Hello all,
Adam Weissman, the Manhattan LP's newly elected Media Director,
suggested that we stage a competitive "Open Call" to find an LPNY
senatorial candidate. I thought that was a swell idea and after much
discussions, I found many others who favor having such an Open Call. And
since I ran with the idea, I feel that it's incumbent on me to try to
make the Open Call happen. Be that as it may, and absent any objection,
here is how I propose we do it:
The purpose of this "Open Call" is to solicit people to enter in a
competion to run as the LPNY candidate for U.S. Senator. To best do
this, I am inviting everyone, which includes you and you, to act as a
"talent scout" to find potential candidates. To be a talent scout, there
are no qualifications to meet or application forms to complete. Just do
it!
There are, however, a few minimum requirements for your "talent":
1.) Your talent or candidate must be at least thirty (30) years old, a
citizen of the United States for the past nine (9) years and a resident
of New York State. No exception.
2.0) Your candidate must respond to these five (5) quesitions:
2.A) What do you know about the Libertarian Party (LP)? 2.B) Can you
name five things that make you a libertarian? 2.C) Why do you want to
run as the Libertarian Party's Senatorial candidate? 2.D) What
experience, if any, do you have in running for elective office? 2.E)
Running a political campaign costs money. If you are nominated the
LPNY's candidate for U.S. Senate, how much money will you commit to your
campaign? Do you have a source for more money? Are you willing to fund
raise? (You may word those five questions however you like, but make
sure your candidates at least essentially answer them. Besides those
questions, you may of course ask your candidates anything else you
like.)
3) It is preferred that your candidates provide a video response, but a
text response plus a photo is acceptable.
4) Federal Election Commission requirements, which are not yet
determined, must be met by your candidates.
What to do as a "talent scout"
If you decide to act as a "talent scout," you'll be looking for people
who you think will make a credible LPNY candidate for U.S. Senate.
You're free to find your "talent" anyway and anywhere you like. For
example, you could post "ads" on social networks, or relevant websites;
find them at your local clubs, fraternities or taverns; "hit" on guests
who attend your wedding, birthday party, reunion or your kid's bar or
bas mitzvah. Hey, don't be afraid to use your imagination! (If you
intend to have your "talent" send you their responses as e-mail
attachments, and if you're concerned about spammers, it's suggested that
you use a "disposable" e-mail address.)
You're also free to word your "ad" anyway you like ("Who wants to be the
Ron Paul of New York?" was suggested), but do make sure to ask your
talent those five (5) questions and that he/she meets the requirements.
Since video responses are preferred, and if your talent don't have video
access, you could, as "Starchild" suggested, either go to the talent or
have him/her come to you to video their response. (You do have the
equipment, yes?)
What to do with the responses of your senatorial hopefuls
1) A restricted yahoo group (TBA) will be started for the Open Call.
You'll need to identify yourself before you're allowed to join. After
you're accepted as a member, just upload your talent's response at the
"File" folder. You will then "officially" entered your candidate in the
contest to be the LPNY's nominee for U.S. Senate. You may enter as many
candidates you like, but only one entry per candidate. Good luck.
2) If you, yourself, want to enter this contest to be the LPNY candidate
for U.S. Senate, please don't join the yahoo group to post your entry.
Instead, send it to me so I could post it. Otherwise, if you somehow you
get nominated, I could imagine possible accusations of "fraud,"
"tampering" or "insider trading." Along this line, perhaps it might be
best if we disallow talent scouts from running as candidates, and vice
versa.
3) If your talent wants to revise his/her response, and if you allow it,
please remove the old response before or after you upload the new one.
4) Everyone, whether you choose to act as a "talent scout," is invited
to join the yahoo group. As a member, you could see the entries, post
your comments, rate the candidates and vote for your favorites. And base
on your ratings and votes, we will ask the top five, or so, candidates
to attend a specially or regularly scheduled meeting so we may nominate
the best qualified candidate. (I propose we run the meeting like an
American Idol segment to make it interesting and entertaining. I'm also
proposing that a prize be given to the "talent scout" who "discovered"
the winning candidate. But what prize to give?)
5) Everyone is welcomed to invite their friends and colleagues to join
the yahoo group, but I want to be told beforehand who you're inviting so
I could approve their memberships. You may not, however, invite your
"talent," because it's been decided that hopeful candidates should not
see the videos of their competitors. For this same reason, you may not
give your talent access to the yahoo group. Come to think of it, just
don't reveal the yahoo group to your talent!
When will the Open Call start?
Since we will need to nominate the candidate in time for our petitioning
drive. I propose we start at least two (2) months before. If someone
could provide exact dates, that would be appreciated. Another thing,
does anyone know what FEC requirement, if any, our candidate(s) must
comply with?
This is all for now. Of course I invite your comments.
So get ready to put on your talent scout hats and let's see how soon
we'll get the Open Call rolling, which will be AWESOME! I guarantee it.
Thank you for your attention.
Alton