By Kevin “Coach” Collins
How many times have we seen a Republican lose a close race where a Libertarian candidate’s votes added to his/her total would have been the margin of victory? Many conservatives moan “If only the Libertarian wasn’t in the races, we’d win.” That’s nonsense of course given that most Libertarians are basically sideways Democrats anyway. When they run their own candidates Libertarians usually take more Democrat votes than Republican votes. Libertarians are no friends of Republicans, but this year things should be different.
Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson’s presence in this year’s race has the potential to be a real plus in the battle to unseat Barack Obama.
Some Democrat voters might not like Obama but would have real problems voting for a Republican. Johnson solves their problem.
His positions make him attractive to Democrats but repulsive to all but the most ardent Mitt Romney haters – most of whom would likely stay home rather than vote for Johnson whom they will see as “Romney-lite.”
Since Johnson is pro-choice, highly thought of by the ACLU, wants to make serious cuts in Defense spending, supports Gay marriage, is for legalized marijuana and is quite soft on illegal aliens; disaffected Democrats can feel comfortable voting for him. In doing so they can avoid voting for either a Republican or Barack Obama.
A portion of rank and file Democrats of various voting blocs are not happy about having to vote for Barack Obama. A small but growing percentage of Jewish Democrats are having second thoughts about voting for a man they have come to recognize as an enemy of Israel. The 40% of union workers who don’t want to vote for Obama, but reflexively reject supporting a Republican can vote for Johnson.
Gary Johnson will do much more damage to Barack Obama than Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party will do to Mitt Romney. Constitutionalist votes have been lost to the GOP for a long time, but Obama must count on the people Gary Johnson will siphon off.
To contact your Congressional Representative use this link: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
To read more use this link:
http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/candidate-comparison
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This day in history May 1
2001: The second conviction in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed 4 little girls was secured. The bombing was done by the Ku Klux Klan which has always been the terror arm of the Democratic Party. To read more about how Democrats have warred on African Americans for 200 years pick up your copy of Coach’s new book Crooks thugs and bigots the lost hidden and changed history of the Democratic Party at http://crooksthugsandbigots.com
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You can order your copy of Coach’s new book Crooks Thugs and Bigots: the lost hidden and changed history of the Democratic Party at http://crooksthugsandbigots.com
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- Paul’s charade as a Republican comes to a crashing end and other thoughts on South Carolina
- I need research help: do the Democrats have a candidate in your Congressional District?
Incredible… I used to enjoy reading your columns, but you seriously jumped the shark on this one.
Conservativism is a 3 legged stool… You have the national defense hawks, the social conservatives and the fiscal wing (aka the libertarians)
Now because the libertarian party garners less than 5% of the vote, doesn't mean only 5% of the country is libertarian… As a liberatarian I usually find myself voting for republicans because the idea of a radical marxist running the country is just so unappealing, as we found out the last 3 1/2 years, I was correct in that fear.
Each leg of the conservative stool is roughly 30% of the party, and when the social conservatives force a terrible candidate like Rick Santorum down our throats (regulate porn, you have to be nuts), or with your little crack that libertarians are no friends of republicans, remember the GOP wouldn't be elected to dog catcher if the libertarians didn't vote republican.
You social conservatives treat the libertarian wing, or 30% of the party like the democrat party treats the black vote, just assume its there and you can abuse it, but the libertarians in the republican party are not afflicted with stockholm syndrome and are more likely to sit out an election or two to watch you squirm, just not this election as the future of the country depends on Obama losing.
I was with you when you said ” You social conservatives treat the libertarian wing, or 30% of the party like the democrat party ……”
I NEVER assume we will get either Democrat votes or Liberal-tarian votes which are Democrat light. Don’t you think calling yourself 30%of the REPUBLICAN Party is a bit delusional?
I’ve been around politics for more than 25 years and I’m still waiting for that one election where a Liberal-tarian actually helps a Republican win an election.
Thanks for reading CiR and thanks for commenting
Coach
I would like to point out that Corey doesn't speak for all of us. The idea of a central spokesperson for libertarians is laughable. That said, it might be fair to say that a decent segment of Republican voters lean libertarian, and that a similar segment of Democrat voters does as well. That segment could be as large as 1/4 of each party, maybe 1/3 but I doubt that.
I, for one, will be interested to see how things pan out if Gary qualifies for the national debates.