LPSF endorsed John Dennis.Obviously it is not what it name implies. Libertarian Party of SF...hahaha hahaha!John F. Bechtol;707-623-6005------ Original message------From: Richard Fast fastrichard77@gmail.com [lpsf-discuss]Date: Sat, Jun 13, 2020 1:18 PMTo: LPSF Activist List;LPSF Discussion List;Cc: Subject:[lpsf-discuss] Frustration with the LPSF
Dear San Francisco Libertarians,I am tempted to resignfrom my position as Secretary of the LPSF in protest against the county Chair allowing an illegitimate motion to proceed to recommend San Francisco Republican Party chair John Dennis for Congress, District 12. The LPSF Chair allowed a registered Republican and the bookkeeper of the CA Republican Party to vote on LPSF business, which I believe is a conflict of interest and compromised the organization's integrity. The individual in question cast the deciding vote; had this person not voted, the motion would have failed. In addition, Mr. Dennis holds views that are in direct contrast with our state and national platform, particularly immigration (campaigning on stricter immigration laws, supporting Trump's border wall and encouraging culturally enforced assimilation). This recommendation by the LPSF committee was in violation of Libertarian Party of California Bylaw 9, Section 3 and Bylaw 5, Section 1. There are other possible county and state bylaw violations, but these stand out. The state executive committee refused to take action on this matter, which I find troubling (why have bylaws if you refuse to uphold them?). I will recommend electing a new slate of county officers to ensure this doesn't happen again. While it is possible the state excom will take this matter up again in the future, I feel like the can was kicked down the road with no resolution. Are we a separate political party or shall we live in the shadow of the Republican Party? The buck stops here. Richard FastSecretaryLibertarian Party of San Francisco
We recommended a vote for (not "endorsed") John Dennis because people thought he was the most pro-freedom candidate in the race in which he was running (as well as being the only candidate in the race to reach out to us and appear at our meeting).
Is he libertarian on every issue? No. Has he gotten somewhat less libertarian over time, as Francoise alleges? I think so, certainly at least on the immigration issue. As a strong advocate of open borders, I disagree with him on that at least as much as anyone in our group. Ditto with regard to his positions on policing and civil liberties for the homeless, another couple issues on which I think John falls far short (though I don't recall details on how his positions there may have shifted over time, whereas he has frankly admitted to me that he's moved away from the libertarian position on immigration).
In any case however, if we're going to withhold support from someone, I think it should be on the basis of their beliefs and positions, not their organizational affiliation. The complaint (and the rule we allegedly violated) was that we should have withheld our recommendation because he's a Republican. I disagree that should stop us from getting behind the best available choice in a sub-optimal field. No one made the case that any other candidate was better, or that he is so bad overall that his election over Nancy Pelosi would be a step backward for freedom rather than a step forward. I don't believe that, do you?
Let me also remind you of what you wrote back in 2016, defending your support of Donald Trump for president(!) even though there was a Libertarian running in that race (Gary Johnson) who was much more pro-freedom than Trump!
And besides, John Dennis has shown me personally that he lacks principles and is not a man of his word. He will say whatever he feels he has to say at the moment. In other words, he’s too much of a lying cheating politician to support.