Bob Barr seeks Libertarian Party nomination April 20, 2008 - 11:26AM
Former Republican Congressman turned Libertarian Bob Barr has announced that he is forming a presidential exploratory committee. His decision to make this third-party run may be bad news for the Republican nominee John McCain, but good news for conservatives everywhere.
The true conservative candidates who sought the nomination in the Republican race were unable to make it to the top of the heap, leaving the conservative base without one of their own to rally around.
And with polls indicating that Barr is considered the frontrunner in a field that numbers about 10, and the candidate most likely to claim the Libertarian nomination next month at the convention in Denver, the Republicans may be faced with their own version of the Nader effect.
In a Washington Times report, GOP campaign pollster John McLaughlin said a Barr bid wouldn’t be good for the presumptive Republican nominee. “It takes more points from us than Nader takes from them,” McLaughlin said.
Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory points out in an article on LP.org that, “For far too long Americans felt it necessary to waste their vote for the ‘lesser of two evils’ just for the sake of not crossing partisan lines. That’s not how our elections should be. Americans are tired of the status quo politics and want a candidate in who they can believe — not just a candidate who will do the least amount of harm.”
Bob Barr became well known nationally in the 1990’s for being a leader in the Clinton impeachment push. His political career has been centered around his advocacy for smaller government, lower taxes, strict adherence to the Constitution (including the entire Bill of Rights), and last but not least a strict adherence to the rule of law.
With so many conservative voters feeling disaffected over the last several years, Barr’s possible candidacy has garnered more national attention. His platform will not only include limiting government, but defending civil liberties during the ongoing “war on terror,” and opposing pre-emptive wars and nation-building. He also objects to the current interpretation of presidential powers, with the other governmental branches seemingly powerless to limit it.
Barr’s strongest criticism has come from some on the “right” for his work with the ACLU defending the Fourth Amendment. He was outspoken and critical of the Patriot Act, asserting its infringement upon civil liberties.
He has been a member of the Libertarian Party since 2006. According to FITNews, Barr will receive the endorsement of Texas Republican GOP presidential candidate and fellow Libertarian Ron Paul. Paul ran on the Libertarian ticket in 1988, and maintains that he will not run as a third-party candidate this year.
Founded in 1971 as an alternative to the Republican and the Democratic parties, the Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party.
The Libertarian Party saw an increase in membership of 28 percent by the end of 2007, as was reported by LP.org. The popularity of Ron Paul and his campaign success across the country, along with much dissatisfaction in both the Republican, as well as the Democratic parties, has attracted much interest in Libertarianism.
After eight long years of the Bush Administration many conservatives and others are angry and even bitter about the direction the country is going, and if Bob Barr gets the Libertarian Party’s nomination, many on the “right” will have the option of casting their votes for a candidate who supports traditional conservative values.
ABOUT THE WRITER Carol Jensen is a long-time Barstow resident, graduating from Kennedy High School and Barstow College, where she was an English instructor for many years. Much of her time now is spent writing political and social commentary. She may be contacted at cajensen49@msn.com.