Montana LP Affiliate

[Steven Nekhaila]

Dear Colleagues,

There is reason for concern over LP Montana’s decision to adopt a stance that they will endorse non-Libertarian candidates as a state party. This goes against our conditions for affiliation. Any endorsement of a non-Libertarian candidate by any affiliate must be met with disciplinary action up to and including disaffiliation. I am not willing to play games here.

From LPM’s own X:

“Our bylaws now permit the MTLP to endorse any candidate regardless of party if we believe it will advance libertarian principles, even when an (L)  is filed in that race. Republican and Democrat candidates often publicly say they have a “libertarian streak” in Montana. This is usually a complete lie, but there are a few exceptions. We will always fight for principle over party. Libertarianism is a political philosophy. We might endorse you if you hold to it.”

Considering Montana ranks 18 on the CATO state freedom index, substantially lower than FL, NH, NV, or TN, I find it objectionable that there is a libertarian leaning duopoly in Montana. 

The willingness to endorse non-Libertarians is a strategic blunder and profoundly unsettling. That is the job of a PAC if those Montanans wish to do so, never the job of a Libertarian party affiliate.

If we give our enemies an endorsement we may as well give them a loaded gun pointed at our heads, which is what their statist policies have been conducive of long before my time. I have to wonder why Montana LP is asking for mercy from the duopoly rather than fighting the fight for power as a respectable dissident political party should.

Have we lost our fighting spirit? This level of defection should not be tolerated by leadership.

Sincerely,

Steven Nekhaila

[Adam Haman]

Mr. Nekhaila makes some very good points.

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this matter. Suppose a Thomas Massie were running against a Lindsay Graham in a primary? Wouldn't it be good for the LP to endorse Massie? What about a Thomas Massie vs a Nancy Pelosi in a general race?

On the other hand, having the LP endorse any part of the duopoly also bothers me - in all the ways Mr. Nekhaila outlined.

On the other-other hand, I will always care about promoting actual liberty over any particular party. I profoundly disagree with Mr. Sarwark on this issue. I would happily support a Thomas Massie GOP candidate over a Dick Cheney LP candidate, for example.

I look forward to hearing smart things said on this matter by the rest of you.

Adam Haman

Region 1 Rep, Libertarian National Committee

lp.org | adam....@lp.org

Vice Chair, Libertarian Party of Nevada

lpnevada.org | adam....@lpnevada.org

[Secretary LNC]

It's a violation of national bylaws and potential cause for disaffiliation.  

We cannot argue as an LNC to endorse any Republican or other, Massie or otherwise.

I'm speaking with our chair on this situation.

We must uphold our bylaws.

[Adam Haman]

We must, indeed, uphold our bylaws.

LPMT wasn't advocating that the LNC endorse anybody.

You said if LPMT did so it would be a potential cause for disaffiliation. Meaning that it's effectively "cause", and that the LNC would vote on the matter? 

Please forgive me, I'm asking the question first, then going to check the bylaws myself.

Adam Haman

Region 1 Rep, Libertarian National Committee

lp.org | adam....@lp.org

Vice Chair, Libertarian Party of Nevada

lpnevada.org | adam....@lpnevada.org

[Secretary LNC]

This amendment was done by their board not their members.

In my view, it is not the right of the board to put the affiliation at risk.

A MT member has appeal rights to their JC.

If they actually endorse a member of another Party, the LNC might have to consider disaffiliation.  This is complicated by past turning of a blind eye to fusion candidates, but I've always opposed that.

I believe our Chair is going to talk to their board as they may not realize this is so serious.

[Dustin Blankenship]

I concur with our Secretary and Mr. Nekhaila.

Best,

Dustin

[Secretary LNC]

THEY endorsing a member of another part is against our bylaws.

Article 5, section 4.

See also Article 2, section 1.

[Andrew Watkins]

Has anyone spoken with MT leadership yet regarding this?

Andrew Watkins
Vice Chair | Libertarian National Committee

Carota, apium, cepe, allium.

[Angela McArdle]

Thanks, Mr. Watkins. I reached out to Montana and I'd appreciate it if we cool down til after I chat with them. 

Angela McArdle, Chair

[Secretary LNC]

Mr Watkins our Chair is doing that today.

Like Mr. Nekhaila, I too am not willing to ignore.

One state does this, others do, and we kiss our Party goodbye.

I'm not here for that.  If a state wants to endorse other parties, they should form a PAC or new Party, not violate their agreement with the NLP.

[Adam Haman]

Upon further review, I must admit, our bylaws are pretty cut and dried on this matter.

Adam Haman

Region 1 Rep, Libertarian National Committee

lp.org | adam....@lp.org

Vice Chair, Libertarian Party of Nevada

lpnevada.org | adam....@lpnevada.org

[Steven Nekhaila]

I will make one other point that acceptance of the idea that the Libertarian Party ought to endorse duopoly candidates is an existential threat, it is a contagion that must be nipped in the bud. In Florida we passed a memorandum stating that any affiliate which endorses non-libertarian candidates will be subject to disaffiliation. 

Sincerely,

Steven Nekhaila

---

From: Adam Haman <adam....@lp.org>
Sent: Monday, September 25, 2023 10:15:01 AM
To: lnc-bu...@lp.org <lnc-bu...@lp.org>
Subject: Re: [lnc-business] Montana LP Affiliate

 

[Secretary LNC]

They may not realize the seriousness and I trust our Chair to communicate.

[Secretary LNC]

I understand they are doing this because of open primaries.  It is irrelevant.  Our bylaws don't grant this exception.  If you don't like the L candidate, sit it out, run a better one, denounce them, do something else.

One thing they cannot do is endorse other party's members.

Any member unhappy with this would need to change our national bylaws.