NEITHER RED NOR BLUE: LIBERTARIAN VOTERS IN THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
THURSDAY, October 2, 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Free. Reservations Required. Please call 215.409.6700 or order online.
Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach
Kirby Auditorium
National Constitution Center
Independence Mall
525 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA
UPDATE: Bob Barr will join us for this program. William Redpath is no longer participating.
On October 2, barely a month before the presidential election, the National Constitution Center will host a public event about the impact of libertarian and independent voters on the 2008 presidential race. The Cato Institute’s Executive Vice President, David Boaz, and Bob Barr, Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. President, will explain libertarian perspectives and ideas, and then address the crucial role that will be played on election day by millions of voters in the U.S. today who are either fully libertarian or who view many key issues from a libertarian standpoint.
Interest in libertarian ideology and beliefs has been surging over the past several years – exemplified by the success of and enthusiastic support for Congressman Ron Paul’s candidacy during the recent Republican primaries. And, in May 2008, the Libertarian Party nominated former Republican Congressman Bob Barr as its presidential candidate. Although the Libertarian Party draws small vote totals, studies show that some 15 percent of American voters hold broadly libertarian views, being “fiscally conservative and socially tolerant,” preferring lower taxes and spending and strict protection for civil liberties. Between the Paul candidacy (and its on-going influence) in the Republican race, and the Libertarian Party’s efforts, how will all of this growing interest and enthusiasm impact the outcome? What influence will independent voters have at the polls in four weeks?
Bob Barr is the 2008 Libertarian nominee for President of the United States. Previously, he represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, serving as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. He now practices law with the Law Offices of Edwin Marger, and runs a consulting firm, Liberty Strategies LLC. From 2003 to 2008, he occupied the 21st Century Liberties Chair for Freedom and Privacy at the American Conservative Union. Since 1997 he has served as a Board Member of the National Rifle Association.
Cato's executive vice president David Boaz has played a key role in the development of the Cato Institute and the libertarian movement. He is a commentator and a leading authority on domestic issues such as education choice, drug legalization, the growth of government, and the rise of libertarianism. He is the author of Libertarianism: A Primer, the editor of The Libertarian Reader, and coeditor of the Cato Handbook on Policy. Boaz is the former editor of New Guard magazine and was executive director of the Council for a Competitive Economy prior to joining Cato in 1981. His latest book is The Politics of Freedom.
Ryan Sager is a blogger, freelance writer, and columnist for the New York Post. He’s also author of The Elephant in the Room: Evangelicals, Libertarians, and the Battle to Control the Republican Party. Previously, Sager has served as a member of the editorial board of the New York Post and as editorial features editor and chief editorial writer for the start-up New York Sun, where he was a member of the founding staff in 2002. His writing has also appeared in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Reason, National Review, the Politico, RealClearPolitics, and The Atlantic Monthly. He is a two-time winner of the Felix Morley Journalism Award.
A book sale and signing will follow the program courtesy of Joseph Fox Bookshop. The garage at the Constitution Center will be closed for this program. Parking for this event is available for $7.50 at the Independence Visitor's Center garage located on 5th Street between Market and Arch Streets. Parking availability is subject to change, so please call the Constitution Center on the day of the program or check our web site for more information. Please also see our directions by public transportation. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/visiting/VisitorInformation/index.shtml#Map
For reservations please call 215.409.6700 or order online. Programs at the National Constitution Center begin promptly and latecomers may not be admitted to the program. Please note that this program is subject to change.
Election 08: The Power of We is a year-long national initiative created by the Center to promote active, informed citizenship during the 2008 presidential election.
Links:
Cato Institute
Libertarian Party
The Elephant in the Room