jct74
07-30-2014, 07:56 PM
Amash’s Likely Primary Win Will Vindicate Libertarian Politics
Justin Amash's expected victory next week will prove his conservative district likes the congressman's libertarian brand just fine.
Robby Soave | July 30, 2014
If current polling is any indication, liberty-friendly Rep. Justin Amash will coast to victory over his establishment-supported challenger in the Michigan Republican primary next week. An Amash victory would be a win for libertarian candidates everywhere, and a clear sign that independent and conservative voters prefer the limited government message to the pro-war, pro-corporate platitudes of Republican Party leadership.
Amash was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, riding into office on a wave of Tea Party opposition to President Obama’s policies. He quickly earned a reputation as a libertarian Constitutionalist, voting against renewal of the PATRIOT Act, NSA surveillance, foreign military entanglements, and countless spending bills. His refusal to compromise his principles and fall in line behind GOP leadership won him plaudits from libertarians, though it soon drew the ire of House Speaker John Boehner, who had him kicked off the House Budget Committee in the wake of the 2012 election.
If that was supposed to be some sort of warning, it didn’t work. Amash remained as committed to his principles as before. In July 2013, he succeeded in bringing forward a vote on a House bill to defund the NSA. The vote failed by a mere 12 votes, despite opposition from the White House and leaders of both parties (regular Americans, perhaps unsurprisingly, oppose the NSA's surveillance tactics). Consequently, GOP hawks became serious about taking out Amash once and for all.
Three months after the NSA vote, West Michigan businessman Brian Ellis announced his primary challenge to Amash’s re-election efforts. Ellis drew support from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, hawkish Republican leaders like Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), and PACs and lobbying groups.
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read more:
http://reason.com/archives/2014/07/30/amashs-likely-primary-win-will-vindicate
Justin Amash's expected victory next week will prove his conservative district likes the congressman's libertarian brand just fine.
Robby Soave | July 30, 2014
If current polling is any indication, liberty-friendly Rep. Justin Amash will coast to victory over his establishment-supported challenger in the Michigan Republican primary next week. An Amash victory would be a win for libertarian candidates everywhere, and a clear sign that independent and conservative voters prefer the limited government message to the pro-war, pro-corporate platitudes of Republican Party leadership.
Amash was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, riding into office on a wave of Tea Party opposition to President Obama’s policies. He quickly earned a reputation as a libertarian Constitutionalist, voting against renewal of the PATRIOT Act, NSA surveillance, foreign military entanglements, and countless spending bills. His refusal to compromise his principles and fall in line behind GOP leadership won him plaudits from libertarians, though it soon drew the ire of House Speaker John Boehner, who had him kicked off the House Budget Committee in the wake of the 2012 election.
If that was supposed to be some sort of warning, it didn’t work. Amash remained as committed to his principles as before. In July 2013, he succeeded in bringing forward a vote on a House bill to defund the NSA. The vote failed by a mere 12 votes, despite opposition from the White House and leaders of both parties (regular Americans, perhaps unsurprisingly, oppose the NSA's surveillance tactics). Consequently, GOP hawks became serious about taking out Amash once and for all.
Three months after the NSA vote, West Michigan businessman Brian Ellis announced his primary challenge to Amash’s re-election efforts. Ellis drew support from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, hawkish Republican leaders like Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), and PACs and lobbying groups.
...
read more:
http://reason.com/archives/2014/07/30/amashs-likely-primary-win-will-vindicate