Evan,
When you spoke at the Libertarian Party of California convention a week and a half ago as executive director of the Libertarian National Campaign Committee, you said in response to my question about progress in moving the LNCC website away from the conservative tone/focus it had under Wayne Allyn Root that we could talk about that later. Unfortunately when I tried to approach you again just before the end of the convention, you apparently did not have time to talk, and the event concluded without us having that conversation. Therefore, and in light of the letter to Glenn Beck sent out by the LNCC today, I am following up, because I feel it is an important issue.
Having just looked at the committee's site (LNCC.org) again today, I'm sorry to say that I still do not see any major shift in the committee's approach since W.A.R. was replaced with Mark Rutherford as chair of the committee. The banner depicting two Democrats (Obama and Nancy Pelosi) along with one Republican largely discredited among conservatives (George W. Bush) as the bad examples America needs to get away from, remains at the top of the front page. The LNCC's issues page is overwhelmingly focused on issues that appeal more to people on the right than people on the left (see Issues ), and the manner in which the issues are discussed doesn't do anything to offset that. Even the sole issue presented that is more likely to appeal to people on the left than on the right, Non-Intervention Policy, is discussed primarily in financial terms and in terms of Americans' self-interest. Not a word is said about the humanitarian impact that bombing, drone strikes, and waging war has on civilians in other countries (see http://www.lncc.org/issues/non\-intervention\-policy/ )
Now I see that the LNCC is reaching out to talk show host Glenn Beck, who is generally seen by the public as a conservative and viewed by many on the left the way they view figures like Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. You have written to him, "I would like to welcome you to the Libertarian Party." You further encourage the conservative-leaning radio host to "openly and honestly discuss Libertarian philosophy." There's certainly nothing wrong with that, so long as either Beck himself understands that philosophy or is having that discussion with guests who do, but how can the LNCC credibly ask Beck to openly and honestly discuss libertarianism when the LNCC itself does not do it? At present the LNCC continues to dispense a conservative-flavored take on libertarian philosophy.
There are some other points in the letter to Glenn Beck that bear mention. The phrase you use to describe your own shift away from an interventionist foreign policy, "I drank the Kool-Aid and saw the light" seems to me an unfortunate choice of words that an additional pair of eyes or two looking at the letter before it was published might have caught. Was this letter submitted in advance to members of the LNC's Advertising & Publications Review Committee? The LNC Policy Manual (Section II.2, page 24) states that "The APRC shall review and advise whether public communications of the Party violate our bylaws, Policy Manual or advocate moving public policy in a different direction other than a libertarian direction, as delineated by the Party Platform." Your letter gives the impression of being a public communication of the Libertarian Party subject to this oversight.
You also write to Beck that,
"I would like for you to understand that the ire and outrage you’ve received in the past couple months from Libertarians comes not from some high-minded purity test or doubt in your sincerity. It swelled from the lack of any acknowledgment of how you have previously discussed and treated our Party’s philosophy, leadership, candidates and our dedicated activists."
In fact I think many Libertarians do have doubts about Glenn Beck's sincerity in embracing libertarianism. Given the defections of both former conservative members of our 2008 presidential ticket, Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root, back to the Republican Party where they endorsed Mitt Romney over Gary Johnson for president, I think such doubts are entirely reasonable. But if Glenn Beck takes his cue from the LNCC, he may feel that all he has to do in order to show his commitment to libertarianism is pay some modest lip-service to the idea of a non-interventionist foreign policy, have "a couple" Libertarians on his show and make some vague statement about spiritual growth in accord with what you wrote in your letter, and that in other respects his present conservative-leaning approach will fit in just fine at the LP. If he comes away with this impression, the LNCC will have done our party and cause a disservice.
It seems to me that between conventions it is the job of the elected members of the Libertarian National Committee, not the unelected members of the Libertarian National Campaign Committee, to set tone and policy for the national Libertarian Party and to engage in outreach to major public figures on behalf of our party. This would seem to have nothing to do with the LNCC's mission of promoting the campaigns of Libertarian candidates. Is the LNCC experiencing "mission creep"? Where do you draw the line? This jurisdictional issue is only compounded in my mind by the fact that the LNCC appears to be making little effort to distance itself from the conservative tone established by Wayne Allyn Root, and the committee launching a special effort to welcome a figure like Glenn Beck to the Libertarian Party further reinforces this perception.
What do you and Mark Rutherford (copied on this email) have to say in response to these concerns?
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))
At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
P.S. - I have included below a few examples of the types of articles and issues that I think the LNCC could productively feature on its website and in its communications to give less of an impression of being run by conservatives.
cryptogon.com » Gitmo: Prisoners Force Fed, Not Allowed to Die from Hunger Strikes
Gitmo: Prisoners Force Fed, Not Allowed to Die from Hunger StrikesApril 15th, 2013
Via: New York Times:
I’ve been detained at Guantánamo for 11 years and three months. I have never been charged with any crime. I have never received a trial.
I could have been home years ago — no one seriously thinks I am a threat — but still I am here. Years ago the military said I was a “guard” for Osama bin Laden, but this was nonsense, like something out of the American movies I used to watch. They don’t even seem to believe it anymore. But they don’t seem to care how long I sit here, either.
…
I will never forget the first time they passed the feeding tube up my nose. I can’t describe how painful it is to be force-fed this way. As it was thrust in, it made me feel like throwing up. I wanted to vomit, but I couldn’t. There was agony in my chest, throat and stomach. I had never experienced such pain before. I would not wish this cruel punishment upon anyone.
Posted in Atrocities, Dictatorship | Top Of Page
2 Responses to “Gitmo: Prisoners Force Fed, Not Allowed to Die from Hunger Strikes”Mike Lorenz Says:
April 15th, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Just remember folks, they hate us for our freedom.
alvinroast Says:
April 16th, 2013 at 2:59 pm
@Mike Lorenz Yes they do. The only question being: who is “they”? Clearly not these peasants
9-year-old girl accidentally shot by SWAT team
March 5, 2013
Confused after throwing a deafening and blinding "flashbang" into a home, police mistakenly shot and killed a sleeping nine-year-old girl. Nine-year-oldAiyana Jones was sleeping on the couch next to her grandmother in their Detroit, Michigan home when a SWAT team threw a flashbang through the window, which landed on her blanket. Seconds after Aiyana's blanket caught fire, the SWAT team stormed through the door, and mistakenly shot Aiyana through the neck, killing her. Flashbangs, developed for wartime raids, have caused severe burns, set homes on fire, induced fatal heart attacks, and confused police officers into thinking they are under gunfire.7-year-old girl accidentally shot by SWAT team | American Civil Liberties Union
Derrick J's Victimless Crime Spree
Published on Jul 30, 2012
540 days in jail for dancing, smoking cannabis, going to court, and riding a bike. "Derrick J's Victimless Crime Spree", is a feature-length documentary chronicling liberty activist Derrick J Freeman's exciting first year of activism in The Shire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU-b5hDJpCoYou can order the Director's Cut DVD athttp://victimlesscrimespree.com/dvd
Official site: http://victimlesscrimespree.com
Official facebook: Redirecting..._.__
Top CommentsNamit Thapa 1 month ago
I live in NH... just came to know about you guyz recently... keep it up guyz you are doing a great job.. hope to join you someday
Reply · 8vh04863 2 weeks ago
i might just move down there to help them out.
Reply · 2 in reply to Fortsy95 (Show the comment)
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Dear Starchild .:
Over the past couple of months, radio personality Glenn Beck has been talking on-air about at his dissatisfaction with Republicans and hinting at a real switch toLibertarianism. The Libertarian National Campaign Committee(LNCC) views this as major opportunity to grow the Libertarian Party and spread our message of limited government and individual liberty.
With his millions of daily listeners, viewers and readers, Mr. Beck has an army of politically inclined individuals. Imagine the positive impact his on-air conversion could have on Libertarian Party growth and engagement.
While Mr. Beck has traditionally been adverse to Libertarianism, taking a more NeoCon stance, his recent discussions and positions have been evolving towards Libertarian philosophy. But this evolution has been publicly met with criticism and suspicion from the Libertarian debate society.
In response to the criticism, the LNCC has sent a friendly letter to Mr. Beck. It is our desire to encourage Mr. Beck's personal discovery of his true Libertarian nature and to encourage him to include articulate and educated Libertarians in his broadcasts.
Read the full LNCC letter to Glenn Beck
Boots on the Ground in California
The mission of the LNCC is simple: Get Libertarians Elected!
While the mission is simple, the task is anything but. We know that one of the biggest factors holding back Libertarian electoral victories is our lack of infrastructure. Not roads and bridges, but basic local party structure. For Libertarians to win, we need local growth and engagement of members, donors and volunteers.
The forward thinking leadership of the Libertarian Party of California, understanding the importance of implementing a "bottom-up" growth strategy, invited the LNCC to facilitate discussion groups and training sessions on this topic at their state convention.
The response from these in-person discussions and training sessions was inspiring! The local leaders and volunteers were not only 100% engaged, but also excited to take what they had learned back to their respective county party.
And it didn't stop at the convention close. In the 11 days since the convention, the California party has been organizing extended return trips for the LNCC to come work one-on-one with county parties. Together we will set a calendar of fun socializer events, find sponsorship opportunities for local charities and community group events, create task lists to keep volunteers engaged and develop a goal oriented plan for growing local membership.
Want to see this type of Boots on the Ground training by the LNCC in other states?
LNCC Launches Victory Club
Earlier this month the LNCC kicked off a new giving program that rewards you for financially supporting our mission. The Victory Club.
We have developed a spectacular selection of premium thank you gifts for various contribution levels. Including items like subscription to the LNCC Spotlight quarterly magazine, Victory Club lapel pin, Campaign Fuel Coffee, Victory Club cigars and Champagne, Limited edition challenge coin, discounted or free tickets to LNCC events and training sessions and more.
You can support the LNCC and get your premium thank you gift with a one-time contribution or a small regularly recurring monthly contribution.
Join the Victory Club, today!
In Liberty,
Evan McMahon, Executive Director
Libertarian National Campaign Committee
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