At its recently concluded national convention the Libertarian Party removed a long standing platform plank which condemned bigotry as irrational and repugnant. The national committee, which runs the national Libertarian Party in between conventions, is as its first order of business in the new term about to take up the following resolution:
“Whereas, The Southern Poverty Law Center has strayed from its origins as a defender of civil rights and has defamed the now-current Chair of the Libertarian Party and several other prominent members in an attempt to slow the progress of freedom; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That Libertarian National Committee condemns the Southern Poverty Law Center as irrational and repugnant.”
According to wikipedia the SPLC is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is known for its legal cases against white supremacist groups, its classification of hate groups and other extremist organizations, and for promoting tolerance education programs. The SPLC was founded by Morris Dees, Joseph J. Levin Jr., and Julian Bond in 1971 as a civil rights law firm in Montgomery, Alabama.
Here is the article which the Libertarian National Committee is about to vote to condemn as defamatory.
Open borders is literally one of the key aspects for true free markets.
Von Mises was pro open borders because he understood that you don’t have free trade without true open borders.
No human owns all property.
Rather than deleting, can you please present your evidence of why and how I am wrong? I have presented my evidence for why my claims are in fact not absurd, and have not been uncivil to anyone. Are you now also deleting comments simply because you think they are wrong without actually examining the evidence much less allowing others to do so and come to their own conclusions?
x Your claims are absurd, and very soon you will be deleted again.
Why is this site defending fascists? I did not insult anyone except nazis and bigots and I documented everything I said. Please explain what you found objectionable in my comment rather than just cowardly removing it with no explanation.
WordPress is clearly a thinly veiled front for racists. I believe it is actually secretly referred to by WP insiders as 14WordPress which is a reference to the “14 words,” a racist slogan “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.”
If you look down at the very bottom of this and other (14)WP hosted sites, you will notice another cryptic slogan “Proudly powered by WordPress”. The letters WP usually stand for either White Pride or White Power and this dog whistle slogan obviously encompasses both “P”ride and “P”ower. What kind of pride or power? “W”hite, of course! Just how dumb do these racists think we are? They are practically rubbing it in our faces!
If there is still anyone left here who wants to seriously try to argue that WP Premium Support and the OK hand signal are not part of Operation O-KKK and premium support for White Pride, White Power, and the 14 words, here is another link that breaks down this white nationalist and racist hand gesture even further:
http://tinyurl.com/yuecvyr7
Does anyone have a serious counterargument, or is wishful thinking all you have?
Tony, There is an earlier accusation that the Mises Caucus doesn’t want the Libertarian Party to be taken seriously.
What do you think is inaccurate or not reflective of reality in the resolution, and what are your reasons for so thinking?
Wow . . . just wow.
This is an actual resolution from a political party that wants to be taken seriously???
Shaking my head. . . .
“Assuredly the ok hand sign is simply saying that this is okay. And WP most likely means WordPress.”
I don’t buy this for a second. You are clearly in denial about the ever present white supremist threat.
The progressives were onto something about an ever-present Nazi threat. Millions of blogs out there… “Powered by WP.”
You are not wrong, whether you know it or not.
See for example: https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/24/11297050/tay-microsoft-chatbot-racist
https://mashable.com/article/ok-hand-gesture-hate-symbol-anti-defamation-league-white-sumpremacy
If you did not know, now you know. These evil libertaryans are providing premium support for WP (white power) which the OK hand signal also stands for. The link above explains it. Ignorance is no excuse.
Phillies: “Assuredly, WP stands for WordPress.”
Nonsense. The progressives were onto something about an ever-present Nazi threat. Millions of blogs out there… “Powered by WP.”
Prof. Phillies- are you now the moderator?
We have had an issue with commenters attacking each other rather than discussing the post. Here and at other posts a series of these uncivil comments have been deleted.
Jody, in order to post, the author must have had some level of user status. If you are an Admin, or perhaps some other rank, you can then change the from line. Anonymous statements are an ancient and honorable American tradition.
x:
Assuredly the ok hand sign is simply saying that this is okay. And WP most likely means WordPress.
This motion has actually been brought up via email vote BEFORE the LNC meeting today – making it the first order of business.
I think your criticism that the title (though not the article text) implies that the resolution has passed is a fair criticism. Instead, the individuals who seek to condemn the SPLC for stating factual criticism should probably have been identified.
Posting articles by anonymous authors is allowed now, as long as Phillies agrees with what is written?
If Eric is my first name then what is my last name?
“Also, you publicly denied being a Trump supporter, even though Darcy confirmed it.”
Where did I deny it?
This is not the first time that the SPLC has smeared libertarians. They have been doing this for years. It is about time they get called out for it.
Assuredly, WP stands for WordPress.
Exactly right, Thomas. It is no business of the LNC.
“Sure Eric, we know who you are. ”
Who is we and how do you know?
“This thread is becoming uncivil. ”
It was uncivil from the start. First of all it is posted by something called WP (White Power) Premium Support with an OK/WP white power hand signal to indicate its white power leanings. Then it falsely claims that the aborted resolution was the first order of business of the new LNC when it fact resolutions about Snowden and the National Guard were already voted on and passed. Then, without quite saying this resolution passed, it makes it sound like it would be a done deal, whereas in fact it looks like it’s going down in flames (there may or may not be an alternative version coming up for a vote). It seems like the whole thing is an attempt to stir the pot and paint the new LNC as bigots themselves.
Regardless of what one thinks of the SPLC or the Mises PAC, why would it be the LNC’s job to participate in an argument between two organizations other than itself?
This thread is becoming uncivil. Stop now.
I read through the lnc email chain regarding this motion. It appears that people on the LNC are so upset by the SPLC is, despite not being able to point out any factual inaccuracies, they are worried about future job prospects.
Isn’t the libertarian position that the free market should punish bigotry? Isn’t the SPLC helping the free market do exactly that?
“Is Eric the real first name of William Saturn?”
No. Unlike Wendt, I am only concerned with truth, not fantasy. And despite what Wendt claims, nothing I have said above is my opinion. It is all documented fact.
If Wendt wants to lie about his involvement with the Boston Tea Party and the Alliance Party; an involvement that can be read about throughout IPR, then that just reflects on his credibility. His story about supporting neo-Nazi Billy Roper constantly changes. Initially, he said he was a different Joe Wendt. Then he said he was hacked. Then he said it was a prank on the BTP, then a prank on Roper. Then he finally said it was a mistake. Now he says it doesn’t matter because it was a long time ago. What is his excuse for screwing over the Reform Party, holding their Florida affiliate hostage on behalf of Rocky De La Fuente and then handing over their ballot access to the Alliance Party even after the national party gave in to Rocky’s demands?
Here is my opinion: Wendt is not a serious person and anyone who takes him seriously is making a huge mistake. With all the information available, whatever disaster comes about from involving Wendt in a project is the fault of whomever brings him in. Either he’s intentionally sabotaging projects or he’s unbelievably inept. If he is intentionally sabotaging protects then that gives credence to Andy’s speculation.
See https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2020/04/white-nationalist-billy-roper-defends-2020-presidential-candidate-joe-wendt/
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2020/05/chairman-joe-wendt-threatens-to-dissolve-reform-party-of-florida-if-de-la-fuente-is-not-nominated-for-president/
“Andy, what is your evidence that Joe works for the government in a post with handlers?”
There seems to be a lack of evidence that he works for the government.
Eric who? Is Eric the real first name of William Saturn?
I recall Joe Wendt trying to help a Nazi win the Boston Tea Party nomination for President.
If that’s the case, it sounds like it’s even more than 6:
1. Republican
2. Democrat
3. Constitution
4. Libertarian
5. Boston Tea
6. Reform
7. Alliance
I remember you also were involved with the Soros-backed Coffee Party. Were you ever on Soros’s payroll like you were on Rocky De La Fuente’s?
I have been a republican, a Democrat for a few months, a constitution party voter, and a Libertarian for the longest. So, 1) 6 parties is a lie, 2) what’s Saturn’s real name so we see his voter history.
Do I care about his Saturn’s opinion, no. I’ve seen what he cheers, his opinion means nothing.
As for comparisons, I’m more like Rick Sanchez. I don’t care what you think because I am smarter than you and I don’t hide behind an ideology or religion because it is all meaningless. They are just crutches used for weaker minds to justify whatever biases and prejudices they have and feel special. I don’t care about government or political parties or churches, they all just want to control what you do or think.
Again, I don’t care. I have seen what you cheer. Your boos and criticisms mean nothing
George, Joe Wendt has been a frequent party and ideology hopper. He seems to cause problems wherever he goes. I also recall him getting caught trolling here in the past.
The Mises Caucus has no connection to the Reform Caucus which gutted the LP’s platform in 2006. The Reform Caucus types went on to become Bob Barr and Gary Johnson supporters.
The Mises Caucus strongly rejects candidates like Bob Barr and Gary Johnson.
This resolution was not the first order of business. Resolutions about Snowden and the National Guard came first. And as Phillies points out it looks poised to lose. However, many of the no votes are saying they agree with it but don’t want to give the SPLC more attention, or don’t want to rub it in to LP members who wanted to keep that platform language, etc.
While votes are still being made and can change, at the moment the motion is being defeated.
Nope, the Mises Caucus would have never sniffed around the LP if the “reasonable, considerate, thinking” people had not eliminated the children’s plank, watered down the abortion plank and equivocated on the free migration plank. The Mises Caucus was the Portland Massacre’s final coup d’etat.
The SPLC article struck me as about right. They gave Angela an opportunity to respond, and no one has claimed that she was misquoted or anything. If the Mises Caucus wishes to respond I encourage them to do so, but the LNC hasn’t responded to negative articles about other individuals or groups in the party to my knowledge. The LP has at convention decided that bigotry is officially in the party’s opinion neither irrational nor repugnant. Inclusion of those words in this resolution is really stupid and as some LNC members have noted is simply a dig at those who voted to retain that language, but the whole resolution is poorly worded in addition to being unnecessary.
The SPLC has an extensive article about the individual for whom Wendt served as campaign manager:
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/billy-roper
Ryan,
SPLC goes after the KKK and neo-nazis. The SPLC sued the Polk County sheriff’s office because of the way they treated some juveniles. Also accurately lists other extremist groups. So, yeah, the LP is run by a recognized extremist group. Good Job!
While the Southern Poverty Law Center is at this point a pretty ridiculous organization that has strayed far from its intent, the unfortunate fact of life is too many people that don’t have the time to look at what the organization is, does, and has become, will take its word as gospel, and therefore anything it says about the Libertarian Party that is bad will affect the Libertarian Party negatively. Don’t want that to be the case, great, go out and start educating every single person in the general public.
A far better rebuttal to the Southern Poverty Law Center would be after a request for either individual to do so, a response to the SPLC letter written by the likes of Ricky Dale Harrington or John Monds on why the LP is not irrational and repugnant while furthering libertarian causes in their column, defeating the SPLC on the issue intellectually. The resolution as written is a retort that could have been written by a 12-year-old.
I remember when the biggest conflict in the LP was about how the anarchist wing could rid itself of minarchists, moderates, classical liberals, etc. Away with the “statists” was the same thing as calling someone an apostate in church.
Well… Gee… When you abuse, scare away, defame, or otherwise run off a whole variety of reasonable, considerate, thinking people, you wind up with the opposite. Congratulations LP you now are ran by the least reasonable most irrational kind of folks. Nazis without the snappy uniforms aka white nationalists. Surprising, didn’t you know there are more nationalists than anarchists? Same thing as Spain in the 30’s, offend the moderates until they won’t help you fend off the fascists.
So good job LP. You finally got a little club with no moderates and only those with “pure” ideology.
I’m not exactly happy about these developments at all. I abhor Nazis and hate the ever decreasing choices on the ballot. Nonetheless, the political world is a marketplace of ideas. As a believer in the market I embrace the failure of the LP and look forward to a newer and better option replacing it.
Considering Nekhaila is on record saying immigrants shouldn’t be allowed to vote, yeah the SPLC is correct in their assessment. Also, the LP motion is stupid and screams retarded.
Bob is wrong yet again. The LNC is not bigoted, the SPLC is. They consistently call anyone who doesn’t agree with them a racist. They advocate communism which is evil as it is.
The LNC is doing the right thing here.
Is that…. Is that seriously the motion?
Wow, that’s impressively stupid, even for this crew. Maybe they’re trying to get the SPLC to write another article to attract more like-minded bigots to their club.
It depends, Thane. Who posted this article, WP Premium Support probably not being their name? If we knew that, it might be easier to answer your question.
I wonder if anybody in IPR land will concern themselves with this SPLC article a year from now.