Bob Barr Weighing Presidential Run
File: Former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr was an impeachment manager against President Bill Clinton in 1998. (AP video still)
Former Republican Georgia Rep. Bob Barr is considering a run for president on the Libertarian Party ticket.
Barr told FOX News on Tuesday that he should know in the next few days whether he is going to go for it.
If he does decide to make an announcement in the next few days, Barr said it “would not be in either Washington or Atlanta.“
Another source todl FOX News that the announcement should happen this weekend, probably on April 5. That is the day Barr is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Heartland Libertarian Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Barr, who joined the Libertarian Party after leaving Congress in 2003, is looking to attract conservatives who are unhappy with the choice of John McCain as the expected Republican presidential nominee. McCain and Barr are at odds primarily over the role of U.S troops in Iraq, although both agree that tough interrogation methods should not be permitted.
FITNews, who was first to report the possible presidential bid, wrote that Barr will receive the endorsement of Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul, a GOP presidential candidate who is still technically in the race but has not suggested he would throw his support to McCain. McCain and Paul, who ran on the Libertarian Party presidential ticket in 1988, also are at odds primarily over the role of U.S. troops in Iraq.
Barr, who represented Georgia’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1995-2003 and served as a House manager during impeachment proceedings against former President Bill Clinton, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week that he identifies closely with Paul’s outlook.
“Ron Paul tapped into a great deal of that dissatisfaction and that awareness. Unfortunately, working through the Republican party structure, it became impossible for him to really move forward with his movement. But we have to have ….a rallying point out there to harness that energy, that freedom in this election cycle,” he said.
Click here to read the FITNews article on Barr’s possible run for president.
FOX News’ David M. Lewkowict contributed to this report.
why NOW?
if he had done this earlier in the “race” - I’d say GO FOR IT.
I’m as disgusted as the next person, probably more so, with BOTH parties.
But to come in at this point will only serve to elect whomever the Dems leave standing.
And that will be much, much worse for the country than McCain.
If Rep. Barr is serious, then wait until next round, and I will very seriously consider voting for you.
Libertarianism sounds OK for about 5 minutes.. Then what ?? It sounds like a sort of political free-for-all.. Even if one of the candidates from a small party or an independent got elected, they would not be able to get anything accomplished.. The 2 large parties would stone-wall anything that they didn’t like.. The way to change the face of politics is to get rid of the Senators and Reps.. They control the purse strings. And, the purse strings control everything.. The parties must be forced to change from within …
I would vote for Barr in a heart beat.
Spear
McCain is better than Hillary or Obama and Barr may stir the pot too much. Wait for a while and see what happens before jumping back into the fight.
I was all for hoping Dr Paul would get a major speech at the convention. Not because I agree with him but because he participated in the race but if he endorses Barr then he should be kicked out of the convention.
Notice how Paul waited until after the primary to do this after saying he will not be running third party while behind our backs getting barr to be spoiler.
Is he kidding? I don’t think anyone would vote for him except a few white supremacists. He and Ron Paul are outside looking in. McCain may be 71 but he loves this country, he’s proved it. I wouldn’t consider anyone else at this point. Experience is a great element because, even though I don’t believe we should be in Iraq, I do believe that if we walk out suddenly, they will be back over here bombing something or flying planes into buildings. Doesn’t experience and love of country mean anything? Certainly don’t want someone who just found something to be proud of. They need to relocate.
Go for it, Bob! As a former Georgian (Athens for 21 years), I’ve always admired you and your conservative stands on issues, especially income tax vs. a national sales tax. Also, I know you’re a staunch supporter of Second Amendment rights, to keep and bear arms.
Your candidacy would be a blast of sunlight and breath of fresh air in this campaign. I strongly urge you to toss your hat into the ring. At last, someone around which all true Conservatives could gather and support. You’d have every vote in my family, that’s including wife, brother and sister.
A dedicated Libertarian,
Al Moore
Spartanburg, SC
I really wonder if this Barr story IS an April Fools Day joke… and we bit hard.
If its real - I say “Bob Barr For President !!”
Maybe No Sir, but how about this one?
It is obvious! The Democratic Party is about to throw Hillary under the bus for Obama. He has virtually hijacked the Party now.
Hillary Clinton, you can do it. You deserve more than this. Go it alone, not as Independent [that doesn’t work] but start a new Party. Millions upon millions Americans will follow you. I am dead serious.
You will save America from Obama. It will be your best legacy. Let the Dem’s have Obama. Fight him from outside. We will support you!!!
Some of you still don’t get…………….the Republican Party has committed gross deception and treason against not only loyal Republicans, but the Constitutional Republic for which it, supposedly, represents.
I have NO more allegiance the “party”. I am neither a Republican, Democrat or even an Independent. I am a Patriot.
The Republican Party’s mascot should not be an elephant, but a dinosaur, because that’s what they are if they insist on practicing INSANITY.
I think the definition of insanity is STILL………”thinking you can get a different result by doing the same thing over and over again.