Barr: Bush more of a threat than Clinton

Bob Barr, the former college Democrat turned Republican member of Congress and now the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate, was one of the managers of the impeachment effort against President Clinton. His credentials as a Clinton opponent are well-established. But he's no friend of George W. Bush, either.

He walked us through his thinking this morning on ABC News' "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," after appearances by Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.):

STEPHANOPOULOS:  And you now believe that George W. Bush has been
a greater threat to liberty than Bill Clinton?

BARR:  Absolutely, because of this systemic assault on the Bill
of Rights.  It's very different.  I certainly, as you know, had my
differences with President Clinton and was one of the impeachment
managers.

But the problem with the current administration and the mind-set
that has taken hold here in Washington -- and there's really so little
difference between the two major parties, you could see it with your
two guests that were just here -- is the fact that the system itself
and what the Bush administration has done to the system of taking
liberty from the people and interposing it up here in Washington.

--James Gerstenzang

Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP-Getty Images

Comments

[Dianne]

To all of you who loathe the president, weren't we better off when Clinton was in power? I mean, the notorius womanizer who's history of this "trists' began in good old Arkansa(with the aid of his State police) made all Amercian's proud with the Monica disgrace. But, he NEVER lied about "having sex with that woman". Oh yah, he was too busy with the Monica mess to respond to an attack on one of our Navy ships in the Middle East during this time, he just too preoccupied. But better still, when he had the opportunity to have OBL handed to him on a platter, he said, 'sucks, I'm not interested at this time, but thanks anyway"
He too, had a great a foreign policy, remember the US attack in Somalia? Great job, prez.
Oh, yah, he did keep the economy stable, but so did the president for 7 yrs under conditions that Clinton never had, Thank God. I can still say that, can't I? That's right the election isn't till November so I better use it while I can.

[Craig]

Nice mention of Barr, but once again the mainstream media (that would be you) uses an unflattering photo of someone they really don't approve of. Not very subtle, guys.

[JWargo]

Republicans giving up on Republicans!! (At least for now... to prove a point...)

Here's an article about republican contributors proving a point by cutting off funds...
http://www.greenfaucet.com/hanlons-pub/proud-to-have-my-name-on-this-one
The Lincoln Club of Orange County are stopping their donations to Republican incumbents, making a statement to both the party leaders and voters that change cannot occur in the party if the same old leadership stays in place.
The 300 member organization donates about 1.5 bil a year so the republicans might actually be in trouble.

[Happiness]

I think the LA Times is now conservatively biased because they are owned by the corporations, which now try and own the country.

[Al Ramirez]

Barr is just all Sour Grapes. He wasn't much of Congressman and he isn't much of a joke as a Presidential hopeful. Put on the pile with Scott McClellan.