Bob Barr supports Badnarik for President

STRAYING FROM THE HERD: BARR THE CONTRARIAN SAYS HE'S GOING LIBERTARIAN

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October 22, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Stephen P. Gordon
Office: (512) 637-6867
Cell: (256) 227-8360
communications@badnarik.org
http://www.badnarik.org
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ACROSS THE DIVIDE
Bob Barr supports Badnarik for President

Atlanta, GA - Bob Barr is a conservative's conservative -- a former Republican congressman, a leader in the fight to impeach Bill Clinton and an entrenched traditionalist on issues like medical marijuana and gay marriage.

But Bob Barr is not voting for George W. Bush on November 2.

In a debate on Georgia's proposed same-sex marriage ban last night, Barr asserted that he'd be voting for neither Bush nor Democratic challenger John Kerry, saying he has "serious questions about both presidential candidates."

He's voting Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik.

Over the years, the Libertarian Party and Barr have had an on-again, off-again relationship: allies on issues of privacy rights and fiscal responsibility, opponents on drug war and other cultural issues.

Since his exit from Congress after redistricting put him up against another popular representative (Libertarians ran ads in that campaign taking him to task for his opposition to medical marijuana), Barr's career trajectory tilted toward the issues on which he and Libertarians agree. He's spoken at party events and complimented Libertarians on their approach more often in recent times.

Then, last week, Barr publicly voiced his doubts about Bush in a column for Creative Loafing, an Atlanta weekly: "...when the nation enjoyed the fruits of actual conservative fiscal and security policies, a Democrat occupied the White House and Congress was controlled by a Republican majority." The column closed with a hypothetical "Hmmm. Who's the Libertarian candidate again?" Barr subsequently hosted Badnarik on his talk radio program.

"I welcome Congressman Barr's support," says Badnarik, currently stumping in Michigan. "While we don't agree on every issue, we have much in common -- and I think most people will understand that it wasn't Bob Barr who walked away from the Republican Party, but the Republican Party which walked away from the values he's worked all his life to support."

Other recent endorsers of Badnarik include former Reagan administration official Lance Lamberton, Orange County Register senior editorial writer Alan Bock and comedians Penn Jillette and Doug Stanhope. Badnarik's name will appear on the ballot in 48 states and the District of Columbia; New Hampshire voters will have the option of writing him in for the presidency.

Go visit Mr. Barr's site here.

--WP