California has an interesting issue going on right now. Lots of people, including some celebrities, are registering for the wrong political party. Celebrities like Demi Moore, Emma Stone, Kaley Cuoco, as well as Sugar Ray Leonard and Patrick Schwarzenegger have registered incorrectly. Due to some confusing wording on the voter registration cards, people are registering as members of the American Independent Party, instead of registering as Independent.
The AIP has one of the most conservative bases when it comes to political parties. They party is against abortion rights and same sex marriage. It also favors building the wall on the Mexican border. If these views sound pretty similar to Donald Trump, it should. The party was founded by George Wallace. Wallace was Trump before Trump was Trump.
Wallace was a segregationist dickbag. He served as the governor Alabama. He was backed by the Ku Klux Klan, and even led a “stand in the doorway” event to block black students from entering a school. His inauguration speech even included the line: “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” He created the American Independent Party in 1967 for his second presidential bid. He first ran as a democrat in 1964.
With this lovely history you can see why some people aren’t too happy with being registered with this party. Granted they aren’t segregationist anymore, just conservative constitutionalists.
When 500 party members were polled, 73 percent had registered with the party by mistake. Only four percent registered as members of the American Independent Party intentionally and with full understanding of the beliefs of the party.
It’s been suggested that the name be changed to ease any confusion, though the current executive chairman, Markham Robinson, isn’t very keen on that idea. He knows that if they change the name, people won’t register by accident anymore. If people aren’t registering by accident, then the party won’t maintain the amount of members required to be a political party. As long as they stay a political party, they can endorse candidates, and have some say in elections. Granted, pretty much no one has heard of their candidates, so I’m not really sure what kind of influence they’re protecting.
Another thing about all these people being registered to the AIP is that they can’t vote in any primaries, except the ones for the AIP. It would be aggravating to go to vote only to find out you can’t cast your ballot because you signed up for the wrong party. Luckily those in California will have until May 23 to change their registration for the June 7 primaries.
