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Home , John Stossel, Matt Borges, Roland Riemers

Libertarian National Committee, Inc. • 1444 Duke St. • Alexandria, VA 22314 • Phone: (202) 333-0008 • Fax: (202) 333-0072 www.LP.org March 2016 Stossel ponders voting options ahead of Libertarian debate

by John Stossel be we should soften our approach. voted against the Civil Rights Act. Excerpted from Opinion “Libertarians need to be more realis- Actually, Rand didn’t say that. He Published on March 9, 2016 tic,” Taylor told 500 young people at a supported the act’s ban on government taping of my TV show at [the] Interna- racism, like Jim Crow laws. He object- In this year’s Republican presiden- tional Students for conference. ed only to the act’s ban on private dis- tial primaries, Sen. Rand Paul got little In electoral politics, he said, finding lib- crimination. Rand was right to object. traction. In 2012, his father failed. That ertarians is “like trying to find a daisy If owners of a private business want to year, the Libertarian Party candidate, in Hiroshima” after the nuclear blast. serve only gays, basketball players, or former New Mexico Gov. Gary John- Taylor, a smart libertarian who runs bald men, that should be their right. son, got just 1 percent of the vote. We the Niskanen Center, says to become Market will punish big- libertarians must be doing something more popular, we libertarians ought to ots for their narrow-mindedness, be- wrong. Maybe our anti-government change our views. He criticized Rand cause some people will avoid that store. message is too radical, says Jerry Tay- Paul for saying that in 1964 he would’ve lor [formerly a director at Cato]. May- continued on page 4 Americans need a third choice when picking president topped polls and finished with 19%. bankrolled Republicans — but not all By Mike Strobel Folks were mightily pissed at establish- Republicans are thugs. Excerpted from the Toronto Sun ment politicians. Sound familiar? On Saturday, comedian Louis C.K. Published on March 6, 2016 In 2012, Libertarian champion Gary called an “insane bigot o Donald is Hitler, Hillary is a cyber Johnson, former governor of New ... a Hitler. And by that I mean that we Scrime suspect, Marco Rubio resorts Mexico, finished third behind Barack are being Germany in the ’30s. Do you to penis jokes, and 39% of Floridians be- Obama and Mitt Romney, with 1.2 mil- think they saw the sh - - coming? Hitler lieve Ted Cruz could be the Zodiac Killer. lion votes, less than 1%. was just some hilarious and refresh- The Three Stooges meet Franken- On the other hand, Johnson got ing dude with a weird comb-over who stein meets American politics. nearly 3% in Montana, coincidentally would say anything at all.” Our neighbours are in dire need of a the anti-government Unabomber’s last C.K. was, by remarkable coinci- reboot of their political gene pool. known address, other than a jail cell. dence, also promoting his show. He Which brings me to Monday’s presi- insisted he wasn’t backing Democrats dential debate. It’s in Raleigh, N.C. But America, that pillar Hillary Clinton or , and (Editor’s note: What!? How’d we miss of pluralism, persists in urged Republicans to pick anybody but that? Let’s rush somebody down to cover it.) its two-party rut, which, Trump. But who, Louis, who? Relax, boss. It’s the Libertarian Party I’d suggest you tune in Monday to presidential debate. In a perfect world, the when you think of it, is the Libertarian debate, but it’s not on Libertarians would be an escape valve for just one party more than TV. They’re not preempting Antiques disgusted Democrats and Republicans. communism. Roadshow for it. No way. But America, that pillar of plural- So I’ll tell you, and you can pass it on to ism, persists in its two-party rut, which, If you think the nutty Unabomber is your American friends, that when you think of it, is just one party a true Libertarian, think again. Most of is running again, with a dozen other wan- more than communism. us are much better groomed. nabes, and is expected to take the conven- Third parties flounder in the States, John Wayne Gacy was active in the tion in May. He’ll be on the ballot in all 50 the exception being 1992 independent Democratic party — doesn’t mean all states in November. candidate Ross Perot, who at one point Democrats are serial killers. Al Capone continued on page 2 Page 2 Liberty Pledge Newsletter March 2016

Libertarian Party candidate: New and renewing Liberty Pledgers Bernie Sanders vs. Donald Trump David Anderson Matthew Mahler would be our 2016 dream Rodney Benker Glen Marshall By Colin Campbell Donald Bergemann Willy Marshall Excerpted from Business Insider Dianne Blasciuc Joseph Mayes Published on Feb. 5, 2016 Brian Blum Allen Merriman Kenneth Bohannon David Moore ormer New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson thinks Bernie Sanders and Donald Steve Brenneis Robert Odden FTrump could be his ticket to having a significant effect on the 2016 race. Paul Brett Jeremy Ostberg “If the Libertarian candidate for president ever has a chance of getting Keith Briggs Peter Papagianakis elected or getting prominence on the national stage to actually profess Linda Cain Kevin Patrick what is to be a Libertarian, it would be Bernie Sanders vs. Donald Trump,” Gregory Castleberry William Patterson Johnson told Business Insider in a recent interview [at our office]. Joe Cobb Chance Pearce “I mean, that would be the Libertarian wet dream,” he quipped. David Connorton Ed Rankin Johnson ran as a Republican in 2012 before changing teams and run- Katherinee Conrad Matthew Riell ning as the Libertarian nominee. He dropped by to pitch his campaign. Mark Cox Roland Riemers “I don’t want to be tilting at windmills, right? There are better things Victor Cox John Sanders to do,” Johnson said. “But in this case, I think that at the end of the day, Joan Crishal Steven Schoch I will end up being the voice of reason in all of this.” Lynden Davis Marshall Schwartz The former governor said he had a “horrible” time in ’12, trying to Gary Decker Dick Shaw grab attention as a Republican. As a Libertarian, he ultimately grabbed Ashley Denning Guy Shurley about 1% — a bit under 1.3 million votes. Joel Denning Anthony Sileo Richard Doyle Julie Smith Johnson stressed that he still has to win the nomina- Letha Dulaney James Smith II. Keith Ericson Trevor Speer tion...he is competing against a host of other candidates. Peter Farm Benjamin St. John Andrew Fink Lucas Stauffer Without self-funding his campaign like Ross Perot in the ’90s, most Eric Flint Zachary Stinson political observers would predict that Johnson, if he gets the Libertarian Condith Garstang John Taylor, MD nomination, would again suffer the fate of virtually every other third- Randall Grant Thomas Testi party presidential candidate in recent history. Thomas Greene Travis Tooke But [he] argued that either of the top-two Dem. presidential candi- Bruce Guthrie Nicholas Toombs dates — Sen. Sanders or former Sec. of State Clinton — would contrast well Jessica Habermehl Rollin Traver with a Libertarian contender if Donald Trump were the Repub. nominee. Everett Hale Bryan Traves Johnson said he was suing to get into the general-election debates, which are Maggie Hanus Richard Trench typically one-on-one matchups between the Repub. and Democratic candidates. Joseph Hoefling Christopher Tsuha He said a prominent lawyer, Bruce Fein, had already filed a lawsuit against Andrew Johnson Keith Turner the Commission on Presidential Debates based on “the notion that they are Dave Kahrl Codie Vasquez a business and that they collude with one another to exclude everyone else.” Patrick Keller Franz von Uckermann Johnson added: “Our contention is that if you’re on the ballot on Zaeem Khan William White enough states to be mathematically elected, then shouldn’t you be in- Dillon Kouba Bonney Wikkering Jake Kuprion Matt Wild cluded in the presidential debates?” John Lewis Mike Wilson Johnson stressed that he still has to win the Libertarian Party’s nomi- Paul Lydston nation, for which he is competing against a host of other candidates.•

America needs a third choice sex marriage — and minimal , tax and continued from page 1 bureaucracy. Fill your boots, do what you want, You may fret that he’ll sap Republican strength and put Hillary, the most if it harms no one else, but don’t make the rest of cynical politician, back in the White House, this time as commander-in-chief. us pay for it. But in 1992 Perot stole from both parties, as did his Reform Party in 1996. Libertarians are anti-war except in self de- In a nutshell, so to speak, the Libertarian stance is: Live and let live. fence. So, no blowing stuff up. No Unabombers. Less government, more freedom. Fiscally conservative, socially liberal. I suspect most people are Libertarian. They They, we, favour choice on such things as pot and same- just don’t know it yet.• March 2016 Liberty Pledge Newsletter Page 3 [ The Libertarian nominee] is the only candidate outside the two major parties who could be on the ballot in 50 states by Alex Pfeiffer he would still advance the libertar- up as a spoiler in the general election, Excerpted from The Daily Caller ian cause but, “in my opinion none so taking away votes from the Republican Published on Mar. 4, 2016 much as Donald Trump.” candidate and handing Hillary the keys ormer New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson believes Trump’s proposal to the White House. FJohnson is running for the Liber- to deport 11 or so million illegal aliens Johnson believes the opposite will tarian Party nomination, which will is “crazy.” happen, “I think I take a lot more votes appear on the ballot in all 50 states, he He said, “If he’s the nominee, it’s the from Hillary.” Adding, “libertarians are told The Daily Caller. end of the Republican Party.” so much closer aligned to Bernie Sand- Tech tycoon John McAfee is his Even though neoconservatives ers than people realize, not socialist, most serious opponent in the race for strongly disagree with Johnson’s non- not giving the farm when it comes to the Libertarian nomination. interventionist foreign policy outlook fiscal policies, but on the social side we Johnson has been at the Conser- he could see himself getting their sup- look pretty darn close to Bernie Sand- vative Political Action Conference port. ”On the basis of smaller govern- ers, so I’m believing ultimately this (CPAC) for the past few days and said, ment and free markets, yeah I should takes more votes from Hillary.” “the reaction here has been terrific, I sweep anybody that holds to those On the Republican side, Ted Cruz mean I can’t even walk without people principles,” said Gov. Johnson has been actively seeking to gain the wanting their picture taken with me.” Mitt Romney said Friday that he support of more “liberty-minded” vot- While he was still well received a wouldn’t support either Clinton or ers, especially since Rand Paul left the year ago when he visited, “it was not as Trump: “If those are my only two race. Though the former New Mexico enthusiastic as it is now.” choices I’d vote for a conservative on governor believes due to Cruz’s shift to The former governor is hoping to the ballot — and if there weren’t one a more hardline stance on immigration ride the tidal wave of conservatives that I was comfortable with, I would his efforts to gain the libertarian vote who are condemning Donald Trump write in a name.” will fail. and saying they would never vote for Gov. Johnson admitted the fact that Johnson was the Libertarian Party’s him. someone like Romney might end up nominee in 2012 and received just He believes Trump alienates half voting for him is “absolutely” surpris- about 1 percent of the vote, but he be- the Republican Party and is thankful ing. lieves that “most Americans are liber- in a way for his successful candida- This does lead to questions about tarians — they just don’t know it.”• cy. He said that, against Republicans, whether the former governor would end

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Name on card: Work: Cell: Signature: E-mail: * Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. Political contributions are not tax-deductible. Page 4 Liberty Pledge Newsletter March 2016 Kasich dodges another bullet in judge’s order to dismiss Libertarian Party case by John Michael Spinelli Chairman Matt Borges, along with a Ohio governor. All the right ingredients Excerpted from Plunderbund long-time friend and political operative worthy of an Ohio episode of “House of Published on March 1, 2016 Terry Casey, and officials in Secretary Cards” were in place, from Nixonian- of State Jon Husted’s office, were all style dirty tricks squads to powerful ore than any other news group, involved in a scheme to remove Earl lawyers charging $600,000 or more for Plunderbund has covered the le- M from the primary ballot in 2014. their representation of their secret client, gal case against Camp Kasich, filed by Gov. Kasich, with no challengers to Mr. Casey, and Mr. Felsoci, who another the Libertarian Party of Ohio [LPO], eat away at his base of voters, as Earl’s judge called a “guileless dupe” for pur- who saw its candidate for governor, candidacy was thought to be able to do, poses of knocking Earl off the ballot. [Charlie Earl], two years ago tossed off the primary ballot, through a scheme All the ingredients worthy of an Ohio episode of “House that involved long-time political opera- tives spending hundreds of thousands of Cards” were in place, from Nixonian-style dirty tricks of dollars to find a protester who could squads to powerful lawyers charging $600,000 or more challenge signatures on party petitions. For all practical purposes, that fight for their representation of their secret client, Mr. Casey, is now over, in light of an order released and Mr. Felsoci, who another judge called a “guileless [on Feb. 29] by Franklin County Com- dupe” for purposes of knocking Earl off the ballot. mon Pleas Court Administrative Judge Patrick Sheeran, who dismissed an ap- went on to win big, but in a low-turnout has been able to rely peal by lawyers representing the LPO election. Had the Ohio Elections Com- on the courts to keep him out of harm’s to a ruling by the Ohio Elections Com- mission pursued the matter, as Brown way. Whether it was the Ohio Supreme mission to not pursue the complaint. wanted, Gov. Kasich, his close advisers Court not hearing a challenge to his LPO attorney Mark Brown [said] including those leading his reelection secret jobs group, JobsOhio, or this the order can be appealed to the 10th campaign would have been in a very bad sleazy episode that could be a Holly- District Court of Appeals. spot given the governor’s presidential wood script about graft and corruption Brown has long argued that evi- run that emphasized his years in Wash- in public office, Gov. John Kasich has dence shows that the Kasich campaign, ington as a congressman and now as escaped being on the firing line.• the Ohio Republican Party and its Stossel: Libertarian options Taylor and some other libertarians try can be secured by government.” continued from page 1 sound like “reform Republicans” who I don’t either. But America’s gov- want free-market advocates to embrace ernment has gone well past “securing There’s no need for government force. the welfare state. They think they’re rights and freedom.” Today’s welfare “Right,” said Taylor, but “5 percent being practical, realistic. state provides much more than a safe- of the American public says yes to that, But we free-market supporters know ty net. It’s become a giant hammock and 95 percent say no.... They’re not what really creates prosperity and op- that encourages dependency. Govern- going to embrace a candidate who says, portunity: ! We saw ment today takes half our money and Tough, people should just suffer under it work in America when America was micromanages the workplace. the teeth of bigotry because white peo- young. We see it now in Hong Kong, “Stossel” will host...three lead- ple have that right.” Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, ing Libertarian presidential candi- I suppose Taylor is correct. Voters Australia, and other countries that to- dates — they placed top three in a poll prefer simple answers (“Mexico will day offer more economic freedom than done by the Libertarian Party — [who] pay for a wall!”). They don’t want the United States. Government that will debate. They are former New Mex- constitutional lectures about property governs least governs best. ico Gov. Gary Johnson, software entre- rights or free association. I said to Taylor, rudely, “Your plan preneur John McAfee, and Libertarian Taylor is fine with welfare spending, for victory is to surrender?” Republic founder Austin Petersen. too. He points out, “Even people like “No,” replied Taylor. “I don’t think The forum will air [on], unfortunate- and F.A. Hayek sup- it’s surrender to say that the rights ly, April 1. But this is no April Fools’ ported a safety net to help the indigent.” and freedoms of people in this coun- Day joke. Our future is [at] stake.•