Adam Kokesh
Adam Kokesh is an American libertarian anti-war activist, former TV show host for RT and radio host. His radio show, Adam Versus The Man, focuses on American and international current affairs from an anarcho-libertarian perspective. Kokesh also occasionally discusses conspiracy theories and has had some conspiracy theorists on his show, including Mark Dice and Luke Rudkowski.
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Kokesh was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Kokesh had previously been a sergeant, but he was demoted and discharged after wearing his uniform at an Anti-War protest.[1]
Kokesh has been greatly critical of President Barack Obama's questionable human rights record. He also calls for an end to all of America's war efforts.
In April 2013, Kokesh announced on Alex Jones' radio show that he was planning an armed march in Washington DC on Independence Day[2]. Despite Jones' claim that the aim would be a "government overthrow", Kokesh explained that he and his supporters will be merely engaging in this protest as a means to show peaceful dissent at the Obama government. The bearing of firearms would merely be a symbolic gesture expressing support of the Second Amendment, which Kokesh believes Obama is in the process of repealing.
Shortly after, Kokesh was held in custody for three months as a result of deliberately violating Washington D.C. laws by carrying and loading a firearm on July 4, 2013. He was also charged for the possession of cannabis and hallucinogenic mushrooms in his home where he was arrested. [3] He was released from prison in November 2013 after pleading guilty on condition that he does not possess weapons of any kind and reports to authorities on a weekly basis[4]
On January 16th, 2018, he declared his candidacy in the 2020 presidential election, making an FEC filing three days before.[5] Hours later, he was pulled over twice in Wise County by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, and arrested the second time for marijuana and controlled substance possession.[6]
More bullshit conspiracy theories
Kokesh's plan for a march on D.C, his subsequent arrest, his desire to end the government and, most especially, his Jewish background [7] have resulted in a brand new batch of conspiracy theories. Some of the most common include the standard antisemitism bunk that he's in league with the Zionist elites to establish a one-world order.[8]
This is hard to swallow for a number of reasons, the biggest being his militant anti-government stances. There's also the fact that Kokesh, despite being raised Jewish, has rejected Judaism and is now an atheist. His unbelief is one reason behind his critical attacks on religion and institutions including the Roman Catholic Church.
Kokesh is also very anti-Zionist due to his opposition towards the Israeli government: the root of many Zionist related conspiracy theories. He once went so far as to call America "Israel's bitch" citing the government's favoritism towards Israel's interests and helping them in very questionable activities.[9]
Other equally if not more ignorant theories decry Kokesh to be a communist.[10] This rumor is in part due to Kokesh appearing at anti-war rallies sponsored by ANSWER Coalition
Plus there's one thing that automatically disqualifies him being a communist: he's a supporter of total laissez-faire capitalism. Kokesh has also vocally derided many other political philosophies not adhering to Libertarianism which has on occasion included communism.
Speaking of viewpoints
Kokesh has identified himself as an anarcho-capitalist[11] and has many times espoused the extreme wingnuttery often associated with it. Common things he's vocally supported include free market anarchism, unregulated gun ownership and goldbuggery. The latter he's especially keen on as he's owner of Agorist Metals: a precious metal store catering to worshipers of shiny metals.
Due to his extreme anti-statist beliefs, Kokesh turns it up to 11 in believing there should be absolutely no government regulations in dealing with the issue not to mention protecting the environment. After all the invisible hand of the market's done a great job so far, why let anything get in its way?[12]
Kokesh's views also swing slightly to the left due to his beliefs in the left-Libertarian philosophy of agorism. Kokesh is completely opposed to laws created and enforced by the government. He believes that the only valid laws are natural rights. However his words and actions sometimes clash (see next section).
He's also been highly critical of democracy believing it's a barrier to individual self-determination and imposes leaders on people who should be leading themselves.[13] This line of analysis contradicts his support for a political candidate (Ron Paul) and his plans to run for president in 2020.[14] Kokesh has claimed, however, that he is only running for President in 2020 as a means to abolish the federal government, if somehow he is elected. We wish him all the best with that.
Kokesh's extreme belief in self-governance has resulted in some of his biggest denialism. Like so many libertarians, he's very short sighted when it comes to human behavior. He believes that forcefully overthrowing the state is the be all, end all solution to making things better. Somehow people will just mentally adjust to not want another government, embrace the wonders of capitalism and that somehow those mean elitist businessmen shall just somehow stop treating people like crap.
Needless to say Adam, like so many radical right-libertarians, misses the trees for the hills. None of that will happen and given his ideal society pretty much amounts to capital driven neo-feudalism, things will definitely not be getting better.
However, Kokesh, in typical anarcho-capitalist form, resorts to numerous half-baked answers. These usually amount to the standard textbook right-libertarian reply that somehow the free market will do its thing.[15]
A hypocritical "anarchist"
Kokesh has something of a reputation where inconsistency is concerned. An example of this specifically involves the Constitution. Kokesh has consistently stated that it should be called an "anti-freedom" document[16] and called its enactment a "step back from freedom." Kokesh followed by then saying his ideal America is the "freer" pre-Constitutional one.
Because, as we all know, mob rule, tyranny of local governments and indentured servitude are what true liberty is all about.
Kokesh's actions on the other hand indicate quite the opposite. Just like many other anarcho-capitalists, Kokesh often uses the Constitution to justify his protests, defend himself in court and generally keep himself out of prison.
A recent example of this behavior was at his hearing on October 24, 2013 in regards to his deliberate arming of a firearm in Washington D.C at Freedom Plaza. Kokesh plead not guilty to the charges against him. More notably, he defended his actions by citing the Supreme Court's decision in D.C. v. Heller that found the banning of firearms in Washington D.C. unconstitutional. Of course, if the ruling was better examined, it's blatant he took the ruling out of context to wrongfully state it was legal to open carry a loaded firearm in the district. [17]
Considering the Supreme Court's decisions are part of how the Constitution is to be interpreted, it boggles the mind as to why an anarchist who hates the Constitution would use it in his defense. Anarchists are generally opposed to man-made laws and especially the legal documents they originate from. Many anarchists, especially those who are very right-wing, believe that the only true laws in lieu of man-made ones are natural laws: something Kokesh claims are the only valid laws.
As an anarchist, the only logical choice would be to use natural law as a defense for his behavior. Yet Kokesh doesn't do that. His track record instead shows he has constantly used laws he says he rejects as fiat to defend his behavior. This is blasphemy in almost all branches of anarchist philosophy not to mention to its adherents.
Kokesh has attempted to justify this contradictory behavior saying he uses the Constitution to establish his radical right-wing society. For that Kokesh deserves credit: he's honest enough to admit being a total hypocrite and using laws he supposedly rejects to further his goals of an anarcho-capitalist paradise.
Many of Kokesh's fellow anarcho-capitalists have attempted to defend this position by stating that he was only using the Constitution in self-defense. But this is at best a weak argument when you considered he constantly goes back to using it as a justification for his actions despite constantly yammering on about how much of an anti-freedom document it is. Cause just saying "I don't need the constitution to justify my actions" is just too hard to say for a bold freedom fighting "anarchist" like himself.
What is far more arguable however is that Kokesh isn't an anarchist but instead a member of the sovereign citizens movement. They too also are notorious for being very hypocritical as well and love jumping behind legal documents like the constitution to justify their questionable and dubious behavior.
He's not good with promises either
Kokesh pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession and violating firearm laws at his November 2013 trial. This plea was made in exchange for a far more lenient punishment. In doing so, he broke a promise made in a letter sent from prison that he'd do his utmost to make an example of the government when his case went to court.
As the case was folded due to his guilty plea, the trial never began in order for him to enact his public protest against the government. Kokesh therefore broke his promise.[18] So much for bravery and convictions, eh?
He's even shittier when it comes to intimate relationships
Seamy details of Koresh's personal life became the focus of minor internet drama in 2016, after his ex-fiancé released a video on Facebook allegating that he was a misogynistic control freak and that he developed a written contract describing their relationship. The alleged contract was leaked and Kokesh's tour manager chimed in, calling Kokesh a "total fraud."[19][20]
Stopped clock
Yet even despite all of that, Kokesh has on rare occasions supported reasonable things. He is a staunch advocate of gay rights, and is highly critical of anyone opposing them, especially those who are against gay marriage (unless that person is Ron Paul of course...).[21]
Kokesh also is adamantly opposed to the "War on Drugs," and believes that all laws regulating drugs should be repealed. He has posted videos of himself on Youtube consuming illegal drugs in order to give a middle finger to drug laws.[22]
But his biggest stop-clocking comes as a result of his experiences as a Marine in the Iraq War. Kokesh is militant in his hatred of war and militarism. His views on the matter are so strong they put other adamant anti-war libertarians, such as Lew Rockwell, to shame. He has saved his harshest attacks for the U.S. military calling its behavior and policies immoral, and is a strong supporter of anti-war groups like Iraq Veterans Against the War of which he is a member.[23]
See also
External links
References
- https://www.foxnews.com/story/iraq-vet-who-wore-uniform-to-war-protest-gets-general-discharge/
- Interview with Kokesh on Infowars about march
- CNN - Pro-gun activist Adam Kokesh arrested after search of his home
- Adam Kokesh released from prison http://rt.com/usa/adam-kokesh-released-jail-385/
- Adam Kokesh's FEC filing
- Hours after declaring candidacy, presidential hopeful arrested in Wise County Dallas News. January 19th, 2018.
- His most well-known admission to being Jewish is in this video
- Here's one example of such nonsense
- Is America Still Israel's Bitch?
- Here's one example of this nutty theory being supported
- "The only REAL anarchists are the Anarcho-Capitalists" video
- "Adam VS The Climate Change"
- Kokesh summarizes his views on democracy when talking about the situation in Egypt in this video
- http://benswann.com/exclusive-interview-adam-kokesh-talks-about-time-in-jail-2020-presidential-bid/
- Here's an example of Kokesh's denialism of human nature when discussing the power vacuum in the absence of government
- "How a libertarian should interpret the Constitution"
- "Kokesh pleads not guilty to gun charges"
- Letter from Adam Kokesh. Archived from the original at the Patriot Page on Facebook, 8 November 2013.
- Nicholas Amato, Adam Kokesh’s Tour Manager, Ex-Girlfriend Speak Out. beinglibertarian.com, 28 October 2016.
- Vann Gutier, Testimony: Why Adam Kokesh is a Total Fraud. Archived from the original at libertyviral.com, 28 October 2016.
- "You should feel sorry for people who oppose gay marriage"
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_qdGCNsreY Those videos on his channel have since been set to private but this not so well-captured video still remains.
- Kokesh goes into great detail about his views on the military in this video