Libertarian Party's presidential candidate courts voters in BG

Joe and Angie Kolby, of Toledo, pose with Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, center, after his speech at the Clazel Theater in Bowling Green, Ohio.

BOWLING GREEN – Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson – the Libertarian Party presidential candidate – brought his message of small and out-of-your-business government to Bowling Green today.

Speaking to 150 or so people gathered at the Cla-Zel Theatre downtown, Mr. Johnson said he was more liberal than President Obama on social issues, more conservative than GOP nominee Mitt Romney on fiscal issues.

“Less government is better government. Keep government out of the bedroom. Don’t be making choices for me that I should be making,” Mr. Johnson said to avid applause.

The former Republican said he would eliminate income tax and corporate tax in favor of a more fair consumption tax. He would eliminate the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Reserve. He advocates legalizing marijuana and same-sex marriage.

Mr. Johnson dismissed the idea that voting for a third-party candidate means wasting your vote.

“I’m hoping to rain on the party,” he said. “I’m hoping to rain on the two-party system. It’s over.”