So there I sat on a sunny Saturday, a registered libertarian with a badge at a public political rally. The Constitutional Republican Party of Western Pennsylvania operates within the Republican Party, advocating its belief that the Constitution should be interpreted as its writers intended.
I came there to find out which Republicans I can vote for in November. I am a realistic libertarian. My party does not field full candidates in the general election. And while I appreciate party alliances, I am not a slave to the leadership. If a libertarian who is also a thug runs, that thug doesn’t get my vote.
So I sat at the July 2nd rally gathering knowledge. I also plan to attend some Democratic Party events.
That probably suits Scott North just fine. The Jefferson County commissioner from Punxsutawney made his own political efforts.
North made it clear that he is a Republican aligned with Trump. But instead of bashing the left-wing antics of the Democratic Party, North sounded a pragmatic and welcome note of respect. Many of Jefferson County’s 8,000 Democrats, he said, are conservatives who believe in lower government spending and limited government; they were called “blue dog” democrats when i was younger. So Republicans should not write off their votes by November, but instead talk, perhaps persuade and ask for their votes.
I have fun insulting political freaks. But I know that harsh rhetoric won’t win anyone over to my thinking. Instead, it tightens positions. So, in addition to finding out who might get my vote, I listened to see if there might be common ground between people in the far-right Constitutional Republican Party and my centrist libertarian views.
There is. We are Americans first and political animals are way down the list of things I pledge allegiance to.
I generally agree with the people who spoke at this rally.
I don’t care if every candidate fully agrees with my position on, say, abortion. If that candidate doesn’t know how to talk to other officials who feel differently about abortion (or the war in Ukraine or gas prices, etc.), that candidate can’t govern effectively. I’m interested in candidates who show they know how to do the job – and get along with other people. Honesty and integrity is also on my mind.
None of the speakers at Saturday’s event wore flashing “integrity meters” or “competence charts.” I try to distill honesty and competence from what politicians say – and from their body language.
There was quite a bit of right-wing republicanism in the air at the Constitutional Republicans rally, and understandably so. It was a partisan political rally. Former President Donald Trump’s praise, though subdued, was noticeable; No praise was heard for other possible Republican presidential candidates in 2024.
Republican Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano was largely praised by Carrie Lewis DelRosso, who was Mastriano’s running mate for the GOP nomination. He said Mastriano, who has taken controversial positions on Pennsylvania election law and social issues including abortion, “will do exactly what he says he will do” if elected. And he supports her all the way, she said.
I don’t like some of what Mastriano says. However, I will never find a political candidate whose thoughts reflect my own complex theories.
We few libertarians, who number in the hundreds in Jefferson County and include the county’s 18,000 Republicans and 6,000 Democrats, probably don’t have many organized political rallies. But if we do, and if I can, I will participate. Once I’ve decided on the gubernatorial and senatorial candidates, I’ll put a small amount there. It takes money to win political campaigns. If I don’t do my part, the winning candidates will be even more from rich people with political ambitions.
Perhaps another 50 people attended the July 2nd GOP rally. Among them may have been registered Democrats.
Some political junkies disagree with my party-hopping approach. To them, “Republican” or “Democrat” means “lifelong Republican” or “lifelong Democrat.”
I don’t like that approach, but if so, hey, it’s a free country.
I am an American before I am a Republican, Democrat or Libertarian. You too.
By November, each voter will have to choose from among the candidates of several political parties, or perhaps no political party, such as independent voters.
Their endless advertisements tell us what they want us to know – and not know – about them.
However, a face-to-face meeting tells me what I want to know.
Denny Bonavita is a former editor/publisher of newspapers in DuBois, Brookville, New Bethlehem and Warren. He lives near Brookville. Email: notniceman9@gmail.com
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