Rand Paul is not a libertarian. There are clear differences between the Libertarian Party, including the philosophy upon which is it based, and the philosophy and campaign rhetoric of Rand Paul. While the Libertarian Party shares some stances traditionally associated with the Republican Party, the LP also shares common ground on positions traditionally associated with the Democratic Party, and not always for the same reasons. We are an alternative to the two party system, not constrained by the model that defines both major parties.
Libertarians want a complete repeal of the PATRIOT Act, closure of Guantanamo Bay, and an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rand Paul has stated that he wants to continue military detentions at Guantanamo Bay, a retroactive official declaration of war by Congress, and has denied that he seeks to overturn the PATRIOT Act.
In further contrast, libertarians want to provide a mechanism by which non-traditional couples can receive equal protection under the law. Rand Paul has voiced his support of the discriminatory “one man, one woman” definition of marriage and his opposition to any other civil contract option.
The Libertarian Party of Kentucky Speaks About Ron Paul
Paul's stance on immigration doesn't strike me as all that congruent with libertarian thinking, either, but that's neither here nor there. The main reason I put this here was the next time someone states that Paul is a libertarian, I have proof that his own state's Libertarian Party doesn't agree.
(h/t Jillian Rayfield of Talking Points Memo.)
2 comments:
Didn't think so, they so seldom are. /s
I know it smacks somewhat of the "Bush is not a real conservative" sort of argument. Still, the Libertarian Party is a party dedicated to a particular philosophy, like the Socialists or the Greens. Paul's positions bear only a slight resemblance to LP philosophy, so I'm not surprised they disavow him.
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