The North Carolina Bar Association sponsored a U.S. Senate debate held on June 26, and all three ballot-listed candidates participated. See this story. Michael Beitler, the Libertarian nominee, is apparently the first Libertarian Senate nominee in North Carolina to have debated both his or her major party opponents. He is a teacher at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Every U.S. Senate election in North Carolina starting in 1992 has had three candidates on the ballot, a Democrat, a Republican, and a Libertarian.
Maybe I’m just loco, but if the Libertarian Party has been able to keep it together for 18 years, why should they have to prove over and over via petitions that they have real support? It’s just an anti-democratic bunch of garbage to make them jump through these hoops.
We really, really should consider not reelecting anyone at all. I’d rather have new bums than keep the old bums we have now.
I totally agree with you, Gregg.
Sometimes I wish some billionaire would just pour hundreds of millions into an anti-party party and run people with bags on their heads…call it the “Bag Party” At least that way we wouldn’t know if they were “pretty enough” to get elected.
I donno…sometimes I just want to say “chuck it all” and spend all my time playing with my grand kids.
I’m not a Libertarian, but I do support their right to participate in the election process. I congratulate their candidate who is going to be allowed to participate in this 3-way debate in North Carolina for U.S. Senator with the Democrat and Republican nominees.
But I would like to offer a little advice to the Libertarian nominee, Michael Beitler, and hope, if he does not read BAN, some of the Libertarians who do regularly, will forward this on to him.
Mr. Beitler, during your debate, please don’t try to use your time to “educate” the viewers. They are not listening or tuning in to be “enlightened” by you. They already know what they beleive the Constitution says, and what it does not say. They already have made their mind up on the role of government, and you are not going to change this in a 1 hour or 2 hour debate. Don’t make an “idiot” of yourself in this regard.
Also, Mr. Beitler, don’t let the Democrat and Republican nominee “ignore” you in the debate. I don’t know the format which will implimented for this debate, but make your opposition acknowleges you are there. If possible, ask them direct questions which they must answer, or they will appear to be dodging the issue if they refuse to.
I recall a debate several years ago, with then Republican Senator Arlen Spector running against the Democratic nominee, and the Constitution Party nominee, Jim Clymer, in Pennsylvania. Senator Spector and his Democratic opponent totally ignored Mr. Clymer. And to make matters worse, Mr. Clymer attempted to use his time to educate the voters on what the Constitution says and does not say. Just a waste of time and opportunity.
Additionally, Mr. Beitler, use your debate minutes to point (literally) to your opposition and tell the viewing and listening audience, “this (meaning these two candidates) is what is the problem with the United States today.” Say something like, “it is these people and the parties they represent who have caused our economic problems, who refuse to really address the illegal immigrant issue, who refuse to bring back jobs to American they have allowed to move overseas.” Tell them, “these are the representatives of the two major parties, who have allowed Social Security to go broke, and Medicare to be not far behind.” Point out these representatives of the two major parties, “have caused America to have to depend on foreign oil when we have known for years, resources will some day dry up.” If you have something negative, but is truthful, about either of the individual candidates, bring it out and put it in the form of a question – not just an accusation.
In your closing remarks, don’t plead Libertarian values. The viewers and listeners don’t give a “rat’s butt” about them. Just tell the viewers and listeners, the 2 parties represented by these 2 candidates today have just about destroyed this nation. Plead with them to give you (not the Libertarian Party) but you a chance to go to Washington and do something with the mess they’ve created.
In closing, another important point. Dress the occassion. Don’t wear some wild tie or a coat that is outdated. You don’t want people laughing at you, you want them listening to you.
If you will present yourself professionally, and put the pressure on the Democratic and Republcan candidates, you just might win some voters over. You just might have some of them saying after the debate, “I don’t care about this Libertarian Party stuff, but I like what thay fellow Beitler says. I’m gonna vote for him if for no other reason to protest what these Democrats and Republicans have done to this country.”
I wish you the best, Mr. Beitler. But if you get up there and think you’re going to win over the audience with this Libertarian doctrine, you’re wasting your time and you’ll be lucky to poll 2% of the vote in November.
Don’t blow it!!
Mike isn’t the first NC alternative-party candidate to be invited to a debate, but he is the first to participate in one. I was invited to a debate during my race in 2008. However, the debate was never held, because Elizabeth Dole declined.
Thanks, Chris. I’ll fix the post.
Well, obvioulsly no body cares about my suggestions to Mr. Beitler, so I’ll attempt to forward them to him myself. I guess I stepped on the toes of the Libertarian “doctrinaires” who think all they’ve got to talk about is what the Constitution says and what it does not say, or what is the role of government is and what it is not.
As I’ve said before, 3rd partisans are their own worst enemies.
#7- Go to IPR and look up Robert Milnes. I think you two have a LOT in common.
It’s always about presentation of idea’s and such. Harry Browne had some good things about selling libertarianism and he had good ties.
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Unfortunately the one news story I read about the debate gave only a small mention of the Libertarian’s general program while devoting most of the space to details of the D and R candidates. This points out that we still have a lot of work to do with the media to make them understand that we want to hear more about the alternative candidates. I recommend using google to track stories on candidate debates and then blasting the comments section, or writing a letter to the editor, when they fail to cover such events fairly. Ballot access is important but it’s not the only thing that’s important.
I appreciate the comments from all of you.
I think Alabama Independent offers some sage and useful
advice here, for all third-party and independent candidates who manage to make their way to the debate
stage. Notably,
1. Don’t lecture
2. Don’t let the Elephant and Donkey ignore you
3. Point to them as agents of the problem and to yourself as representing the solution.