Day one of the Libertarian National Convention: Vice presidential candidates speak
Ballotpedia's scope changes periodically, and this article type is no longer actively created or maintained. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Libertarian National Convention, 2016
 Date: November 8, 2016 |
Winner: Donald Trump (R) Hillary Clinton (D) • Jill Stein (G) • Gary Johnson (L) • Vice presidential candidates |
Important dates • Nominating process • Ballotpedia's 2016 Battleground Poll • Polls • Debates • Presidential election by state • Ratings and scorecards |
2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016 Have you subscribed yet?
Join the hundreds of thousands of readers trusting Ballotpedia to keep them up to date with the latest political news. Sign up for the Daily Brew.
|
This page was current as of the 2016 election.
May 27, 2016
Day one of the Libertarian National Convention in Orlando, Florida, featured spirited debates on both party platform planks and between four candidates vying for the vice presidential nomination. There were just under 800 credentialed delegates in attendance with Libertarian National Chair Nick Sarwark presiding over the meetings.
Platform debates
Prior to discussion of the platform, delegates could submit tokens to request that a plank be brought up for deletion. Only one plank met the threshold of tokens needed for a vote - abortion. The plank, as adopted in 2014, reads: "Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration."[1] Ultimately, the delegation voted to keep the plank as written. Those standing in support of its removal at the final vote were jeered by opponents as "traitors" and "Republicans."
A proposed amendment to the party's energy plank was also the center of considerable debate. The amendment would have added an additional sentence to the current plank stating an opposition to the use of military power to secure crude oil from foreign countries. Additional language would have connected this acquisition of foreign energy with a perceived lack of innovation in alternative energy sources by domestic companies. This amendment was also defeated.
Following those failed amendments, a new plank detailing the party's stance on government employees was successfully added to the platform. Its two main points were to not require public employees to join unions and that pension plans for those employees must be funded by current taxpayers rather than future ones. One dissenting debater suggested just saying that there should be no government employees, period, and was applauded. Ultimately, the delegates chose to accept this new plank.
Vice presidential debate
Following a brief intermission, a vice presidential debate was held. Hosted by Tim Koen, leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada, the debate featured four candidates: William Weld, Larry Sharpe, Alicia Dearn, and Will Coley. The debate participants were determined by the anonymous voting of all delegates during earlier proceedings, with those who garnered at least 10% of votes cast allowed to participate. The vote tallies were 126 for Weld, 125 for Sharpe, 89 for Dearn, and 51 for Coley, with 49 votes being the threshold for participation. Going into the debate some felt that Weld, who had already hitched his wagon to Gary Johnson's campaign, was the favorite.
The opening statements were varied. Sharpe immediately spoke of the current front-runners, saying that "Trump-Hillary is a gift. A poorly-wrapped gift, but a gift." Weld said his big-picture idea was to get "government out of your pocketbook and your bedroom." Dearn told her personal story of how she came to be a Libertarian and drew cheers when she reminisced about using a gun to defend her family during a break-in. Coley touted his experience developing Libertarian ideas in foreign countries and said he would prefer if the party spoke with its hands instead of its head.
The Non-Aggression Principle (NAP) was the first Libertarian idea brought up in the debate. All candidates agreed with the NAP, though some took it further. Coley said that to be a Libertarian, you must absolutely reject the initiation of force, regardless of circumstance. Sharpe shared his belief that if there was no victim of an act, that implied no force, and thus there should be no law or government oversight of that action.
Candidates were split when asked whether the United States should continue to be a member of international organizations, such as the United Nations (UN) and NATO. Sharpe stated that he felt the biggest mistake after the Cold War was not disbanding NATO, and he also said the U.S. should leave the UN. Weld agreed with disbanding NATO, but did not feel the U.S. should leave the UN. Dearn expressed support for international treaties but disdain for "mission creep" that led the U.S. into more international conflicts. The crowd responded favorably to Coley, who simply said "hell no."
Two more statements during the remaining few questions drew a loud response from the audience. While answering a question about the first tax reform he'd like to enact, Coley drew the loudest praise of the night when he said "taxation is theft," before stating that he would abolish the entire tax code. Speaking about the American Revolution, Sharpe's statement that Americans could revolt with their mouths, guns, feet, or wallets drew applause. He referenced Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela when speaking in favor of non-violent revolt over violent revolt, but of Mandela added, "he used both."
Closing statements from candidates were as varied as their opening ones. Coley appealed to those present that his "dirty hands" would bring valuable exviperience to the position. Dearn advocated for what she called "Compassionate Libertarianism," saying that "freedom is the answer . . . to learn and grown is how people become their best selves." Weld spoke out against the Democratic and Republican parties, invoking The Emperor's New Clothes to describe current political leadership. Speaking last, Sharpe roused the crowd by encouraging supporters that this election was the beginning, not the end or last chance as some commentators may have suggested.
Analysis
Although Weld entered as the arguable front-runner for the vice presidential nod, he was not received as the best performer on the night. Coley, the most animated of the four debaters, drew loud applause from the crowd nearly every time he spoke. Sharpe's support grew as the debate went on, leaving him the loudest round of applause after the final statements. Weld tended to answer with safer, more politically-correct answers, while his opponents spoke of less moderate ideas. Dearn drew some crowd reactions with her answers, although they were comparatively few and far between.
Following the debate, Ballotpedia spoke with Michael Kielsky, the state chair of the Arizona Libertarian Party. Kielsky, who was also head of his state's delegation at the convention, said that he enjoyed Coley's enthusiasm and energy. He came up short of endorsing one candidate outright, however, citing his need to do further research. It is worth noting that Coley, who barely reached the threshold to participate in the debate, seemed to make waves.
What's up next?
Saturday's business session will feature presidential nominations, with the main event presidential debate to follow. On Sunday morning, delegates will election a presidential and vice presidential nominee. Because they are each selected by the delegates, an unanticipated pairing of candidates could occur. The national party chair will be elected later that afternoon. Stay tuned to Ballotpedia for coverage of these events and the rest of the 2016 election cycle.
See also
- Libertarian National Convention, 2016
- Gary Johnson presidential campaign, 2016
- Austin Petersen
- John McAfee
- Presidential candidates, 2016
- Presidential debates (2015-2016)
- Presidential election, 2016/Polls
- 2016 presidential candidate ratings and scorecards
- Presidential election, 2016/Straw polls
