2016 CNN Libertarian Town Hall: on Civil Rights


Bill Weld: 1990s: Established MA African Caribbean American commission

This may not be Republican dogma, but what I did very early on in my administration was to establish an African Caribbean American commission, meet with them once a month myself, not a cabinet secretary. All your concerns, anything we can do specifically, same for Asian-Americans, same for Hispanic-Americans, met regularly with Muslim and Arab community. My wife read from the Koran in Arabic to them.

So, you know, I received the Golden Door Award for, you know, friendliness to various diasporas who were resident in our state. So that comes very naturally to me. I'm a pluralist. I think the essence of democracy is that the individual shall not be thrust in a corner. If there are members of groups who by virtue of their membership in that group are being thrust in a corner, that's when my blood temperature really starts to rise.

Source: CNN Libertarian Town Hall: joint interview of Johnson & Weld Jun 22, 2016

Bill Weld: I led Massachusetts on gay rights, and MA led America

Q: What you have done in office that has been consistent with Libertarian ideals?

WELD: In office, in my case, even though I was then a Republican and not a Libertarian, I was way out there by myself on gay and lesbian rights, starting my first month in office, in January 1991. And for 10 years, no one followed suit. I appointed the woman who wrote the decision holding equality of marriage as constitutionally compelled, which led to the Supreme Court case holding that.

Source: CNN Libertarian Town Hall: joint interview of Johnson & Weld Jun 22, 2016

Bill Weld: Marriage equality is dictated by equal protection clause

People sometimes say to me, "why should the government say that equality of marriage, gays and lesbians being able to marry is the law of the land, and isn't that the nanny state?" No, not at all. That's the Constitution telling you that marriage equality is dictated by the due process clause and equal protection clause. That's not the government. So I think that's a canard to say that government should have no role in safeguarding the constitutional right.
Source: CNN Libertarian Town Hall: joint interview of Johnson & Weld Jun 22, 2016

  • The above quotations are from 2016 CNN Libertarian Town Hall with Gary Johnson & Bill Weld.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Gary Johnson on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for more quotes by Bill Weld on Civil Rights.
2016 Presidential contenders on Civil Rights:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 08, 2018