The Center Party (www.centerparty.us) has agreed to merge with the Modern Whig Party (www.modernwhig.org). This means that the members and supporters of the Center Party will join with the members and supporters of the Modern Whig Party. The Center Party was founded in 2009 by current Virginia Congressional candidate Jeff Vanke (VA-6, Independent), with a view to forming a long-term national basis for centrist activism and campaigns. Recently, Vanke identified the Modern Whig Party as sharing his positions of integrity and political centrism and as being in a much more advanced stage of party organization. He therefore joined the Modern Whig Party and requested to merge the nascent Center Party with the Whigs. The Modern Whigs’ Executive Committee has accepted the Center Party’s merger request and has decided to support Vanke’s Congressional campaign.
The Modern Whig Party revival began as a series of political discussions among deployed American service members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. When these men and women returned home, they realized that there is a substantial need for a mainstream, non-fringe political movement that caters to individuals that are defined not by ideology but rather by common sense fiscal responsibility, strong national defense, and a focus on education and scientific advancement over strict social issues, among other concerns. The Center Party, as its name suggests, shares the vision of a results-oriented party that addresses the mainstream voter’s concerns.
Speaking on the merger, Center Party founder Jeff Vanke stated, “The Modern Whigs are inspiring to me in purpose, earnestness, and steadfastness. Knowing the party as I now do, I would join the party even if I were not running for office. The MWP is not the best thing just since Ross Perot, for whom I volunteered. It is better than Perot; it is the best political movement I have ever seen in this country. I am honored to join the ranks of such an outstanding group of people.”
– Submitted