Libertarian Party Candidates Deserve Better.
Angela McArdle, Chair of the Libertarian Party made an appearance on Rising, a web video series hosted by political newspaper The Hill. In it (full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDgRxwM9m8w) she makes several concerning statements about the endorsement of Blake Masters by Marc Victors and her support for Libertarian Party candidates. We have heard concerns and confusion from candidates about these statements, and feel like we must speak up on their behalf.
When asked about the endorsement of Republican candidate Blake Masters by Libertarian Party candidate Marc Victor, Ms. McArdle said: “While I appreciate a lot of Blake Master’s policy positions, obviously as the Chair of the National Libertarian Party, I’m not able to endorse him. So I wish everyone in Arizona the best of luck voting and to vote your conscience. And I hope that in the future under my leadership we can foster some better communication within the party so that people aren’t disappointed and they don’t have different expectations set about what candidates seek to achieve when they run for office.”
This statement demands clarification. One could easily assume it implies that the Chair of the Libertarian Party would endorse a Republican if she were not in the position that she currently holds. The Classical Liberal Caucus believes that the role of the Chair is to clearly condemn actions that harm Libertarian Party candidates and members, and to not sound as though she wants to personally endorse candidates that don’t belong to the party that has been entrusted to her leadership.
The actions of Marc Victor have clearly harmed the membership of the Libertarian Party of Arizona, not only by losing their voice in the Arizona Senate Race, but also by throwing away the hard work and money they poured into his campaign. Marc Victor’s actions also harm other Libertarian Party candidates, by giving credence to the idea that they are simply “spoilers” or “plants” to help one side of the duopoly beat the other. This should not be difficult for the Chair of the Libertarian Party to condemn.
Ms. McArdle’s statement also infers that she thinks that the purpose of the Libertarian Party can be something other than that which is stated in the Party’s bylaws. She states: “And I hope that in the future under my leadership we can foster some better communication within the party so that people aren’t disappointed and they don’t have different expectations set about what candidates seek to achieve when they run for office”. This implies a purpose that is entirely at odds with the bylaws of the Libertarian Party, which states it is to “[function] as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements; electing Libertarians to public office to move public policy in a libertarian direction;”.
The Libertarian Party is not a spoiler. It is not a plant. It is not a kingmaker. It is a political party.
Later in the interview, in response to a question about the Pennsylvania Senate race, Ms. McArdle says: “I don’t think that Dr. Oz and Blake Masters.. are not close at all in ideology or policy. I understand that Blake Masters in Arizona has articulated some more libertarian talking points and I appreciate that to a certain extent, but we’re not seeing that in Pennsylvania, and I believe that’s the same case in Georgia. From what I understand the Georgia GOP is not liberty minded, they are much more milquetoast neo-con in their government style, so I support our candidates who are running there.”
This statement again demands clarification. Where does the Chair of the Libertarian Party stand when actions are taken that undermine the Libertarian Party’s purpose and its candidates? Does the Chair believe it’s appropriate to support candidates differently based on if there is a “liberty-minded” Republican presence? Libertarian Candidates deserve the support of the Chair and Libertarian Party regardless of if there is a “liberty-minded” Republican presence or not.
The job of the Chair of the Libertarian Party should be to build up our candidates, not imply that they are pawns in some game to be used. There are hundreds of hard working and passionate candidates who are reaching out with a message of liberty across the country. Their work deserves support, and these statements make implications that are completely unacceptable.
The Classical Liberal Caucus applauds the actions of the Arizona Libertarian Party in swiftly and soundly condemning the actions of those who wish to use candidates and their volunteers as pawns in the duopoly (https://azlp.org/2022/11/02/a-statement-from-the-chair-on-marc-victors-withdrawal/). We hope that the implications made by the Chair’s statements will be clarified quickly, and that the Chair of the Libertarian Party will take a clear position on this issue.