Endorsements

"I've known Mary Ruwart, Ph.D., for many years and have heard her speak to audiences in the U.S. and abroad. She is brilliant, articulate, and thoroughly grounded in libertarian principles. I heartily endorse the campaign of Mary for Presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party.
The LP is lucky to have such a remarkable representative in the election!"
Ken Schoolland, Author, The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible and Former Chair of the Libertarian Party of Hawaii

"We now have an uncompromising, undiluted, and highly principled candidate for the presidency! Marvelous! Mary Ruwart is just the person to save the soul of the national Libertarian Party and the country!"
Li Zhao Schoolland, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Hawaii

I’m endorsing Mary Ruwart because she’s the best candidate for the party. She’s the type of candidate that would be able to bring in the younger people, more women and possibly minorities into our homogeneous party. She’s not loud nor shy. She’s passionate but soft-spoken. She’s articulate and principled. She's compassionate not arrogant. With Mary as our nominee, we will have our party intact and to me that’s what’s important.
Chris Bennett, Legislative Chair of Libertarian Party of Illinois and Former candidate for Vice-President

Mary Ruwart's the best choice for the LP presidential nomination. She's very honest, extremely consistent, and immensely principled. She's the libertarian Hillary Clinton, except she supports freedom completely, whereas Hillary doesn't. Equally important, her book Healing Our World In An Age of Aggression has inspired my ideas and views on human liberty. I wish there were more people like her. Honestly.
Todd Andrew Barnett, Talk Show Host of Liberty Cap Talk Live on NowLive.com, Online Columnist, and Creator of the Let Liberty Ring Blog

Wholeheartedly, I endorse Mary Ruwart for President. Mary is not a recent Democrat nor a recent Republican. For years and years, she has been a thorough, bona fide Libertarian. Mary has more brains, a superior education, a better work ethic, and extraordinary will to be a good President. She may be soft-spoken, but she has what it takes.
ANDRE MARROU, Libertarian Nominee for President, 1992, Libertarian Nominee for Vice-President, 1988, Elected as Libertarian to Alaska House of Representatives, 1984

Dr. Mary J. Ruwart's recently announced candidacy for the Libertarian Party's (LP) presidential nomination should be cause for celebration by libertarian activists everywhere. Or at least by those who desire a movement that is as broadly-based and spirited as the revolution Ron Paul inspired.
Dr. Ruwart is the Libertarian presidential candidate most likely to rally a larger constituency amidst growing disaffection with the McCain/Obama/Clinton redux Russian roulette. She is the candidate who can yet recapture the now leaderless legions of Ron Paul supporters, particularly Dr. Paul's younger enthusiasts. Dr. Ruwart's candidacy has the potential to revitalize Libertarian presidential politics and energize the libertarian base constituency
Mary Ruwart does disagree with Ron Paul on the issues of abortion and immigration. But these are issues on which many libertarians, while still supporting Paul, also parted company with him. And these are the issues that distinguish, or ought to distinguish, libertarians from garden-variety Republican conservatives. Where Ron Paul's anti-war positions drew liberals to libertarianism, Dr. Ruwart casts her net wider still, and without compromising libertarian principles.
At the Vermont Libertarians' recent state convention LP member and Ron Paul supporter Steven Howard described the libertarian challenge as, "changing the conversation." More than any candidate seeking the LP presidential nomination Mary Ruwart will certainly change the conversation and build a campaign, a movement, that is truly beyond left and right while drawing support from both camps.
In the 1940s when libertarians were thin on the ground and the movement was yet in its infancy it was three women-Isabel Paterson, Rose Wilder Lane, and Ayn Rand-who charted the course to freedom at a time when the prospects for liberty looked remote indeed. Rand's novel "The Fountainhead", Lane's book "The Discovery of Freedom" and Paterson's "The God of the Machine" inspired the modern libertarian movement. Perhaps it's time for a woman, indeed a woman who is also the author of a groundbreaking book on the basic principles of freedom, to again lead libertarianism out of the wilderness.
John David Christensen, Vice-chair Vermont Libertarian Party

I was delighted to learn that Dr. Mary Ruwart has declared her candidacy for the Libertarian Party presidential nomination.
We sometimes hear that in choosing a Libertarian Party candidate there's a necessary trade-off between consistency and persuasiveness – that an unswerving adherence to libertarian principle is incompatible with presenting libertarianism to newcomers in a non-off-putting way, so that candidates must either be thoroughgoing libertarians who alienate voters, or else wishy-washy moderates who water down the ideas to win people over.
Mary Ruwart's candidacy represents an ideal opportunity for the Party to avoid both horns of this dilemma. On the one hand, in her longstanding commitment to liberty she is uncompromising – arguably more so (and certainly no less so) than any previous LP presidential candidate. But on the other hand, she is extraordinarily gifted at presenting radical ideas in a compelling and non-threatening way; in this respect she contrasts positively with all too many LP candidates who present far more moderate positions in a manner that makes them sound far more extremist!
A crucial part of Dr. Ruwart's effectiveness as a libertarian communicator is her ability to bring out the pro-common-people, anti-privilege aspect of libertarian economic ideas. Because, let's face it, libertarianism has a reputation problem. Many non-libertarians see it as a philosophy for those who glorify the corporate elite and have little concern with poverty, racism, or the environment – and libertarians' own rhetoric can all too often contribute to this perception.
I can't think of any candidate who could do more to combat this stereotype than Mary Ruwart. In particular, Dr. Ruwart is better than any other candidate I know of at dispelling the charge that free market principles benefit the rich at the expense of the poor; in fact, nearly every chapter of her excellent outreach book Healing Our World (buy lots of copies and distribute them widely!) has a section explaining how in fact the "rich get richer" and "poor get poorer" thanks to government intervention. Her approach might best be described as the pursuit of Green ends by Libertarian means – and it's an approach whose attractiveness she has a remarkable ability to convey.
Thanks to Dr. Ruwart's decision to enter the race, there is no need for the "Party of Principle" to choose between principle and practicality. I enthusiastically urge all Libertarian Party members to support Mary Ruwart's candidacy for the presidential nomination.
Roderick T. Long, Philosophy Professor at Auburn University, and Editor of the Journal of Libertarian Studies

"Let me give you a few reasons why Mary Ruwart should be our choice for the LP Presidential nominee:
1. We know the Libertarian message is great, and there is no better communicator of that message than Mary, whether in sound bites or lengthy discussion.
2. Mary's book Healing Our World is the most powerfully appealing way to present the Libertarian ideology in an understandable, acceptable, and memorable manner to anyone who reads it.
3. The American public is fed up with the divisiveness caused by the two major parties; Mary is the candidate who can show America how to reunite again.
4. As the LP candidate, Mary Ruwart can change America's view of Libertarianism to one that is infinitely more positive than that presented by any competing candidates.
5. Mary Ruwart can draw votes from all segments of voters, and be a unifying, healing force like no other candidate of any party.
6. Finally... it is simply time that Libertarians shared Mary Ruwart with the American public. Their reaction will be wide-eyed delight and they will ask us "why didn't you people explain it that way years ago?"
Bob Smith, past State Chair, Libertarian Party of Minnesota

"I’m thinking that it is the most exciting happening in the Libertarian Party in a number of years – the announcement by Mary Ruwart that she is a candidate for President of the United States.
For many years, Mary Ruwart has offered a vision of libertarianism that is at peace with the world. Always mindful of the concerns of people who are looking for solutions to their personal needs and expectations, she explains how government solutions do not work and quite often aggravate the problems they seek to solve.
Unlike the great majority of us who in our minds are certain that we are right; she does not lecture or belittle her audience.
Mary Ruwart is a capable communicator able to explain libertarian ideas in ways that each of us would do if we were only our better selves, if we reached for the best within us. We, red card libertarians, can learn a lot from Mary and so also will the American people who take the time to listen to her calm analysis of issues explained simply and with great clarity.
She does not stand on her side of the great chasm of ideas shouting her polemics to those on the other side; instead she builds a bridge of human caring, goes across and takes the hand of those seeking to understand and walks with them back across that bridge.
I urge all libertarians to consider these long term implications.
With Mary Ruwart as our Presidential candidate, we have a chance to secure some victories in this election year. While winning is a fantasy or dream to most of us, Mary Ruwart will provide us with a standard bearer able to win the minds and inspire the hearts of people of all ages and plant the seeds of liberty that we can reasonably hope will yield a bountiful harvest in the year to come.
I whole heartedly support the candidacy of Mary Ruwart for President of the United States."
William P. McMillen, New York

"I was quite pleased to hear that Mary Ruwart has decided to seek the Libertarian Party's 2008 nomination for President of the United States. Her long record of outstanding activism on behalf of the Party and libertarianism is unparalleled. She knows libertarianism so well, and her ability to communicate our principles is outstanding. I will be proud to have her representing me and all the other Libertarians. She has my full and unqualified support."
David Bergland, Libertarian Presidential Candidate 1984 and author of 'Libertarianism in One Lesson'

"I am delighted to see Mary is seeking the LP's presidential nomination. Mary's professional demeanor, friendly and disarming personality, and thorough and convincing presentation of libertarian principles is sure to attract favorable attention from discerning voters. Her campaign will be one Libertarians will applaud."
Dave Walter, LNC Chair 1988-1991

"Dr. Ruwart is a living refutation of the belief that we have to choose between an uncompromising vision of a free society and a friendly, appealing image to the public. She never shies away from the most difficult issues, but her decades of study, research, and practice have made her one of the most persuasive advocates for liberty ever. Every time I see, hear, or read Mary Ruwart, it makes me proud to be a libertarian."
Less Antman - Winner of Karl Bray Award for activism

"It is truly wonderful to see that Mary Ruwart is seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for President of the United States. Mary is bright, communicates the libertarian message superbly, and understands thoroughly the current issues Americans face today. More importantly, she understands the principles imbedded in the United States Constitution and will act appropriately under that document abiding by the oath she will take January 20, 2009; something Americans have not had from their president for a very long time.
Mary has experience in campaigns contending for the 1992 Libertarian party Vice Presidential nomination and running her own campaign for the senate in 2004. She has also been directly involved in helping Ron Paul obtain the Republican presidential nomination this year.
Mary would make the best nominee the Libertarian Party could put up against the Republican or Democratic nominee unless the republicans nominate Ron Paul."
Howard J. Blitz, Founder & President of The Freedom Library and Associate Professor of Economics, the University of Phoenix, AZ

"Thirty years ago I became involved with the Libertarian Party because I supported the ideas of free markets, social liberty and a non-interventionist foreign policy. I ran for office as a Libertarian in three states and held office within the party in all three of those states. In 1984 I authored, on behalf of Jim Lewis, the 1984 campaign book Liberty Reclaimed. I have been a "full-time" libertarian since that time.
In recent years I have been greatly concerned that the caliber of the LP's candidates has been declining. In some ways two terms of George Bush has made matters worse as many conservatives, tired of Bush, have come to the party without accepting libertarian principles.
I recently sat through a presidential debate for LP candidates and felt that no one candidate there had the two traits I think important for our standard bearer. First, they must be a committed, consistent libertarian. Second, they must be able to communicate our principles and ideas to the general public. In my personal estimation none of the current candidates meet both qualifications.
So I was happy to hear that Dr. Mary Ruwart has thrown her hat into the ring. I am happy to support her. I know she is committed to Libertarian ideas and understands them. I know she is able to communicate those ideas well to the public. For that reason I change my previous "none of the above" position to supporting Mary Ruwart"
Jim Peron, author (with Jim Lewis) Liberty Reclaimed

"I strongly support Dr. Mary Ruwart's bid for the LP Presidential nomination. Her combination of political experience, knowledge and great communication skills, make her a terrific representative for the Party and liberty."
Jarret Wollstein, author of Surviving Terrorism and Society Without Coercion