Posted on 10/26/2024 3:47:39 AM PDT by Angelino97
Clint Russell, who sought the Libertarian Party’s vice presidential nomination this year and was eliminated in the second round of voting, announced Thursday that he is supporting Republican nominee Donald Trump for the presidency.
Russell was one of five candidates competing for the Libertarian Party’s vice presidential slot at the Libertarian National Convention in May. He was also ultimately chosen by members to debate Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy as part of the convention. He was eliminated in the second round of voting, securing 340 delegate votes compared to the 371 earned by Mike ter Maat, who became the party’s vice presidential nominee.
In an X post, Russell stated that he had weighed the endorsement for at least six months, describing the decision as “brutally hard.” He explained that his initial criticisms of Trump stemmed from the former president’s pandemic response, particularly Trump’s failure to “see Anthony Fauci for the monstrous and criminal fraud that he is,” his support for lockdowns and mandates, and the decision to issue stimulus checks, which Russell described as “financial malpractice” that he links to current inflation rates.
However, Russell stated that his perspective on Trump shifted over time due to growing concerns about what he perceives as the political weaponization of the justice system, media bias, and a lack of accountability regarding U.S.-Russia tensions—an issue he further describes as the most pressing crisis facing the world.
“To me, nothing else matters if we don’t find a pathway towards peace,” Russell wrote.
Russell also expressed optimism over Trump’s openness to “dissidents, former democrats, independents and his promise to put a libertarian in his cabinet.” He suggested that a potential second Trump administration inclusive of figures such as Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now-Republican Tulsi Gabbard, and a libertarian in a Department of Education role could avoid what he sees as mistakes made in Trump’s first term.
Additionally, Russell contrasted Trump with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, specifically highlighting her opposition to fracking, support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, previous statements in favor of mandatory gun buybacks, and her position on continuing U.S. involvement in Ukraine. He further described Harris as “the least impressive person I’ve ever seen in American politics.”
Despite his endorsement, Russell stated that he would remain critical of Trump, if elected, saying, “I will never ignore his mistakes. I will applaud him when he does right and call him out when he does wrong.”
📌✔️
The idiot party gets in line!
Well, that’s 11 more votes for Trump.
A lot of Libertarians are endorsing Trump. It’s a weirdly broad based coalition.
The LP nominee (who barely won AFTER all the other candidates were eliminated) supports transitioning kids without parental consent, and even for a lot of Libertarians, that’s a bridge too far.
Even the LP Chair, Angela McArdle, has been working across party lines, inviting both Trump and RFK to the LP convention.
She’s gotten a lot of criticism for it, but she sees it as advancing liberty incrementally.
**A lot of Libertarians are endorsing Trump. It’s a weirdly broad based coalition.**
No it isn’t. Just weirdos. Too many gop losses due to them. Too pure.
**The LP nominee supports transitioning kids without parental consent and that’s a bridge too far.**
It means they shouldn’t be taken seriously.
**Even the LP Chair, Angela McArdle, has been working across party lines, inviting both Trump and RFK to the LP convention.**
RFK is no Libertarian. No business being there.
Look people. The best thing the Libertarians can do for themselves is to strengthen their influence in the GOP. They just won’t do that. They criticize both sides equally meaning it favors the democrats-unequal. Getting between parents over transitioning is hypocritical to what they supposedly stand for.
Even the LP Chair, Angela McArdle, has been working across party lines, inviting both Trump and RFK to the LP convention.She’s gotten a lot of criticism for it, but she sees it as advancing liberty incrementally.
Did either go? I listened to the Tom Woods podcast when he talked about the convention, but I do not recall.
Every little bit helps!
Yes.
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