Why are libertarians being attacked by liberals now?

[Nakura Chambers]

I remember when liberals were more than happy to side with libertarians and support gay rights and women's rights. There was even a time when Democrats (Dennis Kucinich) and libertarian Republicans (Rand Paul) ran on the same presidential ticket (2008). Now it seems like every other comment on MSNBC/Polico/HuffPost is all about how Rand Paul, Gary Johnson, etc. are "racist" and "homophobic."

Yet out of all of these comments, I haven't seen a single shred of evidence posted that supports either claim, nor a single criticism of any of their policies, especially not Gary Johnson's policies. Are Democrats afraid of libertarians, since they are the future of America? Or are they just trying to help their party's candidate in 2016? Why are liberals attacking libertarians, when in the past, they were supportive of libertarians?

[Reg]

I remember when liberals were more than happy to side with libertarians and support gay rights and women's rights. There was even a time when Democrats (Dennis Kucinich) and libertarian Republicans (Rand Paul) ran on the same presidential ticket (2008). Now it seems like every other comment on MSNBC/Polico/HuffPost is all about how Rand Paul, Gary Johnson, etc. are "racist" and "homophobic."

Yet out of all of these comments, I haven't seen a single shred of evidence posted that supports either claim, nor a single criticism of any of their policies, especially not Gary Johnson's policies. Are Democrats afraid of libertarians, since they are the future of America? Or are they just trying to help their party's candidate in 2016? Why are liberals attacking libertarians, when in the past, they were supportive of libertarians?

Because libertarians are running under the Republican ticket. *shrug*

[Rukentuts]

Because most almost all "libertarians" aren't fucking libertarian at all. Not to mention their candidates are fucking batshit crazy.

[Jokerfiend]

It's the media dude.

There is a threat of people going against the grain. Voting a wild card into Presidency. So like the Occupy movement, the media outlets are willing slant and slander a movement, because people will listen to the boob tube.

What better way to end a movement with In-fighting? Rifting a movement is a sure way to get it to die.

Stop watching TV dude. Start reading, looking up, and informing your own opinion on politics.

[Zdrasti]

I most closely associate myself with what the Libertarian party used to be a few years ago. It has recently been hijacked and/or has really let its crazy flag fly. As a result, it no longer occupies the same space in the political spectrum that it once did. I would not consider myself a Libertarian today.

[Nakura Chambers]

I most closely associate myself with what the Libertarian party used to be a few years ago. It has recently been hijacked and/or has really let its crazy flag fly. As a result, it no longer occupies the same space in the political spectrum that it once did. I would not consider myself a Libertarian today.

How would you say that libertarianism has changed? It seems to have remained the same to me; anti-war, pro-reform, pro-free market, pro-personal freedom, pro-Constitution, etc.

[zorkuus]

Libertarians of today seem to be basically just a slighty less crazy offshoot of hardline republicans.

[Garnier Fructis]

Yet out of all of these comments, I haven't seen a single shred of evidence posted that supports either claim, nor a single criticism of any of their policies, especially not Gary Johnson's policies. Are Democrats afraid of libertarians, since they are the future of America? Or are they just trying to help their party's candidate in 2016? Why are liberals attacking libertarians, when in the past, they were supportive of libertarians?

Ok buddy, keep telling yourself that. It's hard for the libertarians to be the future of anything when, as Rukentuts pointed out, most libertarians are just pretending to be libertarian or have had the libertarian label put on them when they themselves don't even think so.

That aside, I dislike a few of Gary Johnson's policies but I don't see why anyone would call him racist or homophobic. I'd probably vote for Gary Johnson if he had any chance of winning. Rand Paul is a joke though. He attacks the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and then when he's called out on it, he explains away with some variant of "freedom!"

[Nakura Chambers]

Libertarians of today are basically a slighty less crazy offshoot of hardline republicans.

Okay, how so?

[Rukentuts]

When we call a politician in this country a "libertarian" doesn't that typically mean they just want the government to let big business do what they want and they aren't typically very libertarian on social issues?

That, or they're so "libertarian" that they could almost be viewed as borderline anarchistic.

It also doesn't help their cause that many of them only see their own personal liberty and not infringements their actions can inflict on others.

[Deleted]

Libertarianism is too anti-government for big government benevolent dictators, that's why.

But since the Democrats are basically a center right party now anyway they probably just want to shut down the competition.

[Deleted]

It's mainly because Libertarians are rising politically. Libertarians may have some ideas that match with liberal ideas, but many others that are the complete opposite of liberal ideas. Of course liberal "News" outlets like MSNBC would try to attack this rising threat to the democratic party.

[Deleted]

That, or they're so "libertarian" that they could almost be viewed as borderline anarchistic.

It also doesn't help their cause that many of them only see their own personal liberty and not infringements their actions can inflict on others.

This is one reason I can never call myself a libertarian. Many of their ideas are a bit to extreme for me.

[SL1200]

When Rand Paul came out in favor of striking down the voting rights act and defended segregation many of us came to the conclusion that he's a racist.

[Zdrasti]

How would you say that libertarianism has changed? It seems to have remained the same to me; anti-war, pro-reform, pro-free market, pro-personal freedom, pro-Constitution, etc.

Probably the clearest example would be Ron Paul (a doctor by the way) doing a complete 180 and arguing to restrict women's reproductive rights during the last presidential cycle.

[Shadowmelded]

I don't recall liberals ever siding wholeheartedly with libertarians, there's some overlap on certain issues but other than that they're different ideologies and it's to be expected that they'll differ.

Must be upsetting to have your ideology challenged on what it promotes by both mainstream parties but can't coddle people forever.

[rhoark]

Libertarians advocate a return to the robber baron plutocrats and wage slavery of the late 1800s. If that's not what you stand for, you're probably more a liberal than a libertarian.

[Deleted]

Libertarians of today seem to be basically just a slighty less crazy offshoot of hardline republicans.

Libertarians are really nothing like Republicans.

- - - Updated - - -

When Rand Paul came out in favor of striking down the voting rights act and defended segregation many of us came to the conclusion that he's a racist.

He never defended segregation, and the voting rights act was completely outdated. It essentially limited the rights of states because they were racist in the past, which is pretty dumb.

[Grummgug]

The mainstream media is an arm of of the democrat party. Not the libertarian party. The function of the mainstream press is to promote the democrat party. Why wouldn't they attack libertarians?

[Nakura Chambers]

Probably the clearest example would be Ron Paul (a doctor by the way) doing a complete 180 and arguing to restrict women's reproductive rights during the last presidential cycle.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Paul's policy has always been to let the people of each state decide?