The Volokh Conspiracy - A Classic Libertarian Ad:

David Beito at Liberty and Power wonders why Ron Paul isn't using his financial resources to project a libertarian message.

Though I was only 13, I still remember hearing a radio ad for Libertarian Party presidential candidate Ed Clark, the most successful (1% of the vote in a five-way race with Reagan, Carter, Anderson, and Barry Commoner) Libertarian Party presidential candidate in its history. It went something like this: "Ronald Reagan says he wants to cut the fat out of government. I want to cut the lean. When I'm president, I'll cut federal spending and federal taxes by 50 percent, and close all American military bases abroad." I didn't quite know what to make of it at the time, but it piqued by curiosity.

I also remember part of Citizen Party candidate Commoner's ad, which was rather less edifying: "Reagan, Carter, it's all BULLSHIT!" I remember Commoner had to sue the stations to get them to run the ad.

	[David Bernstein, January 16, 2008 at 11:50pm] Trackbacks A Classic Libertarian Ad: David Beito at Liberty and Power wonders why Ron Paul isn't using his financial resources to project a libertarian message. Though I was only 13, I still remember hearing a radio ad for Libertarian Party presidential candidate Ed Clark, the most successful (1% of the vote in a five-way race with Reagan, Carter, Anderson, and Barry Commoner) Libertarian Party presidential candidate in its history. It went something like this: "Ronald Reagan says he wants to cut the fat out of government. I want to cut the lean. When I'm president, I'll cut federal spending and federal taxes by 50 percent, and close all American military bases abroad." I didn't quite know what to make of it at the time, but it piqued by curiosity. I also remember part of Citizen Party candidate Commoner's ad, which was rather less edifying: "Reagan, Carter, it's all BULLSHIT!" I remember Commoner had to sue the stations to get them to run the ad.