I’ve been watching the blogoshpere for the last few days to see if any would comment on this news story. Surprisingly it’s had little media attention, so I’ll chat a bit about it.
Bob Barr is an attorney and a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia. Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia, from 1995 to 2003.
Prior to his work in Congress, President Ronald Reagan appointed him to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.
He’s been an ardent supporter of the war on illegal drugs.
He sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act.
He sat on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association from 2001 – 2004.
He supported and voted for the USA PATRIOT Act
Barr achieved significant notoriety as one of the leaders of the effort to impeach President Bill Clinton.
In other words, he’s been a lifelong Conservative and active member of the Republican Party …
… but Barr is now a Life Member of, and on the National Committee for, the United States Libertarian Party.
“Being a member of this body is a serious and long-term commitment that I gladly accept. As importantly, I’m happy to announce that I am now a proud, card-carrying Libertarian who is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom. I encourage other Americans from across the political spectrum to join me.”
Barr and the “stereotypical” Libertarians still have some major differences, like drugs, abortion, and gay rights, but the fact that Barr has switched parties, and the fact that the Libertarian Party has openly accepted this former Republican, foretells a wonderful future of possibilities.
Sure, the Republicans and Democrats are going to marginalize this action, and the current political machine in Washington will paint Barr as a member of some fringe group.
But this is big. Barr is saying publicly what the voters have been screaming privately for years: just as the Moonbats have co-opted the Democratic Party, the Republican Party has forgotten and forsaken their roots.
Maybe now many of the “closet” Libertarians, along with the disenfranchised and bitter former Democrats and Republicans, will seriously consider supporting the Libertarian Movement.
