Libertarians Gaining Ground

Libertarian Party Press Release dated 14 June 2007


]Democrat and Republican Affiliation Drops While Libertarian Party Numbers Surge

(Washington, DC) - At a time when Libertarian Party membership continues to rise, a recent Rasmussen Report survey indicates that Republican Party affiliation continues to decline while Democratic Party affiliation is decreasing, as well.

Republican numbers have been dropping since the November 2004 elections and they continue to decrease with no bottom in sight. For the last four consecutive months, the amount of self-identified Republicans continued their decline - from 31.1 percent to 30.8 percent in a telephone survey of 15,000 adults.



The number of self-identified Democrats fell to 36.3 percent, its lowest number in seventeen months. Democrats have suffered losses in the last three consecutive months, resulting in a six month decrease of 4.5 percent.



At the same time, Libertarian Party membership numbers have been on an upswing. For the last five months, people willing to pay at least $25 per year for Libertarian Party affiliation have increased at a rate of approximately 2.7 percent per month, which is a 14 percent increase from December's figure.



Additionally, Libertarian Party fundraising is increasing at the same time the GOP dismissed their entire telephone solicitation staff. According to the Washington Times, "declining contributions and a donor backlash" against Republican policy was the cause for their dismissal.



"These are certainly encouraging data, but not at all surprising," said Libertarian National Committee Chairman William Redpath. "Despite the electoral barriers thrown our way by the Democrats and Republicans, their numbers are decreasing while ours are simultaneously increasing. Americans desire fiscal responsibility, social tolerance and oppose the continued deaths of our soldiers in Iraq. Unfortunately, neither major party is willing to effectively address these important issues."



Current U.S. foreign policy, as well as proposals from the new Democrat-controlled Congress, are significant reasons for the increase in Libertarian Party membership. So far this year, the LP has attracted fourteen times the expected national average of active duty service members. The LP's soldiers, sailors and airmen range in rank from junior enlisted personnel to Vice Admiral (Ret.) Michael Colley, who now serves on the Libertarian National Committee.



Based on required Federal Elections Commission reporting data, seven percent of new LP members have reported their employer as a branch of the Armed Forces.



"It is heartening for me to see that the men and women who serve our nation are finding a principled alternative to the Republicans and Democrats," said Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory, who first noticed this trend. While noting that Libertarian members of our military have the discipline necessary to accomplish the mission they are handed, Cory noted "the men and women of our fighting forces are intelligent, informed, and, yes, opinionated."



Increased support for the Libertarian Party is beginning to translate into election results, too. While significant national media attention highlighted Republican losses in 2006, over 13,400,000 votes were cast for Libertarians in the same elections.



"Since the Democrats have taken control of Congress, our numbers continue to improve," said Libertarian Party Political Director Stephen Gordon. "In 2007, we've already won over a quarter of the races where we've fielded candidates. In April's Midwestern contests, we won seven out of eleven of the campaigns we ran. When third party candidates start showing these sorts of returns, it's obvious that the mood of the electorate is changing."



"Democrats didn't win the elections in 2006; Republicans lost them," said Chairman Redpath. "Since then, Democratic leaders have failed to show leadership on the Iraq War, are talking about tax increases and beginning to have ethical problems of their own. Americans continue to look for a viable alternative to the two-party system - one which better represents the values most Americans find important. To those who are becoming involved with the Libertarian Party, we'd like to say 'Welcome home.'"

Ron Paul still has no chance of winning.

Sweet! Since everyone else is, I'm gonna sign up too! It's the new hip thing! Like bell bottoms and pet rocks!

I initially read this title as librarians gaining control. That might have actually been interesting.

Stores Brace Themselves for Heightened Rush on Atlas Shrugged, Hand Lotion.

Just the fact that the Libertarians now have the resources to issue a press release is proof that they have gained ground.

Oh wow, the libertarians are coming. Watch out super volcanoes, your days are numbered.

Hahaha!

Really. I also like how they fail to mention a total percentage for those willing to identify as Libertarians. They just state the percentage increase.

That was my thought as well, only percentages, which is meaningless.

How many Libertarians are there now?

People dropping out of the two main parties does not mean they are becoming Libertarians, as the article suggests. Everything I have read says the number of independents is exploding. But it was a nice try. Sad when analzyed, but a nice try.

The good news is that if the Libertarians ever took control of the country, I would leave. But there is a better chance of Hobbits taking control of the country. At least they have reasonable policies, like Second Breakfast.

Loch Ness Monster sightings up 25% in 2005

They have a base-eleventy number system, though, and I really don't feel like needing to own three sets of tools if I want to work on post-Brandybuck Administration cars.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_2008/other_election_2008/party_affiliation_trends_show_democratic_momentum

The report is using a net decline in democratic party affiliation (from 37.9% to 37.0% from 2004 to 2006 to claim democratic "momentum" on the basis of larger republican losses. Fact is the LP is gaining ground and more and more Americans are dissatisfied with both major parties.

It's also worth noting that simply because fewer people are identifying themselves as Democrats or Republicans does not in any way mean that they won't end up being Democratic or Republican voters. Because, you know... they will.

You're lazy.

"Module not found"

So? Why does what people officially affiliate themselves with have anything to do with the Libertarian party? If you've ever studies voting behaviors in any way you'd know that the way people identify themselves is only loosely correllated with how they actually vote.

You have absolutely, positively zero factual support for this assertion. Moreover, I hate to break it to you but there are more than three political parties out there, champ.

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6715

According to the Cato institute people who consistently support Libertarian political ideals make up 13-14 percent of US voters. Much more than enough to swing elections.

i for one, welcome our new Libertarian Overlords.

And yet, Libertarians almost never win 13-14% of the vote in any particular election. And forget about most state and national elections. Funny how that works, huh?

Could it be because what party people say they support has oh so very little to do with what party they actually vote for?

Try this

http://tinyurl.com/yw9ubn

The LP is the third largest party in the USA and is more consistently able to win elections (we do win elections and have hundreds of elected public officials) and overall stable.

Greens for example are trying but are not really very stable (as a party) and too close to the democrats in that attacks based on them harming democratic party candidates have more merit to greens than like attacks do to Libertarians.

A Libertarian website says that Libertarians are a force to be reckoned with. You are coming up with loads of fantastic evidence here.

well, who else are you gonna trust? the other two parties? yeah, real honest.