See other (s)Elections Articles
Title: Libertarians pick ticket, slam Trump
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/29/polit ... ibertarian-party-nominee-vote/
Published: May 29, 2016
Author: Eli Watkins, CNN
Post Date: 2016-05-29 21:34:12 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 368
Comments: 29
Gary Johnson played up his general election chances He blasted the "rigged nature" of the general election debate process Orlando, Florida (CNN)Libertarians on Sunday selected a presidential ticket headed by former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who lit into presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on immigration and a range of other issues. At the party convention in Orlando, Florida, Johnson got his preferred running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, in a weekend gathering that drew sharp contrasts with the major party candidates -- Trump and Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee. Johnson described the real estate mogul's immigration policies as "just racist," particularly the Republican's call to deport 11 million undocumented people currently in the country. Libertarian activists contend their ticket could play a pivotal role in the 2016 campaign, with Trump and Clinton both viewed unfavorably by large swaths of the electorate. Even grabbing a small percentage of the vote in key states could affect the Electoral College calculus. Trump was a frequent target of criticism of many Libertarians at the weekend convention. In addition to immigration participants particularly took issue with Trump's stated positions on international trade and national security -- all of which stand in firm opposition to a party that tends to favor lax immigration restrictions, free trade and is skeptical of military intervention. Austin Petersen, one of the presidential candidates who lost to Johnson, called Trump a fascist, a term regularly echoed throughout the convention. At one point on Sunday, an announcer told the convention that Trump had begun attacking Johnson and Weld. The audience roared in approval at the news. It was not immediately apparent what attacks the announcer was referring to, but in a statement to the New York Times about Weld, Trump said, "I don't talk about his alcoholism." The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday night. Johnson was the party's nominee in 2012 and once again won the position despite backlash from the party's more radical Libertarian wing. Weld, for his part, took a somewhat more nuanced tone toward the Libertarians' rivals. "Someone doesn't have to be disaffected with Ms. Clinton to think that we have a good story," Weld said. "One doesn't have to be Never Trump to see that we were two of the most fiscally conservative governors in the United States." Thanking the Libertarian delegates after his victory, Johnson played up his general election chances. "At a minimum, I think we're in the presidential debates," Johnson said to cheers. Johnson also called for inclusion in more national polling surveys. "This is another voice at the table," Johnson said. "How about some skeptic at the table when it comes to these military interventions?" In the first round of voting, Johnson reached 49.5 percent of the vote, according to the official party total, just shy of the majority needed for victory. His nearest opponents, Petersen and John McAfee, reached 21 and 14 percent respectively. On the second round of voting, Johnson clinched the nomination with 55.8 percent of the vote. But his preferred choice for the vice-presidential nomination, Weld, also came up just short of 50 percent on the first round of balloting, leading to a second vote, which he won with just over 50 percent of the vote. Libertarian voters, delegates and candidates gather at convention 9 photos: Libertarian voters, delegates and candidates gather at convention A well-known figure in Libertarian circles, Starchild has made himself known for his flamboyant style and dedication to the Libertarian Party. Friday, he wore a transparent poncho with the words "demand transparency" over his only other clothing, a black Speedo. Saturday, he wore a cheetah-print dress with a matching parasol. Boyd Kendall, a delegate from Mississippi, said the Libertarian Party can make unprecedented inroads this election, changing its national profile. "With this election, people are seeing its not the pot party. It's not the crazies." In a year where party outsiders have made waves in the Democratic and Republican races, Seth Levy said, "We are the only outsiders that have a viable path to win." Lucy Brenton said she is running for Senate in Indiana as a Libertarian. "They call me 'Momma No,'" Brenton boasted. "If it's not in the Constitution, Momma says 'no.'" "I think this may well be the largest Libertarian convention in Libertarian Party history," said Nicholas Sarwark, the Libertarian National Committee chair. Cat Miller (left) and Alyssa Salgado are delegates for Indiana. Miller is campaign manager for Mark Rutherford, who is running for party chairman, and she recently decided to become a Libertarian. They said they received a spike in inquiries from people unhappy with Trump after Ted Cruz dropped out of the race. "I'm the youngest delegate," Vina Love, age 15, said. "I have a voice. I can vote, which is always refreshing to have." Clayton Hunt, a Libertarian from Texas, said he cares about preserving gun rights, establishing an open border policy and ending the war on drugs. "I can't stand Donald Trump," Hunt said. "He's basically everything we are not." Lily Tang Williams, an immigrant from China, said she's making a run for Senate in Colorado as a Libertarian. "I'm running for U.S. Senate because I hate to see the country I love become like the country I'm from," Williams said. A well-known figure in Libertarian circles, Starchild has made himself known for his flamboyant style and dedication to the Libertarian Party. Friday, he wore a transparent poncho with the words "demand transparency" over his only other clothing, a black Speedo. Saturday, he wore a cheetah-print dress with a matching parasol. Boyd Kendall, a delegate from Mississippi, said the Libertarian Party can make unprecedented inroads this election, changing its national profile. "With this election, people are seeing its not the pot party. It's not the crazies." In a year where party outsiders have made waves in the Democratic and Republican races, Seth Levy said, "We are the only outsiders that have a viable path to win." Lucy Brenton said she is running for Senate in Indiana as a Libertarian. "They call me 'Momma No,'" Brenton boasted. "If it's not in the Constitution, Momma says 'no.'" "I think this may well be the largest Libertarian convention in Libertarian Party history," said Nicholas Sarwark, the Libertarian National Committee chair. Cat Miller (left) and Alyssa Salgado are delegates for Indiana. Miller is campaign manager for Mark Rutherford, who is running for party chairman, and she recently decided to become a Libertarian. They said they received a spike in inquiries from people unhappy with Trump after Ted Cruz dropped out of the race. "I'm the youngest delegate," Vina Love, age 15, said. "I have a voice. I can vote, which is always refreshing to have." Clayton Hunt, a Libertarian from Texas, said he cares about preserving gun rights, establishing an open border policy and ending the war on drugs. "I can't stand Donald Trump," Hunt said. "He's basically everything we are not." Lily Tang Williams, an immigrant from China, said she's making a run for Senate in Colorado as a Libertarian. "I'm running for U.S. Senate because I hate to see the country I love become like the country I'm from," Williams said. A well-known figure in Libertarian circles, Starchild has made himself known for his flamboyant style and dedication to the Libertarian Party. Friday, he wore a transparent poncho with the words "demand transparency" over his only other clothing, a black Speedo. Saturday, he wore a cheetah-print dress with a matching parasol. Many Libertarian activists were skeptical of Weld, arguing his 1991-97 gubernatorial tenure saw too much growth in government and new gun control measures. But Johnson argued Weld could bring momentum and fundraising power to the Libertarian ticket, and the delegates obliged him. "I pledge to you that I will stay with the Libertarian Party for life," Weld said before the vice presidential nominating contest. What is Libertarianism? Johnson received almost 1 percent of the general election vote in 2012, but said that in a year of unpopular offerings from the Democratic and Republican parties, he stands a chance of breaking through. A recent national poll had Johnson receiving 10 percent of support from registered voters, drawing his strongest support from respondents under 35. Another national poll showed 44 percent of registered voters would want a third party to run against Trump and Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee. The Libertarian Party is the only third party with ballot access in 50 states. This means Johnson will be the only alternative to Trump and Clinton available to all voters in this election. Just before the nomination vote, Johnson said if he were to win the nomination, he would head to New York on Monday for media opportunities. Johnson, who served as New Mexico governor as a Republican from 1995-2003, said too few people knew what a Libertarian is, and that his job is to change that. Libertarian National Committee chair Nicholas Sarwark spoke to press following the nomination process, discussing the Libertarian Party's outreach and fundraising efforts. Sarwark said the party had established a "back channel" to the Koch brothers, in the hopes the wealthy libertarian-leaning funders donate to the Libertarian Party. Sarwark also said he had been speaking to Matt Kibbe, former president of conservative advocacy group Freedomworks, about supporting the party's nominee. The convention at times got rowdy. Many candidates issued lengthy protests and changed strategies throughout the day. Delegates stormed through the halls with signs and chants. At one point, a man did a striptease on stage until he sat before the audience -- and live television -- in nothing but his underwear. "Never underestimate the ability of Libertarians to shoot themselves in the foot," said Christopher Barber, a delegate from Georgia, said before and after the display on stage. CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 7.
#3. To: Ada, Lod (#0)
(Edited)
I have to agree with John McAfee that the Libertarian Party has, already, been too co-opted by the Republicans to make me feel comfortable.
Weld was a very liberal Republican. I don't see how he is considered to be a Libertarian. Johnson is on record as defending his statement that sending illegals home and building a Wall was like the Holocaust.
Weld was toxic enuff to be picked as the 1st head of the Dept. of HomeInsecurity. Tangy headlines from Stormer II: Meet The Unhinged Libertarian Jew Degenerate Marc Feldman Libertarian Cuck Gary Johnson On Donald Trump’s Plan To Build A Wall – “Racist! It’s Just Racist!”
Per FP: Libertarian Delegates Boo Frontrunner Johnson, Running Mate Weld As 'Failed Republicans' 05-29-2016 • Prison Planet Mr. Johnson was booed by delegates at the Libertarian Party convention Friday during a preliminary debate after he described Mr. Weld's candidacy as "beyond my wildest dreams" and called the former Massachusetts governor "the original Libertarian." Mr. Johnson's comments came after Austin Petersen, a consultant who's also running for the party's presidential nomination, criticized Mr. Weld for endorsing Republican Mitt Romney in 2012 instead of Mr. Johnson, who was the Libertarian presidential candidate. "Why didn't your VP pick endorse you?" asked Mr. Petersen — who has called on delegates to stop nominating "failed Republicans" — at the nominating convention in Orlando, Florida............. More FP: PCR and Taurotragus weigh in! www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/197841-2016-05-30-as-our-past-wars- are- glorified-this-memorial-day-weekend.htm www.freedomsphoenix.com/Article/197847-2016-05-30-memorial-day- should-make-us-rethink-platitudes-about-the-u.htm www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/197845-2016-05-30-women-shouldnt- be- allowed-to-vote.htm www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/197817-2016-05-29-bitcoin- prices-break- 500-barrier-to-hit-20-month-high.htm www.freedomsphoenix.com/News/197828-2016-05-29-natural-seed- proponents-are-now-potential-terrorists.htm
#9. To: NeoconsNailed (#7)
As usual the "auto link" feature on 4um never works. It has nothing to do with the "s" on the url, either, as some claim. Also, what's up with that giant tagline about africa?
In the old Superman TV show, Superman would stand boldly in front of the bad guys when they shot at him with pistols, but then when they run out of ammo and throw the guns, Superman would duck.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"We are the only outsiders that have a viable path to win."
#5. To: Southern Style, Ada, Lod (#3)
#6. To: Horse, All (#5)
#7. To: All (#6)
Replies to Comment # 7.
#23. To: NeoconsNailed (#7)
#24. To: No one (#7)
End Trace Mode for Comment # 7.