Barr offers “scathing critique” of McCain
June 18th, 2008 by Jason PyeBob Barr recently sat down with Eric Pianin of the Washington Post to discuss his campaign and offered “a scathing critique of Sen. John McCain”:
Barr, a one-time conservative Republican House member from Georgia who broke with the Bush administration and many of his former congressional colleagues, blasted McCain for his support of the war in Iraq, his energy policies and his stand on reducing government spending.
“With regard to domestic policy, Sen. McCain really has put forward nothing that would indicate he believes in dramatically shrinking the size and cost of the government,” Barr said during an interview on washingtonpost.com’s “PostTalk” program. “He does talk a great game about doing away with earmarks, but that really does not get near to the heart of the matter of the massive federal spending, the massive federal debt and the deficits we’re running.”
[...]
Barr said that “the tremendous growth” of federal government powers since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks “has so dramatically shrunk the sphere of personal liberty in this country … that it has really caused myself and many other Americans … to take a much harder look at government power than we did in the past.”
Here is the video of the interview:
June 18th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Save what you can after paying for Gas! Donate to Bob on July 2nd!
http://www.barrbomb.com
June 18th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Dear Mr. Barr:
Apparently you are nothing more than a political chameleon, and were never really a Conservative. Did you dodge the draft? It appears so. All you did was go back to your left wing roots by joining/supporting the ACLU. What would your wonderful parents think of you today? How can you in good consience do anything to help secure the election of Barack Obama? But then again you are a real Democrat at heart.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Dear Sid,
What in God’s name are you talking about? I think John McCain, if anyone, is doing the most to help secure the election for Barack Obama. If you had any idea what the Constitution was, who the writer’s who created it were, and truly understood the principles of natural law and limited government that it sets in place, then maybe you wouldn’t be buying into a facade of liberalism dressed up as “Republicanism”.
Afterall, McCain supports amnesty for illegals, campaign finance reform, giving more power to international organizations, the IRS…
It’s rather funny that up until this week, he has never supported drilling for oil domestically. Please, you really need to realize who will truly promote a free market economy, individual liberties, limited government, and a secure America.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Sid Graubard is clueless. Perhaps this statement is a tad too polite considering the absolute ignorance of his comments. I suppose this idiot will next claim that McCain is conservative? Sounds like this moron drank the Kool-Aid long ago and doesn’t understand much about what is actually going on in this country. Anti-Constitutional, globalist candidates who support fiat money and the Federal Reserve and take their marching orders from the U.N. and the Bilderbergers exist in both of the main political parties. At times you can not distinguish between them and the Republicans and Democrats appear to be two warring factions of basically the same political party.
We had a great conservative running for President on the Republican ticket, his name is Ron Paul. But what did idiots like Sid Graubard do? They voted for the leftist uber liberal John McCain. Mr. Bob Barr appears to be the only candidate running for office that will restore the Constitution and uphold true conservative principles. I’m getting really tired of Neo-Cons like Sid masquerading as conservatives, when politically they are identical to Hillary Clinton.
June 19th, 2008 at 3:37 am
You never hear Bob Barr going after Obama. I wonder why. Could it be he wants to help him win.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Obviously, Bob Barr is way more conservative and constitutional than John McCain. If Obama gets elected it will be the GOP’s fault that they didn’t pick a real conservative like Ron Paul. My only area of concern with Mr. Barr is his past record with marijuana. Where does he currently stand on the drug issue? He used to be way off track with this issue. I feel the old hard line stance against drugs have gotten us nowhere. I am not for the use of drugs but I think the filling of our prisons with drug addicts and our legal system in general is messed up on this issue.
Sid, you are just desperately trying to get McCain elected, forget it he’s hopeless, or should I say hapless.
June 19th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Mark,
Barr has been endorsed by the Marijuana Policy Project for his tireless efforts since leaving Congress in favor of medical marijuana. He was once their public enemy #1. Many people who don’t care for drugs or even think they are evil, automatically gravitate to the “War on Drugs” because they see that as their only option. But Barr has finally realized that prohibition is not the solution and has stated, like Dr. Paul, that it is a health problem and should be treated as such.
June 19th, 2008 at 8:09 am
“Barr said that “the tremendous growth” of federal government powers since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks “has so dramatically shrunk the sphere of personal liberty in this country … that it has really caused myself and many other Americans … to take a much harder look at government power than we did in the past.””
This is absolutely true, at least in my case. I did not care that much for politics until Sept. 11th, and it was always in a “defensive” way as you described.
Keep up the great work!
-Dan in PA
June 19th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Douglas,
Mr. Barr has hammered Barack Obama on many issues. If you would actually listen to his interviews and read his articles, you would see this. The only person Bob Barr wants to help win is Bob Barr.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Sid,
There is really no way I can express how idiotic your comment is. First, Barr never dodged the draft, he may have just simply not drafted or was able to postpone due to him being a college student at the time. Either way, your proposal that he dodged the draft is unfounded.
Since when did working with the ACLU mean you were a liberal? You also left out the part where he works with the American Conservatives Union. As to how his parents feel, I believe they are very proud that their son is the ONLY candidate for President campaigning for Liberty, Freedom, and Smaller government. John McCain’s mother can not say the same.
The only person Bob Barr is trying to get elected is Bob Barr. If John McCain loses this election, it is his own fault. John McCain is not conservative, is in favor of bigger government and endless war. Same goes for Barack Obama. Both John McCain and Barack Obama are liberals at heart. Bob Barr is a libertarian at heart.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Douglas: I believe Bob Barr’s frequent comments regarding McCain are in an effort to firmly highlight the fact that he does not stand with him or anywhere near him. Many that already know who Bob Barr is remember him as a former Republican congressman, and Barr is trying to ensure that his former label doesn’t bring about a situation where nonsensical “guild by association” makes him out to be a McCain-loving neocon.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:45 am
…or “guilt by association” as the case may be (I just spent the hour before writing this comment reading about the history of the Chinese Carpenter’s Guild)
June 19th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
mr. Sid
who r u intend to vote for?
June 19th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
All of this is nice, but on January 20, 2009, an enemy of individual liberty will be sworn in as President of the United States. So long as the superstitious think they can vote their way into heaven by opposing individual liberty for **** and women and as long as the loopy Left thinks capitalism is the enemy, individual liberty is still on its long, slow death march toward extinction in this country. It’s too late to work within the system…
“Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule – and both commonly succeed, and are right.” – H. L. Mencken
June 19th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
If Bob Barr wants to get votes he has to offer something more than freedom. He has to offer money to the voters. They vote their self interest, not for liberty.
Bob should offer to privatize all of the offshore mineral rights. The shares go equally to each citizen of the U.S. at no cost. The dividends would go to the shareholders.
This issue would get Bob a lot of recognition now that off shore drilling is being debated. If all the citizens owned the mineral rights, they would be in favor of drilling, therefore providing more oil.
June 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Sid is is one dumb MF fo sho.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
While I’m a strong supporter of Bob Barr, I’m getting very concerned that the issues are mostly being directed at the Republican Party. Attacking McCain without directing ire at Obama is a mistake. This further the impression to voters as a “spoiler” and won’t be very viable. Barr must attack Obama if he is to remain a force to be reckoned with. Barr must draw Democrat leaning voters if he is to succeed in breaking the two party system. BE A TWO-EDGED SWORD and slice both ways before it is too late.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I like Bob Barr but I am worried about him working with the ACLU, who has sued towns Hazleton P.A. .for one etc.etc.. about Illegal Aliens.
Does Anyone Know Where Bob Barr Stands On Illegal Immigration ?
Is Bob Barr For AMNESTY ? I really would like to know.
June 19th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Someone above mentioned something to the effect that the only one Barr wants to help win is Barr…While I would agree that he’s not really harsher or easier in his critiques of either one, I don’t think it’s accurate to say that the only one he wants to win is Barr. I think the hallmark of libertarians and their like-minded brethren is that what is important is the ideas espoused, regardless of the personalities advancing them. While Republicans and Democrats advance egos, Liberarians advance ideas, and I think most Libertarians are more than willing to support whoever is most able to advance true American principles.
June 19th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Dear Richard
I belive that Bob Barr is trying to make a base of supporters right now, and to do that he must show that McCain is not conservitive at all. After he gets the conservitive base ( full of Ron Paul people), he will then go after Obama more. Its a great plan because he knows that the Ron Paul people will get money, internet media, and Grass Roots for him, then he can try and get Obama fans on his side to help start and get him Rock-Star look which will get TV media which the masses will see.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Terrie, you can read about Congressman Barr’s position on illegal immigration under the “Issues” tab on the top of the page. Basically, he is against amnesty. As I understand it, his work for the ACLU was done in relation to privacy issues, and he does not support all the positions of the organization (if he did I wouldn’t vote for him).
June 20th, 2008 at 8:00 am
You songwriters out there how about lyrics to Can’t stand mccainn?
June 20th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Chuck,
I agree with you insofar as to what typically motivates voters, but it’s not terribly in keeping with classical liberal economic policy to just dole out cash to the populace. I’d say that’s a traditionally Democratic notion, but then again, I did just get a $600 check from Bush – which I promptly handed off to the good folks at Visa.
If the promise of expanding our horribly eroded individual liberties isn’t enough to motivate voters to choose something other than a Republicrat or a Demican (which we all know it isn’t), then now might be the time to stock up on AKs and canned goods (which it probably is)…
June 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Amazing that you get a few Libertarians together and two things happen. Rational discourse takes place, and the tired jibber-jabber continuously spewed by the big two starts to look like the garbage that it is. Bob Barr is the real deal. He’s worn the hat of both ultra conservative when and libertarian watchdog when times have required it. Does this make him a chameleon, or phony? No, because in most cases he was on the side of right (ie the side of the people). That tells me that he is a guy that will do what needs to be done, in a country where, right now, a lot needs to be done.
Also, to all you poison-peddling ultra repubs, check this: Libertarians are not johnny come lately’s. This isn’t a “phase” or “experimentation”. This is our party because this is what we believe. This is our party because your parties are corrupt, ineffective and politically and morally bankrupt. So nobody here really gives two craps that a vote for Bob Barr hurts McCain, or is a vote for Barack Obama. The reason we are voting for Bob Barr and not McCain is because WE WANT BOB BARR TO WIN, NOT MCCAIN! There will be no difference in the REAL outcome regardless of whether McCain beats Obama or vice versa. So we are willing to cast our votes for OUR party and OUR beliefs, and suffer the consequences until the day comes where we get a candidate in the White House, who will finally bring about some real change. So take your incredibly weak Rush Limbaugh talking points and stick them where John Obama can’t farm alternative energy. Republicratism is the way of the past. Libertarianism is our only hope for the future.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Ricky, I don’t want to challenge your comment that Barr has been hammering Obama. It is just that it is hard to find the statements from anyone other than either Obama or McCain. I am new to this movement, so I’d appreciate if you could point some of us to some good blogs that would follow closely Barr’s and Root’s footprints in the campaign. Thank you.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:28 am
Barr does need to attack BOTH!….Obama and McCain are lousy…he needs to build a base of support from those who are disgusted with the horrible choices given us…
June 21st, 2008 at 7:17 pm
It’s good to have an alternative.
Liberal Democrats will vote for Obama.
Liberal Republicans will vote for McCain.
And every day American people - Republican, Democrat and Independent - will find their champion in Bob Barr.
June 22nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Bob Barr will not win !! I say this because most American’s will not vote 3rd party because they haven’t yet awoken and by the time they do it’s going to be too late! I am going to Vote for Bob . This will be my first time voting for a 3rd party candidate. I do wish that people would wake up and quit putting their faith into the Empty suit’s that the other two party’s give us consistantly. Face it people we are witnessing the death of America are you willing to try and turn it around or are you going to watch it sink then scratch your fat head and go gee why did this happen?
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Bob Barr was, in my opinion, the “enemy” during the Clinton administration. But times change, people change, and I must say I am impressed with some of the things he says. Issues are never black or white, and he seems to realize this. I’d never vote for him, but I have to respect his transformation. And, in retrospect, the Clinton administration was not the glorious gilded age that historians try to portray it. Clinton squandered his opportunity; what a waste of talent and eight years. It was a shame he could not curb his hormones. But that surely was no reason to impeach him. When one looks at the ATROCITIES of the Bush era, Clinton seems quaint. The Bush administration is so evil, so corrupt, so incompetent, etc that impeachment seems like too easy a solution. He and the rest of them should be tried as war criminals. And they’ve shredded the constitution. They are the Benedict Arnolds of our age, a shame and a blot on the US forever.
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Don’t you Libertarians care when your party is used by politicians to advance their own personal goals and not yours?
If you truly believe in your principles which I believe you do, put someone up for President who shares your beliefs, like Ron Paul and other great Libertarians throughout the years.
Bob Barr is making a mockery of your party for his own selfish revenge and motives.
Either put a real Libertarian up for the vote, vote for the candidate closest to your views or write in your vote.
Bob Barr is as much a Libertarian as Hillary is a Republican. Don’t take the bait just to say you got a bigger percentage of vote than the last election just because you put up a phony. 6% of Georgians aren’t voting for a Libertarian, they are voting for someone they used to vote for as a conservative Republican.
Don’t let him hijack your party.
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
For years I’ve felt that there wasn’t more than about 2 cents worth of difference between the Republican and Democratic parties when it actually came to measuring their performance. Yes, big difference in the rhetoric, little difference in performance. I am finally disgusted with the Republican Party and seriously leaning towards the Libertarian. It is not a matter of throwing the election to the socialists. It’s finally obvious that the
2 party system in America is firmly in the hands of the socialists and it hardly matters anymore who wins. We keep getting inept leadership that is literally destroying America.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Jeez Robert! Purists like you just crack me up sometime.Not every libertarian was born that way.Some of us had to be shown the light.If you refuse to accept people who BECOME libertarians,this revolution will fail. A perpetuation of attitudes like yours within the libertarian party will only serve to insure that our goals remain only a theory.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
We have no choice here vote for Bob Barr or the two commies.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
At one time nobody would think the Berlin wall would come down ,then it did,it can happen ,people will wake up,it can happen,any other vote but a third party would be a waste,you could even say treason,yes I would say that.Look at Mc Cain and Obama it would be insane to vote for them…….they are both sick.And old…and treasonous.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:29 am
Since there’s no substantial difference between the Democrats and Republicans, they ratchet up the rhetoric and personal attacks to make you think there’s a difference. Check out what this Democrat congressman had to say for himself:
The man was trying to question Mr. Kanjorski about his remarks that Democrats had overpromised during the 2006 congressional elections by implying they could end the war if they controlled Congress.
“Now, anybody who is a good student of government would know that wasn’t true,” Mr. Kanjorski said at an Ashley town hall meeting in August. “But you know the temptation to want to win back Congress — we sort of stretched the facts, and people ate it up.” - The Times Tribune, June 25, 2008
Let’s face it, the only difference between the two parties is the lies they tell, so why should I throw away my vote on either party? Why should my fear of one party gaining power stop me from voting for a candidate I can actually trust or believe? The Ds and Rs are creating their own need through the web of lies they weave. The lies the Ds spin up their crowd with are as much aimed at infuriating the Rs as they are at stroking the Ds, and the Rs do the same thing. If they don’t, you’ll vote for someone who would look out for your interests and they’d be out of power.
By the way, here’s what the US Constitution has to say about Congress’ responsibility with respect to wars. Apparently the good congressman has never read it, even though he took an oath to uphold it:
Article 1, Section 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
…
To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water;
To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;
To provide and maintain a navy;
To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;
To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
June 28th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
James,
I think we are all born libertarians. If we took Libertarians seriously, the federal government would have no role in many of the social programs, education included, and we would live in a Libertarian style utopia. I see Libertarianism as a theory that has a good overall end, but is not realistic as a way to govern and “promote the general welfare”. Most fair minded people see good points to the Libertarian movement, and can take some of them and mix them with other movements or parties.
We have strayed too far toward a welfare state, we are overly and unfairly taxed and our elected officials are not held to the standards of the constitution. But you can’t throw out the baby with the bath water.
There are some good aspects of our political, social and economic system that should be maintained because if the people didn’t pay for certain services we would become even more beholden to the wealthy class.
Bob Barr is no libertarian. I have followed him for decades and there was no transformation. This run is about political expediency. I think that’s quite obvious. He hasn’t been shown any light, he’s been handed an opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it.
I live in New York and saw HIllary Clinton hijack New Yorkers into believing that she was looking out for all our interests when it is quite obvious she used NY for other purposes, i.e. running for the Presidency. I knew when I was being used before and I see it again in Bob Barr. The guy has the faithful well intentioned in your party totally snookered. Sorry to say that because I have a lot of respect for the Libertarian movement and party. You guys do your homework and know your stuff when it comes to your party. The party just couldn’t resist a big name offering himself up despite his non-Libertarian views that he has held for his entire life.