Independent Irish American candidates running in the 2012 US presidential race

Though Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are the big party reps here are some of the independent candidates

Americans, roughly half or 144 million of them, will head to the polls this November and more than likely pick either one of two candidates to serve as their chief executive for the next four years. The masses will vote for either the Democrat (Barack O’Bama) or the Republican (Mitt Romney) like they have since 1856. Yet, neither seem to be incredibly popular among voters being tied in most national polls.  In this land of true democracy there are over one hundred hopeful presidential nominees on (and off) voting ballots that do not have the money, cache, or websites in some cases, that their bigger and more powerful donkey and elephant counterparts do. 

Here are some overlooked Irish-American presidential and vice-presidential candidates to consider when posting your ballot (or writing in) on November 6th.

1. George McMahon, Vice Presidential Candidate, Grass Roots Party (Only in Minnesota)

The Iowa native joins Jim Carlson on the Grass Roots ticket in their bid for the White House, The “grass” in “Grass Roots” relates to the party’s platform of legalizing marijuana. Their politics is in line with the Green Party. McMahon, a vocal proponent of legalizing marijuana in the Minnesota legislature, last ran for Vice President in 1996.

2. Cindy Sheehan, Vice Presidential Nominee, Peace and Freedom Party

Sheehan is overshadowed by her much higher profile running mate, comedienne and actress Roseanne Barr. The potential veep  gained fame as an anti-war activist who protested outside President Bush’s Texas ranch and as the author of the memoir Peace Mom: A Mother's Journey Through Heartache to Activist” The 60’s-formed Peace and Freedom party, self described on its website as “California’s Feminist Socialist Party”, sticks to its socialist name with an agenda that includes the protection of the environment, access to free education and healthcare along with nationalization of the financial industry and natural resources.

3. Jerry Carroll, President (Write-in candidate, Independent) 

 A Stockton California resident, Jerry “Leon” Carroll established his own personal political committee in 1979 and has been off and  running for various public offices in California ever since including two failed bids for the presidency in 2000 and ’04. Carroll’s platform as listed in his biography on votesmart.com is to “restore the American dream of the Monroe Doctrine (Manifest Destiny) a united people, one God, one language, one constitution from North Pole to South Pole…” He also lists “(becoming) crowned emperor of Earth by all peoples of Earth” as his goal before he dies.

4.  Dr. David McFadden, Presidential Candidate, (Write in Candidate, Independent)

This candidate is solely devoted to the improvement of transportation in America and the nation’s dependence on oil. The Ohioan proposes a solution an electric rail system that would run on alternative renewable energy sources such as solar, wind etc. So devoted is the doctor to the people that he pledges “not to play golf” if elected president but rather “review the visas of OPEC nations trying to visit the US to increase their sales.”

5. Richard McCormick (Write In Candidate, Independent)

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Nster.com