Johnson-Weld a Tough Sell to Anti-Trump Conservatives

[don-o]

Johnson-Weld a Tough Sell to Anti-Trump Conservatives

Why the Libertarian party ticket will struggle with #NeverTrump.

12:08 PM, Jun 02, 2016 | By Mark Hemingway

http://www.weeklystandard.com/johnson-weld-a-tough-sell-to-anti-trump-conservatives/article/2002646/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=20160602_TWS-blog-johnson-weld-problem-8_twitter&utm_content=TWS

Recent polls have shown that the Libertarian party ticket, comprised of former Republican governors Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, earning as much as 10 percent of the vote when placed alongside the two most disliked major party nominees of the modern era.

In 2012, I attended the Libertarian party convention and interviewed Johnson. He was thoughtful, had a good fiscal track record as a governor, and was clearly trying to drag the Libertarian party in a more respectful and serious direction. (Four years later, there's still much work to be done on that front.) In terms of appealing to Republican voters, however, Johnson had some obstacles to overcome. Unlike Ron and Rand Paul—the two other notable small-l libertarians who have had some success appealing to Republicans—Johnson was pro-choice, which is a nonstarter for social conservatives.

This year, Johnson seems to be doubling down on alienating social conservatives at a time when, more than ever, they might be inclined to give the Libertarian party a shot. Johnson has quite inexplicably rejected the notion of religious liberty protections, arguing that Christians who object should be forced to bake cakes and the like for gay weddings.

exc

[r9etb]

A Johnson Weld sounds painful.

[kidd]

Johnson is crazy too.  It pains me to think of having to vote for him.  I was hoping for a much better candidate in the Libertarian Party.

I wish Texas allowed write-ins or a "None of the Above" vote where "None of the Above" would actually be counted and could win.

In Texas, you can write-in "Darrell Castle" for the Constitution Party.

Everything a conservative wants, without Trump.

[geronl]

The Constitution Party is not on the ballot in Texas unless they can gather enough signatures in a short time. I'm doubtful.

I think they'd better concentrate on getting a Railroad Commission candidate and put all efforts to get that person 5% of the vote statewide so they can have guaranteed ballot access in 2018 and 2020

[INVAR]

Castle it will be for me, even if he's a write-in in my state.

[sneakypete]

Johnson-Weld a Tough Sell to Anti-Trump Conservatives

This year, Johnson seems to be doubling down on alienating social conservatives at a time when, more than ever, they might be inclined to give the Libertarian party a shot. Johnson has quite inexplicably rejected the notion of religious liberty protections, arguing that Christians who object should be forced to bake cakes and the like for gay weddings.

exc

That one did him in for me,and I'm an agnostic. We are either all free to live our lives in peace with others,or none of us are free,and a Police State of the Left is no freerer than  Police State from the Right.

[sneakypete]

Johnson is crazy too.  It pains me to think of having to vote for him.  I was hoping for a much better candidate in the Libertarian Party.

He is also for open borders or he would have never been elected Governor of New (?) Mexico.

I wish Texas allowed write-ins or a "None of the Above" vote where "None of the Above" would actually be counted and could win.

I have long wished and called for "None of the above" to be an option on ALL votes,state and federal,in the US,with the added provision that any election where "None of the Above" got the most votes,every party that ran a candidate for that office has to finance a new election with new candidates,and pay it all out of their party treasury.

That wouldn't have to happen more than twice before we suddenly started getting MUCH better candidates.

The RepDim Party will never allow that to happen because it would take control over what candidates are allowed to run from their control,and put it in the hands of the voters.

There has never been any political party in all of history that has voted for less power for themselves.

[geronl]

Castle it will be for me, even if he's a write-in in my state.

Castle could win me over, but I still plan to write in Ted at this point