Indianapolis Star 2004 candidate endorsements
Published October 26, 2004
I don't know if publicly tangling with the paper like this is the best strategy, but I bet it's emotionally satisfying. I can sure see why he'd want to have a piece of them dirty dogs.
Yet, I'd say that this was better treatment than Kenn Gividen, our candidate for governor. Kenn has run probably the best Libertarian Party campaign I've ever seen. Yet the Star absolutely didn't even mention him in their editorial endorsement of the Republican.
That's cold. Call me a no-good SOB if you want, but at least acknowledge my effort.
In fairness, though, I will say that they did considerably better by me. It was a foregone conclusion that they would endorse Bayh. However, they definitely gave me fair respect.
Bayh's opponents in the Nov. 2 election, Republican Marvin Scott and Libertarian Al Barger, while waging respectable campaigns, have not made the case for unseating him.
Scott's sharp criticism of Bayh as an amoral, free-spending liberal isn't borne out by the record. And Barger's suggestion of abolishing the Social Security tax, for which he maintains there is no constitutional mandate, would be ill advised without an alternative set up to replace it.
For starters, I'm pleased to have been paid the minimal acknowledgement of being addressed, as well as being said to have had a "respectable" campaign.
I'm even considerably more pleased that they addressed my central campaign issue, and the particularly important constitutional question about Social Security.
That's all I ask, just some basic respect. They acknowledged me and addressed my top issue. Then we let the voters take it from there.
Thank you.
- Indianapolis Star 2004 candidate endorsements
- Published: October 26, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Politics
- Writer: Al Barger
- Al Barger's BC Writer page
- Al Barger's personal site
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Indianapolis,IN right here. I haven't followed alot of the local politics (shame on me), so I will just say this.
Go Colts!
Way to go, Al!
It's about time the elite media started paying some due respect to third-party candidates.
Al's done a great job on a shoestring budget. It's very gratifying to see the respectful press he has earned.
It's been a funny thing, trying to win the respect of the media. We (Libertarians) listen to their criticisms and take them seriously.
For instance, a few years back, the LPIN really only ran candidates for the top of the ticket. The Star and others said, "that's nice, but you need a deeper ticket to be taken seriously".
So, LPIN ran better than 150 candidates in the next cycle. The Star and others said, "that's nice, but you're obviously just getting any joe blow to fill the ballot. You have to put people qualified for the office they seek".
Fair enough. We've run CPAs for auditor and treasurer at the state and local level, fine attorneys for AG and judge, surveyors for surveyor, etc. The Star and others say, "that's nice, but you don't raise big money like the other parties. You must not have popular support."
Very well. That's next. We're going to raise big money. I imagine that even when we win high office, we will just be told, "that's nice, but you can't govern. You don't have a majority of seats in the legislature".
That's just the kind of bias third party candidates tend to have to deal with. It's very tough. Look at the Socialist Party. They've been doing what they do for over 100 years, but they never could crack the big time. That's something to consider, especially since so many of their workplace economic policies (especially)became law: child labor laws, OT pay, 8-hour work days, minimum wage, etc. All courtesy of the third-party Socialists.
. . .and the Libertarians would repeal it all.
Never has so much fuss been made over so little achievement. The paper barely acknowleged Barger's existence. And, if it had delved deeper, the response would have been very critical. Abolish public schools. Prevent the unemployed from collecting benefits. Repeal all tax laws. Outlaw abortion. Etc. That's the reality of what Barger is peddling.
Yes, we Libertarians would get rid of most all of the policies implemented over the last 100 years by various socialist parties. The editorial board at the Star knows this because 1)that's all basic stuff that is the basic Libertarian philosophy on which we've run candidates for several decades now, and 2)because I met with them and discussed the issues at hand.
For the record, as Diva well knows, I am pro-choice.
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It is impressive they would mention a third party candidate by name along with an issue he raises and praise his campaign.
Good job.