Root goes Libertarian

Many Nevadans who decide to switch political parties do it out of frustration with those in power. And usually when that’s the case, they don’t completely shift their world view to the opposing major party, but instead opt for a nonpartisan label.

Wayne Allyn Root says he left the Republican Party because it no longer represents his beliefs on social and economic freedom. He’s found the Libertarians and is seeking his new party’s nomination for the presidency.

The goal is as much to broaden his self-promotional resume as to carry the Libertarian mantle nationally.

Root, chairman and chief executive officer of a Henderson-based sports handicapping business, loves to sell, whether it’s picks for the NFL, himself, his books or his political ideology. The consummate huckster, Root is hyping what’s good for business generally, and what’s good for his biz specifically — lifting the ridiculous ban on Internet gaming.

For now, he’s having trouble catching his adopted party’s attention because all eyes are flirting with Libertarian-turned-Republican Ron Paul. Paul, a Texas congressman, is now toiling in single digits for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, having learned more people will hear his ideas as a member of the GOP even if he has no chance for the nomination.

Root says “most” Libertarians are shifting their support to Paul. “I agree with Ron Paul on 95 percent of the issues,” Root said. The big exception is Root’s unflinching support for the “war on terror.” Root said Libertarians will be back after Paul loses the Republican nomination.

“Libertarians must start making plans to move on to the general election and support the candidate that best represents their views,” Root said.

After all, there’s nothing incongruous about a traditional (non-Jesus freak) Republican supporting a Libertarian. Their views on fiscal matters are nearly identical. It’s the social issues on which Libertarians typically part ways with Republicans.

Root takes the states’ right view when it comes to just about every social issue, from abortion to gay marriage and medical marijuana. “There are millions of angry and disillusioned Republicans out there,” Root said. “They are either fiscal conservatives disgusted with President Bush’s expansion of government and spending, or they are moderates disgusted with the GOP’s pandering to religious extremists on social issues.”

Root said his shared experience will help him convince them to vote for him. “For 50 years now, we’ve voted for presidents who are multi-millionaire, out-of-touch big businessmen; career politicians and government bureaucrats; and spoiled brat lucky-sperm-club members,” Root said.

Root’s problem — expanding the Libertarian Party’s appeal beyond the 400,000 votes its presidential candidate got in 2004 — looks him in the mirror every morning. And Root’s the kind of guy who looks in the mirror. Often.

In his book “Millionaire Republican,” a partisan screed hiding as a self-help book, Root essentially argues that only Republicans know how to accumulate wealth. The Republican Party is hyped as the party of wealth, Democrats as losers.

The book was published in 2005, and Root was still hyping it last year. Root is a classic opportunist.

He’s talked for years about running for office. He once told me he wanted to run against Sen. John Ensign. Republicans like their small businessmen. But Root over a fairly close representation of a fiscal conservative?

So Root could have run for some other office. But local politics has no appeal to someone whose head stretches two time zones.

The presidency it would be. And the Libertarians would take him, because what choice do they have? Penn Jillette’s not on the ballot and comedian Doug Stanhope is too busy smoking and drinking (and God knows what else) himself to death.

In an e-mail exchange, Root added a response to a question I didn’t ask him — why he’s qualified to be president. “I’m the only small businessman running for president,” he offered. “I live in the real world.”

Most Americans don’t live in mansions, tool around town in a black Hummer and own “small” businesses that have “raised tens of millions of dollars,” “created hundreds of jobs” and “created millions of dollars for the U.S. economy.”

These descriptions come from the “world’s greatest gambler,” as another of his self-help books, “The Zen of Gambling,” hypes.

The last time I saw this type of hyperbole from a candidate was from Clark County sheriff hopeful Jerry Airola. At least he owned helicopters. Root is a sports tout. The product you can buy from his small business is a guess on the outcome of a sports contest. It’ll run you anywhere from $12 to $500.

Root condemns the other candidates as “out of touch.” He slams Barack Obama for saying he once didn’t have enough money to attend a national political convention. But Obama’s comments ring truer to the average American.

Root is as out-of-touch as they come. I’m sure the Libertarians will welcome him.

Erin Neff’s column runs Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. She can be reached at (702) 387-2906, or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.