Snitker Responds to Rubio's CPAC Speech

Feb. 26, 2010 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - While speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) last weekend, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio may have found that much of his message fell on libertarian-leaning, deaf ears. His rival for Florida's U.S. Senate seat, Libertarian Alexander Snitker, was quick to point out the stark contrasts between Rubio and himself.

In a major upset, de facto tea party leader Ron Paul won the CPAC presidential straw poll, another indication that the conservative philosophy is quickly evolving into a more libertarian mold, and away from the neo-conservatism of the Bush era. This may bode well for Snitker and other Libertarian candidates, who agree with most Republicans on the problems that exist, but offer concrete policies instead of just opposition.

Candidate Rubio spoke at length about individual liberty as a concept, but he revealed little in the way of long-term solutions or policy proposals.

“When it comes to foreign policy, individual liberty, states rights, sound money, and taxes, the Republican Party as a whole tends to forget about our founding documents,” said Snitker. “If Mr. Rubio was truly concerned about individual liberty, he would join me in signing the 10th Amendment Pledge.”

Snitker is in favor of repealing the 16th Amendment, and replacing federal income tax with a consumption-based tax system on goods and services, such as the Fair Tax. Snitker says this would reduce corruption by ending special-interest loopholes and corporate tax breaks written by congressional lobbyists.

“My opponent correctly pointed out the problems of our crushing debt and bloated federal budgets,” said Snitker. “But he stopped short of offering any solutions. My solution to the problem is to pass a balanced budget amendment, requiring the federal government to live within it's means.”

One of the more significant differences between the candidates is foreign policy.  In his speech, Rubio summed up his Middle East policy by warning, “We will punish [Islamic radicals] – we will punish their allies, like Iran...the ones that survive, we will capture them.”

Snitker contrasted his position by saying, “This is exactly the kind of foreign entanglements that our Founders warned us about. We can't afford, either in blood or treasure, a continuing war with a new enemy every few years. It's time to end the policy of policing the world and instead return to defending our own borders and our true national interests.” Snitker added, “We will never spread peace and freedom at the barrel of a gun. Instead, we must be the shining beacon of freedom in the world – leading by example, not by force.”

According to some analysts, the GOP is taking a page from the 2008 Democrat play book. “Just like the Democrats rode to power on a platform of 'we're not Bush', the Republicans are now running a campaign of 'we're not Obama, Pelosi, and Reid,'” said Char-Lez Braden, Libertarian Party of Florida Executive Committee member. “Libertarians are instead offering true solutions, not just opposition.”