R. Lee Wrights (1958-2017)

R. Lee Wrights | Libertarianism Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia:

May 5, 2017 - "Roger Lee Wrights (June 8, 1958 - May 4, 2017) was an American politician, activist and political consultant. He was the founder, editor, and publisher of the online libertarian newsletter Liberty For All. He was the National Vice Chair of the Libertarian National Committee, serving several different times in that role. Wrights was an unsuccessful contender for the 2012 presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party, finishing as first runner-up to the eventual nominee Gary Johnson....

"Wrights was born on June 8, 1958 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina in 1976. Afterwards he enlisted in the United States Air Force.... Wrights earned a degree from Willmar College in Willmar, Minnesota where he majored in history and journalism. After college, he was a contributing editor for the Eagle News, a monthly political news and commentary newspaper in Forsyth County....

"Wrights founded Liberty For All with J. Michael Bragg in 2000, a free speech publication with the motto "Let Your Voice Be Heard" which claims "no one is turned away and no one is censored". In 2001 Wrights began work as an editor of the Free Market Daily, an e-mail newsletter distributed by FreeMarket.net. After FreeMarket.net shut down in 2002, Wrights joined a group that began the Rational Review News Digest, a daily web and email-based news and commentary roundup....From 2005 to 2008, Wrights worked as editor of the Choice Channel for the International Society for Individual Liberty....

"Wrights was active in local, state and national Libertarian Party organizations since 2000 and was a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party. He served as secretary and chair of the Libertarian Party of Forsyth County, N.C. and was vice chair of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina (LPNC) for seven years.... In 2008, Wrights was campaign manager for the Mary Ruwart for President Committee....

"On April 16, 2011, Wrights officially announced his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination in the election of 2012. The stated focus of his campaign was to 'stop all war', referring not only to war with foreign nations, but also to war on the American people and their civil liberties waged by the U.S. government.... Wrights also advocated abolition of the national income tax and added that he would 'replace it with...nothing.'

"At the 2012 Libertarian National Convention, Wrights was defeated for the LP presidential nomination by former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, finishing second in the balloting with 25% of the delegate votes. Following the defeat, Wrights expressed support for Johnson in his general election campaign. He was then nominated as a candidate for the LP vice-presidential slot. Wrights was defeated for that nomination by retired California Superior Court Judge Jim Gray, finishing second in the balloting with 38% of the delegate votes.

Wrights died on May 4, 2017, after a lengthy illness, at the age of 58.

Read more: http://libertarianism.wikia.com/wiki/R._Lee_Wrights

LP: Halt the massacre of innocent children by ending prohibition on self-defense in schools

Libertarian Party: Halt the Massacre of Innocent Children by Ending Prohibition on Self-Defense in Schools -Newsroom America:

"Families throughout the nation mourn the horrific deaths of 26 people, including 20 young children, killed Friday during a Newtown, Conn., mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"'It’s impossible to imagine the depths of despair and grief that the victims’ families are experiencing right now,”' said Geoffrey J. Neale, Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. 'Our hearts go out to every one of them.'

"In the immediate aftermath of news surrounding the shootings, pundits and politicians called for new restrictions on firearm ownership, exactly the opposite of the approach needed to combat tragic gun violence in schools.

"'We've created a "gun-free zone," a killing zone for the sickest criminals on the face of the Earth," said R. Lee Wrights, vice-chair of the Libertarian Party. 'We've given them an open killing field, and we've made the children of this country the victims.'

"Wrights pointed out that merely the knowledge that armed people will be present acts as a deterrent for would-be shooters."

Read more: http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/334779.html
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Libertarians Nominate Judge Jim Gray for Vice-President

Libertarians Nominate Judge Jim Gray for Vice-President - Austin Cassidy:

May 5, 2012 - "With nearly 60% of the vote on the first ballot, former Superior Court Judge and marijuana legalization activist Jim Gray has been selected by the Libertarian Party as Gary Johnson’s running mate.   Gray defeated former presidential candidate Lee Wrights, who won the support of about 38% of delegates voting.

"Johnson had endorsed and campaigned for Gray, while speaking highly of Wrights as an advocate for Libertarian principles.

"For the first time in history, this year’s Libertarian ticket arguably contains more substantial elected and private sector experience than either of the major party choices."

Read more: http://www.uncoveredpolitics.com/2012/05/05/libertarians-nominate-judge-jim-gray-for-vice-president/
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Gary Johnson Wins Libertarian Party of Georgia Presidential Debate Straw Poll - The Weekly Online!

Gary Johnson Wins Libertarian Party of Georgia Presidential Debate Straw Poll - The Weekly Online!:

February 29, 2012 - "On Saturday, February 25th, the Libertarian Party of Georgia hosted five Presidential candidates as participants in a debate as part of their 2012 annual state convention at the University of Georgia Hotel and Conference Center in Athens. Candidates ... participated in a debate live-streamed and archived at the Libertarian Party of Georgia’s website, LPGeorgia.com.

"Following the debate, the Libertarian Party of Georgia invited all attendees to participate in a straw poll to indicate their support of each candidate present. Governor Gary Johnson secured first place with 79% of the vote, followed by Bill Still, R. Lee Wrights, Leroy Saunders, and Carl Person, respectively."

Read more: http://www.theweekly.com/news/2012/February/29/Gary_Johnson.html
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Libertarian POTUS candidates in Orlando debate

Libertarian presidential debate: Libertarian presidential candidates preach more freedom, less government in Orlando debate - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com - Stephen Hudak:

February 11, 2012 - "With little fanfare Saturday in Orlando, six candidates vying to be the presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party — a growing third party advocating 'more freedom, less government' — championed ideas that would make most politicians quake.

"Legalize drugs. Abolish the tax system. Slash the defense budget. Overhaul Medicaid....

"Gary Johnson, the former two-term governor of New Mexico and former Republican presidential candidate ... is the Libertarian Party's front-runner. 'I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think there was a possibility of actually winning. Maybe that just sounds crazy to everybody sitting here,' Johnson said....

"'Naturally someone who already has a certain amount of media appeal is going to be appealing to the delegates,' said Lee Wrights, 53, a lifelong member of the Libertarian Party and a rival presidential candidate who has made ending 'all war' a key plank of his platform. 'Gary Johnson is doing a good thing. But we still need to be Libertarians, stay on message, stay on point.…'

"The other candidates included Leroy Saunders, 42, a chauffeur in Georgia ... Bill Still, 64, an author and filmmaker; Carl Person, 75, a New York attorney who previously ran for Attorney General in New York; and R.J. Harris, 39, a native American from Oklahoma and a career Army National Guard officer."

Read more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-libertarian-presidential-debate-orlando-20120211,0,7339460.story
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Libertarian economist endorses Lee Wrights

Libertarian Strategy Monthly » Libertarian Economist Endorses Wrights- Jake Porter:

February 9, 2012 - "According to a press release issued by the Lee Wrights 2012 Presidential campaign, Ken Schoolland, a long-term board member of the International Society for Individual Liberty and associate professor at Hawaii Pacific University, has endorsed Lee Wrights and has also joined the campaign as economic advisor.

"Schoolland is ... the author of the animated video “The Philosophy of Liberty” popular on the Internet. He wrote ... “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A FreeMarket Odyssey,” which has been translated into more than 40 languages.

Schoolland, who was Hawaii Libertarian Party chair for five years ... issued this statement:

"'I like Ron Paul. I like Gary Johnson.... But liking someone isn’t a reason to vote for them. When I became a member of the Libertarian Party back in 1976 I signed a non-aggression pledge. I take that pledge very seriously....

"'I simply don’t vote for anyone who compromises on that principle.... I applaud Ron Paul and Gary Johnson for promoting the libertarian program, but if people don’t grasp the underlying principle, then gains will turn to losses in an instant of mob passion. No compromise with principle....'"

Read more: http://libertarianstrategymonthly.com/2012/02/09/libertarian-economist-endorses-wrights/
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