized that it was the perfect opportunity to meet new independents. Mitch really went all out to make the booth attractive and welcoming. And it worked!
Mitch asked people to sign a petition addressed to the Attorney General to keep Idaho’s primaries open. The petition turned out to be a great way of attracting people. Idahoans are fiercely proud of their non-partisan registration and open primary system. 200 independents signed the petition. And 60 people signed up for AIM.
 In all, Mitch had a great experience and is urging “every independent group across the country to ‘announce’ their presence at their county fairs.” As Mitch noted, “There were hundreds of people passing our booth and few of them failed to notice the 4 by 8 American Independent Movement sign. And people who didn’t attend the fair read about us in the regional newspaper or saw TV coverage.” Click to read the article.
Mitch found the experience very energizing: “When I would return to the booth after stepping away I’d find someone signing the petition and membership list. When I’d ask people at the booth how they know about the Independent movement they say a friend or relative told them about us and they want to join. Two Democratic committee chairmen signed our attorney petition AND join the American Independent Movement. A woman said her 85 year old mother could not come to the fair but ask her to bring her more information about us. A reporter from the Times News (the largest local and regional newspaper) came over for a 30 minute interview, took some pictures, petition AND joined. We met three potential candidates who want to run as independents. I was asked by several school teachers to explain the American Independent Movement to their government and political science classes.”
The fair gave Mitch the opportunity to teach his fellow Idahoans the difference between a party and the movement. Mitch said, “A few people expressed skepticism of third party movements because of the sense of disappointment and betrayal after the Ross Perot campaign where the eagerly joined the movement and were abandoned. When people say a third party can't win, I tell them we are not a third political party. Political parties are the problem. America was not created by political parties it was created by a group of Independents whose descendants gave it to political parties who have mismanaged it to the point of destruction and now we, the Independents, can and must take it back the same way our forefathers created it. Our success and America’s future depends on you.”
“The response I have received has been positive, overwhelming and humbling,” Mitch said. |
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