Bob Barr on CNN 05/26/08

[Liberty4ev63]

I am voting for Barr for sure!

I have told so many people who are sitting out the vote because they are as ticked off as I am with the two party system but are now voting for Barr! They have had it! No more "lesser of two evils"~! ENOUGH OF THIS GARBAGE!

NO MORE STATUS QUO!

[DCUPtoejuice]

Ron Paul endorsed Barr and isn't running. I'm voting for Barr.

[2connection]

Lets all yell, scream and hollar, this is OUR country, and we Demand to have BOB BARR in the debates, his voice and ideas should be heard by all Americans !

It is fundamentally Unfair to all Citizens to Block a Man such as Barr from having his vital independent voice heard in the debates

[DCUPtoejuice]

VOTE=VOICE. Unless the election is decided by a single vote, your vote doesn't affect the outcome, so vote your opinion and give yourself a voice.

[truthout911]

Ruwart supports child pornogray, Paul and Barr are NAZIS.

[peepnklown]

CNN: I would have told John: I am the spoiler to this sham election...this Stalinist type election that gives the illusion of choice. John, try being a educated man and stop selling this 'taking votes away' bullshit.

Chuck Baldwin = Theocracy

[Chainedorlo]

Forget Barr, write in Ron Paul.

[Airsofter234]

Uh....that guy is out basically. There is almost no attention to him.

[razorgrind]

Atleast Barr was smart enough to add a clause to the patriot act if it wasn't for him it would be permanent.

[milliradian]

I think Paul will still get more votes than this guy does, and he isn't even running (I know about CfL).

[oharawinter]

Ho noooo he didn't use the word "strategy" now did he?!

He also loves the word "resonate"... He's a fake... 100%

I guess the leaves only one true authentic genuinely honest altruistic candidate... Ralph Nader.

And to those who think "he's crazy": you just heard that a lot on TV that's all... Listen to him on here, and judge from what you see, instead of what TV tells you. You'll find out it doesn't add up...

[drphibes72]

Go get 'em Bob!

[Magicguy15]

I do not trust you Mr. Barr if you were part of the C.I.A. and have a CRAPY voting record then no one should trust you! We needed MARY RUWART or RON PAUL! I hope that you don't run next year and I pray that you are not the next president!

[sergeantnorider]

Yes! While the media only wants to analyze Obama's problem getting working class white votes, they refuse to analyze why 25% of the GOP vote has been going for Huckabee even though he's been out of the race for months. McCain has not solidified his base (although the media would like to convince us of as much) and Barr is going to hurt this guy big time in VA, NC, MI, and MO where McCain is just barely holding on right now. The GOP doesn't even want to discuss this guy they're so afraid. Love it

[Garboth]

I'm afraid that his voting record might scare some supporters off, even though he's changed many of his opinions and wasn't even a Libertarian when he made those decisions.

[stef1975]

Barr is our only real hope for breaking the destructive two-party cycle that's leading our nation into oblivion. Redepublimocanrats don't care about you or you rights, only about making their big-business partners richer. They prop up dictators around the world, create incentives for companies to ship jobs overseas, invade your privacy and try to restrict your God-given liberty in the name of "protecting the homeland", a line that was oft used by Hitler. And they steal your money to do it!

[Selina231]

Not only did Bob Barr vote for the Patriot Act, but also for the war in Iraq, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Don't settle patriots! Chuck Baldwin 2008!

[Garboth]

His opinions have changed in regards to those things, he wasn't REALLY a Libertarian when he voted for those things that we disagree with anyway. I think he's made enough of a change in that regard to be considered a Libertarian, and if Ron Paul is not on the ballot in California, I'm going to vote for him.

[Terrakinetic]

He doesn't seem bad. Both Obama and McCain are sneaky about what they're going to really do if the get elected, but he seems... okay. However, his personality doesn't seem to be aggressive enough to defend against character assassinations, bribes, or manipulation. Even if he wins I'm worried he might not be strong enough to fight off the interest of the evil and greedy.

[scifi353]

Go Barr!!!

[roxas2092]

Why dont they ebver ask OBama why he voted to renew the patriot act?!?!?! or why McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts??? this is bullshit.

[tlkshowhst]

SUPPORT OF THE PATRIOT ACT?!?!

OPPOSITION TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA??

Nevermind Barr.

[SSSLLLAAYYEEERRRR]

He did not support the Patriot Act without sunset clauses. To be true he supported sunset clauses for the Patriot Act. He did not outright vote against the Act like he should have but it is untrue to say he supported the Act, when he onlt voted once sunset clauses were added. By the way he has lobbyed with the MPP against his own legislation. He was not the best choice but he is better than the rest, expect Paul of course.

[JessicaBelle81]

I think Barr is only half a Libertarian. He still needs to wake up a little bit when it comes to freedom and civil liberties. If he supports the Libertarian platform then great but his past proves otherwise.

[sdkee]

Bob Barr is the death of the Libertarian party. He is a Libertarian like my dog is a fish.

Scott

[Raxr985]

Do you think those things don't matter to Steve Kubby, a guy who has spent time in prison and nearly died for the freedoms you're talking about? If Kubby can forgive Barr for his past stances I think that says a lot. Go and read that open letter.

[rapsody]

as much as i like kubby, i judge people by my own standards.. not other people's. i think almost all of us have suffered or know someone very close to us who has suffered because of the policies barr supported. forgive me for having a conscience, you are free to support barr all you want. i'm just not sold on him yet.

if he helps the LP then great but if it goes the other direction it might damage the party badly. i hope for all our sakes i'm wrong about barr, but i dont trust him.

[Raxr985]

Some quotes taken from an open letter from Steve Kubby. You can read the whole thing at the LP of Tennessee's homepage.

"I can tell you that Barr and Root are sincere and effective spokesmen for reigning in the government, restoring our constitutional rights, allowing states to determine their own laws regarding drugs and for

the full legalization of medical marijuana."

"I now believe Barr and Root are the strongest pro-freedom ticket we've ever had"

[Robo1415]

For once,I would like to see the Media actually practice what it is always preaching..namely support "diversity" by carrying the campaigns of ALL 3rd parties that have lines on enough state ballots to theoretically win....ONLY then can we talk about America being a "democracy"...We are currently a two party dictatorship that is supported by the Liberal Media that babbles on and on about "inclusiveness"...

[jhoprunner]

f u spoiler

[telethon123]

Why does everyone consider the Libertarian a spoiler for the Republicans? Libertarians left that party already. Remember the 2006 mid-terms? Republicans told libertarians to go fuck themselves because they could win with just the votes of Bible-thumpers. Obviously they were wrong.

[Robo1415]

I feel the same way about the two controlled dummies the Republicans and Democrats are running..McCain and Obama...

[stratvic]

Does the constitution not protect all individuals from all levels of government including state government. To defer the rights of the state to inflict damage on individual rights is to deny individuals have those rights. To uphold those rights requires that indididual will be protected from government incurrsion.

[righteouspolitics80]

i'm voting ralph nader. he's comitted to changing corporate corruption. this guy is too much of a push over to win. bob barr will not have enough followers to make a difference. he voted for the patriot act? at least nader was a household name in the 2000 and 2004 election. bush stole the election both times. people are watching much more closely this time around and ralph has a big shot at getting the support.

[Lojikbom]

Everytime anyone mentions the LP as a spoiler is our opportunity to0 talk about voting reform. There would be no such thing as a spoiler effect under a ranked-choice voting system and there would be no such thing as a wasted vote either.

[regusted]

Bob Barr used to hold some statist positions and has CHANGED over the past few years into a pro-liberty LEADER. Isn't that the goal of libertarian activism, to change people from statists to freedom lovers?

Some of you need to take off the MR. SPOCK EARS and ditch the losertarian non-strategy. Now put down your 12-sided dice for a moment and get the LP on the damn ballot in the rest of the states. Take a cue from Ron Paul - donate, put ads on TV - everything!

[blackthorne1978]

The other problem is there are always intolerant of anything short of their "libertarian" blend, and use ANY discrepancy in the past as ground to dismiss/diatribe against. They need to leave Ayn Rand's hate behind (it's in her writings, don't deny it), and realize that increasing freedom is of primary importance, and Barr is the LP candidate. His platform is very much pulling back the State, so go Bob!

[Dan2263165]

Wow, they're already doing the same thing t him that they did to Ron Paul... marginalize him. Remember how they always asked Ron Paul is he would drop out and run third party since he "had no chance." They outwardly said to his face he wasn't going to win. They always called him a long shot/dark horse, etc. I bet they're always going to ask Bob Barr the stupid spoiler question.

[tomrdee]

Bob Barr is not the perfict libertarian but he is way better than McCain or Obama.

Libertarians complain about gay marrage pro-life and drug war. These are the issues the guys in Washington want us to argue about while they distroy this country.

Look at the big picture.

If Barr can get enough votes it will help the Ron Paul wing of the Republican Party.

Ross Perrot got only 19% but he made the other 2 parties take notice and "balance" the budget at least 1 Year.

[nadoop]

Oh, spare me. are gay marriage, abortion, ad drug war not important issues? Regardless, Barr voted for the illegal war, AND he voted for the patriot act. He is what's wrong in Washington, and he did basically follow George Bush's footsteps. The libertarians have screwed themselves big time because they sacrificed all that they stand for in the name of popularity. What a shame! Guess we all will be voting for evil this election.

[Lojikbom]

He's more libertarian than McCain or Obama and Paul is on a Quixotic quest to "reform" the GOP. Ha! Good luck. Bob Barr, regardless of his past, is our best hope at this point.

[telethon123]

"He's more libertarian than McCain or Obama..."

If I wanted to vote for the lesser evil I wouldn't care about a 3rd party. We all know that voting Libertarian is a protest vote. If I'm going to use my vote in that manner then I at least want someone principled! Why, oh, why did the LP nominate someone who is less than libertarian, ostensibly on the grounds that he is more electable, when everyone knows he will not win the general election anyway? The LP sacrificed its integrity for nothing!

[Lojikbom]

It's not about voting for the lesser evil, but the best candidate. Since Ron Paul gave up months ago, I have no choice but to vote for Barr as the best candidate. The fact that Rob Kampia, director of the Marijuana Policy Project, is an ardent supporter of Barr, is indication enough to me that Barr has changed his ways.

As for the "protest vote", I vote to win. I take shit to the streets when I protest.

[nadoop]

You guys are so despearate, lol. If Barr is a libertarian, so is Bush. Just look at his voting record. IF we can pardon him, why not pardon the rest? I won't be voting this election, phuck it.

[LumpyRevolution]

My new mantra is "Don't blame me; I voted for and WILL VOTE for Ron Paul".

Bob's track record is too "establishment" for me. Bob will have an awful hard time convincing me he's for real with his voting track record.

[nadoop]

The libertarians chose Barr simply because they know he has a chance at getting a good amount of votes. Just look at his voting record, and you'll see that he went along with Bush the whole time he was a Republican. HE VOTED FOR THE PATRIOT ACT, HOW LIBERTARIAN IS THAT???!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lojikbom]

He now lobbies against the Patriot Act. He lobbies against his own Barr amendment. Why are you people so unforgiving? Why can't you accept when someone makes a change?

[rapsody]

because i find it kind of hard to believe that you totally change your idealogy in 2 years from being a statist neocon to a libertarian. seems just a little strange to me.

the patriot act should not have been a tough vote for someone with supposedly "libertarian" ideals. i'm not saying i am totally opposed to barr, but he certainly hasn't done enough to win my vote at this point or even the LP nomination in my opinion.

[Lojikbom]

I understand your misgivings, rapsody. The LP has tried the "principled" approach over and over again and we don't seem to be going anywhere. I willing to give this guy Barr to see if he can do something positive the others haven't been able to.

Libertarians break down into philosophers and pragmatists. The philosophers have had their hold on the party long enough; I think it's time to give a different approach a chance. I just hope the philosophers don't take their ball and go home.

[rapsody]

but what does the party stand for even if he was elected? it doesnt really mean much if he doesn't really stand for libertarian principles, which i dont think he's adequately proved at this point.

[Lojikbom]

Rapsody, while I emphatically agree he's not as Libertarian as Mary Ruwart, who I love to pieces, Barr's present platform is not that far off base from traditional libertarian political thought.

With that said, I'll admit I'm more inclined to compromise than other libs. I don't see our presidential candidate as a standard bearer as some do. We are a decentralized movement and he certainly isn't the libertarian "decider". If he fucks it up, and misrepresents us, we boot him.

[Lojikbom]

Also, I'd rather have someone moderately lib elected than not at all lib elected, which is what happens every election cycle. IN addition, if someone moderately lib can turn more people on to LP philosophy than someone totally lib, I'm for that too. If questions come up, this is our opportunity to engage the public. As it stands now, everyone ignores us, so it doesn't matter how libertarian our choice is if they get ignored anyway.

Ron Paul should have jumped ship and joined us.

[rapsody]

he hasn't even proved to me he's even 1% libertarian though, just spouting the right rhetoric doesnt make you a libertarian. his voting record is that of a statist so thats how i have to assume he would continue to vote at this point.

and i wouldnt count on barr converting very many people to the LP with his political baggage. ron paul is smart not to join the LP with barr as their candidate as far as i'm concerned. i wouldnt wanna have my pristine record stained by endorsing barr.

[rapsody]

i mean, if john mccain came out tomorrow and said he's suddenly seen the light and realizes the patriot act and the war and the drug war were all wrong, and he's sorry for supporting them.. would you support him and call him a libertarian? of course not.. so why are you giving barr the benefit of the doubt? just because he'll have the (L) by his name?

[jpvarga5]

Actually, shunning a nominee, even if they sincerely switch sides, is a kind of ideological intolerance that shouldn't being in the L party. It's one thing to have, say, Clinton or Blair change their tune so they can win an election, but its quite another to publicly renounce one's former party and former policies and join a party, that, for all intents and purposes, won't be in the White House for the foreseeable future. I actually think that looks like a sign of integrity on Barr's part.

[rapsody]

how do you know it was sincere? barr hasn't had a chance to prove it was sincere yet.  once again, i am not shunning barr and am not opposed to him being in the LP.. i just dont think hes done near enough for the libertarian cause yet to be named the LP presidential nominee. "publicly renouncing" policies like the drug war that have ruined countless lives just isn't enough for me right now.

[Raxr985]

It's time from libertarians to step off their ideological pedestal, start to think rationally, and recognize that what we have in Barr/Root is a vehicle to get a libertarian message out to a exponentially greater amount of people than libertarians have ever been able to reach before. The benefit this will be to the party in the future is invaluable. It is an exciting time to be a part of the libertarian movement.

[rapsody]

ideological pedestal? this man has supported everything libertarians are against. if we dont have an ideology, what do we have? i am not trying to shoot down his candidacy, i am just a little slow to jump on his bandwagon when he has supported things like the drug war and the patriot act. those are NOT small libertarian issues and ruining peoples lives then saying "i'm sorry" just isn't gonna make me run to this man.

[nadoop]

change my ass. the run for office is not an internship. if the lp is truly interested in constitutional principles, then they'd nominate a person who's proven themselves, not a person who's had a so-called epiphany.

[jeepndesert]

i don't know how he can avoid the fact he is a lobbyist for the marijuana policy project on cnn.

[jeepndesert]

he does seem to dance around the issues on television. i guess he doesn't want to come off as being too radical. he's playing politics at the expense of the message.

[jeepndesert]

i'm thinking dr. mary ruwart would have been an easier sell to the ron paul revolution. however, we're stuck with bob barr.

[TabooRealities]

There is a consensus that Libertarian values are better, and the only reason we get the "but can't win in an election" malarkey is because votes are being stolen from us.

[TajiTJ]

Barr was on Cavuto yesterday. Money is coming in.

[RMMHS4RP]

Is the video on YouTube anywhere?

[telethon123]

Yup. That's the title.

[kailynleto]

Barr may be a neocon, but he's an enlightened neocon who won't damage the country near as much as McPain, Hitlery, or Osama.

Whether it be Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin, it doesn't matter - it will still be way better than what we have now.

[cmanw]

How on earth can you call Bob Barr a neocon??? He's as close to Ron Paul as you're going to get on the libertarian ticket!

[wakunahum]

Not really. Look at the other candidates from the libertarian party. Even Root is closer to Ron Paul than Barr is by far.

[kailynleto]

I'm not calling him a neocon.  I clearly used the subjunctive mood. I was "pandering" to those who wrongly believe he is one.

[telethon123]

I planned to vote Libertarian until Bob Barr got the nomination. He's not a libertarian! He voted for the Patriot Act and internet censorship, and he still supports the Drug War. He's a Republican.

Let's just hope that Ron Paul will run third-party.

[RMMHS4RP]

It's true that Barr voted for the Patriot Act, but he would be the first to tell you that it was a mistake. He's worked for several years now to repeal it.

As for the drug war, he stated in Saturday's LP debate that he opposes any federal role in it, and hopes that the states will eventually decide to decriminalize drugs.

I've never heard anyone accuse him of voting for internet censorship. Maybe you can educate me on that.

Don't hold the man's past against him. People can change.

[wakunahum]

(This isn't another vote for Ron Paul comment just an observation).

I guess the question I have is how come people like Ron Paul could clearly see the Patriot Act to be a problem to civil liberties while Barr could not?

It's easy to look back a few years and say that certain things were mistakes, but it takes a good leader to know they are mistakes when they are happening.

[RMMHS4RP]

Obviously it's better to be able to see something for what it is from the beginning, but can the "big 3" candidates even now see how dangerous the Patriot Act is? (I ask sincerely; I'm not actually sure what they have said about it.)

At least Barr has come around to the right position. Isn't that far better than persisting in the wrong view?

[wakunahum]

I guess I was more leaning to the concept that there are other libertarians who ran for the nomination that always disagreed with the patriot act. They have been libertarian far longer without a recent change to libertarianism.

But yes, compared the the "3", Barr might have some promising positions although I will have to look more deeply into some of the issues more particularly.

[RMMHS4RP]

You're certainly right that other LP candidates were had better records. I hope the gamble in electing a relative newcomer who has national prominence pays off.

Ron Paul obviously would have been the ideal candidate for the LP this year, since he would have had the support of both Ruwart and Barr.

But check Barr out in any case. See if he isn't much better than either of the major candidates. I'm putting together a chart that compares them all to RP. Let me know if you want it.

[telethon123]

Please send me a copy.

I'm keeping an open mind, but it's looking like THIS libertarian will not be voting for president.  I don't want to throw my protest vote away on a Republican calling himself a libertarian.

[rrtharlies]

I would like to see the chart, please.

[telethon123]

I know he claims to have changed his mind about the Patriot Act and the Drug War, but the reasons he gives are still disturbing. He has changed his mind about the Drug War because it didn't work, not because he realized that it is wrong. He changed his mind about the Patriot Act because of how it is used, not because it is blatantly unconstitutional. It shows his lack of principles and wisdom. He has changed his mind on specific issues, but his rationale shows that HE hasn't changed.

[RMMHS4RP]

Do you have a specific statement in mind where Barr clearly states that his reasons for opposing the drug war are pragmatic rather than philosophical, or where he states that his opposition to the PA isn't so much about the law itself, but the way it's been applied?

It seems to me that his changes of mind on the specific issues actually do signal a deeper philosophical shift.

All I'm asking is that you not jump to conclusions. He may be our best chance to get a decent outcome this year.

[telethon123]

He says in this video that he has worked to repeal or amend the PA "because of the way it has been used and abused by the Bush administration". He never mentions the inherent unconstitutionality of it, just its implementation.

At the Libertarian Presidential Debate (see the video) he spoke only about the FAILURE of the Drug War, not the illegitimacy of it. He wants the federal government to stop prosecuting it and turn it over to the states and "eventually" to the individual. Eventually???

[RMMHS4RP]

I'd have to get back on you about the PA. But as for the drug war, he said in the LP debate that he opposes any federal role in it, and that he hopes the states will eventually decide to legalize drugs.

I think he uses the more pragmatic argument in a venue like a CNN interview because he knows that more non-libertarians will be persuaded by it than by a philosophical argument.

In any case, he calls for an end to the drug war. If you think he's sincere, shouldn't that be enough?

[telethon123]

Check out the video "Bob Barr on Hannity & Colmes 4/9/08".

Also, he voted for the Flag Desecration Amendment, he voted to use force in Iraq and he's 'pro-life'. What makes this guy think he's a libertarian? What the hell is wrong with the Libertarian party?

[WonjuEnglishSchool]

Some people change because they see the practical side first; that government programs always fail.

Some people change because they are ideologically and philosophically drawn to the libertarian ideal.

We should welcome newcomers no matter how their minds were lead to reject statism and embrace liberty.

We need to welcome, encourage and lead those who are not 100% pure to become "more libertarian."

Bob Barr will bring new people we need.

Bob Barr

Libertarian for President

2008

[kevkev7002]

Judging somebody shouldn't be based on what beautiful words he says to gather votes!! It should be based on his background and what he has practically done!! Barr has been a neo-conservative and not Libertarian! He is Not like Ron paul!

[algabal]

What good do you really think you're doing by attacking Bob Barr in the name of Ron Paul?

Ron Paul is not going to run any more after the Republican convention is over, and Bob Barr is the only anti-war libertarian left.

[roxas2092]

baldwin2008(dot)com

[WonjuEnglishSchool]

We all had to change and come from somewhere. Few of us sprang from the womb as full blown Libertarians. If that's our litmus test then the LP will always be a debating club shouting "I'm the purest."

Bob Barr will spread the message of liberty, draw the interest of media and the public, win votes and bring in new LP members.

The "purity police" and radical caucus can lead our internal education.

"I'm the purest Libertarian" and I support:

Bob Barr

Libertarian for President

2008

[TheFreedomRevolution]

Bob Barr is a heck of a lot better than McCain and Obama. But I will be voting for Chuck Baldwin, a true Constitutionalist.

[bighitter42]

I've liked Barr since I saw the talk he gave at the Future of Freedom Foundation. Most of those videos are on youtube btw...great speakers. Dr. Paul, Andrew Napolitano, Bobb Barr, and other defenders of liberty.

[jdixion]

when will there be bumber stickers and buttons to buy?

[greenparty720]

go barr