Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson To Announce For President

Posted by | March 25, 2011 19:59 | Filed under: Top Stories


Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson will bypass the exploratory stage and announce for the Republican nomination for president in late April, reports Fox news. Johnson has plans to visit New Hampshire after April 15, tax day.

Johnson is a strong supporter of legalizing marijuana and gay marriage. Strategists say his libertarian approach to GOP politics may prove very popular in the Granite State, whose motto is “Live Free or Die.”

Johnson has not himself, and will not when asked, state his intention to seek the White House. He currently runs a non-profit organization and under FEC regulations cannot run for office at the same time. “I do have the fact that I’m a 501c (4), the Our America Initiative,” the former Governor explains. “It allows me to raise money and speak out on the issues of the day, and of course I don’t want to get sideways with that legal status.”

Johnson is libertarian on social issues and overseas involvements, and passionate about fixing the economy.

The lifelong Republican does believe the GOP is the only party that can fix America’s financial problems. But, he believes the White House can only be won if the party becomes more inclusive. “If you take the 15 or so that may be out there as potentially running, I think for the most part most of them are saying the same thing about every single issue. I’m trying to grow the base; I’m trying to grow the Republican Party.”

He does not see his stand on issues like marijuana legalization as detriments to a potential GOP nominee. “It’s just one in a series of cost-benefits. What are we spending our money on and what are we getting for the money we’re spending. Half of the money we’re spending on the courts and law enforcement and prisons is drug related. And what are we getting for that? Well, we’re arresting 1.8-million people a year in this country, which is just staggering when you considering the population of New Mexico is 1.8-million.”

As for gay rights, “I support gay unions, and yeah, I think this country is first and foremost about liberty and freedom and the personal responsibility that goes along with that, and I can’t imagine denying rights to gay couples that want to experience the American dream just like everybody else.”

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Copyright 2011 Liberaland
By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

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