As a long line of Republicans begin to announce their campaigns for president, and a short line of Democrats await an announcement from one particular person, the news media has been asking who will the Libertarians support. The answer is simply the Libertarian Party candidate.
The Libertarian Party does not have a First-in-the-Nation Caucus like the Republicans and Democrats do. But the Libertarian Party will hold a nominating convention in 2016 and will have its own candidate. That has not stopped the media from asking if the party and voters registered as Libertarians in Iowa will vote for candidates of another party. This week just such a question came from a European news outlet and from the local daily paper. (Here’s a link to the local story.)
Keith Laube, chair of the Libertarian Party of Iowa issued the following statement today when asked if Libertarians will support Rand Paul:
Libertarians are believers in the U.S. Constitution. Libertarians are fiscally responsible and want a smaller, more efficient government. Libertarians are also socially accepting. Rand Paul meets Libertarian ideals on many fiscal issues, but little to none of the Libertarian ideals regarding social issues (same sex marriage and decriminalizing drugs).
We believe in individual liberty. People should be able to do what they want as long as it does not interfere with the rights of others. We believe that it is not the role of government to babysit adults. We are strong believers of personal rights and property rights. We are strong believers of defending what is ours and will use force to protect what is ours. We oppose the aggression and offensive nature of the current U.S. foreign policy. Libertarians will only support a candidate that is honest and trustworthy of these values.
Rand Paul is not a member of the Libertarian Party, he is a member of the Republican Party. Although Rand Paul expresses some Libertarian ideals, Libertarians will support the candidate that is on the Libertarian Party ticket. Several Libertarian candidates, including former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, have been preparing for the Libertarian Party nomination in May 2016.
