Libertarian Party Chairman William Redpath Tells All

[dinamo4889]

I am joining the party my first time vote will be for a Libertarian candidate.

[libertariancrusader]

At the national level, the Libertarian Party has stood behind and condoned high-ranking national staff members who openly solicited crimes, such as in the case of Nat'l Political Director Sean Haugh, who on 6/27/09 attempted solicitation of grand larceny on myself, political consultant, who at the time was contracting with a state affiliate of the LP. No party can claim to be the "Party of Principle" while condoning larceny and the bilking of donors Haugh also engaged in, see commentary at 4:51

[zeitgeisthero]

Bob Barr sucks. He was a drug war hawk and fought against medical cannabis in DC., tjem he is thinks he can lead the lib party ? And libs trusted this guy why ? smells like phony baloney

[oberltMBowden23]

the republican party is dying just liek the whigs were dying in the 1850s and the republican party was created. many republican douchebags use ronal reagan quotes and say how people were calling for a 3rd party in the 80s and all they needed was a revitalized gop.. after george w. bush and the modern way info is transmitted.. i.e blogs and the SUPER LIBERAL media.. the GOP cannot make a comeback. we need to make the LP become the new party.. and the only party that stands 4 limited fed govt

[theater1961]

I think you set your site so freaking low..."We'll have a libertarian society someday, when it's imposed on us by the Chinese government....Ultimately, if our politicians don't have the cojones to step up and make the tough decisions they need to make, our foreign creditors are going to make them for us."......if that is your idea of winning .....pathetic even in a joke! This is why i question your motivation!

[JonnieDarko69]

Why is everyone talking about allying and being with the republican party? The repubs are a bigger-government party than the Dems are. Dems would be Libertarians except the two conflicting views on the economy. Libertarians do not need people like Bob Barr. Smaller Government on social and economic issues!.

[ErikNikolai]

Democrats are nothing close to libertarians. They don't end the war on drugs, they don't end the Patriot Act, they support the reverse racism of affirmative action, they will *never* support economic liberty, they are extreme internationalists who want to use the military and massive foreign aid to meddle in other countries, they bend over backwards for all dictators in the name of multiculturalism, on so forth. Libertarianism is the heart of conservatism, so there's many decent conservatives.

[JonnieDarko69]

On Social Issues they are.watch John Stossels interview. Democrats are still big governmentbut the point of supporting dictators has no merit as repubs have done the same. Example. Iraq-Iran war. Repubs do not support economic liberty either. The point I'm trying to make is that Dems are a lot better on social issues. Many Dems have Libertarian ideas when it comes to social issues but they have horrible views on the economy and foreign policy. Repubs are the worst. Neo-cons are not libertarians

[Madfoot713]

Why did people thumbs down this? He's right. Just look at the last administration. I tend to side with the Republicans, but that's just because they're the opposition party, not because they're any more compatible with libertarian values than Democrats are.

[JonnieDarko69]

Because they don't have a clue about trends in political thought. Many people come out of liberal circles into Libertarian circles. Ex. John Stossel, and Greg Gutfeild. The Republicans are almost exclusively neo-cons. That is the farthest from Libertarian values you can get. Why should a party that stands for freedom try and infiltrate and take over another organization? That sounds communist and devoid of free political thought....that is not a Libertarian value.

[Lojikbom]

I've never heard Bill Redpath speak. I was impressed. LP member since 2001, so no convert here, but very good job of getting the point across and keeping it positive.

One of my complaints about the LP is that we focus on what we don't want rather than what we do want. Candidates are wont to say things like "Gov't is too big!" rather than explaining how eliminating the income tax or an honest money system could benefit Americans.

[JMcKenrick]

The Democrats want to bankrupt the country with their high spending and high taxes. The Republicans want to send all of our young men and women into pointless wars while legislating religious morality which hinders our freedoms. The Libertarian Party is what the Republican party once was before it was hijacked by the right-wing religious nuts: small government, low taxes, maximum individual freedom. We may not win the votes, but at least we stand for true AMERICAN values.

[chevydriver1123]

Amen to that

[RendezvousDestiny]

Although I am Catholic, I do agree with your "right wing relgious nuts" comment. I dont need my govt to push my religion or our values. I want freedom of all sorts, and if ppl wanna be gay than so be it, I dont care. Im just sick of able bodied freeloaders getting 1/3 of my paycheck and the govt reducing the value of my hard-earned value by printing and borrowing money like an 18 year kid with his/her first credit card....

[TheDemetrius05]

@RendezvousDestiny  My thoughts exactly.

[awsomeshot]

@JMcKenrick lol kinda reminds me of the boy scouts. They used to be good but then got hijacked by religious wackos.

[clearsky24]

Good job, I have interviews with William Redpath, Michael Badnarek, and Adam Kokesh on my youtube channel. (from freedom fest)

The Libertarian Party needs to take a hard stand against war, not just war, but bringing all of our troops home now.

But it is a hot button issue that neither the Reps or Dems will tackle.

The Libertarian Party needs to say it will fight to get the bankers out of Washington, neither of the other two parties does that.

Then, election reform.... 3 great planks.

[XCritonX]

Educating the public on the issues is key to independent parties winning votes.

If the Ls focus on the economy ("its the economy stupid") they have a chance. The social issues are what kills the Ls. Right now the most important thing in the US is to repair/restore financial liberty. With financial liberty you can "buy" most other liberties.

Ever seen a dictator create wealth for the masses? Poor people are easy to manipulate and control.

[IVoteNone]

The Libertarian Party will continue to fight the good fight and win no victories.

[AKlover]

The main problem the Libertarian Party has is the Republicans and Conservatives view them as pot smokers and marijuana activists above everything else. That is a perception it needs to change.

[machaeroguy]

As political strategy you are of course correct. But the problem with Republicans and Conservatives, as a party/caucus, is that they believe they should tell other people how to live their lives. Of course this spills over internationally into foreign policy that makes Americans suddenly wonder why foreigners are trying to destroy New York City. You come full circle and have Republicans saying ironically, they hate us for our "freedom".  This does not let progressive imperialists of the hook

[AKlover]

A lot of our problems in that part of the world result from bad economic policies and pointless over-regulation here. Since that is not going change under Democrats and likely not even with the GOP back in power, our foreign policy will either be capitulation or force/interventionism. One way to help that area is to stop meddling in Israel's affairs and out them from our pocketbook as well as ceasing to arm them and their neighbors. Strictly hands off is the way to go.

[machaeroguy]

Agreed 100%.

[d3vnull]

I voted for Mike Munger here in NC!

[Keylimedelight]

So did I! Bam!

[freesk8]

If Bob Barr had "kissed Ron Paul's ring" at that press conference with the Greens and Const. Party, he would have gotten 50% more votes.

It was a major mistake.

I was a huge Ron Paul supporter.

I did not like Barr because of his support for DOMA and the USA PATRIOT Act.

But I voted for Barr anyway.

I thought of it as a vote for the LP, not for Barr.

[roberteckerson]

My sentiments exactly. I did the same, whilst holding my nose.

[yammyspeed13]

Fuck Bob Bar, he ate Borat's wife's beast cheese.

[trime1851]

I don;t know how to deal with the democratic and republican deadlock and the resulting death spiral that our country is in. I think that when we all hit bottom it will be terrible and possibly a civil war. I hope I'm wrong.

[stratvic]

Who cares about the challenge of getting on the ballot. It is an administration issue or an electoral reform issue. You need support and votes. You don't have the time in our attention span to gripe about how hard it is to compete.

[machaeroguy]

It's actually a tyranny issue. Repubs/Dems in state legislatures write the laws. Do you think they are interested in fair competition when they do so?

[stratvic]

I agree.... so electoral reform is one plank in the platform. What are the others??

If tyranny is your target there is no shortage of them.

[achmedthedeadterror5]

i dont vote libertarian cause they support abortion.

[freesk8]

Not true.

I was vice chair of a state LP affiliate, and a candidate for fed office three times as an L.

Our position is that no taxpayer money should fund abortion.

Also, since there is no authorization for the feds to regulate abortion, it is left to the states under the 10th amendment.

Conservative states like S. Dakota are free to outlaw it. Liberal states probably won't, but these fights should happen at the state level.

There are pro-life and pro-choice L's.

The issue divides the party.

[achmedthedeadterror5]

well Ron Paul supported abortion so i assumed. but i know alot of conservatives who would vote for a L candidate but the whole abortion thing is all that stops them. At this point i dont think it should be a state decision. since it does involve the rights of an individual that are being intruded on(the baby's rights that is). those rights should be protected by the federal government.

[machaeroguy]

Ron Paul is staunchly anti-abortion. He in fact, is a pro-life/anti-abortion OB/GYN who has delivered over 4,000 children.

Abortion is truly a third rail of Libertarian politics. The party includes sub-groups such as Pro-Choice Libertarians, and Libertarians For Life.

[achmedthedeadterror5]

are you sure cause i had heard that he didnt care one way or the other.

[machaeroguy]

He is personally against it.

However, his strategy and belief is that Roe v. Wade be overturned, and the issue be decided individually by each of the 50 states.

I believe he is Constitutionally correct, unless some amendment were made on the issue. However, institution of his policy would be a massive pro-life victory, because some States would certainly ban the practice. Right now, the Federal government trumps States' laws on the issue.

more info:

watch?v=B1UCrLH1ErA

watch?v=KBkO1BBAnks

[achmedthedeadterror5]

hmmmm.... well, maybe, but i personally feel it should be banned all together cause it kills a child but you are right that it would be a victory. If only the republican party would stop being so middle of the road and do what Regan hinted to, "libertarianism is the base of the republican party" how they have forgotten that. To be quite honest a L candidate cant win, we need to first win the republican party before we can win the presidency.

[freesk8]

Libertarians will continue to be a minority within the GOP.

So you have a choice: be a minority in a minority party (the GOP) or be in a majority in a minority party.

I choose the latter, but we need good libertarians in the GOP to try to keep 'em honest.

I have no problem voting for a candidate who is unlikely to win. I know my vote can not make a candidate win or lose, all it can do is make me feel good about my choice.

Voting Libertarian does that for me.

Don't blame me, I voted L! :)

[achmedthedeadterror5]

I want to make the GOP what it once was, and what Reagan wanted it to be. Im a L but i feel we need to fight for the party, make them realize who are their backers.

[JonnieDarko69]

Reagan was far from a Libertarian.

[d0861]

Dr. Paul is not a supporter of abortion.

[plalelal]

Not true!

[blackhawk651]

Thanks. I thought I was stunned by boredom. Someboy tell Redpath it's okay to just answer the question, instead of emptying his head.

[latewire]

bob barr was a mistake. he voted for the patriot act. seriously, wtf.

[blackhawk651]

Is it just me, or is Bill Redpath a hypnotist? I can't remember what happened between the questions!

[latewire]

you walked around the room clucking like a chicken.

[ComradeLaissezFaire]

The "Libertarian Party" may still exist but it's no longer "The Party of Principle". Sold out to phony libertarian paleoconservatives that include Barr, Root, and even Redpath to a certain extent. Among other things, they favor "states rights" over individual rights. Obnoxious Root's new book on "libertarianism" totally ignores social rights and non-interventionist foreign policy.

[Anakha13]

Bob Barr lost any support I might have given him when he decided to go after the rights of our service men and women to worship as they chose.

[terpis]

Whaaaa, Ralph Nader is so famous.

As if the 'radicals for capitalism' crowd were under-represented. Tom Frank made the point on Bob McCheney's radio show recently, that Washington is lousy with libertarians.

PJ O'Rourke: "Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, & then they get elected & prove it." There's yr really-existing libertarianism.

Reason and Cato exist to serve corporate power, whatever their idealistic rationalizations.

[98nafets]

Reason, Cato and other libertarian groups serve to bring America back to the ideals of our founding fathers.

For some reason "corporation" has turned into a bad word in politics today. Do people not realize that corporations provide billions of jobs to people all over the world?

[terpis]

Ah, well, if being harnessed to toil is yr 'measure of providence', much the same could be said of Soviet bloc communism, or for that matter the institution of slavery.

Benjamin Skinner points out in the liberal rag Foreign Policy and elsewhere that "today there are more slaves than at any time in human history". 27 million.

Truly, corporate globalism is a butterfly of human freedom. I think the child sex tourism industry is a specially precious example. So free & unfettered.

[98nafets]

Capitalism and globalization does not call for the denial of individual rights. In fact Capitalism calls for the protection of them. Child sex trade has nothing to do with corporations.

[terpis]

No, not directly...but it has everything to do with libertarianism.

ILO est's 50 - 60 million kids btw 5 & 11 working these liberating jobs you reference (often preferred over less docile grown-ups)...

Parental libertarian pimps in unregulated Hobbesian paradises just play to comparative advantage...self-maximizing the family's share of marketplace magic.

Exploitation is exploitation. What libertarian would object to the entrepreneurial resort to a more lucrative 'bootstrap'?

[PressForFreedom]

Maybe next time the Libertarian party will nominate a libertarian.

[Cactusifyable]

I'm currently 16 i intend to vote libertarian in 2012. I tell everyone I know whose interested in politics about reason and the lp

[TenseAlcyoneus]

The Libertarian Party still does not know how to build a party in the US. You have to do it from the bottom up.

You have to get on school boards, Justice of the Peace and county judge positions, county commissioner and sheriff positions, and the like. Then you have to change state laws to admit third parties.

Also, the LP suffers from a ponderous inability engage in practical politics. You must compromise. You will get less than you want. You can't focus on unpopular issues and win. Duh.

[TenseAlcyoneus]

He's right about the Republican Party. It's not a party of limited government, but there is a movement afoot to make it that way.

[Idonthaveanamelol]

Are you saying that the Libertarian Party has problems with being to dependent on a central authority?

There is something ironic in that, I just can't find it.

[Skyler827]

The Libertarian party is not about political power, like the democratic and republican parties are. They are about LIBERTY. It's the EDUCATED POPULACE's job to select the party that has their interests in mind.

[TenseAlcyoneus]

Folks, Skyler's comment shows why the LP is not ready for prime time.

The only purpose of a political party is to attain a political goal with political power. Power derives from consent of the governed, i.e. convincing people to elect you. Plain and simple.

It's going to take plenty of political power to dismantle the administrative state. If the Libertarian Party cannot or will not acquire that power, then it will never attain it's goals. In such a case, the LP is unworthy of support.

[Skyler827]

That is true, but apparently I disagree with you on how the political power is attained. I think libertarianism is a good Idea, but I don't endorse any kind of propaganda to promote it.

I believe that an educated people will eventually find and select the governmental philosophy that serves their interests best eventually, and so I think people will eventually chose libertarian if they can get some honest discussion and information about it.

[chainzdown2dadik]

haha i can't wait for this government to come crumbling down

[CountArtha]

We were smart enough not to waste our vote on a third party.

[Krampfarsch]

a vote is wasted if your not voting in what you believe in. this is not a game where you can win something if you give your vote to the "winner"

[CountArtha]

Reforming the Republican Party is more doable than putting the Libertarians (capital "L") in power. That's why Ron Paul and Peter Schiff are running as Republicans.

[WelfareRobot]

Disagree. You're just supporting a crooked system when you vote for a third party candidate who has no prospect of winning. Send a protest vote instead by not showing up at all.

[myrelative]

so you are among about 60% "protesters".

shouldn't your "protest" show some successes, given that you're in the majority?

[spawk1993]

Young people see the logical inconsistency of small l libertarianism, were logical, aka anarcho capitalists , or libertarian anarchists, so we dont vote. lol

[KagarBeardtooth]

Is it true that this guy isn't pro-gun?

[Skyler827]

No clue. Go ahead and find out.