Minority Rights

When you saw the title of this column, you probably made an assumption about its subject matter. You were wrong. As a third-party candidate for statewide office, I have become painfully aware of the double standard the media use when covering politics. Only rarely are those of us who represent smaller parties or points of view covered by those who engage in “serious” print or broadcast journalism. Frequently when an esteemed member of the Fourth Estate does lower herself/himself to seek our views, they do so with an aire of “gotcha” in place. For example, one so-called writer, editor, bottle washer and copy-machine-fixer of an online news source sought to get my opinion on one of those “when did you stop beating your wife” questions. It involved a member of our party (Libertarian Party of Ohio, www.LPO.org ) who was heavily involved in a protest outside of a congressman’s home following the passage of the Healthcare Travesty. This particular congressman had been a member of the infamous Stupak coalition of pro-life Democrats, but just like his group leader, had caved and voted for the bill on the fraudulent pretense that the President’s executive Order would trump the legislation. Our member is a candidate for the office that is currently held by the lily-livered, cowardly fraud. Our member and his cohorts staged a protest on the sidewalk outside the home of the aforementioned spineless congresscritter. It was legal. It was a valid expression of the First Amendment.


Would I personally protest at a politician’s home rather than his office? No, I would not, but that does not alter the fact that as long as the protesters obeyed the law and remained on the public sidewalk, and did not harm or threaten the person, the property or the family of the congressperson, then they had every RIGHT to do so. Our party is fundamentally based on three primary principles: smaller, Constitutional government; lower taxes resulting from smaller government; and more personal freedom. The writer wanted me to condemn our member for protesting on the sidewalk near the politician’s home because he believed it was tasteless. Maybe it was tasteless, but the First Amendment does not address the issue of taste…particularly when political speech is involved. So, the writer wishes for me to condemn the protester/member and undermine the principles of my party. That I refused to do so automatically slotted me into the category of tasteless rube with no standards of decency. If those two options are the only ones available, then I plead guilty to the latter.

Having studied the elements of victimology for several decades, I understand that if the media were to treat my party as a bona fide minority (which we are until Election Day), then they would provide every imaginable justification for our shortcomings and failures. Instead of being a pesky afterthought when they seek pithy quotes about important matters, we would be at the top of the Rolodex as a protected political minority. I am not insisting that we be given the same level of deference as Jesse Jackson or Michael Moore. Call me anything you want, O’ all-knowing journalist, just call me. Our voice may be tiny, but it is a voice that represents thousands (maybe even millions) of freedom loving people in the Buckeye state. Keep on doing your tired old sound bites and quotes from the old duopoly, but give the champions of liberty a voice…a chance.

If Affirmative Action were in place for the previously stated conundrum, then we would be the first to be sought when something profound or confrontational was needed for the newscast, the column or the article. Personally, I don’t want the affirmative action remedy. I do not mind going last in the quotation roundup. You see, our adversaries are so predictable and non-committal, that its fun to follow them and kick-up some dust. So, minority rights are fine with me. I don’t require special treatment. I merely want treatment.

Email or comment:  earl4sos@gmail.com