Tuesday, May 31, 2016
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary L. Bauer
Multiple Choices In November
Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and former Massachusetts Governor William Weld were nominated to lead the Libertarian ticket at the party’s national convention over the weekend, which made headlines for other reasons. Johnson and Weld claim to be conservatives, but Weld is especially liberal on values issues and Johnson supports legalizing virtually all drugs.
A recent Fox News poll tested a general election match-up with the Libertarian Party included. Johnson received 10% of the vote, with Trump narrowly finishing first — 42% to 39%.
But the news that had pundits buzzing this weekend was not the Johnson/Weld ticket. It was a tweet by Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard and lead advocate of another choice this November. Sunday, he tweeted, “Just a heads up over this holiday weekend: There will be an independent candidate –an impressive one, with a strong team and a real chance.”
While most Americans were enjoying Memorial Day weekend, Kristol’s tweet set off a barrage of speculation about who the mystery candidate might be. Many subjects of prior speculation have taken themselves out of the running. A former spokesman for Mitt Romney claimed that he had heard nothing indicating Romney would be a candidate.
It is hard to imagine a Republican officeholder, particularly one who may have any political future, agreeing to take on this mission. But there are some former elected officials who could. For example, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, whose family could fund his campaign, might be a possibility.
Terrible Casualties
There were horrendous figures released on the fighting over the weekend — 66 people shot, six dead.
Syria? No.
Iraq? No.
Afghanistan? No.
It was Chicago. Young people there should join the military. They would likely be safer.
Standing With Israel
Friday I flew to Indianapolis to witness a bill signing ceremony by Governor Mike Pence. Gov. Pence signed what Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer described as the strongest anti-BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) legislation in the country.
As you may know, the anti-Israel BDS movement, backed by the left and, sadly, even some mainstream church groups, has been seeking to punish companies that invest in Israel.
I am pleased to report that there are many legislators and governors who understand Israel is the only nation in the Middle East that reflects the values of the United States and whose friendship is not based on oil. These pro-Israel officials are pushing back against misguided BDS efforts.
Indiana’s law turns the BDS effort against those attacking Israel. If a company is involved in a boycott against Israel, then Indiana is going to boycott or divest from that company. At the ceremony, Gov. Pence vowed that “Indiana will not do business with those who seek to inflict financial damage on the people of Israel.”
It is absolutely clear to me that the BDS movement is anti-Semitic. Any group looking at the world today, which includes regimes like Iran and North Korea, must be motivated by something other than a so-called “concern for human rights” when it singles out Israel for punishment.
Unfortunately, a new survey finds that one-third of American college students support boycotts, divestment and sanctions as legitimate ways to pressure Israel. That is another disturbing indication of the radicalization taking place on America’s college campuses. It is also a likely result of President Obama’s policies, which are often hostile to Israel.
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