Bob Barr: Obama and McCain Aren't Credible Agents of Change
The Libertarian candidate is running for president to impact policy
It's a familiar story told by third-party and independent presidential candidates every four years: Washington is broken. The Democrats and the Republicans are part of the problem. It's time for Americans to choose a different way.
True to form, those are the arguments of Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr as he tries to influence the general election this November. Despite his problems—low name recognition, relatively little money, severe obstacles in qualifying to be on the ballot in many states, and virtually no chance of being included in the three presidential debates—Barr could have an impact.
That's because the cerebral, mustachioed former Republican representative from Georgia might have enough support in a handful of battleground states to swing a close election. He cites polls that say he is attracting up to about 10 percent of the vote in New Hampshire and Nevada, two battleground states. If that holds up, he could make a huge difference. Most of those votes would likely come from the individualistic, anti-Washington, Libertarian wing of the GOP—and hurt Republican John McCain.
One can conjure up even more of an impact by adding liberal firebrand Ralph Nader, Libertarian-leaning Ron Paul, and other "outsider" candidates into the mix, even as write-ins. If each receives a percent or two of the vote in the New Hampshire and Nevada polls, it could make the outcome impossible to predict and disrupt the plans of the major parties by forcing them to channel more resources into those states.
Of course, Barr and the other outsider candidates could also end up as asterisks in history with little or no support. But Barr perseveres on the hope that he will score some kind of breakthrough.
In an interview Friday, he predicted that the "aura" of GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will fade in a few weeks and the race for the White House will end up where it always does—as a contest between the presidential nominees. At that point, if history is a guide, the veep candidates will become a sideshow.
That prospect, Barr reasons, will encourage Americans to shift from a focus on Palin and give his candidacy a fresh look.
He seems realistic in his assessments. He knows he can't win. But he points out that Texas billionaire Ross Perot captured 19 percent of the popular vote in 1992. Perot apparently drew most of his support from Republican incumbent George H. W. Bush, and this helped Democratic newcomer Bill Clinton to take the White House.
Barr isn't troubled by the role of a spoiler who could give the presidency to another newcomer, Barack Obama. He says his bigger goal is to affect policy. He traces eventual congressional action on the balanced budget, welfare reform, and term limits at least in part to Perot's influence in the 1992 campaign.
Barr argues that dissatisfaction with Washington today is probably higher than it was in 1992. Recent polls show that 8 of 10 Americans say the country is headed in the wrong direction. Most are very dissatisfied with the job performances of both President Bush and Congress.
Barr's website carries the slogan "Send Them a Message"—signaling that he offers his own brand of change in a campaign in which that word has become the dominant theme. Barr says McCain, with all his years in the Senate, "is not an agent of change by any stretch of imagination." Barr adds that Obama, the Democratic nominee, has such a thin résumé that he also has little credibility as a change agent.
Barr says he wants to be known as the candidate associated with tax reform, immediately freezing and then slashing federal spending, limiting the power of the executive branch, which Barr says Bush has expanded in a dangerous way, and ensuring civil liberties, which he says have been seriously eroded under Bush.
The former congressman seems to lack the charisma and certainly the fortune available to Perot, but he hopes to emulate the outsider of '92 by surprising the skeptics and playing a substantial role in '08.
Reader Comments
Baldwin as President, Ron Paul become a cabinet member?
I totally support Chuck Baldwin. Why? First, Ron Paul endorses him. Second, the more I have learned about him the more I believe that if he became our President he has some real backbone to stand up to Washington. Third, did anyone think that if we really rally behind Chuck Baldwin and he wins that he could very well offer Ron Paul a position in his cabinet. Ron Paul finally in the White House. Therefore, for all of you that have been so loyal to Ron Paul and want to write in his name I think what Ron Paul is trying to tell you, but by not telling you what to do, is to vote for Chuck Baldwin. That everybody that was behind Ron Paul should be behind Chuck Baldwin. It doesn't make sense to me that when Ron Paul asks you to support other politicians for election because they should be, you quickly want to support them even if they are not from your area, or if he asks you to send letters to Congress for various reasons we do it willingly because we know he is only watching out for us. I know some of you have concerns that Chuck Baldwin wears his religion on his sleeve whereas Ron Paul is more quiet about his, however, Ron Paul, by his words, actions and beliefs is a very religious man himself. He puts the American people and this Country first like his family. He tries to protect us from the evil that is so quickly spreading throughout D.C. If this is not the work of God I don't know what is. Don't you want someone in their that you feel that is honest and has some moral fiber to stand up to these politicians in D.C. All of you want to return back to the constitution as Ron Paul has stated we should. Ron Paul has stated that it is our moral (another reference to God) obligation to vote for the best person for this country. This country's laws and constitution were founded with God's word. Our court system goes by the ten commandments and we swear on the Bible before we are questioned in court. Newly-elected politicians swear on the Bible their Oath of Office. God is in our Pledge of Allegiance. God is even printed on our money. How can you possibly separate God from government. God gives us a conscious and natural law. Why do you think D.C. is such a mess now? Because we are allowing them to lead us without God. My understanding of why the Founding Fathers wanted separation of church and state because England and other European monarchies had such control over the churches that they did not want this government ever to interfere in the teachings of the churches in this country. They wanted to make sure our churches would have the freedom to teach their parishioners without interference, therefore, separation of church and state. Thus, may I say that for all of those who are going to write in Ron Paul's name, not vote or vote for another independent, please reconsider. That approach is exactly what the democrats and republicans want. They want us to remain divided. Isn't that the whole point of C4L is to stay unified?
Baldwin as President, Ron Paul become a cabinet member?
I totally support Chuck Baldwin. Why? First, Ron Paul endorses him. Second, the more I have learned about him the more I believe that if he became our President he has some real backbone to stand up to Washington. Third, did anyone think that if we really rally behind Chuck Baldwin and he wins that he could very well offer Ron Paul a position in his cabinet. Ron Paul finally in the White House. Therefore, for all of you that have been so loyal to Ron Paul and want to write in his name I think what Ron Paul is trying to tell you, but by not telling you what to do, is to vote for Chuck Baldwin. That everybody that was behind Ron Paul should be behind Chuck Baldwin. It doesn't make sense to me that when Ron Paul asks you to support other politicians for election because they should be, you quickly want to support them even if they are not from your area, or if he asks you to send letters to Congress for various reasons we do it willingly because we know he is only watching out for us. I know some of you have concerns that Chuck Baldwin wears his religion on his sleeve whereas Ron Paul is more quiet about his, however, Ron Paul, by his words, actions and beliefs is a very religious man himself. He puts the American people and this Country first like his family. He tries to protect us from the evil that is so quickly spreading throughout D.C. If this is not the work of God I don't know what is. Don't you want someone in their that you feel that is honest and has some moral fiber to stand up to these politicians in D.C. All of you want to return back to the constitution as Ron Paul has stated we should. Ron Paul has stated that it is our moral (another reference to God) obligation to vote for the best person for this country. This country's laws and constitution were founded with God's word. Our court system goes by the ten commandments and we swear on the Bible before we are questioned in court. Newly-elected politicians swear on the Bible their Oath of Office. God is in our Pledge of Allegiance. God is even printed on our money. How can you possibly separate God from government. God gives us a conscious and natural law. Why do you think D.C. is such a mess now? Because we are allowing them to lead us without God. My understanding of why the Founding Fathers wanted separation of church and state because England and other European monarchies had such control over the churches that they did not want this government ever to interfere in the teachings of the churches in this country. They wanted to make sure our churches would have the freedom to teach their parishioners without interference, therefore, separation of church and state. Thus, may I say that for all of those who are going to write in Ron Paul's name, not vote or vote for another independent, please reconsider. That approach is exactly what the democrats and republicans want. They want us to remain divided. Isn't that the whole point of C4L is to stay unified?
Change
If you want change AND you have to hold your nose to vote for the less of two evils, then change will NOT happen, never has, never will.
Not all bed time stories begin with, "Once upon a time"
Some begin with, "If elected I promise".
I deserve more, but I'll probably get less or less.
Evidently the taste of Elephant or Donkey Doo is not bad enough for us to make change or have a "Tea Party", and so government goes on, as is. (Sad expensive wasteful reality)
I WILL try to spit it out Nov. 4 with Bob Barr.
It's 10:00, do you know where your $700+ Billion are?
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