The Liberal Case for Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party

Barack Obama is going to win the presidency. While the end of the current era of Republican mismanagement may be good news in many respects, this is no cause for complacency for anyone concerned about American liberty and America's place in the world. Senator Obama, despite his eloquent call for reform, has demonstrated that he, like other politicians, is ever ready to trim his sails to gain a few votes. A vote for Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party would be the best way to tell President-elect Obama that the American people are serious about real change in Washington.

Sen. Obama's rhetoric is uplifting and positive, but the Senator who showed genuine foresight and courage in opposing the Iraq war spent most of the primary season edging away from his initial tough stand. Will he order the troops to exit Iraq? Will he bring them all home, or simply shift them from Iraq to another foreign country?

Similarly, it would be hard for Sen. Obama not to be an improvement over the Bush administration on civil liberties. However, here, too, Sen. Obama has demonstrated his willingness to trim under pressure.

President George W. Bush violated the law when he ignored both the Constitution and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Congress should have held him and his appointees accountable for their law-breaking. Moreover, telephone companies that aided and abetted executive branch law-breaking should have been left liable in the courts.

Yet, Sen. Obama folded, backing a "compromise" that gave the administration most everything that it wanted. No individualized warrants or evidence of law-breaking is required to authorize government spying on U.S. citizens' phone calls and emails. No administration officials paid the slightest cost for engaging in illegal conduct. No private firm suffered the slightest inconvenience for helping the government violate their customers' constitutional rights. This was the moment for Sen. Obama to prove that he possessed a true dedication to civil liberties, and he failed.

Of course, we all hope that, as president, he will feel freer to stand up for American liberties. But there also will be voices advising him to use the executive powers so freely expanded by his predecessor. Will he be strong enough to resist this Siren's Song? No one knows, but one thing is known: If freed from the limiting forces of public awareness and involvement, President Obama would follow a long line of presidents who talk of enhanced individual liberty, but practice a policy of increased government power.

In other words, the best way to encourage Sen. Obama, if he is elected president, to follow the straight and narrow is to actively and clearly demonstrate that we, the American people, are concerned both about our civil liberties and his commitment to protect them. The way to do that is to vote for Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party.

Only one party has consistently stood up for the Constitution and against expansive executive power: the Libertarian Party. Only one party has consistently demanded a quick and full withdrawal from Iraq: the Libertarian Party. Only one party has demanded that all administration officials, legislators, and bureaucrats be held accountable for violating the law or the Constitution: the Libertarian Party.

Sen. Obama's impending big victory will tempt liberals to relax and celebrate. Yet the time of greatest danger will be the transition, when Sen. Obama will be deciding on who to appoint and what direction to take. The best way to safeguard our liberties is to let him know that his election victory comes with an important "but" -- in the form of a strong showing by Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party, who have placed the protection of American liberties and America's reputation in the world at the core of their campaign.

Comments

[GibsonSG]

Hmmm, which part of civil liberties is being Pro-Life, Mr. Barr?

[Ireply]

I agree Mr Barr. You are completely correct. You have my vote.

[indyleftist]

Sorry Bob, Can't do it.

Frankly, I really can't understand why the Libertarians nominated someone who voted for the patriot act
I mean come on, you voted for the patriot act and your running as a libertarian?

It seems they had a real chance to build their party this year by attracting Ron Paul supporters but they weren't interested I guess

[GuyRC]

I strongly recommend that all Republicans vote Libertarian!

[EltonNRichards]

Sorry Mr. Barr,

I think what you are saying is great, but I'm still voting for Obama; Even though I live in California, and could probably afford to vote for a third party candidate, I don't want to take any risks. In fact, I recommend that even third party candidates like Mr. Barr vote for Obama.

Thanks,

[UltraClassic]

Hey Bob, you are right on target. That's why I vote a straight Libertarian ticket.

Of all the 3rd parties out there, the libertarians have the largest visibility. Of course they are not in a position to win because of big money aka Obama but their statement is loud and clear.

In a close race, I'd vote for Obama. But in areas where the race is already won (or lost in the case of Texas), a libertarian vote demonstrates mainly that you are concerned about the constitution.

Bob, I'm glad you have seen the light. The GOP has morphed into some disgusting monster while the modern day democrats are miles away from the party of FDR and JFK. Thanks for giving us a voice. A libertarian may not win an election any time soon but just as Ralph Nader gives voice to his causes, so do libertarians.

[NEW-YORK-SID]

DONT THROW AWAY YOUR VOTE. VOTE OBAMA

[flifishun]

You are correct. That's why I'm voting for Ralph Nader a 3rd time.

[Social Construct]

Yup. Glad to see another 3rd timer.

[JacqueItch]

Me, too.
It would be foolish to throw away my vote on the lesser of two evils which is, as they say, still evil. Nader is one of the few people in America who if elected could successfully assemble a team around him to effect change at a very deep level.

[ivangoldstein]

Or you could vote Green. I live in New York so while I am a registered Dem and voted for O in the primary I will be voting Green at the presidential level as a strategic vote for true progressive policies.

Now if was in a swing state the Dem is so much better than the Repub that I would vote Dem. But since we have the system we do I feel I am getting the most bang for my buck by voting for the most progressive Dem in every primary and the most progressive candidate on Nov 4th.

The Greens have a wonderful platform this year.

1.Nationalize the Fed Reserve and return the power to create money and to lend it directly to We The People.

2.No bailout but audits for Wall St.

3.No more wars of aggression

4.End US partcipation in Nafta, WTO, etc

5.Investigate the current occupants of the WH for war crimes.

6.Massive public investment in America

[GregJL]

I agree with all of that except for number 4. I'd rather reform NAFTA and the WTO so that we can help raise labor standards in developing countries.

[UltraClassic]

Economic isolationism will make a bad situation worse. We are in no position to get into a trade ware with anybody.

[therealredstateblues]

And we see how well that is working.

Nope getting out of these unfair (and unconstitutional) trade deals would be the best thing for US workers - who cares about the rest - let there own govts take care of them

[gatsbee]

Hmmm..I was going to vote for Obama but maybe I should consider the Libertarian option?

I think the drug war should end, and the Dems and Repubs are both united in continuing it.

As for economics, would Libertarians continue with reasonable regulation to keep money from it's natural tendency to "trickle up" and amass at the top?

Are Libertarians pro-choice?

[GregJL]

I'll answer your economics question: Libertarians believe in "every man for himself" economics. They wish to do away with every function of Federal government besides national defense, which includes all regulatory agencies such as the EPA, FDA, etc.

[arnray]

In order to buy into the libertarian philosophy you have to beleive that major corporations don't have enough control over enough lives as it is. All hail EXXON!

[JohnShank]

They should be. They are for the government staying the heck out of our lives.

[arnray]

They are also for the government getting off the backs of big bussiness. How has the whole deregulation thing worked out?

[Overd0g]

Money is the root of all evil, supposedly.

[NotARhetoricalQuestion]

Yes, Libertarians are pro-choice. But they are lassez-faire (?sp) on economics. And very, very pro-gun.

I also think the Drug War is a huge waste.

[MidnightRambler]

Not a chance.

[swampthing]

I've read about you Mr. Barr and, frankly, you are in no position to speak about liberty. As a primary author and sponsor of the Defense of Marriage Act, you are not about granting liberty but restrincting it. You are not about small government; you are about HUGE government that is so invasive it tries to control who can marry whom. You are not libertarian; you are a conservative Republican in disguise.

But wait, it gets even better! You are also against religious freedom and proposed that Wicca be banned in the military. Oh yes, I sure do love your libertarian principles of keeping points political intrusions to a minimum.

Until you straighten out your concept of "liberty," your opinions will carry no weight.

[LoRiseAntlers]

Amen.I remeber almost choking on my coffee when I first heard that the Libertarians had nominated this guy.

But,if he's truly made himself over into an honest to goodness libertarian,he needs to stick with it,because they're gonna pick up a lot of new membe from the wreckage of the GOP.rs

[Querent]

Well said, swampthing.

[robiform]

Thank you, swampthing! I would also add that Mr. Barr was one of the loudest proponents for the impeachment of Bill Clinton ten years ago. Due to the efforts of Barr and his Republican cohorts, a private failing on the part of Clinton became the excuse for Congressional Republicans to disrupt the federal government, and indirectly, impede efforts to "get" Osama bin Laden before he fled to Afghanistan and set in motion the 9/11 plot. I have yet to hear Mr. Barr express any regrets for what he did ten years ago, so in my mind, he has absolutely NO credibility!

[MagisterLudi]

How DARE anyone criticize THE Mahamtabama from right, left or in-between. We must sing Hosannas to His wisdom, support for Cheney's energy bill, intelligence, support for Bush tort reform, social progressivism, skipping out on most controversial right-to-chose bills, using Reagan as his role model, Brzezinski, intimate relationship and endorsement of Condi, brilliance etc.
I am sure that all the sermo... ah...sorry speeches will immediately translate into action. Thy shall not speak in vain, Mr. Barr.

[Doofus]

'Only one party has consistently stood up for the Constitution and against expansive executive power: the Libertarian Party. Only one party has consistently demanded a quick and full withdrawal from Iraq: the Libertarian Party. Only one party has demanded that all administration officials, legislators, and bureaucrats be held accountable for violating the law or the Constitution: the Libertarian Party.'

And that'd be Ron Paul's party. Please return it to him when you're done, after next Tuesday.

[LoRiseAntlers]

But Paul will tell you he wants nothing to with them.

[Doofus]

'Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more?'

[mithras93]

No thanks, Bob. I'll roll the dice and cast my vote...for McCain. He has a better chance of beating The Anointed One than you do.