October 2, 2008

Barr: 'I Think McCain Is A Hypocrite'

@ 2:42 pm by Hill Staff

John McCain isn't the opponent of big government that he claims he is, according to Bob Barr, the former GOP congressman and Libertarian presidential candidate.

"I think McCain is a hypocrite," Barr said of the Arizona senator. "He claims he is for smaller government and that's not the case."

Barr doesn't think Democratic candidate Barack Obama is a hypocrite. He's just a "classic liberal," according to Barr.

"I'm not saying he's a better person, but he's not hypocritical politically as many Republicans are these days," Barr said.

Barr made the comments in a 20 questions interview with The Hill that will run in Friday's newspaper.

Barr also criticized McCain's running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as too inexperienced to be vice president. After saying Palin has done "a very good job" as governor, Barr said, "I don't think she has anywhere near the depth of experience to be vice president." He said he would pick a secretary of state who had significant experience in foreign travel and foreign business, "not someone who could see Russia from their back door."

He saved some of his sharpest barbs for his former colleagues. "This Congress has allowed the president to walk all over it," Barr said. "Congress sits back and says, 'Thank you sir, may I have another sir?'"

Barr served four terms in Congress as a lawmaker from Georgia.

The Hill called McCain's campaign about Barr's comments, but it has yet to respond.

-Betsy Rothstein

Archived under: Campaigns, News, Presidential Campaigns
Tags: Barack Obama, Bob Barr, John McCain

22 Comments »

1. Thank you Bob although not a true fan of yours at least you have integrety to tell the truth. John McCain is a not telling the truth. I would vote for you over McCain any day.

   Comment by linda — October 2, 2008 @ 3:32 pm

2. I am just so happy to see at least one person from the right come out and say the truth! The McCain Campaign constantly complains about bad press in the media, well that's usually because most of the lies and negative campaigning comes from his side of the fence!

   Comment by Dee Evans — October 2, 2008 @ 3:53 pm

3. Exactly! McCain is a hypocrite. If people out here really think McCain is going to bring change…I have a airplane in Alaska I want to sell you. McCain is for the McBirds.

   Comment by Darryl — October 2, 2008 @ 4:27 pm

4. Sounds like he's real familiar with that term… "thank you sir, may I have another".

   Comment by nate — October 2, 2008 @ 4:31 pm

5. Did Georgia just become blue?

   Comment by Frank — October 2, 2008 @ 4:34 pm

6. Nate sounds like any other neocon who thinks that anyone not for McCain/Palin is against the U.S. Since when does freedom of speech not apply in the U.S. and why can't Bob Barr have that freedom?

   Comment by Rhonda — October 2, 2008 @ 4:48 pm

7. thank you bob barr for speaking the truth. mccain acts like he is the savior. he has really shown his true colors but people out here will fall for the mess that he is saying. but thank you for being honest

   Comment by shawn — October 2, 2008 @ 5:27 pm

8. I agree with those who thank you for telling the truth about McCain being a hypocrite on smaller government just like he has been on his military career and his commitment to veterans.

   Comment by Jack — October 2, 2008 @ 6:20 pm

9. People can generally make out if a person is authentic -
   Obama is authentic, Reagan, and Arnold S are authentic, Jesse Ventura is authentic.
   You may not agree with them, but you can admire them nevertheless.
   Can anyone remember what McCain has ever said that he is passionate about - other than vague generalities from the Republican buzzword chart - like Courage,Freedom,Tax cuts,fight,Strong etc.

   Comment by Jim — October 2, 2008 @ 6:23 pm

10. Bob Bar also didn't mention the fact that John McCain also said that he would veto any pork barrel spending that comes along but yet he voted for this bailout bill which is full of Pork spending.

    Comment by just sir — October 2, 2008 @ 6:49 pm

11. Bob Barr 4 President: Because I'm tired of holding my nose when I walk into the voting booth.

    Comment by Luis — October 2, 2008 @ 11:12 pm

12. Don't want to put the article too close to the top of the page now, or the fire marshal may shut you down.

    Comment by ben — October 3, 2008 @ 12:52 am

13. I have to agree with Bob Barr on John McCain. He is not authentic. I'm voting for Barack Obama.

    Comment by Joyce — October 3, 2008 @ 2:02 am

14. You can tell a politician is desperate when they resort to telling the truth.

    Gotta love these third party candidates.

    Comment by JustAJoe — October 3, 2008 @ 6:27 am

15. Give me a break! Americans can look at McCain's record and see he's not afraid to VOTE and be on the record. OBAMA has a record too, of not voting and lying about his affilations! NO OBAMA For AMERICAN. As for Barr, Americans does not even know him. IF he was so AUTHENTIC in his position, and went against the Washington, we would know him too!! Just another unhappy displaced government worker. NO VALUE!

    Comment by Robin — October 3, 2008 @ 8:47 am

16. Progressives, liberals and Democrats need not critique the character of John McCain. The country's foremost Conservatives have made a very strong case against the character of John McCain.

    George Will: McCain is erratic, unstable
    Thomas Sowell: McCain is Benedict Arnold
    Charles Krauthamer: McCain too many hail mary's
    Ross Perot: McCain=soul less opportunistic fraud

    Comment by Christopher London — October 3, 2008 @ 11:01 am

17. I am a Canadian, and as most other Canadians we are very aware of what is happening in the USA, at least as much as any American does. In fact, there is more interest generated by your elections (almost as much as a hockey game) than our own election currently in midstream. What we find hard to believe and to understand, is how the "greatest nation on earth" allows politics to become a stage for those that lie and exagerate as much as the "honorable war hero" McCain. Although even Obama stretched the truth somewhat, hypocrasy falls short as a description for what McCain is really spewing. Bob Barr is being very polite, using the word "hypocrasy.". Adverts like "Sex education for grade-schoolers", the "lipstick thing" and so much more, are substantially taken out of context and used to sell a position to the ignorant. And this nominee feels that he has the "right" to represent the American people at home and on the world stage? Perhaps that is the reason that support for Obama is 4 to 1 in Canada and very much the same in all parts of Europe. But then. . . we can't vote in US elections.

    There really should be a law for acceptable behaviour, because MaCain has gone too far.

    Comment by Frank Matys — October 3, 2008 @ 12:45 pm

18. McCain may like the concept of small government, but his voting record shows he is willing to sacrifice those ideals for bills of dubious value, including McCain-Feingold and the current bailout bill.

    Comment by Doug — October 3, 2008 @ 12:49 pm

19. Senator Mel Martinez is a Republican, not a Democrat as this post asserts

    Comment by Don — October 3, 2008 @ 1:03 pm

20. I'm a US Veteran and I switched to the Libertarian party when I was still in the military over a decade ago. I never liked "The better than though attitudes" of the Republicans and Democrats. They have been out of touch with real Americans for decades. Most Americans are too busy trying to feed their families to notice the corruption, lies and greed that the two major parties represent. We need equality, peace and unity in America. One thing I have always believed is the government wants Americans to argue with each other, then they won't see what the government is really doing behind their backs until it's too late.

    Comment by David — October 4, 2008 @ 7:46 am

21. After watching way too much of John McCain squirm and shiver, pointing fingers and never taking the blame for this mess, I have definitely made up this republican mind to vote for Obama. I am one who believes that if John McCain and his "not so innocent" running mate are actually 'blessed' with the 'privilege' of leading this country, we can kiss freedom and chance of living the American Dream Goodbye. How and Why would be the first necessary question to ask ANY McCain/Palin supporter but, it's like a polygamist camp, they are so willing to use racism and hatred for their reason NOT to vote for Obama, never even mentioning the education and willingness to change that Obama has for the position. We will ruin this nation internally, as the Al Quada leaders have predicted. We will pour more and more money into a war-to-nowhere until there are no options to get more cash.

    Comment by Bonnie — October 4, 2008 @ 9:52 am

22. Well, by looking over many of these comments it just agin reafirms what I have been saying and that is Americans for the most part are asleep and led around by the Parties and the media. America's sovereignty is really in dire trouble and yet we have Obama, Mc Cain and even Bob Barr who fail to recoginize the effects of illegal immigration and the toll it has on our economy and infrastructure and Health care and social programs. This problem is real and where is the dicussion about it in the race? Silent because they are all weak on how they would deal with the issue just as they ( Obama & Mc Cain ) shown how weak they were in dealing with the $700 billion dollar bailout. They both showed themselves cowards and that they care for themselves and reall not for America. Obama said while on the Senate floor that we ( the government ) needs to cut spending and yet he voted for the bailout & Mc Cain was instructing Seanators and Congressman not to listen to the phone calls, faxes and emails from America" to vote NO against the bailout and this also from the guy who is to be lifted up as the champion against pork. As for Govenor Palin she is the real deal and the kind of person we need more of in elected positions in this country and don't see the need for the harsh press she is recieving. Her only fault is that she is linked to John Mc Cain because she is real and a Patriot someone who will challenge her party for the sake of what is right not something Obama can say of himself and what about this community serive he is aquainted with ACORN? Time Americans stop this loyalty to the parties and time the showed out and voted as Americans for what is right and good for our country's future. http://www.vote-itz-ur-right.com

    Comment by Boyd Lieberman — October 4, 2008 @ 10:28 am

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