From: szabo@techbook.com (Nick Szabo)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.marrou,alt.politics.elections,talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: LIBERTARIAN - TRUE GRASSROOTS EFFORT
Date: 19 Aug 92 00:02:59 GMT
Organization: TECHbooks --- Public Access UNIX --- (503) 644-8135

In article <1992Aug13.195223.14783@encore.com> rcollins@encore.com writes:

>Enough of the rambling, now for some questions.  First, how come I
>haven't heard of LP until recently, and then, only on Usenet?

A few reasons come to mind:

(1) The libertarian/traditionalist coalition that formed around Ronald
Reagan.  (Libertarians including Lee Atwater and Gov.'s DuPont and Weld;
traditionalists including Rev.'s Fallwell and Robertson and Pat
Buchanan).  This coalition may now split apart since Bush has done 
very little for the libertarians, and the Republican platform has gone
far-right on social issues.  If Bush doesn't propose signficant tax or 
spending cuts this week, we could see a major libertarian revolt.  
(Whether they're ready to go all the way to the LP is another matter).
Some libertarians have also been Democrats and many are supporting 
Clinton this year (with firmly held nose, because of his incredibly 
profligate spending proposals).

(2) We are an egghead party.  In Oregon, we spend most of our time on
philosophical debates, and practically no effort campaigning. THIS
HAS TO CHANGE!  We need to be out their pressing the flesh & kissing
the babies w the rest of them.

(3) We look much better in print than on TV.  We need to develop interviewing
habits and a TV image.  Images might include:
	* Cut the beards & wear suits
	* Statue of liberty & liberty caps (patriotic symbols)
	* "Don't Tread on Me" flag
	* Lone patriot standing down the tank column at Tianenmen 
	* Burning our tax returns, as symbol of runaway government
	  spending

(4) We have a radical platform of ideals and long-term goals, which
turns a lot of people off.  We need to use our Program and Marrou's
10-point plan as our platform, and turn our platform into a statement
of principles and long-term goals.

>*If* Marrou/Lord were to get equal press, *and* they didn't appear as
>radical as their followers, I think they'd have a good showing, if not
>win.  You even have a woman on the ticket! 

>I'd at least like to see the Libs get more press.  Can't you guys do
>some Barnum and Baily style marketing? 

How about "us guys"? We need all the new people we can get out
there  with us getting the word out.  There is no organization where
I'm at in Oregon, but I've been working on the following besides
posting:

* Ordered 500 Marrou/Lord pamphlets ($50) and 500 "LP Represents
You" pamphlets.  These can be handed out to political sympathetic
crowds or traffic flows, including:
  - Rock concerts
  - Bookstores
  - Libraries
  - Gay-rights rallies
  - Pro-choice rallies
  - Tax protests
  - etc.

For Libertarian paraphanalia (pamphlets, signs, bumper stickers, etc.)
call LP HQ at (202) 543-1988.  Be sure to order well ahead of
time, it takes 4 weeks for them to ship the stuff out.

* I've called several local and national radio talk shows to communicate
the Libertarian program, especially Marrou's 2 points for cutting
government spending (Federal hiring freeze and selling Camp Pendleton
& Presidio).  Point out that Libertarians are only party with a fiscally
responsible program and that we're pro-choice on abortion.  National
radio shows include Art Bell (easy to get on as first-time caller),
Stan Major, and Rush Limbaugh. Be prepared to relate to current topic,
and don't let them pigeonhole you into a fruitless conversation on
drug legalization.

>Or are Libs too high-brow for
>marketing stunts?

I hope not!  There must be thousands of latent Libertarians in the
advertising agencies around the country.

>I can see one reason for the lack of press: I can see some producer
>saying, "We can't cover one of the 3rd parties without covering them
>all, 

We are, and should portray ourselves as one of the three major parties,
not just another third party.

>I heard on the news that MTV is covering politics rather seriously now,
>in their own unique way.  Since they are anything but "established," it
>seems they would be much more receptive to covering an "alternative"
>choice like Marrou/Lord.  What do you think?s

I agree!  "Rock the vote" is a natural.  We should be helping MTV
register voters.


-- 
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