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 Crafter Of Federal DOMA Launches Libertarian
Presidential Bid
by The Associated Press
Posted: May 13, 2008 - 9:00 am ET
(Washington) Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr
launched a Libertarian Party presidential bid Monday, saying voters are hungry
for an alternative to the status quo who would dramatically cut the federal
government.
His candidacy throws a wild card into the White House race
that many believe could peel away votes from Republican Sen. John McCain given
the candidates' similar positions on fiscal policy.
Barr, who has hired Ross Perot's former campaign manager,
acknowledged that some Republicans have tried to discourage him from running.
But he said he's getting in the race to win, not to play spoiler or to make a
point.
"I've heard from Americans from all walks of life ...
they want a choice," he said at a news conference in Washington. "They
believe that America has more and better to offer than what the current
political situation is serving up to us."
Barr first must win the Libertarian nomination at the
party's national convention that begins May 22. Party officials consider him a
front-runner thanks to the national profile he developed as a Georgia
congressman from 1995 to 2003.
If he wins the White House, he said he would immediately
freeze discretionary spending in Washington. He also would begin withdrawing
troops from Iraq and consider slashing spending at federal agencies such as the
departments of education and commerce - as well as at overseas military bases.
The former U.S. attorney also said he would strictly
enforce immigration laws.
"This notion that government owes something to people
just because they're here does not resonate with me," he said. "This
is not a charity."
Barr, 59, quit the Republican Party two years ago, saying
he had grown disillusioned with its failure to shrink government and its
willingness to scale back civil liberties in fighting terrorism. He has been
particularly critical of President Bush over the war in Iraq and says the
administration is ignoring constitutional protections on due process and
privacy.
While in Congress, he led the
push for federal DOMA which bars the government from any recognition of same-sex
couples. Barr also was a persistent critic of President
Clinton and was among the first to press for impeaching the former president. He
helped manage House Republicans' impeachment case before the Senate.
He lost his seat to fellow Republican Rep. John Linder in
2002 after a redistricting. He then opened a lobbying and public affairs firm
with offices in Atlanta and outside Washington.
Barr later voiced his
opposition to amending the US Constitution to bar gay marriage, saying that
federal DOMA was sufficient.
The 2004 Libertarian presidential candidate, Michael
Badnarik, took less than 1 percent of the vote, placing fourth behind President
Bush, Democrat John Kerry and Independent Ralph Nader.
©365Gay.com 2008
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