The Anger of Compassion

Wrong. I've watched a crackly old video of an Ayn Rand speech from 1980 where she endorses Reagan. If memory serves she also endorsed Gerald Ford in 1976 for the same reason; he could most effectively fight the Commies.

Mr. Dondero:

Thanks for leaving the comment, but you'll have to show me. "Wrong" isn't a refutation; it's not even an argument.

Some of us were there, for the '80 election and for the one in '76. Unlike Rand, I was excited about the Reagan candidacy and Ed Crane's (and, unlike her, I was wrong). She did endorse Ford in 1976 (another Reagan bid for the same job). But the burden of proof is on you here: you're the one making the claim. Again, I refer you to "The Age of Mediocrity."

Craig

Why do you get the impression that I'm a Newbie to the libertarian movement?

I cast my first vote for the Libertarian Party in 1982 absentee out at sea on my Navy ship in the Persian Gulf.

I was extremely active in the LP in the middle to late 1980s, even serving 2 years on the LP National Committee. I also volunteered at the National LP HQ when it was here in Houston. We would spend our nights drinking beer and watching old libertarian historical videos. I remember very specifically the one with Rand. She was wearing a black dress.

It's common knowledge that she supported Reagan. This is not like an obscure fact.

Mr. Dondero,

And I was a Marine in Beirut in the early 80s. Sucked, but there you go. So we were in sister services, and we both live in Texas. Perhaps we'd enjoy a beer together? Could be. Is that relevant?

But...but, but, but: What is this "common knowledge" of which you speak? Ayn Rand supported Reagan in 1980? Produce the video, then, if it's so common,or at least point us to it. If, as you say, it is so common, it should be quite easy to do.

It won't be. But again: you, sir, are the one making the positive claim. All I'm saying to you is: Back it up.

No, I will not back it up. Do your own goddamned research. Who the fuck do you think I am, you're little secretary or something?

I could care less about Ayn Rand. Read her book once. It was mildly entertaining. But I much prefer PJ O'Rourke for libertarian values. Or Neal Boortz.

Again, the fact that Rand supported Ford and Reagan is common knowledge. It's not an obscure fact.

Pick up just about any book on Libertarian History and I'm sure you'll find a reference in it about it. I ain't gonna do your goddamned research for you.

Ayn Rand wrote: "I urge you, as emphatically as I can, not to support the candidacy of Ronald Reagan. I urge you not to work for or advocate his nomination, and not to vote for him." (The Ayn Rand Letter, Vol. IV, No. 2, November-December 1975)

Unlike Mr. Dondero's heretofor unsupported assertions, the above is a direct statement, in her own words, by Miss Rand relative to Ronald Reagan. Furthermore, I have included a proper reference that can be checked and verified by anyone who wishes to do so.

As to the nature of that statement: although it was written specifically with respect to Mr. Reagan's projected 1976 presidential run, it nonetheless represents Miss Rand's direct, unequivocal rejection of Mr. Reagan's presidential aspirations at a fundamental level.

It is important to remember that Miss Rand's low opinion of Ronald Reagan in 1975 was based upon, amongst other things, Mr. Reagan's overt religiosity and anti-abortion stance, neither of which had changed by 1980. On the contrary, they had become even more explicit elements of his later candidacy.

Mr. Dondero's unsupported assertion with respect to Miss Rand's supposedly endorsing Mr. Reagan's 1980 presidential run on the other hand, if true, would, consequently, mean a complete reversal on Miss Rand's part of this earlier position.

This is no small matter of some whimsical change of heart or mind. Rather, such an endorsement would have signaled a substantive philosophical reversal on Miss Rand's part at the metaphysical and epistemological levels. I am unaware of any such reversals anywhere in Miss Rand's body of work.

I am disturbed that Mr. Dondero could make such a significant assertion and then protest calls to provide simple direct, first-person, evidence or a single link to such evidence he claims is readily available, but apparently not so readily available as to allow anyone to find it. We have no names, no publication or airing dates, no listed venues.

Miss Rand once remarked that it was improper to consider even as a hypothesis something for which there was no evidence. Mr. Dondero's claim that it's so does not make it so. Until he can provide a single, proper, verifiable reference for his assertion, I will view Mr. Dondero's remark as wholly without merit.

Yes, I agree with you. It's a well-known fact that Rand supported Ford over Reagan in 1976. I worked for 1976 Libertarian Presidential candidate Roger MacBride for 4 years. He told me all about Rand's support for Ford over Reagan in '76. But the question at hand is 1980.

I don't recall anything suggesting that Rand supported Libertarian Ed Clark for President in 1980. She certainly didn't support Jimmy Carter.

So, who is left?

Barry Commoner of the defunct Consumer Party?

C'mon!

Yes, I agree with you. It's a well-known fact that Rand supported Ford over Reagan in 1976. I worked for 1976 Libertarian Presidential candidate Roger MacBride for 4 years. He told me all about Rand's support for Ford over Reagan in '76. But the question at hand is 1980.

I don't recall anything suggesting that Rand supported Libertarian Ed Clark for President in 1980. She certainly didn't support Jimmy Carter.

So, who is left?

Barry Commoner of the defunct Consumer Party?

C'mon!