Thread: Gary Johnson picks up his first congressional backer

Gary Johnson picks up his first congressional backer

By Eli Watkins, CNN
Updated 5:24 PM ET, Sun August 7, 2016

Washington (CNN)Republican Rep. Scott Rigell is voting for Libertarian Gary Johnson for president over his party's nominee, Donald Trump.

Rigell, who has announced he will not run for re-election this year in his Virginia district, is the second Republican member of Congress to announce that he'll vote for someone other than Trump.

Retiring New York Rep. Richard Hanna wrote in an op-ed for Syracuse.com this week that he'll instead back Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

Rigell's announcement came in an interview with The New York Timespublished on Saturday, and Kaylin Minton, a spokeswoman for Rigell, confirmed the report's accuracy to CNN.

Hanna and Rigell's defections come as other notable Republicans have said they will either not vote for Trump or will back other candidates. Earlier this week, longtime Chris Christie aide Maria Comella told CNN's Jamie Gangel she plans to vote for Clinton, and Sally Bradshaw, Jeb Bush's top adviser, told Gangel she's leaving the Republican Party over Trump and will vote for Clinton in Florida if the race there is close.

And major GOP donor Meg Whitman announced earlier this week she'll support Clinton over Trump as well.

Amid Republican infighting over its anti-establishment nominee, the Clinton and Johnson campaigns have sought to grow their bases of support. For example, Whitman said she backed Clinton following a direct phone call from the former secretary of state.

Johnson said his campaign has reached out to Republican 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, who has pointedly refused to back Trump and said he's considering voting Libertarian.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Mike Coffman, a Republican who hails from a competitive district in Colorado and recently put up a web video saying he "doesn't care" for Trump, said the congressman had spoken with Libertarian vice presidential nominee William Weld.

Coffman has yet to declare his support for any candidate.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/06/politi...n-endorsement/

Romney, McCain, Bush, other major Republicans Set to Endorse Libertarian Gary Johnson

"My vision of the border with Mexico is that a truck from the United States going into Mexico and a truck coming from Mexico into the United States will pass each other at the border going 60 miles an hour. Yes, we should have open borders." - Gary Johnson

"I have never been supportive of the wall," I answered. "A 10-foot wall just requires an 11-foot ladder." - Gary Johnson

"Hispanics who immigrate care about their families like other Americans care about their families. They're living in poverty in Mexico and can come to the US and do a lot better." - Gary Johnson

"They would become taxpayers. They're just pursuing dreams---the same dreams we all have. They work hard. What's wrong with that?" - Gary Johnson

http://www.ontheissues.org/2012/Gary_Johnson_Immigration.htm

I agree with Gary Johnson on a number of issues:

1. FairTax
2. Pro-Choice
3. Legalize Drugs

HOWEVER, at this time, at this moment, we need Trump to secure the borders, fix our bad trade deals, keep US out of foreign wars, enforce our NATO agreements, jump start the economy, and develop a new relationship with the Russians. This is what we need now, these are the most pressing issues. The others will come, but we need Trump to do what he wants and needs to do, and we need it now.

Originally Posted by Judy

I agree with Gary Johnson on a number of issues:

1. FairTax
2. Pro-Choice
3. Legalize Drugs

HOWEVER, at this time, at this moment, we need Trump to secure the borders, fix our bad trade deals, keep US out of foreign wars, enforce our NATO agreements, jump start the economy, and develop a new relationship with the Russians. This is what we need now, these are the most pressing issues. The others will come, but we need Trump to do what he wants and needs to do, and we need it now.

I agree with him on none of those issues.