Recently there has been a flurry in the libertarian community about the possible candidacy of Bob Barr for the Libertarian nomination for President. I assume that Mr. Barr is seriously considering a contest for the nomination and he may well receive it.
But neither Mr. Barr nor the Libertarian Party could stir so much mention and attention on the blogosphere and in the main stream media either individually or jointly. What excites both libertarians and the two major parties is the possibility of an endorsement of Mr. Barr by Ron Paul.
Ron Paul, we are told, is a friend of Bob Barr. I have no reason to doubt it. An endorsement of Mr. Barr by Ron Paul, we are told, would assure him of the Libertarian nomination. I believe that, although I am sure that supporters of other candidates for the nomination will keep the nomination from being a first ballot selection. Bob Barr with Ron Paul's endorsement could bring greater success to the Libertarian Party. If Ron Paul's supporters vote for Bob Barr,we are told, they might bring the Libertarian Party its highest vote ever. Yes, and if they all vote for John McCain, or Barack Obama, or Hillary Clinton they might well elect any of those candidates.
But I do not believe any of this will happen, because I believe Ron Paul. In an interview published by Newsweek (www.newsweek.com) Representative Paul was asked if he plannned to endorse John McCain, ask his supporters to support John McCain. He said, "I'm not going to tell them what to do."
I believe him.
When it became clear that John McCain was going to be the nominee of the Republican Party, a large number of his supporters were urging him to run as an independent, or accept nomination by the Libertarian Party. I pointed out at the time that Rpresentative Paul had made it clear that, having entered the Republican race, he had not intention of pursuing a third party or indenpendent run for the presidendy. I took him at his word then and I take him at his word now. Trust in Representative Paul's word is one of the reasons I support him.
Bob Barr is probably going to announce his candidacy at the Libertarian Heartland Conference. He may have done so even while I have been writing this.
He may well be the best of the Libertarian candidates. He may well win the Libertarian nomination. If is does so I will probably vote for him in November.
But I expect those things will have to happen without an endorsement from Ron Paul.
©2008 rtbohan, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Saturday, April 5, 2008
Last modified: Saturday, April 5, 2008
The views expressed in this article are those of rtbohan only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. rtbohan is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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Reader Comments:
Posted By: George Dance
Date: 2008-04-05 15:48:55
Of course it would be political suicide for Ron Paul to endorse an LP candidate while he's still in the race. Like the perennial rumors that he's going to run third party hmself, the idea is ridiculous. That would not only put the kibosh on his own candidacy, but it would undercut all the efforts his rEVOLutionaries are making to establish themselves in the GOP this year.
No wonder FOX News wll lift its cone of silence over the Paul campaign to report silly rumors like this: even if they're not true, many Republicans will hear them and think, "Where there's smoke, there's fire." Thus the damage gets done anyway.
Posted By: Laura
Date: 2008-04-05 19:57:19
Bob Barr doesn't need Ron Paul's endorsement.
Posted By: Mark
Date: 2008-04-05 21:51:49
Why is Bob Barr anything to get excited about?
Posted By: dmv
Date: 2008-04-06 13:22:56
No support for Mr. Bar here.
Go Ron Paul!
Posted By: SuperTruth
Date: 2008-04-06 13:27:45
I am voting for Ron Paul.
Posted By: ALibertarian
Date: 2008-04-06 14:10:19
Bob Barr is worth getting excited about because does not have the "nut case" reputation that Ron Paul does. I mean really, "letters of mark and reprisal"??
Posted By: Concerned Canuck
Date: 2008-04-06 14:13:56
Do not waste your breath arguing this one. There is only one word needed to describe the MSM method of operation here:
Marginalize
As in - Divide and Conquer
Posted By: Mark
Date: 2008-04-06 17:25:48
"letters of mark and reprisal" um...it's in the Constitution. Kudos to RP for understanding the document that outlines how our Federal Government should work. Just because we have lived too long with a bunch of idiots does not mean we should consider him a nut case for knowing what he's talking about. To the contrary - invade a foreign nation and false pretext? That's a nutcase!
Posted By: david
Date: 2008-04-06 18:50:37
freewebs.com/bobbarrmoneybomb
Posted By: blakmira
Date: 2008-04-07 00:35:36
Something fishy about the whole Bob Barr deal. I know it has a lot to do with people who call themselves Libertarians who are doing everything they can to sabotage Ron Paul.
Just look at the anti-Ron Paul/pro-Bob Barr comments on here for a clue: "Bob Barr doesn't need Ron Paul's endorsement" and "Bob Barr...worth getting excited about; Ron Paul...nutcase reputation."
I've read up on Bob Barr and I find his 180-degree turnaround stances on a lot of issues highly suspicious. You Bob Barr people can go back where you came from and take your Ralph Nader (McCain's bud) with you.
Ron Paul or BUST 2008
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-04-07 13:39:32
Just because you dont understand letters of marque and reprisal does not mean hes kooky at all, just smarter than you.
"In the midst of mad men, wise men seem kooky"- P. Stevens
LIBERTY or DEATH
Posted By: jason
Date: 2008-04-09 16:41:53
Bob Barr? Pro war on drugs. Anti gay. A brief look tells me he does not have the principles I idolized in Paul. Mary Ruwart seems like the right choice to me. Actually I dint want to vote for anyone who is not consistent, well articulated (preferably in literature) and honest. Bob does not seem to be any of these. j
Posted By: jason
Date: 2008-04-09 17:36:58
Bob Barr? Pro war on drugs. Anti gay. A brief look tells me he does not have the principles I idolized in Paul. Mary Ruwart seems like the right choice to me. Actually I dint want to vote for anyone who is not consistent, well articulated (preferably in literature) and honest. Bob does not seem to be any of these. j