I think it hurts the Republican party because it gives them a legitimate alternative to voting for John McCain. Republican base voters feel a little better that McCain is now embracing all of Bush’s terrible policies but they’re unsure of whether, deep down, he believes them. So they can vote for Bob Barr instead!

I trust Barr more than McCain because he’s not party of big party politics, but hes more loyal to free market capitalism, as well as my deeply held belief that everyone is free to choose the lifestyle they want. Could Blunt possibly be switch hitting for the Libertarian party?

I’d wager that if Americans could vote for president using criteria similar to a “blind taste test,” we’d be discussing if McCain or Obama had the potential to spoil the election for Bob Barr. If we are able to have inclusive debates that included any candidate who had a mathematical chance (by being on enough state ballots) of winning the White House, Barr’s message would win the day hands down. I dare YOU to look at his issues and deny that he IS capable of turning things around, unlike any other candidate in this race.

I’m tired of being limited to voting on the lesser of two evils. I would have a real problem voting for either McCain or Obama. We are almost at a point of no return regarding our Constitution. As government continues to grow, our civil liberties continue to erode. Will Barr be elected? More than likely not. But, I believe if enough people vote for him, against McCain and Obama, it might help pave the way for a third party candidate who believes in our Consitution becoming a viable candidate in 2012…hopefully, that won’t be too late.

It’s time for the media to stop talking as though the Replublicrats owned the election and voting for anyone else was somehow violating their right to control American politics. Everyone deserves the chance to vote their conscience and hear their point of view represented in the debates. Unfortunately I don’t think that will happen until we also get serious electoral reform like instant run-off voting and proportional representation.

Bob Barr is a lot closer to my views than either Obama or McCain and I will proudly cast my vote for him knowing that win or lose I have done the right thing.

What does Obama’s run do? Help or hurt any party candidate?

The question is not reasonable… no matter who you are filling in on the blank line. The effect Bob Barr has on the election is no different than the effect that any candidate has.

This is not a high school election for the who will advise on Friday’s cafeteria lunch menu. Every candidate should be given serious consideration and judged on their merits. Whatever votes Bob Barr gets, he will have earned. Those votes that McCain or Obama do not get, they will have failed to earn.

It’s time the media stopped talking as though the Republicrats owned the election and that somehow anyone else running was a violation of their right to control American politics. Everyone deserves the right to vote their conscience and to hear their point of view represented in the debates. The media should be demanding that all qualified candidates be included in the debates or refuse to validate them by their participation.

Personally I don’t think we are ever going to get rid of these “spoiler” arguments unless we have serious electoral reform like instant run-off voting and proportional representation. The saddest thing about the Barr’s treatment by the media is that he is only getting exposure because of his perceived spoiler status, not because of the substantive issues which he is raising.