by Kerry Thomas
August 18, 2008
History will be made September 9 in Wisconsin’s 3rd
Congressional District, as two Libertarian candidates square off in the first
Libertarian Congressional primary in the party’s history.
Ben Olson III and Kevin Barrett are
vying to become the Libertarian Party of
Wisconsin’s candidate in this Congressional race. The winner will face Democrat incumbent Congressman Ron Kind and Republican challenger Paul Stark in November.
Olson, from
Wisconsin Dells, works as a builder, sawyer and bartender. He is running on the limited government and
personal responsibility platform endorsed by the national Libertarian Party.
Barrett, from Lone Rock, is a leader in the 9/11 conspiracy movement. According to Barrett “The
whole media-hyped story that you need to be afraid of terrorism is a sick
joke.” Barrett’s
website is replete with articles and essays about secret government conspiracy
theories and anti-Bush propaganda.
Barrett calls John McCain “a neocon-controlled psychopath.”
Barrett
is promoting himself as a “New Libertarian” who says he’s “strongly committed
to reducing government (including secret government) by ending the
empire.” Barrett says “We
need to move the party to the center… by reaching out to disaffected Democrats and
Greens.”
Barrett is a former lecturer at the University
of Wisconsin-Whitewater, until that school terminated it’s Arabic/Humanities
program rather than grant Barrett tenure.
The
two candidates will square off in a forum aboard Captain Soma's boat
"Cheers" on the upper Dells of the Wisconsin River. “Cheers” is docked 2 miles
north of Wisconsin Dells, on Stand Rock Road.
The boat will leave the dock on Sunday August 24 at 6:30 pm and will
return at 8:30.
The
cruise is free, with a cash bar on board. Limited seating
will be available for spectators. Please call 608-254-2628 for details
and reservations.
For press information,
you can contact Ben Olson III at 608-254-6572 or email benolson3@gmail.com. Kevin
Barrett can be reached at 608-583-2132 or email
kbarrett@merr.com.