From a media release sent to IPR by the Roger Gary campaign:
Roger Gary’s statement on the entry of Gov. Gary Johnson into the race for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination
“While most Libertarians, including myself, would disagree with Gov. Johnson on some of the issues, he, like Representative Ron Paul, has distinguished himself from the “politics-as-usual” Republicans running for that party’s presidential nomination.
“The refusal by the Republican establishment to include Gov. Johnson in presidential debates and straw polls shows how hostile that establishment is to the concept of small and limited government. This is also shown by their treatment of Dr. Paul Likewise, their treatment of Gov. Roemer shows that they are hostile toward a candidate who, while not as committed to small government as Gary Johnson and Ron Paul, has a record of refusing to “go along to get along”.
“Now that Gov. Johnson has entered the Libertarian presidential race, I will welcome the chance to compare platforms as we meet potential delegates across America. His entry will certainly make it more difficult for the Establishment media to pretend no alternative exists to the two wings of The Beltway Party.
“That said, however, let us remember that nominating candidates whose previous political history has been with other parties has never come close to achieving the breakthrough that supporters of such candidates keep claiming such a move will achieve.”
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See the original article here.
Gary Johnson/Jesse Ventura ticket gives you that credibility that the LP needs. Both are successful governors of their states. The only thing Ventura would need to do now is get rid of the hair and go back to his governor look. Johnson & Ventura were extremely popular governors and have real libertarian principles. This ticket would have me excited.
I agree with # 1.
Who is Roger Gary?
I have heard of Governor Johnson. He does have a track record of leadership and executive experience.
Look, you just can’t put somebody in charge with no previous experience.
If you have a toothache, you don’t go to a plumber. If your toilet drain leaks, you don’t call the dentist.
Candidates for LP POTUS need some significant business and/or executive level experience.
Otherwise, the LP just looks like fools and a joke.
Gary Johnson polling 9% in a three way race against Obama, Romney.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/freedom-watch/index.html#/v/1365954854001/gary-johnson-spoiler/?playlist_id=158146
I understand he also did hundreds of college speeches.
You may have been my sources on that – I don’t remember.
That doesn’t take millions, although it does take a travel budget.
Would love to see another LP presidential candidate try that approach.
“Are you sure? I have heard rumors that the reason he got back into politics was because his investments have not been doing well, and he needs to make money again.”
He hasn’t made money, in fact he’s lost money. Much of his campaign has been paid out of his own pocket. I know he regularly buys staffers lunch with his own money, whereas most campaigns would buy it with campaign money, etc.
He has money, as of just a couple months ago he was loaded. I can’t imagine that changed drastically.
You can check IPR archives, his site linked in the post, or your favorite search engine.
“Gary Johnson will be noticed in the campaign and get a decent protest vote. ”
Like Barr in 2008, Ron Paul in 1988, or Cynthia McKinney in 2008?
“And how many had heard of Ed Clark in November of 1980?”
Koch$
“With David Koch as the candiate for Vice-President, the Clark campaign was able to spend millions of dollars on tv and radio advertising – resources that are not likely to be able to Roger Gary or Lee Wrights.”
Or, most likely, Gary Johnson.
“Johnson has money, though he hasn’t really shown a willingness to spend his own”
Are you sure? I have heard rumors that the reason he got back into politics was because his investments have not been doing well, and he needs to make money again.
Johnson has money, though he hasn’t really shown a willingness to spend his own, but more importantly he has credibility (former two term governor) and he has a substantial base of voters to reach out to (Ron Paul-types) that could result in his breaking that 1 million vote barrier/1% threshold.
“in November of 1979 how many had heard of Ed Clark? ”
Actually, Ed Clark had run for Governor of California in 1978 and had received almost 380,000 votes in a relatively well-funded (for an LP candidate) campaign.
Various Koch funded publications promoted Ed Clark for several years leading up to the 1979 Libertarian National Convention.
With David Koch as the candiate for Vice-President, the Clark campaign was able to spend millions of dollars on tv and radio advertising – resources that are not likely to be able to Roger Gary or Lee Wrights.
Exactly, Gene. By the same token, the voters need to see our congressional and state house candidates as clearly qualified too, by their professional background or community service or other worthy accomplishments.
@1 Never heard of him.
I have heard of him. And if the choice is between Roger Gary and Gary Johnson I will vote for Roger Gary. And in November of 1979 how many had heard of Ed Clark? Not many you say? And how many had heard of Ed Clark in November of 1980? 900,000+!
The Libertarian Party will not achieve a breakthrough in the Presidential contest, regardless of our candidate. If we make a breakthrough it will come by electing people to Congress and state legislatures.
People think there is too much at stake in the contest for President to throw their vote away on a hopeless candidate.
That said, it is is an insult to the voters to present them with candidates who are clearly unqualified and have no record against which to judge their promises and their positions.
Gary Johnson has a record, as does Ron Paul. Both have defended freedom and challenged big government. Gary Johnson will be noticed in the campaign and get a decent protest vote. And hopefully we can build on that to make a breakthrough into Congress in the near future.
Never heard of him.