Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > October > 28 > Entry

Barr on Palin: ‘I was a soccer dad. I don’t think that qualifies me to be president.’

Bob Barr was up in Athens on Monday, trying to foment rebellion among University of Georgia students.

According to this morning’s Athens Banner-Herald, the Libertarian presidential candidates was particularly hard on Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee.

“I was a soccer dad,” Barr said. “I don’t think that qualifies me to be president.”

The Libertarian argued that, if Palin’s two terms as mayor of a small town and 20 months as governor of Alaska qualifies her to stand a heart-beat away from the president, then his four years as a federal prosecutor and eight years in Congress makes him doubly suited for the job.

The article continued:

Barr raised the [experience] issue as part of an hour-long speech on the growth of government power, declining personal freedom and mainstream candidates’ unwillingness to face scrutiny from the press and the public - trends he said are tied together.

Palin openly defied moderator Gwen Ifill and refused to respond to questions during her debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden, Barr said. Instead, she stuck to her talking points, “thumb(ing) her nose” at voters, he said.

If candidates aren’t pushed out of their comfort zones, voters will never know the depth of their knowledge on issues or how they’ll react when tested, Barr said.

“They’re going to be at - dare I say - a distinct disadvantage sitting across from or on the phone with one of these foreign leaders,” he said.

Barr is apparently settling on his home state of Georgia as one of the states in which he can affect the outcome on Election Day. He’s got a 3:30 p.m. Wednesday appearance at Kennesaw State University. In the Burruss Building. Room 151.

Can’t get more specific than that.


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Comments

By Mack

October 28, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

The presidency is an executive position. I don’t see how being a US attorney or a representative prepares Barr to be president. And as far as Barr affecting the outcome on election day: The only way he can do that is to help Obama get elected.

By dittohead

October 28, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Is Barr implying Bob Barr is not qualified to be president..YES.Yes..Yes…I guess in 2008………..only US senator is qualified to run for president…or VP.

By dittohead

October 28, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Is Barr implying Bob Barr is not qualified to be president..YES.Yes..Yes…I guess in 2008………..only US senator is qualified to run for president…or VP.

By dittohead

October 28, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Is Barr implying Bob Barr is not qualified to be president..YES.Yes..Yes…I guess in 2008………..only a US senator is qualified to run for president…or VP. Usually a governor is nominated…I guess in 2008….the rules have changed for the black Missiah.

By dittohead

October 28, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Is Barr implying Bob Barr is not qualified to be president..YES.Yes..Yes…I guess in 2008………..only a US senator is qualified to run for president…or VP. Usually a governor is nominated…I guess in 2008….the rules have changed for the black Missiah.

By dittohead

October 28, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Is Barr implying Bob Barr is not qualified to be president..YES.Yes..Yes…I guess in 2008………..only a US senator is qualified to run for president…or VP. Usually a governor is nominated…I guess in 2008….the rules have changed for the black Missiah.

By Bubba

October 28, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

I agree completely with Barr: He’s not qualified to be VP

By Copyleft

October 28, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Ahh, so now it’s a “RULE” that presidential candidates have to be governors rather than senators.

I guess that’s news to Lloyd Bentsen, Bob Dole, JFK, Scoop Jackson, Gary Hart, and countless others.

“Over the last thirty years, senators accounted for the largest group of declared presidential candidates, but governors were not far behind.” Turn off Rush and learn some history, Dittohead.

By gafarmer

October 28, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

I agree with Bubba!!!!!!! Barr is also not qualified for any other federal office.

By Dude

October 28, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Listen dittohead and bubba, I was at the rally and Barr give a clear, precise definition of the job of the president, something neither McCain or Palin has been able to do in interviews. Barr also pointed out that he has two degrees in international relations, worked for the CIA in that area and has numerous other qualifications alone with his work as a prosecutor, congressman. Barr has also written extensively on national matters - when we are not even sure if Palin can read. Barr has a brain that woks something Rush and his fans will never understand.

By Quintin

October 28, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Senators are not Qualified to be president. Senators are supposed to be order takers, they have no executive power and by nature they are weasels that lie to thier people to get elected. Obama has lied about everything except the fact that there will be change believe it. Read the book The Great Gatsby, learn it if Obama is elected this is how we will live our lives, in poverty. You can not distribute weatlth to the people we are not responsible enough as individuals to handle it.

By Quintin

October 28, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

Senators are not Qualified to be president. Senators are supposed to be order takers, they have no executive power and by nature they are weasels that lie to thier people to get elected. Obama has lied about everything except the fact that there will be change believe it. Read the book The Great Gatsby, learn it if Obama is elected this is how we will live our lives, in poverty. You can not distribute weatlth to the people we are not responsible enough as individuals to handle it.

By Quintin

October 28, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

Senators are not Qualified to be president. Senators are supposed to be order takers, they have no executive power and by nature they are weasels that lie to thier people to get elected. Obama has lied about everything except the fact that there will be change believe it. Read the book The Great Gatsby, learn it if Obama is elected this is how we will live our lives, in poverty. You can not distribute weatlth to the people we are not responsible enough as individuals to handle it.

By Dude

October 28, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Senators are not qualified to be president? Don’t know if I agree with that, but for this election it sounds good to me.. Therefore, since Obama and McCain (since dinosaurs roamed the earth in his case) are both senators then Bob Barr is the only man for the Job!!

By weiner

October 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

haha Politics are STUPID!!!!

By weiner

October 28, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

haha Politics are STUPID!!!!

By weiner

October 28, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

haha Politics are STUPID!!!!

By weiner

October 28, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

haha Politics are STUPID!!!!

By Lou

October 28, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

Thank God people like Bob Barr are willing to speak the truth, rather than say “whatever it takes” for votes. When citizens cannot save their money, it comes as no suprise that our Congress and the president have no monetary dicipline. Libertarian ideals will make a stronger country.

If the current trends continue, we will be like the bears addicted to garbage at Yellowstone park. when the garbage was taken away, the bears starved (as they forgot how to hunt)

By Lou

October 28, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

Thank God people like Bob Barr are willing to speak the truth, rather than say “whatever it takes” for votes. When citizens cannot save their money, it comes as no suprise that our Congress and the president have no monetary dicipline. Libertarian ideals will make a stronger country.

If the current trends continue, we will be like the bears addicted to garbage at Yellowstone park. when the garbage was taken away, the bears starved (as they forgot how to hunt)

By Anonymous

October 28, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Palin has been governor of Alaska for a very short time. Prior to that she was mayor of a small town. At least Bob Barr was in the House of Representatives for years, and has other qualifications.

Overall, though, the experience issue is a non-issue. It flies in the face of the concept of the “Citizen-Statesman” that the Framers intended. Experience is the wrong word to be using. Competency is more appropriate.

By Who

October 28, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

Bob Barr is a joke, keep the little boys away from him too

By D Chapelle

October 28, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

Bob Barr is Dave Chapelle in white face. I cannot wait for the “Borat” like movie that DC will release sometime next year. Suckers!!!!!!!!

By frank burns

October 28, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

Palin is close with Joe the Plumber. Can Barr say that?

By Artus Register

October 29, 2008 1:12 AM | Link to this

Mr. Barr is clearly the only candidate who has read the Constitution. It is a pity that the neocon lap dogs in the media continually parrot the nonsense that McCain is a conservative. McCain is a big government liberal, anti-gunner, quite probably afflicted with a mental disorder (I am not kidding), and of the jack-booted opinion that government programs and war can solve any problem. Anyone interested in freedom only has one choice: Bob Barr.

By Joel Hilsenrath

October 29, 2008 5:46 AM | Link to this

You’re also a jack a*.

Does that qualify you?

By Emzad

October 29, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

I like Bob Barr because at least he is a true conservative when it comes to government spending and use of power. If you are a conservative voting for McCain/Palin, shame on you. McCain voted for the “rescue bill,” so when he calls Obama a “socialist,” well… I am not sure you can be more “socialist” than controlling the banks. Not to mention, we have a lot of things that are run by the government… schools for instance… so “Socialist” just does not work. They both are “socialist” in that regard. Palin is a joke. McCain would have been worlds better off picking Elizabeth Dole. Then he could have hammered on Obama’s lack of experience. Palin also “redistributes” wealth in Alaska, so I am not sure what she is doing talking about Obama wanting to “redistribute” wealth. They are both bad. I dislike the democrats as much as the next conservative, but voting for McCain/Palin is just morally wrong. Who cares about “lesser evil” from what I have seen McCain/Palin is not necessarly a “lesser” evil.

By Emzad

October 29, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

I like Bob Barr because at least he is a true conservative when it comes to government spending and use of power. If you are a conservative voting for McCain/Palin, shame on you. McCain voted for the “rescue bill,” so when he calls Obama a “socialist,” well… I am not sure you can be more “socialist” than controlling the banks. Not to mention, we have a lot of things that are run by the government… schools for instance… so “Socialist” just does not work. They both are “socialist” in that regard. Palin is a joke. McCain would have been worlds better off picking Elizabeth Dole. Then he could have hammered on Obama’s lack of experience. Palin also “redistributes” wealth in Alaska, so I am not sure what she is doing talking about Obama wanting to “redistribute” wealth. They are both bad. I dislike the democrats as much as the next conservative, but voting for McCain/Palin is just morally wrong. Who cares about “lesser evil” from what I have seen McCain/Palin is not necessarly a “lesser” evil.

By Tracy

October 29, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this

McCain/Palin and the Republican Party as a whole is nothing more than Socialist who hide behind a social right-wing agenda (pro-life, anti-gay) to lure the Conservatives and true free market Capitalist into supporting them.

If you’re really a Conservative, then you will vote for Bob Barr. If you vote McCain, then you’re a Socialist in my eyes.

Barr for President !!!!

By Bob Barr

October 29, 2008 8:26 PM | Link to this

I’m a joke and anyone who votes for me is a gay Obama-lover.

P.S. Anyone of you got any little boys?

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