LNC Plunges Knife in Liberty’s Heart, Calls Principles "Dangerous"

The Libertarian Party of Hawaii proudly calls itself the "Party of Principle." It's not just a catchy slogan; it's our identity, etched into the foundational documents that guide every action we take as a movement dedicated to liberty. It is what sets us apart from every other political affiliation in the country. 

Yet, in a stunning display of hypocrisy, the Libertarian National Committee's (LNC) current leadership, through a respondent's brief penned by Jonathan McGee on their behalf, has brazenly argued that our sacred Statement of Principles does not apply to LNC leadership. McGee clearly redefines this key component himself as aspirational fluff without real teeth or binding force. This isn't just a legal maneuver; it's a knife to the heart of what makes us all Libertarians. How can these so-called “stewards” of our party claim to champion individual rights and non-aggression while casually tossing aside the principles that sustain us? The Libertarian Party of Hawaii (LPHI) demands answers and accountability from a leadership that seems all too eager to prioritize power plays over principle.

Undeniably Principled

Let's start with the facts, straight from The Libertarian Party BYLAWS, CONVENTION SPECIAL RULES, AND JUDICIAL COMMITTEE RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE, which the LNC is sworn to uphold. 

Article 3 couldn't be clearer: 

"The Statement of Principles affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which liberty shall prevail." 

This isn't vague poetry; it's a mandate. The party isn't just inspired by these principles; it's sustained by them. 

Article 2 reinforces this:

"The Party is organized to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Principles…" 

And Article 7 explicitly binds the LNC to adhere to them: 

"The National Committee shall have control and management of all the affairs, properties and funds of the Party consistent with these bylaws. The Libertarian National Committee shall establish and oversee an organizational structure to implement the purposes of the Party as stated in Article 2." 

There it is, in black and white: The LNC's every move must align with the Statement of Principles because that's the core purpose of the party itself.

LNC Claims They're Not Bound by Principle

But apparently, that's not good enough for Jonathan McGee and the "factionless" LNC. In their respondent brief in Roos et al. v. LNC, filed just yesterday on September 16, 2025, they have the audacity to claim: 

"While Article 3 clearly states the purpose of the Statement of Principles, how it can be amended, and its relationship with the party platform, shockingly it does not actually state that LNC actions are bound by the Statement of Principles." 

Shockingly? The only shock here is the LNC's willingness to misrepresent our foundational documents to evade responsibility. They go further, asserting: 

“The LNC maintains that it is not bound by the Statement of Principles and further asserts that the Statement of Principles is a philosophical foundation and not a self-executing disciplinary code. Treating the Statement of Principles as a self-executing disciplinary code could have dangerous future implications.”

Aspirational? Philosophical? This is the language of bureaucrats (or lawyers?) dodging accountability, not the sentiments of sincerely liberty-loving leaders. Has McGee read our bylaws? His brief doesn't stop there. He goes on to state that party leaders could be "censured for misstating a fact in a press release or even a personal remark." And it doubles down: "Next, even supposing that it did, the petitioner alleges that the SIC report violates the Statement of Principles by way of supposed 'misrepresentation'. Misrepresentation can be intentional or unintentional, and if unintentional misrepresentation is ruled to be a violation of the Statement of Principles the implications would be catastrophic for the operation of the Party." 

Catastrophic? What is truly catastrophic is leadership that views our principles as optional guidelines rather than the non-negotiable bedrock of our existence. If the Statement of Principles' prohibitions on fraud, misrepresentation, and aggression aren't binding, what stops the LNC from becoming just another swamp creature in the political machine? What separates us from the right or the left party’s leadership, marred by corrupt whims mandated in their policies?

Hypocrisy Exposed 

This isn't abstract philosophizing. We are watching a real betrayal unfold in response to the Roos case. It drips with irony. The LNC adopted resolutions condemning former Chair Angela McArdle for alleged violations of the party's core ethical and fiduciary principles of governance. They wield the LP Statement of Principles as a sword to justify their actions through a Special Investigatory Committee (SIC) report, claiming her conduct violated the very principles they now say do not apply to themselves. In a shocking display of hypocrisy, the same LNC argues in their respondent brief that the Statement of Principles is merely philosophical and does not bind them as a governing body. Petitioners like Jonathan Jacobs and Hector Roos, rightly argue this violated notice rules and the Statement of Principles’ stance against misrepresentation. Instead of defending their actions or admitting fault on principled grounds, the LNC hides behind claims that the principles they so readily invoke against others don't apply to their own conduct. 

If leadership can cherry-pick when to uphold the Statement of Principles, using it to attack their chair while dismissing its authority over themselves, what's next? Brushing off property rights in budget decisions? This slippery slope leads straight to the irrelevance we've known, or else to the corruption seen in other parties that sold their souls for recognition and expediency.

I don't know about you, but I joined the Party of Principle because they are the only political party in America that remains with a moral spine. I cannot stay silent and watch the knife twist through it.

Our Principles Guide Every Affiliate

Hawaii and the other state affiliates built their parties on these very principles, fighting for personal freedoms in a state dominated by big-government overreach. The LPHI bylaws follow the same foundational principles. 

Article 2E states: 

“That the only moral basis of politics is the protection of individual rights. In recognition of the fact that the initiation of force by government has been the chief instrument for the expropriation of individual rights and freedom, the party enters into politics for the specific purpose of eliminating the intervention of government in moral and economic affairs.”  

“The Libertarian Party is, at its core, the party of principle. The Statement of Principles is not just a philosophical decoration, it is the bedrock of who we are and why we exist. To suggest that the LNC is not bound by it undermines the very integrity of our movement. While it may not function as a legal code, it serves as our compass and moral standard. Every member of our leadership should hold themselves accountable to it, and every libertarian should expect nothing less. Without steadfast adherence to these principles, we risk becoming just another political party that compromises away its soul.”

~ Nicholas Zehr, LPHI Treasurer

We affiliate under the national party, expecting the LNC to lead by example, not to lawyer their way out of binding ethical obligations. 

Jonathan McGee, as the signatory of this shameful brief and a key LNC figure (recently considered for Chair, and subsequently Vice Chair), bears particular responsibility. His words aren't just a way of legal loophole; they're a signal that our current leadership values self-preservation over the very liberty we all pledged to advance.  

Call to Action

Libertarian Party of Hawaii Chairman and Region 1 Alternate, Austin Martin weighs in on this disturbing development:

When asked to elaborate, Chairman Martin simply warned:

"Take note of those who respond to these indefensible actions of the LNC by attacking the messengers."

We call on Libertarians nationwide to wake up. Demand the Judicial Committee reject this LNC farce and boldly reaffirm that the Libertarian Party’s Statement of Principles is binding on our leadership, especially those representing us on the LNC. The SIC Report condemns Angela Mcardle for violating the same statement of principles they are now claiming do not apply to them. 

Contact entire.lnc@lp.org and your LNC Regional Representative today. We call on the Libertarian National Committee to sustain the party through principles, as Article 3 demands. If they can’t uphold something so fundamental, perhaps it's time for new leadership that will. The Party of Principle deserves better than guardians who treat our ethics and principles as disposable.