Presidential Candidates Debate

By Thomas L. Knapp

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Libertarians are odd ducks. Amongst ourselves, we frequently disagree, especially on the finer points of our platform and ideas. Each of us is like one of the "major party" presidential candidates, eager to distinguish himself from the others on the basis of erudite points about esoteric subjects.

Yet one of the most common lines our own presidential candidates utter in debate with one another is "I agree."

Michael Badnarik, Gary Nolan and Aaron Russo -- generally considered the "contenders" for the LP's presidential nomination this year -- sat down together at the Missouri/Kansas/Nebraska state convention last month to talk to their fellow Party members about their positions on the issues and their approaches to campaigning. The forum was moderated by Missouri's Tamara Millay; radio journalists Lloyd Sloan of St. Louis and Jason Griffin of Columbia served as panelists. The other declared presidential candidates (Jeffrey Diket, David Hollist and Ruben Perez) were not present.

Responding to the panelists' questions, the candidates provided answers that were remarkably similar in philosophical content -- hewing to a fairly consistent libertarian ideology -- the main differences being in the candidates' approaches to campaigning. No great surprises on the issues, but radically different styles of presentation.

In talking with audience members both before and after the event, I found that those stylistic differences were the main subject of comment. Badnarik: Sincere and principled. Nolan: Polished and engaging. Russo: Pugnacious and aggressive. And the difference of approach also weighed heavily in terms of whom Tri-State Libertarians intend to support for the nomination.

2004's LP presidential nomination campaign has, by all accounts, been characterized by a higher level of engagement between candidates than in any previous election cycle. Badnarik and Nolan have discussed the issues in various venues since beginning their campaigns in early 2003, including on "The Road to Freedom," a forum hosted by Missouri's own Cass and Jackson County LP organizations and televised on C-SPAN. With the entry of Russo into the campaign in late 2003, the engagement accelerated. The three candidates have debated each other in Tennessee, Missouri, California and Illinois, and are scheduled to debate at LP conventions in Virginia and once more in Tennessee.

The LP's national convention, at which the nomination will be decided, will be held May 27-31 in Atlanta, Georgia.