“Democrats and NeverTrump conservatives across the country freaked out,” writes David Byler, a data analyst and political columnist for The Washington Post.
Why?
Last week, Rep. Justin Amash (L‑Mich.) became the first official Libertarian member of Congress and, more importantly to those hyperventilating, also announced he was seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for president.*
Already the horserace handicappers of politics are galloping ahead. “[T]he only real effect Amash could have in this campaign,” NeverTrumper George Conway tweeted, “is to enhance Trump’s chances.”
A Detroit News poll conducted last summer in the crucial state of Michigan showed Amash “luring independent voters” away from Democrat nominee Joe Biden. The surprised pollster suggested that while “conventional wisdom would say he would hurt President Trump by taking away Republican votes,” Amash may instead “give independent voters … an outlet to not vote for the Democrat.”
In 2016, younger voters were especially interested in an alternative to Trump — but not Hillary Clinton. At 40 years of age, Amash’s youth could be a distinct advantage over President Donald Trump, 73, and former Vice-President Joe Biden, 77.
Speaking of older — though still active politically — happy birthday to 1980 Libertarian Party presidential candidate Ed Clark! He turns 90 years of age today.
“Clark’s name appeared on the ballot in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Guam,” David Boaz remembers at Cato.org, “the first third-party candidate” to be “on every possible ballot since Theodore Roosevelt in 1916.”
Ed Clark did not win, but he put Libertarians on the map. And I got to cast my first vote for president — proudly.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
* Not only do I share Amash’s basic political philosophy, I very much applaud his conscientiousness in publicly explaining his thinking behind every vote cast.
Note: I petitioned to put Ed Clark on the ballot around the country and, at 20 years old, served as campaign chairman in Arkansas. Years later, Ed would testify on my behalf at my draft registration resistance trial.