Pubdate: Tue, 06 May 2003 Source: State, The (SC) Copyright: 2003 The State Contact: http://www.thestate.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/426 Author: Jim Livingston RECENT RACE POINTS UP LIBERTARIANS' PROBLEM In spite of the best possible conditions for a Libertarian candidate to make a decent showing, Libertarian votes totaled an embarrassing 2 percent in the recent special election for Andre Bauer's former Senate seat. The Libertarian, Steve Cain, had as opposition a once-upon-a-time Democratic senator and an unknown, dark-horse Republican. He has an impressive record, including experience serving with Sen. Fritz Hollings. Cain is a young, intelligent, well-educated and personable young African-American involved in community affairs. It seems unlikely that Libertarians will ever place someone in any state or federal position due in large measure to their unwillingness to realize that politics means compromise; success in one is dependent on the other. Too, here in grass-roots, ultra-conservative South Carolina, most folks have a horror of association with dope-smoking and other permissive promotions of legalizing drugs -- even those of us who realize the drug problem is best addressed with education and medical attention. It is too bad too many Libertarians choose not to redirect their efforts to the health-education-welfare situation rather than endorse the sorry state of affairs that issue from such. JIM LIVINGSTON Saluda - --- MAP posted-by: Alex