RichmondLiberty.org

by Robert Russo

Ron Paul is the biggest Libertarian ever to swim in the political mainstream. The LP itself wrote this week "in our small Watergate office, the words 'Ron Paul' echo throughout the hallways all day, every day, as we respond to the many questions posed by passionate Libertarians".* His success benefits us all, but little is said of what our other choices are at this stage and what if anything the party will do if Dr. Paul does not win the Republican nomination and does not run on a different ticket, unless you are affiliated with the national office or attend groups or websites that are against him or oblivious to the buzz. Is it too soon to think about whether our party will split between the mainstream candidates or back our own, and who are those candidates? Here is a short review of our options.

Although LP.org appears at first glance to favor a different course than this site, the National Committee declared on Dec. 10 its unanimous invitation to Rep. Paul to be our party's candidate, and admits "we have a man of principle who is igniting a fire of liberty across the nation and, go figure, he has an 'R' next to his name. So, what do we do?"* What makes this choice a lot easier is the fact that no one has to switch parties to cast their vote (Democrats vote in the Republican primaries and vice versa). Likewise the LP does not have to change its bylaws for libertarians to vote of their own accord (which they do anyway) unless they are office holders whose vote reflects on them. A union is already in place to do this, the question is what should the role of the committees, bylaws and National Convention be? Our own candidates have a right to run, just as Dr. Paul has a right to be a Republican, and anti-Paul libertarians have to be represented. The LP resolved unanimously to encourage competition, as streamlining our own candidates out of the process would make us guilty of the very political mongering we oppose.

Groups and prominent individuals in the party are now making dual endorsements of Ron Paul and an LP candidate, not as running mates but a plan A and B. Walt Thiessen of the Nolan Chart has endorsed a Paul/Christine Smith "ticket" as Smith's platform is similar to Paul's and she is a Paul supporter herself.** The number of LP candidates in Paul's corner is an unprecedented show of inter-candidate support at a stage when they are expected to be at each other's throats (whether Paul himself endorses an LP candidate later on should be interesting). Michael Badnarik dropped out to support Paul so one wonders how these candidates are balancing their own bid without running interference, and who would remain on the ballot if Paul does win the nomination. If only we could have this "plan A, plan B" affiliation in all politics.

Carl Milsted, former webmaster of reformthelp.org has an excellent site at Holistic Politics which covers in great depth issues most political blogs don't, such as freedom in the context of the laws of nature, the balance of wealth, morality and religion, in a refreshing light beginning with the acknowledgement that all politics is filthy. It also outlines the various paths we could take. In "Work Within the Republican Party?" he cites the disenchantment that has made that party anybody's game and allowed Ron Paul to rise, but favors the Democratic Party for its weakness and diversity. In "Work Within the Libertarian Party?" his reasons for promoting the Reform Caucus come through as he says extremists "sabotage" good campaigns "tainted by the platform".*** (I disagree with this association of purists with saboteurs. I'm sure he has seen this happen many times, but the LP has many well-mannered and helpful purists, it is not those opinions that make people do wrong to a campaign.) He admits that "Start a New Political Party?" is pretentious and pretty much the same as Reform the LP. In "Activism Without Politics" he suggests diversifying business by creating avenues for small players to bust the conglomerate, and fighting immorality at its source, public schools. People shouldn't allow the infighting and demoralization of party politics to convince them they're not a libertarian, because the party by itself is not libertarianism, the flaws come from individuals. A libertarian knows what slime the party system is, the real constituency is his home.

One way or another in February this campaign will change gears. Info on all the current LP candidates can be found at www.lp.org/libertydecides. The LP's proposal to Ron Paul is at www.lp.org/media/article_545.shtml.

*http://www.lp.org/fp/article_546.shtml
**http://www.christinesmithforpresident.com/RonPaul-Support.php
***http://www.holisticpolitics.org/GettingThere/Libertarian.php

Question of the Week: If you had to choose any candidate besides Ron Paul who would it be? Is this notion premature? Send your thoughts to russo@richmondliberty.org.

If you have topics of interest to libertarians please let us know. We welcome your input!