James L. Hart
Encyclopedia
James L. Hart is an American
political activist
.
for the House of Representatives for Tennessee
's Eighth District in 2004. His campaign was unconventional in part in listing for itself an out-of-state address, in Kentucky
. The Republican Party disavowed him, and he lost to incumbent Democrat
John Tanner.
He has said that on the campaign trail, he wears a bulletproof vest and carries a gun.
Hart believes in withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), increasing the minimum wage
, ending welfare, and in his words, "workers' rights generally." His most controversial and well-publicized political belief is his support for eugenics
. He claims that certain races are "favored races" that produce high accomplishments such as the automobile
, and that others are not. He wants to conduct a war on "poverty genes," which he claims reside, among other places, in Detroit
. In light of his eugenics position, the Tennessee Republican leadership sought to dissociate themselves from him, and backed the competing write-in campaign of Dennis Bertrand.
Hart received 26 percent of the vote (second place) in a largely self-financed campaign.
He ran again in 2006. Republican state leadership successfully petitioned to have him removed from the ballot on the grounds that he was not a bona fide
member of the party. Hart's attorney in the matter was Richard Barrett.
He ran again in 2008 and 2010. Republican state leadership successfully petitioned to have him removed from the ballot on the grounds that he was not a bona fide member of the party.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
.
Biography
Hart ran as a RepublicanRepublican 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...
for the House of Representatives for Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
's Eighth District in 2004. His campaign was unconventional in part in listing for itself an out-of-state address, in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. The Republican Party disavowed him, and he lost to incumbent 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...
John Tanner.
He has said that on the campaign trail, he wears a bulletproof vest and carries a gun.
Hart believes in withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA), increasing the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
, ending welfare, and in his words, "workers' rights generally." His most controversial and well-publicized political belief is his support for eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
. He claims that certain races are "favored races" that produce high accomplishments such as the automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
, and that others are not. He wants to conduct a war on "poverty genes," which he claims reside, among other places, in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. In light of his eugenics position, the Tennessee Republican leadership sought to dissociate themselves from him, and backed the competing write-in campaign of Dennis Bertrand.
Hart received 26 percent of the vote (second place) in a largely self-financed campaign.
He ran again in 2006. Republican state leadership successfully petitioned to have him removed from the ballot on the grounds that he was not a bona fide
Bona Fide
Bona Fide is a studio album from rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first studio album in six years and is the only studio album to feature guitarist Ben Granfelt...
member of the party. Hart's attorney in the matter was Richard Barrett.
He ran again in 2008 and 2010. Republican state leadership successfully petitioned to have him removed from the ballot on the grounds that he was not a bona fide member of the party.