We Must Oppose McCain's New Bailout Plan, Says Barr

[Herb Schaffler]

October 8, 2008 9:54 am EST
Atlanta, GA – “So far this year, the federal government has spent or loaned nearly $2 trillion to bailout Wall Street, the housing industry, automakers, commercial banks and others,” notes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. “But that’s par for the course for Washington, which already has run up a national debt of nearly $10 trillion and planned a pre-bailout deficit of a half trillion dollars for 2009. What Washington knows best is how to waste money,” says Barr.
“In yesterday’s debate, Sen. John McCain, who likes to pose as the taxpayer’s friend, came up with yet another bailout idea. He wants the government to use $300 billion—which it doesn’t have—to buy up bad mortgages in order to prop up housing prices. Yet, it was the artificial inflation of housing prices that got us into this mess in the first place,” Barr explains.
“Moreover, Congress already has approved a $300 billion housing bailout measure supported by Sen. McCain. On top of that, Congress agreed to another $200 billion or more to bail-out the housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Then there is the recent $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, which Sen. McCain voted for," notes Barr.
"Where does Sen. McCain believe all of this money is going to come from?” Barr asks.
“When do Americans, who have been responsible with their money—that is, who haven’t bought too much house and didn’t think the good times would never end—get a break? Sen. McCain, Sen. Barack Obama and the other members of Congress who have supported one bailout after another have turned fiscal responsibility into a sucker’s game. It is time for someone to speak up for those who play by the rules and pay the nation’s bills,” Barr adds.
“There’s no meaningful difference between the two major parties,” notes Barr. “The American people need and deserve real change. Only a vote for Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party will change Washington,” he adds.

[Herb Schaffler]

October 7th, 2008 by Jason Pye
In the election issue of Liberty magazine, J. Bradley Jansen [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This No Hillary For President Forum Link. :

Barr, of course, is the candidate most likely to follow a noninterventionist foreign policy and keep America out of unnecessary wars. He not only voted to stop Clinton’s military strikes in Yugoslavia but joined a few other congressmen in suing the president for peace. The man who led the impeachment against President Clinton also led the charge against the lawlessness of the Bush Administration.
One of the main functions of the federal government is to protect our national security, but a Barr presidency will keep us safe and free. Barr understands that the two go together. He rejects the false dichotomy that makes people think we need to choose between them.
Turning to economic policies: Barr’s background is that of a fiscal conservative. He came to Congress as one of the Republican revolutionaries voting to get rid of whole cabinet departments — a position not articulated again in national politics until Ron Paul’s run in the Republican presidential debates. The growth in government spending under President Bush denies Republicans running on his record any right to be rewarded. The Bush record on fiscal issues is certainly not one that deserves to be renewed.
We need a change, not warmed-over New Deal redistributionist policies. Unfortunately, however, the two major parties offer only small variations of more of the same. One of President Clinton’s greatest achievements was the far-reaching welfare reforms that gave states more power to try new policies. Escaping the one-size-fits-all approaches from major party candidates continues to be crucial.
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If you approve of the status quo, vote for one of the two major party candidates. They are the candidates of the status quo. But if you want real change based on a new framework, vote for Bob Barr. Only a vote for Barr is a vote for smaller government and respect for individual rights, privacy, and civil liberties. The other choices offer parts of what the country wants and needs. Only Barr offers the best of the two other choices, and the long overdue political realignment that we need.