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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have often communicated with, and am a member of, the Rocky Mountain GOA (Colorado and perhaps other states). My experience is that they are sincerely sympathetic with Libertairans, but are entirely pragmatic. They will not endorse a candidate unless there is a distinct possibility of winning the election. Simple fact of political life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Norm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>--<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Norman T Olsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Regional Representative, Region 1<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Libertarian National Committee<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>7931 South Broadway, PMB 102<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Littleton, CO 80122-271-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>303-263-4995<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces@hq.lp.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Scott Spencer<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 24, 2014 1:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> lnc-business@hq.lp.org<br><b>Cc:</b> LPIN Vice Chair; Bob Johnston<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Lnc-business] GOA Candidate Ratings<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>The link included in Beth's email was to ratings of the current sitting members of Congress. So no, there are no Libertarians listed.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>But on GOA's home page there's a link to their current candidate ratings, with links for each state: <a href="http://goapvf.org/2014">http://goapvf.org/2014</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On the Maryland ratings, for instance, Libertarians Arvin Vohra and Scott Soffen both got an "A". (If you look at the categories, it's impossible to get an "A+" without already being an elected official, since that grade indicates someone who "introduces pro-gun legislation".)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Endorsements are on a separate page (<a href="http://goapvf.org/endorsements">http://goapvf.org/endorsements</a>) and it's a short list. It also doesn't list party affiliation on that page, so it's possible (if not likely) that they're all Republicans. I didn't check.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>But the initial concern that we're not even being rated doesn't appear to be true.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>-Scott Spencer<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Region 5 Alternate Rep.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Fri, Oct 24, 2014 at 3:26 PM, Wes Benedict <<a href="mailto:wes.benedict@lp.org" target="_blank">wes.benedict@lp.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Hi Beth,<br><br>If I recall correctly, GOA has a history of leaving out Libertarian Party candidates, though perhaps not all the time. <br><br>From time to time Libertarians have contacted them, but I just don't have time to take this on due to so many other battles and projects on my plate.<br><br>I'll see if anyone on the LNC would like to initiate something.<br><br>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Wes Benedict, Executive Director<br><span style='font-size:7.5pt'>Libertarian National Committee, Inc.<br><b>New address: 1444 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314</b><br><a href="tel:%28202%29%20333-0008%20ext.%20232" target="_blank">(202) 333-0008 ext. 232</a>, <a href="mailto:wes.benedict@lp.org" target="_blank">wes.benedict@lp.org</a><br><a href="http://facebook.com/libertarians" target="_blank">facebook.com/libertarians</a> @LPNational<br>Join the Libertarian Party at: <a href="http://lp.org/membership" target="_blank">http://lp.org/membership</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>On 10/23/2014 5:23 PM, LPIN Vice Chair wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Ray has been a lifetime member of GOA for decades. Today I opened their mailing and it included their plea for help to elect a pro-gun congress. I thought great – every one of the LP candidates across the country should have an A+ rating! <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>But, alas no mention of any of the 8 out of 9 congressional candidates running for office in Indiana. Not one congressional candidates across the country was included in the rankings. No mention of any of our fantastic Senate Candidates. <br><br>I’ve grown quite disillusioned with this group over the years. Thought maybe the LPUS would want to respond. <br>Here’s the online version: <a href="http://gunowners.org/113hrat.htm" target="_blank" title="http://gunowners.org/113hrat.htm">http://gunowners.org/113hrat.htm</a><br><br>Thanks Wes, <br><br>Beth Duensing<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>_______________________________________________<br>Lnc-business mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Lnc-business@hq.lp.org">Lnc-business@hq.lp.org</a><br><a href="http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org" target="_blank">http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>