With the upcoming 2018 Libertarian Party Convention in New Orleans looming ahead, it’s time for party members to think if now is the time for a change in leadership. Coming off the most successful presidential campaign ever, many within the party are starting to wonder if the reason for the shortcomings is due to the leadership in the Libertarian National Committee.
Vice Chair Arvin Vohra has had multiple incidents with saying very hyper-critical and graphic rhetoric about the military and teachers and Chairman Nicholas Sarwark recently came under fire for criticizing Tom Woods, calling the Mises Caucus of the party “the preferred choice of actual Nazi’s” and back in May for claiming “The Libertarian Party is in the same place where African-Americans were prior to the ’60s. We’re in the same place where women were prior to getting the right to vote. We have to try harder because we are judged more harshly.”
Vohra already has competition ready for 2018 that includes Trent Sommes III and Jake Porter, but no one has yet to take up the gauntlet to challenge Nicholas Sarwark in 2018 until now.
The Libertarian Party of Washington’s Joshua Smith announced his intent to run in September stating that “In a time where the public has so much disdain for Republicans and Democrats, the fact that an already established third party promoting liberty is having a hard time gaining traction is unacceptable.”
Smith has served his state affiliate as a Regional Representative, overseeing five counties and is currently working towards setting up new county affiliates that he plans to personally nurture into thriving organizations.
The candidate for Washington State Representative is also the founder of Think Liberty, the Libertarian news site formed of four of the founders of Dankertarians who felt that the other founders had detoured from the mission of the party. Smith stated in an interview with the author “We wish it to be an educational think tank who spreads liberty to a world that needs it now more than ever. It grows every day, and we just want solid content that brings new people to liberty and the party.”
The candidate will also be a featured speaker in the upcoming Omaha Roads to Freedom UnConvention that features keynote speaker, Ron Paul.
Joshua’s full announcement of his campaign can be found below:
“Becoming the Chair of the National Libertarian Party is no small feat. It includes giving up large amounts of time, money, and other resources as a volunteer in an unpaid position, but maybe the most critical aspect is the great responsibility that it entails. As the chair of the Libertarian Party, one is expected to toe the line in representing a group of people steeped in intellectual political philosophy. The Party, while consisting of many intelligent and free thinkers is also, unfortunately, a party that is struggling. In a time where the public has so much disdain for Republicans and Democrats, the fact that an already established third party promoting liberty is having a hard time gaining traction is unacceptable. The Party needs to refocus on the principles it was founded upon and take a proper, efficient, and effective approach to outreach, marketing, and leadership.
It is my observation that many of these facets of operation have been missing the mark since the 2016 elections. Principles have been lost, left in the background while virtue signaling, identity politics, and battles for infamy have taken center stage. The principles we support continue to disappear as each day goes by. Marketing efforts are not only not bringing in new members, they are resulting in good libertarians nationwide cutting up and burning their LP membership cards. The amount of money donated to the Party continues to nose dive as we head for a bleak Q4. Given that these donations are the primary funding mechanism we have for fighting the two financial juggernauts of the duopoly, a lack of support within the libertarian movement will hold us back from the progress we would otherwise make.
We have caucuses popping up like the Libertarian Socialist Caucus that violently oppose things like rent, free trade, and private property. Infiltrators are attempting to distort the LP’s Statement of Principles to justify the use of violence under the non-aggression principle as it pertains to their agendas. We have leadership publicly attacking well respected libertarian philosophers, economists, and past/present members, misrepresenting and attacking their character with baseless emotional claims. The Libertarian Party has become a circus, one that doesn’t intend on slowing down without opposition.
I am that opposition! Today, I am announcing my candidacy for LNC Chair.”
Follow Joshua Smith’s campaign on social media here.
Since what year have you been a part of the party and what other positions have you held?
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