*Note: This post originally maintained Trump was saying “be careful” to Nick Gillespie, when in reality he seems to have been talking to others walking with him in the crowd with equipment. The post has been changed to reflect this realization.
Reason’s editor in chief Nick Gillespie recently caught up with Donald Trump on the campaign trail and asked him about libertarianism. This is what ensued:
This exchange is troubling from several different angles. First off, Trump does his typical dance in which he avoids questions he doesn’t want to answer by giving a simplistic jingoistic response. He is also clearly uncomfortable with the question. Why?
Overall, the above exchange is kind of unnecessary anyway since it’s abundantly clear Trump is anti-liberty and anti-freedom. Let’s recall what he said should be done with Edward Snowden. From a Washington Times story in 2013:
Edward Snowden, the man at the heart of the NSA information leaks, is nothing but a “traitor” — and America ought to recreate history in dealing with him, real estate mogul Donald Trump said on a “Fox & Friends” interview.
In other words, execute him, Mr. Trump implied.
“I think Snowden is a terrible threat, I think he’s a terrible traitor, and you know what we used to do in the good old days when we were a strong country — you know what we used to do to traitors, right?”
For more on the “real” Donald Trump, see:
Rand Paul Op-ed Blasts Donald Trump – Calls Him a “Fake Conservative” and Wannabe “King”
Will Donald Trump Run as a 3rd Party Candidate?
You’re Fired – Trump Campaign Tweets Photo of Trump’s Head Next to Nazi Soldiers
Meet the Immigrants Building Trump’s International Hotel in Washington D.C.
In Liberty,
Michael Krieger
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Isn’t Reason just a front for the oligarchical Koch bros? Seems to me like one set of billionaires is attempting to manipulate sentiment against another billionaire they are in a tussle for control with here. I wonder why? Actually, an answer may be found in Matt Taibbi’s latest in Rolling Stone where he deftly unpacks Trump’s appeal as the direct manifestation of all the bat-shit crazy propaganda that’s been fed to GOP voters over the years thanks to folks like the Kochs, while the party has single mindedly served the interests of its wealthy backers whenever it’s had power and cynically allowed the “issues” (gays, immigrants, Obama being a Muslim communist from Kenya, etc) which truly motivate the rank and file to serve as propaganda. The Kochs and others or their ilk are rightfully concerned that Trump is a threat to their oligarchic domain because he’s spoiling the GOP’s rep by bringing out all the crazies. Attacks like this by the Reason editor should be seen as what they, pure propaganda designed to maintain unimpeded oligarchic control. Although to be fair, as Taibbi points out, the oligarchy is only slightly worse off under the democrats but folks like the Kochs want 100% control of their puppets rather than 90-95% control.
Can anyone identify a single position that the folks at Reason magazine have taken that isn’t consistent with libertarian principles?
It’s very disappointing to see comments here that try to impose the moronic mainstream press false dichotomy of blue team and red team on things.
Seriously, and who in their right mind would categorize that exchange between Gillespie and Trump as any kind of attack? That’s just silly.
Now, if a person were truly of the mind to wonder who may be supporting certain opinion makers in this day and age, that person might want to ask himself who, exactly, was it that sponsored Taibbi’s little adventure in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. What, he just decide all on his own to go visit a country in the violent throws of chaotic revolution and publish a subversive ‘zine just for kicks? Yeah…… riiiiiight.
If you’re aware of any history past this morning’s breakfast, Trump’s appeal ought to have worn off 30 seconds after you started listening to him.
Why would anyone choke on providing a positive response to a movement that is parsecs closer to human freedom than anything we’ve seen in generations? Only because the idea is anathema to them.
We are going to be facing a real Hobson’s Choice in the next election, provided there is one. Sanders may be the best shot we have at a foreign policy that isn’t psycho exceptionalism on steroids and a financial system that hasn’t completely thrown the little guy over the side in order to save room for caviar for the big shots.
Israeli nuclear whistleblower arrested after TV interview