Three Senate candidates debate issues

By GARY D. ROBERTSON, Associated Press

WILMINGTON, N.C. U.S. Senate candidate Sean Haugh relishes his current job delivering pizzas because it brings joy to hungry families anticipating his arrival.

But the former Libertarian Party leader from Durham also enjoys take out more specifically taking out North Carolina from under a two-party system he says narrows messages voters receive and breeds candidates who must rely on outside groups for campaign funds and support to be successful.

"We have two corporate special-interest candidates, and there's me," Haugh said in an interview.

Haugh and other Libertarian leaders are hopeful his candidacy in November will mark the most successful showing ever for the party in a North Carolina statewide election.

Some polls have shown him receiving a percentage of the vote in the high single digits. Even getting 2 or 3 percent, like the Libertarian candidates for U.S. Senate in 2008 and 2010, could be enough to alter the outcome of the tight race between Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis.

"I am here to provide an alternative that other people really aren't hearing," Haugh said during his only television debate appearance in Wilmington. "I get to go all across the political spectrum, to all different kinds of audiences, with the exact same message stop all war and stop spending more money that we have."

The optimism reflects recent progress for North Carolina's only other certified state party, which preaches limited government and staying out of people's personal business, as well as low approval numbers for his two competitors.

For decades, the state Libertarian Party had to collect tens of thousands of signatures routinely to keep its candidates on the ballot because nominees for governor or president didn't receive the 10 percent of the vote needed to remain an official party. When they fell short, state officials converted registered Libertarian voters to unaffiliated.

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Libertarian Haugh could shift NC Senate race

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(CBS) The Libertarian Party candidate for Governor is rejecting Republican Bruce Rauners statement that a vote for him is wasted.

Libertarian hopeful Chad Grimm wasnt invited to last weeks debate in Peoria or Tuesdays debate in Chicago on CBS 2 because he is not scoring high enough in opinion polls, a chicken and egg situation that frustrates him. He says if the people could hear his views, more people would support him.

People are fed up with the same-old, same-old and weve learned from the past that we get the same results whether it is a Republican in office or a Democrat in office, especially in Illinois, Grimm said.

He laughed when he heard Rauner say in Peoria that a vote for a Libertarian was a waste.

Mr. Rauner spent a lot of time and a lot of resources and a lot of money trying to keep us from the ballot and it didnt work and so I dont believe when he just kind of shrugs it off like that, I dont believe he is sincere, Grimm said.

Grimm feels his message of limited government can truly touch any voter.

Excerpt from:

Libertarian Candidate Dismisses Rauners Claim That A Vote For Him Is A Waste

In the race for governor, Adrian Wyllie is the mandate-killer. That alone makes him too important to ignore.

The Libertarian Party candidate belongs on stage alongside Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democrat Charlie Crist at Wednesday's statewide TV debate at Broward College in Davie.

But barring some dramatic last-minute intervention from a federal judge, Wyllie will remain on the sidelines.

Wyllie belongs on TV, at the very least, to show voters what they are doing by casting votes for him to protest the mean-spirited, vote-against-the-other-guy race between Scott and Crist.

For example, Wyllie says that if elected, he'll seek to abolish all property taxes on owner-occupied homes and cut the state budget by 30 percent, or about $23 billion. Voters deserve to know how that would eviscerate public schools and health care.

Wyllie opposes what he sees as pervasive big-government intrusion into liberties. He opposes Common Core and the REAL ID driver's license law and favors full legalization of marijuana.

Several recent polls show Wyllie hovering near 10 percent, a surprisingly strong showing for a minor-party candidate. But the debate sponsors, Leadership Florida and Florida Press Association, set the threshold for Wyllie's participation at 15 percent. Since he has not reached that number, they excluded him. He filed suit in federal court in Fort Lauderdale and hopes for a hearing by Wednesday before U.S. District Judge James Cohn.

The Florida Press Association has enlisted a team of attorneys to oppose Wyllie's inclusion, meaning that news outlets across Florida, including the Times, an FPA member, have become a party to silencing Wyllie.

The establishment's determination to keep Wyllie out will only help his candidacy by enhancing his image as a little guy not controlled by big money and power.

His exclusion also reinforces one of the worst perceptions about politics: that it's of, by and for insiders, accessible only to the rich and well-known.

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Libertarian Wyllie deserves a forum

by WHAS11.com

WHAS11.com

Posted on October 12, 2014 at 8:51 PM

Updated today at 11:13 AM

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A federal judge has denied Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate David Patterson's request to force a public broadcaster to include him in Monday night's debate between Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.

U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove ruled that Kentucky Educational Television did not exclude David Patterson from its Kentucky Tonight program solely because of his political views. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled public broadcasters can exclude candidates based on their level of support but not because of their political views.

"The First Amendment is not a rule of quantity at any cost," Van Tatenhove wrote. "Voters may actually benefit by a forum or debate that includes only those candidates that have a realistic chance of winning rather than many voices competing for very limited time. What KET cannot do is pick and choose candidates based on their viewpoints. KET has not done so here."

KET executive director Shae Hopkins said the station believes "all journalists have the right to decide for themselves who to interview and what issues to cover." But she added that KET will "forever be committed to presenting a diverse array of viewpoints, fairly and objectively."

Libertarian Party of Kentucky chairman Ken Moellman said he was not happy with the decision but said the state party does not have enough money to appeal the ruling. Patterson, in a news release, criticized KET for requiring candidates raise a minimum of $100,000 to appear in the debate.

"That means you must be rich or have rich friends to even stand a chance," Patterson said. "Kentuckians now have their hard-earned tax dollars being used to deprive them of knowing their options when they walk into the ballot box."

Read more from the original source:

Libertarian's debate request denied; McConnell, Grimes set for KET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -

With just more than three weeks to the election, the men in the race for Florida's governor are making their final push to get votes.

A University of North Florida poll finds former Gov. Charlie Crist in the lead over Gov. Rick Scott in a three-way race between them and Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie.

Crist holds a 5-point lead over Scott, 43 percent to 38 percent, with Wyllie polling at 10 percent.

Wyllie is making his rounds in northeast Florida. On Monday afternoon, he hosted a lunch at the World Golf Village. He said it was open to everyone who wanted to know who he is and what he stands for.

The lunch was an intimate, face-to-face meet and greet. Wyllie went to the table, talking with supporters and those who just wanted to learn about what he's stumping for.

"Because we don't have $100 million to spend on TV ads, so this is one of the best opportunities to get the message out to the people," Wyllie said. "And what we're finding is, I'm currently polling anywhere between 15 and 20 percent, depending on the polls."

Wyllie, a business owner and investigative journalist from Pinellas County, is widely considered the underdog to heavy hitters Crist and Scott. But support is picking up, he said, because people want a real person with real answers.

"It's really important to understand that the Republicans and Democrats don't own your vote," Wyllie said. "Your vote is your own, and don't let them scare you into voting one of the same. You know, vote your conscience, and I encourage everyone to look at my platform and take a stand with me because we can win this election."

Wyllie's top platforms are legalizing marijuana, cutting taxes and fighting corruption. He's gotten a lot of attention lately for protesting, even suing, to be included in the gubernatorial debates. He was shut out of the last one hosted by Univision, but said he's pushing to be part of the future debates, including the one that'll be in Jacksonville.

Original post:

Libertarian candidate for governor makes push in NE Fla.

by WHAS11.com

WHAS11.com

Posted on October 12, 2014 at 8:51 PM

Updated today at 11:13 AM

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A federal judge has denied Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate David Patterson's request to force a public broadcaster to include him in Monday night's debate between Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.

U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove ruled that Kentucky Educational Television did not exclude David Patterson from its Kentucky Tonight program solely because of his political views. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled public broadcasters can exclude candidates based on their level of support but not because of their political views.

"The First Amendment is not a rule of quantity at any cost," Van Tatenhove wrote. "Voters may actually benefit by a forum or debate that includes only those candidates that have a realistic chance of winning rather than many voices competing for very limited time. What KET cannot do is pick and choose candidates based on their viewpoints. KET has not done so here."

KET executive director Shae Hopkins said the station believes "all journalists have the right to decide for themselves who to interview and what issues to cover." But she added that KET will "forever be committed to presenting a diverse array of viewpoints, fairly and objectively."

Libertarian Party of Kentucky chairman Ken Moellman said he was not happy with the decision but said the state party does not have enough money to appeal the ruling. Patterson, in a news release, criticized KET for requiring candidates raise a minimum of $100,000 to appear in the debate.

"That means you must be rich or have rich friends to even stand a chance," Patterson said. "Kentuckians now have their hard-earned tax dollars being used to deprive them of knowing their options when they walk into the ballot box."

See original here:

Judge denies Libertarian's debate request; McConnell, Grimes set

Ferguson Is a Libertarian Dystopia (w/ Mark Ames)
Libertarians claim to oppose police violence, but they #39;ve spent decades championing the privatization of police and prison that warped our criminal justice system. Read Mark Ames #39; piece on...

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HIRE ME then FIRE ME!

The above theme sums up my campaign for state treasurer on the Libertarian Party ticket very concisely. My No. 1 job, if I get this job, is to eliminate this job! The Legislature has complete authority over the duties of the treasurer. The Wisconsin Constitution is very explicit on that point. The Legislature has chosen to strip virtually every duty and power from the state treasurer. Therefore, the next logical step is to eliminate the job.

Hire me then fire me is quite simple. You hire me for the job. I'll convince the Legislature to eliminate the job. You, the voters, then amend the Wisconsin Constitution to end the position and you, in essence, fire me. I WOULD BE HONORED TO BE FIRED BY YOU!

For decades, the Republicans and Democrats have been spouting rhetoric about ending this position. They have failed miserably in ending it. I believe there are several reasons I could accomplish the job:

I would give good political cover to both parties if I were elected. They could point to me and say the voters put him there, so they must want to vote on eliminating the position. They don't want to fire one of their own party, but they would love to see a Libertarian fired.

I'm not a member of the red or blue team. Therefore, I could not be pressured from above to keep this cozy political job for some party loyalist with the desire to go out and win it.

I'm retired and have no ambition for higher office. I simply see an office that should be eliminated. I will do the very limited duties of the state treasurer while there, but will work hard to end the position.

Since I have no ulterior motives in trying to end this office, both parties could work with me comfortably to achieve that objective.

Lest you think that a vote for a Libertarian is a wasted vote, consider once again this office. It has very little power. It has no authority to enact laws, veto laws, or even propose laws. It has virtually no influence over state policy. I can assure you, however, that if you put a Libertarian in this office, you will send a sharp, pointed and very powerful message to the Legislature in Madison: Cut government! Even if it only involves this small department, they will get the message.

I'm Jerry Shidell and I'm asking for your support for state treasurer this Nov. 4. Hire me then fire me. I would be honored to be fired by you. Thank you for your time and consideration.

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Jerry Shidell, Libertarian candidate for state treasurer

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The 5 Most Anti-Libertarian TV Shows Ever! - Video

Libertarian Adrian Wyllie wants to Legalize Marijuana in Florida,BUT ARE CORRUPT NAZI COPS DONT
Libertarian Adrian Wyllie wants to Legalize Marijuana in Florida,BUT ARE CORRUPT NAZI COPS DONT CHARLOTTE COUNTY FLORIDA SHERIFF CORRUPTION ...

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Libertarian Adrian Wyllie wants to Legalize Marijuana in Florida,BUT ARE CORRUPT NAZI COPS DONT - Video

Anarchast Ep. 161 Sieg Pedde: Founder of the Libertarian Party of Canada!
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Anarchast Ep. 161 Sieg Pedde: Founder of the Libertarian Party of Canada! - Video

TALLAHASSEE -- With Florida's gubernatorial debates getting underway, Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie on Thursday filed a lawsuit to try to get included in a televised debate next week in Broward County.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott and his Democratic challenger, former Gov. Charlie Crist, are scheduled to debate three times before the Nov. 4 election, with the first taking place Friday at the South Florida studios of Telemundo.

Wyllie is suing over the second debate, produced by the Florida Press Association and Leadership Florida and slated to be held Wednesday at Broward College. He and seven other candidates didn't make the cut because their poll numbers among likely voters weren't high enough to meet criteria set by the debate producers.

Now Wyllie is suing the Florida Press Association, Leadership Florida and Broward College, arguing that it is in the public interest for him to be included.

"The Adrian Wyllie campaign is 'serious' in every sense of the word, and is entitled to participate fully in the electoral process, on an equal footing with the Republican and Democrat candidates for governor," the complaint said.

When the press association and Leadership Florida first announced their 2014 debate plans last year, they noted in a press release that to be included, a candidate must have the support of at least 15 percent of likely voters, as determined by a poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research. That 15 percent would include the benefit of a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

Mason-Dixon conducted a poll last month that showed Scott with 43 percent, Crist with 41 percent and Wyllie with 4 percent.

But Wyllie's complaint argues that he is now reaching double digits in some other polls. Wyllie said Thursday the bar "used to be set as low as 7 percent --- and it seems to be a moving target, based upon (being) just out of the reach of any third-party candidate."

But Florida Press Association President and CEO Dean Ridings said the qualifying data were known well in advance. (Disclosure: The News Service of Florida is an associate member of the press group.)

"We have maintained the same criteria since 2010," Ridings said. "We've not changed it, and it would not be fair to the other seven candidates who've qualified to run for governor if we were to change our criteria in midstream."

More:

Libertarian Wyllie sues to get into Florida governor debate

Libertarian Party candidate for governor Adrian Wyllie has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to join the Oct. 15 Florida gubernatorial debate.

Wyllie claims in the lawsuit filed Thursday that his rights are being infringed because of a rule requiring participants to show at least 15 percent support in a reputable opinion poll.

Wyllie said the rule he understood was 12 percent, although the 15 percent figure has been in place since August 2013.

The lawsuit is pending in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.

The Oct. 15 debate between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist is to take place at Broward College.

Also see: Mother of Orange County man killed speaks to WESH 2

Scott and Crist have their first debate Friday at a Miramar television station, also without Wyllie. A third debate is set Oct. 21 in Jacksonville.

LIST: Florida among America's most corrupt states

LIST: Florida among America's most corrupt states

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Libertarian Adrian Wyllie sues to join Oct. 15 debate

WILMINGTON Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and Republican rival Thom Tillis used every opportunity in their last scheduled televised debate Thursday night to blast each others legislative records and reinforce themes from television ads heading into the final weeks of their tight race.

It was their third debate and second this week, but Libertarian nominee Sean Haugh joined them for the first time during the hourlong program at a Wilmington television studio aired elsewhere in the state.

While Haugh promoted his limited government, anti-war platform, the debates main attractions remained Tillis and Hagan in a race considered to be one of a handful that will determine which party holds the Senate majority in 2015.

Heres the rundown on the debates major themes:

CATCH PHRASES

In her opening statement, Hagan said, North Carolina needs a common sense voice, somebody who will always put the best interest of our state before anything else before proceeding to tell viewers that Tillis puts the interests of the Republican Party and its allies ahead of the people. Its reiterating her strategy to link Tillis to the unpopular GOP-led legislature.

She mentioned at least three times that under Tillis leadership as state House speaker, the legislature let expire the states film production tax credit, a significant issue for the regions large film and television industry. Its been replaced by a less generous grant program.

Tillis said at least a half-dozen times that Hagan was a rubber stamp for President Barack Obamas policies, which Tillis said were dampening the economic recovery. Hes been laser-focused on connecting the first-term senator to the president. If we want to change the presidents policies, we have to change our senator, he said.

MEETING MISSTEPS

Tillis kept harping on Hagan for her attendance record at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings this year and emphasized Hagans acknowledgement that she missed a February meeting because of a scheduled campaign fundraising reception in New York. The closed meeting on current and future worldwide threats to national security had been rescheduled for the afternoon, Hagan and her campaign said.

Read more from the original source:

Libertarian joins Hagan, Tillis in final U.S. Senate debate

Shut out of televised debates, Libertarian candidate for governor Adrian Wyllie filed a lawsuit Thursday that seeks to force the Florida Press Association to allow him onstage with Gov. Rick Scott and Democrat Charlie Crist, the Miami Herald has learned.

Wyllie could not be immediately reached for comment, but the head of the association confirmed Wyllie filed suit in Broward County, where the debate takes place Wednedsay at Broward College in conjunction with Leadership Florida.

Dean Ridings, president and CEO of the association, said Wyllie didnt make the cut because he failed to register 15 percent support in at least one statewide credible public-opinion survey from a nonpartisan polling organization by Sept. 30.

But we want to be fair and consistent, Ridings said. There are 10 candidates for governor and why would it be fair to them to change our criteria?

Ridings said the criteria for candidate participation has been in place since before the 2010 elections. He noted that Wyllie, who garnered as much as 13 percent support in a recent poll from the Republican-leaning polling firm 0ptimus, appears to be improving his standing in the polls.

But its not enough.

Were not going to change criteria in mid-stream because we like a candidate and hes doing better, Ridings said.

Wyllie is planning a protest at another televised debate to be held Friday at Telemundo in Miramar, where Crist and Scott will face off for the first time. The debate will be broadcast at 7 p.m. that night.

The third and final debate between the two major candidates takes place Oct. 21 in Jacksonville.

Crist wanted more debates, but Scott would only agree to three. Scott's running mate, Lt. Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, has also ignored calls from Crist's running mate, Annette Taddeo, to debate on television.

Link:

Excluded from Fla gov debates, Libertarian sues

Barry Hess, Libertarian Nominee for AZ Governor Speaks at Colorado Tea Party, Yuma, Arizona 10-4-14
The Republican and Democrat changed their minds about speaking at the event when they learned Barry Hess, Libertarian nominee for Arizona Governor would also...

By: Walker Geist

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Barry Hess, Libertarian Nominee for AZ Governor Speaks at Colorado Tea Party, Yuma, Arizona 10-4-14 - Video

Scott Soffen, congressional Libertarian candidate for District 7
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Forum@360: Libertarian Candidate for Governor Carolyn "Care" Clift
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Robert Sarvis, Libertarian Candidate for Senate, On VA Health Care #1
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By: Virginia Wins

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Robert Sarvis, Libertarian Candidate for Senate, On VA Health Care #1 - Video

The Libertarian Angle: The Boomerang of Foreign Intervention
The Libertarian Angle: The Boomerang of Foreign Intervention.

By: The Future of Freedom Foundation

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The Libertarian Angle: The Boomerang of Foreign Intervention - Video