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Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague
I disagree. Rand, in particular, doesn't have libertarian values. He has some positions that overlap with libertarian values, and other positions that are totally antithetical to libertarian values. He is a Republican who happens to be somewhat more libertarian than some other Republicans; particularly the evangelical wing of the party.
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I think you are the confused one. Rand Paul has always been a libertarian. Just because he runs for office under the flag of the Republicans does not make him a Republican. It means he saw that party as the best chance for him to win a seat in congress and affect change through moving the needle toward where his values are. Paul’s values are at the core libertarian, but he has softened some of those values to work within the system.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Rand...s_+_Values.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politi...s_of_Rand_Paul
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/...nds-10-issues/
When Rand Paul bowed out of the Republican race the hopes were that he would jump in as a candidate for the Libertarian ticket. He elected not to go that route and instead maintain his seat in congress rather than run as a libertarian and get left at the curb.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...in-partys-pre/
https://alibertarianfuture.com/2016-...ul-supporters/
http://spectator.org/65369_rand-paul...n-libertarian/
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One group of people has consistently flown under the Republican banner, including the Kochs, who consistently support Republican candidates. Another group consistently self-identifies as libertarian. Yet you choose to see the former as the "real libertarians" and the latter as something else. I reiterate that you are confused.
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You’re failing to acknowledge how politics in the United States works. It is a dichotomous decision for 98-99% of Americans. If you want a seat in congress you need to run as a Republican or a Democrat. A libertarian or an independent seldom wins a seat in congress, and when they do they are forced to caucus with one of the two parties. Sadly, that is the way the system works.
Bernie Sanders was a true independent and when he decided he wanted to run for President he recognized the harsh realities of the process and was forced to run as a Democrat. He could have run as an independent, got a token vote and then found himself unemployed come November. Instead he took a shot within the system and gained traction for his views, probably forcing the party to adjust their platform because of the national support he received. Doesn’t change Bernie’s views or make him a Democrat. The same goes for Paul.
Paul wanted to affect change on many issues. He learned from his father that it is best to get a seat at the table and then try and affect change rather than run on a ticket where a seat is all but lost. Paul is still a libertarian in his views, just working the system from the only avenue afforded to him. The same goes for the Koch brothers. They support candidates that will best forward their libertarian agenda and get elected. Once they get elected they will their bidding and institute libertarian policies under the guise of the Republican banner. That is how the system works and you are ignoring that important fact.