<div dir='auto'>Very sensible. Thanks guys!</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Jun 11, 2020 1:11 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos 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">For different reasons than yourself, I was waiting to hear back from the
<br>
other sponsors before also withdrawing my support for a meeting this
<br>
Saturday. I do not agree with your interpretations above but at this time,
<br>
frankly, a suspension vote will not pass, and I want to respect everyone's
<br>
time, and other resolutions to the situation are being pursued that I think
<br>
will be more productive. Having an angst filled meeting will benefit no
<br>
one, and we have a lot of work to do. I cannot disagree more strongly
<br>
however that these are matters of different interpretation (though I never
<br>
placed the weight Mr. Longstreth did on the refusal to chair the convention
<br>
but more so on the refusal to chair yet speak from the dias with threats of
<br>
payback to political opponents). But be it that, or something entirely
<br>
different, in discussions with fellow LNC members, they do not wish to have
<br>
this vote, and I respect their requests.
<br>
<br>
I believe several others will be joining in agreement in cancelling - and
<br>
most likely everyone has different reasons. Mine are to avoid an exercise
<br>
that will not pass and respecting the requests of several LNC members to
<br>
save their time and emotions which is valuable - particularly when we need
<br>
to be concentrating on making this a successful convention and supporting
<br>
our candidates.
<br>
<br>
Members with concerns or requests for further explanation can always call
<br>
me at 561.523.2250.
<br>
*In Liberty,*
<br>
<br>
* Personal Note: I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome
<br>
(part of the autism spectrum). This can affect 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. *
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 10:52 PM Richard Longstreth via Lnc-business <
<br>
lnc-business@hq.lp.org> wrote:
<br>
<br>
> Fellow LNC Members,
<br>
>
<br>
> I am writing to you this evening to inform you that as a cosponsor of the
<br>
> meeting which has been called for this Saturday, I am withdrawing my
<br>
> support for the call. It is my understanding that others will also be
<br>
> dropping their call later this evening but I wanted to share my specific
<br>
> thoughts.
<br>
>
<br>
> The last several weeks and months have been ugly for our party. The
<br>
> pandemic and associated government overreach at unprecedented levels
<br>
> affected each and everyone of us. This issue has both brought us together
<br>
> in many ways like never before and driven us apart in ways I could have
<br>
> never imagined. The LNC has done its best to navigate the complicated
<br>
> waters while weighing the important input from volunteers, candidates, and
<br>
> supporters. Clear divisions have been made in the party and it is
<br>
> saddening. It must be healed.
<br>
>
<br>
> I originally sponsored the motion to have a meeting and debate the question
<br>
> of suspending Nick Sarwark as chair of the Libertarian Party for two
<br>
> primary reasons. The first was that I believe every motion and call should
<br>
> be sponsored, debated, and voted on so that membership has a clear
<br>
> understanding of their representatives views and policies. I hold this view
<br>
> as a matter of respect for delegates who want to hear debate on a topic but
<br>
> would otherwise be unable. I also do it as a courtesy to you all, my fellow
<br>
> LNC members, because I want to be there to support your project or idea
<br>
> enough to at least hear some debate and consider it. I know not everybody
<br>
> agrees with my thoughts on this and I respectfully agree to disagree. In
<br>
> this case, I find that the distraction to the party far outweighs my
<br>
> general principle. We need to focus on our candidates and prepare for the
<br>
> next phase of our convention. There are so many more important things in
<br>
> the liberty movement that we should be excited about rather than tearing
<br>
> each other's heads off.
<br>
>
<br>
> The second reason I sponsored the motion was because I perceived there to
<br>
> be real potential violations by Mr. Sarwark in respect to our party's
<br>
> bylaws and the LNC's policy manual. I viewed his intention to not chair the
<br>
> upcoming second sitting of the convention in Orlando as a violation of Art
<br>
> 6.3 of our bylaws which states that it is his duty to chair conventions. I
<br>
> wrestled with this and sought input from many in this party on their
<br>
> thoughts on this. It was pointed out to me after much passionate debate for
<br>
> days, by Tim Hagan, in a very logical way, that 6.4 allows the chair to
<br>
> prescribe duties to the Vice Chair and that, despite the clear indication
<br>
> in the 6.3, Nick is choosing to exercise his prerogative to prescribe that
<br>
> duty to Alex Merced who is actively working to prepare for the upcoming
<br>
> convention.
<br>
>
<br>
> I also was of the opinion that Mr. Sarwark had violated the policy manual
<br>
> by appointing someone to the committee without waiting for an appeal of the
<br>
> chair to voted on. I have since reflected on that bylaw and recognize that
<br>
> there was some ambiguity. There was so much ambiguity that the LNC voted to
<br>
> change the policy manual to make it clearer in the future. I cannot fault
<br>
> Nick for having a different perspective than me on an issue that was not
<br>
> clear. I apologize for having done such. People can disagree on things and
<br>
> still be civil and I approached my accusations too strongly.
<br>
>
<br>
> As far as the contract: I believe Nick has the best interest of this party
<br>
> at heart. I really and truly do. I do not think Nick would purposefully do
<br>
> anything to harm this party in any way. What kind of person who serves as
<br>
> chair for 6 years would do that? I do believe that there was a lot of
<br>
> frustration around the contract, the econvention, COVID, personalities,
<br>
> etc, etc, which polarized viewpoints and clouded judgements; especially
<br>
> when it came to communicating "across enemy lines." I'm done with it.
<br>
>
<br>
> I apologize to all the members of our party for any perception that I was
<br>
> on any side of this issue. I had concerns and I feel that they have been
<br>
> addressed. I will be in Orlando. I had planned to be in Austin if needed. I
<br>
> will be fighting for offsite participation for those who cannot or are
<br>
> unwilling to travel on the floor of the convention hall. We need to stop
<br>
> fighting. We need to recognize that each side has been fighting for what
<br>
> they feel is the best path forward is in these unprecedented times. Be
<br>
> compassionate. I have talked with dozens of individuals since sponsoring
<br>
> the motion. I have come to recognize that not everything regarding this or
<br>
> the last few months is black and white.
<br>
>
<br>
> I am glad I sponsored the motion because it allowed me to hear those
<br>
> viewpoints and thoughts I had not considered. The rule violations I
<br>
> perceived, I no longer view as violations but different and valid
<br>
> interpretations. Let's come together, put this behind us and move forward.
<br>
> We have candidates to support and, if you haven't looked outside recently,
<br>
> the nation is ripe for our message of downsizing the government and we
<br>
> can't effectively communicate that if we are distracted with constant
<br>
> fighting. For my part, I apologize. Let's end this term on a high note.
<br>
>
<br>
>
<br>
> --
<br>
> Richard Longstreth
<br>
> Region 1 Representative (AK, AZ, CO, HI, KS, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)
<br>
> Libertarian National Committee
<br>
> richard.longstreth@lp.org
<br>
> 931.538.9300
<br>
>
<br>
</p>
</blockquote></div><br></div>