Scott Powers
The national Libertarian Party executive director has issued a declaration denouncing racism and asking any white nationalists in the party to resign and leave the organization immediately.
“There is no room for racists and bigots in the Libertarian Party. If there are white nationalists who — inappropriately — are members of the Libertarian Party, I ask them to submit their resignations today,” Libertarian National Executive Director Wes Benedict declared in a news release. “We don’t want them to associate with the Libertarian Party, and we don’t want their money.”
That statement comes from the leader of a party that has had issues with white nationalists joining and seeking leadership posts in recent years. One, former lawyer Augustus Sol Invictus of Orlando, sought the Florida Libertarian Party’s nomination to run for the U.S. Senate, a drive that had caused chaos at the top ranks of the state party, and in the Seminole County Libertarian committee. Invictus was not the only self-avowed nationalist to roil the party’s ranks.
Invictus lost in the Libertarian primary, and the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday he had left the Libertarian Party and registered as a Republican this spring.
Invictus, who was a key figure in the Charlottesville rally last weekend, the Sentinel reported.
Benedict cited the national Libertarian Party’s platform, which includes a plank that states, “We condemn bigotry as irrational and repugnant. Government should neither deny nor abridge any individual’s human right based upon sex, wealth, ethnicity, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation.”
“I’m not expecting many resignations, because our membership already knows this well,” Benedict stated in a news release issued by his office.
10 comments
Larry Gillis (Cape Coral)
August 15, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Common honesty would require their resignations, because Libertarianism does not represent their views.
Greg Dirasian
August 16, 2017 at 7:20 pm
If you are asking people for their resignations based on your perversion og libertarian philosophy, are you prepared to refund their money?
KayLeigh
August 17, 2017 at 11:29 am
I think the article specifically stated, “We don’t want their money.”
M S Hayden
August 17, 2017 at 11:33 am
Directly from the press release…
“We don’t want them to associate with the Libertarian Party, and we don’t want their money.”
So, yes. The party does appear to do the right thing and put their money where their mouth is when it comes to standing by their principles. Which don’t seem to be a “perversion” in any way really. White nationalism is completely opposite of libertarian philosophy and so it makes no sense for any of its supporters to be members.
Paul Connolly
August 17, 2017 at 12:31 pm
I will. Personally.
Ms. Libertarian
August 19, 2017 at 6:07 pm
Libertarian philosophy has been fairly consistent since 1972, the first platform, when we ran a gay man and a Jewish woman for the presidential ticket. Sarwark did not invent the Platform.
Tim Smyth
August 17, 2017 at 12:50 pm
I would gladly approve using my dues to refund those of anyone wanting to leave the Party because they cannot “condemn bigotry as irrational and repugnant. ” – Party Platform 3.5
Dave Melendy
August 17, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Well, shit.
I happen to be white, not my fault.
And I am something of a nationalist, I have profound respect for our founding fathers.
I guess it is a good thing that I have never joined your party.
Pat Lowell Hammarback
August 18, 2017 at 11:55 am
I consider myself a compassionate libertarian.
I’ve never signed up for any political party and have voted most consistently as a democrat with reservations.
Your stated platform will lead to success if followed. Get rid of the chaff who hold you back and distort your message like a pedophile priest distorts the message of Christianity.
Ms. Libertarian
August 19, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Please do join us.
Comments are closed.