LP Illinois News - July 2008 #1
Celebrate Our Freedom
Independence Day is the time to celebrate and be thankful that we live in a country that aspires to liberty for all people. While we may sometimes be dismayed by how far America has strayed from the founders' libertarian principles, we can take heart from the growing libertarian movement that together we can and will return America to its heritage of freedom.
Our petitions to put Libertarian candidates for U.S. President, Vice President, and Senate stood without challenge this past week, so you will have the opportunity to vote Libertarian in November. Please show your appreciation for all the work that went into this successful drive and provide the funds for our paid petitioners by donating through our website or by sending a check to: Libertarian Party of Illinois, P.O. Box 1605, Chicago, IL 60690-1605.
Our thanks once again to everyone who contributed to the drive. If you want to see what a stack of 3,484 petitions looks like, visit the Petition Drive page of our website, LPIllinois.org.
Campaign Update: Barr/Root for U.S. President/VP
Volunteers are being sought in every Illinois County to coordinate distribution of Barr campaign materials and information. If you are interested in raising the Barr, contact Alex Talcott, the Barr Illinois State Coordinator (312-218-1539 or alex.talcott@gmail.com) or Jeff Wartman, Deputy Illinois Coordinator and Northern Illinois Regional Coordinator (708-543-7381 or jeffwartman@gmail.com).
The first Bob Barr Meetup of Greater Chicago was held on June 28. If you start a Bob Barr Meetup in your area, send an announcement to News@LPIllinois.org and we'll help spread the word.
We continue to make progress on a Barr fundraiser in Illinois, probably in suburban Chicago and tentatively scheduled for August 16th or 23rd. If you are interested in helping out, contact Kent McMillen at 312-909-5861.
For those closer to St. Louis, Wayne Root will be in town on Saturday, July 19th. Visit StCharles.LPMO.org to sign up for this fundraising event and meet our Vice Presidential nominee.
The Barr campaign released a new video titled "A Real Choice". It highlights how neither McCain nor Obama provide real choice for America—only Barr does. You can watch it from the home page of BobBarr2008.com.
Campaign Update: Larry Stafford for U.S. Senate
Larry is expanding the number of volunteers helping him with his campaign. To hop on board, send an email to info@Stafford4Senate.com. Larry also provided a number of excellent answers to campaign questions recently that are posted on the Illinois-based political blog, MillerPolitics. com.
Campaign Update: Dan Druck and Eric Ferguson for U.S. Congress
Both Dan and Eric filed petitions to get on the November ballot as Libertarians for U.S. Congress, but sadly, their filings have been challenged. Dan's campaign manager, Ken Prazak, sent us the following commentary:
Democracy in America?
The United States prides itself on its democratic principles and promotes them around the world. Former President Jimmy Carter is called to various "third-world" nations to monitor elections and make sure they are run fairly. We are even at war now with Iraq trying to force democracy on the Iraqi people.
Unfortunately, we need to look no further than our backyard to see that America doesn't come close to living up to its democratic standards. Here in Illinois in the 14th Congressional district, the Republican candidate for Congress, Jim Oberweis, needed to get 793 petition signatures to get on the ballot; the Democratic candidate, Bill Foster, needed 863 petition signatures. "Third" party and independent candidates who are not in the power club need to get nine thousand nine hundred ninety five petition signatures to get on the ballot or twelve and a half times as many signatures. In all Congressional districts and in all races, "third" parties and independents have to get huge multiples of the signatures that the Republicans and Democrats, who make the rules, do.
The effect of this is to make it nearly impossible for third parties or independents to make the ballot, or if they do, to have spent so many resources getting on the ballot that there is little left with which to wage a campaign. The net result is that we have a very undemocratic state here in Illinois.
In comparison, in Iraq, where our men and women are fighting and dying trying to establish democracy, a recent election had 111 different political parties on the ballot. According to Richard Winger, editor of "Ballot Access News" and the recognized expert on ballot access law, the United States has the most restrictive and unequal ballot access laws in the world.
Congressional candidate Dan Druck has vowed that he will fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, if need be, to obtain fairness in ballot access laws in Illinois and to secure his right to be on the ballot for Congress in the 14th District. Supporters of Dan obtained 7153 signatures to get Dan on the ballot, almost 10 times the required amount for the Republicans or Democrats.
If you are outraged at this totally unfair ballot access requirement, please help us fight the unfairness and support our lawsuit to give Dan his right to compete against Oberweis and Foster in the November election. Check out Dan's campaign website at www.TimeForDan.com.
And come to think of it, where's Jimmy Carter when you need him?!
Chapter Activities
The Fox Valley Libertarians will be participating in the Elgin Independence Day Parade on July 4th. This is a fun opportunity to get the message of liberty to the public. To join in, contact Julie Fox at jfox1214@sbcglobal.net or at (847) 528-1126.
McHenry County Libertarians will be meeting on Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m. at Vaughan's Family Restaurant in Woodstock. They will be voting on the Chapter by-laws and electing Chapter officers. Anyone living in or near McHenry County is invited to attend and get involved with our newest Chapter being formed. More details can be found on their website, LPMcHenry.org.
The DuPage Libertarians will have a booth at the DuPage County Fair in Wheaton from July 23-27. Volunteers are needed to hand out Libertarian literature and assist people taking the World's Smallest Political Quiz. If you've never done it before, an Operation Politically Homeless booth is a great way to find libertarians and bring them to the Party. Contact Fran Holt at (815) 584-2398 for more information.
There are tales being circulated of additional people thinking about starting a Chapter in their areas. If one of them is you, check the Start a Chapter page in the About Us section of our website and contact our Membership Chair, Damon Dillon, at 309-925-5950 for more information.
There are many libertarians throughout Illinois who have never become members of our Party. All Chapters are encouraged to have people sign up as members of the LP Illinois at their outreach events. Just print copies of the Join page of our website for your booth. (The page can also be rotated and copied 2 to a page if you would like to save paper.) Membership signups collected should be sent to: Damon Dillon, 10534 Antioch Rd, Tremont, IL 61568-9305. The bigger we are, the stronger we are.
Next State Organizing Committee Meeting
The State Organizing Committee (SOC) consists of the Party Officers plus a representative from each local Chapter. The SOC meets monthly and all LP Illinois members are invited to attend and get involved at the state level. At the June SOC meeting, the July meeting was re-scheduled for July 31 at 7:30 p.m. via teleconference. Call 800-735-1776 for more information.
Help Wanted: Newsletter Editor
We are eagerly seeking a Libertarian with writing skills and an interest in libertarian topics and activism to take over as the LP Illinois Newsletter Editor. Because communications are so critical to the success of our Party, the position rates a seat on the Executive Board—and that also gets the Editor the inside scoop on the Party. No experience is necessary; transition assistance will be provided. To discuss this great opportunity, contact Crystal Jurczynski at 630-876-1935 or News@LPIllinois.org.
Right of Self-Protection Upheld
The Supreme Court affirmed June 26 that individuals have the Constitutional right to protect themselves and their families by keeping guns in their homes. The ban on handguns in the homes of Washington DC residents was overturned along with the requirement that firearms be equipped with trigger locks or kept disassembled. Concerned citizens and organizations are following up with lawsuits to regain the right of self-protection for other Americans, including those in Chicago and several Chicago suburbs.
If you are interested in showing your support for 2nd amendment rights, join The Second Amendment Freedom Rally on Friday, July 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph Street in Chicago. The featured speaker will be Dr. Suzanna Hupp. The event is sponsored by the Illinois State Rifle Association and IllinoisCarry.com. For more information, visit ChicagoRally.ISRA.org. Our thanks to Hermes Alvarez for passing this along.
Sharing the Message of Liberty
Call talk radio like LP Illinois activist Michael Fogelsanger did. He recently got on WLS AM 890 in Chicago to talk about why he's voting for Bob Barr. There is a list of talk shows, times, phone numbers and tips for calling on the national website, LP.org. Just pick up the phone and you can put Libertarian thought on the air.