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Liberty: Not a Left Right Issue
It has been interesting to witness the confusion amongst conventional politicos as groups like The Campaign for Liberty and The Republican Liberty Caucus begin to exert more and more influence over today’s political discourse. Members of these groups are fighting for issues and taking positions that don’t seem to fit neatly into the traditional left or right boxes. I recall hearing a long time Republican Party loyalist accuse one of these activists of being a “left-wing Obama supporter†because they questioned the GOP’s support of the Patriot Act. On another occasion I witnessed this same activist being mocked as a “right-wing extremist†by a long time member of the Democratic Party for suggesting that the federal government should have no involvement in the issue of health care.  How can the same political activist be both “left wing†and “right wing�
It seems that in 2009 politics, the “left†or “right†label is determined by where you stand on issues in relation to where the Republican and Democratic Parties stand on those issues. Oppose the Patriot Act, question the constitutionality of the war in Iraq or oppose government involvement in the issue of gay marriage and you will find yourself on the wrong side of the GOP and therefore labeled a “leftistâ€. However, oppose a federal health care bill, support the elimination of the federal Department of Education or speak out against the progressive income tax and you will be at odds with the Democratic Party and likely lumped in with the “right wing extremistsâ€.  The problem with this approach to politics is that rarely is the question asked why the parties hold their positions on various issues. And even rarer is an actual discussion or debate on the reasons for holding those positions.
Members of groups promoting liberty do not fit into the conventional Left/Right paradigm. When an issue is presented to a liberty activist, the first question is not where does my party stand on this issue, but rather what position protects the freedom and liberty of the individual. In looking at the Patriot Act, the Iraq War, Gay Marriage, Health Care, Education and Taxes, one must first have a clear understanding of individual rights, where they come from and the proper role of government. The Declaration of Independence clearly spells out the fact that our rights come not from man but from our Creator. And the United States Constitution clearly spells out what authority the federal government has in relation to those rights. It is from these two documents that all political issues should be discussed, debated and acted upon.
Does the federal government ever have the authority to violate the right of an individual to be secure in their person and possessions from search and seizure without probable cause? The answer is no and therefore the liberty position on the Patriot Act is to oppose it.
Does the Constitution give the Legislative Branch of the federal government the ability to transfer its authority to Declare War to the Executive Branch? The answer is no. And would allowing the federal government to violate its contract with the people potentially threaten the liberty of all individuals? The answer is yes and therefore the liberty position on the Iraq War has been to oppose it.
Is the federal government given any authority by the constitution to define or regulate the institution of marriage? The answer is no. And would allowing the federal government to violate its contract with the people potentially threaten the liberty of all individuals? The answer is yes and therefore the liberty position on the issue of any gay marriage regulation (pro or con) is to oppose it.
Is the federal government given any authority by the constitution to impose laws or to regulate the delivery of health care? The answer is no. And would allowing the federal government to violate its contract with the people potentially threaten the liberty of all individuals? The answer is yes and therefore the liberty position on federal health care legislation is to oppose it.
Is the federal government given any authority by the constitution to impose laws or to regulate education? The answer is no. And would allowing the federal government to violate its contract with the people potentially threaten the liberty of all individuals? The answer is yes and therefore the liberty position on funding a federal department of education is to oppose it.
Does government taxing the fruits of one’s labor threaten the freedom and liberty of all individuals? The answer is yes and therefore the liberty position on income taxes is to oppose them.
These concepts are pretty simple for those who get involved in politics for the purpose of ensuring that government protects the liberty of the individual. To those who complicate politics by focusing on things like party loyalty, personal ambition or political personalities, understanding exactly what it is you stand for can be a little more difficult. When you are not looking at issues based on a fundamental set of principles you will often times open yourself up to weak arguments or even worse, hypocrisy.
Understanding liberty and applying it to all political issues is a liberating and empowering experience. You no longer have to feel uncomfortable when asked your position on an issue because you will no longer have to worry about making the party line fit with your own personal logic. You won’t have to defend the inconsistencies coming from party “leaders†or political personalities. In essence “The truth sets you freeâ€.
Yes a good understanding of the concept of liberty will change your scale from one measuring Left vs Right to one which measures Freedom vs Tyranny. And that is the only measurement that should matter in the fight for liberty.
John Stevens
RLCNEF Chairman
Open Letter to Glenn Beck
RE: Republican Party Purge
Mr. Beck,
We are writing to tell you about a systematic purge that is occurring, the stifling of free speech and the removal of certain voices of dissent from the Republican Party of Florida.
In recent months there has been a concentrated effort to remove American patriots that are calling for accountability among the Republican Party of Florida leadership, specifically, Â Florida Republican Chairman Jim Greer.
The Republican Liberty Caucus (www.RLC.org)  is a group of Republicans working within the Republican Party to return the party to its conservative roots. We believe that we must stand up for individual liberties, limited government and fiscal responsibility. We fight for these principles without regard to party affiliation and with the same vigor and passion exemplified in our Founding Fathers. We believe that if we don’t, we will continue to lose our liberties one by one.
For this principled stand we have been singled out to be purged from party leadership. Several official grievances, against Republican Liberty Caucus men and women were filed in July 2009 with the Republican Party of Florida.
The specific “charges†against Republican Liberty Caucus State Chairman Will Pitts and Northeast Florida Chairman John Stevens include:
1. Attended a Pro-America Rally in Minneapolis hosted by the Campaign for Liberty and wore a “Ron Paul†button on their lapel after the Republican primary.
2. Attended an End the Fed (Federal Reserve Bank) Rally in Jacksonville
3. Spoke or written things in a manner harmful to the GOP especially regarding RPOF Chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist by stating they are “pathetic and embarrassing†and other comments regarding Senator John McCain and President George Bush.
The Republican Party of Florida is basing their complaints and the ensuing expulsion on the new wording of the Loyalty Oath that is required to be signed by all party leadership within the State.
The last part of this oath reads:
“I further swear and affirm that I will not engage in activities or conduct that may be deemed by the Grievance Committee and affirmed by the RPOF Chairman as likely to injure the name of the Republican Party or interfere with the activities of the Republican Party.â€
Many of us attended the Grievance hearing, in which these men and women had to defend their patriotism and ‘loyalty to the partyâ€, not the country or it’s Constitution, or even the principles of The Party but to “The Party†itself.
These men, who have fought for the Republican Party, and its core principles in a way that few will ever know, had to ‘prove’ they had not injured the Party, as determined by grievance board member that were specifically appointed by Chairman Greer.
It is interesting to note that the original grievance complaint against John Stevens and Will Pitts sent to Jim Greer was written by someone (William Blythe) that has never met either of these men let alone address his grievance with them. Mr. Blythe also did not see fit to even attend the grievance hearing to defend his complaint.
It is also of value to note that grievances against Republican Liberty Caucus members were filed in several counties around Florida at the same time, which lends credibility to this being a systematic “party purgeâ€.
It is our wish that you will investigate this matter further and make this purging a public matter.
This is the price we are paying in Florida for being independent thinkers and standing up for the cause of liberty.
Fighting for Liberty,
Kristi Dunn
Kimberly Wells
Erik Setzer
Savannah Poole
And over 75 other Patriots fighting for liberty around the country
Additional Links and information:
About the Party Purge:
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/10/stjohns-gop-bullies/
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/09/boss-greer-accused-of-party-purges/comments/page/2/#comments
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/15/floridas-gop-purge-intensifies/
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/10/gop-chair-removes-long/
More about the Republican Liberty Caucus:
RPOF Loses Court Ruling. Republican Party Purge Dealt Blow. Orange County May Get New Chairman.
Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal has ruled against the Republican Party of Florida in a case brought by Dade county Republican Executive Committee members against the local and state Party.
The 3rd DCA ruled that the RPOF loyalty oaths could not be used to disqualify duly elected members from voting. The ruling upholds a Restraining Order issued by a Miami Circuit Judge that allowed eight members of the Dade County REC to vote in that REC race for Chairman.
This is a dramatic set-back for RPOF and the so-called “loyalty oath.”
“The really great news is that with his ruling, the pending lawsuit in Orange County is exactly the same. When the seventeen (17) members (illegally disqualified by embattled Orange County REC Chairman Lew Oliver in last year’s election) cast their ballots, Oliver will be out of office. The only remedy the court has is to let those individuals choice by heard,” stated Doug Guetzloe, one of the leaders in the effort to get those duly elected REC members seated.
“The beginning of the end for Oliver and gang and the ongoing Republican Party Purge,” Guetzloe concluded.
Orlando Attorney Fred O’Neal will be taking over the case against the Orange County REC and RPOF and filing additional pleadings to conform with the 3rd DCA opinion.
DCA RULING: http://www.3dca.flcourts.org/Opinions/3D08-3126.pdf
ACTION ITEM: RLCers fall victim to RPOF party purge
Written by Philip Blumel
Wednesday, 09 September 2009 09:06
Original article at: http://www.rlcfl.org/news/11-rlcfl-news/126-action-item-rlcers-fall-victim-to-rpof-party-purge.html
Last Friday, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Grievance Committee notified Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida Chairman Will G. Pitts of Jacksonville and four other Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) members that they have been removed from positions within the RPOF or prohibited from serving in any official RPOF capacity for a period of no less than two years.
“This is just the latest action in the ongoing ‘Party Purge’,” said grassroots organizer Doug Guetzloe of Orange County, who was banned from participating in party activities until after August 31, 2013. According to Guetzloe, “The reasons for this ‘Party Purge’ are that we have collectively and individually called for a complete audit of the Republican Party of Florida finances, advocated for candidates not favored by party leaders, and because we are members of the Republican Liberty Caucus.”
The grievances against Florida RLC Chairman Will Pitts include that he attended a rally hosted by Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty organization, wore a “Ron Paul” button on his lapel after Florida’s Republican primary, attended an “End the Fed” (Federal Reserve Bank) Rally in Jacksonville, and wrote words “harmful to the Republican Party”.
Those words included negative comments about RPOF Chairman Jim Greer, Florida Governor Charlie Crist (Mr. Pitts asserted that they are “pathetic and embarrassing”), Senator John McCain, and President George W. Bush. Mr. Pitts stands by the accuracy of his comments and does not apologize for supporting Republican Liberty Caucus Advisory Board member Ron Paul (R-TX).
“Greer and his friends have no right to throw out members who were directly elected by the Republicans at grassroots precincts,” asserted national Republican Liberty Caucus Chairman Dave Nalle of Texas. “Speaking out for individual liberty, the Constitution, and the rule of law is not something which Republicans should be penalized for. The Party has a tradition of diversity, tolerance, and support for freedom of speech and the right of dissent,” he said.
In addition to penalizing Pitts, the RPOF also expelled lifelong Republican and RLC activist Nick Egoroff of Orlando for a period of four years. Northeast Florida RLC Chairman John Stevens – himself a Republican Committeeman for his precinct – is ineligible to serve in any RPOF position until August 31, 2013. According to Stevens, “In effect, we [will not be able to] serve again until 2016 since the election for the next four year term will be in 2012.” The RPOF Grievance Committee also prohibited Florida RLC Board member Elizabeth Campbell from serving as representative for Escambia County on the State Committee for six months.
Numerous other Republican Party activists in Florida have also been silenced by Boss Greer, including Brevard Republican Chair Jason Steele, Orange County Precinct Committeeman Deon Long and “Ax the Tax” activist Doug Guetzloe. In response to the Grievance Committee sanctions, Orlando RLC organizer Nick Egoroff intends to file a First Amendment lawsuit against Jim Greer and the RPOF.
This is not the first time the Republican Party of Florida has attacked the Republican Liberty Caucus under Jim Greer’s Chairmanship. In summer of 2008, Greer’s staff notified the RLC that it could no longer use the word ‘Republican’ in its title ‘Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida’. The RPOF threatened a lawsuit against the RLC. The RLC has used this title for nearly two decades in the state of Florida and obtained proper permission in writing long before Jim Greer or Charlie Christ came to rule party politics in Florida.
“This ‘Party Purge’ is a direct attack on loyal Republicans who just want to see the Party live up to its avowed beliefs,” noted Dave Nalle. “Healthy debate makes the party stronger and enthusiastic grassroots activists like these should not be punished for commitment to principle or idealism. Forced conformity and mindless subservience to party doctrine are hallmarks of socialism – which have no place in the Republican Party,” Nalle concluded.
The Republican Liberty Caucus is encouraging its members to contact RNC Chairman Michael Steele, RNC Secretary and Florida Committeewoman Sharon Day, and Florida RNC Committeeman Paul Senft, Jr. to ask for their intervention in the matter. The Republican Liberty Caucus (http://www.RLC.org/), founded in 1991, exists to promote individual liberty, limited government, and free enterprise within the Republican Party.
Contacts for Grassroots Supporters of the RLC:
• Michael Steele, GOP Chairman: Chairman@gop.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Sharon Day, FL Committeewoman: Secretary@gop.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , sday@rpof.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Paul Senft, Jr., FL Committeeman: senft1hp2u@aol.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
References/Additional Information:
• Complaints Filed Against Egoroff and Guetzloe:
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/15/floridas-gop-purge-intensifies/
• GOP Removes Deon Long from Position:
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/10/gop-chair-removes-long/
• St. John’s GOP Complaint Against Will Pitts:
http://www.rlc.org/2009/07/10/stjohns-gop-bullies/
• Other “Party Purge” Details::
http://republicanpartypurge.com/