Republican Liberty Caucus Frequently Asked Questions

The Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) is a grassroots, nationwide organization affiliated with the Republican Party (GOP). The goal of the RLC is to elect libertarian and libertarian-minded individuals to office. The RLC was originally formed in 1988 in North Carolina, and now has members in every state. RLC offices:

Republican Liberty Caucus
611 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E. #370
Washington, DC 20003

Republican Liberty Caucus
Finance Office
10878 Westheimer, Suite 395
Houston, TX 77042

Republican Liberty Caucus Cyberoffice
http://www.rlc.org

New member info: 1-800-752-9646

Republican Liberty Caucus National Committee Members:

Chairman
Clifford Thies
CThies@su.edu

Executive Director
Thomas D. Walls
afn18566@afn.org

Secretary
Robert R. Booth, Jr.
RobBooth@msn.com

Treasurer
Mike Holmes
Michael_E_Holmes@compuserve.com

General Counsel
Alan Turin

At-large
Laura Crockett
sumlaura@aol.com

At-large
Richard Sincere
rlcva@aol.com

At-large
Tom Walls
afn18566@afn.org

Alternate
Charles Muth
charmuth@aol.com

Alternate
Laura Kotelman
lauramk@worldnet.att.net

Alternate
Alan Cousin
ahcousin@worldnet.att.net

1. What does the RLC do?
2. What is the RLC's platform?
3. What famous politicians are members of the RLC?
4. How can I learn more about the RLC?
5. How can I join the RLC?
6. I'm a student, how can I get involved?
7. Is there an RLC chapter in my state?
8. How can I start a state/local chapter?
9. Why don't you just join the Libertarian Party (LP) and work through them?
10. Would the RLC support a Libertarian Party candidate?
11. How can a group of libertarians be in the same party as the religious right?
12. What is the RLC's position on abortion?
13. What is the RLC's position on drugs?
14. Are there any other groups affiliated with the RLC?
15. I'm a candidate for office, how can I apply for assistance from the RLFCF?
16. Does the RLC ever have national gatherings of its members?
17. I'm really mad at you Republicans, can I complain to you?
18.. I don't have a lot of money, but I want to help. What can I do?
19. I was looking another Republican group called the RLC, do you know where I can find them?

1. What does the RLC do?

We are expanding our nationwide base of libertarians active in the Republican Party. We publish a national newsletter and some state chapters publish newsletters as well. The newsletters provide libertarian Republicans with information about campaigns, issues and events of interest. Members are active in these various campaigns, etc. and seek to push libertarian candidates and issues to the forefront. Our members also attend GOP conventions and gatherings, identify libertarians in the GOP, and cultivate relationships with them. We also maintain relationships with various single-issue groups, e.g. gun owners, in order to combine forces when necessary on an issue of mutual interest.

We maintain a website in order to provide information to RLC members and attract new ones. The world wide web has proven to be a great outreach tool, and the RLC has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years.

2. What is the RLC's platform?

The RLC doesn't have an official platform like the major parties, because it is a political club and only affiliated with a major party. It is a group that seeks to support libertarian and like-minded candidates in the Republican Party. A platform is not an accurate reflection of the views of its members; it is a compromise between the people who are interested enough in political theory to argue about it. In the GOP and Democratic Party, candidates consistently run on issues at odds with the official party line. The RLC has no plans to develop a comprehensive document outlining the RLC's views on every issue. There is, however, an official list of RLC positions that emphasizes limited government across the board. The document was adopted at the 1996 RLC convention. Individual RLC members do not necessarily concur with every position, and it is not a requirement of membership to endorse it. It does seem to reflect the general views of the members.

The RLC supports:
-Lower and fewer taxes
-Balanced budgets through spending cuts
-Protection of property rights
-Privatization
-Deregulation
-Private options to Social Security
-Sound money policies
-Free trade
-Ending Federal welfare
-Phase-out of foreign aid
-Term limits
-Market-based health care
-Educational choice
-Freedom of speech
-The right to privacy
-Alternatives to the drug war
-The right to keep and bear arms
-All-volunteer armed forces

The goal of the RLC is to see that policies like these are implemented, not just written down on a platform.

3. Are any elected officials are members of the RLC?

Members of the Republican Liberty Caucus Board of Advisors - US Congress:

Brian Bilbray (CA) http://www.house.gov/bilbray/
Helen Chenoweth (ID) http://www.house.gov/chenoweth/
Mark Foley (FLA) http://www.house.gov/foley/
J.D. Hayworth (AZ) http://www.house.gov/hayworth/
Sam Johnson (TX) http://www.house.gov/samjohnson/
Jack Metcalf (WA) http://www.house.gov/metcalf/
Ron Paul (TX) [also former RLC Chair]http://www.house.gov/paul
Matt Salmon (AZ) http://www.house.gov/sabo/
John Shadegg (AZ) http://www.house.gov/shadegg/
Nick Smith (MI) http://www.house.gov/nicksmith/
Todd Tiahrt (KS) http://www.house.gov/tiahrt/

All are members of the House of Representatives. There are numerous others who are state representatives and senators, as well as economists, journalists and other libertarian VIPs, including Mark Skousen, Robert Poole, Martin Anderson, State Sens. Dave Jaye - MI, Bob Hedlund - MA, Brad Gorham - RI, John McClaughry-VT, Duncan Scott - NM, State Reps. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp - TX, Penn Pfiffner - CO, Vic Kohring - AK, Tom Feeney, FLA.

4. How can I learn more about the RLC?

If you found this FAQ via the RLC website, you've found the main source for public information. If not, point your web browser to www.rlc.org. We also have our college network web site, which is located at www.afn.org/~afn04641. You should also see a web page called "Libertarian Republicans Speak Out!" at www.afn.org/~afn04641/opinions.html. This is a collection of libertarian Republican opinion articles. Another source of information is our e-mail list, which you can subscribe to by sending a message to rlc-discuss-request@lists.best.com. The message should have the word "subscribe" on the subject line, and in the body of the message. Please feel free to read the messages and participate in the discussion. All we ask is that after you have examined the list for a month or so, please become a dues-paying member.

5. How can I join the RLC?

Send a check or money order to:

Republican Liberty Caucus
Finance Office
10878 Westheimer, Suite 395
Houston, TX 77042

The membership levels are:

Benefactor - $5000
Roundtable - $1000
Associate - $500
Patron - $250
Sustaining - $100
Premium - $50
Regular - $30 (Couple - $45)
Student/Military - $20
Subscription only - $18 (not eligible to participate in official RLC activities, e.g. hold RLC office or vote at conventions)

Memberships include dues for both the national and state levels for one calendar year. Members/subscribers receive six bi-monthly issues of Republican Liberty, the RLC's newsletter. Current members are eligible to participate in RLC functions.

6. I'm a student, how can I get involved?

Besides the college network site, State Liaison Ron Lisy serves as campus coordinator and can be reached at RLisy@officemax.com. Our focus is on establishing a network of students active in College Republicans and other groups. Like the RLC this is a way for like-minded people to find each other and work together.

7. Is there an RLC chapter in my state?

If you do not have access to the web, send an e-mail message to our State Liaison Ron Lisy, who can be reached at RLisy@officemax.com or home: (216) 556-2510 or pager: (216) 302-2963. Also helpful are Tom Walls (Executive Director) at afn18566@afn.org, Mike Holmes (Treasurer) at Michael_E_Holmes@compuserve.com, or Rob Booth (Membership Coordinator) at robbooth@msn.com. They can answer your questions.

8. How can I start a state/local chapter?

It is easy. To start a state chapter you need two dues-paying members of the RLC: Yourself, and another person not related to you, not living with you, etc. You also need a bank account. The RLC is not just a grass roots organization in name only, dues are shared liberally with state organizations.

If you don't want to deal with a bank account or the other requirements, the RLC Chair or Executive Director can recognize state chapters even if they don't meet the above criteria. The state organization is not eligible for dues-sharing, however, until those criteria are met. Setting up a local organization is even easier. Get in touch with your state chair or coordinator; he or she can make the arrangements with you.

9. Why don't you just join the Libertarian Party and work through them?

Many in our group have been LP members, some still are. The RLC Chairman, Professor Cliff Thies was the Treasurer of the national LP at one time. Our past chairman, Cong. Ron Paul, was the LP presidential candidate in 1988. Our Treasurer, Mike Holmes, was a founding member of the LP. A former chairman, the late Roger MacBride, cast the only electoral vote the LP ever received. Everyone in the RLC joined for their own reasons, but it can be presumed that they all would agree that in many races the GOP is the best way to go in order to actually get a libertarian elected. It can also be said that the LP runs educational campaigns, where the goal is not actually electing someone, but educating the public about the libertarian philosophy. We are interested in getting someone who holds the libertarian philosophy elected.

10. Would the RLC support a Libertarian Party candidate?

The RLC does not support LP candidates in a race where there is a GOP candidate. This does not mean that individual RLC members are party line voters. Our internal surveys show that RLC members often vote for LP candidates, including in presidential elections. A person's individual choice with regards to voting is not a litmus test for participation in the RLC.

11. How can a group of libertarians be in the same party as the "religious right"?

Consistent with the RLC's goals, we try to build bridges to as many groups as possible. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes not. However, in many areas, the religious right do have some views in common with libertarians, e.g. school choice. The GOP is a big tent, and we try to persuade as many Republicans as possible that we have the best ideas. The fact that libertarianism is a unifying vision is proven by the fact that the RLC shares members with both the Christian Coalition and Log Cabin Republicans.

12. What is the RLC's position on abortion?

Neutral. We have both pro-lifers to pro-choicers, and in between. As far as libertarian groups go, you'll find that we are probably the most "tolerant" of the pro-life viewpoint. Our immediate past chairman, Cong. Ron Paul (R-TX, 14th Dist.) is very pro-life. Many other members are pro-choice. As libertarians, we oppose Federal funding of abortion under any circumstances. It is not a litmus test, and it is not an issue that is often debated internally.

13. What is the RLC's position on drugs?

Officially we support "alternatives to the war on drugs." Specifically we have supported medical marijuana and opposed mandatory minimum sentences. Viewpoints of various people are, obviously, various. Many support complete decriminalization, others are skeptical of that. The group would probably agree with the statement that the war on drugs is a failure.

14. Are there any other groups affiliated with the RLC?

We have an affiliated Political Action Committee (PAC), the Republican Liberty Federal Campaign Fund (RLFCF). The president is Dr. Matt Monroe. The PAC's goals are the same as the RLC's, except that the PAC concentrates on getting money to electoral candidates.

15. I'm a candidate for office, how can I apply for assistance from the RLFCF?

The PAC assists libertarians running for office as Republicans. If you meet those criteria, send your campaign information to the RLC's finance office (see beginning of file). The material will be reviewed by the PAC board. They are looking for candidates who have a track record of supporting libertarian causes, and are in a race that can be won.

16. Does the RLC ever have national gatherings of its members?

The RLC has a convention every two years, shortly after election day. Speakers include members of Congress and state legislators, leaders of public policy organizations, and political consultants geared to help the RLC achieve electoral success. At the business meeting, RLC officers for the following two years are elected. It also provides an opportunity for RLC members to meet their comrades from around the country, compare notes on political and policy issues, and socialize with new and old friends. In 1996, the RLC met in Washington, D.C. In 1998, the convention was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend of December 11-13, at the Harrah's Las Vegas. If you would like to attend a future convention, please write to the RLC DC office for more information. You can also e-mail Tom Walls at afn18566@afn.org or Rob Booth at RobBooth@msn.com.

17. I'm really mad at you Republicans, can I complain to you?

If you really want to, go ahead. We may share some of your concerns. It must be pointed out that we are not the Republican National Committee, who can be reached at www.rnc.org. If you have a complaint for Republicans in general, it will be better directed there.

18. I don't have a lot of money, but I want to help. What can I do?

Money is the lifeblood of politics, but volunteers provide the sweat. There's a great deal you can do. Get in touch with the state RLC chair and ask him or her how you can help. If there isn't a state chapter, start one! Write an opinion piece and e-mail it to Tom Walls at afn18566@afn.org. If he likes it, he'll post it to Libertarian Republicans Speak Out! Pieces written by libertarian Republicans have been picked up by local papers as op-ed pieces. If you know something about a piece of legislation that no one seems to be talking about, e-mail anyone listed on this FAQ. Rep. Ron Paul tells the story of how one vote ended up in Congress being 432-3. He knew on principle the bill was bad, and talked the two people sitting next to him into voting against it. You could be telling an even better story. If enough people take action like this, you can tell how YOU helped stop a bad bill from becoming law. You just need to get involved with a group that takes its politics seriously.

19. I was looking another Republican group called the RLC, do you know where I can find them?

There is another Republican group that goes by the initials RLC, but they are the Republican Leadership Council. Our two groups are not affiliated. The Republican Leadership Council advertises itself as being "fiscally conservative and socially inclusive." If you were looking for them, their web address is http://www.rlcnet.org.

This FAQ was prepared by RLC National Secretary Rob Booth, 1998 and is frequently updated. Comments, questions? E-mail Rob Booth.

The Republican Liberty Caucus is a nationwide organization for libertarians within the Republican Party.

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