Could Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr be the new Ralph Nadar and spoil the election for Republicans this year?
Today Barr will talk with Patt Morrison on 89.3 KPPC, Southern California Public Radio. According to the show’s teaser, the interview will focus on whether Barr would “siphon vital votes away from John McCain” — and whether Barr even cares.
The show airs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Barr, a long-time Republican, changed his party affiliation to Libertarian in 2006.
Many of you in the anti-illegal immigration camp have said you’ll vote for him because you don’t like John McCain’s stance on immigration. Last year, McCain sponsored a bill that would have, among other things, lead to a path toward citizenship for people here illegally.
What do you think?
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I agree with a lot of the Libertarian philosophy, but voting for any of these folks is just wasting your conservative vote. The party spends about 3 dollars on campaigning and runs individuals that no one has ever heard of. Bob Barr is the exception this time, but all he will do is funnel votes away from the Republican nominee. Until the Libertarians or the Independents can have a nominee that will make a difference and spend a little cash to get their names before the public, they won’t win many elections.
So much for the supposed integrity of the Libertarian Party who chose to nominate the most publicly recognizable face that would accept their mantle even though he has a long history as a freedom-smashing drug warrior.
As for allegedly reformed refer madness crusader, Mr. Barr is nothing more or less than an opportunist whose opportunities are now limited to an ineffective, disorganized fringe party which may still claim to be the “party of principal” but with no more credibility than Barack Obama claiming to be in favor of free enterprise.
Adult Libertarians with an IQ over 90, this is your wake up call. At this point in time, third parties are a fantasy. If you really want to advance the cause of freedom and free enterprise, you need to put your time, energy and money into the Republican Party. Though far from a perfect organization, they are the only effective opposition standing in the way of the Democrats’ campaign to turn America into another in a long line of failed Marxist experiments.
A one trick pony will not win this election.
Bob Barr is no Ron Paul.
The real danger in the Barr/Root campaign is not to the Republicans, but to the Democrats, and the reason is the “blue” Democrats — the Blue Dogs and the Blue Collars. Current polling (Wall Street Journal) shows 12% of Democrats cannot stomach Obama, and these are primarily the Blues. They likely will not switch to McCain, but in what will be a contentious election, they won’t sit it out either. Come time for the debates, they will be open to the small-government pitch of the Libs. The 8% of Republicans who can’t stomach McCain may do the same. That’s a 4% spread, and enough to influence an election.
But it gets worse for the Democrats. Few Republicans can take the pure-freedom policies of the Libertarians (borders, abortions, drugs, gays, etc) and will not switch. However, these are hot-button issues for Democrats, and ones on which Obama will equivocate as he tries to appeal to the political center. Singe-issue Democrats will defect where as single-issue Republicans won’t. Pair this draining of votes with the Nader factor, and it all starts piling up against Obama.
And it gets worse.
For all his charisma, Obama breaks when discussing the details of policy in a confrontational mode. He will wither during the debates when pitted against well-honed warriors like Barr, McCain and Nader. Obama will finish the job the Libs have started.
Enjoy your moment my Democrat friends … it will be short lived.
i could see voting for a libertarian like ron paul, but barr is possibly the creepiest guy in politics. the thought of this guy having even 1/100th the power of the presidency is horrifying. guy makes a vote for perot in ‘96 (yes ‘96) look like a sane, rational choice. i think barr still gets off by reading the starr report. a sad, pathetic pol.
It’s “Nader,” not “Nadar.”
The new improved Bob Barr makes sense to me. A vote for Bob Barr is a vote for Bob Barr, not Obama or McCain. It’s time to dump the Democrats and the Republicans, both of which have special interest and not the interest of the American people. The ideal situation is fiscal conservative and socially liberal. Bob Barr 2008
A vote for Barr is NOT a wasted vote in California. Actually, it’s the other way around. A vote for Obama or McCain is totally wasted in this state. Why? Because Obama is a LOCK to get California’s electoral votes. It’s not even up for debate. So why not vote for Barr in CA and send a message to the GOP that we need to get back to our conservative values and that not doing so will jeopardize future elections?
A vote for Obama in CA is a vote for Obama.
A vote for McCain in CA is a vote for, well, Obama.
A vote for Barr sends a much needed message to the GOP that a conservative platform will get them more support in future elections. It’s that simple. Since Obama’s going to win CA anyway, I’m going to send this message to my party and hope that 2012 shows us a real Republican candidate.
Patrick B and Moosa are correct but I could care less about conservative “values. ” I just want to pay taxes on military and defense. All other taxes are a waste - why do I have to pay for all these entitlements? I have no kids in school but I pay, I have a 401K but I have to pay for SS, I have a job but I have to pay for welfare etc, etc, etc…..will it ever end? Oh yeah, legalize drugs, prositution and gambling…..Vote Libertarian!!!!
I think voting for mccain is a wasted vote. Bob Barr sounds good to me