Published for the friends and supporters of the Libertarian Party LIBERTY PLEDGE NEWSLETTER Libertarian National Committee, Inc. + 2600 Virginia Ave, NW, Suite 200 + Washington, DC 20037 + Phone: (202) 333-0008 + Fax: (202) 333-0072 www.LP.org November 2012 From United Press International: Libertarian Party Buoyant

By Gerry Harrington Critics say the commission excludes third-party and Cravings for less Washington gave the Libertarian independent candidates. Besides Florida, swing presidential entrant a record vote count. states this year were Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and The nearly 1.2 million votes won by Libertarian Wisconsin. Party nominee Gary Johnson, a former two-term Republican New Mexico governor, supported Howell told UPI the Libertarian Party -- whose public-opinion polls showing "consistently that a slogan is "minimum government, maximum majority of Americans want less government than freedom" -- planned to move forward by seeking to we have today," party Executive Director Carla enlarge the party through alliances with supporters Howell told United Press International. of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who sought this His vote count beat the previous Libertarian Party year's GOP nomination for president and is widely record, set in 1980 by lawyer-politician Ed Clark, of known for his libertarian positions. 921,128 votes, or 1 percent of the nationwide total. Johnson had the strongest showing as a percentage It would also seek ties with "tea partiers, of statewide presidential votes in Alaska, Maine, disenfranchised Republicans, independents, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming, the UPI Democrats" and others who "share our goals and analysis showed. He had the weakest showing in want to see government downsized from the Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, New Jersey, New dangerously high spending levels that it's at today." York and Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Howell told UPI Wednesday the voter desire for Finally: A Stark Look at All 3 Presidential Candidates radically less government was so powerful that Johnson might have won Tuesday if the media had covered his campaign more fully and if the Commission on Presidential Debates had let him debate Democratic President Barack Obama and Democrat Republican Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Barack Obama Mitt Romney Balance Budget In 10 years In 10 years Federal Spending Reduce 43% Raise spending Raise spending "If he had been in the debates, he possibly would Increase Govt. Debt Trillions and trillions Trillions and trillions Bailouts No wayl Absolutelyl You betchat have been the president-elect right now," she told Patriot Act & NDAA Repeal Renew & expand Renew & expand Federal Reserve Abolish the Fed Keep it Lip service UPI. Medical Insurance Repeal Obamacare Keep Obamacare Replace Obamacare Mandates with Romneycare The commission, which sponsors and produces the Guns Pro-gun rights Antigun Anti-gun debates, is currently directed by former Republican War In Afghanistan Bring troops home NOW Stay until 2014+ Stay until 2014+ Iran Peace and Diplomacy Embargo: Cut off food Embargo and Attack National Committee Chairman Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. 500,000 US troops Bring home Keep US. military in Keep U.S. military in Stationed abroad 250,000 troops 130+ countries 130+ countries and former Clinton administration press secretary Military Spending Reduce 43% Increase spending Increase spending Mike McCurry, a Democrat. Same-Sex Marriage Fundamental Right Waffle, delay Waffle, oppose Marijuana legalize Raid, prosecute, Raid, prosecute, Same as wine and beer imprison imprison Campaign Donors Individuals Special Interests Special Interests Copyright 3053 Ubenart.en Nati.* Comennee Liberty Pledge Newsletter — November 2012

Libertarian Perspective: Voting For, Not Against

Published with permission from The Toledo Free Press Written by Kenneth Sharp

I knew that after the final tally one of two men There is good news nationally and locally. Six would be president. I knew it would not be Gary states voted to nullify federal law. Montana, Alabama Johnson. The work of Libertarians and all minor parties and Wyoming all voted to nullify the health care is the same as it was the day before the election. For the mandate, and Colorado, Massachusetts and Washington Republican Party and many of its supporters, the defeat state all voted to nullify some aspect of federal has been a powerful personal blow. Do not blame marijuana prohibitions. I do not expect President Obama Libertarians, though it may be tempting. Blame falls to respect the rights of the citizens of these states on squarely on the Republican Party. either issue.

In Tampa, at the Republican National Locally, the numbers of people willing to break Convention, the party elite decided to disenfranchise free of "fear and revenge" voting to vote Libertarian Ron Paul Republicans and Tea Party conservatives. more than doubled from the 2008 presidential election These voters, millions in numbers, did not all flock to and more than quintupled from the 2011 primary the Libertarian or other parties. An overwhelming election. While we did not reach the number of votes number of Ron Paul supporters were the highly desirable nationally to directly break the monopoly of the two youth vote. I have had personal conversations with a few party system, we have loosened the hold. There is a lot of these young new voters, and their experiences have to do before the next election, not even considering the led them to decide that they will never vote for a next presidential election. The Libertarian Party Republican. Some refuse to vote at all. You only get one considers itself right of the left and left of the right. That chance at a first impression. Among older Tea Partiers it places us in the middle for the majority of Americans. is probably different. But many of these voters will also The issue has been meeting more of the voting public to not return. This does not mean Libertarians or other expand our base. The Lucas County Libertarian Party is, parties automatically get them. Your party elite decided logically, most concerned about Lucas County. Expect they did not need every voter. Also do not blame certain us to reach out more, and we hope that you will reach local media that gave a voice to Libertarian candidates out to us even if you are unsure where you fall with your and ideas, specifically WSPD and Toledo Free Press. political beliefs. Both where very fair in their coverage. Both gave credit to all candidates when and where it was due. No one told We seem to be a divided nation. The numbers you or anyone else how to vote. Allowing free and full between Democrat and Republican votes are close. debate is to be desired not denigrated. Americans seem to enjoy a specific form of Schadenfreude, or the enjoyment of other people's Libertarians will continue to fight Big misery. I have seen in the Bush and Obama eras the Government and the rapid erosion of civil liberties under delight taken at the expense of others in our society over this and future administrations. We continue to represent election results. This creates in voters an "us versus the majority of Americans' views on issues as diverse as them" mentality. Lost in any discussion is an honest the war on terror, the domestic wars on drugs and debate about policy and the effects on us all. A large poverty (which have become wars on the poor and number of the electorate vote to watch the anguish of minorities), civil rights for the LGBTQA community, others even if it is detrimental to them. repeal of the NDAA, an audit and review of the Federal Reserve and drastic and immediate debt reduction in part I am very content, even though my candidate by eliminating unnecessary military spending and ending failed to win, even though he failed to surpass a the wars. For the past four years the current threshold to break the monopoly, because I voted for a administration has expanded or failed to address these candidate I believed in and not against anyone. issues.

Liberty Pledge Newsletter — November 2012

From The Washington Post: New and renewing Liberty Pledgers

Libertarians Win Access To D.C. Ballot Betty Agnew David E. Lemke Written by Mike DeBonis Donald Alexander John C. Lennon Donald N. Anderson Joseph M. Lewis Nicholas Arena Timothy Loungeway James M. Artis Aaron C. Lucia For a candidate who just lost his race by 83 Leonard B. Bailey Vaughan T. Lund Aaron W. Barnes Dustin B. Martin percentage points, Bruce Majors is a pretty happy guy. William M. Bates Thomas P. Mathers Some of his friends were so happy about his loss, in fact, Sarah L. Baxter Melvin T. Matze Timothy B. Berryhill Daniel L. McElvain that he autographed his signs for them on election night. Charles Bigelow Ben P. McGuire Gerry Boudreaux John Mcinnis Why? "I achieved my objective," the real estate David A. Braatz Ray N. Minter Char-Lez B. Braden Dave Moore agent and Libertarian Party candidate for D.C. Brandon L. Brison Jeffrey Motta Mark A. Bryngelson Frederick T. Nichols congressional delegate said Friday. That objective: To Michael Butkowski Aaron J. O'Brien make the Libertarians an official party in the home town Linda C. Cain Anthony S. Parker Edward Chase George M. Pavlyak of its sworn enemy, big government. Matt J. Cochi Brent Pearson Bryan J. Collins Walter D. Pearson Michael W. Cook Michael T. Penrow The 13,462 votes that Majors earned were well Ryan Courter Aaron Pewtherer over the 7,500 necessary to make the Libertarians a Will Crawford John B. Phillips Joseph Crescenzo Dennis Pitman major party in the District for at least the next four years. Michael Crow Jason Pohlman Martin Q. Dale Jay Purvis Marian L. Dalton John E. Rainbolt Though local candidates have run under the John I. deCausmeaker James A. Ream Libertarian banner previously, this is the first time the Karl DeSimone Theresa M. Ream Lance D. Dixon Shannon Roberts party — known for its outspoken views against taxes, Alan Dowd John Robinson Paul D. Eccles Bernardo Rodriguez regulation and public spending — has earned that Michael Fein Barry C. Ross distinction here. Dustin Figueroa Robert E. Roten Laura Freuden Dale Sackrider David N. Fries Matthew Sayer Bob Johnston, a national Libertarian Party Ivan Frimmel Brian L. Schmidt Trevin R. Fullmer Lawrence Schmidt employee who monitors ballot access, said D.C. now Roger F. Garcia Richard J. Secula joins 30 states in granting the party ballot access. It's a Jonathan F. Gentsch Shawn Shafai Homer Greer Bob Smither big deal, he said, because "It's one of the toughest places Alec Griego John C. Stadler James A. Grigg Tami L. Stoddard to get on the ballot." Rostislav Grigoriev Edward W. Sudduth Philip A. Guerrant Joe S. Swick Carla Howell, the national Libertarian Party' s Bruce Harris Dayl C. Thomas David Bayard Sean Tice executive director, said the party's blend of fiscal Ethan Herrell Kempes Trager conservatism and social tolerance is an easy sell in urban Jason Hills Samuel Turco John W. Holcombe Susan L. Waddell areas, particularly to those voters put off by the GOP's Stanley G. Howard Scott A. Waite Richard K. Jones Daniel S. Warnock social positions. Thomas J. Kern Thomas E. Wendoll Jeffrey Kiefer Charles W. West Nick Jeffress, executive director of the D.C. Diane E. Kortsch Rebecca L. Wheeler Edward W. Laigle Alex P. Williams Republican Committee, said he gladly voted for Majors. Solon J. Lane Matthew P. Williams Drake Laurie Craig A. Yope Jonathan J. Lee Dan V. Ziemecki

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LP Candidate Dan Fishman on the Howie Carr Radio Show

Libertarian Dan Fishman for U.S. House in For me, the number one threat to the the Massachusetts Sixth District won 16,668 votes, country right now is the national debt and I was the over four times more than the 3,650-vote margin of only candidate who committed that I would never victory between the Republican Richard Tisei vote to raise the national debt. (175,953 votes) and Democrat incumbent John Tierney (179,603 votes). Fishman's votes are widely Carr: Who would have done better for the believed to have caused the Republican to lose. middle class, Tisei or Tierney?

Here's a partial transcript of his interview Fishman: That's like asking would you after the election on a leading Boston radio program rather start bailing out the Titanic with a teaspoon hosted by staunch Republican supporter, Howie or a paper cup? The Titanic is going to sink no Carr, WRKO AM: matter what unless someone says, "Listen, we have to plug the hole" and that's what I want to do. I Carr: Dan, do you feel bad that you may want to plug the hole in our spending right now. have drained off just enough votes to stop Tisei from eliminating this blister on the body politic, Carr: Dan, I'm glad you listen to the show Tierney? and you had every right to run and all, it just seems to me that you might be having second thoughts Fishman: I absolutely do not feel bad about about this. that. I was not in the race to weaken either candidate. I was in the race to restore power to the Fishman: I definitely have no second people. I feel like the people's voice at this point in thoughts about this. If my views aren't out there, if time is no longer being represented in Congress by I'm not representing them, people are going to think professional politicians. However much I've liked that nobody cares about actually cutting the deficit, getting to know Richard Tisei personally, he is a nobody thinks that the deficit is that big of a deal. professional politician. He has been in the state house for a long time and I feel like professional And there's other things, the suspension of politicians have a different agenda than the habeas corpus. When they passed the NDAA and common person. said, you know [if] we suspect terrorism we can lock you up without a warrant, we can hold you Carr: But, you know, people who live in the without a right to a trial, that is a huge issue and 6th District are now faced with being represented nobody is talking about it. by the greater of two evils. One of my favorite quotes is Frederic Fishman: Politically John Tierney and I are Bastiat, "The worst thing that can happen to a very different. I certainly disagree with the way he cause is not to be skillfully attacked, but to be has voted, but I disagree very strongly with poorly defended" and the biggest thing that's Republicans as well. I don't believe the happening in the United States right now is that the Republicans have any interest at all in cutting the GOP is the defender of fiscal conservatism but deficit. I believe that John Boehner cannot wait to they're doing a terrible job. And they're marrying it make a deal so t at they can raise the debt ceiling to social conservatism. and they talked about it immediately after the election! "Oh, Mr. President I just wanted to let you know that we are going to work with you so we can do what we have to do!"