[Lnc-business] Request for co-sponsors for motion to support campaign of Joe Buchman

Mon Jul 10 09:06:19 EDT 2017

Ken,

	You're certainly not the first Libertarian to express a disappointed emotional reaction to a candidate's realistic appraisal of his or her chances, but to you and any other Libertarian who has felt this way, I say take heart! One can lose in conventional terms and still win in libertarian terms. A conventional win means the warm body you support occupying the sought-after office. A libertarian win, however, means advancing the cause of freedom! Such wins can happen in any number of ways – building momentum for a future run, exposing more people to libertarian ideas, building the party, etc. Of course the cause of freedom is usually more likely to be advanced by a Libertarian occupying the sought-after office than by not occupying it – but it isn't the be-all, end-all it's too often made out to be. In some ways, the real fight begins after an election is won. If an elected Libertarian isn't mentally prepared to stick to his or her libertarian principles and positions, or doesn't have solidly libertarian principles or positions to begin with, the real, post-election fight for what s/he will do in office is as good as lost. Amid the statist culture and pressures in which s/he will be immersed, such an elected Libertarian will have little chance of surviving with an agenda to advance the cause of freedom intact.

	Predicting an election loss also isn't the same thing as conceding. When a candidate concedes a race, s/he is saying "the campaign is over, my opponent won". Clearly Joe Buchman is saying no such thing! From appearances, he is running and will continue to run a vigorous campaign and seek as much exposure for our ideas and as many votes as possible. He is running to win in libertarian terms. But is it wise to predict a loss at the ballot box? While miracles occasionally do happen and I've suggested candidates leave the perceptions door open by not entirely ruling out the possibility of getting elected, I would much rather see a Libertarian fighting a long-shot campaign – and this is obviously a long-shot campaign; no Libertarian has come close to being elected to Congress – say flat-out that s/he won't win, than to flat-out say that s/he will. Any candidate facing those kind of odds who predicts electoral victory is either deceiving him/herself, or attempting to deceive others. The former shows a poor grasp of reality, while the latter shows a lack of integrity. Neither reflects well on the candidate! Joe, by contrast, showed his good character by giving an honest and realistic assessment of his chances. For every person out there who thinks, 'I want to vote for someone who tells me s/he's going to win', I believe there's another person out there thinking, 'I want to vote for someone who has integrity and tells the truth'. To which type of voter mentality should we, as the Party of Principle, be trying to appeal?

Love & Liberty,

                                     ((( starchild )))
At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
                          RealReform at earthlink.net
                                  (415) 625-FREE
                                   @StarchildSF

On Jul 10, 2017, at 12:00 AM, Ken Moellman wrote:

> I found out about this campaign yesterday (now, 2 days ago) and the referenced KSL interview almost immediately starts with the candidate saying "I'm not going to win."  It made me sad. More importantly, I can't agree to give money to someone who has already conceded the race.  I mean, what is the money going to be used for?  Losing better?
> 
> By contrast, from what I can see, candidates like Laura Ebke and at least one of the recent converts in NH are gearing up re-election campaigns with the intent to win. They certainly haven't publicly conceded, anyway.  There are lots of candidates throughout the country gearing up for 2018 races. 4 L converts and many other candidates looking to run winnable races. 
> 
> If this body decides to support candidates, I'd really rather see this body support candidates that are running to win.
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jul 10, 2017 at 2:18 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello everyone, I received the below request from Dr. Joe Buchman (Utah) and have been speaking with him about this for the past few weeks.  I would like us to consider assisting him to our maximum allowed of 5K.
> 
> ========
> 
> To the members of the LNC:
> 
> The resignation of Representative Chaffetz nine days ago from the Third District of Utah has created a Special Election to be held 7 November 2017.
> 
> Joe Buchman is the Libertarian Candidate for that seat and following a special election convention by the Libertarian Party of Utah is on the ballot for November 7th.   There is a Democratic opponent.  Three Republicans will face each other in a primary next month.  
> 
> See: https://elections.utah.gov/election-resources/2017-candidate-filings
> 
> This is, we believe, the only remaining contest for federal office in 2017 with a Libertarian candidate.
> 
> To date Dr. Buchman has invested $1,000.00 of his personal funds in the campaign and has raised approximately $250.00 from other donors, with promises for about $500 in process.
> 
> Joe has just been scheduled as the sole guest for the first hour of Coast to Coast AM, a national networked late-night radio talk show with an estimated 2.5 million listeners, for Saturday evening, July 29th, 10:05PM to 11:00PM Pacific time.  Past show hosts Art Bell and Rollye James were self-identified Libertarians, and past guests have included Judge Jim Gray, Michael Badnarik, Aaron Russo, Harry Browne, Andre Marrou and Dr. Buchman himself (in 2008, when he last ran for the US Congress).
> 
> See: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/search/?query=libertarian
> 
> Joe will be discussing his campaign for the US Congress, his platform as an expression of the NAP and Self-Ownership paradigms, will be directing listeners to his website and will be requesting donations.  The Coast to Coast website will also provide a link to his campaign site - www.GotoL.vote
> 
> This is a request for national party funding for this singularly important Special Election campaign.  
> 
> The resignation of Representative Chaffetz has already generated significant national media attention, and this race is likely to continue to generate national media coverage as the replacement of Congressman Chaffetz will reflect, to some degree, a measure of voter confidence in the Trump administration.
> 
> The Libertarian Party nationally will benefit from this election, the last of 2017 to include a Libertarian candidate for federal office.
> 
> If a funding agreement can be reached prior to the show, Dr. Buchman would then appeal to Coast to Coast listeners with a promise that any donations received during the show will be matched dollar-for-dollar.  The show will be replayed and will also be available as a download from the network website.
> 
> Joe has been interviewed by three local papers (the Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News and City Weekly) and by KSL Radio's Doug Wright.  
> 
> That 9 minute radio interview can be found at:
> 
> https://www.ksl.com/?nid=1388&a=11898
> 
> Bottom line: Joe is experienced with media interviews, had a prior career in radio (including working with Bill Redpath at WTTS radio in the 1970s), is passionate about both Libertarian political pragmatism and philosophy, and is currently scheduled for one of the most visible media appearances by any Libertarian Candidate this month (and perhaps for the remainder of this year).
> 
> This special election creates something of a special case for funding; an amount equivalent to that provided to the recent candidate in Montana would seem equitable.
> 
> With gratitude for your consideration of this request,
> 
> Joe
> 
> PS If you do choose to listen to the KSL interview and/or to review the website and links to the print interviews there; ALL feedback, suggestions for improvement are also welcomed.
> 
> 
> -- 
> In Liberty,
> Caryn Ann Harlos
> Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann. Harlos at LP.org
> Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
> Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus 
> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
> 
> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
> We defend your rights
> And oppose the use of force
> Taxation is theft
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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