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Amash decides against Libertarian campaign for president
The Hill ^ | Tal Axelrod

Posted on 05/16/2020 11:39:06 AM PDT by be-baw

Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) announced Saturday he will not run for president as a Libertarian, saying the circumstances do not “lend themselves” toward a successful third-party campaign.

“I’ve spent nearly three weeks assessing the race, appearing in media, talking to delegates and donors, watching the Libertarian Party’s convention plan unfold, and gathering feedback from family, friends, and other advisers,” Amash tweeted. “After much reflection, I’ve concluded that circumstances don’t lend themselves to my success as a candidate for president this year, and therefore I will not be a candidate.”

Amash maintained that a third party candidate could contribute a fresh outlook on politics for American voters but said that the intensely partisan atmosphere surrounding the 2020 race would hinder a successful Libertarian campaign.

“I continue to believe that a candidate from outside the old parties, offering a vision of government grounded in liberty and equality, can break through in the right environment. But this environment presents extraordinary challenges,” Amash said. “Polarization is near an all-time high. Electoral success requires an audience willing to consider alternatives, but both social media and traditional media are dominated by voices strongly averse to the political risks posed by a viable third candidate.”

Amash teased a third party campaign late last month when he launched an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. The Michigan lawmaker, who had formerly belonged to the Republican Party, had been toying for months with the prospect of launching a third party White House bid.

Known as a conservative with an independent streak, Amash began souring on the GOP after President Trump’s inauguration, accusing the party of abandoning fiscal conservatism and turning a blind eye to “misbehavior” to appease the president.

His national profile steadily rose with his increasingly vocal barbs against the president and some of his House colleagues, which came to a head when he said he would back Democrats in their impeachment effort and left the Republican Party.

“This president will be in power for only a short time, but excusing his misbehavior will forever tarnish your name. To my Republican colleagues: Step outside your media and social bubble. History will not look kindly on disingenuous, frivolous, and false defenses of this man,” Amash said before supporting the House’s impeachment resolution in October.

If he had run, Amash would have easily been the highest-profile third party candidate in the race, with no candidate thus far this cycle rising to the name recognition held by the Green Party’s Jill Stein or the Libertarian Party’s Gary Johnson in 2016.

Amash expressed concerns over the Libertarian Party’s organizational footing in the 2020 race, citing struggles to get on the ballot in all 50 states in November and unity around an ultimate nominee. However, he said he was optimistic about Libertarian candidates’ chances down the ballot and will help the party make electoral gains.

The Hill's Campaign Report: More Republican women are running for... “I’ve been speaking directly to delegates about this opportunity for only a short time, but these conversations have solidified my belief that the Libertarian Party is well positioned to become a major and consistent contender to win elections at all levels of government,” he said. “I remain invested in helping the party realize these possibilities and look forward to the successes ahead.”

Amash’s decision frees him up to focus on reelection in his Michigan House district, which the GOP is eager to flip. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, rates Amash’s seat as “Lean Republican.”

Updated at 2:36 p.m.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: 2020; amash; antisemitism; chicom; china; excerpt; gop; justinamash; libertarian; libertarianparty; libertarians; losertarians; michigan; muslimbrotherhood; nevertrumpers; palestinians; tds; trump; trumpwinsagain
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1 posted on 05/16/2020 11:39:06 AM PDT by be-baw
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To: be-baw

He should just drop out to continue selling his Chinese Tools full-time.


2 posted on 05/16/2020 11:40:38 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: be-baw

“Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.)”

L stands for Loser


3 posted on 05/16/2020 11:41:01 AM PDT by max americana (fired liberal employees at every election since 2008 because I enjoy seeing them cry)
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To: be-baw

His master’s internal polls showed that more Democraps would vote for him than Republicans.


4 posted on 05/16/2020 11:41:38 AM PDT by Mr. Rabbit
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To: be-baw

Probably paid off by the communist DS/DNC.
He would have stolen my Biden votes.


5 posted on 05/16/2020 11:41:55 AM PDT by lgjhn23 (Libs are a virus.....the DemoVirus!!)
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To: Mr. Rabbit

The purpose of the Libertarian party is to split the conservative vote. They dont want the LP to be available as a protest vote for moderate Dems.


6 posted on 05/16/2020 11:43:55 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor (A Leftist can't enjoy life unless they are controlling, hurting, or destroying others)
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To: Mr. Rabbit; be-baw; SunkenCiv; lgjhn23

Oh, yes. Quite true: Any votes for him (including marijuana or free love or ex-hippies) would be one vote from Biden.

The democrats got to him... Threats? Or money/power/influence?


7 posted on 05/16/2020 11:44:48 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but ABCNNBCBS donates every hour, every night, every day of the year.)
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To: be-baw

this asshole had no shot to win the L nomination bc they know he’s a phony and ChiCom owned...

over 4.5M L’s voted for the pothead Johnson in 2016... hopefully with all these draconian lockdowns, they will break for Trump.


8 posted on 05/16/2020 11:47:33 AM PDT by sheehan (DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS.)
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To: be-baw

this asshole had no shot to win the L nomination bc they know he’s a phony and ChiCom owned...

over 4.5M L’s voted for the pothead Johnson in 2016... hopefully with all these draconian lockdowns, they will break for Trump.


9 posted on 05/16/2020 11:47:33 AM PDT by sheehan (DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS.)
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To: be-baw

Interesting. Many of my Libertarian friends were excited. He would be their strongest candidate.


10 posted on 05/16/2020 11:52:53 AM PDT by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
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To: be-baw

Libertarians will never get anywhere until they realize that they have to work from the bottom, up - not the other way around. Show people that the policies work on a local and state level, then get Congressman and Senators, THEN run for POTUS. Until they do that, they will remain completely ineffective,


11 posted on 05/16/2020 11:54:26 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt, The Weapons Shops of Isher)
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To: SauronOfMordor
The funny thing is, when Amash got in the race, all the Ds were having a fit, thinking he was going to steal votes from them.

While he doubt would be the choice of some Ds, and maybe a good portion of the Bernie Bros holding their nose, the vast majority of Ls are disaffected Republicans who are pissed that the Rs say all this small government stuff, and accomplish nothing.

I think Amash dropping out is good news for Trump. (despite what the hordes on Twitter say)

12 posted on 05/16/2020 11:55:56 AM PDT by Pappy Smear
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To: be-baw

13 posted on 05/16/2020 11:57:21 AM PDT by Ouchthatonehurt
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To: Mr. Rabbit

His master’s internal polls showed that more Democraps would vote for him than Republican”

Bank it.


14 posted on 05/16/2020 12:01:45 PM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: Impy; BillyBoy; LS; NFHale; GOPsterinMA; campaignPete R-CT; AuH2ORepublican; Clemenza; SunkenCiv; ..

Amash out as a Libertoonian Presidential candidate. Still apparently running for reelection as one. Should be a top target to take back in November from this all-but-Demonrat in name.


15 posted on 05/16/2020 12:05:04 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Dear Mr. Kotter, #Epsteindidntkillhimself - Signed, Epstein's Mother)
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To: be-baw

Probably couldn’t get four people to support him.


16 posted on 05/16/2020 12:09:04 PM PDT by Maris Crane
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To: be-baw

Well, that was fast.


17 posted on 05/16/2020 12:20:29 PM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne)
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To: Mr. Rabbit
Liberaltarians will do poorly in Michigan this time.

They lost their Dope platform in the 2018 election.

18 posted on 05/16/2020 12:32:21 PM PDT by ASA Vet (Make American Intelligence Great Again. Bring back ASA.)
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To: be-baw

Amash couldn’t get the amish vote.


19 posted on 05/16/2020 12:49:37 PM PDT by umgud
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To: be-baw

Actively running against Trump would have exposed his family’s China business to the general public.

Amash is not as dumb as he looks.


20 posted on 05/16/2020 12:53:18 PM PDT by map
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