This is an editorial from the IPR owner.
Per Cleveland.com, the Ohio LP has decided to work with Roger Stone.
Roger Stone, a nationally known political operative known for his colorful antics as much as his campaign work, will be lending a hand with Charlie Earl’s campaign for governor, state Libertarians announced Monday.
…
Libertarian Party of Ohio spokesman Aaron Keith Harris said he wasn’t sure what Stone will be doing for Earl’s campaign.“He’s just trying to raise more awareness” for Earl’s campaign and his fight to get on the Ohio ballot, Harris said.
…
In a 2007 profile, the Weekly Standard dubbed him a “Nixon-era dirty trickster, professional lord of mischief.” The New Yorker said in a 2008 piece that he “regularly crossed the line between respectability and ignominy.”
One has to wonder if the LP leadership regrets that Goebbels is unavailable.
Sounds like a semantic argument to me. I think we all agree that Libertarians have reasons to be interested in what LPs in other states do, and I think we also all agree that under the current bylaws the LNC has very little it can do about what state affiliates do.
“Nicholas Sarwark March 19, 2014 at 7:49 am
I draw a distinction between what is one’s business and what one might be interested in.”
What if the LP of Ohio or some other state LP affiliate nominated a Nazi or a communist to run for Governor? Suppose this candidate was getting media coverage and misrepresenting the views of the Libertarian Party. Should LP members in other states say, “Oh well, it is not happening in my state, so it is none of my business.”
Suppose an LP state affiliate does something really stupid that causes said state affiliate to lose ballot access. I’m talking something which could have easily been avoided. Who do you think they are going to go to in order to regain ballot access for the 2016 election? The LNC, and the LNC is funded via donations from Libertarians around the country. Even if they don’t go to the LNC, most state LP affiliates can not get themselves on the ballot without getting help from Libertarians in other states. Most LP members want the Libertarian Party candidate for President to be on the ballot in all 50 states plus DC, or at least as close to that as possible. Should Libertarians in other states not bother to comment or offer advice to help prevent a state LP affiliate from losing ballot access?
Meanwhile, Jesse Ventura is commenting on the situation in Ohio with the GOP. Its out there. Decision by courts will be this week. We will soon know if the LP will go forward in Ohio or have to start over again at some point. This battle has been going on with various Court challenges since 2004– 10 year war for voter freedom in Ohio
FWIW…Mr. Linnabary’s observation was right on. Our campaign has had no communication with Mr. Stone. His announcement was released during our LPO convention while we are in the midst of a brutal ballot-access fight. It seemed to achieve its intended purpose: Put the GOP on notice that the 50% unaffiliated voters in Ohio, and by extension, Libertarian challengers have allies who may or may not be “pristine and/or acceptable” to some. We appreciate his bombastic bravado and willingness to generate media attention to our plight. Whether or not anything develops with Stone, Ventura, Swann et. al., our #BoldOhio campaign moves on. One final note: Why are so many captivated by headlines when the issue is to provide voices and choices for people?
I draw a distinction between what is one’s business and what one might be interested in. I’m interested in what other affiliates do, both generally as a Libertarian and more specifically as someone looking for ideas and methods to adopt (or avoid) in my affiliate. But I would never presume to suggest that what they do is my business.
Nick,
It’s a pretty big stretch from bylaws prohibiting the LNC from abridging an affiliate’s autonomy to the claim that what an LNC affiliate does is never anybody else’s business.
Vernon asked:
>Were any of them national socialists?
I know that neither Ms. Davis, Mr. Hawkins nor Mr. Redlich were, but I cannot vouch for Mr. Cuomo or Mr. Paladino.
The other two candidates were a communist and a clown.
It is has been my experience that if the ends meet the conditions of the people, then the means to those ends mean very little. If the Ohio LP gets back on the ballot it won’t matter to the them how or who got them back on.
For myself, hiring Stone is like window dressing. He actually did very little for Johnson in 2012. It has been a long time since Stone had a “victory”.
Shane, if you are not aware of Warren’s history with Stone you should try searching the IPR archives for both Stone and Redlich.
Warren, have you met or worked with Stone or are you just basing your opinion of media reports?
Roger is incredibly effective and the negative media he attracts is simply part of his persona. He understands politics and, unfortunately, politics is ugly.
As you know, the winners write the ethics rules in politics. If you are to ever succeed, you need to accept that you have to ignore “their” ethics and play by your own rules.
Kudos to Kevin for working with a professional.
“Stone’s candidate (Kristin Davis) came in seventh place in a field of seven.”
Seven candidates? Were any of them national socialists?
So, the man who brought the LPNY Kristin Davis, who hyped his own possible candidacy for Governor in FL only to drop-out, and who’s biggest claim to fame is being a Nixon dirty-trickster is going to sprinkle his magic in Ohio. Good luck with that. What’s next, are they going to throw Tom Stevens into the mix? Sad, sad, sad.
“Nicholas Sarwark March 17, 2014 at 6:33 pm
‘The LP of Ohio is an affiliate of the national Libertarian Party, so I would say that it is the business of Libertarians around the country as to what the Libertarian Party of Ohio does, as well as what every other LP affiliate does.’
You’d say that, but you’d be wrong. See the national bylaws, Article 6, Section 5.”
I’m not necessarily talking about the bylaws here, I’m talking about the interests of the members of the party throughout the country wanting each state LP affiliate to be successful, because the more successful each affiliate is, the more successful the party is as a whole, and as it relates to ballot access, what happens in this year in regard to LP ballot access in Ohio could effect LP ballot access in 2016, and 2016 is a Presidential election year, and I think that I can speak for the majority of LP members when I say that we want the LP Presidential ticket to be on the ballot in Ohio in 2016, and if getting a certain percent of the vote in the Governor’s race in 2014 will automatically ensure that the LP Presidential ticket is on the 2016 ballot, this is all the more reason for Libertarians around the country to be interested in what is happening with LP ballot access in Ohio right now.
Roger Stone’s endorsement did what it was supposed to do. It DID get a half dozen newspaper mentions AND a mild editorial rebuke from the Plain-Dealer.
It’s what politicians and political parties do, get endorsements. Even from d-list celebrities. We will have others. Because any political party that is silent becomes irrelevant and even celebrity endorsements can fill the gap between real news.
PEACE
God bless you Warren this was a great commentary. You are the most functional candidate. It would be an honor to cast a vote for you in 2016. God fuck Roger Stoner. He a piece of shit.
Warren wrote at one point:
>”In NY I beat Stone’s candidate handily even though she had him and a lot more money.”
In fact, Warren came in fourth place after the Democratic (Andrew Cuomo), Republican and Green Party candidates, each of whom had better name recognition and followings than he did.
Stone’s candidate (Kristin Davis) came in seventh place in a field of seven.
No Libertarian Party candidate for Governor in New York in the last 40 years has done nearly as well as Warren Redlich did in 2010.
Agreed.
You’d say that, but you’d be wrong. See the national bylaws, Article 6, Section 5.
“Warren Redlich March 17, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Hate for Kevin? Nice try troll. The object of my disgust is Stone.
Kevin is just one more in a very long list of suckers who have fallen for the snake offering an apple from the tree.”
Warren may well be right about Stone. Regardless of the merits or demerits of Roger Stone, these Libertarian Party candidates ought to be on the ballot in Ohio.
“Nicholas Sarwark March 17, 2014 at 2:44 pm
It’s the LP of Ohio’s business how they run their campaigns.”
The LP of Ohio is an affiliate of the national Libertarian Party, so I would say that it is the business of Libertarians around the country as to what the Libertarian Party of Ohio does, as well as what every other LP affiliate does.
I’m not commenting on whether or not they should accept help from or work with Roger Stone or anyone else, I’m just pointing out that what happens in various LP affiliates is of interest to Libertarians who are in other parts of the country.
Personally, I think that Libertarians in Ohio should do just about anything to stay on the ballot. If Roger Stone can help them stay on the ballot, then it is probably a good thing. I really have no idea what he brings to the table that can help them stay on the ballot, or if he is capable of doing something to keep them on the ballot that somebody else could not do.
The primary focus here is for these Libertarian Party candidates to be on the ballot. It is my understanding that they are being kept off the ballot because the petition circulator did not fill in the lines or boxes on the petition that asked who his employer is. This strikes me as an absurd reason to keep these candidates off the ballot. If there were enough people in Ohio who are registered to vote who signed the petition for these candidates to have fulfilled the petition requirement to obtain access to the ballot in Ohio, then these candidates should appear on the ballot, and this should be the end of it. It should not matter who paid the petition circulator or whether or not they filled this information in on the petition. I have worked on petitions in 33 states and I’ve never seen this on a petition anywhere, and I don’t even remember it being on the petition I worked in Ohio in 2007 for the Libertarian Party to gain party status (I’m pretty sure that it was not on there).
“Do you like getting 5% of the vote?”
As if Stone could deliver more. GJ got 1%.
“Have any of you run a successful campaign (which means you actually WON the campaign)?”
Yes. I defeated incumbents who had many advantages, winning a race we weren’t supposed to win. We didn’t win by falling for evil consultants. We won by talking about issues the voters actually cared about.
In NY I beat Stone’s candidate handily even though she had him and a lot more money.
Hate for Kevin? Nice try troll. The object of my disgust is Stone.
Kevin is just one more in a very long list of suckers who have fallen for the snake offering an apple from the tree.
Amazing that so many go on heavy attacks.
1) Is your LP State party so weak, that the candidate and the party are one in the same in NY, or wherever you may be Mr. Relich?
2) Why so much hate for Kevin? Granted, I am not a person to 100% back anyone in my organization, to go on the attack for something that is NOT HIS DECISION, but that of the candidate seems a little harsh.
3) Makes it seem as if you have some personal gripe with Kevin. If so, is IPR the proper venue to deal with such issues?
For all other beyond Relich that are on the attack from this information, what is the point? Do you like getting 5% of the vote? Do you like being ineffective as a Party? Have any of you run a successful campaign (which means you actually WON the campaign)?
Maybe its time for some real discussions, and not just hit pieces.
I think Kevin told you where to stick the Nazi’s and Goebbels.
Marc – Stone doesn’t fight for teams. He fights for evil. In the words of Samuel L. Jackson, wake the f*** up!
In other words, if Goebbels were available Kevin would be thrilled to have his help. Just about anyone …
“One has to wonder if the LP leadership regrets that Goebbels is unavailable.”
Please do not insult the great Josef Goebbels like that.
It’s a stretch to call a one-line aspersion comparing Stone to Goebbels an “editorial.”
It’s the LP of Ohio’s business how they run their campaigns.
So what does more harm than good? Personally I’d rather have Ohio without LP Ballot access than win it back using the kind of tactics that Roger Stone is known for, proud of and uses.
Why? Not because I am okay with diminishing the political influence of the LP in Ohio, or nationally; but because in the long term those tactics will prove utterly corrosive and destructive.
Kevin, you are not on the LNC today because you and others there have, IMO, betrayed the “Party of Principle” paradigm. We have enough unprincipled political parties in America/in the world.
The LP used to stand for something other than, “(the illusion of) winning at any cost.”
And in the long-term that is not winning anything at all.
I’d urge you and others in Ohio to take a long-term view of what winning looks like and not sacrifice that victory for some short term, dishonest “win.”
Joe
Interim Chair (till May 3rd), Libertarian Party Platform Committee
IPR contributing editor
I have never found that vague aspersions cast on anyone’s character is helpful. All it ususally indicates is that the person fought for the other team. Rarely does one criticize an ally is such a way. The ad hominem argument tends to reveal more about the accuser than the accused. One of my rules of thumb: Only Nazis are Nazis.
Not really that big of a deal.
Lets stick to real issues and real discussions. Hit pieces on one of the top state affiliates doesn’t seem productive.
“Enough said.”
Amen!
And well said.
MY job is to keep the LP on the ballot–nothing more and nothing less. The GOP has been attacking for years. How many Federal cases have we won? How many hours and dollars have been spent by the LP to just get to the starting line?
If Mr. Stone wants to help, I will listen. Matter of a fact, my Breakfast calendar is wide open to just about anyone. I have met with Democrats, Green Party folks, Ron Paul voters, etc.
VOTER FREEDOM is under attack here in Ohio–simple as that.
I make no apologies for standing up for suffrage and voter rights.
Kevin J. Knedler
CHAIR of the LPO Executive Committee since 2007
LNC member from 2010 to 2012
Winner of the 2010 Sam Adams Award
Winner of the inaugural LPO Hall of Honor award in 2014
Member of the 2014 National Convention Committee
Member of the 2014 National Awards Committee
By the way, my mother was bombed by the Germans in WWII. So you know where you can place your comment.
Enough said.
“Comparing Stone to Goebbels is a great example of dishonest hyperbole”
True.
Goebbels had principles. Evil principles, but principles nonetheless.
All Stone has is a Nixon tattoo on his back.
“One has to wonder if the LP leadership regrets that Goebbels is unavailable.”
Comparing Stone to Goebbels is a great example of dishonest hyperbole,
not to mention “ignomiiny” .
I will be unavailable for a few hours. Looking forward to this comment thread.