Saturday, July 14, 2018

Is There a Chance for a Big Libertarian Victory in New Jersey?

Murray Sabrin
Murray Sabrin is running on the Libertarian Party ticket for the office of U.S. Senator from New Jersey.

Normally. a Libertarian Party candidate wouldn't have a chance for a U.S. Senate seat, but things are different this year in New Jersey.

The Democratic candidate is the incumbent Robert Menendez. Menedez has, ahem, serious ethical problems as a
candidate.

Via Wikipedia:
In November 2012, Daily Caller published allegations that Menendez had contact with underage prostitutes in the Dominican Republic.
In 2013, reports surfaced that a federal grand jury in Miami was investigating Menendez regarding his role in advocating for the business interests of Florida ophthalmologist Salomon Melgen, one of his close friends and major donors. On April 1, 2015, the United States Department of Justice indicted both Menendez and Melgen, charging Menendez with—among other crimes—bribery, fraud, and making false statements.According to the indictment Menendez asked top State Department officials to pressure the Dominican Republic’s government into enforcing a port-security contract that would benefit Melgen’s company while at the same time Melgen was promising to give $60,000 to Menendez’s political campaign Prosecutors also charged that Menendez acted as Melgen's "personal senator," helping obtain visas for several of Melgen's girlfriends.
Menendez voluntarily stepped down as ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee after his indictment. Menendez's trial began on September 6, 2017, before Judge William H. Walls of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. On November 16, 2017, the judge declared a mistrial due to the jury's continuing inability to reach a unanimous verdict on any of the charges. On January 31, 2018, the Justice Department announced they were dropping all charges against Menendez.
He's a creep and a warmonger and he is hated statewide even amongst Democrats.

During the Democratic primary, an unknown with no money, Lisa McCormick, was able to capture 36% of the vote against  Menendez.

Since the Menedez primary victory, the lefty McCormick has said some nice things about Sabrin and issued this statement:
After enjoying a lunch with Libertarian US Senate nominee Murray Sabrin, Democrat Lisa McCormick expressed gratitude and complimented his gentlemanly invitation and graciousness, which stands in stark contrast with the primary election rival who has yet to acknowledge her in any way despite several overtures…

While Professor Sabrin has some very different ideas about government and its purpose than my own views, it was very good to know there are people in contention for the office with the integrity and dignity worthy of a representative in the United States Senate.Our political philosophy might be miles apart, but our shared values and respect for people are things we have in common.
Running on the Republican side is the wealthy former pharmaceutical executive  Bob Hugin. He has already put $7.5 million of his own money into the race.

He also claims he is a libertarian--but is in favor of all sorts of government handouts:
“I’m a Libertarian but the government must be responsible for our health and welfare,” he said. “It’s our moral responsibility to help people, but it’s our economic responsibility."
With his handout philosophy, Hugin is not making friends with Republican conservatives. He also appears to duck questions on the gun control issue which also has to make conservative Republicans nervous.

 New Jersey has nearly 900,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans and Menendez is favored to win in November. But there is that fact that many New Jersey residents hate Menendez. It is possible Sabrin could pick up some of the Democratic hate-Menendez votes. Maybe a lot of these votes. They are not going to vote for the Republican, Hugin, who they see as a fat cat out of touch with the people.

And with Hugin's weak position on welfare and guns, Sabrin has a shot at capturing the conservative Republican vote.  Sabrin calls Hugin a Republican Hillary Clinton.

It is a long shot, but if Sabrin can pick up just over 33% of the November vote in a three-way race, he could be in, if Menendez and Hugin split the rest of the vote equally.

I don't see anyone else at the national level who is a libertarian that has the shot that Sabrin has, long as it may be.

That said, if Sabrin makes it to Washington, I would buy tickets to watch him speak in the Senate chamber. He is hardcore libertarian and is not afraid to speak his mind. It would be the closest thing to seeing one of the Founding Fathers on the Senate floor. What American wouldn't want that?

If you are election inclined, Sabrin is the one to focus on. Here is his website, cheer him on with emails, volunteer to work with him, send him money. Do what you can. The country desperately needs Sabrin in the Senate.

-RW 

4 comments:

  1. Since when do democrats have a problem with people having sex with prostitutes or minors? Hell, so long as consent is given a good amount of lolbertarians would support sex with minors.

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  2. Re Hugin saying he's a "libertarian," it's interesting how easily people throw this label around, either with respect to themselves, to attempt to boost their image, or to pin it on someone else, to attack them. But I don't think most of these people could define the libertarian philosophy if pressed, nor its implications. I think they would respond to such a question by noting what government policies they're for or against. I'd like to see more people who use the label "libertarian" called out on this. Perhaps if Sabrin gets into a public debate with Hugin, he can ask him this question.

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  3. NO! But it is still worth a try for other reasons.

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  4. Murray Sabrin has about as much chance of winning the senate election, as I do winning the Miss America Contest.

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