Did the Libertarian candidate spoil it in AZ CD9?

[jllundqu]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/blog...en-sinema-winner-in-arizona-s-9th-district-12

Vernon Parker, the firebrand african-american conservative and so-called "tea party" candidate lost his bid for congress to Kyrsten Sinema (D) by 3 percent (45% to 48% respectively). The Libertarian candidate, Powell, managed to get 6% of the vote.

Now people in AZ are REALLY pissed at the Libertarian party, claiming they cost a conservative the election.

I know it's been discussed ad nauseum on these forums, but it is my belief that Parker would have been EXPONENTIALLY better for the country and Arizona than the self described "Prada Socialist" Sinema (Who also stated "stay at home moms were leeches" who should go back to work https://www.nrcc.org/video/leeches-az-09-kyrsten-sinema/).

Did the L Party shoot themselves in the foot? We now have a TERRIBLE massive spending-communist elected in CD 9 as opposed to admittedly not perfect, but palatable Vernon Parker. (I think having more black conservatives is a plus.)

Sinema is also the first openly bi-sexual Congresswoman elected... which I actually think is kinda cool, but she still sucks.

I voted for Powell (L) but am now stuck with Sinema and I am wondering if I made the right choice.

The presidential election was easy for me... I sure as F**K didn't vote for Obama or Romney, but this is close to home and would REALLY prefer not to have Sinema as my rep to congress.

THoughts?

 

[thoughtomator]

I'd say those Republicans have some nerve thinking they own the votes of those who pulled the L lever. They can pull my vote out of my cold, dead hands.

 

[Origanalist]

I think this is going to be a rising trend. It may be that unlike the presidential race, this race presented a choice, but people are pissed at the repubs and this is only going to happen more.

Somebody needs to WTFU.

 

[Lucille]

Now people in AZ are REALLY pissed at the Libertarian party, claiming they cost a conservative the election.

Winner K. Sinema Dem 48.3% 108,056
V. Parker GOP 45.2% 101,089
P. Gammill Lib 6.4% 14,361

That's assuming those voters would have voted for Parker if the L wasn't on the ballot.

It was close in CD1 too. Paton lost to also-ran Kirkpatrick because his campaign didn't expose her as the corporatist she is, and he's a lobbyist and Iraq war vet (two of the things Americans are most sick of-corporatism and war).

Winner A. Kirkpatrick Dem 48.6% 116,147
J. Paton GOP 45.4% 108,640
K. Allen Lib 6.0% 14,274

I'm proud of AZ. The LP candidates did better here than in most states. Will the AZ GOP learn their lesson and run more libertarian-leaning candidates? I doubt it.

It is rare for Libertarian candidates anywhere to receive more than 1% of the vote, but in Arizona many Libertarian candidates received well over 1% in competitive three-way races, while the Libertarian presidential candidate received 1.29% in Arizona versus 0.9% nationally. Here are the Libertarian Party unofficial results in competitive three-way races in Arizona from the Arizona Secretary of State web site:
U.S. Senate 4.38%
Congressional District 1 – 5.88% (Republican Jonathon Paton lost to Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, 48.49% – 45.54% due to Libertarian vote)
Congressional District 3 – 4.37%
Congressional District 4 – 3.7%
Congressional District 6 – 3.29%
Congressional District 9 – 6.35% (Republican Vernon Parker lost to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, 47.81% – 45.71% due to Libertarian vote)
Legislative District 8 Senator – 4.9% (Republican Joe Ortiz lost to Democrat Barbara McGuire, 48.68% – 46.32% due to Libertarian vote)

 

[angelatc]

The above are all good points. The LP certainly puts party ahead of principles, but sometimes the Democrats run LP just to siphon off votes.

 

[Dorfsmith]

They said the same thing about the Arizona CD-1 race.

http://flagliberty.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/myth-ron-paul-supporters-cost-paton-the-election/

 

[jllundqu]

I stand by my vote for the LP candidates, but knowing that the GOP will never change and accept LP principles i.e. never run mor Libertarian leaning GOP candidates in the future, it would seem we can expect to split the vote and elect dems more often in the future?

I would venture to say that if the Libertarian candidates were not on the ballot, most would definitely vote Repub. That's just my analysis and opinion, but I would say that we split the conservative vote and gave the dems the house seat.

It means little since voting is basically BS anyway, but is this what we have to look forward to? The GOP is too stupid and stubborn to 'widen the tent' so to speak so the vote will be split in a 3-way race...

 

[Acala]

If the GOP wants the votes of Americans who care about liberty, then I guess the GOP better start acting like it cares about liberty. It really is that simple. It appears that some Americans are fed up with the politics of the lesser evil. About time too.

 

[mczerone]

That Damn GOP Candidate got enough people to spoil the L's chances; the difference between the L and the winner was less than what the GOP candidate got. So the GOP cost the LP a congressional seat!

 

[Origanalist]

That Damn GOP Candidate got enough people to spoil the L's chances; the difference between the L and the winner was less than what the GOP candidate got. So the GOP cost the LP a congressional seat!

They need to go away for the good of the country, after all, there can only be two parties!

 

[dinosaur]

LP is only a spoiler when they run against someone like Amash. They can spoil all they want when it comes to the lesser of two evil candidates.

 

[torchbearer]

the LP vote never belonged to "them" and wouldn't have voted for "them" anyway... and especially now that 'they' are being lil' bitches.

 

[eleganz]

If Parker was a liberty candidate (or even just a purist tea party) then its a very very sad thing, in the future we really need to have proper communication channels between liberty, tea party, LP, to hit different districts for maximum effect for both parties trying to make impact.

Stuff like this is truly unacceptable, IF we're all going for the same goals, why step on each others' toes?

If there was a real and authentic reason for the LP to run a candidate vs Parker that we don't know about then that may be the logical explanation.

 

[torchbearer]

If Parker was a liberty candidate (or even just a purist tea party) then its a very very sad thing, in the future we really need to have proper communication channels between liberty, tea party, LP, to hit different districts for maximum effect for both parties trying to make impact.

Stuff like this is truly unacceptable, IF we're all going for the same goals, why step on each others' toes?

If there was a real and authentic reason for the LP to run a candidate vs Parker that we don't know about then that may be the logical explanation.

ok, maybe its because most of you only know the GOP party and how it dictates its candidates.
the LP party doesn't dictate its candidates.
often times ,in louisiana, we had LP candidate who were running that were basically hurting our allies. the party bosses of the LP could nothing about it.
we couldn't tell someone they couldn't be libertarian. we couldn't tell someone they couldn't run for an office.

So everyone in this thread who has put out a post blamming the LP for this incident is ignorant.

 

[HOLLYWOOD]

The above are all good points. The LP certainly puts party ahead of principles, but sometimes the Democrats run LP just to siphon off votes.

^^^ This is true Democrats did this in Nevada, attempting to push their own Tea Party Troll. We also witness where the Democrats won't support candidates that don't measure up to their Communist platform.

Once again divided we lose, but the relevance of the LP is, they need to reach out to the #GOP and communicate to adopt our principles and issues, or the party of 10 fat men will shrink to a elite few.

 

[torchbearer]

^^^ they need to reach out to the #GOP and communicate to adopt our principles and issues, or the party of 10 fat men will shrink to a elite few.

the GOP needs to adopt the LP principle and issues.
that is what we've been doing for the last 5 years.
maybe you forget its the LP that gave Ron's campaign its core organizers.

 

[Lucille]

If Parker was a liberty candidate (or even just a purist tea party) then its a very very sad thing, in the future we really need to have proper communication channels between liberty, tea party, LP, to hit different districts for maximum effect for both parties trying to make impact.

Phoenix Arizona Election Questionnaire for Congress, VERNON B. PARKER
http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/2012questionnaires/results.php?id=parkerv

He didn't respond to C4L's: http://www.campaignforliberty.org/surveys/arizona-federal-survey-results/

Paton did, and agreed to every one, which is one reason why I voted for him over the L. Marc Victor got my vote for US Senate.

 

[Athan]

We now have a TERRIBLE massive spending-communist elected in CD 9 as opposed to admittedly not perfect

Stop right there. Now I don't care about this "tea party" candidate.

 

[Lucille]

The progs in CD 9 who voted for the white woman over the black man are just racist.

 

[jllundqu]

That's funny...

It was nice to see the LP Candidates to get such a strong showing. Doubt the GOP will do anything to extend the olive branch to prevent this from happening again, though. So far it has been nothing but vitriol.