Libertarian dilemma in Virginia

The Virginian governor’s race is turning out to be something of a feast for libertarians, with a strong well supported LP candidate in Robert Sarvis, and a strongly libertarian Republican candidate in Ken Cuccinelli (Left).  As result, the state is likely to be governed by big government nanny stater, Terry McAuliffe.

While the polls are all over the place on this race, some of the later ones have McAuliffe leading Cuccinelli by just 2%, but Sarvis is on 10 -12%, most of it taken from the Republican.

Cuccinelli though is the sort of guy who, were the Liberal Party to put him up here, we wouldn’t need to stand a candidate other than to feed him a few preferences: 

Political analyst Tim Carney of the Washington Examiner, who often espouses the libertarian viewpoint, wrote Friday that Cuccinelli “would arguably be the most libertarian governor in the United States if he wins on Nov. 7,” a point that contrasts sharply with the fact that libertarians are attacking him. 

As Carney observes, Cuccinelli, as Virginia’s attorney general, was the first to challenge the constitutionality of ObamaCare’s mandates, taxes, subsidies, and infringements upon liberty. 

As governor, Cuccinelli’s plan is to cut the state income tax rate by 15 percent for individuals and 33 percent for corporations, creating an environment that is ripe for the free market.\ 

But libertarians should take note that Cuccinelli’s style is more “pro-economic growth” and less “pro-business,” as evidenced by the fact that his state’s business lobby has had its feathers ruffled by his stand against corporate welfare. Cuccinelli opposed the tax hikes that were sought by Northern Virginia developers to pay for roads and public services, and he pledged to cut the tax credits for special interest groups. 

In addition, Cuccinelli fought, while a state senator, to protect second amendment rights and, consequently, has an "A" rating from the NRA. He also opposed smoking bans when serving as a state senator. 

As Carney states, “Cuccinelli also often chooses government restraint over ‘law and order.’”  Not afraid to oppose his own party, Cuccinelli, was the only Republican to vote against an expansion of the death penalty in 2009, even during a competitive primary for attorney general. … 

… Carney gets to the crux of the matter, however, when he asserts, that “social liberals’ attack on Cuccinelli conflates his personal conservatism with his policy views.” 

The fact is that, while Cuccinelli might not personally agree with a law, he knows his job is to uphold the laws in his state. So, when he prosecuted a 47 year-old sexual predator who had sex with a minor, he defended his state’s “Crimes Against Nature” law but did not attempt to “ban sodomy” or homosexuality, as his critics say. He also has never attempted to “ban contraception,” as Planned Parenthood and its minions have charged. 

As Carney contends, Ken Cuccinelli may personally live a conservative lifestyle, but his record as both a state senator and attorney general is one that demonstrates that liberty is worth fighting for. Shouldn’t libertarians respect his choice to live as he does, while he also works to keep Virginians free?

Many libertarians live a relatively traditional, conservative lifestyle as Cuccinelli apparently does, which is a totally different concept to social conservatism.   The difference is, that while the libertarian conservative conducts himself in a manner, which would be acceptable to the socon, he would not use the authority of the state to inflict his ideas on others who choose to live differently.  Cuccinelli seems to be one of these.

Both Ron and Rand Paul, and a number of small government types have been in the state supporting Cuccinelli over both Sarvis and McAuliffe which is a fair indication that he is acceptable to our side.

Curiously, Berkshire – Hathaway owned Danville Register & Bee, has endorsed Sarvis.  This, while surprising is probably indicative of the left’s desperation since Cuccinelli started closing the gap.  BH is the plaything of liberal tragic and Obama groupie, Warren Buffett who is probably just doing his bit to lure support away toward Sarvis in the hope that doing so will get the Democrat across the line.