<div dir='auto'>After a lot of introspection, discussions with my region and my alternate, my team, and other LNC members, I have decided to recuse myself from this vote due to conflict of interest, despite, or perhaps because of strong feelings on it.<div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I co-sponsored it because I believe that discussion of it is important. Many good points have been raised by both sides.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Phil Andersen will be casting the vote for region 6 in his capacity as alternate.<br><br><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="auto">John Phillips<br>Libertarian National Committee Region 6 Representative<br>Cell 217-412-5973</div></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Jul 15, 2019 6:11 PM, Richard Longstreth via Lnc-business <lnc-business@hq.lp.org> wrote:<br type="attribution" /><blockquote class="quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><p dir="ltr">In my capacity as Region 1 Representative, I vote nay.
<br>
<br>
There are a couple of nuances to talk about in relation to the vote. My
<br>
role is to represent the region. I am trusted to hear their voices and
<br>
concerns and use my judgement to make decisions. For this decision, I
<br>
sought feedback from the state chairs via messenger, from the region on the
<br>
region 1 discussion group, and from people in general via the lnc business
<br>
– discuss group. There were many thoughts and opinions brought up but
<br>
ultimately, I had to consider the following:
<br>
<br>
1.
<br>
<br>
Who is Benjamin Leder? He is a member of the Libertarian Party who is
<br>
running for president, albeit, polling poorly in most circles. There is
<br>
evidence of colorful language and advocation of violence and threats to a
<br>
variety of people attributed to him. However, this is a vote to censure,
<br>
not a vote to report him to the proper authorities to prevent acts of
<br>
potential domestic terrorism. If any person, whether on the LNC or
<br>
otherwise feels threatened in anyway by any person, you have somewhat of a
<br>
moral obligation to let the authorities know. I am a proud Radical Caucus
<br>
member, but this is where philosophy meets reality. I, nor does the LNC,
<br>
have any ability to stop any violence advocated by Mr. Leder and a censure
<br>
would not stop any violent plans. It pains me to say that this is exactly
<br>
the type of thing a government, in the current era of politics, can help
<br>
prevent. If there was a working private police network or other security
<br>
organization that could actively prevent the violence advocated by Mr.
<br>
Leder, then I would be in favor of reporting to them instead. Safety is
<br>
priority and at the end of the day, everyone ought to feel safe and secure
<br>
at home or going to a political convention. Again, I urge any party that
<br>
feels threatened to report to authorities why you feel threatened. A
<br>
censure will not alleviate those threats in anyway.
<br>
2.
<br>
<br>
What does censure mean and or accomplish? Essentially a censure is when
<br>
a body sends the message that they disapprove of a person’s statements or
<br>
actions in a formal way. It is not a true disciplinary action, nor does it
<br>
have any real effects, other than a record of condemnation. If the LNC
<br>
censures someone, we are formally stating that we do not approve of that
<br>
person. If we do that as the LNC, we are stating, essentially, that we wish
<br>
for that individual not be a member. Part of being a member is to agree to
<br>
the non-aggression principle.
<br>
3.
<br>
1.
<br>
<br>
Mr. Leder clearly has made several statements which indicate he no
<br>
longer agrees with the non-aggression principle and so, in my
<br>
mind, he has
<br>
already resigned as a member and a censure would accomplish little and
<br>
would likely have no effect on him.
<br>
2.
<br>
<br>
There is however, the chance the censuring him would have a reverse
<br>
effect: he becomes a martyr to like-minded individuals and a beacon for
<br>
those who agree or sympathize with him. It also could push him to a point
<br>
of no longer caring. Right now, his comments have no verifiable
<br>
evidence of
<br>
action that I can find. If Mr. Leder believes himself to be a member and
<br>
then the leadership turns their back on him by censuring, where does that
<br>
leave him? An unstable mind that feels abandoned is a dangerous thing.
<br>
4.
<br>
<br>
Should this body (the LNC) even consider censure?
<br>
5.
<br>
1.
<br>
<br>
In recent history, there have been two censures brought before the
<br>
LNC – one of Arvin Vohra, a member of the LNC at the time the LNC was
<br>
considering and the other is Benjamin Leder, LP member and declared,
<br>
FEC-filing presidential candidate. Essentially, the situation with Mr.
<br>
Vohra was brought to the LNC because Mr. Vohra was part of the LNC.
<br>
Censuring him separated his viewpoints from those of his
<br>
colleagues and as
<br>
leaders of the party it was worth discussing and voting on. In
<br>
Mr. Leder’s
<br>
case, however, he is not on the LNC. Further, he is not a state
<br>
chair nor,
<br>
to my knowledge, involved in any state’s leadership. He is
<br>
simply a member
<br>
who is saying inappropriate things. I do not believe the LNC
<br>
should have a
<br>
role in reviewing each member of the party to determine if they have ever
<br>
said or done anything deserving of censure. It sets a bad precedent. I
<br>
understood the LNC discussing Mr. Vohra, who sat next to them as a leader
<br>
of this party. I do not understand reaching down into common
<br>
membership to
<br>
do the same.
<br>
2.
<br>
<br>
Since I have already explained what a censure is, then I will also
<br>
say that a censure could also be construed as voicing an opinion on the
<br>
upcoming election and candidates quite easily. The LNC traditionally has
<br>
kept its distance from such conversations of endorsing or condemning
<br>
presidential candidates until after convention in favor of letting
<br>
delegates decide for themselves.
<br>
6.
<br>
<br>
Mr. Leder is running for president; doesn’t that give him a different
<br>
spotlight? No. To date, there are currently 779 candidates running for
<br>
president. Of those, 34 are Libertarian. If Mr Leder running for president
<br>
means something, then I challenge any Libertarian to name all 34 candidates
<br>
running for our party without looking it up. To be honest, I only knew of
<br>
about 10. He is a member who filed some paperwork. That does not elevate
<br>
his status, especially this far out from Convention and the 2020 election.
<br>
If he were our presidential nominee, then I would absolutely favor censure.
<br>
7.
<br>
<br>
This could start a witch hunt mentality and could lead to a slippery
<br>
slope. Often I hear people joke about purity tests in the Party. I refuse
<br>
to let the LNC become a potential tool for such activity. I am fearful of a
<br>
day when something I say in emotion or out of context could be construed to
<br>
mean something other than intended. In this case, Mr. Leder probably should
<br>
be reprimanded, and he has been. The LPRC accepted his forced resignation
<br>
and the leadership in Texas is discussing him because he is one of their
<br>
members. If the LNC begins commenting on who is libertarian enough or
<br>
libertarian appropriate, we begin to establish what the bar for being a
<br>
libertarian is which should never be a purpose of our leadership. The
<br>
purpose of the LNC is to develop and guide the future of the party, not get
<br>
bogged down determining if someone is living up to their pledge or not.
<br>
8.
<br>
<br>
What if he goes off the deep end (McVeigh style) and the LNC didn’t
<br>
censure? That would be a terrible scenario, however, I would argue that the
<br>
opposite could happen as well. I believe Mr. Leder to be a sick, possibly
<br>
violent, social media warrior. Whether the LNC censures or not is
<br>
irrelevant to the media and outsiders if he has Libertarian next to his
<br>
name; even if it is only self-proclaimed media would latch onto the word.
<br>
Further, because he has filed as a Libertarian to run for president, there
<br>
is nothing the LNC can do to shake our name from his by voting on it via
<br>
email in 7 days. The other points I’ve made are based in principle and
<br>
thought, not an emotional appeal to the what ifs of the world. If something
<br>
terrible were to happen, I am in favor of writing and introducing a
<br>
resolution condemning his actions and explaining why violence does not jive
<br>
with libertarian ideals. One should not condemn a man for his words on
<br>
social media, but for his actions in the real world.
<br>
<br>
<br>
...
<br>
On Fri, Jul 12, 2019, 13:45 Erin Adams via Lnc-business <
<br>
lnc-business@hq.lp.org> wrote:
<br>
<br>
> Our region will cast a vote before the deadline
<br>
> On Jul 12, 2019 12:00 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos@lp.org>
<br>
> wrote:
<br>
>
<br>
> Is that a yes?
<br>
>
<br>
> On Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 10:30 AM Erin Adams via Lnc-business <
<br>
> lnc-business@hq.lp.org> wrote:
<br>
>
<br>
> Oklahoma voted to censure Joe Exotic in 2017. In 2018 Oklahoma voted to
<br>
> remove the membership of Joe Exotic just before he was convicted on over 20
<br>
> federal charges INCLUDING multiple counts of murder for hire. The members
<br>
> saw "smoke" and acted . The members were correct imo. Joe Exotic is STILL a
<br>
> declared candidate for our POTUS nomination....
<br>
>
<br>
> I fully support this motion
<br>
>
<br>
> Erin Adams
<br>
> Region 7 Alternate
<br>
>
<br>
> On Jul 10, 2019 6:53 PM, Joshua Smith via Lnc-business <
<br>
> lnc-business@hq.lp.org> wrote:
<br>
>
<br>
> Good evening esteemed colleagues,
<br>
>
<br>
> I am currently looking for co-sponsors for my motion to censure Benjamin
<br>
> Leder. He is a candidate for our POTUS Nomination and has been spreading
<br>
> some pretty hanus stuff. I believe that as party leadership it is extremely
<br>
> important that we let the party know that we arent supportive of these
<br>
> actions.
<br>
>
<br>
> Motion below:
<br>
>
<br>
> To the Libertarian National Committee
<br>
>
<br>
> WHEREAS, Mr. Benjamin Leder (Texas) is currently running to be elected as
<br>
> the Libertarian Party's nominee for President of the United States;
<br>
>
<br>
> WHEREAS, Mr. Leder has continually engaged in behavior that goes directly
<br>
> against our core principles and is antithetical to the mission of any
<br>
> representative of the Libertarian Party;
<br>
>
<br>
> WHEREAS, He has made direct violent threats and approval of domestic
<br>
> terrorism against the Libertarian Party, including its National Committee
<br>
> members, conventions, candidates, and members of local affiliates, in cases
<br>
> not in self-defense, but in blatant aggression to achieve political goals;
<br>
>
<br>
> WHEREAS, As examples of the above, he has published articles, appeared in
<br>
> media, and posted on social media clear threats of violence and advocate
<br>
> of domestic terrorism on peaceful people, including calling for an
<br>
> "Oklahoma City style" ending to not only the Democratic and Republican
<br>
> conventions, but also of the 2020 Libertarian National Convention, thus
<br>
> putting in danger our staff, delegates, and family members;
<br>
>
<br>
> WHEREAS, He has made public, violent statements about killing peaceful
<br>
> people and "leaving their bodies in contractor bags at the curb for the
<br>
> garbage man";
<br>
>
<br>
> WHEREAS, He has called for members who support the official Libertarian
<br>
> Party position of being anti-war to be physically battered;
<br>
>
<br>
> WHEREAS, the Libertarian Party absolutely repudiates non-defensive
<br>
> violence and all aggression against peaceful people, and associating such
<br>
> statements with our Party defames its members and brand; and
<br>
>
<br>
> RESOLVED, That the Libertarian National Committee condemns these actions
<br>
> by Mr. Leder as completely abhorrent to the mission, platform, and
<br>
> principles of the Libertarian Party.
<br>
>
<br>
> Respectfully submitted,
<br>
>
<br>
> Joshua D. Smith, LNC At Large Representative
<br>
>
<br>
>
<br>
>
<br>
> --
<br>
>
<br>
> *In Liberty,*
<br>
>
<br>
> * Personal Note: I have what is commonly known as Asperberger's Syndrome
<br>
> (part of the autism spectrum). This can effect inter-personal
<br>
> communication skills in both personal and electronic arenas. If anyone
<br>
> found anything offensive or overly off-putting (or some other social faux
<br>
> pas), please contact me privately and let me know. I am asking you to help
<br>
> me - in a diverse world, we must work to meet each other halfway.*
<br>
>
<br>
>
<br>
>
<br>
>
<br>
</p>
</blockquote></div><br></div>