Libertarian Party Raises Eyebrows With Trump Speaking Invite

The Libertarian Party will be holding its convention later this month in Washington, D.C., and, unlike any party convention in recent or living memory, it will have a former president from one of the major parties addressing the meeting.

Yes, Donald Trump is speaking to the LP. It’s as weird as it sounds – sort of like if Republicans were to invite Barack Obama to come address its convention later this summer.

Why on earth would the third party that prides itself on being an alternative voice to the majors give Trump the podium?  For the attention, of course:

The Libertarian Party said in a release announcing the speech that they will share a list of their top ten issues with Trump ahead of the convention, “hoping to make an impact on the policy positions of a past, and possibly future, President.”

“For 50 years, we’ve been trying to get our candidates on the main stage with major party POTUS candidates and we’ve finally succeeded in bringing one to our stage,” said Angela McArdle, the party’s chair, in a statement. “We will do everything in our power to use this incredible opportunity to advance the message of liberty.”

Well, that’s one way to spin it. Another is that the LP has finally crossed over from offbeat and sometimes off-kilter alternative to authoritarian toady. 

What’s in it for Trump if shows, as promised? To win votes for his campaign. It’s that simple. And he’ll get some. But not everyone in the LP tent is amused at the national office’s antics. The Texas branch of the party thundered that the Trump Experience is “a gamble we are not likely to win.”  And also that:

Trump has already flatly denied our national Chair’s requests for a debate or even for live questions from a moderator, insisting on a simple personal address to our delegates. He has also clearly described his motive for wanting to attend our convention and deliver such an address: having a chance to pitch our delegates on voting for him instead of our own candidate. And the national leadership has agreed to this on the theory that somehow we’ll be able to turn this situation to our advantage.

Only if the “advantage” the national party apparatus is hoping for is a good spot in the hiring line should Trump win in November. 

Otherwise, this episode serves as a reminder that it’s fair and fine to be a small “l” libertarian…or as those in the know say it, “classical liberal.” There’s along heritage of classical liberals fighting for liberty, defeating tyranny, and expanding the economic and personal wellbeing of countless millions of people.

The Libertarian Party? Eh, not so much. But at least the group running the national office has made its leanings and intentions clear, so, yeah. They have that.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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Norman Leahy

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Norman Leahy has written about national and Virginia politics for more than 30 years with outlets ranging from The Washington Post to BearingDrift.com. A consulting writer, editor, recovering think tank executive and campaign operative, Norman lives in Virginia.

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