LP Grows, Republicrats Shrink

From the inbox.... - LJ

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For Immediate Distribution
News Release
June 15, 2007
Contact: Robert Butler
o:(740) 204-3036
c:(614) 805-8292
hq@lpo.org
http://www.lpo.org/

Democrat and Republican Affiliation Drops While Libertarian Party Numbers Surge

Libertarians See Increase in Active Duty Military Numbers and Improved Election Results, Fundraising

(Washington, DC) - At a time when Libertarian Party membership continues to rise, a recent Rasmussen Report survey indicates that Republican Party affiliation continues to decline while Democratic Party affiliation is decreasing, as well.

Republican numbers have been dropping since the November 2004 elections and they continue to decrease with no bottom in sight. For the last four consecutive months, the amount of self-identified Republicans continued their decline - from 31.1 percent to 30.8 percent in a telephone survey of 15,000 adults.

The number of self-identified Democrats fell to 36.3 percent, its lowest number in seventeen months. Democrats have suffered losses in the last three consecutive months, resulting in a six month decrease of 4.5 percent.

At the same time, Libertarian Party membership numbers have been on an upswing. For the last five months, people willing to pay at least $25 per year for Libertarian Party affiliation have increased at a rate of approximately 2.7 percent per month, which is a 14 percent increase from December's figure.

Additionally, Libertarian Party fundraising is increasing at the same time the GOP dismissed their entire telephone solicitation staff. According to the Washington Times, "declining contributions and a donor backlash" against Republican policy was the cause for their dismissal.

"These are certainly encouraging data, but not at all surprising," said Libertarian National Committee Chairman William Redpath. "Despite the electoral barriers thrown our way by the Democrats and Republicans, their numbers are decreasing while ours are simultaneously increasing. Americans desire fiscal responsibility, social tolerance and oppose the continued deaths of our soldiers in Iraq. Unfortunately, neither major party is willing to effectively address these important issues."

Current U.S. foreign policy, as well as proposals from the new Democrat-controlled Congress, are significant reasons for the increase in Libertarian Party membership. So far this year, the LP has attracted fourteen times the expected national average of active duty service members. The LP's soldiers, sailors and airmen range in rank from junior enlisted personnel to Vice Admiral (Ret.) Michael Colley, who now serves on the Libertarian National Committee.

Based on required Federal Elections Commission reporting data, seven percent of new LP members have reported their employer as a branch of the Armed Forces.

"It is heartening for me to see that the men and women who serve our nation are finding a principled alternative to the Republicans and Democrats," said Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory, who first noticed this trend. While noting that Libertarian members of our military have the discipline necessary to accomplish the mission they are handed, Cory noted "the men and women of our fighting forces are intelligent, informed, and, yes, opinionated."

Increased support for the Libertarian Party is beginning to translate into election results, too. While significant national media attention highlighted Republican losses in 2006, over 13,400,000 votes were cast for Libertarians in the same elections.

"Since the Democrats have taken control of Congress, our numbers continue to improve," said Libertarian Party Political Director Stephen Gordon. "In 2007, we've already won over a quarter of the races where we've fielded candidates. In April's Midwestern contests, we won seven out of eleven of the campaigns we ran. When third party candidates start showing these sorts of returns, it's obvious that the mood of the electorate is changing."

"Democrats didn't win the elections in 2006; Republicans lost them," said Chairman Redpath. "Since then, Democratic leaders have failed to show leadership on the Iraq War, are talking about tax increases and beginning to have ethical problems of their own. Americans continue to look for a viable alternative to the two-party system - one which better represents the values most Americans find important. To those who are becoming involved with the Libertarian Party, we'd like to say 'Welcome home.'"

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My take? Certainly, its encouraging to see that more people are beginning to see through the hoax that is the Democrat-Rpublican duopoly, and that neither party is fulfilling the expectations of its supporters. However, much remains to be done...the party is still microscopically smaller than the big two, has trouble winning elections, and is dangerously close to losing all connection to its founding principles. But if your goal is to find the lesser of all evils, the LP remains the best political choice in the ballot box, hands down. Let's see if the party can capitalize on this opportunity.