Running as a Libertarian

It doesn't look like any of the three commentators after mine read what I had to say.  I DID NOT SAY THAT GRAVEL SHOULD RUN AS A LIBERTARIAN PARTY CANDIDATE!

 What I did say was that Sen. Gravel should reach out to libertarian Democrats.  According to polls, 35 to 40% of Democrats are philisophically libertarian. 

 It may be too late anyway.  Gov. Bill Richardson has actively been seeking this strong block of votes within the Democratic Party, so my efforts to help Sen. Gravel move from .5 % in the polls to 35 to 40% may be been for naught.  Even Sen. John Edwards is making overtures towards this constituency.

Mike A. Bozarth

A Libertarian DEMOCRAT

Rich,

Mike Gravel has been a democrat since he joined the Alaska House of Representatives in 1963. While the senator appreciates many of the positions of the Libertarian Party, he remains a democrat who believes in the value of trans-partisanship. Regardless of our respective party affiliation, our strength as constituents lies in our collective efforts to transform the current culture of militarism, restore our lost civil liberties, strengthen the economy, and reduce pollution.

As of this writing, the senator is campaigning in New Hampshire. However he has no plans to address the LPNH convention. To my knowledge, the senator has never announced his intention to seek the presidency as anything but a democrat.

Gravel 08

I thought that I should explain what a libertarian is.

Libertarians believe people should be allowed to do whatever they wish, so long as they do not interfere with the rights or property of someone else.  They support a very limited government, much less taxes and more individual freedom.

Libertarians come in many different shades.  To explain this, I will call the Libertarian Party "mainstream" libertarian. The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party, organized in all 50 states and has about 450 people in local public office. You also have "right-wing libertarians" such as the Republican Liberty Caucus led by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) who is seeking the GOP nomination for president this year.  You have "left-wing libertarians" such as the Democratic Freedom Caucus (and the Libertarian Democratic Caucus on My Space).  Some radical libertarians are anarchists (such as Professor Robert LeFevre, author).

In Missouri, it is legal to belong to two parties.  I have been a member of the Libertarian Party since 1987, am county chair, on the state central and state executive committees and have been a delegate to the last two national conventions.

I am also a member of the Democratic Party.  I am State Chairman and a member of the National Committee of the Democratic Freedom Caucus. I'm also moderator of the My Space Libertarian Democratic Caucus.  "Libertarian" or "freedom" Democrats also refer to ourselves as Jeffersonian Democrats.

 Many of Sen. Gravel's views would be considered "libertarian."  Getting us out of Iraq, eliminating the IRS and federal income tax in favor of a fairer form of taxation, decriminalizing marijuana, and allowing gays to serve in the military are all views held by all shades of libertarians.

Polls have indicated that as many as 30% of the American electorate are libertarian.  With no other Democrats appealing to libertarian/Jeffersonian Democrats (except maybe Gov. Bill Richardson) this is a substantial number of Democrats without a voice.  Personally, I would like to see Sen. Gravel seek out these Democrats to help build a viable base while seeking the presidential nomination. 

For further information you can go to: http://www.progress.org/dfc/  or http://groups.myspace.com/LDC2006

Many of us "libertarian" or "Jeffersonian" Democrats are already lining up behind Sen. Gravel. This is a natural constituency for the Senator.