WASHINGTON -- In a recent exchange with anti-illegal immigration activist D.A. King, former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr reported that he was in favor of a national mandatory E-Verify system for businesses to make sure their employees are legal. This matched the opinion of his runoff opponent in the 11th Congressional District, state Sen. Barry Loudermilk.
But it did not match Barr's website.
As conservative blogger and radio host Erick Erickson -- who has raised money for Loudermilk -- points out:
Forty-eight hours after answering "YES" to D.A. King, the website changed that paragraph to this:
What is interesting is that the E-Verify system has not been changed in the past year. ...
It's just so sad to see a good man so desperate to return to Congress that he'll say or do anything to get elected.
Barr's son and campaign manager Derek Barr said Bob Barr changed his position on E-Verify "prior to responding to D.A. King's questionnaire" but that was as specific as he got, and he did not reveal what evidence of changes to the E-Verify system Bob Barr used to recalibrate his views.
Derek Barr also called the Erickson post a "cheap political attack." He added this:
"The difference between Bob Barr and Barry Loudermilk is this: Bob Barr has the experience to know when certain government programs are necessary and when they are not. Bob Barr has the strength and the courage to stand up and protect America when we need to be protected…and that is exactly what he is doing in this matter…all Barry Loudermilk knows how to do is vote no on everything."
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