In response to this August 25, 2011 editorial in the Wall Street Journal, LP Executive Director Wes Benedict sent the following letter to the editor:
Dear Editor:
In "Expect a Third-Party Candidate in 2012," the authors noted broad public support for a third major party in the United States. Unfortunately, they ignored our third-largest political party: the Libertarian Party.
The Libertarian Party has consistently put a presidential candidate on 39 or more state ballots, going back to 1980 — despite massive roadblocks put in our way by Republican and Democratic politicians. No other alternative party in American history has come close to that achievement over that length of time.
Next year, in addition to a presidential nominee, we’re aiming to run at least 200 candidates for U.S. House.
Unlike many other alternative parties that could be described as "disgruntled liberals" or "disgruntled conservatives," the Libertarian Party fills a space on the political map that the Republicans and Democrats have totally abandoned.
The authors observed that American voters are fed up with the Democratic-Republican duopoly. When those voters decide it’s time to vote for more freedom and less government, we’ll be here for them.
Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee
