Posted on 08/18/2008 11:13:17 AM PDT by mukraker
History will be made September 9 in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, as two Libertarian candidates square off in the first Libertarian Congressional primary in the party’s history.
Ben Olson III and Kevin Barrett are vying to become the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin’s candidate in this Congressional race. The winner will face Democrat incumbent Congressman Ron Kind and Republican challenger Paul Stark in November.
Olson, from Wisconsin Dells, works as a builder, sawyer and bartender. He is running on the limited government and personal responsibility platform endorsed by the national Libertarian Party.
Barrett, from Lone Rock, is a leader in the 9/11 conspiracy movement. According to Barrett “The whole media-hyped story that you need to be afraid of terrorism is a sick joke.” Barrett’s website is replete with articles and essays about secret government conspiracy theories and anti-Bush propaganda. Barrett calls John McCain “a neocon-controlled psychopath.”
Barrett is promoting himself as a “New Libertarian” who says he’s “strongly committed to reducing government (including secret government) by ending the empire.” Barrett says “We need to move the party to the center… by reaching out to disaffected Democrats and Greens.”
Barrett is a former lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, until that school terminated it’s Arabic/Humanities program rather than grant Barrett tenure.
The two candidates will square off in a forum aboard Captain Soma's boat "Cheers" on the upper Dells of the Wisconsin River. “Cheers” is docked 2 miles north of Wisconsin Dells, on Stand Rock Road. The boat will leave the dock on Sunday August 24 at 6:30 pm and will return at 8:30.
The cruise is free, with a cash bar on board. Limited seating will be available for spectators. Please call 608-254-2628 for details and reservations.
For press information, you can contact Ben Olson III at 608-254-6572 or email benolson3@gmail.com. Kevin Barrett can be reached at 608-583-2132 or email kbarrett@merr.com.
Let’s smoke a bong!
The battle is on to see who gets 1% of the vote in November.
If that makes you happy, by all means, go ahead. I won’t stop you. It’s your right to pursue happiness, in whateve form you find it. I choose not to partake of the substance.
Guess who I don't like in this race.
You betcha!
You’re not alone. When this wingnut filed as a Libertarian, I thought it was a joke. It was - a sick joke. You might remember Barrett was roundly criticized by Bill O’Reilly & Sean hannity, which also helped fuel the Legislature to demand his firing from UW. BNarett’s about as Libertarian as Ralph Nader.
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