By Wayne Root
Wayne Root and Mark Rutherford bring a results-oriented team to the Libertarian Party.
Wayne Root, as Chairman, brings expertise in sales, marketing, fundraising, branding and promotion. Root will focus on reaching out to the public and media.
Mark Rutherford, as Vice Chairman, has spent seven years as a state chairman, six years on the LNC and serves on the board of the Advocates for Self-Government. Rutherford will focus on running a national office that meets the needs of state and local affiliates.
We have come together to move the entire party forward. We unite Right with Left … pair Marketing with Administration … combine Real Life with Philosophy … and temper Action with Discipline.
Our team has six measurable, attainable goals for the term:
- Increase money and membership year over year.
- Recruit 500+ candidates and arm them with effective literature and websites capable of accepting donations.
- Conduct three or more candidate training workshops. We need to teach our candidates and their campaign managers how to develop a campaign plan, target voters, raise money and interact with the media.
- Expand the number of Libertarian campus groups at colleges and universities so we can introduce our party to the next generation.
- Develop an improved, revamped professional website with social networking capabilities and make the technology available to state and local parties.
- Arrange 200+ radio and television appearances with the National Chair, State Chairs and LP Candidates. We need to bring the Libertarian Party brand out to the public with earned media, whether Fox News or National Public Radio.
Wayne Root will use decades of media experience to train Libertarians to become media magnets, sharing secrets that have enabled him to attract the amazing amount of media attention we have seen him garner during the past two years.
Mark Rutherford will arrange for professionals to train Libertarians on how to raise money, so our candidates and state parties are sufficiently funded and our message reaches the public.
Wayne Root will travel the country to speak at state party and candidate organized events, to maximize funds raised for local parties and candidates.
Mark Rutherford will task the headquarters with scheduling media appearances for a broad spectrum of media-trained Libertarians.
Wayne Root will also represent the LP in the media, and give speeches across the country to bring people to our website.
Mark Rutherford will assure we process these new recruits and successfully train them on the philosophy of self-governance.
Others may preach downsizing and reducing our presence in D.C., but we believe the key to a successful future is growing our size. With your support, we will build the Libertarian Party into a political force that restores freedom to America.
This is the time. This is the opportunity. This is the team.
If these are the results you want, we need your help. Vote Root/Rutherford during Memorial Day Weekend at the national convention in St Louis.
Bad taste in humor, IMO.
BTW, most people don’t notice this since they don’t see the dashboard and you change your posting handle constantly, but it’s kind of funny how good your grammar and diction are on occassion, as opposed to most of your semi-literate output. I’m getting the feeling the latter is intentional.
The key word here being rhetoric, as opposed to record, and even much of Reagan’s rhetoric was explicitly anti-liberty, save on economic issues.
Are you sure? In the past, George has criticized Wes strongly – for supporting Ron Paul, for example. I’d be curious to hear more directly from Dr. Phillies.
The sentence should read – “We be havin’ a lot of people who is going with Root.”
before you criticize others [sic]. “We” is a plural pronoun, therefore correct usage specifies the corresponding plural form of the verb, i.e. “have”. “We has” is only correct in the Ebonics sub-dialect……
And that be the truth…..
Root looks like a used car salesmen.
We have a lot of people who is going with Root.
That should be:
“We has a lot of people who is going with Root.”
The American public does not currently poll Libertarian enough to elect a purist. Nor does the public typically feel comfortable with pure anything. To denegrate Root because he is like Reagan begs the question: how much change did the last LP candidate for POTUS bring about when he was elected? Answer: NONE at all, because there has never been one elected. You can shift the electorate to a LP point of view to a certain extent each election, just as the Democrats have been successful in incementally shifting America into the fascist/socialist category one step at a time.
Those of you who expect a 180 degree swing from where this country is today are completely and utterly unrealistic. People with kids, mortgages and commitments do not play roulette with their lives. They try a little bit of something, see if it works, and if so they try more. Obama’s radicalism is the very reason they reject his policies the most of any President since Carter. It scares people.
You need to counter this fear with reassurance, not a huge counterswing all in one fell swoop. If Root brought the country back to Reagan I in a first term, that would be a most impressive accomplishment for a Libertarian. A second term might restore the freedoms we had in say, the Eisenhower admin. This would entail ridding the Federal Gov of the Dept of Education, curtailing the EPA’s adventures in controlling our lives, eliminating the DHS, restoring state sovereignty, scaling back overseas military commitments to those most critical and directly related to our own national security, eliminating massive deficit spending, restoring second amendment rights, eliminating Federal control over religious speech and Federal clandestine programs to use religious leaders as propaganda mouthpieces, the elimination of search and siezure for profit, and many others actions. Merely accomplishing the above would be a monumental task. And this gradual an approach is too slow for some?
Dennis @4 very good observation & question. At issue is GP & LP vote coordination & Ballot access & loss of ballot access. Evidently all states are different in this area. GP & LP would need to study the effects & make use of ballot access experts, most notably Richard. In some states it wouldn’t matter. Some states have one & not the other presently with ballot access. Some rely on percentage of executive ticket/governor vote. Some general percentage. etc. mI’m certain in each & every state some accomodation could be made.
Andy, if you’re not familiar with Reagan’s limited-government rhetoric, see http://libertarianintelligence.com/2010/02/reagan-libertarianism.html.
Just for the record, George Phillies has always answered my emails — and so have Wayne Allyn Root and Ernie Hancock.
I don’t recall that I’ve ever had occasion to email Mark Hinkle or John Jay Myers.
“[p.41] Today’s Republican leaders have moved away from the limited-government ideals of my heroes Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan.”
What limited government ideals of Ronald Reagan? This is a joke.
“Support Root means support for GOP, CPAC, Ron Paul dinosaur fossil, Bann Bobb Barr, Beck, Limbaugh et al etc. Libertarian wherewithall diverted to the right. Republican candidates, GOP, etc. Eventually The Libertarian Vote>GOP. Rather vote Phillies slate. Then go left. ”
I agree with Milnes. WAR is about selling the same rightwing snake oil we’ve been getting from the likes of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan packaged in a different bottle labeled “Libertarian”.
I’m no libertarian but I like George Phillies. He’s sincere, dedicated and at least tries to differentiate the LP from BOTH of its major party competitors.
Milnes has the correct strategy of finding common ground with the Green Party, instead of parroting rightwing Republicans.
Dr. Phillies responds to my emails, and did so even before we were personally acquainted. W.A.R. used to respond, but no longer does.
Some people proclaim they “know” things, when they too often do not. Sad.
Geno @10: Root is trying to market GOP 2.0, not libertarianism.
From the recent IPR interview with Root:
IPR: You once wrote a book called ?Millionaire Republican?. Why should libertarian-leaning Republicans follow your example of giving up on the GOP?
ROOT: I believe I describe it best in my book Conscience of a Libertarian.
[p.41] Today?s Republican leaders have moved away from the limited-government ideals of my heroes Thomas Jefferson, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan. When it comes to issues like abortion, gay rights, stem cell funding, right to die, online poker, medical marijuana, and censorship of television, the GOP is actually in favor of Big Brother moving into our bedrooms, taking over our televisions and computers, and taking control of our lives.
And when it comes to economic issues, the GOP often talks a good libertarian game, but rarely if ever delivers. Once in power they spend and increase the size of government just like Democrats- only perhaps a little slower. But either way, we are going off a cliff. How soon we get there is not relevant. We need to stop the car and turnaround.
[p.58] Only one party allows voters to be both conservative on economic issues and tolerant on personal issues. Only one party allows voters to rebel against Big Brother in all areas of our lives. Only one party stands for both economic and personal freedom. Only one party stands for personal responsibility and individuality. Only one party believes, as the Constitution clearly demands, that power belongs to the people, not to the politicians and career bureaucrats. That party is the Libertarian Party.
I respond to my emails.
Those of you who have actually contacted me can confirm this.
I am quite certain I have never had an email from Time for someone who knows’ however spaced. Some email addresses you never forget.
Phillies does best at nothing. He doesn’t even respond to emails. From what I have seen and experience. The experience of talking to someone in the libertarian party whether on a National Level or Local. There are a lot of people who should not be in office. They are lazy, don’t care and cannot be bother with you, and have a horrible attitude. They waste money and bitch about the small stuff. This is one of the reasons why the party have a hard time selling themselves among other things. I have been to meetings with people who don’t even have a clue.
W.A.R. does not need to be LNC Chair to continue with his marketing efforts. And, what good is his marketing prowess doing if he isn’t selling that right product? He’s trying to market GOP 2.0, not libertarianism. He says as much in his own speeches, emphasizing a move towards the “right”. He completely fails to understand that we are not “right” or “left” – we are neither version of the two statist factions.
Dr. George Phillies has a long history with the party. He knows the people, the politics, and, as someone who has served as a state chair, the needs of state and local affiliates. He understands the need for balance between local activisim and the national spotlight. He has good administrative skills, he’ll keep a good eye on party finances, and he’ll support the executive director, Wes Benedict. W.A.R. has no real understanding of the internal workings of the party.
Dr. Phillies will concentrate his efforts on improvements in party administration, services, and finances. W.A.R. will concentrate his efforts on making his own name better known, and has already demonstrated that he is distancing himself from the very name, “Libertarian.”
Let W.A.R. run for president or whatever (will he bail on the LP if Ron Paul should become the Republican Party’s nominee in 2012?) He should keep his eye on one ball at a time. Let Dr. Phillies do what he does best.
William Mize // Apr 13, 2010:
I’ll take a pass on this ticket.
Root is for the good of Root.
Phillies is for the good of the LP.
[No, my personal, long distance
observation(s) are that Doctor
George is heavy on the self center-
edness and selfishness and low on
the altruism aspect since 2008!]
In WAR’s own words, he’d focus on his own face time, and leave the admin stuff to Rutherford. But that’s not Rutherford’s job, either.
Notably absent in that equation is the Executive Director, whom A) Root has threatened to fire, B) actually oversees the admin side of LNC, Inc., C) has been turning the ship around in spite of the Rooty Tooty Totally Fruity cabal, and D) knows what he’s doing, as the results have clearly shown.
I see here a lot of advertising, advertising, advertising. Fine. We do need that. I just hope Root’s plaid corduroy blazer comes back from the cleaners soon.
What I don’t see here is a lot of infrastructure development, federal lobbying, ballot access support, cost management, or state affiliate support. Absolutely horrible.
I also have yet to see how Root can gavel a meeting effectively on his own, keep the LNC on tasks, or gain any respect from the party leadership in the absence of those skills.
Also of note: what has Root done (and not done)for his home state NVLP, and the same for Rutherford at LPIN, with their most decidedly conservative turn in teh past few years in their leadership? Past history within the party leadership is very important, and seems to be missing here. Resumes, please!
We do not need a Chair who will not administrate and simply pass the job to someone else. Root can do that now without the title. So why bother voting for him? Even Redpath, for all his problems, at least tries to administrate, however badly he does it.
Mr. Milnes’ presidential campaign web site admits his conviction for stalking a female news anchor, his theory that the FBI framed him for his political views, his history of mental illness, his SSI disability, and his efforts to avoid homelessness. Mr. Milnes’s presidential campaign has never gotten a vote or an endorsement from a single LP delegate, and Milnes himself has apparently never even been an LP delegate or officer or candidate. Milnes admits he is not even an LP dues-payer, but Milnes presumes to spam IPR with an LP “strategy” built around nominating him for president, and insults LP leaders who decline his advice.
Root is in it for himself. Do a background check of what Root has done business wise the last 20 years. He is all about power and money. Does he get on TV and radio a lot. Yes he does but he’s got an ulterial motive. Whenever Root leaves something they are much worse off. He’s a snake oil salesman who can’t be trusted. Let’s look at any other candidate with a pulse.
We have a lot of people who is going with Root. The people understand Root is for the good of hte party. It is obvious you truly do not understand nor really know Wayne Root. Again he doesn’t need the LP to only think about himself. He spends his time taking a party that actually has done much of NOTHING IN THE LAST 30 years and want to see good come out of it. Like most of us who see the big picture of what is coming down the tubes we do not have the time anymore for taking a chance on people like Phillies that will accomplish nothing.
Phillies does not have what it takes to do what is necessary.
Root has the media, the radio, the people. Phillies has nothing.
Robert, I just have to ask. With this Green/Libertarian alliance, one of these parties, if not both, are going to lose ballot access. How do you think the party would choose which one sacrifices for the good of the team?
I’ll take a pass on this ticket.
Root is for the good of Root.
Phillies is for the good of the Libertarian Party.
If nothing else you are consistent.
Brain on hold, no thanks for this. We all know the deal. Support Root means support for GOP, CPAC, Ron Paul dinosaur fossil, Bann Bobb Barr, Beck, Limbaugh et al etc. Libertarian wherewithall diverted to the right. Republican candidates, GOP, etc. Eventually The Libertarian Vote>GOP. Rather vote Phillies slate. Then go left. lly with GP. LP + GP vote=@40% creating a de facto third prty i.e. a three way race on each ballot. Libs wind up with about 50% ballot victory, Greens about 50%. Both get about 50% of what they want, policies, changes, etc. The socialist vote @6%-socialists form caucus in GP. Progressivism is NOT socialist. Teddy Roosevelt was NOT a socialist. Libs have their heros, Greens theirs & Progressives theirs all under big tent progressive movement. Americans will vote progressive IF they think the progressive can win. They balk at Green -socilism-& libertarian-republican lite chaos. A progressive movement IS the best third party alternative & CAN WIN.