There is a national political convention in town. Yes, the Libertarian Party is here.
Members of the country’s third- largest political party will congregate in Denver today to decide their presidential nominee. And, in a year when polls portend a close national race, an opportunity for the party to be a consequential spoiler may be a reality.
The Libertarian Party has strong ties to Colorado. It was formed in Colorado in 1971, when activists — dismayed by Richard Nixon’s economic meddling and the abandonment of the gold standard — began reaching out to like-minded individuals. The Libertarians then held their first convention in Denver in 1973.
Libertarians, in a basic sketch, believe in limited government and individual liberty: drug legalization, gay marriage, liberal immigration, free trade and opposition to foreign intervention.
Conventional wisdom states that Libertarian candidates draw votes from Republicans, and with the ongoing war in Iraq and the Bush administration’s record on civil liberties and spending, this remains a reality.
However, Republican presidential candidate and best-selling author Ron Paul, in effect an ideological libertarian, proved that the appeal of the party can be widened. Paul drew crowds of young people, disheartened Democrats and independents, in addition to Republicans.
Paul’s candidacy, though largely inconsequential within the framework of a major party, may give Libertarians the motivation they need. Paul is not running — he ran as the party’s candidate in 1988 — but his message may resonate with thousands of new voters.
The most obvious choice to pick up the mantle is former Georgia congressman Bob Barr. The former social conservative has re-jiggered his positions to more properly fit into libertarian ideology. His candidacy would offer small-government Republicans a known quantity for a protest vote.
Then there is former Alaska Sen. and Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel, who has also made some alterations to fit the Libertarian mold. His esoteric language and curmudgeonly demeanor have made him a sentimental favorite among some voters.
Among the other candidates are the always-excitable Wayne Root, a right-wing Libertarian, professional sports handicapper and self-made millionaire. There is also Virginia Republican congressional candidate Vern McKinley, a businessman who claims the Ronald Reagan agenda as his guiding principle.
Whatever the outcome, Denver should welcome this collective (if they’ll pardon the word) that offers voters an alternative to the two major political parties.
