Do You Think Libertarians Are More Welcomed In Democratic Party?

[bolil]

No appreciable difference exists between the Democratic and Republican parties. Just the illusion of choice, as George Carlin would say. Ron Paul and the campaign know the score and can be trusted to make the choices that are most beneficial to our cause.

 

[Keith and stuff]

The GOP establishment has repeatedly dejected and mocked us, and I'm not going to tell anyone that it's better to stick it out with them or to jump ship. You work with the GOP if you want - and I'll support you. If the OP works with the Dems, I'd support him too.

Where do you live? The party establishment, for the most part, love pro-liberty people where I live. I remember in 2008 when FOX wouldn't let Ron Paul in the final NH debate, the head of the NH GOP was outraged and called for including Ron Paul in the debate. The former governor of NH became a Friend of the Free State Project and welcomed FSPers to NH. The NH Sen. Majority Leader came out in favor of FSPers. The NH Speaker of the House is very friendly to libertarians and FSPers. The co-chair of the Republican House Alliance is a libertarian.

Of course pro-liberty people should be involved in the Democratic Party if they want to but to say that the GOP is very welcoming sounds strange to someone that lives in NH.

 

[cajuncocoa]

Q: Do You Think Libertarians Are More Welcomed In Democratic Party?
A: No.

 

[jtstellar]

if we're polling 10~15% nationally (and one of the latest poll by reuters, 21%) we have 30 million+ people.. we can be our own men.. are we not enough? how insecure do you have to be..?

edit: also.. if you missed the recent episode of glenn greenwald constantly getting flamed over him calling out liberals on their hypocrisy when it comes to obama's foreign policy and violation of civil liberties--if even he's having a hard time, what makes you expect a warm welcome.

 

[RM918]

The only difference between a corrupt neolib and a corrupt neocon is that, facing a libertarian, while the neocon would jump on you for being a terrorist-loving traitor, the neolib will jump on you for being a poor-hating racist.

The neolib will also then insist you are a horrible human being even for supporting policies he supposedly supports, because you're doing it for the 'wrong reasons'.

 

[Matthew5]

In my personal experience, the Democrats have been just as intolerant of libertarianism as the GOP. At least Dems are more open about their love for big government. But I didn't find a home in either the GOP or Democratic party. I quickly realized there's very little differences in the two parties.

 

[Boss]

After just watching Obama's Budget Proposal Speech, I'm confident we are much more welcome in the Republican Party.

 

[oyarde]

No , in fact , being a Libertarian in dem establishment areas would probably be similar to being a Leper.

 

[GopBlackList]

It was a valid question. I don't think "we" should abandon anything, but I do think that some of our up-and-coming politicos should explore the democratic party as a more natural fit for their liberty message and their local political environment. We shouldn't FOCUS on the GOP anymore or any less than we focus on the Dems or even the LP.

The GOP establishment has repeatedly dejected and mocked us, and I'm not going to tell anyone that it's better to stick it out with them or to jump ship. You work with the GOP if you want - and I'll support you. If the OP works with the Dems, I'd support him too.

THIS

I am what someone would call a minority (South East Asian) and I really feel out of place in the GOP demographic wise. I am getting involved in the party for the sake of pushing the party more libertarian, but the majority of the folks look at me like I am a space alien. 99% of the folks I see in the GOP here are white Christians and they are all social conservatives, pro-War on Drugs, pro-life, gay-hating, Muslim-hating, big-time Bible-thumpers.

I would be more at home with the Democratic party demographically, but I can't stand their socialist economic policies.

I might be even more home with the Libertarian party, but I don't think they stand a fighting chance against the 2-party monopoly.

I am in a big fix.

This is an example of what I am trying to say. People take note.

Where do you live? The party establishment, for the most part, love pro-liberty people where I live. I remember in 2008 when FOX wouldn't let Ron Paul in the final NH debate, the head of the NH GOP was outraged and called for including Ron Paul in the debate. The former governor of NH became a Friend of the Free State Project and welcomed FSPers to NH. The NH Sen. Majority Leader came out in favor of FSPers. The NH Speaker of the House is very friendly to libertarians and FSPers. The co-chair of the Republican House Alliance is a libertarian.

Of course pro-liberty people should be involved in the Democratic Party if they want to but to say that the GOP is very welcoming sounds strange to someone that lives in NH.

Keith, we get your point, NH is libertarian friendly. It is one of a few states that are accepting but the majority of us don't live in those states.

After just watching Obama's Budget Proposal Speech, I'm confident we are much more welcome in the Republican Party.

I don't think Obama respresent most Democrats.

 

[oyarde]

THIS



This is an example of what I am trying to say. People take note.



Keith, we get your point, NH is libertarian friendly. It is one of a few states that are accepting but the majority of us don't live in those states.



I don't think Obama respresent most Democrats.

What do you think ? 20% ?

 

[Athan]

what do you think? abscond from the Republican party and get into the Democratic party?

No, I do not believe we would be welcomed in that party either. What's worse is that the superdelegate system will neutralize any gains we would make in the party. All democrats and republicans want is our vote and support however they do not want to give us a voice. We should vote third party and/or vote for just Ron Paul supporters who are actually running as republicans. All others just vote third party or against the incumbent.

 

[lester1/2jr]

less so. from my experience

 

[cajuncocoa]

less so. from my experience

Agreed....as from mine.

 

[ConCap]

The Libertarian Party does not hardly welcome libertarians anymore.

Only the ones that more Libertines than Libertarians.

 

[ConCap]

Not so on most issues - religion, schools, civil liberties, marriage, family, drug laws, gun rights, censorship, etc.

As Jingles pointed out, there needs to be a line drawn when people use the words fiscal conservative or social liberal. Does that apply personally? OR Does that apply from the view point of government? There is a huge difference. Democrats are liberal fascists IMO which is the opposite of being a liberal privately. Libertarians are real liberals because they are open to people being people with one rule - you don't harm or steal from another. Know the difference. Rick Santorum would be considered a conservative fascist because he wants to use the federal government to shape society according to his social ends.

The point is.
You can be Social Conservative all the way to a Socialist, it’s no ones business.

JUST NOT ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.

There needs to be a COMPLEATE SEPERATION of Social and Federal.

 

[Paul Or Nothing II]

I am what someone would call a minority (South East Asian) and I really feel out of place in the GOP demographic wise. I am getting involved in the party for the sake of pushing the party more libertarian, but the majority of the folks look at me like I am a space alien. 99% of the folks I see in the GOP here are white Christians and they are all social conservatives, pro-War on Drugs, pro-life, gay-hating, Muslim-hating, big-time Bible-thumpers.

I would be more at home with the Democratic party demographically, but I can't stand their socialist economic policies.

I might be even more home with the Libertarian party, but I don't think they stand a fighting chance against the 2-party monopoly.

I am in a big fix.

Democratic party is terrible, Repubs at least pay lip-service to a lot of conservative-libertarian ideas which allows us to claim Republicanism; imagine being a democrat who's anti-welfare & therefore "anti-poor people"

So you're saying there are absolute ZERO Ron Paul supporters in your locality? I don't believe that there'd have to be a couple (or more) out there somewhere, look on the facebook or whatever, they must be out there so even if you find a couple of RP-supporters then I'm sure you'll feel less "out of place"

 

[NidStyles]

Nonsense. How on earth is the GOP even remotely close to libertarian ideal on anything? They throw a few words around like 'capitalism' and 'small government' and then proceed to spend more than the democrats. And are you saying you honestly believe the GOP is libertarian on social issues?

There was a poll on this forum a few weeks ago about who people thought would be the most dangerous. The republican candidates far outstripped Obama. So why on earth do libertarians automatically flock to the republican party? There is truly no reason for this - and it is unfortunate, because it leads to the perception that libertarians are just selfish republicans who want to smoke pot. Either we should try and infiltrate both parties, or we should work with the Libertarian Party.

You are speaking purely of the Neo-Con positions that have hi-jacked the GOP. My statement still stands.

 

[ConCap]

It was a valid question. I don't think "we" should abandon anything, but I do think that some of our up-and-coming politicos should explore the democratic party as a more natural fit for their liberty message and their local political environment. We shouldn't FOCUS on the GOP anymore or any less than we focus on the Dems or even the LP.

The GOP establishment has repeatedly dejected and mocked us, and I'm not going to tell anyone that it's better to stick it out with them or to jump ship. You work with the GOP if you want - and I'll support you. If the OP works with the Dems, I'd support him too.

THIS WAKO GAVE ME A REAL -1rep.

I gave him -5 phony reps for his suggesting you hook up with Dem's

May be the one or two Jeffersonian Democrat's that may be still living.

 

[The Free Hornet]

THIS WAK JOB GAVE ME A REAL -1rep.

I gave him -5 phony reps for his sugesting you hook up with Dem's

May be the one or two Jeffersonian Democrat's that may be still living.

My impression of the thread's original question: how totally naive. Maybe I am the naive one.

Perhaps the original poster should have asked, "Do Libertarians Realize They Are Unwelcome in the Republican Party?".

You can spin libertarian ideas into a Democratic party framework if you so choose. It is convoluted, but the same applies on the other side of the aisle. Libertarians in the Republican party are like black people in the Democratic party: taken for granted. If you don't withold your support, you'll never get anywhere. Upon witholding that support, it is your choice as to where to go (independent, Libertarian Party (official), or Democratic party).

 

[Jonathanm]

I completely disagree with socialism at the federal level, but I'm not opposed to welfare programs at the state level if they want to go that route. In this sense, I could see someone running as a 'Ron Paul' democrat; pro-welfare, but not at the federal level.

I've found that a lot of democrats actually really like Ron Paul. Watch the Bill Maher episode where he had Ron Paul on, back in 2007 I believe -- Paul got pretty heavy cheering from the crowd, and Bill Maher's audience tends to be rather liberal. Bill Maher actually really likes Paul, too, though of course he doesn't agree with him on everything. All but one of my democrat friends are hoping Paul wins the republican nominee, because they aren't really all that happy with President Obama. Two of them actually commented that, were Paul to win, they'd seriously consider voting for him. And note that these are liberals, not moderate/independents.

I'd also like to point out that we're pretty out of place in the current Republican party. Argue all you want that we're the true Republicans (I agree), but we have to realize that the true Republicans aren't the majority anymore.

Personally, I think Santorum or Gingrich would be a far worse disaster than Obama. Not that Obama has been good, but at least Obama can show restraint in some departments. Were Santorum president, we'd surely have nuked iran, and contraceptives would probably be a Schedule I drug. Were Gingrich president we'd probably be in basically the same place as we are now, except with moon bases and executions for pot smokers.

Personally, I think both parties are equally wrong. At least Democrats are honest about being big government, though. A lot of modern Republicans talk the talk, but when push comes to shove they vote for the drug war, federal marriage amendment, patriot act, NDAA, SOPA, and pro-empire building. Can someone please tell me how any of those things are pro-libertarian?

Liberty brings people together. Even democrats.