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Barr vs Linder: A matter of more than style (Bonus: DC Report & Pics)
The Hill ^ | 06-12-02 | David Keene

Posted on 06/14/2002 2:56:11 PM PDT by Skeet

Georgia’s fiery Republican Rep. Bob Barr (Ga.) has never been particularly popular among his Democratic colleagues. He was, after all, the first member of Congress to call for former President Clinton’s impeachment and has never cut his opponents much slack on issues that concern him.

What’s more, the man’s ubiquitous. He fights for his beliefs in committee, on the House floor and in the media. As a result, he’s been a target ever since his 1994 arrival in town and this time they believe they may be able to get him.

Oh, they know he won’t be taken out in a general election. They’ve tried that and failed, but now they’re banking on getting his fellow Republicans to do him in for them. The Democrats had a field day redistricting Georgia and one of the benefits of their ultimate scheme was throwing Barr into a newly created district with fellow Republican Rep. John Linder. They’re hoping that Linder can beat him in the GOP primary.

It’s not that they like Linder all that much. His voting record differs so little from Barr’s that the two men stipulated at a recent debate — or “joint appearance” as they call such things these days — that they agree on just about everything. It’s just that the Democrats simply cannot stand Barr.

During that appearance the two combatants suggested that since they do agree on just about everything (The American Conservative Union rates Barr at 100 percent and Linder at 96 percent) voters might want to make their selection based upon which man’s “style” they find most appealing.

Linder, an old-style conservative who gained at least a smidgen of notoriety toiling as then-Speaker Newt Gingrich’s handpicked man at the National Republican Congressional Committee or NRCC, hasn’t been heard from since Newt left the House. He’s what conservative activists sometimes refer to as “House-broken.”

He is, in short, relatively uncontroversial if only because he doesn’t get up in the morning ready to go to war for his beliefs or much of anything else. The House is largely made up of folks just like him … good men and women on both sides of the aisle who go to work in the morning, do their job and rarely make waves. Most of them get reelected and, to be perfectly honest, Congress couldn’t function without them.

Indeed, a Congress filled with Bob Barrs would be both difficult to picture and hard to manage. Imagine 435 men and women brimming with ideas, unwilling to compromise on matters of principle, and ready to take on all comers in the fight for what they see as right. It might be fun to watch, but probably wouldn’t produce much.

But a Congress without a few Bob Barrs would be even worse. It would be easy to manage but incredibly boring.

The question is whether the voters of Georgia’s new 7th Congressional District will recognize this or whether they’ll opt for a candidate who’ll vote right and let others carry the fight. The numbers favor Linder since much of the new district includes voters who have supported him in the past, but primary voters are a fiery bunch and may just decide to opt for a fighter. At least that’s what Barr is hoping because one suspects he wouldn’t change his approach to what he does even if he could.

Poll data from the district suggests the Republicans who will make this choice on August 20th like both men. As a result the primary will be close and the winner will be the candidate who can inspire and motivate his supporters.

Barr and Linder suggest their differences are largely stylistic. That’s only partially true because their stylistic differences go to their relative willingness to take risks on behalf of their beliefs and their overall influence. Bob Barr is an innovator and a leader. He’s considered partisan by those who don’t like him, but he’s fought for privacy and individual rights alongside folks like Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) to reform our civil forfeiture laws and the American Civil Liberties Union in warning about the future dangers lurking in our nation’s response to Osama bin Laden and his buddies.

He’s raised important questions that a Congress without a few Bob Barrs might never even consider. In fact, I believe that a Congress without him would be poorer for his absence and I hope his constituents agree.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Georgia; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: acu; bobbarr; davidkeene; electionuscongress; garyaldrich; georgiaprimary; johnlinder
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Comment #41 Removed by Moderator

Comment #42 Removed by Moderator

To: Interesting Times; Skeet
Great report. Nice photo.

Dubious tie.
Yeah. I says to myself, says I, there's a good-looking conservative in a bad-looking (liberal?) tie. Then to myself I say: nah, must stay loyal, must view the tie as modern and interesting. I stare at it hard and I try. I say: think modern, think interesting. My brain says: bad tie day.
43 posted on 06/14/2002 9:03:43 PM PDT by FreeTheHostages
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To: Rommel2
Bob Barr is a hypocrite and does not deserve our respect or support.

Don't try to pretend to know, or dictate, who does and who does not deserve MY respect or support.

You've made your case several times. We've been lied to by every elected Republican, even the ones who were never divorced including Bush and Bush, now let it go before you really piss someone off.

44 posted on 06/14/2002 9:34:11 PM PDT by lewislynn
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To: FreeTheHostages; interesting times; nick danger
But it really does match the outfit. It's just the lighting, I tell you. Okay, I wasn't wearing a tie, Nick Danger cropped it in to make me look mainstream. Thanks Nick.
45 posted on 06/14/2002 9:36:58 PM PDT by Skeet
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To: Rommel2
If one chooses to look to man for perfection then one will always be disappointed. Tearing down a man is not a hard task. Putting oneself in the public arena with a willingness to stand on principle even in the face of past failings, now that is a person with courage and conviction. I would try to get to know this man personally before I run to the court of Larry Flint for lessons in morality.
46 posted on 06/14/2002 9:45:39 PM PDT by Skeet
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To: Skeet
what was his vote on the brady bill crap? thanks
47 posted on 06/14/2002 10:38:00 PM PDT by herewego
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To: .45MAN; 4ConservativeJustices; 80sReaganite; Accountable One; AFVetGal; agrandis; AJ504...
Big ol' Georgia Ping!
48 posted on 06/14/2002 10:53:07 PM PDT by Skeet
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To: herewego
Sorry, but I don't have his complete voting record in front of me. I know he is supported by the NRA, and he is a staunch 2nd Amendment advocate. As far as finding his vote on Brady, go to Thomas - Legislative Information on the Internet.
49 posted on 06/14/2002 11:05:27 PM PDT by Skeet
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To: Skeet
what was his vote on the brady bill crap? thanks 47 posted on 6/15/02 1:38 AM Eastern by herewego
50 posted on 06/14/2002 11:05:55 PM PDT by herewego
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To: Skeet
my understanding was he voted FOR brady.
if I am mis-informed, my apologies.
51 posted on 06/14/2002 11:08:01 PM PDT by herewego
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To: Kevin Curry
There was a debate on 750 WSB AM that featured Bob Barr and local talk show host, Neil Boortz. The debate was on whether marijuana should be legalized. Boortz, playing to emotions, talked mostly about using the drug as a pain killer; for medical reasons. In fact, that was his only point. He failed to look at the whole picture, the effects legalization would have to society. ie: Netherlands.

I didn't catch the beginning of the debate, but I had the feeling that it was held on a university campus, for the majority of the crowd was on Boortz's side. It made me think that there were a lot of pot smokers in the audience. However, I don't know for sure.

52 posted on 06/14/2002 11:14:19 PM PDT by FreedomFriend
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To: rwfromkansas
It's part of the corruption of the democrat party controlled Ga. State Legislature. They purposefully gerimandered the districts to favor democrats, while, at the same time, created a way to eliminate one of the most active conservatives from the U.S. House of Representatives.

However, whenever a district favors a Conservative candidate, whether it is a square, normal shape, of the same number of people, etc., it is said to be biased against minorities. You know the entire spill. Without the black vote, the democrat party would cease to exist among GA U.S. House Representatives.

53 posted on 06/14/2002 11:18:52 PM PDT by FreedomFriend
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To: Skeet
Too late to look now- hoping for info off hand.
gotta crash, thanks!!!!!
54 posted on 06/14/2002 11:31:25 PM PDT by herewego
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To: Skeet
Hey, no problem.


55 posted on 06/15/2002 12:45:49 AM PDT by Nick Danger
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To: Nick Danger
I'm just hoping that's ketchup and not blood.
56 posted on 06/15/2002 5:39:57 AM PDT by Skeet
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To: Skeet
Hey! Great pic Skeet!
57 posted on 06/15/2002 5:42:20 AM PDT by diotima
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To: Rommel2
I know nothing of what has gone on in Barr's personal life.
He, or his wife, could be complete assholes.
I do not know....

You and Larry Flynt, however, I have figured out.

58 posted on 06/15/2002 6:56:00 AM PDT by eddie willers
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Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: Rommel2
Put your energies to something positive Rommel2. Life is too short.
60 posted on 06/15/2002 7:30:08 AM PDT by Skeet
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