Posted at LP blog
By: Austin Petersen
A little over two years ago I stood in a crowded nightclub surrounded by screaming New Yorkers watching millions of dollars pour into the campaign coffers of Congressman Ron Paul. It was December 16th, the night of the first real Tea Party. As the deafening crowd roared their approval, I stood back with my video camera taping the events so that I could show the world what happened there.
As the millions rolled in that night, little did I know it would be the beginning of my future career in politics. The following February, Dr. Paul’s campaign was suspended and I was disheartened when a phone call from Washington D.C. came in. It was Shane Cory; he wanted me to come to CPAC to interview for a job. I booked the next flight to Reagan, and a week later committed to fill the position of Volunteer Coordinator at the Libertarian National Committee.
I started work in D.C. after having taken over from the last volunteer coordinator with no idea what to do, or where to begin. I knew third party politics would be difficult, but I honestly expected more resistance than I got in some ways. I’ve always been someone to think outside the box and applied that to make projects successful with little to no resources. The Libertarian Party afforded me a fantastic opportunity that I sought to use to further our commonly shared beliefs any way that was possible. I was given near complete autonomy to experiment in an office full of books from decades of libertarian campaigns, one an original signed copy of work by Milton Friedman. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will always remember.
If I could give Libertarians some advice it would be this: Run professional, strategic, think-outside-the-box campaigns. There are enough motivated libertarian minded youths out there now for you to rally to your campaigns. Learn the tools of the trade on Facebook, Youtube and other social networking sites to bring in the support you need. Your friends will run as Libertarians if you ask them to. So do it and support them! Or run yourself for goodness sakes, but just do it, and do it with class and professionalism. You should have a good answer to the questions: Why should people run as a libertarian? Why should the American people vote for our candidates? What does it mean to be a Libertarian?
During the past year and a half I’ve traveled all over the country, worked on Bob Barr’s Presidential campaign, petitioned congress, built a large and exciting internship program at LPHQ, and made many lifelong friends in the movement. I will always be grateful to the LNC for giving me a chance to succeed in professional politics. Now I’m off to start a new journey but with the same goal; to maximize individual liberty. I wish you all the best of luck.
Long Live the Libertarian Party!
Fair enough.
Also, I noticed that this is yet another thread where Orvetti deleted his old comments. If anyone wants to see what they were, check archive.org
I ended up deleting the link. I should have either posted lots of back articles, or none. I’ll do the latter, in the interest of time.
@ Pingback should see the comments above. The goodbye letter was to the national office staff position, not the LP itself. Austin did later become less Libertarian in a partisan sense (and arguably in his ideology as well) but that had nothing to do with this letter, as tempting a target as the headline makes.
Peter Orvetti, lol. I’m almost that desperate!
Man, with internal outreach skills like that, I should’ve voted for Bob for our presidential nominee in 2008. I would’ve been his only delegate but gosh darnit if Gerhard can show up in street clothes and vote for Imperato I could’ve showed up in a straight-jacket and voted for Milnes.
Austin Petersen, evidently you don’t get it. For about 1/2 of the Lp, you don’t get a pat on the back for supporting Ron Paul & Bob Barr. just read just about anything by me, Tom & George in 2008 for example. This resulted in the split between Barr & Ruwart. How old are you again? Twenty something? You don’t give us advice; we give you advice. What are you doing writing a Good-Bye letter? You aren’t going anywhere. You’ll be around the same old rightist crowd. Think tank! More like Tank Think.
The situation was that I wasn’t recruited out of the blue. I had been organizing for Ron Paul as an unpaid grassroots activist. The LP had offered their phone banking resources to anyone in the movement who wanted to make use of them. It turns out I was the only person in the country to call and request access. Because of that effort with the LP I was introduced to Shane Cory and it all stair stepped from there. I’m really grateful to the LNC for giving me the opportunity, and I believe a libertarian think tank is a logical next step for me to take so that I can continue to press our issues. I’m still an active LP member and I hope I can run for office someday if the stars align.
Peter Orvetti, wasn’t Austin the hunk lg. was honking her horns at?///This might be a good example of the LP having rightists as party functionaries. & the solution might be a Peer Review Board such that only genuine libertarians have party positions & candidacies. Big tent-rightists may join party. Volunteer. THAT IS ABOUT ALL. Cory would never have been at LPHQ & Bann Bobb Barr never a candidate.
Erik Geib, reality check. CPAC is virtually the enemy incarnate for libertarians IMO. What with your Ronulan counterrevolutionaries, reactionaries galore & dixiecrat conservatives & paleosaurs. The only positive thing I see about it is a possible source of drop outs to libertarianism & even then it is usually to right libertarianism. You will not see me playing footsie & cootchie coo with CPAC.
Shane Cory, executive director CPAC calls Austin Petersen for an interview AT CPAC Conference for job at LNC as Volunteer Coordinator. What is that?
Bob,
Reading comprehension. He was called to have his interview for work for the LP at CPAC; CPAC is a free-market/conservative conference each February that the LP operates a volunteer table at. Shane Cory was the executive director at the time of CPAC 2008.
Peter Orvetti, not exactly. His message said he was called by Shane Cory to work at CPAC. As Jay Leno would say, What is that?
Kimberley
Is that what the whole David Cobb, Liberty Tree thing was all about?
So this is another way for the corporate plutocracy to sabotogue attempts to challenge the pro-war, two party system.
Good to know and invaluable information to have as we continue to work, build and organize.
Thanks
Oh and back from vacation in Michigan. Had a blast at my wife’s mother’s family re union there.
I was the token white boy, on the Rez.
LOL
I do not know this person or the particulars of the situation. But, looked up the old story Paulie mentioned.
Looks like Austin is going to an economic think tank.
That happens a lot in the Green Party.
Electoral politics is powerful stuff. And, thankless with no money.
Often, when people show talent in the third party/electoral realm, someone who doesn’t want third parties to succeed lures people who are successful off with some non-profit or think tank job.
When the Diversity Committee of the GP-US was starting to accomplish things, a green-ish think tank took two of its members for their board. Then, the Div Com sank and sank and sank. They are still chugging along at low power…
There is a list of national Green Party volunteers and staff who moved sideways to play the professional, build their resumes, and get paid. But, at the same time, sap the actual, national party of workers and talent.
good luck in your endeavors Austin
Best to you Austin and thank you for all that you have accomplished.
Michael H. Wilson
Good Luck Austin!
Hey guys, not leaving the party per se, just a new job!
He’s just moving on to another job – not because of any slight against the LP, but because of the unique opportunities presented by his new position.
Just moving on to another job, as far as I know.
Is Austin rejecting the LP, giving up on the LP or just moving to another job? Not clear to me.
Previous article may help with background:
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2009/07/austin-petersen-moving-from-lp-to-atlas/
Sooooo, why are you parting with the LP? Did I miss something? Strange article.