Bob Barr, Bane of the Right? (WaPo from CPAC)

Washington Post ^ | 2/11/06 | Dana Milbank

[conservative in nyc]

You could find just about everything at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference this week: the bumper sticker that says "Happiness is Hillary's face on a milk carton," the "Straight Pride" T-shirt, a ride on an F-22 Raptor simulator at the Lockheed exhibit, and beans from the Contra Cafe coffee company (slogan: "Wake up with freedom fighters").

As of midday yesterday, a silent auction netted $300 for lunch with activist Grover Norquist, $275 for a meal with the Heritage Foundation president and $1,000 for a hunting trip with the American Conservative Union chairman. But lunch with former congressman Bob Barr (R-Ga.), with an "estimated value" of $500, had a top bid of only $75 -- even with a signed copy of Barr's book, "The Meaning of Is," thrown in.

No surprise there. The former Clinton impeachment manager is the skunk at CPAC's party this year. He says President Bush is breaking the law by eavesdropping on U.S. citizens without warrants. And fellow conservatives, for the most part, don't want to hear it.

--Snip--

"Are we losing our lodestar, which is the Bill of Rights?" Barr beseeched the several hundred conservatives at the Omni Shoreham in Woodley Park. "Are we in danger of putting allegiance to party ahead of allegiance to principle?"

Barr answered in the affirmative. "Do we truly remain a society that believes that ... every president must abide by the law of this country?" he posed. "I, as a conservative, say yes. I hope you as conservatives say yes."

But nobody said anything in the deathly quiet audience. Barr merited only polite applause when he finished, and one man, Richard Sorcinelli, booed him loudly. "I can't believe I'm in a conservative hall listening to him say [Bush] is off course trying to defend the United States," Sorcinelli fumed.

[Havoc]

Apparently, every conservative is a conservative until they say something about Bush that ya'll don't like or disagree with ya'll on some point. Tell me, is there anyone folks here won't smear to protect their boy? Barr went to the matt for every one of you here long before W imagined being president. How short your memories all are. I would expect you to at least give him a fair hearing and note that you may disagree.
But you trash him as though he were yesterday's news. IMHO, you don't deserve what he did for all of us.

[rcocean]

Why do you think Bob Barr is a communist.

Thats seems rather extreme.

[rcocean]

I think he saw a job with the ACLU as the biggest moneymaker and went for it.

He'd be arguing the other side (for Bush) if they paid him more money.

[Havoc]

Or perhaps Barr just hasn't reveiwed all the data before offering an opinion.. an opinion he may have been asked to offer inspite of lack of information. Nobody has bothered finding out on what basis he has made his conclusion. That would at least seem to be prerequisite to calling him a hack and sundry other inane swipes and smears. The man deserves far more respect than that.. respect he earned in these circles.. earned not got granted by fiatt. Barr risked more and did more in his service to this country than many of the people besmirching his name could ever dream to do. He has furthered the conservative cause and helped advance us to the point of seeing dims on the brink of self-destruction. And people here spit at him as though he were the enemy. IMHO, not one of the people running their mouths deserves the priveledge of kissing his butt. But many of them probably should be directed to. At the least, they should discover the concepts of respect, gratitude and proper ethical behavior. At the least they should know when to stuff a sock in it.

[billybudd]

Sorry, forgot to add the </sarcasm>.

[wmileo]

I never liked Bob Barr. He was a mutt when he was on the impeach Clinton Team. he does nothing but turn folks off. Now, every time I see him, the words "Germ Warfare" come to mind.