Libertarian National Committee Vice Chair Joshua Smith officially announced his resignation on social media Monday afternoon, confirming rumors that had spread in the week before that he would be leaving the Committee.
Earlier this month, Smith alluded to resigning as Vice Chair in a thread commenting on the recent Libertarian Party of New Hampshire state convention, where former LNC Chair Nicholas Sarwark was denied access as a convention delegate. As a result, rumors quickly spread on social media that Smith was stepping down from his position. At the time, Smith denied that he was resigning from the Libertarian National Committee and that he was openly sharing his thoughts with his social media followers.
“It was mostly just public musings and reflections on the party, movement, and my past involvement,” Smith said to Independent Political Report over email at the time. “It’s definitely something I am mulling over though. If I come to some kind of decision, I will surely make it known in more surety.”
Outlining his reasons for resigning from the Libertarian National Committee’s internal business list, Smith praised the hard work of supporters and activists who made the leadership transition at Reno possible but denounced much of the same backroom politics that continued within the party.
“Unfortunately, I cannot see much changing,” Smith wrote. “I quickly noticed that many of these same backroom tactics would be employed, albeit much more quietly done than before. The same lust for power roles that had always made me skeptical of politics in general still exist here. The fighting is not over. The messaging for the party was handcuffed. Our staff, who have all mostly bled for this party in one way or another are out the door, and now we have the Rage Against the War Machine fiasco tied to us entirely.”
Regarding the Rage Against the War Machine rally, Smith blasted the event, said that he had received death threats, and felt the Libertarian Party was missing the mark.
“I’m as antiwar as any single person you know, but devout Soviet respecter Tankie Marxists [threatening] to kill me if I show up to an event we are sponsoring? There is a line that must not be crossed,” wrote Smith. “This event has crossed it. Never mind the credible charges and convictions of child predation for one of the speakers, which is absolutely terrible too (what the hell are we thinking?) This is not something that I, a proud antiwar activist for the better part of 18 years, can be part of or attached to.”
“Effective immediately, I resign my position as Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party, and all other Libertarian Party affiliations,” Smith concluded.
Independent Political Report will update this story with more information as it becomes available. Joshua Smith’s full statement to the LNC follows in a comment by George Phillies.
“I feel like I’ve wasted more than a decade of my life for something that will never give back to my family, my communist, and myself.”
What did I just read?
Ass covering going on:
Libertarian Party email at 2:04pm Eastern:
“There has been a lot of discussion about the speakers participating in the Rage Against the War Machine rally taking place on February 19 in DC.
Let us be clear.
We oppose all wars.
We oppose all states who initiate them.
We are not pro-Putin. We are not pro-Russia.
We oppose Russia’s invasion and any initiation of force.
The threat of nuclear devastation is higher than it’s been for decades, and the war in Ukraine has led to horrifying death, harm, and destruction for thousands of innocents. War is simply mass murder writ large, and the party’s opposition to these crimes has never been in question.
Read the full statement on our website:
https://www.lp.org/statement-from-the-libertarian-party-on-anti-war-rally/ ”
Libertarian Party Mises Caucus Facebook page circa 3pm Eastern:
-talks of virtues of the rally, mentions conviction history of Scott Ritter, calls for him to withdraw, says these calls have been ignored and Ritter is holding the event hostage of many other speakers will withdraw if he is forced to (who one wonders), should’ve caught Ritter’s issues before now, and the most important thing is the rally
Someone is falling on a knife when this is done.
Joshua Smith is married and has 6 or 7 children living with him and his wife (some his, some adopted), plus he works a full time job. I am not surprised that he is burned out. I am surprised that he even had time for politics at all.
I hope he enjoys a permanent retirement from politics. It’s at least 5 years overdue.
This might have been predictable. The Libertarian party ballot access which is worth millions of dollars and could be co-opted by spending a hundred grand or so would make it an obvious target.
The alternative is to break the power structure of political parties by going the way of Alaska with open primaries and ranked choice voting.
If political parties want to have primaries they should fund them themselves.
I am bewildered and discouraged by what is happening in our Libertarian Party. Was there a vote on participating in the “Rage Against the War Machine” rally? Did Joshua Smith vote against it? I agree with him that opposing US involvement in overseas wars is much different than choosing sides in wars and then opposing a specific involvement in a war based on that choice. This whole spectacle is sad to see.
Joshua Smith’s full statement to the LNC:
“Dear Fellow Colleagues,
“I started this term out with much excitement. I spent 5 years fighting an old guard/regime who would gladly let slip the principles this party and ideology were founded on for political expedience. It was brutal. I sacrificed my time, my money, relationships, 2 jobs, a house, and more. I spent years on the road. I woke up in state after state trying to punt the overton window in this party as far away from what they were doing before as I could. For the first few years, it felt like I was an island with just a few others. We were mocked. Our families were attacked. Our pasts and personal lives scrutinized for every tiny detail. Disgusting tactics from those intent on keeping their mostly worthless positions of power. I have had jobs called. Family members harassed. Last year these losers literally called the DHS to try and stop us from adopting the sibling of our currently adopted children. It truly aged me physically and mentally by at least 10 years. We persevered though. Through all the slander and baseless attacks, we kept our heads high because we had a mission, and that mission was worth the pain we had to endure. That mission was to see an LP which represents bold, true libertarians. An LP with bold and brave messaging, unhindered by those who get squeamish over words and memes. An LP that would never, not for a second, sacrifice our principles in the name of “political expediency.” An LP that wasn’t constantly trying to play backroom games of thrones for titles that hold almost no bearing whatsoever to society at large. We were intent on building a platform that was welcoming to those who held their noses to the LP despite living those principles outside of politics.
“Finally, a new board! New alliances! A stellar communications director who knows how to message, etc etc etc. Further proof that the work we did was worth every second and penny. To say I was ecstatic would be an understatement. For someone who was already extremely skeptical of using the political vehicle at all, I was enamored with the thought that this would be the year where the LP shined, and finally started making some headway.
“Unfortunately, I cannot see much changing. I quickly noticed that many of these same backroom tactics would be employed, albeit much more quietly done than before. The same lust for power roles that had always made me skeptical of politics in general still exist here. The fighting is not over. The messaging for the party was handcuffed. Our staff, who have all mostly bled for this party in one way or another are out the door, and now we have the Rage Against the War Machine fiasco tied to us entirely. Seriously? I’m as antiwar as any single person you know, but devout Soviet respecter Tankie Marxists threating to kill me if I show up to an event we are sponsoring? There is a line that must not be crossed. This event has crossed it. Never mind the credible charges and convictions of child predation for one of the speakers, which is absolutely terrible too (what the hell are we thinking?) This is not something that I, a proud antiwar activist for the better part of 18 years, can be part of or attached to. What the hell? Antiwar means antiwar. It doesn’t mean applauding a side in a war, whether that side is right or wrong. Innocent people still die. I don’t really know if I have left the LP, or if the LP is just leaving me, but either way, this is not what I signed up for.
“Most of you on this board are not to blame for the full direction here. Most of you are amazing, and principled people, but please, don’t forget why we started this. Don’t forget the principles that brought you to this point. Don’t sacrifice those things for clout and political expediency. That makes you no better than those we replaced. Refuse to play the intraparty political games. Call out bad actors and actions. I have little faith left unfortunately, that politics will ever be a useful vehicle for our ideals, and I feel like I’ve wasted more than a decade of my life for something that will never give back to my family, my communist, and myself. Effective immediately, I resign my position as Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party, and all other Libertarian Party affiliations.
“I wish you all luck. I hope you do it. I hope you guys can get back to basics and remember the principles of the mission. I love (most) of you and I know that many of your hearts are in the right place. I just have to tap out here and can no longer sacrifice my family for whatever this is.
“In Liberty,
“Joshua D. Smith”