The party must EARN the loyalty of its members. Those members are free to look elsewhere for political representation any time they feel that the Libertarian Party isn't serving their interests. Party officials, however, bear a heavier burden. "Party loyalty" is an implicit obligation of service on the Libertarian National Committee. By seeking election to the LNC, a candidate is telling the party "you can trust me to place the party's interests, and its rules for protecting those interests, ahead of my own preferences."
I understand the excitement which the Ron Paul campaign raised, not only among rank and file party members, but among party officials. However, I believe that the LNC acted in violation of its duties by soliciting a Republican presidential candidate to enter our presidential nomination process, and by dedicating the use of party assets to support a Republican presidential campaign. Unless the by-laws are amended by the party itself in national convention, I will consider myself instructionally bound by the current language which lists one of the Libertarian Party's purposes as "functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements."
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