Greg Seltzer: Got Milk? We Need Milk!

From former Prohibition Party chairman Greg Seltzer in the National Prohibitionist:

The late Speaker of the California General Assembly Jesse Unruh in 1966 said that, “money is the mother’s milk of politics!” If that was true then and we are looking to 2016; 50 years later, one can only be astounded by the flow of money spent on political campaigns, especially since the Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission 2010 Supreme Court case, opened the floodgates to un-restricted amounts of money able to be donated to candidates and political committees. In 2014 over $1.5 billion was spent on House and Senate races alone, not counting State and local campaigns. Clearly it takes money to promote candidates and get the Party message out.

Over 10 years ago, Campaign Consultant Rick Knox wrote Operation Phoenix: A Plan to Resurrect the Prohibition Party for the 21st Century. The booklet spelled out in detail a comprehensive plan for a national party format, candidate recruitment, and strategies designed to promote the principles and candidates of our Party. To gain maximum exposure, we must employ all the available tools available such as radio, TV, literature, direct mail, get out the vote, travel expenses, etc. Clearly it takes money to promote candidates and get the Party message out. Thankfully, we have some “seed money” income from the Pennock Trust thanks to the efforts of Leroy Pletten. This money is a start. However, to be viable on the national stage in 2016 and in future years we need to think about fundraising just like the “big boys and girls” do with the two major parties as a year round endeavor; not just in election years. In 1970, I served as a Congressional Page for Congressman Clarence D. Long, (Dem. MD). As I was driving him back from the TV station where he claimed his re-election victory that November night I remarked to him, “Well Sir, I guess we take a break now that the election’s over”. He replied, “Break Hell! Let’s schedule a fundraiser after the first of the year. The re-election campaign starts tomorrow!” Back then a successful House of Representative race cost about $75,000. In 2014, the average House member spent $1.3 million for re-election. Clearly it takes money to promote candidates and get the Party message out.

So, bottom line my friend is that I am asking you for money not for me alone but for our Party and its candidates in 2016,…… and the years beyond. I am not ashamed or embarrassed to ask for money. I do it every Sunday from the pulpit. However, that money is for the work of the Lord to promote the Gospel and the cause of Jesus Christ. Our Prohibition Party also has a cause that I am not ashamed of or embarrassed about. We will celebrate the Sesquicentennial of our Prohibition Party in 2019. We were founded on September 1, 1869 and have been going on for almost 150 years as America’s third oldest political party. We have not always been strong due to ineffective candidates and lack of money. Next year, 2016 must be different with enthusiastic candidates willing to campaign and the $$$$ resources to do it with. We cannot remain an asterisk or footnote in the history books. Our cause is just and our principles are pure! If you love our Party and support our message, then start sending your check contributions to our Executive Secretary Jim Hedges marked “2016 Victory Fund”. Clearly it takes money to promote candidates and get the Party message
out.

I leave you one final thought: Got Milk? We Need Milk!

Onward, Greg

Rev. Seltzer did not realize, when he wrote this, that it would be his last “Chairman’s Column.” It remains good advice for whomever may succeed him as Chairman after our Quadrennial Convention this coming June.