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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>I don’t think there is any ambiguity regarding
whether or not Richard Burke, an Elected Libertarian in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>meets the stated criteria for being listed on the National
LP web site as an Elected Libertarian.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>But let’s pretend that the Chair thinks that that fact
is actually “ambiguous.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Given the words I made <font color=red><span
style='color:red'>red</span></font> below, will the Chair give the same benefit
of the doubt to Mr. Burke and the other <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Elected Libertarians who are still in public office in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> but are not
currently listed on the National LP’s List of Elected Officials?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'> Scott Lieberman<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><br>
<br>
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces@hq.lp.org] On Behalf Of Nicholas
Sarwark<br>
Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2015 6:53 AM<br>
To: lnc-business<br>
Subject: [Lnc-business] Additional explanation of my ruling on Doug Craig</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>All,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>I wanted to briefly comment again on my ruling regarding whether Mr.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Craig was a sustaining member under the Bylaws at the time of his<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>election to the LNC. I don't know if it will persuade anyone to<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>change their vote on sustaining my ruling, but I hope it addresses<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>some of the points that have been made.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>There have been a number of comments from LNC members about whether<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>purchasing a convention package "should" count toward a
sustaining<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>membership, whether one should "expect" that buying a
convention<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>package would count a s a membership contribution, and whether we<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>"ought to" count the purchase of a package toward sustaining<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>membership.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>These are all valid opinions that ought to be referred to the bylaws<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>committee to resolve the ambiguity in the bylaws, but they are<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>somewhat beside the point of whether the bylaws clearly prohibit Mr.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Craig's purchase of a convention package from applying to sustaining<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>membership.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>As I noted, there is nothing in the bylaws other than the phrase about<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>giving $25 in the prior 12 months as it relates to sustaining<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>membership, and the policy manual has no language that purports to add<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>any other limitations or qualifications on to sustaining membership<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>(as opposed to association levels, which convey other benefits).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=red face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red'>In resolving ambiguous language in statutes,
courts are often guided<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=red face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red'>by canons of statutory interpretation, one
of which is the rule of<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=red face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red'>lenity. In simple terms, when there is
an ambiguity in a criminal<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=red face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red'>statute, the ambiguity should be resolved in
favor of the defendant.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=red face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red'>This is not a criminal case, but the
principle seems to apply that an<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=red face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red'>ambiguity in how the bylaws can be read
should be resolved in favor of<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=red face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red'>the person who it would impact.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>In philosophical debate, there is an idea of construing the other<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>person's argument in the best possible light, rather than assuming<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>negative intent. Applying this principle to this ambiguous
situation<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>would also lead me to the same ruling.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Lastly, for the baseball fans, there's the concept that the tie goes<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>to the runner. If it's a toss-up whether he's safe as a
sustaining<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>member or out, I'm going to call him safe.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>If this persuades you and you have voted no on sustaining my ruling, I<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>would ask you to change your vote. If it does not, thank you very<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>much for considering my arguments.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Yours in liberty,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Nick<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>P.S. To answer the other question, if the ballot is unresolved, Mr.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Craig is eligible to vote this evening at the electronic meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>That said, if everyone else has voted, I will vote on those ballots<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>prior to our meeting tonight to complete them and avoid any further<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>controversy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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