At Rancho Santiago College's Santa Ana Campus, a "Rock the Vote" Rally was held on March 6th, and the Orange County Libertarian Party was invited to participate.Mark Murphy, LP Congressional candidate for California's 45th district, and Michael Vardoulis, local LP activist, were there to represent the OCLP. Mr. Murphy gave an 8 minute speech introducing the LP, emphasizing that the right to vote includes the right to have more than two parties to choose from. He high lighted the LP's socially tolerant beliefs, and met with cheers from the largely Hispanic audience when he stated, "The United States should not build a wall around its Southern Neighbors."
Clearly the hot issue was Proposition 203, which would designate a tax increase supposedly for the improvement of several schools, Rancho Santiago included. While Mr. Murphy did not raise this issue in his speech, the Rancho Santiago school newspaper asked Mike Vardoulis what the LP stand on the proposition was. "Public schools should be left in the hands of the public, not the government," Mr. Vardoulis responded, asserting that schools should not be forced to fight for funding from tyrannical government to begin with. Mr. Murphy added that all "public funds" collected through taxation by government are often taken involuntarily and by threat of force.
The LP was the only political party invited to participate other than the Republicans and Democrats. Other political organizations, such as the League of Women Voters (who joined the applause when Murphy stated the LP's belief that a woman owns her body and thus has the right to choose), Free Immigration Services (who joined the applause when Mr. Murphy stated the LP's belief in open immigration), and the Registrar of Voters, there to encourage students to register.
Hip Hop radio station 92.3, "The Beat," was on hand as well to inspire voter registration. With all the activity generated by the Rock the Vote rally, the goal of getting new registrants was no doubt achieved. And at least here, these new voters were introduced to more political choices than they may have known about.