The 2016 presidential election is still very far away – 1,287 days to be exact – but some presidential hopefuls are already looking at their campaign strategies and how to finance their bids for the White House.
Darryl W. Perry, a Libertarian entrant in 2016, pledges to be the first presidential candidate to accept campaign donations in bitcoins, litecoins and precious metals. The online currency and bullion have become very popular with libertarians and those skeptical of the Federal Reserve over the past several years.
Perry made the decision in an open letter to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), published on the Perry for president campaign website. The letter confirmed that he will not accept any donations that are recognized by the federal legal tender laws.
“The Darryl W. Perry for President (2016) campaign will not be accepting donations in currencies recognized by the federal legal tender laws, instead the campaign will only accept Bitcoin, Litecoin and precious metals. The campaign will not accept any donations via cash, credit/debit card, check or money order,” stated Perry. “For the sake of my donors, I will attempt to make my expenses and donations of precious metals transparent, all without government oversight or involvement.”
He also doesn’t believe in the FEC, which is why he vowed to not file any paperwork.
Perry first made the announcement in a press release last week in which he confirmed that he supports alternative currencies, opposes the Federal Reserve System and the FEC should not be regulating campaign donations.
“I believe this is a major step in the progression of Presidential campaigns and elections, in general,” Perry said, “If I’m going to avoid their regulations in my campaign, I should also avoid using their money in my campaign.”
The libertarian candidate isn’t the only politico seeking donations in alternative currencies. In March, the Libertarian Party began to accept bitcoin pledges, while Canada’s Libertarian Party also began to allow followers to donate in bitcoins.
Mother Jones reported that other candidates in New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont have already decided to accept the alternative online currency for their campaigns.
Even those who are already in office have become wary over the U.S. dollar. It was reported in November that Montana State Representative Jerry O’Neil wants to be paid in only gold and silver because of his concerns over the nation’s fiscal situation.
Issuing a letter to the Montana Legislative Services, O’Neil, who was a supporter of retired Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul’s bids for the White House, noted that the Constitution explicitly says that no state shall make anything other than gold and silver coins. He also noted in the letter that he wouldn’t want to be paid at the face value of a $50 American Eagle coin, but rather the market value.
“Let’s say I made $1,800 in a month. They could give one gold American Eagle,” said O’Neill. “Hopefully this will be an example for our Montana citizens and prompt them to also have some of their own wealth in money that has intrinsic value.”
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