Gary Johnson Gary Johnson Campaign Responds to Benton's Claim That There's "No Chance" of Endorsement

[stu2002]

Gary Johnson Campaign Responds to Benton's Claim That There's "No Chance" of Endorsement

During a conference call with reporters yesterday, Jesse Benton of the Ron Paul campaign said there was "no chance" of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) endorsing former two-term New Mexico governor and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson.

From Brian Doherty's report:

While Benton refuses to say Paul will endorse Romney, he believes that "if our ideas are embraced and treated with respect, I think the GOP has a very good change to pick up a substantial number of votes" from Paul people. "If we are treated like in '08, then I think a lot of people will stay home or sit on their hands." Agreed, though I think it will be very hard for a Romney like the Romney of today to pick up many Paul fan votes. The vote is not like matter that can neither be created nor destroyed; Paul invented his vote and without him I think a majority of it will disappear in November.

Benton says there is "no chance" of an endorsement of Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party.

Johnson endorsed Ron Paul in 2008. The press release announcing Johnson's endorsement was titled "'Veto Johnson' endorses 'Dr. No' for president," and was distributed by Jesse Benton. Reason reached out to the Johnson campaign this morning for a response to Benton's announcement. They sent us a statement from Ron Nielson, Johnson's senior advisor:

http://reason.com/blog/2012/05/16/gary-johnson-campaign-responds-to-jess-b

 

[AlexMerced]

Very Upstanding response from the Gary Johnson campaign, if Ron Paul is not in the ballot november I have no qualms voting for Gary Johnson (and before people start flaming GJ, I am aware that he is not identicial to Ron Paul, but he's damn close enough)

 

[V3n]

Very decent answer. I'm not particularly a fan of GJ; sort of on the fence, but he's earned a lot of respect with this response.

 

[CaptUSA]

Yeah, great response from Gary's campaign.

 

[Paul Or Nothing II]

I personally don't like Johnson due to his stance on "humanitarian wars" rolleyes & being an Israel-firster & generally not very aggressive on the issues but yes, if Paul doesn't get the GOP nomination then Johnson is a decent bet, or you could vote Obama but either way our aim should be to MAKE GOP LOSE & teach'em a lesson that they simply can't ignore the voice of libertarians & conservatives

 

[matt_]

Very professional response. We need a liberty minded option in the voting booth.

 

[Indy Vidual]

Very Upstanding response from the Gary Johnson campaign, if Ron Paul is not in the ballot november I have no qualms voting for Gary Johnson (and before people start flaming GJ, I am aware that he is not identicial to Ron Paul, but he's damn close enough)

+10
Classy response from Gary

 

[kuckfeynes]

If it comes to that point, and you're going to make a protest vote, why not just write in Ron Paul?
Sounds like typical Benton brashness, but surely GJ must understand the reasoning behind it.
It would effectively undo 20 years of battling for acceptance in the GOP.
It would give the neocons ammo to say "See? He was never one of us!" and galvanize them to push back against other GOP liberty candidates.

 

[nano1895]

If it comes to that point, and you're going to make a protest vote, why not just write in Ron Paul?
Sounds like typical Benton brashness, but surely GJ must understand the reasoning behind it.
It would effectively undo 20 years of battling for acceptance in the GOP.
It would give the neocons ammo to say "See? He was never one of us!" and galvanize them to push back against other GOP liberty candidates.

1. Writing in Ron Paul in many states won't even be counted
2. We're not trying to be "accepted" into the GOP, we're going to REPLACE the GOP

 

[Valli6]

1. Writing in Ron Paul in many states won't even be counted
2. We're not trying to be "accepted" into the GOP, we're going to REPLACE the GOP

This is my concern about write-in votes. I believe my state simply discards them.
It's not like there will be a record of Paul votes to count up and show how many of us support him. At least a vote for Johnson would be counted, leaving a record that "we're out here and you lost us!" If the LP takes a significant portion of the vote, so much the better - they'll be forced to show us some respect next time!

In 2008 - didn't Ron Paul advise us not to write him in, but to vote for a 3rd party candidate?

 

[Michael Landon]

If Paul doesn't get the nod, then I'm voting for Johnson.

- ML

 

[Shotdown1027]

Stay Classy, Johnson. Awesome.

I'm sad to see so many Ron Paul supporters turn their back on Johnson, who has been nothing but helpful to us.

I'm also sad to see so many saying they'll not vote or write in Ron Paul. In most areas, a write-in will simply be discarded. In almost all areas, it won't e recorded for history.

 

[Benjam]

GJ ran against Paul at the beginning. That isn't help to us.

 

[asurfaholic]

GJ ran against Paul at the beginning. That isn't help to us.

Another liberty voice on stage doesn't help us? Sheesh. And early on in a debate Johnson totally plugged RP on a VP question.

I am on the fence about GJ - but this was a beautiful response. Lots of respect, and I must say, makes me wonder if GJ knows what's going on...

 

[Voluntarist]

xxxxx

 

[GeorgiaAvenger]

GJ ran against Paul at the beginning. That isn't help to us.

Who declared first? I forgot.

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

Gary is a great plan B option. I'll be able to sleep at night voting for him.

 

[brandon]

Johnson's looking better all the time.

 

[RonPaulFanInGA]

Another liberty voice on stage doesn't help us? Sheesh.

No, a candidate running against yours is not helpful.

Johnson's looking better all the time.

Should be a great 0.6% candidacy.

 

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

Benton speak for yourself you ass. I will never vote for that lying sack of shit Romney even if my life was at stake. Benton has let that nepotism get to his head.