An Open Letter to Gary Johnson
Governor Johnson, the media hates you. Deal with it. The minute it looked like you might be pulling millennial Bernie supporters, Donald Trump likely wanted you to be included in the debates. If tomorrow a report comes out suggesting you’re pulling in Cruz votes, Hillary will want you in, and Trump will change his mind. Over 80% of the media thinks you’re a threat to their chosen candidate, and they don’t want you anywhere near her on a debate stage. The other 20% feel the same way about you in defense of their candidate. The old proverb “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” does not apply to you and MSNBC or Fox News.
You are going to be asked ridiculous questions like what leaders you “look up to,” as if the possible future American president, and leader of the free world, is supposed to look up to anyone. You will be disrespected and told “You’re kidding!” if you don’t have an answer to their questions. When you make a claim, you will be questioned and told by a rude reporter that he’ll “have to check your facts” on statements you make like how Ross Perot was allowed to debate despite lower poll numbers then than you have now. Every single time you misspeak, misstep, or misunderstand, it will be ammunition for the two major parties and their media cohorts to shell your campaign relentlessly. If Hillary cackles, it’s going to be portrayed as personable by the left and as a sign of her failing health by the right. If you stick your tongue out, you’re going to be called a pot-smoking weirdo by both sides. On that note, put down the weed if you haven’t already. It’s one thing to favor legalization, but it’s another to use the stuff and think you can run a campaign.
That is the cold, hard reality of this election. Here’s another: you will not get 270 electoral votes. I’m sure you know that, but I hope that your campaign isn’t throwing in the towel, just yet either. Winning even 5 electoral votes in New Mexico, where you’ll polling at 25% right now, could actually be enough to win you the presidency. Denying Clinton and Trump 270, and getting on the electoral college score board in 3rd place is enough to bring it to the newly elected House of Representatives next January, according to the 12th Amendment. Although Republicans control a majority of the state delegations, over 17 million of them voted against Donald Trump. It wouldn’t be unthinkable for the House to select you as the 45th president of the United States.
It could happen.
If any of your staffers are asking you to just play spoiler, fire them immediately. We’re $20 trillion in debt as a nation, and we have a couple of parties seemingly happy to throw out all sorts of constitutional rights. Restrictions on free speech and the right to bear arms are coming in daily, while our 4th Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures is almost completely ignored. We’re wasting billions prosecuting people for drug addiction and trillions policing a planet that is increasingly opposed to us. Meanwhile, Americans, some of the best craftsmen on the planet, are struggling to find work.
The stakes are too high for another 3rd party concession speech this November. Libertarians can no longer be satisfied with “ballot access.” It’s time to win.
Get out of your bubble of supporters where people do nothing but praise you, and let some opposing voices prepare you for real hardball questions. Lord knows I have a few for you myself. Your support of the FairTax is likely the single most important issue for the future of our nation’s economic growth, so run with that. With all due respect to your party’s “Non-aggression Principle,” liberty is secured by those willing to fight for it. It’s time to get aggressive, get your game face on, and start throwing some punches that land on your opponents and their media protectors.
You’ve taken some hits. Get up. Come up swinging. Get out there, and start kicking some teeth in!
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