When Senator Rand Paul took to the floor of the senate to demand answers regarding President Obama’s drone program, FreedomWorks broke from our traditions, stood with him, and declared our open support of civil liberties and the Constitution. It was a risky move for the institution considering our sole mission is furthering free market economics. But when life, our most precious liberty is in danger, it becomes time to take a stand.

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Although the main focus of this grassroots group is steeped deeply in free markets, the brew that Matt Kibbe is boiling at FreedomWorks has a distinct liberty flavor to it. But it’s not tea in these cauldrons. It’s boiling oil we are going to throw over the gates of The Establishment as we continue our Hostile Takeover.

Post coup at FreedomWorks, the revolution continues. Unlike most “grassroots” institutions in DC, we are free from malign influences. We have only to please our 4 million strong network of activists or our army of 85,000 small donors. But FreedomWorks greatest obligation has always been to the American people, to our posterity, and to liberty for all. And, liberty for all includes the right to due process before our execution via Hellfire missile. On that issue, we stand with Rand.

“We have guided missiles and misguided men.” Martin Luther King Jr.

George Will’s recent tip of the hat to the rise of libertarianism in the GOP was welcome but failed to recognize that the new libertarian movement is not a leg from Ronald Reagan’s “three legged stool” which consisted of coalitions built on fiscal conservatism, social conservatism and national defense. Rather, the new libertarian movement is a brand new leg altogether. These new converts are the inheritors of the forgotten foreign policy legacy of Senator Robert Taft. These are the non-interventionists who call for American military to be used only in defense of the people of the United States and not for endless subsidies to nations that burn our flag. It is a rejection of the ideas of Military Keynesianism.

Conservatives interesting in fusing the liberty movement into a broader coalition will need to be wary of these “FDR conservatives” who believe, like the New Dealer, that government spending stimulates the economy. A CPAC poll taken found that 86% of the attendees opposed the use of drones to “kill US citizens” and even more incredible, half of the attendees believe that “70 years after the end of World War II, it’s time for European, Asian, and other allies to provide for their own defense.” That saws quite a length from one particular leg of Reagan’s stool. But doesn’t a stool bear more weight with four legs anyway?

And this strategy to push the conservative movement in a libertarian direction is showing its fruits. Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI) has introduced legislation (H.R. 1242) prohibiting the use of drones to kill Americans in the United States. It’s counterpart was introduced soon after in the Senate by Ted Cruz, who joined Paul’s filibuster to aid in protesting the extrajudicial killing of American citizens. Clearly Republicans are signaling a desire on the part of our citizens to rein in the power of the Executive. Grassroots institutions dedicated to advancing that cause can play a big part.

FreedomWorks will stay focused on the mission of limiting government by educating activists based on the benefits of free market economics. Our goal to reduce the size and scope of Washington’s reach will always be anchored in our sincere belief in the concept of individualism and an understanding of human action. However, when our friends stand for civil liberties, they should know that they will not stand alone. We will stand with them for liberty and the Constitution. We will not be silent. We will stand with Rand.

“FreedomWorks on Tap” featured Fox News contributor Dennis Kucinich to join us in a cross-partisan discussion of civil liberties yesterday. Reid Smith and Jackie Bodnar of FreedomWorks starred alongside Malou Innocent of the Cato Institute for a top notch discussion of the Constitution and American civil liberties.

“FreedomWorks on Tap” Game of Drones is 30:00 long

