Republican Liberty Caucus
Encyclopedia
The Republican Liberty Caucus is a political action organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of individual liberty
, limited government
and free market
economics within the Republican Party
in the United States
. It is part of the libertarian
wing of the Republican Party. It also operates a political action committee
, the RLC-USA PAC.
The organization was founded in 1991 and has chapters in many states. In 2011, the organization hosted its National Convention in Arlington, Virginia.
The RLC favors individual freedom and limited government. Specifically, the RLC favors reduced government intrusion, lower taxes, elimination of federal agencies, less regulation, a strong national defense with fewer military bases abroad, and no foreign aid.
In 2010, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas denounced the new state Republican Party platform that supported criminalization of sodomy
and making same-sex marriage
a felony.
Chairmen
while the Republican nominee in Connecticut will be running for an open seat being vacated by independent United States Senator Joseph Lieberman.
"A candidate for President of the United States may be endorsed by the Caucus by a 2/3 vote of the active and voting Chartered state’s executive committees. The national Secretary shall notify all Chartered states of a favorable national board proposal for endorsement and state executive
officers shall inform the Secretary of the approval or denial by their executive committee within 60 days."
Since the Caucus' founding in 1991, only once has a candidate been able to galvanize this level of support: in 1996 the organization endorsed presidential candidate Steve Forbes
in the Republican primary. Although Forbes ran again in 2000, the organization remained neutral in that primary and has not endorsed a specific Republican candidate in any primary since.
Liberty
Liberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
, limited government
Limited government
Limited government is a government which anything more than minimal governmental intervention in personal liberties and the economy is generally disallowed by law, usually in a written constitution. It is written in the United States Constitution in Article 1, Section 8...
and free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
economics within the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
wing of the Republican Party. It also operates a political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
, the RLC-USA PAC.
The organization was founded in 1991 and has chapters in many states. In 2011, the organization hosted its National Convention in Arlington, Virginia.
Issues
The RLC works within the Republican Party to influence the party to adopt the RLC's agenda. As one activist put it, "We're trying to reintroduce the Republican platform to the Republican Party."The RLC favors individual freedom and limited government. Specifically, the RLC favors reduced government intrusion, lower taxes, elimination of federal agencies, less regulation, a strong national defense with fewer military bases abroad, and no foreign aid.
In 2010, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas denounced the new state Republican Party platform that supported criminalization of sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
and making same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
a felony.
Leadership
National Officers- National Chairman: Dave NalleDave NalleDave Nalle is a political writer, game author and font designer who was active in the early history of the development of the internet...
(TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) - National Vice Chairman: Eduardo J. Lopez-ReyesEduardo J. Lopez-ReyesEduardo Jesus Lopez-Reyes , of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is an American Republican Party activist and National Vice Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus.-Early political experience and education:...
(New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
) - Secretary: Corie C. WhalenCorie C. WhalenCorie C. Whalen is an American, Libertarian Republican political activist based in Houston, Texas. She is originally from Ashland, Massachusetts. Whalen was an early organizer of the Tea Party movement. She supported the presidential campaign of Congressman Ron Paul in 2008 and is currently an...
(TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) - Treasurer: Matthew NyeMatthew NyeMatthew Nye, of Melbourne, Florida, was elected National Treasurer of the Republican Liberty Caucus at the organization's National Convention in Arlington, Virginia on February 15, 2011....
(FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
)
Chairmen
| # | Chairman | Term | State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barbara Rittberg | 1991-1992 | Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
|
| 2 | Roger MacBride Roger MacBride Roger Lea MacBride was an American lawyer, political figure, and television producer. He was the presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party in the 1976 election.... |
1992–1995 | Florida Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... |
|
| 3 | Ron Paul Ron Paul Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes... |
1995–2000 | Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... |
|
| 4 | Chuck Muth Chuck Muth Chuck Muth is President and CEO of Citizen Outreach and a professional political communications consultant.He is a former executive director of the American Conservative Union, a National Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, a Clark County, Nevada GOP chairman and former Nevada Republican... |
2000-2001 | Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... |
|
| 5 | Ron Paul Ron Paul Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes... |
2001–2002 | Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... |
(Honorary) |
| 6 | Douglas Lorenz | 2002–2004 | California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
|
| 7 | Bill Westmiller Bill Westmiller William Joseph Ronald Westmiller is a North American politician. He currently resides in Thousand Oaks, California.Westmiller was co-founder of the Libertarian Party of Canada, was a member of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Libertarian Party of California in the 1970s, and more recently he... |
2004–2009 | California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... |
|
| 8 | Dave Nalle Dave Nalle Dave Nalle is a political writer, game author and font designer who was active in the early history of the development of the internet... |
2009–Present | Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... |
|
2012 Endorsements
On November 2nd, 2011 the Republican Liberty Caucus announced its first two endorsements in the 2012 election: Barry Hinckley, running in the Republican primary in Rhode Island, and Brian K. Hill, running in the Republican primary in Connecticut. The Republican nominee in Rhode Island will be challenging Democratic United States Senator Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon Whitehouse
Sheldon Whitehouse is the junior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
while the Republican nominee in Connecticut will be running for an open seat being vacated by independent United States Senator Joseph Lieberman.
Presidential endorsements
The Republican Liberty Caucus' process for endorsing presidential candidates is described in the organization's Bylaws and Rules as follows:"A candidate for President of the United States may be endorsed by the Caucus by a 2/3 vote of the active and voting Chartered state’s executive committees. The national Secretary shall notify all Chartered states of a favorable national board proposal for endorsement and state executive
officers shall inform the Secretary of the approval or denial by their executive committee within 60 days."
Since the Caucus' founding in 1991, only once has a candidate been able to galvanize this level of support: in 1996 the organization endorsed presidential candidate Steve Forbes
Steve Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes, Jr. is an American editor, publisher, and businessman. He is the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc. He was a Republican candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996...
in the Republican primary. Although Forbes ran again in 2000, the organization remained neutral in that primary and has not endorsed a specific Republican candidate in any primary since.
Current endorsements
- U.S. Senator Rand PaulRand PaulRandal Howard "Rand" Paul is the junior United States Senator for Kentucky. He is a member of the Republican Party. A member of the Tea Party movement, he describes himself as a "constitutional conservative" and a libertarian...
from KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... - U.S. Senator Mike Lee from UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
- U.S. Senator Jim DeMintJim DeMintJames Warren "Jim" DeMint is the junior U.S. Senator from South Carolina, serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party and a leader in the Tea Party movement. He previously served as the U.S. Representative for from 1999 to 2005.-Early life and education:DeMint was born in...
from South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... - U.S. Senator Pat ToomeyPat ToomeyPatrick Joseph "Pat" Toomey, Sr. is the junior United States Senator for Pennsylvania and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, Toomey served as a U.S. Representative for three terms, but did not seek a fourth in compliance with a pledge he had made while running for office in 1998...
from PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... - Governor Paul LePagePaul LePagePaul Richard LePage is an American businessman and politician who is serving as the 74th and current Governor of Maine. A Republican, he was previously mayor of Waterville from 2003 to 2011, and was a city councilor before that...
of MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost... - Governor Nikki HaleyNikki HaleyNimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley is the 116th and current Governor of South Carolina. A member of the Republican Party, Haley represented Lexington County in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010....
of South Carolina - U.S. Representative Ron PaulRon PaulRonald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
from TexasTexas's 14th congressional districtTexas's 14th district for the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that covers the area south and southwest of the Greater Houston region, including Galveston, in the state of Texas. The district was created as a result of the 1900 U.S. Census and was first contested... - U.S. Representative Roscoe BartlettRoscoe BartlettRoscoe Gardner Bartlett, Ph.D. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Republican Party, and a member of the Tea Party Caucus...
from MarylandMaryland's 6th congressional districtMaryland's 6th congressional district elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives from the northwest part of the state. Today the district comprises all of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick and Carroll Counties, as well as portions of Montgomery, Baltimore, and... - U.S. Representative Tom McClintockTom McClintockThomas Miller McClintock II is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a former Assemblyman and state Senator...
from CaliforniaCalifornia's 4th congressional districtCalifornia's 4th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. It covers the northeastern corner of California along Route 395, encompassing El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc counties, as well as parts of Butte County... - U.S. Representative Justin AmashJustin AmashJustin Amash, , is an American attorney, politician, and member of Congress. He has been the U.S. Representative for which encompasses the Grand Rapids area, since 2011....
from MichiganMichigan's 3rd congressional districtMichigan's 3rd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Barry, Ionia, and all except the northwest portion of Kent. The district is currently represented by Republican Justin Amash, the second youngest member of the house... - U.S. Representative Jeff FlakeJeff FlakeJeffrey Lane "Jeff" Flake is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was featured in the documentary series How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories....
from ArizonaArizona's 6th congressional districtArizona's 6th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of Arizona and encompasses parts of Maricopa and Pinal counties... - U.S. Representative Scott GarrettScott GarrettErnest Scott Garrett is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district includes much of the northwestern portion of the state...
from New JerseyNew Jersey's 5th congressional districtNew Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Scott Garrett. Garrett defeated Democrat Paul Aronsohn and independent candidate R. Matthew Fretz 55%-44% in the United States general elections, 2006.... - U.S. Representative Jimmy Duncan from TennesseeTennessee's 2nd congressional districtThe 2nd congressional district of Tennessee is a congressional district in Tennessee. It currently includes the east central part of the state....
- U.S. Representative Steve ChabotSteve ChabotSteven Joseph "Steve" Chabot is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously represented the district from 1995 to 2009.-Early life, education and career:...
from OhioOhio's 1st congressional districtOhio's 1st congressional district is currently represented by Republican Steve Chabot. This district includes parts of Cincinnati, and borders both Kentucky and Indiana.-Cities:Cincinnati Cheviot Deer Park Forest Park Harrison Mount Healthy... - U.S. Representative Jim JordanJim Jordan (Ohio politician)James Daniel "Jim" Jordan is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party...
from OhioOhio's 4th congressional districtOhio's 4th congressional district is currently represented by Republican Jim Jordan.The district includes the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Hancock, Hardin, Logan, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Shelby, and part of Wyandot. The largest cities in the district include Findlay, Lima, Mansfield,... - U.S. Representative Adrian M. SmithAdrian M. SmithAdrian M. Smith is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Nebraska Legislature.-Early life, education and career:...
from NebraskaNebraska's 3rd congressional districtNebraska's 3rd congressional district seat encompasses the western three-fourths of the state; it is one of the largest non-at-large Congressional districts in the country, covering nearly , two time zones and 68.5 counties. It includes Grand Island, Kearney, Hastings, North Platte, Scottsbluff and... - U.S. Representative Chip CravaackChip CravaackRaymond "Chip" Cravaack is the U.S. Representative for northeastern serving since January 2011. In his first try for political office, he upset 18-term Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar by a margin of 4,400 votes to become the first Republican since 1947 to represent the district...
from MinnesotaMinnesota's 8th congressional districtMinnesota's 8th congressional district covers the northeastern part of Minnesota. It is anchored by Duluth, Minnesota which is the fourth largest city in state. It also includes most of the Mesabi and Vermilion iron ranges. The district is best-known for its mining, agriculture, tourism, and... - U.S. Representative Mick MulvaneyMick MulvaneyJohn Michael "Mick" Mulvaney is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He is formerly a member of the South Carolina Senate representing District 16...
from South CarolinaSouth Carolina's 5th congressional districtThe 5th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in northern South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes all of Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Marlboro, Newberry and York counties and parts of Florence, Lee...
See also
- Libertarian RepublicanLibertarian RepublicanA libertarian Republican is a person who subscribes to libertarian philosophy while typically voting for and being involved with the United States Republican Party.Sometimes the terms republitarian or liberty Republican are used as well...
- Right-libertarianismRight-libertarianismRight-libertarianism names several related libertarian political philosophies which support capitalism. The term is typically used to differentiate privatist based forms of libertarianism from Left-libertarianism; which generally supports forms of economic democracy and...
- Libertarian conservatismLibertarian conservatismLibertarian conservatism, also known as conservative libertarianism , includes political ideologies which meld libertarianism and conservatism...
- South Park RepublicanSouth Park Republican"South Park Republican" was a term that first circulated in blogs and articles on the Internet between the years circa 2001 and 2002, used to describe what some modern commentators describe as a "new wave" or generation of young adults and teenagers who hold center-right political beliefs that are,...