In a fundraising letter to benefit his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Virginia, Libertarian Party National Chairman Bill Redpath says he spent $23,000 of his own money to get on the ballot as a candidate. He paid petitioners to collect some of the more than 16,000 signatures he submitted.
Redpath also says that, in a post-9/11 America, national security is “probably the most important issue facing this nation.” He promises to advance the Libertarian foreign policy versus that of John McCain. Redpath, of course, is not running against John McCain but Republican Jim Gilmore, to whom Bob Barr’s Leadership PAC gave $1,000. (Barr’s PAC later gave a max donation to Redpath).
Redpath says Social Security “must be reformed,” and he supports the Cato Institute’s 6.2% Solution.
There is no mention of gun control on Redpath’s 2008 campaign Web site, however, when Redpath was running for Governor of Virginia in 2001, he told Pink Pistols that he not only supported some existing gun-control legislation, he also advocated new anti-gun laws.
I favor repealing most gun control laws, although I would propose retention and even creation of a few that, according to research by Florida State University criminologist Gary Kleck, who has written at least two pro-gun books, have likely reduced crime.
Earlier this year, Redpath said the Supreme Court’s Heller decision “established an individual right to gun ownership in America!” Lew Rockwell mocked this assertion on his site, the most widely read libertarian blog on the Internet.
Below is Redpath’s fundraising letter, printed in its entirety:
Dear Fellow Libertarian:
I’ve heard it said that long fundraising letters do better than short ones.
I hope that’s not the case, because I want to get right to the point. I need your help. Campaign season will be upon us shortly, and I need the help of all members of the Libertarian Party of Virginia at this crucial time.
One of the oldest truths ever is: Money is the Mother’s Milk of Politics. So, I’ve stepped up to the plate big time in that regard to that with this campaign. We turned in over 16,000 signatures to the Virginia Board of Elections, so that the LPVA would have its first ever US Senate candidate. While I got help from several volunteers to get on the ballot, the vast majority of signatures were gathered by paid petitioners—Bob Lynch, Sanford Pankin, Andy Akers, and others. I want to thank them, because without their thousands of signatures each, this campaign never would have made the ballot.
One of my contributions to this campaign is that I personally paid for all the petition signatures gathered by paid petitioners—over $23,000 worth. I was serious about making the ballot—and I’m serious about making this a successful campaign that the LPVA can be proud of—leading to more members, more activists and more candidates (and, hopefully, more ballot access) in the future.
As the current National Chairman of the Libertarian Party, I’ve got to admit that I’m busy even without this campaign. However, I am putting a lot of time and energy into this because I think it is critical that the LPVA have a statewide candidate that allows voters from across the Commonwealth to vote Libertarian.
If we didn’t know it before 9/11, we know it now. National security is probably the most important issue facing this nation. Will the foreign policy of John McCain–or of Libertarians—allow us to enjoy our lives and the fruits of our labor? You know the answer to that. I intend for the people of Virginia to know, as well.
Libertarians running for federal office is particularly important in 2008, as the first baby boomers turn 62 and many will retire. The demographic tide is beginning to arrive. Social Security must be reformed, or it will slowly start to devour our economy. I proudly support the Cato Institute’s “6.2% Solution,” which will allow workers to build large personal accounts for better retirements in a fiscally responsible way.
Our political problems start in Washington. We need to substantially reduce government spending, institute tax reform and simplification and put more responsibility where it belongs—with state and local governments—and, most importantly, with individuals working voluntarily in cooperation with one another.
Can you help let the people know that they don’t need to be boxed into voting for “the lesser of two evils?”
Can you help me with the maximum legal contribution of $2,300 for the Redpath for Senate campaign? Such a generous contribution would help immensely with signs, bumper stickers, flyers and fees at local events—the basics of a campaign that I will badly need.
If television ads are financially out of reach for my campaign, I intend to produce radio ads that will run on major News/Talk stations around the Commonwealth on the day before Election Day, then on Election Day, then on the Sunday before Election Day, then buy backwards day by day, for maximum impact on—and votes from—disillusioned Virginians in what portends not to be a very close election.
I’ve put a lot into this, and I know others have as well. Can you put a lot into this, too?
If you’re not comfortable with a maximum donation, could you please consider a major contribution that will help this campaign get maximum attention around the Commonwealth over the next three months?
Every donation helps. So, while I ask that you dig as deep as you are able, any donation will be warmly accepted, deeply appreciated and used wisely.
It’s easy to donate! Simply go online to www.redpath2008.com and click on the “Donate” button to pay by credit card or mail a check to:
REDPATH FOR SENATE
c/o Kevin McKenna, Treasurer
2576 Nicky Lane
Alexandria, VA 22311Thank you for helping the Redpath for Senate campaign be all it can be in advancing the Libertarian Party and the LPVA.
Sincerely,
William Redpath
LPVA Candidate for US Senate
Chairman, Libertarian National Committee
If I understand GE’s criticism, which has also been made by George Phillies, it was not Redpath who received the contribution from Barr’s PAC. Rather, it was Redpath’s Republican opponent who received the donation. You can verify this point by looking at the analysis George did of the FEC reports involved.
So, Redpath is criticising his Republican opponent. But, Redpath is owned, or at least pwned, by Barr. And Barr’s PAC contributed to Redpath’s opponent. Funny how twisted all this corruption gets.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a presidential candidate for the LP who has not, in this election, caused his PAC to give thousands and thousands of dollars to Republican candidates? Wouldn’t it be cool to find a presidential nominee for the LP who has a PAC that gives contributions to libertarian candidates? Or even to LP candidates, one might run into a libertarian or two doing it that way.
In 2004, I was a candidate for the Green Party and endorsed socialism and stupidity. People can change — especially 25-year-olds who’ve had no exposure to libertarianism.
But in 2001, Bill Redpath — a lot older than 25 — ran for Governor of Virginia, as a Libertarian. His candidacy caused massive embarrassment to the LPVA, as evidenced by these discussion-group messages.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2807
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2756
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2663
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2678
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2731
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2791
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2812
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2834
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2835
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2849
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2862
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2880
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2896
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2895
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPVA-Forum/message/2927
And then we elected the bastard chairman.
Has Redpath changed his inexcusably statist views?
I’m an ideological libertarian, but I’d be hardpressed to pick between Redpath and Parker.
I’m a Libertarian for Rail, which apparently means that I’m in a club of two, with paulie as it’s only other member. Oh well.
The election law environment in Virginia is very harmful to the Libertarian Party and all minor parties in that state. The Virginia definition of qualified party (a group that polled 10%) combined with the fact that there is no procedure for a party to qualify itself with a party-petition, means that neither the Libertarian Party, nor the Green Party, nor the Constitution Party, nor the Independent Green Party, has ever for one minute been a qualified party. All Virginia has are candidate petitions, and each candidate petition can only carry a single candidate. So Bill is trying his best to establish the LP as a real, bona fide party that actually has candidates on the ballot.
For some reason, Virginians who are members of minor parties have never really worked hard to get the legislature to change this setup. By contrast, minor party activists in Maryland did a wonderful job improving ballot access in Maryland, during the 1990’s and early part of this decade.
I think Redpath’s run for senate in this particular Virginia race is indicative of the failed and antiquated LP strategy and tactics. But this time, he is trotting himself out just to get pasted. While in other years, he might gain a respectable (but still losing) number of votes, we have Mark Warner who is a political golden boy and will even do well in the rural parts of the state. Warner is basically being groomed as the next Obama. Gilmore is a GOP re-tread and will have it handed to him. Maybe Redpath will serve as a protest vote of sorts, but Warner is not the guy who will inspire overwhelming disdain.
Heck, Gail Parker of the Independent Greens inspires more good idea based on her transit platform.
So Barr’s PAC gave a max donation to Redpath? Wow that must be nice. Now if Barr’s PAC could stop donating to neo-cons and start donating to Libertarians consistently we would finally be getting somewhere.
The world is not so black and white.
Barr appears to have made a great deal of ideological progress in a positive direction since his years in Congress (conspiracy theories aside).
He also still has a ways to go, and should not have been promoted so fast in the LP.
Next time, wait for a politician to cut the umbilical cord with his former Duopoly wing before giving him the LP presidential nomination.
That is, of course, assuming there will be a next time.
Discussion question: Can Redpath really criticize his Republican opponent, when the presidential candidate of the party he’s national chair of gave him $1,000? Is that why he mentions McCain, rather than his opponent, in the fundraising letter.
Jeez. As a committed Libertarian partisan, I would be hesitant to give money to a candidate running against someone our beloved presidential nominee saw fit to give $1k to. I mean, yeah, the Libertarian’s “probably better,” but shouldn’t we focus on funding candidates going against Republicans who aren’t so bad? I mean, if the LP presidential candidate gave Gilmore $1k, how bad can he be? Or… Is the LP presidential candidate really a neocon?
That is certainly a very impressive financial commitment by Bill Redpath to his own campaign, along with other large sums he has donated to the LP.
I wish his positions were more hardcore, but he is easily preferable to his opponents nevertheless.
He is also, in my experience, the best ballot access coordinator the LP has had, as well as being an excellent (volunteer) petitioner himself.
Unfortunately, he has been too busy to do the job himself this year, and in my opinion could have made better choices in delegating the position.
I also don’t think he has been the best national party chair. I would much prefer to see him as Treasurer or Ballot Access Coordinator again.
Good luck to Bill Redpath in his Senate race.
We know he’s establishing a Youtube identity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kg2avPCyR4
See if it posts.
We know he’s establishing a Youtube identity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kg2avPCyR4
See if it posts.
We know he’s establishing a Youtube identity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kg2avPCyR4
Redpath’s site is a template from Template Monster:
http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/2714.html
Nothing wrong with that.
I’m just wondering if one of the crooks at LPHQ charged him big bucks to “design” the site.