Ex-Rep. Barr quits GOP for Libertarians

[Zorro]

Another rat leaving the sinking ship.

<snip>

A former Georgia congressman who helped spark President Clinton's impeachment has quit the Republican Party to become a Libertarian, saying he is disillusioned with the GOP on issues such as spending and privacy.

Bob Barr, who served eight years as a Republican congressman before losing his seat in 2002, announced Friday that he is now a "proud, card-carrying Libertarian." And he encouraged others to join him.

"It's something that's been bothering me for quite some time, the direction in which the party has been going more and more toward big government and disregard toward privacy and civil liberties," said Barr, 58, a lawyer and consultant living in Atlanta. "In terms of where the country needs to be going to get back to our constitutional roots ... I've come to the conclusion that the only way to do that is to work with a party that practices what it preaches, and that is the Libertarian Party."

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More at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061215/ap_on_go_co/brf_barr_libertarian

[angstlessk]

1. I do believe he is also a 'card carrying' memeber of the ACLU

which shocked everyone...including us here at DU!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I predict more defections from the GOP

especially if those in Congress don't step up to the plate and do something about Bush.

[sandnsea]

3. Excellent, next move

equate Republicans to theocrats and permanently split the right. Move the Democrats into the center, let the Greens rise up on the left.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Barr is someone with no further stake in the Republican Party

This is a lot easier for him to do now than it was eight or ten years ago.

Now, if a sitting Republican Congressman defected to the Libertarian Party, that would be impressive. Well, sort of. He'd still caucus with the GOP.

[More Than A Feeling]

5. Maybe he'll run for prez on the Libertarian ticket

That would be a nice FU to the party that has betrayed him. As an actual former officerholder, he might have more juice than the usual suspects third parties put up. Could steal enough votes from the R's to hobble them even further.