[756] in libertarians
GOP '96 candidates and libertarians
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Vernon Imrich)
Fri Feb 24 17:14:15 1995
To: libertarians@MIT.EDU
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 1995 17:10:16 EST
From: Vernon Imrich <vimrich@MIT.EDU>
------- Forwarded Message
Date: 23 Feb 95 18:32:38 EST
From: "Eric J. Rittberg" <71562.120@compuserve.com>
Subject: Briefs on the '96 Presidential Race
It appears that libertarian Republicans are spreading themselves around
the in the '96 Presidential race. The following are a few tidbits from
the campaign trail:
Key Dole Staffer a libertarian Republican
Kathryn Coombs who has been hired to serve as Press Secretary for Bob
Dole's Presidential Campaign is a libertarian Republican. Coombs, who has
been residing in England for the past few years, is a long-time Young
Republican activist and has served in many capacities within the National
GOP.
At C-PAC '95 held in Washington, DC Feb. 9-11, she confided to Republican
Liberty Caucus Executive Director Eric Rittberg that she was a very
active member with the Libertarian Party of Virginia in the late '70's,
and that she was still very libertarian in her beliefs. Coombs also met
and chatted with her old friend current Libertarian Party National
Committee member Don Ernsberger at the C-PAC hospitality suite for Dole's
'96 effort.
Weld on Abortion Rift
Possible GOP contender Massachusetts Governor William Weld made the
following comment in Arizona recently according to AP; "The Republican
Party has been properly critical of the Democrats when they seek to
extend the long arm of the government where it does not belong," said
Weld. He further stated that it was intellectually dishonest for
conservatives to advocate less government "while keeping a foot on
individual liberty."
Goldwater backs Specter
In what appears to be an early endcorsement, libertarian Republican
Godfather Barry Goldwater has written a very kind letter to Senator Arlen
Specter of Pennslvania. In the latest INSIGHT (March 6), reporter John
Elvin writes; On social issues, Goldwater's views are more liberal.
While that seems to shock those who bought into the "Mr. Conservative"
image, it actually is no surprise. Many of Goldwater's early speeches
were the work of the late libertarian guru Karl Hess -- a barb-throwing,
rugged individualist. Hess not only wanted government out of the
bedroom, he wanted it out of the neighborhood entirely.
Goldwater's recent advocay of a "live and let live" society has
generated harsh criticism... He has praised, if not formally endorsed,
the bid of Sen. Arlen Specter; a Republican from Pennsylvania, for the
1996 GOP Presidential nomination. "I think it's great what you are doing,
calling attention to the so-called 'far right' groups in our party. I
wish you nothing but success. I've been speaking against that movement
for years."
Gramm wins major backing from Quasi-libertarians
Texas Senator Phil Gramm has announced that his two campaign co-chairman
will be Arizona Senator John McCain and Georgia Senator Paul Coverdell.
McCain has maintained a very libertarian-oriented voting record in his 8
years in the Senate. Coverdell, a pro-choice fiscal conservative, was
backed by the Republican Liberty Caucus in his 1992 bid and received a
contribution from the RLC's PAC (RLFCF). Coverdell has also maintained a
very libertarian record and has been particularly vocal in support of
privatizaion of the postal service.
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