After reading this statement from Dr. George Phillies, an MIT-educated physicist who has declared his Libertarian candidacy for president, I have to say he makes a very convincing argument for the resignation of Libertarian National Committee members.
Without further ado, here is Dr. Phillies’ statement:
Some fellow Libertarians say I am too soft-spoken and gentle in my opinions to be an effective Presidential candidate. I am sorry to disabuse you of your beliefs:
It is utterly unforgivable that the Libertarian National Libertarian party used party funds to help a Republican Presidential candidate. National Committee members who voted for the motion have proved their disloyalty to our Party and should promptly resign from our National Committee.
What can be said of National Committee support for a Republican, spending our hard earned donations to support a candidate of the Bush Republican war party?
Supporting a Republican candidate transparently violates the Party Bylaws. Our Bylaws provide purposes for our Party. However, “functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements” is the opposite of spending our money to help their candidates. The Bylaws phrasing “moving public policy in a libertarian direction by building a political party that elects Libertarians to public office” cannot be carried out by boosting a Republican.
Supporting a Republican Presidential candidate was an act of fraud and a gross breach of the National Committee’s fiduciary responsibilities to Libertarian Party members. If we Libertarians wanted to support a candidate of the Bush Republican war party, the party that has Americans kidnapped, held without trial, and tortured, we would have sent them our money directly.
Remember, in America politics is based on party. When you support a Republican, any Republican, you are boosting the Republican Party. Ditto for the Democrats. Long after your candidate has faded away, the party you supported will continue to enjoy the benefit of your support.
Of course, it is unsurprising that the Libertarian National Committee handed over our money and our Ballotbase, a resource that would cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to duplicate, to support a Republican. National Committee members and alternates donate and raise money for that Republican, but give no money to Presidential candidates of the party they claim is their own. One Committee member has a PAC.
His fundraising mail boasts that he is a “conservative Republican”, a claim proven beyond all doubt by his donation records. Through his PAC, he donated to two erstwhile Republican Presidential candidates, Jim Gilmore and George Allen (whose Pres campaign died with his failed Senate effort), a slew of Republican Congressional candidates, and no Libertarians whatsoever.
It is also extremely unfortunate that our National Party has endorsed a Republican as a prospective candidate for our party’s nomination. The claim that this was only “an invitation” and “not an endorsement” is totally unbelievable.
What should real Libertarians do?
The National Convention is a half-year away. Until then, take notes, and realize you have other paths to supporting our party:
Support Real Libertarians.
Take your monthly pledge to the National Committee. Send it instead to your state party. They need it and will spend it well.
Take the donations you could have sent to the National Committee. Send them instead to Real Libertarian candidates.
If you want to support ballot access, don’t send your money to D.C. Send your ballot access money to Freedom Ballot Access – http://www.freedomballotaccess.org
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Source: My Choice 2008 “George Phillies Blasts Libertarian Support for the GOP, Calls for Resignations”
