Bob Barr is the Libertarian Party nominee for President of the United States
Some members of the party are less than enthusiastic about his nomination.
I am enthusiastic, and I hope to turn some of the unenthusiastic into converts.
Barr himself claims to be a convert.
He converted from a big government Republican to Libertarian.
Most of the unenthusiastic are doubtful about the sincerity of Barr’s conversion. I understand that.
That is certainly a legitimate concern. I shared it. But I have chosen to believe in Barr. Perhaps I am naïve. Perhaps I have been duped. I don’t think so.
I ask the unenthusiastic to believe, too.
The Concerns
Let’s address the primary concerns about Barr, and I think that dividing his positions pre-conversion and post-conversion is critical. I took part in a Rocky Mountain News online chat to ask Barr some questions about his prior positions and his current ones. Let us look at his answers:
1. Pre-conversion: Barr supported the Defense of Marriage Act.
Post-conversion: “I believe each state should be free to establish its own definition of marriage, and the DOMA protects the right of each state to do that. I would consider repealing that portion of DOMA that establishes a federal definition of marriage.”
2. Pre-conversion: Barr supported the Patriotic Act.
Post-convesion: “My vote in favor of the PATRIOT Act was probably the worst vote I cast in the Congress. Without going into the many reasons I did vote for it, I have spent the last 5 years since leaving Congress, working to undo the damage it has wrought. I believe it should be repealed and would work to that end as President.”
3. Pre-conversion: Barr’s PAC donated money to Republican candidates even when they had Libertarian opposition. Specifically, his PAC gave money to National LP Chair William Redpath’s Republican opponent, Jim Gilmore
Post-conversion: “The PAC contribution to Jim Gilmore predated Bill's entry into the race, and I am giving Bill a contribution for his candidacy today.”
I spoke with Redpath, and he confirmed that Barr followed through on his promise, and that the check was bigger than the one Gilmore received. And of course, Barr gave a nomination speech for Redpath’s nomination for reelection as national LP chair. If Redpath and Barr are cool on this issue, so am I.
4. Pre-conversion: Barr was a drug warrior.
Post-conversion: "Regarding the drug war, I've been there, done that, and know first-hand our current strategy is not working. Continuing to have the Federal Government run roughshod over the states, even if the citizens of a state decide they wish to legalize medicinal marijuana, for example, is wrong. As President I would completely re-orient federal law enforcement priorities, that currently are skewed far too much against marijuana possession, and would consider all - and I do mean all - options."
Finally, as to some calling Barr a “neo-con,” either before or after his nomination, that simply shows a misunderstanding of the word.
And if there is any question about Barr’s position on the Iraq War, here is his answer from the online chat:
“As President, I would begin immediately to significantly reduce the US economic and military footprint in Iraq. We should not be occupying Iraq or any other nation. So long as American taxpayers are footing the bill for propping up the Iraqi economy, political system, and security apparatus, there's no incentive at all for Iraq to assume responsibility for its own affairs. Similarly, it is not appropriate for the US military to maintain a massive presence in Afghanistan. I would not make a blanket statement that there should be no US troops anywhere in the world, but the stationing of major US forces in countries around the world is not appropriate or necessary.”
The Road to Redemption
Like Saul on the road to Damascus, conversions can and do happen. Somewhere along the line, Barr became a believer. Even the unenthusiastic should welcome him, give him a chance, and lets get even more converts into our party.
Don’t dwell on his past. Emphasize the present. Emphasize his conversion, not his troubled past. Use his conversion as a tool to get more converts.
Like former gang members that tell teenagers to avoid gangs, Barr can tell of the dangers of his former gang, the Demopublicans. He was there. He was in the gang. Now he has left the gang and seen the error of his ways.
Like fervent anti-smoking zealots that use to smoke three packs a day, Bob Barr used to partake of the poison inherent in the Demopublican Party.
He quit. Now he is in an ideal position to spread the gospel of liberty.
Let us help him.
We have a great opportunity: More press, more voters, more people interested in what the hell the Libertarian Party is. And when they ask what the LP is, we can either tell them how much we hate what Barr did in the past, or we can tell them why he joined us and why they should too.
I think the choice is easy.
