Libertarians offered South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford to join Party

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LR EXCLUSIVE

From Eric Dondero:

Michael Roy Carmany, 2nd term State Chairman for the Libertarian Party of South Carolina has revealed to Libertarian Republican, that in October of 2009, the SCLP made an overture to Governor Mark Sanford that they would fully welcome him to join the Party. The offer was made during the height of the impeachment talk, in which many Republicans in the legislature participated.

The offer was made in a formal letter on SCLP stationary. Chairman Carmany made the offer at the time of his personal troubles, because he wanted the Governor to know that Libertarians have no problem with him on social issues. Carmany told Libertarian Republican, "it's a personal issue... what you do with your personal life is nobody's business."

Governor Sanford's formal reply to the SCLP was that he was "going to remain a Republican," [because he] "believes in the Republican platform."

Additionally, that he intended to remain a Republican til the remainder of his term.

Carmany also told LR that the Libertarian Party of SC continues to support his fiscal policies, and that the offer still remains on the table.

Carmany added that if Sanford were to consider running for President on the Libertarian ticket in 2012, "we would welcome it."

Rand Paul from the Laura Ingalls "Little House on the Prairie" wing of libertarians – with the other Rand he only shares a name

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Traditionalist Pioneer Spirit

by Clifford F. Thies

Commentators are taking notice that Rand Paul, who recently won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate from Kentucky, not only shares his last name with his father, the libertarian Republican Congressman from Texas, but has a first name that connects with Ayn Rand, the author of the once-again best-selling book Atlas Shrugged. Unfortunately for the name-callers, Rand Paul’s name is actually Randal, and Rand is only a nickname. And, what would it matter anyway? What if his middle name were Hussein? Would that matter?

Yes, Rand Paul is from the suddenly vibrant libertarian wing of the Republican Party. But, he is not from the Ayn Rand wing of libertarianism. If I can surmise from my long association with his father, Rand Paul is from the Laura Ingalls wing of libertarianism, a home-grown, All-American version of libertarianism.

In the mid 20th century, in 1942, two books were published that provide a convenient way to differentiate between libertarians: Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead (eventually made into a pretty good movie starring Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal) and The Discovery of Freedom by Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of Laura Ingalls (photo). Most of us know Laura Ingalls through her series of children’s books, The Little House on the Prairie, continued first by her daughter and later by Roger MacBride, and by the television series co-produced by MacBride and Michael Landon.

Ayn Rand's atheistic libertarianism; Rose Wilder Lane's traditionalism

In The Fountainhead, a visionary architect resists the tendencies of the corporate world to suppress the individual, to force us all to conform, and to repress free expression. Years later, when the U.S. Postal Service honored Ayn Rand with a postage stamp, an imposing skyscraper provided the background for her image. At a time when just about every intellectual in the world was some kind of socialist, Rand boldly proclaimed the virtue of selfishness: that each of us has one life, and, for each of us, the choices of values we make gives sanctity to those values.

As it turns out, the heroes of Rand’s later works were men and women of enormous accomplishment. They were able, from sheer inner will, to triumph over the freedom-repressing establishment. This communicates a certain elitism to Rand’s version of libertarianism. But, I will point out that her earlier works were much more sweet, much more human. In her quasi-biographical novel, We the Living, her female hero is a young woman who finds herself in an impossible situation, who feels betrayed by the social institutions of her day. I am sorry if I am giving away the plot, but, in the end, this young woman chooses to reject those social institutions and to rely only on herself.

If Ayn Rand’s immortal soul was lost to atheism, whose fault was it? Hers, for choosing to be strong, or the church’s, that had accommodated itself to “semi-socialism,” and had replaced reason with ritual and mysticism. I thank God that I was inoculated against the faults of the church by my Italian grandfather. He told me, “I believe in the church, not in the priests.” I have never expected much of the church with regard to the issue of socialism versus freedom, and I have not been disappointed.

Some Background from the Editor - Dr. Thies was a close friend and political ally of 1976 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Roger Lea MacBride. They served together for the first 5 years on the National Committee of the Republican Liberty Caucus. MacBride was Chairman, Thies was Vice-Chairman. Upon MacBride's untimely death in 1995, Thies assumed the Chairmanship.

MacBride was the adopted grandson of Rose Wilder Lane, and heir to the Little House on the Prairie fortune. Before his death MacBride authored 4 more books in the Little House series.

Alabama Republican Video Contest

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From the Editor:

We are nearly on the eve of the Alabama Republican Primaries scheduled for Tuesday. For whatever reason, Alabama Republicans have been particularly rambunctious this election cycle. At least three candidates for major offices in the State have produced wild, in-your-face style YouTube videos. All three have received an enormous amount of attention and hits nationwide.

We thought it would be fun to see which one of the three comes out on top among Republicans nationwide.

After you've viewed the three following videos, go to our sidebar and cast your vote. And tell other Republicans you know to come on over to LibertarianRepublican.net to do the same.

VIDEO I

VIDEO II

VIDEO III

Alabama, show America you mean business. All three of these guys deserve to be elected, just on the basis of their videography skills alone. -- Eric - The Management

Mark Hinkle wins National Chairman for Libertarian Party

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BREAKING NEWS!!

From Eric Dondero:

Meet the new National Chairman for the Libertarian Party. Mark Hinkle is from California. He's a very longtime LPC member, and has served in numerous capacities including running for statewide office on the Libertarian ticket.

Hinkle won on a third ballot beating Wayne Root 268 to 228.

In a brief interview with Libertarian Republican Hinkle said:

I think the delegates have spoken quite clearly that they want to unify the LP. They want the internal battles to cease. They want to go forward from this convention united in the cause of Liberty. I very much want to work with all liberty-minded groups, special groups that we share a common interest in.

In the last year I have gone to 5 or 6 Tea Party events, particularly in Silicon Valley. They are eschewing any political labels. They want to work with all groups who are concerned that government is too big, taxes are too high.

Root was very gracious to Hinkle with his victory, and pledged his full support.