American Independent Party and Independent: Wait, There’s A Difference?

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ist2_4768669_checking.jpgThe American Independent Party isn’t doing a very good job broadcasting their party’s platform message. If they were, perhaps Gavin Newsom’s aspiring actress-first-lady-of-San-Francisco girlfriend Jennifer Siebel wouldn’t have registered for it by accident. Just to be clear, the American Independent Party is anti-immigration, anti-abortion, pro-“traditional marriage and family values,” and all for keeping “God” in the pledge of allegiance. Which I guess also means they’re pro-pledge of allegiance.

San Franciscans shouldn’t get their hemp underwear in a bunch too quickly. The mayor’s office assures that it’s an innocent gaffe and Gav’s girlfriend is actually an Independent voter. Independents, typically, have no fidelity to political parties and vote based on candidates and issues. In other words, they do whatever the hell they want. I can see where the confusion lies: There’s no “Independent” box to check on California’s voter registration ballot; merely “Decline To State.” And without predetermined categories, how are Independents ever supposed to know to which group they belong?

—Joyce Tang

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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