Make POTUS debate contract public, CPD told

Ron Paul on Presidential Debates: CPD Called on Controversial Third Party Debate Rule - Alex Marin, Policymic:

September 28, 2012 - "In early September, libertarian-leaning Texas congressman and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said on NBC's The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, "democracy isn’t all that healthy because if you’re in a third party, you don’t get into the debates.” The statement sparked reactions.... Libertarian Party nominee for president, Gary Johnson ... recently filed an anti-trust claim against the Commission on Presidential Debates to protest the supposed rule that a third party candidate must poll above 15% in order to gain access to the season's presidential debates.

"And now, 18 pro-democracy groups -- Open Debates, Common Cause, Public Citizen, Rock the Vote, Judicial Watch, Public Campaign, FairVote, Demos, Democracy Matters, League of Rural Voters, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, Essential Information, Personal Democracy Media, Reclaim Democracy!, Center for Study of Responsive Law, Citizen Works, Free & Equal Elections Foundation, and Rootstrikers -- are calling on the CPD to make public the secret debate contract that was negotiated by the Obama and Romney campaigns.

"According to the coalition, Robert F. Bauer of the Obama campaign and Benjamin L. Ginsberg of the Romney campaign negotiated a detailed contract that dictates many of the terms of the 2012 presidential debates, including how the format will be structured. The CPD, a private corporation created by and for the Republican and Democratic parties, agreed to implement the debate contract. And, in order to shield the major party candidates from criticism, the CPD is allegedly concealing the contract from the public and the press."

Read more: http://www.policymic.com/articles/15487/ron-paul-on-presidential-debates-cpd-called-on-controversial-third-party-debate-rule
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Johnson backs medical marijuana legalization

Gary Johnson backs ballot drive to legalize marijuana as medicine - Tampa Bay Times - Mark Caputo, Miami Herald:

September 28, 2012 - "'Johnson is expected to endorse the current effort to put a Constitutional Amendment to legalize Medicinal Marijuana on the Florida ballot in 2014,' said Johnson's Florida political adviser, Roger Stone, a one-time GOP operative who lives in Miami Beach.

The marijuana proposal faces a series of tough challenges in Florida....

"The People United for Medical Marijuana committee, called PUFMM, ... has raised $40,628 and spent $33,470 since 2009 to get medical-marijuana on the Florida ballot. It needs 676,811 valid voter signatures but has collected just 100,000 so far, said PUFMM's Florida Chairwoman Kim Russell.

"If the measure makes the ballot, it would then face the daunting requirement that it pass with 60 percent of the vote."

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/gary-johnson-backs-ballot-drive-to-legalize-marijuana-as-medicine/1253745
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Gary Johnson 2012: The Libertarian Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gary Johnson 2012: The Libertarian Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Seamus Light, policymic:

September 29, 2012 - "'The revolution will not be televised.'

"This phrase accurately describes the libertarian movement, as it continues to penetrate the American psyche in the forms of Ron Paul and Gary Johnson. Every day, a growing segment of the population, which is young, educated, and internet native, joins the ranks of the libertarians and their allies. And every day, the regime which currently controls the United States – those inner party officials, media mouthpieces, and corporate backers – continue to lose legitimacy, support, and ultimately, control. Over the next few years, these elements will become increasingly impotent, as they lose the ideological and technological race for supremacy against a new generation of Americans who are not dependent upon systems controlled by the corporatist state."

Read more: http://www.policymic.com/articles/15523/gary-johnson-2012-the-libertarian-revolution-will-not-be-televised
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Can Romney Win Over Libertarians in 2012? | TheBlaze.com

Can Romney Win Over Libertarians in 2012? | TheBlaze.com - Christopher Santorelli:

September 20, 2012 - "For Mitt Romney to have a better chance of surpassing the still small lead President Barack Obama holds in general election polling, he’ll likely need the support of the growing block of libertarian and libertarian-leaning voters.

"But the question remains whether Romney can or will present the arguments necessary to appeal to undecided libertarians and supporters of former Republican candidate Ron Paul, and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson....

"Those who identify with libertarian ideas represent a sizable part of the voter base in America. In a 2006 Zogby International poll, 59 percent of respondents said “yes” to whether they would describe themselves as “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.” The poll was commissioned by David Boaz and David Kirby of the Cato Institute – a think tank dedicated to advancing principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets and peace.... In a 2010 paper, Boaz and Kirby noted that Gallup polling on the issue consistently finds about 20 percent of respondents to be libertarian."

Read more: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/100-million-question-for-romney-will-he-do-what-it-takes-to-win-over-libertarians-in-2012/
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Liberty Caucus will challenge GOP Establishment at New Hampshire convention - Manchester Independent | Examiner.com

Liberty Caucus will challenge GOP Establishment at New Hampshire convention - Manchester Independent | Examiner.com - Kevin Kervick::

September 28, 2012 - "In a letter yesterday, Carolyn McKinney, Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, told supporters that the Caucus plans to stand firmly with the grass roots of the Republican Party. McKinney said the RLCNH will offer a bold resolution at the GOP state convention that condemns the establishment rules that were wrongfully enacted at the GOP National Convention in Tampa. The following statement appeared on the RLCNH website:

"'In Tampa earlier this summer, RNC management showed a blatant disregard for the party rules by removing legitimately elected delegates, removing members of the rules committee or preventing them from voting, silencing dissent, and disregarding the results of votes. Because such fraud and coercion were used to pass new rules that reduce the power and autonomy of state and local party organizations and impose a top-down structure of governance in place of the party’s traditional bottom-up structure, the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire is proposing a resolution from the New Hampshire Republican Party that outright rejects the rules changes.'"

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/liberty-caucus-will-challenge-gop-establishment-at-new-hampshire-convention
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Justin Amash raises $39,000 with lottery lure of dinner with Ron Paul | MLive.com

Justin Amash raises $39,000 with lottery lure of dinner with Ron Paul | MLive.com - Zane McMillin:

Sep. 27, 2012 - "GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Justin Amash's "Liberty Dinner Money Bomb" sweepstakes, featuring a meal with former presidential candidate and retiring Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, helped the Cascade Township legislator land more than $39,500 for his re-election bid.

"'Donate and be entered for a chance to win a private dinner for you and a guest with Ron Paul and Justin Amash,' a website promotion stated. 'We'll cover the plane tickets, hotel rooms and dinner.'

"The contest raised concerns from Mlive.com readers who believed the prize, valued at $2,300, violated campaign finance regulations. A disclaimer that says no contribution is necessary to win appears to give Amash clearance to run the "money bomb" contest that ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday."

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/reader_questions_whether_justi.html
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Gary Johnson reaches double digits in Ohio - Charlotte Libertarian | Examiner.com

Gary Johnson reaches double digits in Ohio - Charlotte Libertarian | Examiner.com - Matthew Reece::

September 27, 2012 - "On Wednesday, Gravis Marketing and Capitol Correspondent released results from Ohio from a poll conducted on September 21-22. The poll included 594 likely voters and covered the presidential race and senate elections, among others. The margin of error of the poll is 4.3%.

"When only President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney are included, Obama leads by 45.2% to 44.3%, with 10.4% either undecided or supporting a third party candidate.

"When Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson is also included, Obama leads Romney by 44.5% to 37.8%, with Johnson winning 10.6% of the vote. 7.1% are either undecided or supporting another third party candidate."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/gary-johnson-reaches-double-digits-ohio
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