Bob Barr is not a Libertarian. He is an opportunist and an old-school right-wing conservative. He has attempted to outlaw abortion, immigration, all use of marijuana and gay-marriage. He even tried to initiate legislation to outlaw Wicca religious practices by Military personnel (http://www.witchvox.com/military/bobbarr2.html). He may have a slightly more libertarian stance when it comes to the handling of the economy, but this is not the guy for the party.
Most “liberals” — I find that label inaccurate — fear the libertarian point of view because it is so closely identified with ultra-conservatism, which is far from the truth. Libertarians will set themselves back at least a decade if they run this guy for president.
I’ve spoken to a lot of Democrats who call me a right wing conservative when I say I agree with Libertarians. They don’t understand that political philosophy is not linear, but at least 2-dimensional if not more. Lets Take the issue of abortion: Democrats want to legislate it and make it legal, Republicans want to legislate it to make it illegal, and Libertarians don’t want it to be legislated at all. To them, it is not within the scope of the government’s duties, but the libertarian perspective is not represented in the exclusive political system of the U.S. which so many support.
Libertarians will get their chance one of these days, but not with Bob Barr as their figurehead.
Tags: Barr, Bob Barr, democrat, libertarian, politics, presidential race, republican, wicca
May 26, 2008 at 11:37 pm |
I agree.
August 26, 2008 at 9:43 pm |
It’s sad to see the Libertarian party screw itself up so badly. I feel sorry, though they deserve it. By picking Mr. Barr, they are alienating many left leaning Libertarians, including myself.
September 4, 2008 at 9:42 pm |
He is absolute opposite of what Libertarian Party should of pushed for in the election. Sure, people change, but as dramatically as Bob Barr has been trying to say he has is ridiculous.
October 8, 2008 at 11:27 pm |
Chuck Baldwin is more of a libertarian than Barr and Baldwin is not even a member of the libertarian party.
October 16, 2008 at 2:58 pm |
EW he is CLEARLY not a libertarian… i mean do ANY of his platforms line up??? i was considering changing my vote from mccain to the libertarian candidate but after researching i’m not sure i’ll be voting at all!!!
October 17, 2008 at 10:55 am |
I am a registered Libertarian in Broward County, FL. While I would love to vote with my party, I am appalled and disgusted that my party has chosen to nominate Bob Barr for the presidential ticket. He is nothing but an ultra-conservative Republican who is trying to say he is “reformed”. Yes, I am a left-leaning Libertarian, but even if I was right-leaning, I would never vote for this man.
I am still not sure who I will vote for but I can tell you that it won’t be Bob Barr. The Libertarian party ought to be ashamed of themselves. They have just set our party back at least 10 years.
October 30, 2008 at 1:07 am |
Barr is far from being a libertarian. He’s just another right-wing nut. Luckily Ron Paul is on the ballot here in Montana!
October 31, 2008 at 4:32 am |
As a “third party” with no realistic chance of winning the presidency in the 2008 general election, Libertarians need to choose a candidate who can make a statement about who we are as a party, and draw more interest to our cause so that we may have a realistic chance of wining in the future. It makes absolutely no sense to nominate an extreme social conservative who was cast off by the Republican party. Can you imagine the Green Party nominating John Edwards when he dropped out of the Democratic primary?