Ask a Libertarian: "Gary Johnson or Ron Paul?"

Welcome to Ask a Libertarian with Reason's Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch. They are the authors of the new book The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America. 

Go to http://declaration2011.com to purchase, read reviews, find event dates, and more.

On June 15, 2011 Gillespie and Welch used short, rapid-fire videos to answer dozens of reader questions submitted via email, Twitter, Facebook, and Reason.com. In this episode, they answer the question:

"Gary Johnson or Ron Paul?"

and

"Among the 2012 field of Republican candidates, not counting Ron Paul or Gary Johnson, who is the least bad candidate, declared or possible?"

For the complete series, go to http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/10/ask-a-libertarian and Reason.tv's YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/reasontv

Produced by Meredith Bragg, Jim Epstein, Josh Swain, with help from Kyle Blaine, Katie Hooks, and Jack Gillespie.

Comments

[Mike M.]

Is it true what I've heard recently that Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie have a new book coming out soon?

[Otto]

I think they might have mentioned it once or twice were that the case, Mike. Sheesh.

[Joe M]

Gave up on the numbering, eh?

[Otto]

"Gary Johnson or Ron Paul?"

I look at it currently as a question of how to maximize the viewership for freedom-promoting ideas. Since Johnson is having trouble gaining traction right now, I'd be donating money to his campaign if I could at all afford it. Not as an anti-Paul gesture, but to help raise Johnson's stature.

I think they would work very well in tandem, since as the video pointed out, Paul talks about the principles, while Johnson talks about the pragmatism of freedom. It would be a great 1-2 punch in debates.

If it comes down to it, I'll have a hard time choosing in the (R) primary. But that's the first time I can remember ever having a hard electoral choice between two good candidates.

[Danny]

Johnson seems to have much less of a "weirdo" factor in his personality. He's smoother. Paul just has too much of that Mayberry RFD kookiness in the way he speaks and his body language. It may be unfortunate, but telegenics is an important part of current politics.

[R C Dean]

Gary Johnson or Ron Paul?

Yes.

[Tony]

It boggles the mind that a cranky old antigovernment ranter like RP has generated such a devoted following. His performance at the GOP debate reminds one of a run-of-the-mill H&R commenter. No need to address reality, because if only we enacted the small government utopia inside his head, freedom would flow. You could tell he'd been accustomed to the freshman level debates that seem to completely inform his worldview. If government stopped subsidizing healthcare for poor people, there wouldn't be more poor people with less access to healthcare, because... freedom works! It would work if only we ended the fed and let the free market blossom, as apparently it had at some point in the past in which everyone had access to healthcare. He continues to surprise me in the extremism of his ideological devotion. If you are equally devoted to him, you are rightly dismissed as a serious person. Anyone who claims to have all the answers is a charlatan, and anyone who follows a charlatan is an idiot.

[Lost_In_Translation]

It boggles the mind that you're still here after all those promises not to be.

[sevo]

Pretty sure this is a new record for strawmen in one post.
Way to go, Tony!

[Lost_In_Translation]

The answer is obvious. Ron Swanson

[Ron]

I wonder what the difference would be in Johnson's numbers if he came out as a hard-core pro-lifer? Would that be enough to lift him out of the 1% support crowd?

[Gene]

I'm just glad they are both running. Could you imagine 2 Libertarian leaning Republican candidates for president 20 years ago? But, if forced to make a choice I would have to choose Johnson. He's a governor with proven administrative skills. http://www.lookingforliberty.blogspot.com

[Sudden]

In regards to the second question on the who is the least evil, I agree. But, and please don't castigate me because I would sooner pluck my own eyes out than vote for this guy, I noticed that Santorum was the only candidate that really stepped up to the plate talking about substantive entitlement reform (which IMO is the single most important issue). Of course, his crusade against TEH GHEYZ and TEH MOOZLEMZ make him entirely unpalattable, but I at least respected that candor since none of the other candidates seem interested in addressing the issue in a serious way.

[NadePaulKuciGravMcKi]

Dr Ron works to get Gary Johnson back in the debates.
Ronald Ernest Paul knows what it means to be censored.

[AlmightyJB]

Gary Johnston

[GILMORE]

LESS FILLING!!!

[CE]

Ron Paul. Both are fine candidates, but Ron Paul has more momentum, and his appeals to basic principle win over more support than Johnson's utilitarian approach.

[squishua]

Ron Paul. He's principled, honest, and sincere in defense of liberty - of the people, not the goddamned government.

If he doesn't get the republican nomination, then I'll change my party affilliation to Anarchist and go back to ignoring the scam of politics as I have done for the past 20 years.

No way in hell I'd vote for Mr. Roper aka Gary "Real ID" Johnson in the simpleminded hope that he'll get pot legalized. Despite reason's efforts to push the cost-benefit-analysis meme (and Nick G., who seems particularly taken in by it to the point of interjecting it into his Rand Paul interview), I'm not one of those rubes who thinks politicians are capable of complex analysis.

Why? cui bono? Who decides what the cost/benefit wil be - and for whom? It's ripe for the same old political manipulations as always.

[Hardy]

squishua,

Gary Johnson does not support Real ID. What are you talking about? There was an question in a blogger conference call about it a couple weeks ago which mentioned Read ID as part of a compound question. Johnson gave his standard answer about immigration.

So I asked Johnson about Real ID at an town hall in Concord NH last week and he said he was opposed to it and anything like it.

[scarpe Nike Store]

is good