Barr announces Libertarian White House bid
WASHINGTON (AP) - May 12, 2008 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 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.
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.