Ron Paul vs. Bob Barr: Libertarian Party does some damage control
|
Submitted by: flsurfkarma  Subscribe to this Author Paste this code into your site to promote this story! |
http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2008/09/ron-paul-vs-b-1.html
Type of Content: Article Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Then the national field director of the Barr campaign said Ron Paul is just in it for the money. Then I get a press release that says the Barr campaign is asking Ron Paul to join the ticket. Following that, I looked around the blogs and saw that the Paulistas are furious with the Barr campaign, and Paul folk were expressing their disgust with the LP and with Bob Barr in spades. Knowing how motivated Paulistas can be when they feel slighted, I sort of figured the LP office would get hundreds, if not thousands, of phone calls today. I guess they did. About two minutes ago, the LP released the following press release, trying desperately to quell the flames that threaten to become a bonfire: "I have been hearing a lot from many LP Members about concerns over Bob Barr not attending Ron Paul's press conference. However, before you form an opinion, perhaps you may want to consider the facts and not rely on blogs for your news. First, the Barr campaign met with Ron Paul's staffers yesterday afternoon to deliver the offer of the LP's VP slot to Ron Paul and to discuss the details of the event that Bob Barr was invited to attend. More details were to be submitted to the Barr campaign but did not arrive until nearly 3 a.m. the morning of the event. At 9 a.m. Barr's campaign manager, Russell Verney, informed the Paul campaign that Bob would not be attending however he would still give his backing of the four principles highlighted by Dr. Paul. Second, read the press release by the Barr Campaign you will see why Bob's own press conference (attended by many members of the press) was so significant: http://www.lp.org/news/press-releases/bob-barr-shows-leadership-to-unify... Third, as CNN and others reported, Ron Paul's press conference was more about him not endorsing McCain and less about Dr. Paul's non-sanctioning of other candidates running for president. The Barr campaign chose not to attend in order to make a very valid point, which was expressed, in their following press conference. Bold leadership is needed right now! Scattering support for the liberty agenda to the four winds as Dr. Paul is proposing will not serve liberty. Ron Paul deserves respect and credit for what he has done over the last year in rejuvenating so many people across this nation; however, either he or possibly his staff has made the bland decision to remain ambiguous with their intent and direction for liberty. Personally, I will say that I do not appreciate the treatment that LP personnel received today by Ron Paul's staff and the games they have attempted to play over the past year. This morning, our volunteer coordinator was rudely ejected from the press conference before it even started. This was followed by Ron Paul staffers and supporters close to the staff disrupting Barr's press conference. This pattern is something that we never wanted to disclose but holds true to previous treatment where staff members for Paul's campaign tried on more than one occasion to have Bob Barr uninvited from events, including Bob's gracious introduction of Ron Paul at last year's CPAC conference. I do doubt that Dr. Paul was aware of these antics. I hope this answers some of your concerns and questions. Our staff, volunteers and the Barr/Root campaign are totally psyched up and ready to work very hard for all Libertarians through November and beyond – including ballot access, in as many states as possible, which will benefit all Libertarian Candidates!... In Liberty! Posted by P.M. Jaworski on September 10, 2008 in International Politics | Permalink Read »
Created 16 weeks 6 days ago
Made popular 16 weeks 6 days ago |
- Flag as offensive
- Login or register to post comments
- 414 reads
****
the fact that offering Dr Paul the VP slot on the libertarian ticket the day before the press conference was a fake gesture. All politics. Ron Paul has stated hundreds of times that he WILL NOT SEEK A THIRD PARTY OFFICE. He could have easily been the LP's presidential nominee instead of Barr, but he declined. Why would he suddenly change course and be Barr's vice presidential nominee 2 months before the election? Is Bob Barr hallucinating?
This pathetic letter by the acting executive director of the LP may have even made me madder since I went to the link about Barr's oh so special press announcement that he had 5 minutes after Ron Paul's. What a waste of time.
This really burns me. I support the LP platform thru and thru and now I don't want to vote for the party's candidate. I still can't believe Bob Barr won the LP nomination. I can't write in Dr. Paul (well I can, but it won't count). I won't vote for the more socialist than McCbama alternatives. I am screwed.
League of Principled Non-Voters??? Kinda sounds like the board of directors of some election-themed comic book. Which is rather fitting because this election is becoming more and more of a joke.
I really feel the need to yell loudly. What's that line from the movie Network?? "I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore?"
I don't want to be cynical. The Rally for the Republic really had me in good spirits. But I think I am with A. Kokesh on this one. Third party exposure and media attention and a concerted effort to get in the debates would have accomplished a lot for the LP if these efforts would have been successful. Barr may have just ensured that they won't be. That is such a selfish sort sighted move i am still having a hard time comprehending it. Serenity Now!!
because he posted the letter on his website, and actively handed out copies of the letter to anyone who would take it at the press conference...
Bob Barr seems like he's trying, and has good principles in theory and good ideas even maybe. But he's willing to give an inch to the system, and he always speaks of strategy instead of principle, some day that inch will turn to a foot and on and on. There's a reason Ron Paul wants a REVOLUTION not an election win. I can't believe they completely missed the essential point. Ron Paul wasn't offering endorsement, he was trying to break the 2 party system. Bob Barr I really doubt is a strong, or wise, leader from what little I've seen.
Until you have diamonds in your hand, money is just an idea.
The first mistake the LP party made is presenting Barr as half the crusader for Liberty as Paul is. He is no where close. He signed the Patriot Act and as a prosecutor he jailed many people for things that caused no harm to anyone. A victim less crime, like getting high, is a non-crime. I'm currently reading Frederic Bastiat's The Law and even though it is 150 years old it is extremely relevant to the problems we are facing in this country today. Barr was an agent of enforcement for the perverted legal system that we suffer from today. That does not a Libertarian Candidate make! Barr is a poor leader for the Libertarian Party and to act like he was universally accepted is a facade. I was in Denver when he won, and yes he won, but just barely and it really irritated people when he did. In fact many of the LP delegates stood up and walked out. He would never have won had he not bussed in his supporters from all over the country. But his actions were within the rules and he is your candidate but you can't expect people to support him unconditionally. Dr. Mary Ruwart would have made a candidate that was much closer to the ideals of Paul than Barr will ever be, but alas, she did not win. That was mostly due to Barr making a lot of promises that I have not seen fulfilled. He hasn't gotten the media attention that he promised; I don't think he has gotten the media attention of Dr. Paul. Has he gotten the $5 million in donations that he promised? Paul did that in a single day!
The message is freedom, liberty, and justice. Paul is a tireless crusader for that cause; Barr is a recent convert with a poor history. It is painfully obvious that this election cycle is lost and Paul and most of his followers know that. The best outcome we can hope for is to lay some ground work for the next election. At the Rally for the Republic a number of local candidates were introduced, the Republican Party was made aware that we aren't going to go away, they got to see some real enthusiasm for a political candidate, and most importantly, those that did watch got to see politicians speak honestly and from the heart. The last one is a completely foreign concept to most people. Barr simply can not elicit that kind of response. The Libertarian Party is suffering from the same problem as the duopoly currently enthroned in the District of Corruption: the party first mentality. The message is the most important thing here; the message is the cause. I fear the Libertarian Party has lost sight of that and I don't think I'm the only Paul supporter that feels that way. Speaking as a former member of the LP, I don't anticipate ever returning to such a near sighted party. Actions such as those exemplified on Sept. 10th by the LP won't engender the party in other freedom lover's minds. Barr's cancellation was bad enough but can you honestly tell me that the words of Barr's Field Coordinator reflect the values of the party? If not he should be excused from the party or any representative roll therein. I am a libertarian but I don't think I will ever be a Libertarian again but from the tone of your press release I feel that the distinction eludes you. I wish it didn't and you could support the message as well as the party and its candidate.
Tres