This editorial is posted in full with permission from Savva Vassiliev, a self proclaimed former Wayne Rooter.
I had great respect for Wayne Allyn Root. I’ve known him for several years now. I first really met him when I changed the platform on the floor in 2010 at the California Libertarian Convention in Long Beach to state: “We support the right of any political party to nominate or endorse the candidates of its choosing for public office, even when those candidates are the nominees or endorsees of another political party or parties.” He came up to me after that and shook my hand, I was really flattered by the gesture. It was like meeting the Libertarian Jay Leno; fast talking, big head, wisecracking and topped with a Goodfellas Pinstriped Suit. As a result, I later had him on my AM radio show twice, and during the first of his appearances, he explained why there should be no Mosque built “on ground zero.” I understood his anti-Islamic position, as it was an emotional argument rather than a rational (and Constitutional) position, did not agree with him, since I’m in the camp that believe 9/11 was an International Job rather than an Islamic Job, but remained more or less silent in my opposition.
“Wayne Root
I’m disappointed that you support Root for LNC Chair. Wayne is all about Wayne – self promotion, and nothing more. He talks like a libertarian when he’s with libertarians, but talks like a conservative in front of conservatives. I do not trust him!”
My correspondence with David Nolan ended on July 6th, 2010 after debating with him my support for Wayne Allyn Root. I did not want to continue the debate with him, believing he was wrong. David Nolan died on November 21st, 2010 from an apparent heart attack in his car. The rumor floated around by some was that he died right after he discovered Wayne Allyn Root was elected to be the Libertarian National Campaign Committee Chairman. I don’t agree with that analysis because even though Wayne’s initials spell “War” and many Libertarians may want him locked up in a looney bin, I don’t think he’s a Warlock. I was saddened by the news, but continued my support for Wayne for the rest of that year and throughout 2011 and some of 2012.
In April, Wayne Allyn Root appeared on The Bill Cunningham Show (http://www.700wlw.com/player/?station=WLW-AM&program_name=podcast&program_id=bill_cunningham.xml&mid=21977071) and stated the following:
“I think the important thing now is to make sure Obama is not elected, and, and that means, in my mind, and I mean listen, I would love if a Libertarian like Gary Johnson, the two term Governor of New Mexico would actually get elected President, but I think we all know that’s not gonna to happen, so therefore it’s got to be Romney, there’s no choice and then unfortunately, the good news is Romney stops Obamacare I hope, and I hope, and stops, you know, the incredible bankruptcy of America and the looting of taxpayers a little bit, slows it down so we don’t go right off a cliff, but unfortunately Bill, I don’t have a lot of hope that he turns us around and saves America, cause to me he seems like a big government North East Liberal compared to Obama, who’s a Marxist. So I mean, between those two choices, yeah I guess the lesser of two evils is certainly Romney but they’re both bad choices and that’s the problem I have; is big government guys on both sides.”
What disturbed me (even more than some things I saw in West Hollywood) about this statement, was not so much that he said, “I think we all know that’s not gonna happen”, about Gary Johnson’s chances of winning, although I felt a Libertarian official should maybe keep opinions like this to themselves, since Gary was at the time the presumptive LP Presidential candidate and a former Governor. What disturbed me was when he continued with, “It’s got to be Romney, there’s no choice and then unfortunately the good news is Romney stops Obamacare I hope, and I hope and stops, you know, the incredible bankruptcy of America and the looting of taxpayers a little bit, slows it down so we don’t go right off a cliff.” What?! I was thoroughly frustrated by this statement; it sure looked to me like Wayne was basically backing Mitt Romney. So what did I do about this? I contacted Wayne on Easter and asked him about his statements to which he explained to me that if he didn’t talk about Mainstream Republicans, he would not be able to get on so many big radio and television shows and so on, to promote Libertarianism in his own way. I did not like that response, but accepted it. I explained to Wayne that I felt Mitt Romney will not win (even if he might be slightly better) because he’s just a puppet to be put there so Obama would win re-election, and that I feared that WW3 would be spurred with another Obama term if Romney got the Republican coronation. I was giving Wayne one last chance to be an influence on me and have my support. He did not argue against my points, so I thought, maybe to at least some degree he had accepted them. But then last month, on May14th, I was to be proven wrong and my remaining support for Wayne evaporated when he appeared on Russia Today (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHGfvd91tIU&feature=plcp) and was asked about Ron Paul’s announcement about no longer campaigning in the remaining Primary States. The RT correspondent asked him:
“Wayne let’s talk first about today’s announcement, is this simply Ron Paul not wanting to spend the money he didn’t have or is it something else?”
Now, anyone who loves Ron Paul, as I do, would say something like, “This is a campaign strategy change”, or “Since he’s winning delegates left and right, that’s where his campaign will focus their attention going forward, SO HE STILL HAS A REAL CHANCE OF WINNING!” Wayne however, goes in the complete opposite direction and off on the Coo Coo Train, responding by saying:
“No it’s over, I mean I was planning to tell you before the announcement Kristine, that Mitt Romney will be the GOP Nominee, but you know I’m a big fan of Ron Paul, I love the guy and I’m a big fan of anybody who fights relentlessly to the very end, till the last gun, and he outlasted Rick Santorum, he outlasted Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, you name it, even Donald Trump to some effect. So I really love the guy. I think he’s great, but Mitt Romney is the Republican nominee and now this is out, it makes it 100% clear, but Ron Paul is fighting for more than a nomination, it’s a long-term battle to instill Libertarian values on American culture, on the economy, and most importantly in the Republican Party and I think he’s done a great job at that and the battle will go on.”
The RT correspondent might as well have taken the words right out of my mouth, when she replied with:
“Wayne, it sounds to me like the Establishment Republican Party has gotten to you, you’re singing their line, we’ve spoke to some other sort of grassroots Ron Paul supporters, who say, ‘hey we’ve still got, you know, the state conventions in Minnesota, in Michigan to watch.’ What’s going on here?” (Ron Paul by the way received another 12 of the 13 delegates in Minnesota for a grand total of 32 out of the 40 delegates headed to Tampa from the Gopher State.)
Wayne then continued, solidifying that I no longer support him:
Later in the interview Wayne went on about how we should all support Gary Johnson, conveniently omitting that only in April, as aforementioned, he said, “I would love if a Libertarian like Gary Johnson, the two term Governor of New Mexico would actually get elected President, but I think we all know that’s not going to happen.” Now while I’m not a supporter of Gary Johnson, as my dog in the race has been Dr. Paul since 2007, I do have a lot of respect and admiration for Gary and what he’s accomplished as Governor of New Mexico (even though I differ with him on some of his positions like his advocacy of the Fair Tax). Gary Johnson was even gracious enough to be a guest on my radio program in February (www.thepropagandahour.com) and answered my questions honestly and thoughtfully, even going as far as retracting some of his earlier statements I found offensive, like keeping the Guantanamo Bay Concentration Camp open, and forcing the Iraqis to foot the bill for the U.S. invasion of their own country. I was impressed by him, and so after Governor Johnson admitted his wrongs out in the open as he did; I now even like him personally and was glad to see him sweep up the Libertarian Presidential nomination last month in Las Vegas. I just hope the news of his nomination won’t stay in Vegas.
In a nutshell, I thought it was rude and thoughtless of Wayne to dismiss Gary as he did in April and Ron Paul as he did last month. I was really irked by all of this, everything changed for me and I slowly put the Kool-Aid down. With those most recent statements from him, I can no longer support Wayne Allyn Root. No more rooting for Wayne from me unless he can actually remedy his statements about Johnson and Paul, as well as maybe ending his practice of sounding like a Republican.I for one, will continue to support Ron Paul for President and will not dismiss him winning, until the race is actually over. I had told myself that if Wayne ever turned on Ron Paul, then I would turn on Wayne Root. I just can’t stand by and support a “Reagan Libertarian” or a “Capitalist Evangelist” as he’s also called on the lncc.org website, to which he is still the Chairman, who demeans the very people that are currently in the best positions of saving the United States from bankruptcy, unnecessary wars, and National Socialism under Obama.
Short Biography:
Savva Vassiliev is a 26 year old writer, actor, radio show host and humorist among other things who was born in Leningrad, Soviet Russia. He is an alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood and Chair of the Progressive Libertarian Coalition. He also served on the Executive Committee of the Librarian Party of California and as a California Caucus Leader for Free & Equal, as well as holding the position of Vice-Chair of the Monterey County Libertarian Party from 2008-2012.
The LNCC is probably at the stage where they don’t really need anything from the LNC, having enough of a database to raise just as much or more money as the LNC if and when they feel like doing so.
@23 The LNCC for some time has had its own membership, which controlled it. Their bylaws have recently not been visible, so I do not know if the have changed.
We demand all sorts of things of North Korea and their beloved leaders too. Works out just about as well.
I guess I’ll never understand what good it does to get people who aren’t libertarians elected, especially when they’re running as Libertarians. Or what good it does to get people who are Libertarians elected by saying whatever people want to hear just to get a vote from them.
These are strategies that remain a mystery to me, our beloved leader’s speeches notwithstanding.
The LNCC is legally completely independent from the LNC,
And independent of the delegates, and of the LP itself?
Truly a North Korean style of govt, wielding authority but answerable to no one.
Surely the LNC can disassociate the LNCC from the LP, and then demand that the LNCC state clearly on their website that they are not in any way affiliated with the LP.
Will do. My phone is messed up right now but I’ll see if I can get a new one tomorrow or borrow Andy’s.
Paulie,
You are welcome at your convenience to call me so we can talk about what the LNC should be doing as per your requests elsewhere.
George
So did I. But yeah, the LNC could vote to stop giving the LNCC updated lists, if the votes are there. However, the LNCC would still have fairly recent complete lists.
@18 Sorry; I took ‘fund’ in its narrow sense — money.
George.
Sounds like a big value to me.
@15 For the most part, no.
However, they share all member info, including phone and email, with the LNCC.
I don’t think they do at this point. They just chartered it. LNCC funds itself. At least that is my understanding.
George, Didn’t/doesn’t the LNC fund the LNCC?
@11 I will believe that Hinkle wanted this, but it makes zero sense.
The LNCC is legally completely independent from the LNC, The LNC can no more remove the LNCC chair than it can remove the RNC’ or DNC chair.
The LNC might be able to have it decoupled from the LNC by chartering a new Congressional Campaign Committee, but I am quite sure there is no body of law or regulation treating this.
Of course, if the LNCC were to reorganize as a superpac, it could take unlimited contributions.
@2: Yeah, I was thinking that myself. Ron Paul’s campaign has a “chance” of winning the GOP nomination in much the same way Confederate forces had a “chance” of winning the war going into Appomattox. I mean, yes, I suppose it’s theoretically possible if you ignore the fact that, in every single GOP primary, as opposed to insider-dominated caucuses, Ron Paul has lost and lost bad, or you ignore the fact that the GOP is a private organization that’s free to require delegates to their convention to vote according to party rules, or you ignore the fact that, even if all of the delegates voted their conscience, Romney would still win in a landslide, though less of one than he will following party rules. Or the fact that Paul’s fundraising was flagging and the number of state caucuses he could influence was approaching zero.
Acknowledging the obvious is not a sign of flagging dedication to the liberty movement. If anything, the liberty movement could stand to acknowledge reality more often and try to work within it once in a while. Acknowledging reality is not “turning on Paul”, so much as acknowledging that the GOP is a poor vehicle to transmit Ron Paul’s message. There’s nothing new there.
As for Root, well, I wish more people would find it in their personal self-interest to associate with and join the LP, so I can’t hold it against him if he personally profits from his association with us. If anything, I wish he found it more beneficial to stick to the party line instead of catering to the much more lucrative and much larger GOP-aligned audience. We need to find a way to make being a real libertarian profitable.
The general public, of course, has no idea of the difference between the the LNC and the LNCC. It’s no surprise that the LNCC started to get notoriety after Root lost for the chair. It was an ingenious move for him to continue to call himself “Mr Libertarian”. I’m glad to see people catching on to this.
One of the main reasons I wanted to replace the people on last term’s LNC is because they allowed this LNCC to become what it is today. Hinkle should have put Root in his place right away and never allowed this to happen.
Mark Hinkle wanted to defund the LNCC, I hope the current LNC can follow through on that.
@8 — I agree completely. WHERE ARE THE CANDIDATES they have supported listed on the LNCC site?!? What is the purpose of the LNCC again. Did it have NOTHING to do with getting candidates elected?
And where else on ANY website for ANY organization is there an “About the Chair” link? Even Wendy’s and Dave Thomas didn’t go this far in promoting their leader. Closest example I can find to the LNCC’s promotion of it’s “beloved leader” is . . . North Korea.
If you visit their site, you’ll find that according to it Wayne IS the LNCC. There are no other members listed and the Media Room is merely a pitch to invite Wayne to speak at your meeting or on your show.
So the LNCC only serves to give Root an official title, to make him appealing as a media guest.
As I, and others, have said, Root only wanted to use the LP as a platform for his media career.
As a Republican (during his “millionaire Republican” phase), Root was just one small voice in a very big ocean.
As a “Libertarian” — and a party official, no less — he competes against fewer wannabe pundits for the Libertarian slots on Fox News.
And more importantly, Root is a “safe” Libertarian who won’t offend Neocon sensibilities, and won’t compete for Republican votes that Romney needs.
Joe @6 mentions Wayne’s role as chair of the LNCC. If you visit their site, you’ll find that according to it Wayne IS the LNCC. There are no other members listed and the Media Room is merely a pitch to invite Wayne to speak at your meeting or on your show. The Issues page is all about Wayne’s economic stuff, with one nod to non-interventionism abroad. For the LNC to actively enable this as they have is ridiculous.
I’ll be the first to admit that I voted for Barr/Root, and given the options in 2008, I still don’t regret it. I will also be the first to admit that I have no problems opening the tent a little to have conservative leaning libertarians in. You know, the ones who are pro-life, and maybe prefer to have federalist positions so it doesn’t contradict their social conservatism.
That being said, while I am willing to accept a Wayne Root, or a Bob Barr as a leader in the LP, my beef is where the priorities are. With Root going off praising Romney, defending Romney, or giving Romney advice, instead of criticizing him even where it contradicts Wayne’s supposed economic libertarianism, then why the hell is he a Libertarian? I mean, we aren’t talking about Pat Buchanan here. We are talking about a liberal Republican.
If Wayne reads this, or if someone tells him about this, let him know that there are many people like myself who are disgusted with him NOT because he focuses on himself and NOT because he makes mistakes. We all do. But because he focuses less time on promoting the LP candidate and libertarian values and philosophy, and more on promoting the RP candidate and conservative values and philosophy. It’s that simple.
I publicly supported Wayne (including in posts here on IPR) from 2008 through the time he called for non-voluntary (forced) US aid to Israel. I posted I was totally fine with US aid to Israel from any American who wanted to send it there voluntarily. At that point I became neutral to wary about Wayne. I did not go to the St. Louis convention.
When I read the transcript of his remarks on the Bill Cunningham show I was embarrassed. Then I listened to the audio and thought, What a terrible “slip-up.”
It was his, IMO, utterly asinine attempt at a defense of those remarks, and then increasingly shrill contempt of anyone who didn’t join the “Reagan-Libertarian” strategy for the LP that resulted in my outspoken criticism here, in private with him via email and elsewhere.
He was upset I didn’t offer to talk it out in person in Las Vegas before or during the convention, for which I have apologized, and do so again here.
That said, his comments in media appearances since the convention in Las Vegas leave me to conclude he does not belong on the LNC and should not be allowed to use the title of, or serve as, the chair of the LNCC.
His brand is not, IMO, consistent with the brand Gary Johnson has established in his record as Governor and as our candidate.
Gary’s brand, and position in the marketplace of ideas IS, IMO, compatible with, even synergistic to, the LP Platform.
Wayne’s, in my evaluation of it, is not, and does more damage than good. And yet, I sure wish he would prove me wrong about that either by winning over all those tens of thousands of TEA Party supporters, or by raising all the funds needed to buy a HQ building without having a mortgage (something I believe the LNC minutes would indicate he promised to do at the LNC meeting last December) or by sounding at least as passionate as Governor Ventura in his recent endorsements of Gary.
As far as Wayne Allen Root goes, how I am supposed to take anyone seriously who thinks Obama is a Marxist? I mean either Root has no idea the word Marxist means and thinks it’s a general pejorative or is merely just a demagogue making a name for himself by pandering to a paranoid an delusional fringe segment of the population.
I suspect it is probably the later since Root spends all of his time attacking Obama for his imagined crimes while ignoring his very unlibertarian (but popular among conservative) policies like drone strikes or expanding the security state. And to the best of my knowledge Root spends all of his time with Barack Obama fetish and ignore other issues like the very unlibertarian attempt of the GOP across the country to take away the liberties of American’s women, police brutality (particularly that against the Occupy movement which while I don’t expect Root to endorse I would think as a leading proponent of “liberty”would be concerned about what is essentially state terrorism–though given that in the past he’s been an outspoken opponent of the first amendment I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised), the codifying of discrimination into state Constitutions, and the murder of Troy Davis by the state of Georgia to name a few issues he seemed to of missed.
I meant to say that it is a thin reason to dump him now in light of everything else.
Root has done quite a lot to deserve a loss of support. For myself, it was the first time I saw him- at a presidential debate in Kansas City back in 2008. Acknowledging that Ron Paul, a candidate of another party, won’t win that party’s nomination seems thin.
So the reason to no longer support Root is that he believes Ron Paul is sane?
This is kind of a big deal. Savva stood by Wayne long past the rest of us. I wonder if Wayne even cares?
Thanks for posting this, Austin.