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D.C. Libertarians Invite Dave Brat to Rock the Mic

The whole nation watched him dance circles around fading House Majority Leader Eric Cantor last week. If Team Liberty Karaoke has its way, we’ll learn soon whether aspiring Virginia congressman Dave Brat can carry a tune.  

A group of 20-something, right wing fun-seekers are looking forward to mixing it up with the long-shot pol who spectacularly toppled the GOP leader at a private fundraiser Thursday. The donation-required shindig (lowest contribution: $20 per person) is scheduled to take place from 8 p.m. till ?? at the pay-to-play event space, The Loft (600 F St. NW).  

Libertarian coalition builder Matthew Hurtt has been bringing together like-minded folks for several years now, but only recently decided to shift the weekly singalongs into full-on campaign mode. “Monetizing it was an attempt to put together a low-cost fundraiser where these liberty activists get access to our political heroes,” he said of the evolution of the melodic meet ups.  

Per Hurtt, the typical audience tilts more toward eternal optimists than dogma-spewing evangelists.  

“Some folks who work in the nonprofit world, some who work on the Hill, others who aren’t in any expressly political line of work but who support these types of candidates,” was how Hurtt described those who routinely choose to put their stamp on others’ intellectual property.  

The chorus has only grown since Hurtt began looping in politicians — a trend that began last December when Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., ventured out to O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub in Arlington, Va., for a visit.  

“Having Congressman Amash walk in and hang out with young people for two hours is a testament to how accessible our people are to us,” he asserted.  

Since then, the group passed the hat for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in March, gathered in April to drum up support for Igor Birman, a former congressional aide who mounted an unsuccessful bid to try and challenge Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., this fall, and huddled with Mississippi Senate hopeful Chris McDaniel for an informal meet-and-greet (“he happened to be in town”).  

All told, Hurtt says the armchair crooners have coughed up roughly $20,000 for the various candidates.  

Still, there’s so much work left to do.  

“No candidates for office or sitting members of Congress have sang at karaoke,” Hurtt admitted.  

At least one Liberty Karaoke fan would like to have Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., join the fold, proposing to have the veteran filibusterer and newly minted Senate Conservatives Fund president Ken Cuccinelli spit rhymes.  

 

   

No word on whether Hurtt takes requests.  

But, at least for now, he appears content to keep the party going.  

“There may be time for one more #LibertyKaraoke fundraiser between now and Election Day 2014. We may hit the road again to knock on doors for another pro-liberty candidate,” he shared. “We’ll see.”

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