Today after a great deal of speculation, former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr declared he was running for the Libertarian Party’s nomination. While I was a bit leery hearing of the possibility that someone who’s perceived as being ultra-conservative is running for the fiscally conservative, yet socially liberal Libertarian Party, I’ve warmed up to the idea of having the opportunity to vote for him this November. While he supported some heinous pieces of legislation, since leaving Congress he’s (almost) done an about face by working for groups such as the Marijuana Policy Project and the American Civil Liberties Union. He’s an eloquent speaker who can communicate the party’s message well, exposing the ideas of liberty to the masses, raise lots of money, and hopefully get lots of votes. I’m not naive to the possibility of duplicity on his or his campaign’s part, but I do believe that people can truly change, especially after smoking marijuana. The following is an excerpt from a fundraising letter I received from the Barr ‘08 campaign on April 21, 2008 that illustrates what I’m talking about:
One man I admire answers also to the name, “Bob.” He was a person possessed of a gift that allowed him to speak to and lift the spirits of other men and women with his words and music.
When watching a film one evening, I was reminded of an event in his life and how he inspired so many with what would normally have been an easy decision.
In December 1976, this other Bob, along with his family and friends, were rehearsing for an upcoming concert when gunmen burst into his home and opened fire.
Bob was wounded, with a round entering his chest and passing though his arm. His wife, Rita, had been struck with a bullet in the head while fleeing with their five children.
Both survived and were rushed to the hospital, treated and released a day later.
The following evening, the concert went on but, out of fear of further violence, without many of the acts that had been scheduled to play. Despite a realization that the main performer and others would most likely not appear, a crowd of 85,000 people managed to gather for the concert.
Not to be discouraged, Bob raced to the concert at the last minute and rushed onto the stage.
Wounded and more than likely staring at his own gunman in the crowd, Bob Marley promised the joyous audience, “just one song.” He and his wife Rita, wrapped in bandages, took the stage for 90 minutes.
Later, Bob was asked why he would go through the effort to perform just two days after being attacked. He answered simply, “The people who are trying to make this world worse are not taking a day off. How can I? Light up the darkness.”
Now, I find it questionable that Bob Barr’s hero has always been Bob Marley. Maybe he always secretly loved Marley — I don’t know. The Bob Marley thing may have come after some herbal enhancement of Barr’s thought processes, which I would commend. If, on the other hand, the inspiration came from one of his senior advisor’s herbal usage, Barr may have a more difficult time swaying enough delegates to win the nomination. As I said, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, although I won’t be one of the voting delegates he’ll need to convince.
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