Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2001 10:21:52 -0500
From: kvc@compuserve.com ("Kent Van Cleave")
Subject: Re: [lpaz-discuss] (fwd) RE: Is Barry Hess really taking matching funds?
To: lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: lpaz-discuss@yahoogroups.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Todd A. Barnett <libertarianman27@home.com>


>> Barry Hess wrote in part:


>> > Just for the record:  I have not, and at no time did I relay to anyone

>> that

>> > I was going to accept said "matching funds".  Further, if you aren't

>> > completely familiar with the actual guidelines of the Clean

>> Elections Act,

>> > you have no standing even for comment.  And finally, just to

>> point out the

>> > ignorance you display, I will make note that nobody, from any party, is

>> > 'signed up' for the Clean Elections Act, mainly because there

>> is no place

>> to

>> > sign up, and if you knew what you were talking about, you would

>> know that

>> > the program doesn't even start until August 1st....that would

>> be tomorrow.

>> >

>> > My only intent is to do all that I can to actually realize FREEDOM,

>> nothing

>> > more, and nothing less.  And I will not sit back while pseudo-freedom

>> > fighters continue to kick those of us willing to forward the

>> real cause of

>> > restoring FREEDOM,in the side.



>Todd Barnett answered:


>After reading this e-mail, I felt obligated -- and obliged -- to send you

an
>official public apology in regards to my comments on your campaign. At the

>time when the word was circulating that you were accepting matching funds,

I
>came to the conclusion that you, like a few other Libertarians, decided

that
>a "Win! Win! Win!" campaign was more important than standing up for

>principles and convictions.


[snip]

>But I also believe that you have a responsibility to inform the list of

your
>actions and your decisions. I believe that a full campaign finance

>disclosure of your fundraising activities is necessary, and it must be

>examined thoroughly.

>

>If you are NOT accepting matching funds, bravo to you! At least there are

>some party members who would rather stick to principles, and not try to

>dance around the issues of their campaign practices.

>

>However, if it becomes true that you have accepted matching funds to

finance
>your activities for any reason, then that will become obvious to everyone

>that there is a problem, as it will reflect that you have been

>disingenuous -- not only to your supporters, but to party members in

>general.

>

>Please accept my humble apologies if the allegations are found to be

untrue.


I sure hope Todd won't have to retract his apology. Bob Anderson asked Barry
for a simple yes/no answer -- but the question needs to be the right one or
understanding will suffer. Bob also mentioned "weasel words," and Barry's
reply to his critics contained a number of terms that could easily do that
sort of work.

So ... here's how to clear things up so everyone knows Barry's intentions.

(1) Distinguish "matching funds" from "Clean Elections Act funds," which
seem by Barry's wording to be importantly different to him.

(2) Distinguish between a direct statement of intention and a statement that
Barry has not yet disclosed his intention with respect to campaign money
provided by the state. So far, the latter appears to be all we have in hand.

Scott Beiser's message, if answered fully and honestly, will provide the
answer everyone here wants.

Being ever the helpful type, I'm happy to draft such an answer to save Barry
a few seconds:

"As a Libertarian candidate for public office, I will under no circumstances
accept campaign funds, from any government or any other entity, that derive
from taxes of any kind."

Heck, this could be a model pledge for any and all Libertarian candidates
... hint, hint!

Kent



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