I caught onto the concepts of Liberty in March of last year, and I had it in my head that the problem was just that people didn't know. I figured if I told people about these ideas, that they would realize how much better the world would be if they were put into policy, and to some extent I was right. But the level of resistance from some was shocking to me.

Thinking about it, I don't suppose that I should be so surprised. David F. Nolan started the Libertarian Party in 1971, Michael Badnarik has been in the fight for Liberty for upwards of 10 years, Ron Paul has been at it for more than 20 years. We're trying to do a lot more than win an election here, we're trying to change the way society thinks of government, a truly monumental task.

Some have suggested I tailor the message to be more mainstream, others suggest just focusing on the issues where we agree with certain groups, still others think the most politically expedient approach is to answer questions vaguely, or not at all. But I have to ask those people, what would be the point then? If I am going to do the same thing as the politicians do, I could save myself a lot of stress, effort, and money, and let them do it for me. It's not like there is any shortage of politicians out there willing to lie to people and tell them what they want to hear, and still more politicians out there willing to say next to nothing at all, figuring that by offending nobody, nobody will oppose them. But again, what is the point to any of that? Why would a person feel strongly enough to run for office, but not strongly enough to be outspoken? I think every voter, every donor, every politically active person, really needs to question the motives of such a person.

Not that I am a fan of Newt Gingrich, but he is quoted as saying "On the battlefield of ideas, winning requires moving toward the sound of the guns.". That doesn't seem to be what politicians do though, quite the contrary actually. Take some of my opponents for example, Randy Altschuler and Gary Bernsten don't even have an "Issues" link on their websites, George Demos has an "Issues" link, but it leads to a feedback form, where you can tell him what the issues are, and James Staudenraus is still using his website from his previous assembly race, which talks about little other than his opposition to immigration. In order for an elected government to be effective, the persons seeking election need to flood the marketplace of ideas, and not just in person where the words can change from time to time, but on record and without preparation, for the voters to know where they truly stand.

That's what I do, I engage in debate in person, on the internet, and any other forum available to me. I don't try to hide my positions or who I am, I work very hard to make sure as many people as possible hear what I have to say. I reach out to persons from all over the political spectrum, everybody from the Tea Parties, to the Democrats and Working Families Party. It shouldn't come as any surprise to anybody that the Libertarian disagrees with both sides on a number of issues, but what does seem to surprise people, is that I am willing to defend my positions, and without much concern for being "Politically Correct". Charlton Heston once said "Political correctness is simply tyranny with manners.", a theory I subscribe to.

Love me or hate me, I'm not a politician, and I'm not going to apologize for it, or start acting like one for the sake of political expediency. I'm not going to change what I say, to gain more support for my campaign, or to mitigate opposition. I'm not going end my outspoken opposition to unjust warsand politicians who support them, to pander to the Neoconservatives, any more than I am going to end my outspoken opposition to unconstitutional federal involvement in medicine to pander to the Progressives.

What did you expect? A Politician?

Do yourself a favor, do your country a favor, stop supporting politicians. If someone who is running for office hasn't made you angry yet, then they will most likely make you angry after they get elected. If I made you angry, GOOD! That means you already know where you disagree with me. I'm an honest, opinionated, politically active person who stands up for what he believes in. What did you think was going to happen? I would tell you exactly what I thought without pulling any punches and we would see eye to eye on everything? Did you really think someone who fights for what they believe in wouldn't challenge your ideas? Be serious! If someone is running for office, and they aren't challenging you, they are at best not being forthcoming, and at worst, flat out lying.

If you want a change in the political process, if you want to see someone who says what he means and means what he says in the US House of Representatives, if you know as I do, that the US Constitution comes before political expediency, the then the time has come for you to get involved with my campaign. Please visit www.voteforcantwell.com for more information, and use the contact form to get in touch with us.