365Gay, which bills itself as “America’s most read gay news”, has run an article on Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr today, quoting and highlighting (mostly quoting) his earlier press release on the California Supreme Court’s recent same-sex marriage ruling. Barr’s authorship of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act has drawn major criticism from many Libertarians from the time of his entry into the Libertarian Party in 2006. An earlier 365Gay story contrasts Barr’s position on same-sex marriage with that of McCain, Clinton, and Obama as “Perhaps the only surprise.”
Also today, Outright Libertarians, which earlier this year endorsed George Phillies for the LP presidential nomination, posted the following YouTube video of Barr’s nomination speech, in which he argues for the DOMA’s repeal:
Update: Brian Miller has shared with us two more links to significant, related articles, one from The Advocate and another from the Queerty blog.
In case anyone’s still watching this thread, Politics1 has also picked up the story of Barr’s position on the DOMA. Though my understanding is that the proprietor of that site is himself gay, I’m not sure it really qualifies as “gay media,” so I’m not updating the post with it.
Action item: if you want to keep Barr’s feet to the fire in regard to DOMA (an issue I admit I am not 100% familair with, but am attempting to learn more about), start sending letters to the editor of The Advocate and other GLBT media outlets underscoring THE LP’s opposition to DOMA and explicitly thank Bob Barr for reversing his previous stand on the issue. If you are afraid that he will reverse himself, this will make it more difficult for him to do so. I doubt he will reverse his current position, but it doesn’t hurt for the skeptics out there to provide an incentive for him to stay on message.
*If* Barr is backsliding on the position, it’s up to Libertarians to push him back into a position consistent with our party platform.
IF he sticks with repealing DOMA, which is grossly unconstitutional as well as being heterosupremacist, then Brian is right. But there are already reports he’s backsliding on that position.
Can he come out for a TRUE non-interventionist foreign policy, i.e., no anti-narco-terrorism? A full repeal of the Patriot Act and abolition of the Department of Homeland Security? Let’s get down to brass tacks: Does the CIA have any constitutional authority to exist, and if not, is he for getting rid of his past (and undoubtedly current) employer?
Fred, the popular left-wing gay blog Pam’s House Blend has also picked up the story:
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5557
If Barr sticks with the position of full repeal that he called for on the convention floor, he’ll be garnering a lot of positive press for the Libertarian Party’s ability to change the terms of the debate in a way that the D’s and R’s have failed to do.
Brian: I put your links up in the main article, I figure the Advocate’s a big enough deal to get note there.
Top news magazine The Advocate has picked up the story:
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid54947.asp
So has the Queerty blog:
http://www.queerty.com/former-foe-barr-vows-to-fight-doma-20080527/
My understanding is that Barr is defending his reasoning behind DOMA when he passed it, but my view is that his language on the floor of the convention is very clear and unambiguous in terms of supporting a repeal of the law. That is progress, in my view, and I’m looking forward to seeing Bob Barr and Wayne Root campaign on this message, as is consistent with our Libertarian Party platform plank on equal treatment under the law — which Libertarians across the ideological spectrum strengthened and improved on the floor of the convention.
He already said he still supports half the thing, and’s been defending that half.
It didn’t take long for Barr to contradict himself on DOMA.
One day after saying he’d fight to repeal DOMA, he defends it to CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/26/barr-obama-and-mccain-the-real-spoilers/
“His positions on some issues have left some Libertarians unsure about his candidacy. He opposed legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, supported the Patriot Act, and co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act.
While the Defense of Marriage Act was backed by opponents of gay marriage, and allowed states not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, Barr told CNN Monday that it was a “very sound individualistic and states’ rights policy.””
I also scored the same as Phillies as did Kubby & Smith. So time will tell Barr is lying to Outright. So, time will tell I told you so. We need a president that can get it right the first time.