Get Out and Vote!
During the Civil War and a war world, during a worldwide depression that helped bring nations to their knees, Americans calmly went to the polls to participate in free, democratic elections. In a matter of days we will do so again.
To be sure, it has been a difficult election season. The terrorist attacks and the aftermath understandably put a damper on campaigning by all parties. Nonetheless our candidates have done the best they could.
Whether it was Jennifer Carter addressing a meeting of retired educators in Tinton Falls, Diane Hittner and John M. Taylor on Comcast's Newsmakers or just the limited exposure the candidates received in the Asbury Park Press, they all helped get out the Libertarian Party message.
Some races will always be more high-profile than others, but in a very
real sense all are crucial. Every time there is a Libertarian candidate on
the ballot voters have the opportunity to send the entrenched politicians and
their bureaucratic cronies a message:
And every election is crucial for another reason. The more voters see the LP on the ballot the more they will perceive the Libertarian Party as a viable alternative to the Democrats and Republicans. Third parties come and go; we have to demonstrate to the electorate that we are not just another protest movement but instead a serious political party that is here to stay, and that is worthy of their vote.
Elsewhere in this issue we talk about our court victory which will allow us to register as Libertarians. Note well that both the Democratic and Republican parties tried to overturn this ruling. Recall how the Republicans tried to throw Diane Hittner off the ballot in the 13th District.
Are they scared of us? No. Or perhaps more accurately, not yet. But they are not stupid. And they don't waste resources fighting meaningless little grouplets or the off-beat candidates that pop up from time to time.
They recognize the potential the Libertarian Party has. They realize a strong, viable third party could emerge, first to take away votes from them and later to supplant them. And every time we run a candidate that future, potential threat draws a little closer.
And so we contest every office in every election when we possibly can. Every time we do so, we grow a little stronger. Our candidates and activists learn a little bit more. We capture the attention of a few more voters. We gain a little more respect from the media.
This year's election has been over-shadowed by our national crisis, but that very crisis has rendered it all the more important. Our Republic cannot be taken down by terrorists with airplanes or anthrax. And we will not surrender it to the opponents of liberty here at home.
I urge everyone to treat Nov. 6 with as much importance as Election Day last year when we picked a new president. Arguably, it's more important. Voting in the midst of war and terror is an affirmation of our faith in the American Republic. And voting Libertarian is an expression of faith in all that our nation can be.
Pat Bontempo
County Chair