UFO politics: PRAVDA.Ru interviews Stephen Bassett

Recently, PRAVDA.Ru interviewed Mr. Stephen Bassett, a congressional candidate in the eighth congressional district of the state of Maryland. In addition, he is a well-known UFO/ET activist.

Greetings Mr. Bassett. We appreciate your willingness to give PRAVDA.Ru this exclusive interview. Please start by describing yourself for our readers.

I make it a point to emphasize the Disclosure2003 campaign is not about me, but about the issues. My background is not special. Here is the background info I provide to all media:

Stephen Bassett is a political activist/lobbyist. He is the founder of Paradigm Research Group; Executive Director of the Extraterrestrial Phenomena Political Action Committee (X-PPAC); author of the Paradigm Clock website; and political columnist/commentator for numerous websites, publications and radio programs. Presently he is the only registered lobbyist in the U.S. representing UFO/ET research/activist organizations. On April 19, he announced as an independent candidate in the 2002 congressional campaign for the 8th District of Maryland.

X-PPAC (pronounced expack) is the first political action committee in history to target the political implications of UFO/ET phenomena.

Since 1996, Mr. Bassett has assisted a number of organizations and initiatives, which have been making the case for (1) an end to a government embargo on the truth surrounding an extraterrestrial presence and (2) the need for open congressional hearings for government witness testimony to UFO/ET events and evidence. He has spoken to millions of Americans about the likelihood and implications of a formal disclosure event.

It seems that your main issue is the disclosure of the US government of information pertaining to what it knows regarding the presence of UFOs and extraterrestrial life. When did you first become involved in this issue and why?

I entered the field in 1996. It was a very deliberate decision, not casual. A critical influence at the time was the work of Harvard psychiatrist, Dr. John Mack, at the Program for Extraordinary Experience Research (PEER) in Cambridge, MA. My views on extraterrestrial phenomena had been taking shape since early childhood. The key aspect of entering a new field of work is to find the appropriate niche. For me that was the “politics of disclosure.” I was very lucky in the timing and the fit of this approach. A second critical aspect was the decision to work pro bono, to not charge any organization or individual for any assistance provided within the field of UFO/ET research/activism. This was important to networking and developing trust. Having spent most of my personal resources, the work will increasingly depend upon donations from the interested and concerned public. The public will decide to what extent it wishes to support this work, which is at it should be.

How does your congressional campaign tie into your activism regarding UFOs?

The Disclosure2003 congressional campaign is a direct outgrowth of the lobbying work of Paradigm Research Group (www.paradigmclock.com) and the Extraterrestrial Phenomena Political Action Committee (X-PPAC - http://www.x-ppac.org). July 4 marks my sixth year in the activism of disclosure. It has been an extraordinary experience. PRG was founded in July of 1996. X-PPAC was founded in July of 1999. Along the way every attempt has been made to assist every political initiative being put forward by other individuals and organizations with the goal of “disclosure.” Right now the most important of these other initiatives is the Disclosure Project (http://www.disclosureproject.org).

You use the term “the politics of disclosure.” What does this term mean exactly?

“Disclosure” has a very specific meaning and is coming to be thought of in this context by millions of people around the world. That meaning is this: formal, public acknowledgement by the governments of the planet (likely starting with the U.S.) of the extraterrestrial presence. The “politics of disclosure” refers to the process, which began in earnest around 1991, leading up to this formal event. It is the biggest political news story of all time.

How would you describe yourself politically? For example, do you consider yourself to be a “populist?”

As a matter of fact, I do consider myself a “populist.” I am currently a registered “independent.” This is important for a number of reasons, not the least being that the key issue – the fact of an extraterrestrial presence – is obviously a non-partisan issue. In fact, it is a transcendent issue. Other issues emanating out from this core issue are also non-partisan. It is important to take this campaign to all Americans, local and national. The extraterrestrial presence will have planetary impact on the human species as a whole.

Wishing to be viewed as a fully legitimate candidate, I have taken positions on a range of national and international issues. These positions are both left and right of center. Perhaps the vector sum of all these positions would be slightly left of center.

Other than the issue of UFOs and extraterrestrial life, what issues are important to you and your campaign?

Here are the core themes of the campaign: reforming the oversight of the intelligence community, citizen empowerment, restoring citizen trust in government, separating journalism from the national security state, repairing the fundamental relationship within the social contract, empowering women around the world. The motto of the Disclosure2003 campaign is “transparent government, private citizenry.” That simple phrase packs a lot of meaning.

Some specific issues include the following: signing the land mine ban treaty, oversight of the Echelon surveillance system, the presidential override of the 1978 Presidential Records Act, the “war on drugs” and the criminalizing of America. There are many more presented on the campaign website.

How is your congressional campaign going?

The campaign is going smoothly. Right now, the emphasis is on getting nominating signatures. Maryland law is like most states. If you are not filing as a candidate of one of the two main political parties, you must obtain a specific number of nominating signatures to be on the ballot as an independent candidate. In Maryland, that amount is 1% of the total registered voters within the congressional district – approximately 3800.

The rules regarding independent candidates is key to the activist strategy. A two-party candidate (Democrat or Republican) must run in the party primaries, which can take place as early as March. If they lose, they are out of the election. An independent candidate who obtains the necessary signatures is on the ballot and able to campaign right on through to the November election.

We are confident we will deliver the required number of signatures by the deadline, August 5.

There has been media attention and more is expected. Notable is a recent mention in a large article in the June 16 Daily/Sunday Express in Great Britain. The website is developing well and is already quite comprehensive: http://www.Disclosure2003.net

While campaigning is going on, it will not begin in earnest until the signatures have been certified – around August 15.

If you are elected as a congressman, what will your immediate goals be?

There is little chance I will become a congressman. It is estimated the three top candidates in the 8th District election (two Democrats and one Republican) will collectively raise and spend approximately $6 million by election day. The strategy is to get on the ballot and then challenge the two-party candidates with questions relating to the core themes, to take advantage of all the national press this particular race will attract and to give confidence to other candidates across the country to come forward and speak to the issue of the UFO/ET reality.

There is also the possibility that I will hold the swing votes by October. This could result in serious discussions with the parties about the core issues.

This is an activist campaign designed to raise public awareness regarding the most important truth facing the human race – extraterrestrial beings are manifest about the planet. There is no doubt that Disclosure2003 will achieve this basic goal.

Questions compiled by Justin Cowgill