Republican Liberty Caucus

Recently, there has been an influx of activity from new members of our movement. The past year and a half has been a breakout year for libertarian-leaning Republicans. The question I get asked the most, though, is …

. . . Why join the RLC?

In other words, some activists — many of them new to our movement — see other organizations out there that they view as similar to us.

I have heard perceptions about the RLC’s “sameness” to organizations as ideologically distant from us as the John Birch Society and as ideologically similar to us as the Republican Assembly, FreedomWorks, Americans for Prosperity, and the Campaign for Liberty.

Let us be clear: Each of these organizations has their own mission that is distinct from the mission of the RLC. Thus, one can be a member of these organizations and still maintain RLC membership.

The RLC is different than any of the aforementioned organizations. The top ten reasons we are different, which are also reasons you should join us and become active, include:

1. The RLC is the only national GOP caucus group working for limited government. A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. All of the members of the groups listed above can belong to different political parties, or no political party at all. Every RLC members is a Republican working to change the GOP from the inside out, not vice-a-versa. According to the RLC’s by-laws, the purpose of the RLC is:

The Caucus is a political action organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise within the Republican Party of the United States of America by:
A. Promoting these ideals among Party officials and its various organizations;
B. Identifying and supporting candidates sympathetic with these ideals;
C. Developing Caucus membership among Party registrants, officials, and officeholders.

2. The RLC has had many victories, proving that an all-volunteer organization can be successful. On a wide array of issues and in campaigns in many states, the RLC has attained political success through the voluntary actions of principled, concerned citizens. Our members aren’t paid to lobby, write a letter to the editor, or run for office. RLC members do what they do, not out of a lust for political power, but out of love for country, principles, and party. Our members serve in elected positions and Republican Party positions throughout the country, each working hard to tilt the Party and public policy in the direction of free markets and limited government.

3. The RLC is dedicated to preserving individual liberty. The RLC Statement of Principles and Positions offers a broad political agenda which consolidates libertarian, constitutionalist, classical liberal, and free market ideals. We have no litmus test for membership and do not exclude any citizen on the basis of ideological purity or conformity with Caucus positions on specific issues. We welcome every advocate of liberty and encourage members to join and participate in other liberty coalitions and organizations.

4. The RLC is a grassroots organization. As an IRS 527 non-profit membership organization, we are run by members, for members, who wish to influence political discourse and attain real-world results. We aren’t run by a secret board of directors, we don’t sell products, and we aren’t restrained by a small group of wealthy contributors or celebrity mentors. The organization is directed by members at the local and state levels for the benefit of individual members who wish to engage in the political process. We don’t focus on national publicity or media events, but engage in retail politics, one-on-one, at local community, precinct, and county events. The RLC leadership provides advice to member affiliates, but it does not run state chapters. Our state chapters have autonomy because they know the political landscape in their area better than anyone else. The National Board encourages state chapters to use innovative techniques to advance the organization’s mission and principles.

5. The RLC has a rich tradition and is therefore a sustainable organization. The RLC has existed since 1990; our vibrant history with many successes encourages us to keep fighting in 2010, 2012, and beyond.

6. The RLC is a 527 group with a PAC. A 527 group is created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office unregulated by the FEC. The PAC allows us to provide money to select candidates in particular circumstances. For instance, the PAC donated money to several members of Congress who were in key races in 2006. Our structure provides the maximum bang for the buck. Each of the other organizations aforementioned are using a different structure, and several of the groups are not even endorsing candidates at all.

7. The RLC promotes liberty candidates. The RLCUSA-PAC is an affiliated political action committee which allows members to support specific federal candidates endorsed by RLC members, within the legal framework for campaign financing. The PAC distributes funds to the most promising liberty candidates in Republican primaries and general elections, as a compliment to our member’s participation in those campaigns. State organizations have set up state PACs to distribute contributions to state legislative, executive, and local Republican contests. Unlike other organizations, we contribute directly to campaigns by encouraging member participation and financial contributions to actual political contests.

8. Every RLC activist is a volunteer dedicated to furthering the RLC’s principles. Our members want to achieve success and are genuinely working for change in the GOP. They want to be here. All of their actions, in accordance with the non-aggression principle, are voluntary. Moreover, our members value principle and country before establishment party politics. That said, we also want to achieve political success. As a result, we are unique in the political arena and provide insight and value to the current political debate. If Americans are ever going to be receptive to the message of individual liberty and limited government, it is not going to be through a public policy paper, but as a direct result of grassroots activists.

9. The RLC successfully balances ideological purity (principles) with a strong desire to implement our principles (success). Morton Blackwell, founder of the Leadership Institute, once said (paraphrase), “If you truly believe in your cause, you owe it to yourself to work to implement your ideals.” Libertarians do not have a good track record for electoral success. The RLC is attempting to change that by using the Republican Party as a vehicle to implement our libertarian ideals. That said, all is not lost on libertarians. For it was libertarians who have shaped national public policy debates time and time again. From the privatization of Social Security and school choice to modifying America’s failed War on Drugs and taxation systems, libertarian thinkers have been tremendously successful in the think-tank world. Now it’s time to transfer our great ideas into policy!

10. The RLC is willing to work with a variety of groups on single-issue causes, bridging the gap. The RLC has — and will continue to — work with establishment Republicans, moderate Republicans, the religious right, various types of Democrats, Independents, Greens, and the politically inactive on issues of mutual concern. We have partnered with left-leaning groups such as the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union and right-leaning groups like Gun Owners of America and the National Taxpayers Union. We are affiliated with The Liberty Coalition and have endorsed the objectives of the Free State Project, Castle Coalition, and Marijuana Policy Project. The RLC continues to bridge the libertarian gap by standing firm on principle but working to fulfill our objectives.

Please join the RLC and become involved today.