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Former Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson and David Boaz of the Cato Institute on the lack of electoral backing for the party.
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Talking excited that tonight I'm surrounded by college student more than a thousand of them will.
Traveled here for -- students for liberty count for.
They came to learn about good government and freedom.
Here in Washington.
But the conferences here but in DC were surrounded by Democrats who would take away my economic freedom.
And Republicans who want to take my personal freedom so I'm glad there's a third party although it hasn't gotten much traction.
But this year the libertarian presidential candidate got more than a million votes and that of course was Gary Johnson former governor of New Mexico.
And he continues fight for liberty has does David -- of the Cato Institute -- he's one of the people who taught me about liberty.
So.
Very -- and you -- I think the biggest factor.
This race was voting for the lesser of two evils afraid that Romney was gonna -- so.
Vote for Obama afraid Obama's gonna win and so vote for around.
There there's a big disconnect between knows that describe themselves -- libertarian and vote libertarian.
A I I don't know given the fact given the fact that really it's it's cool to be libertarian it's cool.
To be socially.
-- thing and fiscally conservative.
David you made me laugh the other day say it's cooler to be a libertarian and -- Republican.
-- certainly true is that our.
Certainly can't get -- right is that that -- to be a Republican on campus.
But is it cold to be a Democrat.
I don't believe -- I think the -- On campus.
While that might be a little wishful thinking.
Although cool might be going too far I'm sure a lot of college students think it's better to be a Democrat and to be a Republican.
There's a lot of understanding.
In the United States first let the old rules sort of you know anti gay rules anti drug rules and things are.
Going to be washed away.
And there's clearly an understanding I think every American knows that the American welfare -- bankrupt so everybody knows the problem they just haven't yet come around to.
Wanting to fix it.
And ticket fixing it involves less government but scary point out that it's just easier to be -- o'clock.
Well it is that significant I think is the fact that marriage equality did pass in several states of marijuana legalization Washington State Colorado of these -- significance.
But on spending they're talking about sequestration like it's a catastrophe a tiny cut.
Not just an absolute tiny cuts I mean just miniscule cuts relative to what does need to occur.
If we don't balance the federal budget so we're gonna find ourselves with how the country -- not immune from default.
That that's where we're -- -- -- you have questions for.
Either of them.
Hi I'm -- -- -- -- from -- -- high school and my first my question is how can we.
Convert.
Or get the liberty libertarian movement message out to the high school community because none of my friends and even know about it.
-- I'm trying my videos go and -- goals twelve billion kids watch a mere every year saw some -- you saw that but.
-- -- well I was taken aback I was invited to speak at a high school in Ohio.
And it was packed and I want walked in and it was a standing ovation the point being is that.
That high school kids are very aware also that this is.
All I can say is that this is a growing movement unquestionably.
At what point to libertarians actually take power does that ever happen.
Well I don't think we should stop being vigilant to potentially making that.
And by take power you -- take it and then give it up and take it -- -- hello -- and that's.
Do you.
You have hit it on the head politics is all about electing me and keeping me elected that's all politics it's.
And if we could just get away from that the whole notion of citizen service get in get out.
-- I'm Helen Peterson and from the University of Denver.
And found within the liberty movement there's a big debate over whether politics or ideas are more important.
For advancing that the liberty movement you know I -- a great quote from Margaret Thatcher this week.
Margaret Thatcher said first you win the argument then you win the vote so I think winning the argument is more important but.
Political leaders are one of the ways that arguments get thrashed -- I just want to relate my own experience which is getting elected governor of New Mexico and a state that's two to one Democrats -- actually got to be running as a Republican.
Running as a Republican.
And actually.
As a libertarian under the guise of being a Republican -- well.
Hi Al my name's Matt his C endowment is graduated from Westchester university I.
I happen to -- -- identified as a gay Republican.
And of my question is I believe that is very important that we work within the party structure.
And how would you say it is the best way to go about doing that.
Being that the party tends to not support my community.
You mean Republicans Republicans yes Republicans.
You do like anybody else does in politics there weren't any gay Democrats 25 years ago and they started organizing first they have to come out of the closet.
And then they have to organize and they have to demonstrate to other people in the party.
We -- here we're Republicans.
We're working for the party we want the party to change on this particular issue.
The Republican Party reacted very negatively.
When black people started demanding their civil rights and now Republicans wonder why black people don't want about four.
The Republican Party reacted very negatively when women started demanding.
The right to have careers and be involved in politics and economic life.
And now Republicans wonder why women don't want to vote for them.
And now we're in an era where Republicans are at re acting really really negatively.
To gay people demanding simple legal equality equality under the law.
So my advice if there -- any Republicans watching is.
Don't.
Do the things today that will cause you twenty years from now to say how come -- people won't vote for us.
Thank you David blows governor Gary Johnson later of the.
