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The Columbia Missourian, May 26, 1996 -- lower right, page one. STATE'S LIBERTARIANS CHOOSE DELEGATES * Kevin Goodwin, a former Columbia school board member, is one of those heading to D.C. -------------------------- By Matt Ehlers Missourian staff writer -------------------------- America's third largest political party met in Columbia on Saturday to pick delegates to its national convention. The Missouri Libertarian Party has candidates on the ballot in nearly every statewide political race. The party held its state convention Saturday at the Ramada Conference Center to nominate delegates to the convention, which begins July 3 in Washington, D.C. Kevin Goodwin, a former Columbia school board trustee, was among those chosen to attend. The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971, believes in individual responsibility and less government interference in people's personal lives. The party hopes to phase out the federal income tax and legalize illicit drugs. It vehemently opposes any law regulating firearms. About 40 people listened Saturday while candidates spoke on behalf of their campaigns. The Missouri Libertarian Party has candidates in all nine races for the U.S. House of Representatives and two candidates for governor. Libertarians will also be on the ballot in the lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state treasurer races. Libertarians realize they face a tough road ahead. "This early in the game, the odds are not with me," said Gordon Rogers of Columbia, who is running for the 23rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives. Rogers remains optimistic that his message will be heard. He faces Tim Harlan, D-Columbia, and Republican Bruce Cornett in the election. "I'm not so much running against Tim Harlan as I'm promoting individual freedom," Rogers said. Individual freedom and responsibility were common themes throughout the candidate's remarks. When the candidates finished, the atmosphere was loose and relaxed. Participants joked with one another as the party's national chairman, Steve Dasbach, spoke on how to better promote the party. "If we just had the right bumper sticker," he said. _______________________________________________________ Please see PARTY, Page 8A Party: Libertarians do not agree on all issues -------------------- From Page 1A -------------------- Dasbach said the party faces "the difficult work of building a political party from the grass roots on up. Building a political party is not easy. There are no shortcuts." One challenge is that all Libertarians are not in agreement on all the issues. Martin Lindstedt, one of the party's candidates for governor, believes the party is splitting down the middle. He said former Republicans and Democrats who joined the Libertarian Party have brought their old rifts with them. As a right-wing Libertarian and member of several militias, Lindstedt feels his voice is stifled by other party members. Lindstedt, who lives in Granby, feels most party members don't want the party to grow. He believes a small percentage of members are making decisions on party policy. "They talk about liberty and freedom, but when it comes down to it, they act like a bunch of fascists," he said. Lindstedt said that by not allowing proxy votes, the core of the Missouri Libertarian Party is cutting out the voice of members who could not attend the convention. Most participants Saturday concentrated on the positive direction the party is taking in Missouri. Jim Givens, chairman of the Missouri Libertarian Party, said the party is growing especially well in Columbia. Givens, a computer programmer at M.U., said this can be attributed to the age of Columbia's residents. "A lot of young people and students are open to new ideas," he said. *********************************************************
I gave this interview to that young reporter at 12:00 noon, an hour
before the 30-some other rabid-sheep "Libertarians" present destroyed the
Party, severing themselves from their 210+ grass-roots brethren by
disenfranchising some then (and most later) and permanently cutting
themselves off from the rest by making sure that the majority has no say
in Party matters. Their justification: They were the "elite" by virtue
of their not having anything better to do than drive to Columbia and
listen to the yammering or due to close geographical proximity.
I lost my seat on the Expediting Committee from the 7th District due
to a skillfully orchestrated campaign of vote fraud and proxy
disqualification. Now them fools on the ExpCom don't have anyone to
chew on their butts and talk them out of foolishness.
The next day, one of the ExpCom members waved the above paper in my
face and howled about not liking being called a fascist. I coldly told
him that I had NOT been misquoted. He seemed about to strike me, but was
calmed down by his friends. Other than that, he is really a nice guy,
just unable to deal with the truth as revealed.
To my delight, my opponent for governor, J. Mark Oglesby, wanted to
call the cops on me at that restaurant. I told him to call the cops if
he wanted. Jaymark then figured out that:
a.) I was not scared of cops,
b.) that I was not scared of jail, and maybe
c.) since I had brought along a video-camera that perhaps I was
taping him acting like a Communist, and would use it in my campaign
against him.
I made sure that I walked over to the Missouri Columbian offices
afterwards to thank the staff for that young reporter's quoting me
accurately, and cogently crafting my concerns. They seemed pleasantly
surprised. I got the impression that they don't often get politicians
thanking them for what they write about them in the paper.
My next decision is whether to go home to the 7th District and lead a
revolt to throw Jaymark and Horrass off the ExpCom, or, since my
right-wing followers quit a long time ago or were disenfranchised, to
just forego storming that particular dunghill.
Also, unlike brain-dead Republicans going after Klinton's character as
an issue, it is in my best interests to show the voters my wisdom, not
Jaymark's foolishness. Let him do his customary good job of showing what
a fool he is.
Ahh, but I do so love to fight!
Martin Lindstedt
Libertarian Candidate for Governor
CO, 7th Missouri Militia