Michael C's blog

Bob Barr is changing yet another policy position in order to run for President.
 

Bob Barr's marriage of convenience to the Libertarian Party gained him the group's nomination for president and prompted the former Republican congressman to declare he will work to repeal one of his biggest legislative victories, the Defense of Marriage Act.

In his speech accepting the little party's nomination in Denver last weekend, Barr roundly denounced the law he once championed.

Barr was the sponsor of the 1996 act that (1) says no state is required to give effect to or recognize a same-sex union law of another state, and (2) defines marriage as "a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife" and declares "the word 'spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife."

Barr's reversal marks the repudiation of key conservative "family values" positions he once embraced. He also now favors legalizing "medical marijuana," and his new party's platform calls for repeal "of all laws creating 'crimes' without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes." He also opposes the 2001 Patriot Act he originally supported to expand intelligence-gathering powers in fighting terrorism.

Before the convention, Barr declared support for the California Supreme Court's mid-May decision striking down state laws banning same-sex marriages.

 

The War on Drugs, The Patriot Act, and now The Defense of Marriage Act. Barr is showing he will change his long held beliefs for political gain.