Bob Barr Disses Ron Paul

Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr committed to attend Congressman Ron Paul's press conference, calling on voters to reject the Democratic and Republican Party, only to declare minutes before hand that "it just isn't worth it."

Ralph Nader was there. Chuck Baldwin was there. Cynthia McKinney was there.

Bob Barr, instead, held his own new conference, and his campaign issued this press release:

Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party nominee for president, has invited GOP Congressman Ron Paul to be his running mate in the upcoming election. In a letter sent to Paul, Barr called Paul one of the “few American patriots” who exist in today’s society, and asked him to “seriously consider this final offer as an opportunity to show true, lasting leadership beyond party politics.”

Barr cited Paul’s 1987 letter to then-GOP Chairman Frank Fahrenkopf, in which Paul stated that, “after years of trying to work through the Republican Party both in and out of government…[Paul] concluded that [his] efforts must be carried on outside the Republican Party.”

Though recognizing Paul’s personal investment in the Republican Party and his recent attempts to reform the party from inside, Barr said he disagreed with Paul’s strategy. “Better options remain that will carry a message of liberty onto the ballot in November and beyond,” Barr stated, adding at a news conference called today at the National Press Club, that “change in politics and public policy in America cannot and will not be done from within the current, two-party system.

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At the press conference:

Barr reported on the letter he sent Paul asking Paul to run as Barr’s vice presidential nominee.

Barr said he signed onto the statement of principles that Nader, McKinney and Baldwin signed, and stands by it. But he declined the offer to appear this morning.

“This is no reflection, certainly, on the tremendous and positive leadership that Ron Paul has provided to the liberty," Barr sad.

-EPJ Newsdesk