Posted on 05/26/2008 11:57:53 AM PDT by devere
(CNN) – Former Rep. Bob Barr, the newly-selected Libertarian presidential nominee, rejected suggestions Monday that he could spoil his former party's chances of holding onto the White House.
"There are two folks that are out to spoil the race here — it's Senator Obama and Senator McCain. They're setting out, I think, to spoil our chances," he told CNN's "American Morning."
He added, "There are millions of voters out there that are not going to vote for Senator McCain, and we aim to reach those voters with the message of smaller government and more individual liberty."
For years, Barr was a prominent Georgia Republican in the House. He played a leading role in the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.
His positions on some issues have left some Libertarians unsure about his candidacy. He opposed legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, supported the Patriot Act, and co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act.
While the Defense of Marriage Act was backed by opponents of gay marriage, and allowed states not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, Barr told CNN Monday that it was a "very sound individualistic and states' rights policy."
And he said he has been working for five years "to either amend or repeal the Patriot Act because of the way it has been used and abused by the Bush administration to curtail the civil liberties of American citizens in this country. We can defend America without taking away civil liberties and privacy rights of American citizens, and we ought to be doing that."
He also supports U.S. withdrawal from Iraq.
Barr, 59, left the Republican Party in 2006, and announced in April that he would form a presidential exploratory committee. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 and represented a conservative district
(Excerpt) Read more at politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com ...
The purists will ensure that the next president is named Obama. If so, the liberals in both houses will push through every socialist piece of legislation you can think of and President Obama will sign away this country’s freedom with ho hesitation. The leftist retirements from the SCOTUS will commence as you kiss the balance of power in the judiciary goodbye for decades to come. At least McCain is right on some things. The Democrats are right on zip, and the “all or nothing” Libertarians will simply guarantee that the government gives away the farm.
Mr. Barr, my liberties, or lack thereof, have not been at issue as I am not hiding anything that would convict me or embarrass me if uncovered by some government spy program. I would happily surrender some of my liberties if it meant stopping some evil terrorist from harming just one innocent being. Let it be known that I will not/would not vote for you because you will say anything to get elected and we have far too many of your people already in office.
I would like to point out this is the same Libertarian Party (along with the Green) that tried to overturn an election in 04 over some false accusation in Ohio.
If McCain picks Romney for VP, I’ll go McCain/Romney. If not, I’ll vote for either Barr or Paul.
But.. I am not sure Mr. Barr is the one. In fact I'm pretty sure he's not.
I watched the Libertarian party (debate replay)and I wouldn’t worry about Barr or any libertarian drawing votes from McCain. What a bunch of far left whackos.
At the very least, they care more about their egos than their country.
Shouldn’t be too hard to take votes from the global socialists, Dems or Republicans.
As for McCain. What a joke. He cannot even get people to want to vote for him from his own party.
Maybe he needs to up the bonus points.
This is the only reason that Barr will not win the election. Defcons cannot vote for him. As it is, he'll do to block a McCain ascendancy, which is fine with me.
Barr needs to get a clue if he doesn’t see himself as a spoiler for McCain.
Barr needs to get a clue if he doesn’t see himself as a spoiler for McCain.
“As for McCain. What a joke. He cannot even get people to want to vote for him from his own party.”
Strange statement to make about someone who wiped the floor with his rivals for the GOP nomination and is today within the margin of error in the general election in a year when GOP Congressmen are facing meltdown.
Like it or not, McCain’s the only bright spot for conservatives right now.
Now, where’s my mug ?
There is always a Libertarian candidate, how would he get enough votes to affect this race one way or the other.
Not that I don’t wish there were a “None of the above” option this November.
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