R. Lee Wrights says the most significant impact of the election is the continued growth of the Libertarian Party. by Brian Irving
(libertarian)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The most significant impact of the 2010 elections is neither a mandate for the Republican Party, nor a rejection of the Obama Administration, but in the continued growth of the Libertarian vote at the local, state and national level, said potential Libertarian presidential candidate R. Lee Wrights. "
The Libertarian Party continued its record of putting up more candidates than any other third party in America, more than 800 this year," Wrights said. "More than one million Americans voted for Libertarian candidates for the U.S. House and 15 of those candidates polled better than five percent of the vote in a three-way race, a substantial increase from what we've achieved before."
Wrights said he was also proud of the accomplishments of the party's two U.S. Senate candidates who earned more than four percent of the vote while challenging the Democrat and Republican party nominees. "It's clear that the Libertarian message is reaching an increasing number of Americans, who are beginning to realize that not only is government part of the problem, but so are the Democratic and Republican parties," Wrights said.
He noted that Libertarian candidates nationwide drew more than one percent of vote total for its House candidates, something no third party has done since the Progressives Party in 1948.
Unlike some Libertarians, Wrights said he doesn't care to speculate on what the election results mean for the Republican Party. "I'm only concerned about what the results mean for the Libertarian Party and the libertarian movement," he said. "
One of their own candidates, Marco Rubio, warned that Republicans would make a grave mistake if the believed the election results were an embrace of the party," Wrights said. "Rubio said it was a 'second chance' for the party to make good on its promises."
"I can't argue with the idea of giving anyone, or any party, a second chance," Wrights said. "But the Republicans and Democrats have had many second chances -- and third chances, and fourth chances -- yet still continue to grow government, increase spending, raise taxes, limit freedom and expand our nations wars."
"The question is, at what point do you say enough is enough, and stop voting for political parties who simply do not do what they say they are going to do," Wrights said.
Wrights is considering seeking the presidential nomination because he believes the Libertarian message in 2012 should be a loud, clear and unequivocal call to stop all war. He has pledged that 10 percent of all donations to his campaign will be spent for ballot access so that the stop all war message can be heard in all 50 states.
The 52-year old writer and political activist was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and now lives in Texas. He is the co-founder and editor of the free speech online magazine Liberty For All. Contact Lee at rleewrights@gmail.com.
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Posted By: Spence
Date: November 11, 2010 05:39:00 AM
The most significant impact of the 2010 elections is neither a mandate for the Republican Party, nor a rejection of the Obama Administration, but in the continued growth of the Libertarian vote at the local, state and national level, said potential Libertarian presidential candidate.
What you call a "significant impact" I call a drop in the proverbial bucket. A mandate by a minority of voters is scarcely a mandate at all.
The Libertarian Party continued its record of putting up more candidates than any other third party in America, more than 800 this year," Wrights said. "More than one million Americans voted for Libertarian candidates for the U.S. House and 15 of those candidates polled better than five percent of the vote in a three-way race, a substantial increase from what we've achieved before.
I would have thought that those who pride themselves on qualitative analysis could see the fallacy in throwing a bunch of things at a wall and hoping something sticks. One million Americans, two million Americans... the end result doesn't matter. Do you know how many Americans voted for Democrats this year and they still lost the House? We do not live in a proportional representative democracy. 5% of the total vote doesn't mean a damn thing. Only strategically concentrated races have any hope of getting any libertarians elected.
Wrights said he was also proud of the accomplishments of the party's two U.S. Senate candidates who earned more than four percent of the vote while challenging the Democrat and Republican party nominees. "It's clear that the Libertarian message is reaching an increasing number of Americans, who are beginning to realize that not only is government part of the problem, but so are the Democratic and Republican parties," Wrights said.
Four percent in an anti-incumbent, jobs-minded electorate. Sounds like a pretty anemic accomplishment to me.
Wrights is considering seeking the presidential nomination because he believes the Libertarian message in 2012 should be a loud, clear and unequivocal call to stop all war. He has pledged that 10 percent of all donations to his campaign will be spent for ballot access so that the stop all war message can be heard in all 50 states.
Well, whoever this Wright "fellow" is (yes, my sarcasm is dubious) sounds like he's perfectly content to settle for .08% of the vote in 2012 if he wins, just like all the rest. It's what happened to Badnerik, it's what happened to Barr. It's what will befall Wright too. So the question is why even mount a national campaign at all when that money could be better spent trying to get a Libertarian or two with a legitimate shot into Congress?
Americans may be stupid, but they are not THAT stupid enough to reward a party who's entire 35+ year existence can basically be summed up as a failure and an asterisk in two presidential cycles.
Posted By: Joel S. Hirschhorn
Date: November 16, 2010 09:06:49 AM
Congratulations! This author wins the glass-is-half-filled-award for the best delusional thinking in the country. Suggest you rename your party to Delusional Libertarian Party. If your party could not win any congressional election in this year of monumental citizen anger and dissatisfaction, then you should be ashamed, not proud.
