Oklahoma Libertarians just hit another big challenge in staying on the Oklahoma ballot after November. Their leading presidential candidate, former governor, Gary Johnson, of New Mexico; just tapped Massachusetts former governor, William Weld; as his running mate. Oklahoma polls as strongly pro-life, but Weld wants no restrictions on abortion. He sees it as a constitutional right. The Oklahoma Republican legislature just recently handed a gift to the Oklahoma Libertarians by dropping the threshold mandatory election returns to remain a recognized political organization. The historic 10% requirement was lowered to 2.5%, a standard more in line with surrounding states. |
Weld also supports the federal high court's decision to mandate homosexual marriage upon all the states. This may be an even tougher sell in Oklahoma, where our constitution was changed less than 10 years ago, to reflect our state's determination to only recognise heterosexual marriage.
A list of positions held by Weld include:
- On marriage: Overturn CA Prop. 8: Let gays marry. (Apr 2013) California had also voted to constitutionally keep marriage heterosexual.
- On environment: Supports expansive federal environmental regulations. (Aug 2005)
- On 2nd Amendment: Supports gun control. (Aug 2005)
- On Abortion: "Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right."
Similar to Mitt Romney, William Weld was elected Governor in the very liberal New England state by presenting himself as a supporter of many liberal positions. But unlike Romney, Weld is remaining consistent in his liberalism and support of federal regulations and powers. Romney had the audacity to claim he's always been "severely conservative", in the 2012 presidential race.
At the Oklahoma Libertarian Convention, there was a very diverse set of opinions on who the presidential nominee should be. Some Libertarian candidates strongly made a pitch for John McAfee, the billionaire tech business entreprenuer. Others said he is very unstable and has some significant "skeletons" which would be dangerous to the movement.
Others supported Austin Petersen as the most philosophically pure Libertarian, but others dismissed him as arrogant and smug.
And some state Libertarian Leaders openly support Johnson, while admitting that it is a pragmatic choice, because of his name recognition and past elective resume'. Yet one prominent Oklahoma Libertarian candidate openly condemned Johnson's recent comments on Muslims and his advocating the legal coercion of business owners to provide services to events, which directly run crosswise to their religious conscience.

Others supported Austin Petersen as the most philosophically pure Libertarian, but others dismissed him as arrogant and smug.
And some state Libertarian Leaders openly support Gary Johnson, while admitting that it is a pragmatic choice, because of his name recognition and past elective resume'. Yet one prominent Oklahoma Libertarian candidate openly condemned Johnson's recent comments on Muslims and his advocating the legal coercion of business owners to provide services to events, which directly run crosswise to their religious conscience.

William Weld is a big fan of Governor John Kasich. In fact, 3 months ago weld publicly campaigned for Kasich.
He said; "I have known John Kasich for twenty years and he is a born executive. Being governor is the type of experience that prepares you to be President. John Kasich hasn’t just talked about balancing budgets and growing jobs, he’s actually done it. His tremendous record and results-oriented conservative leadership in Ohio is exactly what we need in the White House.”
The Libertarian National Convention begins later this week, in Orlando, Florida.