Grassroots pro-liberty activists in The Beaver State are hosting an organizational meeting to charter a Republican Liberty Caucus affiliate in Oregon. RLC Coordinator Adam Mayer is leading the charge, so if you live in the Portland area — or anywhere else in the state! — please mark February 19 on your calendar. The meeting details:

Oregon RLC Organizing Meeting
Saturday, February 19 at 1 pm
at Round Table Pizza (10070 SW Barbur Blvd.) in Portland

This will be an organizational meeting to form a Oregon chapter. Bylaws and rules will be voted on and officers will be elected. To participate in voting you must be a member of the RLC. Join today! and join today. For more information e-mail Adam at rlcoregon@gmail.com.

Help promote individual liberty, limited government and free enterprise and eat pizza while doing it! See you on the 19th, freedom fans in Oregon!

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The Republican Liberty Caucus, a membership organization that exists to promote individual liberty and limited government, is praising its endorsed Congressional candidates who have taken pro-liberty positions on civil liberties and equal rights.

The Caucus Statement of Principles outlines that members support medical and banking privacy, equal protection under the law, and all voluntary and non-violent consensual conduct. Accordingly, the Caucus wishes to praise certain Congressional candidates who have taken exceptional positions on privacy, civil liberties, and equal rights.

“We must drastically limit the ability of government to collect and store data regarding citizens’ personal matters,” says RLC-endorsed Congressional candidate Delia Lopez (pictured, right) of Oregon. Lopez opposes GPS tracking mandates and any move toward a national ID card.

Military veteran David Ratowitz, a RLC-endorsed candidate for Congress in suburban Chicago, says he is “confident that American security is better served by streamlining our military [and] concentrating our forces and avoiding futile nation building.” Continues Ratowitz, “We must recognize that our most powerful tool of foreign policy is the soft power generated by American citizens through their generosity, industry and the example they set for the world.”

“I believe the military should adopt an inclusive approach towards gays and lesbians,” says RLC-endorsed Congressional candidate Joel Pollak of Illinois. RLC Advisory Board member Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico, recently said “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has always been wrong and it is still wrong.” And earlier this year, the Texas chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus blasted homophobic language that was added to the official Texas Republican Party platform.

According to the late Senator Barry Goldwater, a hero to many RLC members, “You don’t need to be straight to fight and die for your country… you just need to shoot straight.” Goldwater rightly stated that a fundamental tenet of conservatism is that government should stay out of people’s private lives — and out of the impossible task of legislating morality.

According to National RLC Chairman Dave Nalle, “We are proud that our slate of candidates are speaking on these important social issues and bucking the trend of the Republican Establishment by simply being honest about these issues. Ultimately, these issues — civil liberties and treatment of gay Americans — are about individual rights and freedoms. We’re working for a Republican Party that will defend those rights and freedoms.”

Campaign strategist Dick Morris recently blogged about focusing support on ten key house races where he believes money and personal effort will make the most difference for Republicans in November.  While I agree with the concept of focusing support on key races, there is a fundamental problem with the list Morris has put together. Instead of focusing on the best candidates, it is a list almost entirely composed of establishment candidates. It focuses on winning seats and ignores the imperative to change the focus of the party and the Congress in November.

While Morris’ candidates may have a good chance of winning, they are mostly not the kinds of candidates who will move the GOP in a positive direction or take roles as principled leaders in Congress. They may end up being helpful votes as part of a future coalition, but they are not the right candidates to form the nucleus of a new and better Republican majority.

It’s much more important in this key election to put your money and support behind GOP candidates who are both able to win and also dedicated to Constitutional principles and restoring the core ideals of the GOP. To redo Morris’ work from the perspective of a pro-liberty activist rather than a political hack who used to call his pal Bill Clinton while he was in bed with a hooker and Clinton was playing hide the cigar with an intern, I offer my list of the ten house candidates who really deserve your help and your money. They are listed in order of my somewhat subjective assessment of their need and worthiness.

Mick Mulvaney (SC-5)

A principled constitutional conservative who is running in a tough blue-leaning district against an incumbent he has done the near impossible to come up tied at 46% to 46% with his opponent in the latest poll. He needs any support he can get in a critical race.

Find out more about his campaign at www.mulvaneyforcongress.com

Jason Levesque (ME-2)

Trailing in the polls, but working very hard to catch up. He’s a committed Liberty Republican and is trailing 7 points in the polls. It’s a deficit he can make up by November. He has the energy and needs your support.

Find out more about his campaign at www.levesqueforcongress.com

John Koster (WA-2)

A principled constitutional conservative who is leading by about 4 points in the latest poll. He needs to widen his lead to secure an important upset win.

Find out more about his campaign at www.kosterforcongress.com

Delia Lopez (OR-3)

A promising and hard working Liberty Republican who speaks out strongly for Constitutionally protected rights and civil liberties. She’s a real anti-establishment candidate who is running a very active campaign, but has an uphill battle.

Find out more about his campaign at: www.dlopezforcongress.com

David Ratowitz (IL-5)

One of my favorite Liberty Republicans running this year. On the right side of just about every issue. Strong on individual liberty and fiscal issues. He has a tough but winnable race, but needs help to pull off an upset.

Find out more about his campaign at: www.ratowitzforcongress.com

John Dennis (CA-8)

One of the most high profile Liberty Republican candidates in one of the most challenging races in the country, taking on Speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco. Yes, he’s down by more than 20 points in the polls, but there are still enough undecided votes that he could win. He might be able to pull off a miracle with your help.

Help him beat Pelosi at: www.johndennis2010.com

Chip Cravaack (MN-8)

A strong fiscal conservative with integrity and a background as a navy pilot. The kind of principled leader we need in Congress. Not much polling information, but his fundraising is strong and he seems like a potential winner.

Find out more about his campaign at: www.chipcravack.com

Gary Clift (CA-10)

A strong Liberty Republican in a race that is under the radar in northern California. The incumbent was elected in a special election and did not beat Clift by wide margins in that race, so there is potential for an upset with your help.

Find out more about his campaign: www.cliftforcongress.com

B. J. Lawson (NC-4)

One of the most respected Liberty Republican candidates, he has surprised many by taking a small lead in the latest poll. He needs to widen that lead to secure the seat and put another principled spokesman for liberty in the House.

Find out more about his campaign at www.lawsonforcongress.com

Lee Byberg (MN-7)

Coming off a very strong primary win, but the race hasn’t gotten much media attention. Internal polling suggests that he can win with enough support and exposure. He’s a strong constitutional conservative with civil libertarian leanings.

Find out more about his campaign at: www.bybergforcongress.com

These are hardly the only deserving candidates, but Morris picked ten so I limited myself to that. I eliminated great candidates with races which were too hard to assess like Bill Gunn (MA-1), Dan Sebring (WI-4) and others. I also passed over candidates who are running away with their races like Justin Amash (MI-3) or some who just seem too far behind to be saved.

There will be many turnovers in the House this fall.  There’s not one candidate Morris and I agree on, but there’s room for his less inspiring candidates if we can put my 10 pro-liberty, pro-constitution Republicans in the House to show them the way.

Check out the websites of the candidates from both lists and think about which group of 10 you’d rather have shape the future of the Republican Party.

In the course of researching this article I found TPM’s new Political Tracker beta site very helpful.

A version of this article appeared previously on Blogcritics.

The Republican Liberty Caucus is pleased to announce the latest candidates we’re recommending you support in 2010.  They include:

* Congressional candidates Brian Miller (AZ-08), Adam Kokesh (NM-03), Jaynee Germond (OR-04), and Terri McCormick (WI-08);

* Virginia State Senate candidate Steve Hunt (January special election); and

* State House candidates Jenn Coffey in NH (incumbent) and Paul Curtman in Missouri, as well as Missouri House incumbents Shane Schoeller, Tim Jones, and Jim Guest.

Learn more about these and other endorsed candidates at our 2010 endorsements page.

A good number of RLC-endorsed candidates advanced through their primaries and on to the general elections in 2008, in what could be considered a breakout year for libertarian Republicans.  A listing of all of the RLC’s candidates is available here.

Each of the below candidates endorsed by the RLC ended up advancing in their respective primary race.  Congratulations!

• Alaska: Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, who was endorsed by the RLC, looks likely to lose in his race against Don Young. Both men are vying to represent Alaskans in Congress. Even if Parnell does lose, he will remain Lt. Governor. If McCain-Palin are successful in November, he will become Governor.

• Arizona: Sydney Hay, who is currently the underdog to replace Rick Renzi in Arizona’s First Congressional District. Hay received a donation from the Republican Liberty Caucus PAC.

• Colorado: George Lilly, who was inspired to run for Congress by Ron Paul.  Lilly is running in District 1 and is not favored to win the race due to district demographics.

• Florida: Ritch Workman, who is running for State Representative in District 30.

• Georgia: Dr. Paul Broun, who won his first campaign for Congress in 2007 and then faced a challenge from the establishment GOP in 2008.  Additionally, incumbent State Senator Jeff Chapman and State Representative Steve Davis, both RLC-endorsed, fended off challengers.

• Idaho: Elizabeth Allan Hodge, a former State Representative, won the GOP primary for State Representative in district 16B.

• Indiana: GOP challenger Bill Johnson narrowly lost his primary for State Representative in District 19.  However, in a victory for the RLC, the GOP challenger dropped out of the race for personal reasons and the county GOP decided that Johnson would be the ideal replacement.

• Maryland: The RLC has endorsed several victorious primary challengers in Maryland, including Richard Matthews (CD 02), Peter James (CD 04), Collins Bailey (CD 05), Roscoe Bartlett (CD 06), and Dr. Michael Hargadon (CD 07).  Unfortunately, all of the challengers are likely to lose due to district demographics.  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is likely to retain his seat.

• Michigan: Three RLC candidates were victorious in their primaries in Michigan, including Justin Amash for State Representative (District 72), Bob Genetski for State Representative (District 88), and Tyler Whitney for Bash Township Trustee.

• Montana: RLC-endorsed candidates Greg Hinkle and Mike Miller won their races for State Senate and State Representative, respectively.

• Nevada: Kris Pickering won her primary for State Supreme Court and up-and-coming GOP rock star Lindsay Nicole Madsen won a tough primary for State Senate in District 7.

• North Carolina: Dr. B.J. Lawson won his primary and will face incumbent David Price for U.S. Congress, District 4.

• Oregon: Delia Lopez won her primary in Oregon, District 3 and will face veteran Earl Blumenauer in November.

• Texas: Dr. Ron Paul won his primary in Congressional District 14 and will return to Congress come January.

• Washington: Michael Delavar won his primary against an establishment GOP candidate in Congressional District 3. He will face incumbent Democrat Brian Baird in November.

• West Virginia: Edward R. Burgress, the RLC contact for West Virginia, won his primary in District 30 (St. Albans) for the House of Delegates. Seven individuals, all of them currently Democrats, represent this large district.

Rather than have a principled libertarian Republican representing them against incumbent Congressman David Wu (D), Republican voters in Oregon’s first Congressional district instead decided to nominate Joel Haugen, a supporter of Democrat Barack Obama.

As Oregon Politicker reports, Haugen, who defeated RLC-endorsed William Chappell in the May primary, believes he is “a traditional Republican” who “looks at Obama in a greater context.”

William Chappell, the RLC-endorsed candidate, supports
balanced budgets, reduced spending, school choice, and
less foreign meddling. Joel Haugen supports nationalized
health care and efforts to control world population growth.

Haugen’s endorsement of Obama wasn’t a secret. It was published in The Willamette Week at the end of April. Despite Haugen’s support for Obama, local Republicans let him continue his candidacy.

From my perspective, Haugen is entitled to support Obama or any other candidate. The problem here is that a better candidate more in line with GOP values was defeated by the voters as a result of the county party’s inaction.

Republican officials in Oregon’s first district need to re-evaluate their beliefs. Platform and principles should matter in deciding which candidates are endorsed to represent the party.