The Triumph of the 1991 Libertarian Convention. The untold story.
Initially I thought I would just publish this series on Libertarian sites. Then I realized I was missing a real opportunity to share stories about insights into Motherhood and other activist opportunities. Also, someine needs to explain Libertarians to the mainstream and the mainstream to Libertarians. Included in this occasional series will be the amusing stories about NeoCons I have personally known and the events that connect them to Libertarians and other people you would not suspect.
I warned my husband, Craig Franklin, that there was no way they were going to let him get the microphone while C-Span was actually live. It was not like I did not know the people running the Libertarian Convention in Chicago in 1991; I did. That is why I told him what to expect.
"They PROMISED that if I would buy four full packages (this was not cheap) and have someone else do the singing and provide entertainment at the cocktail party on Friday night that they would be delighted."
I knew why they had made the offer. They needed to augment attendance. Their top candidate was Andre Marrou, not the world's greatest excitement. Four packages can make a difference.
Craig was stubborn. He was also entirely addicted to the idea that somehow if he could only get to the right audience he, a dumpy software engineer, would suddenly be converted into a rock star. In the Libertarian Movement you meet many people whose premises would be better torn down so someone could start over. But I was married to him. I had signed up for better or worse (worse was much more prominent in the relationship). Part of that was making him happy, when possible.
I sighed.
"Craig, they are lying to you to augment their attendance. They will never let you or anyone else perform with a guitar live at the Nominating Convention."
Like I said, I knew these people. Mary Gingell, Williamson Evers, Michael Emerling-Cloud, Perry Willis, David Bergland. The names gurgled through my mind, the memories of previous encounters during the Bergland Campaign and elsewhere still, if not fresh, certainly had burned in enough to remain vivid. They never kept their promises. I had watched how they did fund raising for years. Promise them anything to get the bucks was standard operating procedure. Getting Libertarians to give down the cash and then changing the terms did not even strike them as cheating. Also, I suspected that their other requirements, that a video be produced of the show proposed, a singer hired, and other prerequisites that drove up the price, would fall on my shoulders.
"Michael is my BEST FRIEND. Would he lie to me? Would he rip me off?"
Craig looked indignant. I had been listening to Michael Emerling-Cloud con and rip off folks for 20 years. I tried to warn people but charm trumps truth every time. Michael had a line that was elastic and never seems to wear out.
"Yes. Without another thought. And you would forgive him because he amuses you. This would not be the first time, you know."
This caused a slight pause as Craig reflected.
"Not this time. He knows how much it means to me."
I sighed again. Having been a mother for many years I understood that when a kid wants something that much you can either let them get it, and hopefully learn a lesson, or live with the scowls and whining for the rest of your life.
"OK Craig. But when they tell you after we arrive at the convention that you can't do the performance live on C-Span I want you to remember I told you it would happen."
Craig was so bouncy and happy for a while it was almost worth it. Almost.
As the mother of five children at the time I had made sure that all of them encountered the concept of working in organizations and Community Charity Work early on. My son Arthur had gone through scouting and joined DeMolay. My daughters, Dawn and Ayn, had been girl scouts and were now very active in The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. That is, like DeMolay, a Masonic sponsored group. I liked it because, unlike Debs, it lets the girls take responsibility for projects so they learn organizing. One downside was the need for more formals than anyone can imagine.
Melinda Pillsbury-Foster is the author of GREED: The NeoConning of America and A Tour of Old Yosemite. The former is a novel about the lives of the NeoCons with a strong autobiographical component. The latter is a non-fiction book about her father (more...)
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