PRESS RELEASE: Liberty Guard Scores All Candidates on Liberty Issues
Cruz and Paul Top the List
December 7, 2015
(Atlanta, GA) – Liberty Guard is pleased to announce that its scorecard of the declared Democratic and Republican candidates competing for their respective party’s nomination for the 2016 presidential election cycle is available to create an informed electorate at such a crucial time.
Included in the scorecard are 17 candidates in total — 14 Republicans and 3 Democrats. The GOP candidates include: Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina, Former Governor Jeb Bush (FL), Dr. Ben Carson, Senator Rand Paul (KY), Senator Ted Cruz (TX), Governor Chris Christie (NJ), Governor John Kasich (OH), Former Governor Mike Huckabee (AR), Senator Marco Rubio (FL), Former Governor George Pataki (NY), Former Governor Jim Gilmore (VA), Former Senator Rick Santorum (PA), and Senator Lindsey Graham (SC). The Democratic candidates include: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-V), and Former Governor Martin O’Malley (MD).
The scoring model examined each of the candidates on public statements, announced platforms/plans, and their voting record (either as an incumbent or past political service). In each of the categories: healthcare, national security, taxation, immigration, electronic privacy, 2nd Amendment, cronyism, budget, education, and ethics; liberty-minded sub-topics were used as the judging criteria. Most notably (and unlike any other scorecard so far), Liberty Guard rated candidates on cronyism and ethics.
In releasing the scorecard, Liberty Guard Chairman Bob Barr emphasized, “The American people are tired of Beltway insiders and their cronyism. The scorecard is a reliable, unbiased way to see how the candidates stack up, issue by issue, on liberty-related topics.”
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) both outperformed their respective GOP counterparts by advocating and fighting for limited government and liberty-minded principles based on the Constitution. At the bottom of the list includes Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Former Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL).
“This scorecard is the first of its kind — ranking candidates on liberty matters, taking into account all a candidates’ past statements and positions as well as votes. This comprehensive effort will inform voters decisions as they sort out the wheat from the chaff.” Liberty Guard President Steve Thomas added. “The typical establishment candidates that would be flourishing in past elections are now suffering. Voters are making this ever more evident by citing their distaste for ‘career politicians.’”
Formed in 2009 by Bob Barr, and supported by over 115,000 Americans across the country, Liberty Guard is dedicated to making liberty work in the real world by restoring and strengthening liberty against intrusions by government at all levels. Liberty Guard remains committed to identifying and supporting policy, candidates, and causes that champion liberty and return our country to constitutional principles.
Contact:
Steve Thomas
President
Liberty Guard
703-819-0127
[email protected]
www.Libertyguard.org
