– Patrick Gavin/for The Examiner
Before you walk into the National Press Club’s John Peter Zengler Room, you pass a framed comic strip in which one panel features a cop saying, “I dunno … some guys do the dumbest things.”
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That was from a cartoon called “Potsy” that used to run in The Daily News ages ago, but as one sat through former Georgia congressman Bob Barr’s press conference Monday in which he announced his candidacy for president of the United States as a Libertarian, it was hard not to think that, well, some things never change: Some guys just do the dumbest things.
It’s been more than 450 days since Sen. Barack Obama announced his candidacy, and 383 since Sen. John McCain threw his hat in the ring, but Bob Barr is hoping that the best things come to those who wait.
“My name is Bob Barr and I’m a candidate for the presidency of the United States of America,” he told a small room of reporters, pre-empting them by raising the obvious question himself: “You might say Bob Barr, why are you running for president?”
Well, Barr tried to explain, articulating his desire to “cut the size, scope and power of government.” He spoke out in favor of the separation of powers, but against “a government run amok fiscally.” He said the American people “want a choice” and a restoration of habeas corpus.
But perhaps instead of explaining why he’s running, Barr should have explained how he could possibly take the White House. But that wasn’t to happen. “Please save any procedural questions for after the news conference,” said Barr’s political adviser, Russ Verney. OK, but what about money, Bob? “We have a substantial budget.” What swing states do you think you can win? Barr said he’s got a good plan for winning the Electoral College, but wouldn’t spill the beans.
“Look, I’m in it to win it,” said Barr. “I’m not getting in this race to make a point. … I’m not getting into this race to be a spoiler — I’ve got better things to do.”
And maybe Barr’s candidacy isn’t a total waste, after all: After the conference, Barr was informed that he had just won one of those very precious political commodities: a delegate. Stewart Flood, a delegate with the Libertarian Party in South Carolina, proudly walked up to Barr to declare himself the first Liberatarian delegate to endorse Barr.
“He’s in it to win it,” said Flood. “Make no mistake about it.”
