Barr is serious about his quest
The Libertarian candidate for president lost faith in Bush, lost his House seat and left the GOP
Published: Sun, Sep. 07, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Sun, Sep. 07, 2008 01:43AM
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closeBarr registered as a Libertarian in 2006, and this year decided to run for president on the party's ticket.
An impossible dream?
So why run? The third-party candidate is in an existential conundrum. All his efforts are devoted to achieving something that --oh, let's say it -- is never going to happen. Unless, of course, becoming president isn't really the goal. As Barr's wife, Jeri, points out, running for president is a powerful way to "change the nature of the debate and raise the issue in the public's eye."
Barr allows that a Barr presidency is "unlikely," but he sketches his dream nonetheless: He would not sign any bills appropriating money to the United Nations and would advocate against a Department of Education. And, because the United States is not a "charity," he would attempt to stop hospitals from offering medical care to illegal immigrants and schools from educating illegal immigrants' children. Most of all, he'd shrink government and taxes.
"Whatever step would be required for Bob Barr as president to cut back by 10 percent the executive office of the president would be done," he said.
"What is the position about the poor and helping the poor?" asked a woman in the studio audience when Barr appeared on NPR's "Talk of the Nation." "If we have no government or little government, who's going to administrate over these different programs? Let's say food stamps. ... What is the view on things like that?"
"Abolish them," Barr said.
Barr gets accused of being a potential spoiler for John McCain. Shaving a few points off McCain, even in just one state, could make a difference.
Barr said he's no spoiler; if McCain can't win over the nation with a compelling message, it's not Bob Barr's fault.
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