Governor Jesse Ventura -- the ex-pro wrestler who stunned the nation with his victory for governor of Minnesota in 1998, may be the most libertarian of all governors.

Though Ventura was a Reform Party candidate, the word "libertarian" is constantly used by journalists and pundits to describe his views.

While Ventura holds some positions that are not libertarian, his friendliness with libertarians and his libertarian leanings are very significant. On December 14. 1998, Ventura mentioned the Advocates’ “World's Smallest Political Quiz” on the national Fox News television show, "The Crier Report.” Below is a transcript:

Catherine Crier: "Is it fair to call you a libertarian, or do you have a place you establish yourself?"

Ventura: "Libertarian would be pretty close. You know, if you meet libertarian people, I don't know if you've ever met them, Katherine, they all have these cards that [have] 10 questions they give you and they rate you 30, 20 and 10 points. I've scored perfect on it before."

Crier: "I've got a label for you, then."

Ventura: "What's that?"

Crier: "Libertarian."

Ventura: "Oh, yes and no. I mean libertarian. I suppose, it's not a bad label. You know, I'll accept that."

After hearing about Ventura's remarks, David Nolan -- Libertarian Party co-founder and creator of the "Nolan Chart" that is the centerpiece of the Quiz -- remarked: "So now we know what's meant by the phrase 'card-carrying libertarian.'"

* * *

After Ventura’s stunning upset, Reuters News Service said, "Ventura ran on a platform that espoused an anti-tax, anti-establishment libertarian philosophy... He suggested he's open to studying the idea of legalized prostitution, believes abortion is a personal matter for women and refused to accept campaign money from any special interest groups.

"On top of that, Ventura called his opponents 'boring.'"

The Washington Post noted Ventura's "down-with-government, libertarian views."

Ventura -- who served from 1991 to 1995 as mayor of Brooklyn Park, a Minneapolis suburb -- ran clever, funny anti-establishment ads that mocked the other candidates. His chief issue was calling for massive tax cuts.

Ventura managed to turn out the more libertarian-minded younger voters, as well as those who usually don't vote. Exit polls indicate that 10 to 12 percent of those who voted for Ventura said they voted only because Ventura was in the race. He got over half of the under-30 vote, in a three-way race.

Incidentally, after the elections the head of the World Wrestling Federation was on the "Today Show." We don't have the exact transcript, but when asked "Is Jesse Ventura really capable of governing the people of Minnesota?" the WWF head shot back something like: "In America we govern ourselves. We don't need to be governed."

Wrestlers for Self-Government! Hooray!

Quotable

"...I mean libertarian. I suppose, it's not a bad label. You know, I'll accept that."