As promised, the Libertarians blast welfare for Republicans:

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NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org
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For release: September 1, 2004
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For additional information:
George Getz, Communications Director
(202) 333-0008
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Republicans should reimburse taxpayers $40 million
for cost of New York convention, Libertarians say
WASHINGTON -- If George Bush is really a compassionate conservative, as
the Republican Party claimed again on Tuesday night, he should prove it
by reimbursing taxpayers for the $40 million cost of the New York
convention, the Libertarian Party says.

"Shame on President Bush for forcing ordinary Americans to pay for this
weeklong infomercial masquerading as a political convention," said
Michael Dixon, national chair of the Libertarian Party. "We're
challenging the Bush-Cheney ticket to get off the welfare wagon, and
give the money back."

The organizers of the Republican National Convention received a $14.5
million check earlier this year from the Federal Election Commission to
finance the New York event. That subsidy, combined with an estimated
$25 million in security costs, means that taxpayers will foot the bill
for nearly $40 million.

The Libertarian convention, held over Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta,
was financed entirely with private funds.

"The Republicans and Democrats have every right to hold these non-
conventions for which the nominees are chosen in advance, but they
don't have the right to send taxpayers the bill," said Dixon, adding
that the Libertarians asked the Democratic Party in July to refund the
subsidy from its Boston convention.

Dixon cited a July 25 Rasmussen poll indicating that a majority of
Americans oppose taxpayer-financed conventions.

The survey of 1,000 adults, commissioned by the Michael Badnarik for
President campaign, asked: "Should tax money be spent to stage the
Democrat and Republican national presidential nominating conventions?"
A majority of 62 percent said no, 24 percent said yes and 14 percent
weren't sure.

Dixon suggested two common-sense alternatives to taxpayer-financed
conventions.

One: let corporate sponsors and other donors, who already gave a
record $103.5 million to the two major parties' host committees, pay
the entire tab.

"Unfortunately, the lobbyists and special interests have the most to
gain from these weeklong bribe-a-thons, so why shouldn't they pay for
them?" he asked.

Two: Let the Republican National Committee, and even some of the
wealthy politicians themselves, help pay for the event.

"Vice President Dick Cheney and dozens of Senators and Representatives
are millionaires many times over, thanks in part to their years of
government 'service,' " Dixon said. "It's both outrageous and arrogant
for these rich politicians to demand that ordinary Americans pay for a
convention whose only purpose is to get the Republican president re-
elected.

"The truth is that George Bush isn't really a compassionate
conservative; he just plays one on TV. In real life he's a political
welfare queen who's just shaken down taxpayers for $40 million."