Tactical Mistake
Just a couple of hours after sending my submitted letter to the editor arguing that the Libertarian Party represents a distinct alternative to the old, big-government parties, I received an announcement that the Arkansas Libertarian Party Executive Committee has endorse two Republicans, one a candidate for the Arkansas House of Representatives and one for the United States’ Senate.
I’m so glad my proposed letter has appeared when it did because it presents an alternative political stance to that taken by the Executive Committee.
Arkansas has been dominated by the Democratic Party for more than a hundred years. The Republican Party is aggressively trying to become the dominant party in Arkansas. But, how is it to our advantage to side with the Republicans? If you’ve just opened a struggling Burger King franchise in a neighborhood, it is foolish to tell people to go to McDonald’s instead of your business. So, why would we want to do the equivalent?
If the Libertarian Party is to grow in opposition to the two dominant parties, we must define ourselves as a reasonable alternative. But, what the Executive Committee has done is not in our interest because it blurs the distinction between us and the Republicans.
It’s a self-defeating act for us to endorse Republicans. Yes, we agree with them on some issues, but there are many others where Libertarians and Republicans are miles apart.
And, as I recall from the state convention, these men did not indicated that they are libertarians at heart, nor did either of them even ask for our endorsement. So why are we giving it to them at our own expense?
This is a mistake. It’s not one that will hurt us severely, but it is a tactical mistake.
Tom Carpenter
