Gary Johnson: “He’s Not a Nut and He’s Not Manifestly Dishonest”
With the attention focused on Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton this election many fail to miss the opportunity sitting right in front of them and that is the option of voting for a third party, specifically the Libertarian Party.
The leading candidate for the Libertarian nomination, Governor Gary Johnson, has been getting a major boost in press attention ever since Donald Trump secured the nomination of the Republican Party. We are not talking about minor press attention like other candidates for the Libertarian nomination have been getting, but major. CNN, NBC, ABC, and The New York Times. Johnson’s path to victory is almost assured at the end of this month when the Libertarian’s meet in Orlando for their national convention.
The Washington Post ran a excellent op-ed on the Governor in yesterday’s paper where they introduce their readers, ones who probably never knew, to Gary Johnson and the rise of the third party movement in this election. Written by Ed Rogers, a GOP strategist who sounds disgruntled with his party, painted a broad stoke that pits the Governor almost as the savior alternative to the craziness we are experiencing in this election season:
Who is Gary Johnson? Well, he served as the Republican governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. He’s not a nut and he’s not manifestly dishonest, and that sets him apart from the field.
They are 100% correct in their assumption. He is not a nut and he is not dishonest. He was one of the most successful Governors in the United States. He is an advocate for limited government in both economic and personal aspects of our lives.
For the naysayers of the Libertarian Party that suggest that Gary Johnson will not perform better than he did in 2012, Ed Rogers in the Post sets it up real nice:
Johnson was also the Libertarian candidate for president in 2012, and received 1.27 million votes, or almost 1 percent of the popular vote. Keep in mind that in 2012, there was not as much widespread dissatisfaction with the Democratic and Republican parties’ nominees. In 2016, Johnson could benefit from Republicans, Democrats and independents who find they cannot vote for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. Some of the young, left-wing Bernie Sanders supporters may be attracted by Johnson’s advocacy for legalized marijuana, military non-interventionism and pro-choice stance. Republicans could be attracted by his credible experience as governor, his rational commitment to balancing the federal budget and his pro-Second Amendment views. Many middle-of-the-road voters might simply be reassured by his calm demeanor, mature presence and credibility. In a race between Shouting Hillary and Insulting Trump, his lucidity may offer a vivid contrast.
The moment is upon the Liberty movement. With the departure of Rand Paul from the Republican field months ago there has not been a valid candidate to chose from until now. The Libertarian Party is on the verge of changing the thinking and direction of American politics in one of the most dynamic election cycles this country has experienced in a long time.
Can they win? That answer is quite unclear. The major media outlets will tell you that no third party has a chance of winning, but anything can happen. With such a volatile election cycle where nobody would have predicted that Donald Trump would get the Republican nomination, the impossible is in reach.
The attraction to Governor Johnson is real among both Republicans and Democrats. He has the experience necessary to do the job of President having been the Governor of a state, and appeals to the wants and needs of a huge cross section of voters. There is nobody in the Libertarian Party, or an any party, that matches that ability.
