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Austin Petersen was one of the sane Libertarians in the 2016 mix, who unfortunately never got the nod from the party of weed, Captain Underpants, and more weed.
So he did the politically expedient thing and joined the GOP to run for U.S. Senate in Missouri against a bevy of Republicans including sitting Attorney General Josh Hawley. The primary winner will face unpopular Democrat incumbent Sen. Clare McCaskill.
Since Hawley is the presumed front-runner, with expected backing from Steve Bannon, Petersen has decided to court Trump loyalists by going after former #NeverTrump conservatives, claiming they are “Trotskyites” and voted for Hillary.
Talk about burning bridges.
Tweets
The #NeverTrump movement is composed generally of neocons deposed from power and aided by liberals who appreciate their efforts.
— Austin Petersen (@AP4Liberty) October 23, 2017
It's good that Trump listens to Paul, because it will help ensure neocon warhawks don't return to power. Trump destroyed them. Good!
— Austin Petersen (@AP4Liberty) October 23, 2017
The Trotskyites in the GOP of course despise Trump. It makes sense why #NeverTrump conservatives preferred Hillary.
— Austin Petersen (@AP4Liberty) October 23, 2017
All my neocon friends in DC of course voted for Hillary. They preferred Jeb! or Rubio but Hillary was preferable to Trump in their minds.
— Austin Petersen (@AP4Liberty) October 23, 2017
Responses
The tweets did not go unnoticed. Petersen was a vocal opponent of Trump before he decided what would be politically expedient. Then again, he was a Libertarian before he decided to run as a Republican. So, whatever.
This is not at all what you said to me when we sat and talked at CPAC and you thanked me for my Trump opposition. https://t.co/cxCQHCDuLw
— Ben Howe (@BenHowe) October 23, 2017
It’s 1 thing to avoid attacking Trump to win a race, but only an idiot would attack Never Trumpers after calling Trump a fascist & dictator.
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 23, 2017
It’s simple, Austin. You called Trump a “fascist,” and berated him for months. Now, you say that’s a Trotskyite position. Do the math.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) October 23, 2017
The guy literally argued on Twitter that Hillary would be better than Trump:
Here: https://t.co/h04CvVX5FP
Here: https://t.co/lSfewfe36r https://t.co/lYVtTRdHHL
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 23, 2017
Free advice: Before you decide to sell your soul in order to win a political race, get rid of your old tweets.
CC: @AP4Liberty pic.twitter.com/cMjYAVn43E
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 23, 2017
To be clear, we don’t believe @realDonaldTrump stands for fascism, it is @AP4Liberty who made that charge. The guy who now kisses up to him. https://t.co/S41bu0XTln
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 23, 2017
Someone should have taught Peterson how to delete old tweets pic.twitter.com/GUS3ueRaJ7
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) October 23, 2017
You should also check out Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO)’s back and forth with Petersen. Highlights.
LOL. Are you saying that just to get a senate seat? Anyway, so you're "friends" with a lot of "craven power seekers." Tell me more. https://t.co/HhmDKaKDSU
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) October 23, 2017
Give me names of your neocon "friends" you know "well" who are "Trotskyites" who voted for Hillary. If it's true, they won't mind. https://t.co/Yygi0lxXjB
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) October 23, 2017
I'm so confused. Is #NeverTrumo @benshapiro a Trotskyite @AP4Liberty? Or is he one of the good ones? https://t.co/0kgAyKc6Iv
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) October 23, 2017
Final Thoughts
There are various ways of committing political suicide. Some are like watching red dwarf stars slowly die, and some are supernovae. Petersen thought he’d make a splash and take on the “neocons” but all he did was make a very small star explosion that practically nobody will notice when he fades.
It’s a shame, because Petersen is a good guy with decent principles. However, it seems that winning political races, building bridges instead of torching them, and being around for the long term are going to be problematic for him.
Further Reading
Steve Bannon’s next victims – Axios
Breitbart’s Washington Editor Matt Boyle writes today that conservatives are “running or actively seeking out” serious primary challengers for every incumbent Republican senator running in 2018 except the Texan.
United States Senate election in Missouri, 2018 – Ballotpedia
According to a report by Politico on August 14, 2017, The Club for Growth has raised $10 million to support Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, a potential candidate for Missouri’s Senate race. Hawley formed an exploratory committee earlier in the month but has not yet announced a run. In response to the report the Missouri Democratic Party issued a statement saying, “(Hawley) was sworn in on a promise not to be another ladder-climbing politician just a few months ago.” and that he “has broken his central campaign promise to advance his own personal career.”[14]
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