This diary is about what I believe is our best secret weapon in this election: Bob Barr.
The core benefit that Bob can bring us -- siphoning votes from McCain -- is obvious. But I'd like to delve a little deeper, and discuss some strategic ways that we increase the effectiveness of this weapon, as well as some of the implications for how it could impact the race.
I'm an Obama fanatic and have no love for Bob Barr, but given the choice between him and McClown/Palin, I'd go for Barr in a heartbeat. He's for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, regrets his vote for Patriot Act, opposed FISA, supports the Marijuana Policy Project, favors state decisionmaking on same-sex marriage (not great, but better than the R's), and as far as I can tell fervently believes the Constitution is more than just a piece of paper. Link.
(I know, you can't wipe out of your mind that image of him during the Clinton impeachment hearings. Get over it. We've got an election to win.)
Ever since Bob got the Libertarian nod, I've been optimistic about his possible impact as a spoiler, but in the past few days I've started thinking much more about his strategic value to us. The reason for my increased ponderings is, of course, Sarahcuda Palin. I don't know if anything I've ever seen or heard in politics has enraged me as much as her acceptance speech. Not even the 24/7 looping of the Wright videos.
In response, I decided maybe it's finally time to start composing that e-mail to my family.
:: ::
I grew up in Oklahoma (one of only two states currently listed on fivethirtyeight as 0% for Obama.) With the exception of my vegan baby brother, who is very progressive but not involved in politics, the remaining members of my family are die-hard conservatives, mostly living in red states. True believers in the Goldwater brand of Republicanism and Reaganomics.
I've avoided discussing politics with them this year, because I knew it could get ugly and would accomplish nothing. They are all extremely intelligent and well-educated, and as hard as it might be for anyone here to believe, their political beliefs are highly principled. They just rely on the wrong principles. And they pretty much think I'm a wack job politically, so they wouldn't pay much attention to anything I say.
Still, I've been thinking for a few weeks that I might eventually put together one e-mail containing all the most convincing stuff I could gather, and send it to them, so I could at least say I tried.
:: ::
After hearing Palin's speech, that task became both easier and more urgent. Being old-school conservatives, my family members do value such virtues as honesty, national security, and straight talk, and they value the Constitution.
So I figured I could put together a pretty good case for how the Republican party, as represented by McCain and even more clearly by Palin, has left those old-fashioned values in the dust -- since virtually every word that came out of Palin's mouth was a lie, and -- really, I don't care what the McCain camp says -- anyone with a few working brain cells realizes she doesn't have the knowledge or experience to be Commander in Chief.
As I was thinking about composing the e-mail, I realized nothing I could say would make them vote for Obama. And they might feel so strongly about their duty as citizens to vote that trying to get them to stay home wouldn't help either.
But then I remembered Bob. And I realized I might have a good shot of convincing a couple of them to vote for him. He is much more in the mold of a traditional Goldwater Republican than McCain, and he doesn't have nearly the scandals, lies or corruption associated with him as McCain/Palin.
:: ::
Following that realization, it's been Rainin' Barr in my brain as I read Calls to Action and other diaries here. It occurs to me that when canvassing, it would make sense to have Barr literature to give to folks who hate what the Rethugs have been doing to the GOP, but still won't vote for Obama.
And earlier today in TexasMango's diary White People, Can We Talk?, one commenter said s/he has talked with a number of people who just aren't comfortable voting for a black guy. Of course, you maybe try to persuade them, depending on your relationship with them and how amenable you think they are to reason, but if at any point you conclude it's hopeless, why not start extolling Bob's praises to them?
:: ::
Let's face it -- no matter what great phone bankers or canvassers we are, there will be some people we can't bring over to our side. So if we can't turn them into a plus-one for BHO, can we at least make them a zero rather than a negative-one? And if you're anything like me and have to really believe in an argument to make it convincing, can't you find some reasons in your soul why Barr really would be a better choice for America than McShame/Paleo? People want to believe in something these days. If they can be shown that Bob Barr is much more worthy of their belief than McCain, you'll be doing both them and the country a favor!
In the states my family lives in -- Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska (not in District 2) -- it won't make a difference. McCain will win, period. But there are quite a few states where, if the percentage of Barr voters was just increased by 1 or 2 % over what is expected, it actually could affect the outcome. This is particularly important since the polls I'm seeing that include Barr and Nader indicate that Nader is polling higher than Barr, at least nationally. (Probably not in the Western states, but I don't know.) And you know Nader ain't pulling many votes from McCain.
If Barr decides to challenge the two major-party ballots in Texas (because they were submitted after the deadline), as he is contemplating, it could get him enough national press to really give his candidacy some mini-legs. I'm thinking of sending him a donation and an e-mail urging him to do that. It's a no-lose proposition for us, because the only person who would be hurt by the D & R ballots being kicked off the Texas ballot would be McCain. And even if Barr failed in his attempt, the national exposure could help him a lot, at McCain's expense.
I plan to be on the lookout for ways to help our friend Bob for the next couple of months. I hope you'll join me.
Yessirree Bob We Can!