Welcome to the first edition of the Republican Liberty Caucus newsletter in 2010.
If you have not yet done so, forward this e-mail to your friends and colleagues and ask them to join the RLC’s opt-in newsletter to keep up-to-date with all the latest news in the liberty movement.
Interested parties may subscribe to the newsletter by sending a blank e-mail to RLC-News-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
For those wondering what the RLC is all about, view our new video introduction of the Republican Liberty Caucus and a holiday video message from the Chairman.
And if you haven’t yet done so, please join the Republican Liberty Caucus and become involved in your state chapter.
We hope you enjoy this edition of the RLC’s newsletter. Keep up the fight, as we’re only ten months away from the 2010 General Election!
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Republican Liberty Caucus to Host former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson in NH and MI
RLC Adviser Johnson Open to GOP Presidential Bid in 2012
Jim Forsythe of the New Hampshire RLC is a busy man. Not only is Jim considering a bid for State Senate in the Granite State, but he and his colleagues recently brought Dr. Tom Woods and have confirmed that former two-term New Mexico Governor Gary E. Johnson will visit New Hampshire.
Politico recently featured a cover story entitled “Gary Johnson Emerges as the Next Ron Paul,” found here. After Governor Johnson was confirmed as a guest of the New Hampshire RLC, Governor Johnson is not shy about his libertarian beliefs. In 2008, he spoke at the Ron Paul Rally for the Republic and he has been a vocal critic of U.S. drug policy for the past decade. He recently started the Our America Initiative, which will aim to “enlighten the population about civil liberties, free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values.”
That state’s largest paper, The Union Leader, featured an article on Governor Johnson’s visit. Senior Political Reporter John Distaso talked about the New Hampshire RLC and quoted RLCNH Chair Jim Forsythe throughout the article. According to the article, “Forsythe, who has chaired RLCNH since the late summer, said his group has a 600-person email list and an associated Political Action Committee (PAC).”
“If Johnson does end up running for President, Forsythe said, ‘I’d love for us to be able to say that this is where it started’.” The New Hampshire RLC Forum with Governor Johnson will take place on January 23 in Concord. Registration is required to attend and you can also RSVP via Facebook.
Meanwhile, a young RLC activist in Michigan has organized several days worth of events for Governor Johnson in Michigan. Tyler Whitney, a student at Michigan State University, has organized several in-person and radio events for Governor Johnson in late February.
Perhaps the most important meeting will be Governor Johnson’s address to the North Oakland Republican Club (NORC). The NORC recently sent out a message to their members asking them to mark February 26 on the calendar — an encouraging sign that they are excited to hear a prominent RLC Adviser speak to their members about limited government and individual liberty. To meet Governor Johnson while he is in Michigan, contact Tyler.
RLC-ENDORSED U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE LEADS IN POLLS
Dr. Rand Paul was one of the first candidates the Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed in the 2010 elections. Dr. Paul, of course, is the son of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a longtime RLC Adviser and friend. The younger Paul began his activism very early in life and has worked as a taxpayer advocate for many years in Kentucky, first starting his group Kentucky Taxpayers United in 1994.
The Kentucky U.S. Senate race for the open seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning has been a wild one. First, Mitch McConnell and other Republican Party leaders reportedly forced Bunning to call it quits. Then, the mainstream former Democrat that was thought to be a lock for the Republican nomination, Secretary of State Trey Grayson, began to slip in the polls.
Conventional wisdom was that Dr. Rand Paul did not have a chance in the race. However, Dr. Paul is polling very well as a result of a stellar grassroots campaign effort and an excellent candidate. A November SurveyUSA poll found that Paul led Grayson by three points, 35 to 32 percent.
According to CQPolitics, Public Policy Polling shows that Dr. Paul has strengthened his lead; he now has a 19-point lead over Grayson in the primary. In fact, Paul is polling so well that he has even received a promise from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) that they will stay out of the race entirely.
The Republican Liberty Caucus is pleased to be able to lend its support to a liberty-focused contender like Dr. Paul. In October, Dr. Paul addressed RLC members at a forum in Georgetown, Kentucky and Longtime Kentucky RLC Coordinator Michael Moreland (pictured above right, with Dr. Paul, center) is heavily involved in the Paul campaign in eastern Kentucky. Learn more about Dr. Paul and get involved in his campaign at his website.
Republican Liberty Caucus Begins 2010 Endorsement Process
The RLC has started its 2010 endorsement process. Our 2010 endorsements page will continue to be updated as we endorse new candidates, so check it out!
Not surprisingly, the RLC has endorsed Rand Paul and Peter Schiff for U.S. Senate in Kentucky and Connecticut. For Congress, we have endorsed Brian Miller (AZ-08), John Dennis (CA-08), Adam Kokesh (NM-03), RJ Harris (OK-04), Jaynee Germond (OR-04), and Terri McCormick (WI-08).
Our various RLC state chapters have also endorsed some incumbent legislators, including three in Missouri and one in New Hampshire.
Stay tuned for more endorsements and review the endorsement process if you’re interested.
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RLC Still Hopes to Charter in States
The RLC is looking for leaders in Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Contact us if you can assist in your state.
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Monthly RLC Pledge Program Launched
As the Republican Liberty Caucus transitions from an all-volunteer organization to a larger organization able to support staff, we need your support.
A new way you can support the cause of liberty is via a monthly pledge to the Republican Liberty Caucus. You can set up a monthly pledge via our new online PayPal link.
Your valuable monthly contribution will help us educate our fellow Republicans about liberty, involve other liberty-lovers in the political process, and reform the Republican Party. Click here to go to directly to the PayPal donate link or here to learn more about giving to the RLC.
(Note that each donor who contributes the minimum annual dues amount of $30 automatically becomes a RLC member for the year in which the donation was received.)
Two New RLC Affiliates Charter
Two more state affiliates have chartered with the Republican Liberty Caucus in December. Mississippi and Wisconsin RLC members have come together to charter their affiliates and are excited about working for liberty in their states.
Former Libertarian Party candidate for Governor, small town mayor, and ex-Governor Tommy Thompson’s brother, Ed Thompson, spoke to RLC members in December. Ed is running for State Senate against a first-term Democrat in rural western Wisconsin. If he and one other Republican wins, Republicans recapture the Senate in the state.
Learn more about the chartering process and about the two new state affiliates.
Four state RLC chapters revamp websites
California, Florida, Maryland, and Nebraska chapters of the Republican Liberty Caucus have revised and launched new versions of their state Republican Liberty Caucus websites.
The California and Florida RLC websites offer quicker load times and ease of access. Both chapters also have quite a few active local affiliates.
The new Maryland RLC website offers information on current candidates, pending legislation, and upcoming events. The Nebraska RLC website is in a new, easy format that emphasizes 2010 candidate endorsements.
Learn more about these and other RLC affiliates at our chapter page.
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January Republican Liberty Caucus Events
Northeast Florida RLC Meetup – January 5
Details at http://www.rlcnef.org/events/
Bexar County (Texas) RLC Candidate Forum – January 6
Congressional District 23 GOP Candidate Forum
RSVP on Facebook
Humboldt (California) RLC Meetup – January 7
This meetup is in conjunction with the Humbolt GOP Meeting
RSVP on Meetup or contact Parke
Florida RLC Members Attend Quarterly Florida GOP Meeting – January 9
For details, contact Kristi
Silicon Valley (California) RLC Meetup – January 18
RSVP on Meetup or contact David
Triangle (North Carolina) RLC Meetup – January 18
RSVP on Facebook or contact Dana
New Hampshire RLC Forum with Gary Johnson – January 23
Details and Registration at http://www.nhgopliberty.org/
Pima County (Arizona) RLC Meeting – January 28
RSVP on Facebook
Arizona RLC Annual Convention – January 30
Location TBA
Contact Ken for details.
Do you have an event submission or newsletter content suggestions or recommendations? If so, please contact us.
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Republican Liberty Caucus
Please join today: http://www.RLC.org
Please donate today: http://www.rlc.org/about/donate/
