I suppose the blame for Big Gov't Party R's loss of the Senate non-majority is to be laid squarely at the feet of the Libertarians.
Regards,
Barb
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Dear Libertarian friend:
We've got the Republicans running scared. In fact, they're actually
raising money to fight us!
With your help, we can make them regret that action.
On Monday, ConservativeHQ.com issued one of its "Sixty-Second Activist"
messages. It went to 18,000 Republican readers.
The title says it all: "Stop Republicans from losing."
In the message, panicking conservatives wrote:
"Your help is needed quickly. National Review recently ran a story on
what they say may be 'the most underreported political phenomenon of
the last two election cycles'... Republicans are losing to
Libertarians....
"Actually, they're losing *BECAUSE* of Libertarian Party candidates,
all over the country. Thanks to LP candidates 'siphoning off' votes,
[Republicans] now have a 50/50 split in the Senate..."
The message went on to ask for money for the Republican Liberty Caucus
(RLC), a small group that says it's trying to move the GOP in a
libertarian direction. (Good luck!)
If you give the RLC money, these conservatives pleaded, "you can help
make a difference in whether Republicans keep losing, thanks to the
Libertarian Party, or start winning..."
I'll tell you something fascinating about the RLC in a moment.
But first, I want to point out the importance of this "Sixty-Second
Activist" message: It's the first time in our history that Republicans
have raised money JUST to beat us.
In other words, we've gotten so successful that we pose a real threat
to their budget-busting, tax-raising, War on Drugs-loving candidates.
Yes, libertarian-leaning voters are deserting Republicans -- because
they keep voting for Big Government.
Instead of cleaning up their act -- and supporting the small-government
principles they claim to believe in -- Republicans are raising money to
attack us.
But it isn't just the National Review article that got them spooked.
They've been hit with a barrage of bad news recently:
* On May 7, radio talk show host Neal Boortz told his listeners: "Are
you going to continue lending support to the Republican Party? Or are
you ready to take a stand for limited taxation, constitutionally
limited government, personal responsibility, and freedom? One way to
show the Republican Party you are fed up [is] to join the Libertarian
Party."
* On May 9, Investor's Business Daily reported: "Republicans would
probably now enjoy a 52-48 majority in the Senate if Libertarians
hadn't run... Republicans have only their spendaholic ways to blame for
this predicament."
* On May 21, the Washington Times had an article headlined: "GOP will
court its libertarian wing." It quoted a Republican Liberty Caucus
spokesman saying: "Since 1995, the Republican Congress has been
expanding government"... which is "precisely why" libertarian-leaning
voters are abandoning the GOP.
No wonder Republicans are looking for a weapon to use against us.
But is the Republican Liberty Caucus that weapon?
Probably not. Here's the RLC's dirty little secret:
According to its post-election FEC report, RLC only raised $9,049
during 2000. (Yes, that was its entire yearly budget!)
It's only organized in a few dozen states, even though it's been around
since 1993.
And it's had ZERO luck making Republicans more libertarian.
But now, the lilliputian RLC may get a financial shot in the arm,
thanks to ConservativeHQ.com and its "Sixty-Second Activist" message.
I propose we answer back.
I propose we make ConservativeHQ.com regret their action.
I propose we raise more money -- from this one message! -- that the RLC
raised during the entire year in 2000. And more money than it will
raise from the ConservativeHQ.com message.
If you make a special one-time contribution of just $25 -- and everyone
else who gets this messages does, too -- we could raise $750,000.
Then, we'll send a polite message to ConservativeHQ.com, and tell them
what we did.
We'll tell them: If you send out ANOTHER e-mail raising money to beat
Libertarians, we'll send out another e-mail, too.
And we'll tell them: Every penny you raise to try to defeat Libertarian
candidates is incentive for us to raise MORE money to SUPPORT those
candidates.
In its message, ConservativeHQ.com wrote: "Tony Soprano said in HBO's
The Sopranos: "Nothing's as useless as an unloaded gun." Ditto a
political organization without money."
Well, for my money, nothing's as useless as a Republican candidate who
talks about liberty -- but votes for bloated government, bigger
budgets, and more powerful federal agencies.
But they're correct about political organizations and money.
Your contribution won't JUST send a defiant message to the RLC. We'll
also put it to work right way on the Ohio ballot drive.
We need to raise $40,000 to get 19 Congressional candidates on the Ohio
ballot in 2002 -- so we can KEEP posing a threat to Republican
candidates.
If we want to run a Congressional majority in 2002, we must have ballot
status in Ohio.
And we'll put your contribution to work to finish the Michigan ballot
drive.
That will cost $15,000. There are 16 Congressional candidates at stake.
Those 16 candidates will be the difference between us running MORE
Congressional candidates in 2002 - or falling short.
Wouldn't it be great if we got those 35 additional Congressional
candidates on the ballot -- thanks to your response to the
ConservativeHQ.com's message?
Can you picture the Republican's irritation when they get our polite
note, telling them what we did? And how much money we raised?
And can you imagine their frustration when they realize we used
political "judo" to turn their own e-mail against them?
It's rare in politics when you get to send a perfect message.
This is that time.
Your contribution is that message.
And $25 would be perfect.
To send your message to the Republican Liberty Caucus and
ConservativeHQ.com, please visit:
lp.org
Or, you can mail in the response form below with your contribution.
Thank you!
Steve Dasbach
Libertarian Party National Director |
