PA Libertarians Embrace Their Major Party Opponents

An interesting idea floated out of the Northeast Pennsylvania Libertarians.

Lou Jasikoff insists the three Libertarian political hopefuls from Luzerne County have secured enough signatures for a spot on this November’s general election ballot, but the Northeastern Pennsylvania Libertarian Party chairman covets a few more John Hancocks.

The targets?

The signatures of the Libertarian’s major-party opponents – Democrats John Yudichak, Phyllis Mundy and Gerald Mullery and Republicans Bill Goldsworthy, Rick Arnold and Stephen A. Urban.

Jasikoff hopes if candidates sign the nomination papers of Libertarians Brian Bergman, Betsy Summers and Tim Mullen, it will prevent any “slight of hand, voodoo or chicanery these parties or these candidates might come up with to challenge our signatures.”

“This is not an endorsement. This is just the ability to be allowed to be on the ballot,” he said. “That’s what I’m going to ask them – are they afraid to compete in the arena of ideas?”

When contacted by the newspaper, the major party nominees all had different responses. One claimed he wouldn’t want to make it seem like the signature was an endorsement; another blew off the idea as grandstanding. One of the candidates even declared that the Libertarian should drop out of the race and join his campaign.

Finally, the paper got a bite.

“I would sign it. What the hell? I don’t have any problem with that,” [Democratic nominee Gerald] Mullery said. “I’ve met Brian. He’s a nice guy. I welcome him into the race.”