The most significant debate in Minnesota politics is taking place within the Republican Party
(Minneapolis) – Approximately 100 Republicans will gather at a “Liberty Forum” in downtown Minneapolis tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 17, to discuss the future of the Liberty Movement within the Republican Party of Minnesota.
“This event was scheduled many weeks ago,” said Mark Johnson, SD61 Chair. “We planned the Liberty Forum before the election because, win or lose, the most significant debate in Minnesota politics is taking place within the Republican Party between the ‘Liberty Republicans’ and the party establishment. Even had Republicans captured the White House and held its majorities in the Minnesota House and Senate, the Forum would have been valuable. Given the results of the election, it is more important than ever that Republicans have grounding in, and understanding of, what the Liberty Movement is all about as we discuss the future of the MNGOP.”
Organizers include conservative grassroots activists who supported Ron Paul’s 2012 Presidential campaign. Thirity-three of Minnesota’s 40 national delegates to the Republican National Convention voted for Ron Paul, which caused some consternation among establishment Republicans. Presentations, panel discussions and educational breakout sessions will provide the opportunity for forum participants to engage each other in healthy discussion about what the liberty movement means to the MNGOP.
“Ron Paul talks about how liberty brings people together,” said Marianne Stebbins, 2012 Minnesota Ron Paul Campaign Chair. “That’s evident in the diversity of co-sponsors of the Liberty Forum. It’s not the typical collection of Republican interest groups. All share a common belief in the ideas of individual freedom, the pursuit of happiness and limited government – even if they might choose to use their individual liberty, absent the coercive hand of government, to pursue happiness in very different ways.”
Co-sponsors include Minneapolis City Republican Committee, Young Republicans, NORML, The 56 Club, Log Cabin Republicans, Pfliger for Liberty, We the People Tea Party Group, Justice in Minnesota
Featured speakers include Minnesota RNC Delegation Chair and 2012 Ron Paul Campaign Chair Marianne Stebbins, local Austrian Economics expert Nik Ludwig, and Steven Sutton, V.P. of Development at Morton Blackwell’s Leadership Institute. Speakers will be joined by CD5 GOP Chair Adam Weigold and Dave Wahlstedt in a panel discussion. Also on the program are Margaret LeClair, President of LeClair Insurance and Vice Chair of the Republican Health Care Task Force and Chris Fields, GOP Candidate for Congress in the 5th Congressional District. Guests can choose among 2-hour afternoon breakout sessions in the afternoon. The formal program concludes at 4 PM.
The event is open to the public and begins at 9 AM (doors open at 8 AM) at the Radisson Plaza hotel in downtown Minneapolis. Tickets are $25 at the door, or $20 online. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.sd61gop.org/forum.
What: Republican Liberty Forum
When: Saturday, November 17, 2012
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00pm
Doors Open/Registration at 8:00am
Where: Radisson Plaza Hotel
35 South 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door