Replies

I understand that this is from the Libertarian Party Web site. This is what Libertarian-think gets:

June 20, 2002

Libertarians launch “spoiler strategy” to unseat five of Congress’ worst drug warriors

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Libertarian Party has targeted five of the worst drug warriors in Congress for defeat in November to prove that the public is turning against the War on Drugs.

"Especially in the wake of September 11, most Americans oppose using police resources to arrest marijuana smokers," said Ron Crickenberger, Libertarian Party political director. "When it comes to reforming our nation's drug laws, these five politicians are way out of the mainstream - and we want them to be out of a job in November."

The five federal incumbents - three Republicans and two Democrats – targeted for defeat are Rep. Bob Barr, R-GA; Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-TX; Sen. Max Cleland, D-GA; Sen. Tim Hutchison, R-AR; and Sen. Max Baucus, D-MT.

The Libertarians' weapon will be the "spoiler strategy," which involves siphoning enough votes from the incumbent in a close race to cause them to lose to their Democratic or Republican opponent, Crickenberger explained. The goal is to scare other House and Senate members into backing away from their support for the War on Drugs.

"Of course, our primary goal as a political party is to run candidates and get them elected," Crickenberger said. "But having the worst drug warriors go down at the hands of the Libertarian Party will show that it is politically dangerous for sitting Congressmen to oppose drug reform measures."

The five were selected according to three criteria, said Crickenberger:
First, they had to be one of the worst in Congress on the drug issue, as measured by the number of pro-Drug War bills they have sponsored; second, they had to be in a tight race, so the Libertarian Party will have a reasonable chance to affect the outcome; third, they had to be running in a state or Congressional district where LP candidates have run effective races in past years.

"The Libertarian Party expects to spend up to $100,000 in direct candidate contributions and coordinated expenditures on advertising," said Crickenberger. "The targeted advertisements will focus on one aspect of the drug-reform agenda that has broad public support: Medical marijuana."

As evidence, he cited two polls:

* In a November 2001 poll commissioned by the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), 61% of respondents said they opposed arresting and jailing nonviolent pot smokers due to the increased threat of terrorism since September 11.

* In a March 2002 Pew Research Center/Gallup poll, 73% of voters support the medical use of marijuana with a doctor's prescription.

"We're going to convince voters in these districts that a vote for the incumbent is a vote to continue to arrest pot smokers while terrorists are on the loose," Crickenberger said.

"Ordinary Americans understand that arresting and jailing marijuana smokers makes no sense, but the political extremists in Congress just don't get it. The Republicans and Democrats that we have targeted are hopelessly addicted to the War on Drugs - and we intend to make them go cold turkey in November."

Well, I agree with the Libertarians on this issue. Drug Warriors need to go. We have many other far more pressing issues to deal with it.

Libertarians launch “spoiler strategy” to unseat five of Congress’ worst drug warriors

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Libertarian Party has targeted five of the worst drug warriors in Congress for defeat in November to prove that the public is turning against the War on Drugs. [etc.]

None of that supports your claim that "Libertarians' goal [is to] transform the USA into the NSA, the Narcotic State of America."