Brad Blanton
Encyclopedia
W. Brad Blanton is an author, seminar leader, and twice candidate for United States House of Representatives
(2004 and 2006), both times as an Independent
running against Republican
incumbent Eric Cantor
in Virginia
's Seventh Congressional District. Before the election in 2006 he announced that he no longer wished to be elected and asked his supporters to instead vote for Democrat
Jim Nachman
.
He was trained in Gestalt Therapy by Fritz Perls
, M.D., Ph.D., the founder of Gestalt Therapy. He was trained in hypnosis by Milton Erickson, M.D., the founding president of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychopathological Association.
His first book, Radical Honesty: How To Transform Your Life By Telling The Truth, became a nation-wide bestseller
in 1996 and has been translated into seven languages. That was followed by books that applied the principles of Radical Honesty
to personal growth, social transformation and parenting. Radical Honesty emphasizes noticing and ceasing various forms of self-deception
and lying to others, including white lies.
Blanton earned his doctorate
from the University of Texas at Austin
in 1966 when he was 25 years old. He spent 25 years in the private practice of psychotherapy
, becoming the Director of The Center for Well Being in Washington, D.C.
, where he worked with individuals, couples, and groups. He also served as a consultant to corporations, government and the media. In 1990 he moved to central Virginia
and founded Radical Honesty Enterprises, a private corporation
dedicated to promoting honesty in the world. In Season 6 of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program "Wiretap," writer Starlee Kine
recounted her experience with Blanton in a Radical Honesty seminar. The episode is available at http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/index.html?copy-audio.
Blanton ran as an Independent against Eric Cantor
in 2004 election for the United States Congress
in Virginia's Seventh Congressional District. In that race, he earned 24% of the vote.
Blanton now lives in Stanley, Virginia
, where he spends his time writing.
Blanton is the 7th District Chairman and member of the Central Committee of Virginia's Independent Party, Independent Greens of Virginia .
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(2004 and 2006), both times as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
running against Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan Cantor is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district, serving since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
's Seventh Congressional District. Before the election in 2006 he announced that he no longer wished to be elected and asked his supporters to instead vote for Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Jim Nachman
Jim Nachman
Jim Nachman is the Democrat who challenged Republican incumbent Eric Cantor for his place as Representative of Virginia's 7th congressional district in the 2006 midterm election.Although his former opponent, third-party candidate Dr...
.
He was trained in Gestalt Therapy by Fritz Perls
Fritz Perls
Friedrich Salomon Perls , better known as Fritz Perls, was a noted German-born psychiatrist and psychotherapist of Jewish descent....
, M.D., Ph.D., the founder of Gestalt Therapy. He was trained in hypnosis by Milton Erickson, M.D., the founding president of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychopathological Association.
His first book, Radical Honesty: How To Transform Your Life By Telling The Truth, became a nation-wide bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
in 1996 and has been translated into seven languages. That was followed by books that applied the principles of Radical Honesty
Radical Honesty
Radical Honesty is a technique and self-improvement program developed by Dr. Brad Blanton. The program asserts that lying is the primary source of modern human stress and that practitioners will become happier by being more honest, even about painful or taboo subjects...
to personal growth, social transformation and parenting. Radical Honesty emphasizes noticing and ceasing various forms of self-deception
Self-deception
Self-deception is a process of denying or rationalizing away the relevance, significance, or importance of opposing evidence and logical argument...
and lying to others, including white lies.
Blanton earned his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1966 when he was 25 years old. He spent 25 years in the private practice of psychotherapy
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
, becoming the Director of The Center for Well Being in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he worked with individuals, couples, and groups. He also served as a consultant to corporations, government and the media. In 1990 he moved to central Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and founded Radical Honesty Enterprises, a private corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
dedicated to promoting honesty in the world. In Season 6 of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation program "Wiretap," writer Starlee Kine
Starlee Kine
Starlee Kine is an American public radio producer and writer. She was born in California. Her work has been featured on This American Life and Marketplace. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine...
recounted her experience with Blanton in a Radical Honesty seminar. The episode is available at http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/index.html?copy-audio.
Blanton ran as an Independent against Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan Cantor is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district, serving since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011...
in 2004 election for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in Virginia's Seventh Congressional District. In that race, he earned 24% of the vote.
Blanton now lives in Stanley, Virginia
Stanley, Virginia
Stanley is a town in Page County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,326 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stanley is located at ....
, where he spends his time writing.
Blanton is the 7th District Chairman and member of the Central Committee of Virginia's Independent Party, Independent Greens of Virginia .
External links
(archived) Official Campaign Website- Radical Honesty Official Website
- This American LifeThis American LifeThis American Life is a weekly hour-long radio program produced by WBEZ and hosted by Ira Glass. It is distributed by Public Radio International on PRI affiliate stations and is also available as a free weekly podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays,...
television episode featuring Blanton - 2006 fund raising report
- 2004 fund raising report