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A A, N s Libertarian National Committee, Inc. • 2600 Virginia Ave, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 • Phone: (202) 333-0008 • Fax: (202) 333-0072 JULY 2000 newsietter Harry Browne wins presidential nomination

t the largest third-party radio shows, political convention in eight local Amore than 50 years, BROWNE TV ADS SET FOR JULY radio shows, Harry Browne won the Lib- four print ertarian Party's nomination arry Browne for President TV ads are expected interviews, for president — and then to hit the airwaves as soon as July 26, according and seven immediately embarked on H to campaign manager Perry Willis. Internet in- a national media blitz. The campaign has made an initial purchase of terviews — Browne, a bestselling 67 spots on nine cable channels reaching 1.5 million • Browne: 1st including investment author and the households. The ads will air on such networks as ballot victory. CNN Today, LP's 1996 candidate, won a CNN, The Travel Channel, The Weather Channel, CNN's Inside first-ballot victory at the Bravo, and the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS). Politics, PBS Evening News, Libertarian National Conven- "In general, we are looking for a mix of shows MSNBC's Equal Time, and tion in Anaheim, California where some of the audiences reached will have a high C-SPAN's Washington Journal. on July 2. He picked up 56% proportion of politically interested people, and some "I was proud, humbled, of the vote, besting chal- will not" to test what works best, said Willis. and excited [to win]," said lengers Don Gorman (19%), For air times, visit www.HarryBrowne2000.org. Browne. "I am determined (13%), to do everything possible to and Barry Hess (6%). The Convention, held tion in 1948, according to get every last vote I can, to Winning the contest for June 30-July 3, attracted Ballot Access News publisher bring in every new member vice president in a nail-biting more than 900 credentialed Richard Winger. possible, to spend every contest that took two ballots delegates and 1,200 total In the week following the dollar in the most cost- was former Bellflower, Cali- attendees — making it the convention, Browne launched effective way." fornia mayor , largest third-party conven- a nationwide media tour, In officer elections, Jim who defeated Steve Kubby tion in America since the participating in six national Lark won a decisive victory and Ken Krawchuk. Progressive Party's conven- TV shows, eight national in his bid for National Chair. LP candidates are running in majority of U.S. House races t's official: The Libertar- Convention in California. The last third party to but in the opposite political ian Party will run candi- That's well over the 218 have candidates in so many direction." I dates in more than half candidates needed to pass Congressional races was The Libertarian Party is of all U.S. House races this the half-way mark for the the Socialist Party in the running more Congressional November — making it the 435-seat U.S. House. Another 1920 election, according to candidates than "all other first third party in 80 years 21 LP candidates are run- the Washington Times. third parties combined," to accomplish that feat. ning for U.S. Senate this year. Washington, DC's The Hill At least 236 LP candi- "We're going to give the Same impact newspaper announced. dates have declared their American public the oppor- "The last party to achieve Leading the list of states intention to run, or have tunity to vote for a majority this was the Socialists, and I with the most LP House already qualified to be on the in Congress that will support don't have to tell you what candidates is California with ballot for the 2000 election, the Constitution and the Bill kind of effect they had on 45, followed by Texas (24), LP Political Director Ron of Rights — instead of tramp- American public policy," said Ohio (18), Michigan (16), Crickenberger announced ling on them," said Crick- Crickenberger. " We want to North Carolina (12), and at the recent National enberger. have the same impact — Indiana (10). Liberty Pledge News ♦ July 2000 Practicing what he preaches Libertarian Party hopeful refuses matching campaign funds "I do not expect to win the By ALAN BERNSTEIN presidency, but we are so much Houston Chronicle Libertarian bigger and better financed and MATT FR IEDEMAN Party candi- stronger than we were in1996 that As the Libertarian Party candi- date Harry I expect that we should have a thought he was being date for president, investment ad- Browne says much better result," Browne said. funny with a recent column on the Liber- viser Harry Browne doesn't want it would be The goal, Browne explained, is tarian Party Web site (www.lp.org). the taxpayers' money. He is refus- hypocritical to to make sure voters know that fern is, he doesn't know our Legislature or ing to accept matching campaign take matching Libertarian candidates for any our governor. Funny has limits. funds from the federal govern- funds. election are the ones who would Dasbach's idea — "Try It On Govern- ment. reduce government the most. ment First" or TIGF for short. Social Secu- Browne said he is eligible to re He opposes federal government rity taxes? Repeal 'em for everyone except ceive up to $750,000 for the pri- ville, Tenn., suburb down the efforts to eradicate poverty and il- government workers for a trial period of mary season. He explained that highway from Gore's national legal drugs, saying they have not 20 years, allow the rest of us to use the taking the cash would betray his campaign headquarters, said he only failed, but made the prob- stock market to get our retirements fund- party's drive for a minimal gov- hopes to raise $5 million in dona- lems worse. ed and at the end of two decades let's com- ernment with no national tax, no tions and make his party a player gun control laws, no anti-drug law in the November presidential "Because I have seen what the pare notes... then make a pennanent deci- enforcement programs. election. war on drugs has done in escalat- sion. Or the Energy Department's toilet ing drug use and crime in his regulations to save money with 1.6 gallon "It would be hypocritical of me He said it will increase his to say that we have got to get country, the last thing I would flushes as opposed to the standard 3.5 gal- party's profile if he and two other want is the government on my people's noses out of the trough alternate candidates, Ralph lon flush? Try it out in government build- and then put my own nose in side to stamp out abortion," the ings and the homes of politicians for a Nader and , draw mild-mannered 66-year-old said. there," Browne said in a Houston enough votes to swing the contest decade or so, then let's decide. interview Friday. "I mean, if you enlisted the gov- between Gore and Bush. Nader is ernment to try to stop abortions, Good idea, nods the Legislature. It's one of several ways Browne expected to get the Green Party Before givinggovernment employees and is setting himself apart from Vice probably within 10 years men will nomination and Buchanan is vy- be having abortions." teachers a raise let's try it out on ourselves President and Gov. ing for the Reform Party nod. He said the two major political first. In a legislative year where money is George W. Bush, the soon-to-be in short supply, a conference committee nominees of the Democratic and "The three of us together com- parties are hypocritical on abor- Republican parties. prise a large enough total so that tion, because so-called pro-choice slides in an amendment doubling legisla- Bush refused we are in a position to affect the lawmakers would not let a woman tors' retirement benefits and voila, TIGF. for the primaries, which allowed outcome," Browne said. He has choose to use marijuana to ease Leadership, Mississippi Legislature style. him to raise an unlimited amount drawn 1 percent of the vote in re- the pain from cancer or glau- If teachers, state employees and their from private contributions. But he cent national polls, while Nader coma, and so-called pro-life candi- friends aren't contacting the governor's and Gore will each accept $67.5 and Buchanan pulled more. dates didn't oppose the U.S. office over his failure to veto this hypocrit- million for the general election, Browne stopped in Houston on bombings that killed civilians in ical measure, what does it take? funded by the $1 check-off option his way to the Libertarian Party's Kosovo. on every American's income tax state convention in Corpus As part of the Libertarian phi- return. Christi. The three-day gathering losophy, Browne calls for a fed- Browne would be eligible for a ends today. eral retreat from education, wel- much smaller amount from the The candidate said he is build- fare and other programs that he program, which was intended to ing a force of campaign volun- says are not authorized by the Governments in action blunt some of the influence of spe- teers that didn't exist in 1996, Constitution. He would abolish cial interest money on White when he made his first run for the Social Security payroll tax The Libertarian Party, which House races. president and notched about and withdraw U.S. troops from turns up its nose at this sort of Browne, who lives in a Nash- 460,000 votes. foreign peacemaking missions. thing, is the source for a list of recently passed state laws and recommendations, cited on prorev.com. It seems legislators have OK'd: ■ A The Hou,ton Chronicle, • The creation of a secretary Steve Dasbach, spokesman for the Houston, Texas, June 11, 2000 of barbecue in Florida. Libertarian Party, reports: "This • The banning of clothing month, a school in New jersey suspend- A (RIGHT) The Clarion-Ledger, made out of dogs or cats in New ed two kindergarten students, after Jackson, Mississippi, May 31, 2000 jersey. they played cops-and-robbers on the • The scolding of Craig playground, for pointing fingers at each ► The Akron I3eacon Journal, Kilburn for calling Kentucky other and shouting 'bang-bane Which Akron, Ohio, June 13, 2000 "Kensucky" on late night brave politician will be the first to pr9- television. pose a finger buy-back program?" 4 The Clarion-Ledger, • Also in Kentucky, the Please, Dasbach, don't give Jackson's Jackson, Mississippi, May 5, 2000 prohibition of any mention of City Council any ideas. non-Christian religions when teaching Colonial history. • The prohibition, in Utah, of auto dealers from selling cars or trucks on consecutive Saturdays and Sundays. Liberty Pledge News • July 2000 Libertarian Party Selects Presidential Candidate • Politics: Meeting in Anaheim, delegates choose Harry what they saw as public policy der or anticipated Reform Party moves in the right direction—the contender Pat Buchanan. 'We have the most powerful message In the world: We passage of medical marijuana and Browne, its 1996 nominee. Goal is to get 1 million votes. Nonetheless, Brown, 67, expects assisted suicide de- want you to be free.' laws—and "to scare the bejesus out of Re- 493 of 878 votes in favor of nounced taxes and corrupt gov- By KATE FOLMAR Browne, who represented the publicans and Democrats" by get- I IkIES STAFF WRITER HARRY BROWNE ernment officials. ting a million votes. The Tennes- party in a 1996 presidential bid Libertarian Party presidential candidate Once Browne's selection was see resident said he's raised $1.3 and received nearly 500,000 votes. locked up, the 1,200 or so attend- Amid raucous claps and chants, million for a national advertising Libertarian Party delegates Sun- The more hotly contested four- ees began to clap, stomp their feet person race for the party's vice campaign, and he asserts that a day selected an author and former cast separate ballots for their and Laguna Beach resident Steve and chant, "Har-ry, Har-ry." presidential nominee remained a presidential and vice presidential Kubby, a cancer patient and medi- Libertarian could occupy the Oval investment advisor as their presi- Later, an elated Browne ac- cliffhanger, though. Running late candidates. cal marijuana advocate who is Office within the decade. dential candidate—although knowledged that he'll have a all day, delegates were unable to Dressed in everything from se- awaiting trial on pot possession tougher time selling his anti-in- "We have the most powerful Harry Browne readily admits that reach a majority decision before vere business suits to tie-dyed T- charges. Results of that balloting come tax, anti-Social Security, message in the world: We want he'll beTh17177 to get more than a their convention room was sched- shirts and kilts, delegates cast will not be announced until this anti-drug war message to the gen- you to be free," Browne said. "We million votes. uled to be set up for an evening their votes late Sunday in the vice morning. eral voting public. And he knows want you to live your life as you Meeting at the Marriott Hotel in banquet. Unlike the two major po- presidential runoff between for- As the presidential results were he doesn't possess the celebrity of want to live it—not as Al Gore or Anaheim, the party delegates cast litical parties, the Libertarians mer Bellflower Mayor Art Olivier tallied, several delegates touted Green Party nominee Ralph Na- George Bush want you to live it." Libertarians field full candidate slate • The La. A rtgele., Time: By RALPH WAKLEY cans often run like Libertarians Los Angeles, California Standard-Examiner Capitol Bureau then vote like Democrats," he Libertarian candidates July 3, 2000 SALT LAKE CITY - For the said. "If any elected official votes for bigger government, higher The party's Northern Utah first time in its history, the Utah legislative candidates: .11M Standard-Examnei Libertarian Party will have a can- taxes or more gun control, we will be the first to denounce House of Representatives Ogden, Utah, didate on the ballot for each con- District 1, Dave Nelson, May 28, 2000 gressional and statewide office. them." Party delegates denied the Garland The 38 Utah candidates for Libertarian gubernatorial nomi- District 2, Richard Partridge, V The St. Louis Po,,t-MITatel., federal, state and local offices is Brigham City nation to Dub Richards, who had St. Louis, Missouri more than the party has ever District 10, Wallis C. Burnside, filed as a candidate for all regis- June 3, 2000 signed up since it first qualified tered parties. Richards, who ran South Ogden for ballot access in 1972, sail for governor as an independent District 13, Donald A. Libertarian state chairman Jiin. in 1996, was turned down be- Kingsley, Syracuse Dexter, who is the party's candil:' cause he was not a party member District 15, Susan Green date for the U.S. Senate. in good standing, Dexter said. Parker, Layton Those candidates were formal- Instead, the delegates nomi- District 16, Laren C. ly certified this week at the State nated former state chairman Livingston, Kaysville Elections Office, Dexter said. Douglas Wade Jones of Salem as District 17, Joe Judd, "The Libertarian candidates their gubernatorial candidate and Farmington have a kind of contract with Barry W. Briggs of Tooele for District 18, Daniel Roy Nelson, Utah. Prior to certification, all lieutenant governor. Centerville Libertarian candidates must sign In addition to Dexter of Tay- a pledge for less government, lbrsville, the other federal candi- The other statewide candi- lower taxes and more freedom," dates are: Dave Starr Seeley of dates are: Andrew McCullough he said. St. George for the 1st District of Salt Lake City for attorney "Because Utah does not have congressional seat; Peter Pixton general; Jim Elwell of Salt Lake a recall procedure, this is the best of TaylorsVille for the 2nd Dis- way a political party can assure trict seat, and Kitty Burton of for state auditor, and Hugh But- voters that what they hear is ac- Herriman for the 3rd District ler of Salt Lake for state treasur- tually what they'll get. Republi- seat. er. Libertarian candidate assails Bush, Gore over policies on drugs

• Harry Browne, the party's on which there is greater divide be- New Hampshire state representative; Legalizing drugs, privatizing Social tween the politicians and the people," and Barry Hess, a Phoenix manufac- Security, repealing gun laws and presidential front-runner, said ' presidential hopeful Harry turer. Delegates to -the party's nation- eliminating income taxes will be dis- recommends getting rid of all Browne, 66, whose name appeared on al convention later this month in cussed today as the Libertarians con- . the 1996 ballot alongside , • California will select the candidate. tinue to inch out of their fringe party drug laws. The Missouri and- In an interview Friday, Browne status. They're trading protest candi- Libertarian Party holds its Brown's solution: "Get rid of all the said the flap over Bush's refusal to dates, philosophers and, economists convention today in St. Peters. drug laws." . • answer questions about past drug with better and more candidates on That's part of a 'platform that will use, or Gore's admission to smoking the ballot, stronger state parties and a bigger budget for TV campaign ads, be presented at the Missouri Liber- marijuana in his youth, skirts a big- BY ERIC STERN Browne said. Of the Post-Dispatch tarian Party's annual convention to- ger issue about the harsh penalties day at St. Peters Holiday Inn. The politicians demand for illegal-drug "People have come to understand daylong menu of speeches and party- users. that government doesn't work," he The get-tough drug policies of Tex- building activities — featuring the -said. as Gov. George W. Bush and Vice "The question of whether he did Libertarians' hands-off-government this or didn't do it is not nearly as im- Browne lost his 1996 presidential President Al Gore are hypocritical approach — kicks off at 9 am. bid with about 500,000 votes, 10,000 and further alienate estranged voters, portant as the disparity between his - A presidential candidate forum will of which came from Missouri. the Libertarian Party's leading 'presi- actions and what he wants to do to begin at 11:15 a.m. with Browne, a re- other people," said Browne, who said dential idate said Friday. nro postnet.com/links Visit the Web tired investor from the Nashville, he smoked Marijuana four times 1..gi sites for the Missouri Libertarian "There probably is no issue today Tenn., area; Don Gorman, a former about 30 years ago. Party and the national party online. Liberty Pledge News • July 2000 Libertarians field 218 for the House Party has entries in majority of races Libertarians ference. Perhaps most famously, By Sean Scully Libertarian Michael Cloud denied THE WASHINGTON TIMES Republican John Ensign a seat in It is just possible that the next thet U.S. Senate, guaranteeing re- speaker of the House will be nei- election of Sen. Harry Reid, Ne- ther a Republican nor a Democrat. vada Democrat, in one of the most The 30-year-old Libertarian closely watched races of 1998. hold state Party is fielding candidates in at Mr. Cloud managed to get a dis- least 218 House districts this year, oral 8,044 votes, or about 1.8 per- the first time in 80 years a third cent. But the race between Mr. party has put up candidates in half Reid and Mr. Ensign was decided or more of the contests. That by an astounding 428 votes, or less means that if the Libertarians win than a tenth of 1 percent. all their races, they could take the Mr. Ensign, who is favored to majority away from Republicans win the Nevada Senate seat open convention and Democrats alike. this year, appears to be paying at- Other more famous third par- tention, saying at one point that ties, such as the Green and Reform "most of what the ran for Congress in the 2nd parties, are not even close to government does is unconstitu- Harlingen south Congressional District of Texas in fielding so many congressional tional" — a most Libertarian sen- 1998, is a candidate for a seat as candi dates. timent. teacher to seek "We see it as our job to give [the Mr. Ensign's campaign man- Cameron County Commissioner, public] someone to vote for," said ager, Mike Slanker, denied that re- Precinct 3. Geprge Getz, press secretary for mark was an explicit outreach to public weigher post the Libertarians. Libertarians. The comment was Candidates for state offices to The party admits, however, that widely taken out of context to indi- By MARIA HUGHES run against Democrats and they would be lucky to win one cate that Mr. Ensign opposes fed- Valley Morning Star Republicans in the November elec- seat, let alone the majority. eral programs, he said. Instead, "The other candidates in the Mr. Ensign was referring specifi- HARLINGEN — Approximately tions were addressed, including race are moved a little bit closer to tally to Washington's highhanded 150 state delegates attended a two- William Bunch, of Dallas, who is the Libertarian position, at least in dealing with Nevada, where 80 day Libertarian Party of Texas con- running for the 27th Congressional their rhetoric," said Ron Cricken- percent of the land is federally- berger, the party's political direc- controlled. vention, which ended Sunday in District of Texas for a seat on the for and a candidate for the 8th Con- But Mr. Ensign is quick to pro- Corpus Christi. U.S. House of Representatives. gressional District of Virginia. claim his affinity with Libertar- Libertarians argue for sharply ians and other minor party voters. Mark Pretz, a Harlingen High The convention featured a limited government and broad He makes a point of his indepen- School South computer program- forum with presidential candidates personal freedom. On a federal dente and his willingness to buck ming teacher, was selected as a Harry Browne of and level, that translates to a strict ad- party leaders when necessary. herence to and narrow interpreta- "He's got a little bit of that inde- candidate to run for the position of Don German of New Hampshire. tion of the Constitution. pendent spirit that some of the Public Weigher of Cameron The state party rules and Candidates typically campaign lesser party voters are looking for," on economic issues, such as free Mr. Slanker said. County. bylaws were amended to allow the trade and limited government reg- Common wisdom says Libertar- It is an unopposed position. party to challenge state election ulation, and progressive social is- ians tend to draw votes away from Pretz, who ran for the 27th laws, officials said. sues, such as an end to the "War on Republicans more than Demo- Drugs" in favor of a crackdown on crats. Congressional District of Texas for "The two major parties hold a violent crime. But Libertarian officials say a seat in the U.S. House of virtual monopoly on legislation The last time a third party they tend to draw more Democrats fielded so many candidates was when the talk about social issues Representatives in 1998, said he pertaining to elections and they 1920, when the Socialist Party was such as tolerance of drug use takes wants to abolish the Public have crafted laws which put minor a presence in more than half the place. Mr. Crickenberger said the races. While Libertarians oppose party is making drug policy a ma- Weigher position. parties at a definite disadvantage," almost all the positions of the So- jor theme this year and will back This would help reduce the size said Jack McNally, chairman of the cialists, Mr. Crickenberger and up candidates with at least $1 mil- of governments and help taxpay- Libertarian Party of Cameron other party organizers are looking lion in advertising money. to the Socialist model for inspira- Libertarian candidates say they ers, PERTs said. County and representative to the tion. are undaunted by their weak elec- "We strongly believe that the executive committee from District Although the Socialists never toral showing so far. gained national power, they man- "In every way this party is grow- money belongs back into the pock- 27. aged to inject some important ing," said Carla Howell, the Liber- ets of the people," PERTs said. "Not only have they prohibited ideas — welfare programs and tarian candidate opposing Sen. Ed- "There's too many governmental minor parties from participating in union rights, for example — into ward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts the debate, Mr. Crickenberger Democrat. agencies that overlap the scales national debates, but they have said. Those ideas have since be- Ms. Howell admits that her and the accuracy of scales. also created legislation which tilts come mainstream. quest is a long shot, but she said "Government agencies have the political playing field in their Both major parties expect a she is the only alternative to Mr. close race this year, with control of Kennedy since the sole Republican grown to ridiculous proportions, favor." the House clearly in the balance challenger failed to meet the ballot large bureaucracy and a huge McNally was among seven dele- and even control of the Senate pos- requirements. sibly in question. Yet neither party There are already more than waste of taxpayer money." gates from the Valley who attended seems worried by the third party 400 Libertarians in office in local Additionally, Wendell Dye, who the convention in Corpus Christi. challenge, noting that the Liber- appointive and elected offices, in- tarian candidates rarely reach cluding a sheriff in Colorado and a even S percent of the vote in con- district attorney in California. Ms. gressional races. Howell and party officials predict "When the Libertarians start'to they will elect at least one member break into double digits, we'll start to Congress by 2004 as third par- The Washington Time. paying attention," said Frank ties gain more public attention. Luntz, a Republican pollster and a "In the past, you had big govern- Washington, DC • July 9, 2000 political analyst for YRock.com. ment Democrats and big govern- So unconcerned are the Demo- ment Republicans whose perform- crats that a party official privately ance in office was distinguishable • Valley Morning Star admitted he wasn't aware of any only under a microscope — both Harlingen, Texas • June 12, 2000 Libertarian candidates in key voted for mere taxes and bigger races. A party spokesman didn't government," she said. The option return a call for official comment. of voting for smaller government Yet there are cases in which Lib- "is something most voters have ertarians have clearly made a dif- never even heard of."