Reason Magazine: Nick Gillespie: 'The Libertarian Case for Gary Johnson'

Source:Reason Magazine- left to right: Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie.

"This is one of three related articles, each making a specifically libertarian argument for the Democratic, Republican, or Libertarian presidential contender.

The libertarian case in favor of voting for Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson is pretty self-evident and exceptionally strong. 

Johnson, a former two-term Republican governor of the overwhelmingly Democratic state of New Mexico, is not just the single-most qualified candidate the LP has yet to field for president. At this stage in his life, he's got more experience in managing actual political reality and bureaucratic state operations than the one-term former governor Mitt Romney has or the wet-behind-the-ears senator Barack Obama had when he moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Or for that matter, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) had when the good Dr. No ran for the LP in 1988." 

From Reason Magazine 

"Welcome to Ask a Libertarian with Reason's Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch. They are the authors of the new book The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America." 

From Reason Magazine

Here's a perfect example of why Libertarians should vote for the candidate they want, instead of what they would see as the lesser of two evils. Because if enough Libertarians vote for Gary Johnson for president, whether they are part of the Libertarian Party, Republican, Democrat or Independent, Libertarians if Gary Johnson were to get that magic 5% number, something that the Green Party's Jill Stein is going for with the Green Party, then the LP will have the resources to be able to compete in 2016, maybe double their 5%.

Once the Libertarian Party gets to 5% of the popular vote, then the LP could be a  serious factor in determining who wins the 2016 presidential election. Something they aren't right now for the most part. 

Maybe Governor Johnson pulls votes away from President Obama in places like Nevada, New Mexico and perhaps Florida. We'll wait and see, because he's someone who appeals more to Liberals than Conservatives. I'm an example of that as a Liberal, because Governor Johnson to me sounds more Liberal in the classic sense, then he does Conservative and perhaps even Libertarian. Gary sounds like a Left-Libertarian or Social-Liberal to me, then a Ron Paul hard-core Libertarian.

If Gary Johnson were to break through in 2012 and get that 5%, the LP will have the resources to build their party for the future. And become a real factor in American politics and perhaps become the official third-party in America. Big enough to compete with Democrats and Republicans in the future. 

The Libertarian Party doesn't become a strong third party in America, as long as Libertarians vote for what they see as the lesser of two evils or don't bother voting at all. Or are stereotyped as potheads who see a new government conspiracy theory, every time they look up at the sky. 

Libertarians should turn out and vote for exactly who represents them, even if that candidate has no shot at winning, to be able to build their own party that can actually win in the future.