Opinion: Libertarian Barr Offers True Choice to Voters

In what is a Very Good Thing for U.S. Politics, former U.S. congressman Bob Barr has officially announced his plans to run for President of the United States.  Barr offers a choice beyond the same coin different side nominees currently representing the Republicans or the Democrats.  As a libertarian, a Bob Barr presidency is an opportunity to return the United States to its fundamental roots as a free market with limited government. 

Barr is joining the race because he believes that 'big government and big spending are the (source) of all problems'; that it is time to go back to our roots of maximum individual liberty; restore the constitution; return our military its role of national security, not international enforcers; and secure our borders. (re: http://www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/)

According to Barr, he decided to run as a Libertarian because “there was not "currently or anywhere on the horizon" a candidate who understood the principles of fiscal conservatism and basic principles on which…America was founded.”  Just as a refresher, those principles are a limited government that works for the people—not the other way around.  A government who understands that, should it become destructive of an individual's unalienable rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish it.  The Libertarian's seek to alter the government back to its original principles of championing individual rights; and allowing the free market, not a Federal lackey or an over-hyped stimulus plan, control the economy. 

Granted, third parties usually place about as well in the general election as Paris Hilton would place on Jeopardy!: a distant third.  If there is a strong name recognition (Ralph Nader) or a large bankroll (Ross Perot)--third party candidates have acted as spoilers.  Some Dems still blame Nader for Al Gore's loss in 2000.  Perot who, by capturing almost 19% of the vote in 1992, helped oust George Bush the First and insert Bill Clinton.  Perhaps ‘insert’ is not the best word to use in reference to Bill Clinton, but I digress.  Barr’s strong name recognition and strong reputation as a fiscal conservative place him firmly in the wild card spot.

Journalists and talk show hosts have asked Barr about his role as a potential spoiler—as if the Republicans or Democrats were somehow the only political parties entitled to the presidency and all others were usurpers to the throne. Sean Hannity went so far
to say that Barr might “steal” the election from the Republicans--talk about your sense of entitlement.  Barr’s response to Hannity was essentially the same as his response here:  "If Senator McCain ... does not succeed in winning the presidency ... it will be because Senator McCain did not present, and his party did not present, a vision, an agenda, a platform and a series of programs that actually resonated positively with the American people."

Folks at the GOP appear to be less concerned about ‘presenting a vision’ and more concerned with a Candidate Barr.  According to Barr's blog, “a number of Republicans have been trying to persuade him not to run for president on the Libertarian Party ticket, but none has given him a convincing reason.”   Unless, of course, cowering and whining “please let us win Mr. Libertarian” is a convincing reason.

The Village Voice asked Barr how his decidedly conservative past ties with his current Libertarian affiliation. Barr's response: “...many of the positions that I took in the Congress and that I take now are based on the principle of federalism, which is certainly a libertarian position. It used to be a position reflective of the Republican Party but obviously is no longer a part of the Republican platform.”

Does Barr have a chance of winning the general election?  That depends, first he has to get the Libertarian nomination at their convention in Denver.  If he wins there, then the questions become, are Americans as frustrated with partisan politics as they say? Are the differences between the Pants Suit, Prince Charming, and the Compromiser significant enough to be considered a choice?  Is liberty a concern or are Americans happy giving up more freedoms in the name of spurious security? 

According to a story in The Examiner,  Bob Barr already won his first delegate.  From the article: “Stewart Flood, a delegate with the Libertarian Party in South Carolina, proudly walked up to Barr to declare himself the first Libertarian delegate to endorse Barr.

“He’s in it to win it,” said Flood. “Make no mistake about it.”