Libertarians Favor Obama and Other Looks at Election 2008

Rasmussen Reports ^ | July 05, 2008 | Rasmussen Reports

[Kleebo151]

Libertarian voters make up 4% of the nation’s likely voters and they favor Barack Obama over John McCain by a 53% to 38% margin. Three percent (3%) would vote for some other candidate and 5% are not sure.

[decimon]

There are a lot of so-called Libertarians who simply pick and choose among Libertarian philosophy, keeping some parts and discarding other parts (particularly property and gun rights).

These have been described as 'modal libertarians.'

[Mojave]

[driftless2]

Obama probably promised free maryjane. Libertarians couldn’t turn that down. (smirk)

[SVTCobra03]

“We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we have set. We have got to have a civilian national security force that is just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded.” -Barack Obama July 2, 2008

The mask has finally come off and the Obamanation has revealed himself for the Fascist that he truly is. He now feels comfortable that he can propose to create a Sturm Abteilung and no one in the MSM will call him on it. If he can create Brownshirts then can an American SS and Gestapo be far behind?

[radioman]

The mushy middle is 15% of the electorate and they are overwhelmingly libertarian. You ignored the warning in 2006...good luck in 2008.

[FocusNexus]

“So libertarians favor a socialist? I don’t get it.”

I am not surprised — just read a lot of the posts here. There are a lot of libertarians on this site. They want to take revenge on the Republicans, even if it means destroying the country. This makes them feel “powerful”.

[driftless2]

"what it is"

In Wisconsin there are several libertarian candidates for governor. One sounds like a socialist leading his libertarian opponent (I can't remember the name of either candidate) to question whether he knows what a true libertarian believes.

[justiceseeker93]

I believe that "libertarian voters", according to Rasmussen's classification, are not self-described libertarians, but rather "fiscal conservatives and social liberals." So they are a group defined by the pollster, not themselves. That likely explains their surprising preference of presidential candidate. In my personal experience, the large majority of people who describe themselves as "libertarian" are more concerned about economic than social issues, and you will almost never come across a Democrat in libertarian circles.

BTW, it's also surprising that Bob Barr doesn't even register in Rasmussen's poll, even among the group they define as "libertarian."

[driftless2]

"tend towards"

The little bit I've read and heard about the libertarin party is that they are strong advocates of liberalizing marijuana. Neil Boortz, a strong libertarian, is disgusted with the national party.

[SlapHappyPappy]

Actually, I thin the bigger issue is that most self proclaimed “libertarians” really have no idea what the term means. It's simply a status symbol for them to be a member of neither major party. Those are the same types who will support Obama because it's what all the cool kids are doing.

[justiceseeker93]

Please see my post # 48.

[Maine Mariner]

I have leaned libertarian for many years. When I think libertarian I think Chicago School of Economics: Simons, Knight, Friedman, and so forth as well as people like Hume, Mill, and Rand. I also think Barry Goldwater.

I am not voting for Obama.

[radioman]

How in the world could a Libertarian support Obama?
lol...
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was the last straw for many libertarians.
Since neither candidate defends the Constitution, many libertarians have decided to support the candidate who defends their liberty to play poker online.

[FocusNexus]

There is also more interesting info in the article summarizing the poll.

“The largest group, representing 24% of the nation’s voters, are both fiscally and socially conservative. Demographically, these voters generally reflect the population at large except that 85% are White and just 5% African-American. Sixty-seven percent (67%) are Republicans and McCain leads Obama 82% to 13% among these voters. “

My questions is WHY do 13% of “fiscally and socially conservatives” plan to vote for Obama?

[radioman]

My questions is WHY do 13% of “fiscally and socially conservatives” plan to vote for Obama?

Holdem
Pot limit Omaha
Seven card stud.

[Perdogg]

There is no such thing as “social Libertarian” in a liberal context. As a “social libertarian” on some issues, I believe that a individual has responsibility for his or her own actions, liberals don’t.

[FocusNexus]

This is quite an exhaustive poll — recommend everyone go to the link and read the actual article.

“In June, Rasmussen Reports asked 15,000 Likely Voters if they were fiscally conservative, moderate, or liberal and if they were socially conservative, moderate, or liberal. This created a total of 16 possible combinations (not sure was a fourth option for both questions). However, 87% of voters fit into one of seven combinations. Libertarians, defined as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, are the smallest of these seven combinations. “

[Stepan12]

Ayn Rand described Libertarians as crazies who plagiarized her ideas.

These people are even worse today than when they started. Maybe all the drugs they have taken (they're supposed to be legalized. Right?) have shorted their minds.

Also, someone named Jean Hardisky, also a Leftist, says that the dirty little secret about Libertarians is that they're anti-Semitic. That is another reason they would support Arab American b. Hussein Obama who will certainly harm Israel.

[EDINVA]

such dark art, it’s not in the least appealing, leaving aside the subject(s). Poor Mr. Fairey seems to miss the Golden Era of Communism.