The term black-balled is used when a candidates participation in an event is completely prohibited, blue-balled applies when a candidates attendance is permitted but participation prohibited from the convention process. Blue-Balling usually leads to hypertension and compounded agitation of most situations and this Colorado situation is no exception.
Recently a anonymous member of the Libertarian Party of Colorado indicated that Austin Petersen was not invited to the LPCo State Convention this weekend, despite LPCo Chair Nathan Grabau repeatedly insisting that “ Austin Petersen is not forbidden from attending our convention in any way”, the internet remains a fire storm of libertarian infighting.
This anonymous source allegedly called in to their executive board meeting which took place in early February and while they supported the decision to not to include Petersen in their debates but obviously has had a change of heart.
At this present time the minutes from that meeting are not public but according to the source there were two resolutions passed concerning Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Austin Petersen. The first resolution removed Petersen from the list of candidates who would be invited to the state convention (March 11th – 13th), and the second barred any executive board members from contacting Petersen prior to the event. Both votes were passed unanimous among the present members.
At first, there might be the appearance of a conspiracy. The current interim chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado is Nathan Grabau who is also Steve Kerbel’s Deputy Campaign Manager. However, Grabau was not present at this board meeting. These motions were proposed by other members of the executive committee. Refusing to invite a nationally recognized candidate is still controversial nonetheless.
It is presently unknown if the situation will be remedied before the convention takes place. This is certainly a precedent that many libertarians do not want set. Austin Petersen’s fans in particular will be outraged to learn of this exclusion.
The Libertarian Party of Colorado informed us that an official statement was coming soon, and you can read their official statement below:
Questions have recently arisen about the decision of the Board of Directors of the Libertarian Party of Colorado to refrain from an extending an invitation to Austin Petersen to attend its Presidential debate at its State Convention. This decision was made by the Board in consideration of the following:
1. The Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which liberty shall prevail (Bylaws of the National Libertarian Party 4.1);
2. The Libertarian Party of Colorado has been voluntarily bound by its affiliation with the National Party that it shall not take any action inconsistent with the Statement of Principles (Bylaws of the National Libertarian Party 6.1);
3. The Constitution of the Libertarian Party of Colorado defines our purpose as to “implement and give voice to libertarian principles, such as those in the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party” (LPCO Constitution II.1) and binds the Party to take no positions inconsistent with the Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party (LPCO Constitution III.1);
4. The commitment of the Libertarian Party of Colorado to the Statement of Principles is demonstrated in its requirement that its Board of Directors, state candidates, delegates, and affiliates sign/ratify the Statement of Principles (LPCO Constitution V.2, VIII.4, IX.2; LPCO Bylaws VII.1) and specifically states that supporting candidates which take positions inconsistent with the national Party Statement of Principles is grounds for disaffiliation of county parties (LPCO Constitution IX.3);
5. Candidate for the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination Austin Wade Petersen has openly repudiated the non-aggression principle as stated specifically within the Statement of Principles and declared this principle to be “non-libertarian” and intellectually bankrupt using various defamatory insults and thus has clearly illustrated that he is philosophically opposed to essential first-principles of the Libertarian Party which the Colorado governing documents hold in primacy as the minimal bar by which everything is measured.
No formal resolution was made other than a decision that it was inappropriate for the State Party to invite a candidate who has openly repudiated and ridiculed the Party’s foundational and absolutely essential Statement of Principles that are held as the highest standard in our voluntary governing documents. Additionally, it was decided that the Board members, acting in their official capacities, would not contact or respond to the Petersen campaign on this issue. There were no objections to either vote.
The Statement of Principles is not optional for the Libertarian Party as defined within both the National and Colorado documents of voluntary association. It is the duty of Party officers to uphold these Principles and as the birthplace of the Libertarian Party, the Board of the Libertarian Party of Colorado made a decision in good faith with the intention of protecting and honoring these Principles.
Responding this evening Petersen is quoted as saying "The Libertarian Party is suing to get into the national debates, saying the DNC and the GOP are being exclusionary. And now the government can look at the actions of the LP of Colorado and say, "hey, even the Libertarian Party excludes their own candidates." Congratulations Colorado, you might have just given the government an excuse to deny the lawsuit and keep third party candidates out of the national debates this year. Well done Caryn, Steve, and others. You've been libertarians for less than a year. We appreciate it."
In conclusion, Petersen may be remiss of what the CPD lawsuit is really about as this is the second time he has been off the mark in comparing it incorrectly and has yet to acknowledge that it's an anti-trust lawsuit rendering his situation totally different , none the less, independently he may have a legal recourse against LPCO, since he's being specifically singled-out. While the politics of the situation may prevent Petersen from filing such a suit, it should be noted that he may have a legitimate case were he inclined to file such a case.
This anonymous source allegedly called in to their executive board meeting which took place in early February and while they supported the decision to not to include Petersen in their debates but obviously has had a change of heart.
At this present time the minutes from that meeting are not public but according to the source there were two resolutions passed concerning Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Austin Petersen. The first resolution removed Petersen from the list of candidates who would be invited to the state convention (March 11th – 13th), and the second barred any executive board members from contacting Petersen prior to the event. Both votes were passed unanimous among the present members.
At first, there might be the appearance of a conspiracy. The current interim chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado is Nathan Grabau who is also Steve Kerbel’s Deputy Campaign Manager. However, Grabau was not present at this board meeting. These motions were proposed by other members of the executive committee. Refusing to invite a nationally recognized candidate is still controversial nonetheless.
It is presently unknown if the situation will be remedied before the convention takes place. This is certainly a precedent that many libertarians do not want set. Austin Petersen’s fans in particular will be outraged to learn of this exclusion.
The Libertarian Party of Colorado informed us that an official statement was coming soon, and you can read their official statement below:
Questions have recently arisen about the decision of the Board of Directors of the Libertarian Party of Colorado to refrain from an extending an invitation to Austin Petersen to attend its Presidential debate at its State Convention. This decision was made by the Board in consideration of the following:
1. The Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which liberty shall prevail (Bylaws of the National Libertarian Party 4.1);
2. The Libertarian Party of Colorado has been voluntarily bound by its affiliation with the National Party that it shall not take any action inconsistent with the Statement of Principles (Bylaws of the National Libertarian Party 6.1);
3. The Constitution of the Libertarian Party of Colorado defines our purpose as to “implement and give voice to libertarian principles, such as those in the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party” (LPCO Constitution II.1) and binds the Party to take no positions inconsistent with the Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party (LPCO Constitution III.1);
4. The commitment of the Libertarian Party of Colorado to the Statement of Principles is demonstrated in its requirement that its Board of Directors, state candidates, delegates, and affiliates sign/ratify the Statement of Principles (LPCO Constitution V.2, VIII.4, IX.2; LPCO Bylaws VII.1) and specifically states that supporting candidates which take positions inconsistent with the national Party Statement of Principles is grounds for disaffiliation of county parties (LPCO Constitution IX.3);
5. Candidate for the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination Austin Wade Petersen has openly repudiated the non-aggression principle as stated specifically within the Statement of Principles and declared this principle to be “non-libertarian” and intellectually bankrupt using various defamatory insults and thus has clearly illustrated that he is philosophically opposed to essential first-principles of the Libertarian Party which the Colorado governing documents hold in primacy as the minimal bar by which everything is measured.
No formal resolution was made other than a decision that it was inappropriate for the State Party to invite a candidate who has openly repudiated and ridiculed the Party’s foundational and absolutely essential Statement of Principles that are held as the highest standard in our voluntary governing documents. Additionally, it was decided that the Board members, acting in their official capacities, would not contact or respond to the Petersen campaign on this issue. There were no objections to either vote.
The Statement of Principles is not optional for the Libertarian Party as defined within both the National and Colorado documents of voluntary association. It is the duty of Party officers to uphold these Principles and as the birthplace of the Libertarian Party, the Board of the Libertarian Party of Colorado made a decision in good faith with the intention of protecting and honoring these Principles.
Responding this evening Petersen is quoted as saying "The Libertarian Party is suing to get into the national debates, saying the DNC and the GOP are being exclusionary. And now the government can look at the actions of the LP of Colorado and say, "hey, even the Libertarian Party excludes their own candidates." Congratulations Colorado, you might have just given the government an excuse to deny the lawsuit and keep third party candidates out of the national debates this year. Well done Caryn, Steve, and others. You've been libertarians for less than a year. We appreciate it."
In conclusion, Petersen may be remiss of what the CPD lawsuit is really about as this is the second time he has been off the mark in comparing it incorrectly and has yet to acknowledge that it's an anti-trust lawsuit rendering his situation totally different , none the less, independently he may have a legal recourse against LPCO, since he's being specifically singled-out. While the politics of the situation may prevent Petersen from filing such a suit, it should be noted that he may have a legitimate case were he inclined to file such a case.
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