The Libertarian Party’s Attack on Austin Petersen Shows Why They Lose – The Libertarian Republic
The Libertarian Party fired shots at former 2016 LP Presidential candidate Austin Petersen on Twitter on Friday, accusing him of abandoning the principles of liberty.
The insults came as a response to Austin posting on Twitter about how he wished President Trump would keep his campaign promise of bringing U.S. troops home from the Middle East. Petersen was making reference to President Trumps decision to deploy more troops to the region after an American led air-strike killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, although U.S. officials say the decision to deploy more troops wasnt a result of the strike, according to NBC News.
I know its not PC to admit, but I dont give a shit about the Middle East or what happens there and wish the president would keep his promise and bring the troops home, Petersen said on Twitter late Thursday night.
The LP National Twitter account decided to take this opportunity to troll Petersen in the thread due to his decision to leave the Libertarian Party before running for Senate in his home state of Missouri in 2018.
Well respectfully have to disagree with the gentleman that left us for electability, yet placed a distant third in his primary, losing to a man who takes conservative populism to radical new heights. Should you ever wish to work towards genuine liberty again, well be around, the LP tweeted early Friday morning.
The LP also accused Petersen of running fringe outsider campaigns in a party that has gone so far populist that liberty is no longer on the radar.
As a supporter of Austins since his 2016 Presidential campaign, I can tell you that the LPs attempt to shame Austin for his decision to leave the party (which he made after calling over 4,000 of his supporters) is nothing more than an example of the same disgusting tribalism that we find in both major political parties.
I have begun to believe that the Libertarian Party as a whole couldnt care less about truly trying to advance the principles of individual liberty and limited government. Instead, they want to bicker about government overreach and the problems big government creates while shaming other liberty-minded folks both inside and outside of the LP because he or she doesnt fall in line with every single plank of the party platform.
I say this as someone who made the decision to register as a big L Libertarian in November of 2018 instead of remaining a small l libertarian unaffiliated with any political party as I had been for the majority of my adult life. I must say this constant childish behavior and attempted browbeating of anyone who decides to leave the LP while still remaining true to the principles of liberty has me heavily considering becoming a small l libertarian once again. As Austin pointed out on Twitter, the party seems to be just as corrupt as the two major parties without any of the recognition.
I cant stand by and watch a party run by clowns attempt to tarnish the good name of a man who does far more to advocate for liberty on a daily basis than the Libertarian Party as a whole has done for years. I have no malice in my heart toward the LP or any of its members, but I will not allow anyone to try to jab at a man whom I personally believe is the best person to come out of the Libertarian Party since Former Congressman Ron Paul (who was not elected to serve until he ran as a Republican).
Instead of bickering about government waste and corruption, Austin works every weekday to use his platform as a commentator on the KWOS Morning Show in Jefferson City Missouri, to make the case for limited government to the people of his state and around the world. That doesnt count all the debates and speaking engagements he has participated in around the country and the fine people he has trained and given platforms by founding The Libertarian Republic.
On a personal note, Austin has mentored and trained me, a man born with cerebral palsy and given me a pathway to work to achieve my lifes dream of becoming a successful member of the media so that I can work and get out of the clutches of the Welfare State instead of remaining tangled in its webs due to circumstances I had no control over. What in the name of Patrick Henry could be more libertarian than that?
Whoever is in charge of the National LPs Twitter account and public relations shouldnt throw rocks when they live in a glass house. The LP seems to chase away and shame every single candidate/ former candidate who has a gift for making the libertarian message appealing to the average voter. Instead, they favor folks like Gary What is Aleppo Johnson and his gun-grabbing buddy Bill Weld, naked guys dancing on stage at conventions, and shaming other members of their party who believe abortion kills an innocent life.
The Libertarian Party as a whole will never be taken seriously by the rest of the nation until its members practice a bit of self-governance and civility to others both inside and outside of the LP.
A party that would shame one of its former members simply for listening to his supporters and the voters of his state while still walking the path of freedom is not capable of governance, and has no room to speak about corruption within the GOP and Democratic Parties when it is guilty of the same corruption and tribalism.
Austin is one of the boldest voices we have in the modern liberty movement. I will gladly stand arm in arm with him any day of the week. I am grateful to call him my boss and mentor, but even more so, one of my greatest friends.
I want to encourage all friends of liberty, regardless of the party to which you belong, to stop the fighting amongst ourselves. A house divided cannot stand, and if we are to defend the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity, we must stand together or all our efforts will have been in vain.
Read this article:
The Libertarian Party's Attack on Austin Petersen Shows Why They Lose - The Libertarian Republic
- Libertarian Leanings: Mike Johnson proves that no man's life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislation isn't in session - Havasu News - September 20th, 2026 [September 20th, 2026]
- Libertarian candidate for Ohio governor wants place in debate conversation - The Statehouse News Bureau - September 17th, 2026 [September 17th, 2026]
- Michigans Libertarian Party becomes the Island of Misfit Candidates - Lansing City Pulse - September 17th, 2026 [September 17th, 2026]
- Nick Offerman says 'Parks and Rec' character would 'listen to reason' and reconsider his libertarian beliefs - Fox News - September 11th, 2026 [September 11th, 2026]
- BC Greens, Libertarian Party announce Abbotsford-Mission byelection candidates - Abbotsford News - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- 'Sweden Is Not a Libertarian Paradise': Socialist Swedes Want to Rebuild Their Bloated Welfare State - cbn.com - September 8th, 2026 [September 8th, 2026]
- Libertarian takes on Rep. Beyer, pledging to cut government waste, support civil liberties - ARLnow - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Libertarian candidate for governor picks Facebook fight about abortion, gets an education - Arkansas Times - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Federal judge keeps Libertarian off NJ-7 ballot, while saying the state wronged her - newjerseyglobe.com - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Libertarian Pat Dixon on the ballot for Texas Governor in midterm election - Herald-Zeitung - September 4th, 2026 [September 4th, 2026]
- Idaho Libertarian Party now has no limit on this type of campaign spending - Idaho Statesman - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Inside the libertarian city on a Caribbean island backed by Silicon Valley - ABC News & Headlines Australian Broadcasting Corporation - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Democracys Three Moral Languages: Conservative, Liberal, and Libertarian - providencemag.com - August 22nd, 2026 [August 22nd, 2026]
- Libertarian candidate for Pa. state House withdraws after petition challenge - TribLIVE.com - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Libertarian candidate for U.S. House Rick Stewart takes questions from the press at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 15, 2026, in Des Moines. -... - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- VIDEO: Paradise Inc.: The libertarian experiment on a Caribbean island backed by Silicon Valley - ABC News & Headlines Australian Broadcasting... - August 18th, 2026 [August 18th, 2026]
- Peter Thiel to Headline Libertarian Summit in Buenos Aires, Uniting Chile's Far Right and Mining Sector - elciudadano.com - August 16th, 2026 [August 16th, 2026]
- Colt following: Could Libertarian candidate Colt Shelby have the best shot against Gov. Sarah Sanders? - Arkansas Times - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Pedagogy of the Marginalized: A Libertarian Solution for Black Academic Achievement - Race, Racism and the Law - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Four candidates are in the running for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat this November. From left: incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jon Husted, former... - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party of Iowa Selects Jake Heard and Chuck Aldrich to Fill Ballot Vacancies - River Cities' Reader - August 14th, 2026 [August 14th, 2026]
- Second Iowa Libertarian candidate withdraws from November election - KCCI - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- After resisting pressure from Zach Nunn and RFK Jr. to drop his bid for Congress, Libertarian Marco Battaglia leaves anyway, citing medical emergency... - August 11th, 2026 [August 11th, 2026]
- July 27: Stephanie Dasbach named Libertarian Party of Indiana chair - Fort Wayne Business Weekly - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, while another hangs on - Daily Nonpareil - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, another hangs on - The Quad-City Times - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, another hangs on - Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Iowa judge rules to keep one Libertarian off ballot, another hangs on - Sioux City Journal - August 1st, 2026 [August 1st, 2026]
- Judge opts to keep Libertarian candidates off November ballot - WQAD - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Judge rules Libertarian candidates for Iowa Governor can't be on the ballot - KCAU 9 News - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Read the ruling: Judge keeps Libertarian gov., lt. gov. candidates off Iowa ballot - Dispatch Argus - July 30th, 2026 [July 30th, 2026]
- Libertarians Must Defend Tribal Sovereignty at Bears Ears - Libertarian Party - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Iowa judge to decide if Libertarian governor ticket will be on ballot - The Des Moines Register - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Calls for Immediate Action on Madison Police Body Cameras - Urban Milwaukee - July 28th, 2026 [July 28th, 2026]
- Charges Dropped Against Controversial Libertarian Leader - InDepthNH.org - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Libertarian Candidate Krawchuk Pub Crawl Stops In The Valley | - WKOK.com - July 11th, 2026 [July 11th, 2026]
- Voters have a Libertarian option in state Senate District 13 this November - WAJR - July 7th, 2026 [July 7th, 2026]
- Libertarian congressional candidate fights to get back on Iowa election ballot - KCRG - July 6th, 2026 [July 6th, 2026]
- Tracing Jeffersons Libertarian Thought in the Declaration of Independence - Mises Institute - July 6th, 2026 [July 6th, 2026]
- Audio: RFK Jr. urges Libertarian candidate to drop out of race to help GOP keep House | CNN Politics - CNN - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- OPINION | JOHN BRUMMETT: In Arkansas governor debate, Libertarian wins the round - The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Duval GOP tries to oust Libertarian from ballot; key hearings coming this week - JaxToday - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- RFK Jr. urges another Iowa Libertarian to leave House race, recording shows - thegazette.com - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- Iowa Libertarian candidates sue to get back on the ballot - KCRG - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- RFK Jr. recorded trying to entice Iowa Libertarian to quit House race: 'I cant go into specifics because theres legal prohibitions' - Little Village... - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- The Libertarian Position on the War and Imperialism of the U.S. State - Mises Institute - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- In case you missedit: RFK Jr. urges another Iowa Libertarian to leave House race, recording shows - Globe Gazette - July 1st, 2026 [July 1st, 2026]
- I understand the needs of everyday people: Libertarian candidate for Indiana Secretary of State Lauri Shillings talks election bid - Fox 59 - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Libertarian Leanings: If the US government won't respect freedom of speech, AI firms should move - Havasu News - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Zach Nunn wanted a Libertarian off the ballot. Heres what his campaign did about it - Iowa Starting Line - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- State Objections Panel takes two Libertarian candidates off November ballot - Community Newspaper Group - June 19th, 2026 [June 19th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party Condemns GOP Intimidation Campaign Against Ballot-Qualified Iowa Candidates - lp.org - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- The current libertarian administration has deepened this tradition - The Week - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party Is Trying to De-MAGAfy Itself - The Bulwark - June 16th, 2026 [June 16th, 2026]
- Peter Thiel moves his family to Buenos Aires as Argentina bets big on libertarian tech money - Startup Fortune - May 31st, 2026 [May 31st, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party has cut its ties with the N.H. affiliate over the groups Trump endorsement. Now what? - The Boston Globe - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party's New Leader Has No Interest in Playing Kingmaker - Reason Magazine - May 29th, 2026 [May 29th, 2026]
- 'It's been long enough': Longtime Libertarian influences Dan and Carol McGuire will retire from State House this year - Concord Monitor - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Libertarian National Convention held in Grand Rapids - WOODTV.com - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- The Libertarian Party has announced Dan Clarke as their Makerfield by-election candidate - Wigan Today - May 27th, 2026 [May 27th, 2026]
- Austin in line for $30M of libertarian development devoted to Ayn Rand - The Real Deal - May 25th, 2026 [May 25th, 2026]
- Antisemitism transformed Thomas Massie from libertarian extremist to liberal hero - JNS.org - May 20th, 2026 [May 20th, 2026]
- The Library is One of the Best Libertarian Arguments for Limited Government - Washington Monthly - May 16th, 2026 [May 16th, 2026]
- Incumbent Democrat and a Libertarian have entered the race for Douglas County Commission District 5 seat - Lawrence Journal-World - May 5th, 2026 [May 5th, 2026]
- Libertarian Leanings: OK, gun control had its chance -- here are the results - Havasu News - May 5th, 2026 [May 5th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Condemns Lifting Boundary Waters Mining Ban - Urban Milwaukee - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- From libertarian visionary to architect of state power: Whats the deal with Peter Thiel - Ivo Vegter - BizNews - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Green Cards for Cubans Plunge 99.8% as ICE Arrests From the Island Surge, Libertarian Cato Group Finds - Latin Times - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- My Libertarian Plan for Resolving the U.S. War on Iran - The Future of Freedom Foundation - April 27th, 2026 [April 27th, 2026]
- Musk and Silicon Valley Arent Libertarian. They Want to Fuse With the State. - Truthout - April 27th, 2026 [April 27th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party candidate hopes for election success - Runcorn and Widnes World - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Colorado Wages War on First Amendment Under Libertarian Governor Polis - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Meet Your Neighbor: Ali Sledz says having a Libertarian candidate matters, even if she doesnt win - Midland Daily News - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- Mises, Rothbard, and Libertarian Just War Theory in the 2026 Iran War - Blog de Daniel Lacalle - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- CBD: Mark Latham flirts with John Ruddick and the Libertarian Party - SMH.com.au - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- CBD: Mark Latham flirts with John Ruddick and the Libertarian Party - Brisbane Times - April 17th, 2026 [April 17th, 2026]
- The libertarian case for Trumps Iran war: Persians have natural rights, too - Washington Examiner - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- The libertarian case for Trumps Iran war: Answering the critics - Washington Examiner - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Libertarian Party to Host 2028 Convention in El Paso - National Today - April 10th, 2026 [April 10th, 2026]
- Out of Order Sign on Urinal No Match for Free-Thinking Libertarian - The Hard Times - April 8th, 2026 [April 8th, 2026]