Topic: Political Parties
Libertarian Party Supporting Ron Paul Anyway Despite the fact that Ron Paul has indicated yet again that he has no intention of seeking any third party's nomination, the Libertarian Party have stepped up to the plate to support his candidacy in a controversial move.by Walt Thiessen
(Libertarian)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
While a lot is being made of Ron Paul not accepting the Libertarian Party's invitation to run as a Libertarian, we should be more precise and say that his campaign has simply reiterated that he intends to seek no third party nomination. Today, the Libertarian National Committee which governs the LP issued an email to party members urging them to help support Paul's campaign anyway using a Libertarian Party calling tool called the Ballot Base.
This is a controversial move within the party and will likely gain some naysays from some party members. However, it also comes as a welcome surprise to party members like myself who applaud the move. The difficulty is that the party's bylaws specifically prohibit the party from endorsing another party's candidate, even when that candidate happens to be a former Libertarian nominee. But the LNC empowered Executive Director Shane Cory to purchase the New Hampshire voting list and make the Ballot Base system available to party members who would like to make calls to NH Republicans on behalf of Ron Paul.
I am among those who have been critical of Shane Cory in the past, even before I launched this website. However, in this case I have to say he and the LNC are doing the right thing! As he said in his email to party members today, "What we can do is show respect for our Party's history, bylaws and members while making an effort to recognize the revolution that's taking place around the country.... We can no longer stand by and do nothing when such an incredible opportunity exists for the Libertarian Party."
Some commentators (including some columnists on this website) have gleefully jumped on Paul's refusal at this time to run under LP banner, and I can certainly understand and even support their motivations to a large extent. But with the LP itself making such a gracious move to make its own resources available to support the Paul campaign, I believe that a similar nod of approval is also due toward the party.
Libertarian Party members will be able to use the party's telephone campaign resource www.BallotBase.org about which Cory said, "[it] is essentially a decentralized call center. From the comfort of your own home, you can use the system to call voters on behalf of a candidate. It's easy to use and can be incredibly effective."
This is the kind of activity I prefer to see from a freedom-oriented group of people, rather than the more divisive, "my organization or party is better than your organization or party" that some Paul supporters prefer to engage in. Once the Paul campaign runs its course, it will be incumbent upon all of his supporters to find a way to work together rather than to work separately and against each other. This will be a tremendous challenge to achieve. The Libertarian Party, by making their Ballot Base server available for the benefit of the Paul campaign, have effectively served notice that they prefer to stand together rather than to stand separately, even at the risk of their own rank-and-file's displeasure. For that, they deserve the thanks of all Paul supporters.
Did you like this article? If you did, Thumb It! 158 thumbs so far
2007 Walt Thiessen, all rights reserved.
Published: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Last modified: Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The views expressed in this
article are those of Walt Thiessen only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Walt Thiessen is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Dr. Paul's current campaign might be the best that has ever happened to the LP. For an example of why, look no further than myself:
I'm a career Naval officer, and until two months ago a hardcore Bush supporter. I did not know about the LP, libertarianism, Lew Rockwell, Murray Rothbard, or Mises, or even internet blogs.
Enter Ron Paul. I'm now a regular here, at LRC, a member of the Mises Institute, active blog participant, and a libertarian. If Paul does not get the Republican nomination, I will leave the GOP and join the Libertarian Party. I wonder how many other of his followers are like me?
Kudos to the LP for the recognition that freedom-loving people can work together across party lines to save this country! This also lends great credibility to the LP for people in other parties. If the RP doesn't nominate Ron Paul, I will strongly consider switching to the LP, largely because of this move.
It is time the LP got behind the campaign of Ron Paul. His GOP candidacy is the best educational tool in the history of the libertarian movement. Also, Ron Paul can win!
Read, Ron Paul – Could He Really Win?
http://www.ronaldholland.com/presidentronpaul.htm
A two part article on how current economic and foreign policy actions outside the political process could elect Ron Paul as President.
Anyone that still thinks that W is a christian needs to have his friggen head examined. If the people of Iowa can't see the writing on the wall and help elect a man that wants to restore their freedom and the sovereignty of this country. If they can't understand that Ron Paul see the problem with the farms and wants to help them flourish. If the people of Iowa don't realize that Iraq is a cancer on the morals and the economy of this country and that Dr Paul is the best choice to fix the mess I leave them to their own devices, they are beyond logical help.
I am a life long Republican, that sees my party as out of touch & unwilling to realize the devistating mistakes we have made in the past 7 years. If Ron Paul ran under the Libertarion ticket, I would vote for him.
On the federal level of government, there is little difference between a conservative and a libertarian.
I'm glad the leaders of the libertarian party see this and are able to put the constitution above party lines. You can bet that if the republican party in general doesn't shape up and get back to what it's supposed to be,The LP party will reap rewards in all areas. Locally many more people are already looking for libertarians.
I think that is a great move on the part of the LP. Thanks Y'all! The rEVOLution will only help the LP in the end. The holdouts in the party need to recognize this.
This may be the death nell of the LP, but I (a party member) don't care if it survives. I don't mind if right-leaning libertarians all join the GOP and invade their social conservative space, and the left-leaning libertarians join the Dems and invade their socialist space, if it gives us candidates in both parties (that will have power, let's face it) that have chances in all races for office, then it is worth it.
I'd like to see the Constitution and Conservative Parties show their support as well. Hell, maybe even the Greens can be convinced. (not holding my breath, but at this point, I'm not surprised by anything any more)
Count me in as well. I am a Republican; however, if Ron Paul does not make the nomination I will be switching to the LP. The LP has done the right thing, and as a result will eventually see its party growing like crazy.
Kudos for the LP! I have been non-partisan and a no-voter for years because I got tired of the lesser evil deal. But RP reignited my hopes for a chance to restore this still great nation to its former glory under the Constitution. Certainly, winning is looking more feasible as the days go by.
Assuming they can look past Dr. Paul's more conservative views on abortion, and his stricter views on border security (the one reason I will not join the Libertarian Party; their lack of respect for border integrity sickens me and flies in the face of national sovereignty), it would be asinine for any member of the LP to *not* support him.
If they want to give their full support to the LP candidate, whomever that may be, then that is of course their prerogative. But it leads me to question their dedication to the advancement of liberty. This is a rare opportunity; it is no time to toe the party line.
The LP is between a rock and a hard place, and I recognize that. They can't *not* run a candidate and expect to be taken seriously as a party, but they can't *not* support Ron Paul and expect to be taken seriously as libertarians. I suspect that there will be a great many LP members who, if they haven't already, will begin looking for reasons to dislike Ron Paul, in an attempt to mask the cognitive dissonance they must be experiencing right now.
I am disgusted with my own local Republican Party after they cheated on the St Pete Straw Poll. They refuse to allow an audit and even to discuss it . The scary thing is these are the same people who will be running the primary vote in January. As soon as the election is over, I will be switching parties. Give me liberty or give me death!
Posted By: Paul M. Green
Date: 2007-12-11 16:59:45
I'd like to send a resounding thank you to the Libertarian Party!! Country first, affiliation second. I'm a registered republican, but only because I want to vote for Ron Paul in the primaries here in Maryland. Otherwise I'd be registered independent or libertarian. I made the mistake of voting along party lines as a Republican back in 2000 and 2004. Now I feel like I have to help make amends for that dreadful mistake by supporting a man who happens to be a member of a party I am discusted with.
Dr. Paul knows the reality of the system in which we live today. Third parties have never, ever gotten a fair shake in our political system. How many Libertarian debates have you seen on CNN, Fox or Univision? How much airtime is given to libertarians by the pundits and talking heads of the MSM? I think Paul's decision to remain in the GOP, in which he's served for all ten of his terms in congress, is very smart, and very politically savy.
Also, the party system is unconstitutional anway. Deviding into parties was frowned upon by the founders. They called it "factions", and they knew the danger of such a fractured government.
Its more important for me to support the person who is the best candidate for the job, no matter what party he's a member of. All the time you hear of people "voting for the lesser of two evils." The magic of Ron Paul is that his is NOT evil, and choosing him would the the absolute best choice (at least for me).
Again, thank you to the Libertarian Party. We're all Americans first, and I salute your solidarity.
Even though Ron Paul says "It's the message not him", I beg to differ. Ron Paul and his voting record are unique and we Americans have only one chance at electing him. If he doesn't get the gop nomination I think "The Revolution" can convince him(twist his arm)to run as third party whether it's Independant, Liberterian or Unity. His reasoning for not considering a third party is, he wouldn't be included in debates. So what! With the way he's being treated now, who cares about debates and the MSM. His supporters are showing the world how it's done. You want a grassroots President? Do it yourself! Money bombs, blimp and what hav'ya. We're rewriting history.
Go Ron Go!
Hearing the great news regarding the Libertarian Party's support for Ron Paul was the highlight of my day! This is just really awsome! Don't ya just get the feeling day by day that Ron Paul is going to be the 44th President of the United States? I do. I guess the message of freedom and liberty is popular afterall.
With respect to the Green Party, I can't imagine how, after having the clarity of how a Ron Paul Presidency would benefit the environment, would not hesitate to get 100% behind the good doctor. And I say this as a fellow environmentalist, permaculture design, tree hugging, wacko.
My passion is sustainable design thru the wisdom expressed in permaculture and my vision is to assist in re-establishing the "Garden of Eden" on the planet. This task is quite do-able, it's simply a matter of collective intent and vision.
As they say, you are either a part of the problem or part of the solution. Ron Paul and his rEVOLtion is without a doubt part of the solution. Obviously, the Libertarian Party is part of the solution as well.
Solution to the pollution in the broadest sense.
My thanks to all of the Libertarian Party members who are supporting Ron Paul for President of the United States of America.
Posted By: W Gary Johnson
Date: 2007-12-11 21:11:26
There is a world of difference between Ron Paul seeking the LP nomination and the LP simplychanging their bylaws and endorsing him. Having been an LP member on and off since the Ed Clark for President campaign, I'm happy to see them seize this opportunity.
I've belonged to Four different Parties over the years. I guess you can tell by that statement that I would NEVER follow any party line blindly (Maybe my Libra birth sign?) Anyway, I was most recently registered as an Independant,Until one day Three months ago when I heard a guy on a radio talk show (Brent Hadley,on the Bubba The Lovesponge Show) Champion this guy who was being hailed as a true "By the People - For the People" Candidate.I did a little research (very lil' was needed) to convince me to BOLT out the door and re -register as a Republican in order to vote for Dr.Paul in the 08 Primaries. Since then I've been VERY active in the Campaign. I've joined meetup groups ,made monitary donations to several branches of the "cause" I've done Internet Canvasing,I've walked door to door,Have gotten into making Ron Paul signs and waving them at busy intersections for hours on end,Have been very active on message boards and Posted to hundreds of youtube videos (links to Ron Paul news and events) etc.etc. I NEVER in a million years would have thought, that "I" would EVER be this enthusiastic over a politician.. If R.P. doesn't end up getting the nod...I SWEAR I'll follow him in whatever he decides to do next.(or ANYONE he endorses for that matter) You GOP hardliners better get your $h!t together NOW ,or I would be willing to bet that HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of your prescious votes will be right there beside me as we vacate the party FOR GOOD.
This is indeed good news, because partisan politics is a zero-sum game.
As we all rejoice in this added support for Dr. Paul, please have a serious look at a very clever organization that "gets it" when it comes to the dead-end of partisan politics:
I have been resgisted as Republican and as Libertarian at various points in my life. For this election (in California), I have switched back to Republican in order to vote for Dr. Paul. I think the BEST thing that conscientious libertarians could do at this point, especially in closed-primary states such as California, is to switch over for this oh-so important primary for us all.
Furthermore, I feel like this election cycle may well be an opportunity of greater significance for the libertarians as a whole to join back with the Republican party, re-take it over, and drive out the neo-con jerks to where they belong -- with the socialists on the democratic side of things. In the long run, if such a coup of the Repuclican party could take place, then the libertarian party would have served its purpose, and would be a viable force again through the Republican party.
I did not know about the Libertarian Party until I was looking at all of the GOP candidates and stumbled upon Ron Paul. What he was saying made sense. I have generally voted Republican, although I have been registered Independent, too.
I have always thought that the Republican Party stood for small government. After all Bush has done, I see that there's not much of a difference between an elephant and a jackass. I am tired of the games.
After I vote for Ron Paul in the primaries as a Republican, I fully intend to join the Libertarian Party. I have done my homework and I like it!
If the LP nominates a social conservative. xenophobe like Ron Paul then it deserves to die. After three decades of supporting the party, if it picks Paul I will actively campaign against the LP for the first time in my life. Shame.
Want to comment on this
article? Leave your comment here. Your email address is
required to track your comment. However, we will neither
publish your email address nor distribute it to other
organizations or persons. The only reason we might use
it would be if we needed to contact you regarding your
comment. All comments are subject to our
terms of use policy.
2007 Walt Thiessen, all rights reserved.