Bill Weld, the ex-Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate, is pushing for President Trump to face the death penalty over a phone call to Ukraine’s president. But all Weld will accomplish is prove comedian Dave Smith right about libertarian strategy.
In a recent debate, Smith vanquished the Libertarian Party chairman, who defended the 2016 Gary Johnson and Weld ticket. Smith argued the Libertarian Party should never again nominate such milquetoast candidates, but rather stick to principled convictions even if that means losing access to mainstream media outlets.
However, despite his clarity of political thought, Smith could not have foreseen that in less than two weeks time, Weld himself would make Smith’s case even stronger.
Weld, now running a primary challenge against Trump, said on Monday that Trump committed “treason pure and simple.”
“The penalty for treason under the U.S. code is death,” he continued, in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”. The MSNBC hosts giggled at the prospect when he doubled down on it as “the only penalty.”
Now, just for a moment, let’s assume Weld is correct that Trump committed treason during a phone call to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. Isn’t it a little transparent here that Weld is whipping up support for himself while goading viewers into bloodthirst?
Weld continued to devilishly play up the fantasy drama, allowing Trump the possibility of a “plea deal.”
In the same breath, Weld would assure us that Trump is the unpresidential one.
On Wednesday, the full transcript of Trump’s call with Zelensky was released. Trump is accused of withholding military aid to Ukraine, on the condition that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden be investigated by the country. As vice president, Biden pushed Ukraine to fire their top prosecutor, who had been investigating an energy company headed by Biden’s son, Hunter.
As Weld broods over how to once again get his face on TV, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has approved an impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
Perhaps Weld should listen to Smith and take as strong a stand against the Federal Reserve or forever wars. But, he won’t, because even if it got him on TV and a few extra votes, it would mean having to admit he was wrong about so much for so long.
Weld, the “libertarian” who all but endorsed Hillary Clinton, “the butcher of Libya,” used the Libertarian Party in 2016 to cling to any semblance of relevance. He’s not exactly being innovative in 2019, jumping back in with the Republicans as he pursues the same vanity.
The Welds of the world will always exist, but they don’t deserve to carry the banner of libertarianism.
Sign in with Email