As the two major political parties prepare to formally nominate their presidential candidates, the Libertarian Party is already working on getting its message out for the 2008 elections.
At the helm this year is former Georgia Republican congressman Bob Barr, whom the party formally nominated for president in May. His vice-presidential nominee is Wayne Allyn Root, a Jewish businessman from Nevada.
Even more than Republicans, Libertarians champion themselves as being the party of small government, in favor of limited federal involvement, both socially and fiscally, and limited intervention in terms of foreign policy, with less emphasis and money placed on nation-building and foreign aid.
Root, who was raised as a Reform Jew and became a Bar Mitzvah at Sinai Free Synagogue of Mount Vernon, N.Y., graduated from Columbia University in 1983. He was a political-science major, graduating in the same class as U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Root has never worked in Washington, D.C., or held political office, and said that his outsider status is part of what makes him an attractive alternative.
Root is a former Republican, and founder of the Nevada Republican Jewish Coalition, who has donated to GOP candidates. He said he believes the GOP has abandoned the principles set forth by party standard-bearers like Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.
The campaign is fighting to make sure it shows up on ballots in all 50 states. Though Libertarians only poll in the single digits, many pundits have speculated that Barr and Root's campaign could be a spoiler for Republicans this year, in the same way many have said Ralph Nader was for Democrats in 2000.
When it comes to Jewish issues, Root said that he was "as pro-Israel as any human being in the world can possibly be."
"I'll always love Israel and believe that Israel is one of, if not the, top two or three best friends to America in the world. And you don't abandon your friends."
But the candidate said that, for all the money America gives to Israel, it also gives money to enemies of Israel. If the United States were to cut the amount of money given to enemies of Israel, it could also proportionally cut the amount of money that goes to the Jewish state, and give that cash back to taxpayers.
"I think that if we're to avoid future wars like the Iraq war -- which I think we have to avoid because we can't afford them -- then you need a good friend in the Middle East to provide you with valuable and accurate intelligence, and Israel can provide that ... [and] keep us out of wars."
When it comes to dealing with Iran and other militant states, Root said that every diplomatic option should be used to avoid armed conflict, if for no other reason than expense to taxpayers.
"I'm all for negotiating," he said. "There may have to be preconditions, but there should be high-level contacts between us and anyone in the world we're thinking of going to war with."
Regarding the war in Iraq, the campaign is in favor of a swift troop reduction, while not publically announcing a withdrawal date.
Root has said that the success of the surge should be declared a victory, allowing troops to depart as quickly and as safely possible.
"I felt Iraq was always the wrong war, and if there is such a thing as a right war, Afghanistan was [it]," said Root.
He said that he had supported the surge in Iraq, and that the government should "do the same thing in Afghanistan, and make plans to get out quickly."
Domestically Speaking
On the domestic front, Root linked the war on terror to the immigration debate, citing lax border control as a threat to U.S. security. He said that the military should be brought home to defend American borders.
Root is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, and advocates a vigorous separation of church and state.
He is in favor of school vouchers, and said that the U.S. Department of Education should be abolished, returning those monies -- and control of schooling -- to the state and local level.
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