[Lnc-business] Email Ballot 2018-03: Censure of Arvin Vohra

Alicia Mattson alicia.mattson at lp.org
Mon Jan 29 17:53:24 EST 2018


Caryn Ann,

I will not spend the day filling people's inboxes to argue about this, as
over in the real world there are productive things that I intend to focus
on and accomplish.

However, I think your pendulum has swung too far, and I think you are
unfairly characterizing the reasons for some of the "no" votes.  Neither of
us is a mind-reader, and many haven't said much to explain their votes, but
for you to presumptuously assign motives is not fair.  A "no" vote here is
not necessarily a rejection of the option of censure (even though some of
the no votes are precisely that).  It is the rejection of this particular
wording.

This motion tends to broadly characterize his comments as having been
libertarian ideas.  Even you, in today's postings, say you think some were
not, but then you turn around and portray our "no" votes represent a purity
test...?

There will be an electronic meeting on Friday, at which time the LNC has
the option of choosing other wording for either suspension or censure, or
neither.  To characterize this email ballot as being the end of the story,
and trying to rally the troops to direct you to abstain in protest from the
Friday meeting when other-worded options will be available just strikes me
as cutting off your nose to spite your face.

-Alicia



On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 1:31 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
wrote:

>    This is what I sent to my region one chairs:
>    Hello everyone.  AZ has a new state chair but as he has not been privy
>    to the whole of this discussions, I am not including AZ on this because
>    it is nearly its end.  For the record AZ passed a resolution this
>    weekend condemning any support of pedophilia and hebephilia which
>    obviously is in direct response to this situation.
>    The censure motion will fail.  Nearly all the yes's have changed their
>    vote to no.  Arvin posted a defense which was more of the same - you
>    can read on the LNC list (and I encourage you to, and he posted on the
>    state chairs list) but the tldr; is empathy fails, being an asshole
>    works.  I don't agree, and that is not what I signed up for.  I suspect
>    that is not what many of you signed up for either.
>    My vote remains yes.  The no votes now are for various reasons.  I
>    suspect but cannot prove that the over-reaching letter from counsel
>    from pivotal.  Others do not like the wording of the censure motion as
>    it does not take a side in the age of consent debate.  Some want to
>    claim that NONE of Arvin's points were Libertarian.  Others think some
>    were and some were not (I fall in that camp).  But what this has
>    devolved into is factional jockeying about who gets to interpret the
>    Platform and thus get the upper hand in the ideological struggle.
>    Which is exactly what Arvin wanted.  To make this into an ideological
>    dispute and not one of professionalism, breach of duty, and proper
>    conduct of leaders.  I am deeply saddened.  The vast majority of region
>    1 chairs told me that they agreed with much but not all of what he
>    said.  Yet some on the LNC are trying to condemn it all and - that is
>    nakedly a factional issue.
>    The 2/2 meeting will be a farce.  Nothing acceptable to Region 1 will
>    come out of it.  I will attend and argue as that is my instructions,
>    but I am writing to see if in any of this you wish to change my
>    instructions.
>    My recommendation to Region 1 states no matter where you stand.  Issue
>    your own resolutions and come to grips with the idea what the LNC is
>    not capable of doing anything about this situation.  I say this with
>    regret.
>    I am going to advise them to have me abstain in absolute protest and
>    for Region 1 to take its own stand.  We bow down to the national party
>    too much, that has also been my position, and remains so.
>
>    On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 2:08 PM, <[1]erin.adams at lp.org> wrote:
>
>      I dont get to vote on this but would have voted Yes. A motion to
>      censure should have been made some time ago imo
>      On 2018-01-29 15:04, Caryn Ann Harlos wrote:
>
>      So in short.  Arvin acted horribly - will continue to act horribly
>      and
>         we have zero backbone to handle it.  He breached his fiduciary
>      duty HE
>         COST OUR AFFILIATES DONORS, he insisted that our staff could rise
>      to
>         the occasion of raising that extra money and then broke their
>      legs.
>         My opinion.
>         I don’t care if I’m the sole yes.
>         I KNOW communicating radical ideas in a non-asshole way works.  I
>      do it
>         every day.  IT TAKES MORE COURAGE to do that than be an
>      unempathic
>         edgelord.
>         And we bought it hook line and sinker.
>         Literally shaking my head.
>         On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 1:59 PM Caryn Ann Harlos
>         <[1][2]caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org> wrote:
>         I maintain my position as what the majority of my regional Chairs
>      want.
>         I hear the concerns about the wording and will communicate those
>      to my
>         state Chairs to see if that influences their decision.
>         However the case in region 1 was cumulative and not just about
>      this
>         incidence and like it or not age of consent is an issue this
>      Party has
>         argued about since the beginning and I see politicking here in
>      this
>         body to deny that and makes this body the arbiter when the line
>      is
>         drawn and not the delegates.
>         This it seems to me that this has become less about Arvin’s
>      reckless
>         behaviour and more and factional jockeying.
>         It seems that yes this is a continuation of 2006 where people
>      were
>         assured that the platform was simply streamlined and not changed
>      - so
>         trying the change the meaning of adult here to be an arbitrary
>      state
>         law when IT NEVER MEANT THAT in the old platforms is showing a
>      hand.
>         IMHO.
>         Which is a shame.  Because Arvin’s behaviour was abominable but
>      it’s
>         obvious this Body can’t do a thing about it.
>         I will report to my regional Chairs and act accordingly.
>         The 2/2 meeting will be a farce because of the will here to have
>      a
>         Libertarian Purity test.
>         Which I find so ironic.
>         On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 1:19 PM Sam Goldstein
>      <[2][3]sam.goldstein at lp.org>
>         wrote:
>           Please change my vote to "No" on this motion.  I tend to agree
>      with
>           those who have pointed out that the wording of the censure
>      seems to
>           imply approval of ideas that are abhorrent to me and to the LP.
>           ---
>           Sam Goldstein
>           Libertarian National Committee
>           [4]317-850-0726 Cell
>           On 2018-01-29 14:26, Alicia Mattson wrote:
>           > I have to vote no.
>           >    As I wrote previously, censure (and more) is warranted
>      here,
>           > however, I
>           >    cannot vote for a motion which claims the outrageous
>      comments
>           which
>           >    were made by Mr. Vohra are "libertarian ideas", and that
>      our
>           leaders
>           >    and candidates are trying to win hearts and minds for
>      those
>           ideas
>           >    espoused by Mr. Vohra, just stated in a different way.
>           >    -Alicia
>           >
>           >    On Sat, Jan 20, 2018 at 7:03 PM, Alicia Mattson
>           >    <[1][3][5]agmattson at gmail.com> wrote:
>           >
>           >    We have an electronic mail ballot.
>           >    Votes are due to the LNC-Business list by January 30, 2018
>      at
>           >    11:59:59pm Pacific time.
>           >
>           >    Co-Sponsors:  Hayes, Hewitt, Demarest, Hagan
>           >    Motion:  to censure LNC Vice Chair Arvin Vohra for
>      repeated
>           public
>           >    comments which have presented libertarian ideas in an
>           inflammatory
>           > and
>           >    sometimes offensive manner not conducive to Libertarian
>      leaders
>           and
>           >    candidates for public office winning hearts and minds for
>      those
>           > ideas.
>           >    -Alicia
>           >
>           > References
>           >
>           >    1. mailto:[4][6]agmattson at gmail.com
>      References
>         1. mailto:[7]caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
>         2. mailto:[8]sam.goldstein at lp.org
>         3. mailto:[9]agmattson at gmail.com
>         4. mailto:[10]agmattson at gmail.com
>
> References
>
>    1. mailto:erin.adams at lp.org
>    2. mailto:caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
>    3. mailto:sam.goldstein at lp.org
>    4. tel:317-850-0726
>    5. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
>    6. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
>    7. mailto:caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
>    8. mailto:sam.goldstein at lp.org
>    9. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
>   10. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
>
-------------- next part --------------
   Caryn Ann,
   I will not spend the day filling people's inboxes to argue about this,
   as over in the real world there are productive things that I intend to
   focus on and accomplish.
   However, I think your pendulum has swung too far, and I think you are
   unfairly characterizing the reasons for some of the "no" votes.
   Neither of us is a mind-reader, and many haven't said much to explain
   their votes, but for you to presumptuously assign motives is not fair.
   A "no" vote here is not necessarily a rejection of the option of
   censure (even though some of the no votes are precisely that).  It is
   the rejection of this particular wording.
   This motion tends to broadly characterize his comments as having been
   libertarian ideas.  Even you, in today's postings, say you think some
   were not, but then you turn around and portray our "no" votes represent
   a purity test...?
   There will be an electronic meeting on Friday, at which time the LNC
   has the option of choosing other wording for either suspension or
   censure, or neither.  To characterize this email ballot as being the
   end of the story, and trying to rally the troops to direct you to
   abstain in protest from the Friday meeting when other-worded options
   will be available just strikes me as cutting off your nose to spite
   your face.
   -Alicia

   On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 1:31 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos
   <[1]caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org> wrote:

        This is what I sent to my region one chairs:
        Hello everyone.  AZ has a new state chair but as he has not been
     privy
        to the whole of this discussions, I am not including AZ on this
     because
        it is nearly its end.  For the record AZ passed a resolution this
        weekend condemning any support of pedophilia and hebephilia which
        obviously is in direct response to this situation.
        The censure motion will fail.  Nearly all the yes's have changed
     their
        vote to no.  Arvin posted a defense which was more of the same -
     you
        can read on the LNC list (and I encourage you to, and he posted
     on the
        state chairs list) but the tldr; is empathy fails, being an
     asshole
        works.  I don't agree, and that is not what I signed up for.  I
     suspect
        that is not what many of you signed up for either.
        My vote remains yes.  The no votes now are for various reasons.
     I
        suspect but cannot prove that the over-reaching letter from
     counsel
        from pivotal.  Others do not like the wording of the censure
     motion as
        it does not take a side in the age of consent debate.  Some want
     to
        claim that NONE of Arvin's points were Libertarian.  Others think
     some
        were and some were not (I fall in that camp).  But what this has
        devolved into is factional jockeying about who gets to interpret
     the
        Platform and thus get the upper hand in the ideological struggle.
        Which is exactly what Arvin wanted.  To make this into an
     ideological
        dispute and not one of professionalism, breach of duty, and
     proper
        conduct of leaders.  I am deeply saddened.  The vast majority of
     region
        1 chairs told me that they agreed with much but not all of what
     he
        said.  Yet some on the LNC are trying to condemn it all and -
     that is
        nakedly a factional issue.
        The 2/2 meeting will be a farce.  Nothing acceptable to Region 1
     will
        come out of it.  I will attend and argue as that is my
     instructions,
        but I am writing to see if in any of this you wish to change my
        instructions.
        My recommendation to Region 1 states no matter where you stand.
     Issue
        your own resolutions and come to grips with the idea what the LNC
     is
        not capable of doing anything about this situation.  I say this
     with
        regret.
        I am going to advise them to have me abstain in absolute protest
     and
        for Region 1 to take its own stand.  We bow down to the national
     party
        too much, that has also been my position, and remains so.
        On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 2:08 PM, <[1][2]erin.adams at lp.org> wrote:
          I dont get to vote on this but would have voted Yes. A motion
     to
          censure should have been made some time ago imo
          On 2018-01-29 15:04, Caryn Ann Harlos wrote:
          So in short.  Arvin acted horribly - will continue to act
     horribly
          and
             we have zero backbone to handle it.  He breached his
     fiduciary
          duty HE
             COST OUR AFFILIATES DONORS, he insisted that our staff could
     rise
          to
             the occasion of raising that extra money and then broke
     their
          legs.
             My opinion.
             I don’t care if I’m the sole yes.
             I KNOW communicating radical ideas in a non-asshole way
     works.  I
          do it
             every day.  IT TAKES MORE COURAGE to do that than be an
          unempathic
             edgelord.
             And we bought it hook line and sinker.
             Literally shaking my head.
             On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 1:59 PM Caryn Ann Harlos

           <[1][2][3]caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org> wrote:
           I maintain my position as what the majority of my regional
   Chairs
        want.
           I hear the concerns about the wording and will communicate
   those
        to my
           state Chairs to see if that influences their decision.
           However the case in region 1 was cumulative and not just about
        this
           incidence and like it or not age of consent is an issue this
        Party has
           argued about since the beginning and I see politicking here in
        this
           body to deny that and makes this body the arbiter when the line
        is
           drawn and not the delegates.
           This it seems to me that this has become less about Arvin’s
        reckless
           behaviour and more and factional jockeying.
           It seems that yes this is a continuation of 2006 where people
        were
           assured that the platform was simply streamlined and not
   changed
        - so
           trying the change the meaning of adult here to be an arbitrary
        state
           law when IT NEVER MEANT THAT in the old platforms is showing a
        hand.
           IMHO.
           Which is a shame.  Because Arvin’s behaviour was abominable but
        it’s
           obvious this Body can’t do a thing about it.
           I will report to my regional Chairs and act accordingly.
           The 2/2 meeting will be a farce because of the will here to
   have
        a
           Libertarian Purity test.
           Which I find so ironic.
           On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 1:19 PM Sam Goldstein

          <[2][3][4]sam.goldstein at lp.org>
             wrote:
               Please change my vote to "No" on this motion.  I tend to
     agree
          with
               those who have pointed out that the wording of the censure
          seems to
               imply approval of ideas that are abhorrent to me and to
     the LP.
               ---
               Sam Goldstein
               Libertarian National Committee
               [4]317-850-0726 Cell
               On 2018-01-29 14:26, Alicia Mattson wrote:
               > I have to vote no.
               >    As I wrote previously, censure (and more) is
     warranted
          here,
               > however, I
               >    cannot vote for a motion which claims the outrageous
          comments
               which
               >    were made by Mr. Vohra are "libertarian ideas", and
     that
          our
               leaders
               >    and candidates are trying to win hearts and minds for
          those
               ideas
               >    espoused by Mr. Vohra, just stated in a different
     way.
               >    -Alicia
               >
               >    On Sat, Jan 20, 2018 at 7:03 PM, Alicia Mattson
               >    <[1][3][5][5]agmattson at gmail.com> wrote:
               >
               >    We have an electronic mail ballot.
               >    Votes are due to the LNC-Business list by January 30,
     2018
          at
               >    11:59:59pm Pacific time.
               >
               >    Co-Sponsors:  Hayes, Hewitt, Demarest, Hagan
               >    Motion:  to censure LNC Vice Chair Arvin Vohra for
          repeated
               public
               >    comments which have presented libertarian ideas in an
               inflammatory
               > and
               >    sometimes offensive manner not conducive to
     Libertarian
          leaders
               and
               >    candidates for public office winning hearts and minds
     for
          those
               > ideas.
               >    -Alicia
               >
               > References
               >
               >    1. mailto:[4][6][6]agmattson at gmail.com
          References
             1. mailto:[7][7]caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
             2. mailto:[8][8]sam.goldstein at lp.org
             3. mailto:[9][9]agmattson at gmail.com
             4. mailto:[10][10]agmattson at gmail.com
     References
        1. mailto:[11]erin.adams at lp.org
        2. mailto:[12]caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
        3. mailto:[13]sam.goldstein at lp.org
        4. tel:[14]317-850-0726
        5. mailto:[15]agmattson at gmail.com
        6. mailto:[16]agmattson at gmail.com
        7. mailto:[17]caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
        8. mailto:[18]sam.goldstein at lp.org
        9. mailto:[19]agmattson at gmail.com
       10. mailto:[20]agmattson at gmail.com

References

   1. mailto:caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
   2. mailto:erin.adams at lp.org
   3. mailto:caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
   4. mailto:sam.goldstein at lp.org
   5. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
   6. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
   7. mailto:caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
   8. mailto:sam.goldstein at lp.org
   9. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
  10. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
  11. mailto:erin.adams at lp.org
  12. mailto:caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
  13. mailto:sam.goldstein at lp.org
  14. tel:317-850-0726
  15. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
  16. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
  17. mailto:caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org
  18. mailto:sam.goldstein at lp.org
  19. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com
  20. mailto:agmattson at gmail.com


More information about the Lnc-business mailing list