View source for Bob Barr

{{Short description|American attorney and politician (born 1948)}}
{{For|other people named "Bob Barr" or "Robert Barr"|Robert Barr (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Bill Barr}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Bob Barr
| image               = Bob Barr (27767931773) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Barr in 2016
| office              = 68th [[List of presidents of the National Rifle Association|President of the National Rifle Association]]
| term_start          = May 21, 2024
| term_end            = May 2025
| predecessor         = [[Charles L. Cotton]]
| successor           = Bill Bachenberg
| state1              = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
| district1           = {{ushr|GA|7|7th}}
| term_start1         = January 3, 1995
| term_end1           = January 3, 2003
| predecessor1        = [[George Darden|Buddy Darden]]
| successor1          = [[John Linder]]
| office3             = [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia|Northern District of Georgia]]
| appointer3          = [[Ronald Reagan]]
| term_start3         = 1986
| term_end3           = 1990
| predecessor3        = [[Larry Thompson (lawyer)|Larry Thompson]]
| successor3          = [[Joe Whitley]]
| birth_name          = Robert Laurence Barr Jr.
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1948|11|5}}
| birth_place         = [[Iowa City, Iowa]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (1970–2004, 2011–present)<br>[[Independent politician|Independent]] (2004–2006)<br>[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] (2006–2011)
| spouse              = {{ubl |{{marriage|Gail Barr|1976|1986|end=div}} |{{marriage|Jeri Dobbin|1986}}}}
| children            = 4
| education           = [[University of Southern California]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[George Washington University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])<br>[[Georgetown University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
}}
'''Robert Laurence Barr Jr.'''<ref name="State Bar of Georgia">{{cite web|title=Mr. Robert Laurence Barr Jr.|work=Member Directory|publisher=State Bar of Georgia|date=May 2008|url=https://www.gabar.org/searchresults.cfm|access-date=May 21, 2008}}</ref> (born November 5, 1948) is an American attorney and politician who served as president of the [[National Rifle Association]] from 2024 to 2025. He previously served as a federal prosecutor and as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]], representing [[Georgia's 7th congressional district]] as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] from 1995 to 2003.<ref name="CongressBio">{{cite web |title=BARR, Bob – Biographical Information |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000169 |access-date=May 21, 2008 |work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |publisher=Congress of the United States}}</ref><ref name="Meet Bob">{{cite web|url=http://www.bobbarr2008.com/about|title=Meet Bob|access-date=April 20, 2008|work=Barr '08 – Liberty for America |publisher=Barr 2008 Presidential Committee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409170625/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/about|archive-date=April 9, 2008}}</ref> Barr attained national prominence as one of the leaders of the [[impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment]] of President [[Bill Clinton]].<ref name="CongressBio"/> During his time in the House of Representatives, he authored the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which was later [[United States v. Windsor|overturned by the Supreme Court]] in 2013 and repealed by the [[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]] through a bill supported by Barr.<ref>{{cite web | title=What does the Respect for Marriage Act do? The answer will vary by state. | website=NPR | date=8 December 2022 | url=https://www.npr.org/2022/12/08/1140808263/what-does-the-respect-for-marriage-act-do-the-answer-will-vary-by-state | access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref>

Barr joined the Libertarian Party in 2006<ref name="Evans2006/">{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Evans|title=Ex-Rep. Barr Quits GOP for Libertarians|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/bob-barr-unlikely-leader-but-possible-third-party-warrior|publisher=Fox News|access-date=May 14, 2017}}</ref> and served on its [[Libertarian National Committee|National Committee]].<ref name="LP2006-12">{{cite press release|title=Former Congressman Bob Barr Accepts Leadership Position within the Libertarian Party|publisher=Libertarian National Committee|date=December 15, 2006|url=http://www.lp.org/media/article_447.shtml|access-date=April 15, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417120519/http://www.lp.org/media/article_447.shtml|archive-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> He was the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]]'s nominee for [[President of the United States]] in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 election]].<ref name="LP2008-05">{{cite press release|title=Libertarian Party selects Bob Barr as 2008 presidential nominee|publisher=Libertarian National Committee|date=May 25, 2008|url=http://www.lp.org/news/press-releases/libertarian-party-selects-bob-barr-as-2008-presidential-nominee|access-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref> Barr announced his return to the Republican party in December 2011. He lost a subsequent bid in 2014 for a Congressional seat.

He was named president of the [[National Rifle Association]] (NRA) in May 2024. He served that role until May 2025, when he was replaced by Bill Bachtenberg.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Bill Bachenberg Elected NRA President: A Win for Hunters - Hunter Nation |url=https://hunternation.org/bill-bachenberg-elected-nra-president-a-win-for-hunters/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life==
Barr was born in [[Iowa City, Iowa]],<ref name="CongressBio"/> to Robert Laurence Barr and Beatrice Barr.<ref name="Henneberger1998">{{cite news|first=Melinda|last=Henneberger|title=The Georgia Republican Who Uses the I-Word|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/09/us/the-georgia-republican-who-uses-the-i-word.html?pagewanted=1|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 9, 1998|access-date=June 6, 2008}}</ref> His father, a career military officer who had graduated from [[West Point]],<ref name="Henneberger1998"/><ref>{{cite news|first=George F.|last=Will|title=A Libertarian Surge? Bob Barr will be dry-eyed if his candidacy is to John McCain what Ralph Nader's was to Al Gore in 2000|department=The Last Word|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/131748|work=Newsweek|date=April 21, 2008|access-date=June 6, 2008}}</ref> was stationed in various locations around the world while pursuing his career in [[civil engineering]].<ref name="Henneberger1998"/><ref name="Auchmutey1987">{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Auchmutey|title=He's every inch the barrister – U.S. Attorney Barr enjoys 'great job'|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:AJBK&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB7C30B2EB315EC&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AEDE52A75 |work=The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution |date=December 18, 1987|access-date=June 6, 2008}}</ref>

The second of six children, Bob Jr. lived as a boy in Malaysia, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Baghdad,<ref name="new yorker">{{cite magazine|last=Khatchadourian|first=Raffi|title=The Third Man|magazine=New Yorker|url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/27/081027fa_fact_khatchadourian?currentPage=all|access-date=October 22, 2008}}</ref> and finally [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], where he graduated from [[Community High School Tehran, Iran|Community High School]] in 1966.<ref name="CongressBio"/><ref name="Henneberger1998"/><ref name="Auchmutey1987"/>

He returned to the United States for college, attending the [[University of Southern California]]. There he joined the [[Tau Kappa Epsilon]] fraternity in 1967. He was elected to the position of Grand Prytanis on the fraternity's Grand Council, serving from 2013 to 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=TKE News: 2013-2015 Grand Council Elected |publisher=Tau Kappa Epsilon |url=http://www.tke.org/news/2013/08/14/2013_-_2015_grand_council_elected|date=August 14, 2013|access-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=TKE News: 2015-17 Grand Council Elected |publisher=Tau Kappa Epsilon|url=http://www.tke.org/news/2015/08/21/2015-2017_grand_council_ |date=August 21, 2015|access-date=December 22, 2015}}</ref>

During college, Barr's mother introduced him to the work of writer [[Ayn Rand]].<ref name="Henneberger1998"/><ref name="Auchmutey1987"/>  This fostered a newfound appreciation for [[Conservatism in the United States|conservatism]] and prompted Barr to join the [[Young Republicans|Young Trojan Republican Club]].<ref name="Henneberger1998"/><ref name="Auchmutey1987"/> He completed his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]], ''[[cum laude]]'',<ref name="CongressProfile1999">{{cite journal|journal=Member Profile Report Archive: 105th Congress |title=Representative Robert L. Barr (R-GA)|publisher=Congressional Information Service/LexisNexis Congressional|date=January 4, 1999}}</ref> from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1970.<ref name="CongressBio"/> He married his first wife while still in college.<ref name="Henneberger1998"/> They divorced in 1976.<ref name="Gail Barr Affidavit"/>

===Early career===
Barr continued in graduate school, earning a [[Master of Arts|master's degree]] in [[International relations|International Affairs]]<ref name="Profiles in Character">
    {{cite book
      | last = Barr
      | first = Bob
      | author-link = Bob Barr
      | others = Members of the 1994 Class of the United States Congress
      | title = Profiles in Character: The Values That Made America
      | publisher = Thomas Nelson
      | location = Nashville
      | isbn = 0-7852-7356-5
      | pages = [https://archive.org/details/profilesincharac00memb/page/1 1–2]
      | chapter = Congressman Bob Barr
      | year = 1996
      | url-access = registration
      | url = https://archive.org/details/profilesincharac00memb/page/1
      }}</ref> from [[George Washington University]]'s [[Elliott School of International Affairs]] in 1972. He next earned his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] from [[Georgetown University Law Center]] (attending at night)<ref name="new yorker"/> in 1977.<ref name="CongressBio"/><ref name="Profiles in Character"/> From 1971 to 1978,<ref name="CongressBio"/> Barr worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) as an analyst of Latin American issues.<ref name="Meet Bob"/><ref name="new yorker"/><ref name="Profiles in Character"/>

Barr married his second wife, Gail, in 1976.<ref name="Gail Barr Affidavit">{{cite news|first=Gail|last=Barr|title=Affidavit executed January 8, 1999|url=http://www.americanpolitics.com/011399GailBarr.html|work=Hustler Magazine |via=American Politics Journal|location=Washington, D.C.|date=January 13, 1999|access-date=May 27, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529230153/http://www.americanpolitics.com/011399GailBarr.html|archive-date=May 29, 2008}} Items 8 and 12 of this reference have obvious typos of year – should read 1983 and 1984 respectively, not 1963 and 1964.</ref><ref name="Kurtz1999"/> They have two children.<ref name="Gail Barr Affidavit"/><ref name="LarryKing1999">{{cite news|title=Barr and Flynt on CNN's Larry King Live, January 12, 1999|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/01/13/lkl.trans/index.html|access-date=September 11, 2008}}</ref> Gail and Bob Barr divorced in 1986.<ref name="Gail Barr Affidavit"/><ref name="Kurtz1999">{{cite news|first=Howard|last=Kurtz|title=Flynt Calls Rep. Barr a Hypocrite for Divorce Case Answers|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/flynt011299.htm|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 12, 1999|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref>

After leaving the CIA, Barr moved to northern [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. He practiced law and became active in the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], serving as county chair.<!-- which county? --><ref name="new yorker"/><ref name="Gail Barr Affidavit"/> Barr made an unsuccessful bid for the [[Georgia House of Representatives]] <!-- from what district? -->in 1984.<ref name="Gail Barr Affidavit"/>

In 1986, Barr married his third wife, Jerilyn Dobbins,<ref name="Gail Barr Affidavit"/><ref name="Kurtz1999"/> who was later known as Jeri Barr.<ref name="MeetJeri">{{cite web|url=http://www.bobbarr2008.com/meet-jeri|title=Meet Jeri Barr|access-date=May 26, 2008|work=Barr '08 – Liberty for America|publisher=Barr 2008 Presidential Committee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521191758/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/meet-jeri|archive-date=May 21, 2008}}</ref> Barr's website stated in 2008 that he and Jeri have four children and six grandchildren.<ref name="MeetJeri"/>

In 1986, Barr was appointed by President [[Ronald Reagan]]<ref name="Meet Bob"/> to serve as [[U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia]] – a post Barr held until 1990.<ref name="CongressBio"/> His office prosecuted state and local officials, members of the [[Medellin drug cartel]], and got a [[perjury]] indictment on then-sitting Republican Congressman [[Pat Swindall]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n45_v13/ai_20035439/pg_2|title=FindArticles.com - CBSi|website=findarticles.com}}</ref> who ultimately served a year in prison on the charges. From 1990 to 1991, Barr was president of the [[Southeastern Legal Foundation]].,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.southeasternlegal.org/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 10, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411182418/http://www.southeasternlegal.org/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> an Atlanta-based law firm and policy center that litigates in support of "[[limited government]], individual [[economic freedom]], and the [[free enterprise system]]".<ref name="SLF">{{cite web|title=About Southeastern Legal Foundation|publisher=Southeastern Legal Foundation|url=http://southeasternlegal.org/default.aspx?page=14|access-date=May 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012120544/http://southeasternlegal.org/default.aspx?page=14|archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref>

==Congressional career==
{{Further|Electoral history of Bob Barr}}
[[File:Bob Barr 2002.jpg|thumb|Barr during the [[107th United States Congress|107th Congress]] (2001–2003)]]
[[File:Representative Bob Barr in 1998.jpg|thumb|right|Barr listening during a House Judiciary Committee hearing about the investigation of President Bill Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky in 1998]]
[[File:George W. Bush and Bob Barr.jpg|thumb|right|Barr greeting [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] in 2002]]
Barr sought the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] nomination for [[U.S. Senate]] in 1992, but lost the [[Partisan primary|primary election]] to [[Paul Coverdell]].<ref name="NGECoverdell">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Grant|first=Chris |encyclopedia=The New Georgia Encyclopedia|title=Paul Coverdell (1939–2000)|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.net/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1089|access-date=April 18, 2008|date=January 24, 2006|publisher=Georgia Humanities Council/University of Georgia Press}}</ref> The primary was very close, with Barr losing by fewer than 1,600 votes in a [[Two-round system|runoff election]].<ref name="NGECoverdell"/>  Subsequently, Coverdell came in behind incumbent Senator [[Wyche Fowler]] in the general election, but the 3% showing by a Libertarian candidate (Jim Hudson) forced a runoff, which Coverdell won.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Barr was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1994 as a Republican, upsetting six-term [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Buddy Darden]], to represent [[Georgia's 7th congressional district]] in the [[104th United States Congress]]. Barr was one of 73 Republican freshmen ushered into Congress in that election.<ref name="amer">{{cite journal|last=Amer |first=Mildred |title=Freshmen in the House of Representatives and Senate by Political Party: 1913–2005 |journal=CRS Report for Congress |pages=1–6 |publisher=The Library of Congress |date=June 16, 2005 |url=http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/CRS-RS20723.pdf |access-date=May 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528191435/http://www.llsdc.org/sourcebook/docs/CRS-RS20723.pdf |archive-date=May 28, 2008 }}</ref> The election became known as the "[[Republican Revolution]]" because it resulted in the first Republican House majority in 40 years – since the 1955 adjournment of the [[83rd United States Congress|83rd Congress]].<ref name="Glass2007">{{cite news|last=Glass|first=Andrew|title=Congress runs into 'Republican Revolution'|date=November 8, 1994|publisher=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/11/congress-runs-into-republican-revolution-nov-8-1994-006757|access-date=May 27, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Lacayo1994">{{cite magazine|last=Lacayo|first=Richard|title=After the Revolution|magazine=Time|date=November 28, 1994|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981869-1,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208134040/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,981869-1,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2008|access-date=May 27, 2008}}</ref>

After a [[Federal Election Commission]] audit of his 1994 and 1996 campaigns, Barr paid a $28,000 fine for illegal campaign payments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/29/us/national-news-briefs-rep-barr-agrees-to-pay-campaign-finance-fines.html|title=National News Briefs; Rep. Barr Agrees to Pay Campaign Finance Fines|newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 29, 1999 |agency=Associated Press|access-date=2018-08-06|language=en}}</ref>

Barr was later re-elected three times, serving from 1995 to 2003.<ref name="CongressBio"/> While in Congress, Barr served as a senior member of the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary Committee]], as vice-chairman of the [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|Government Reform Committee]],<ref name="Meet Bob"/> and as a member of the [[United States House Committee on Financial Services|Committee on Financial Services]] and the [[United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Committee on Veteran's Affairs]].<ref name="Meet Bob"/><ref name="Profiles in Character"/>

In Congress, Barr became famous for his "dour" image and told constituents, "You don't send me to Washington to smile."<ref name="new yorker"/> He also said in a radio interview, "If it's not in the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]], I won't smile."<ref name="Interview on WAYY Radio, Wisconsin">Interview on WAYY Radio, Wisconsin</ref> He later explained "I don't consider politicians who smile to be worth a heck of a lot... all things considered, it doesn't make a dime's worth of difference if the politicians in Washington smile or not, what matters is how much of your hard-earned dollars they take to spend in pure pork."<ref>Interview on WGST radio, Atlanta, Georgia.</ref> Barr said in 2010, "I can see a situation where the federal government is going to bring an entire suitcase of [[San Francisco values]] to the American family, and while I would love to explain all the things that are wrong with that, the fact is that this is a corrupting, left-leaning, influence on a section of society that so many liberal elites want to see taken out of the 'red state' column. The only solution to this kind of behavior is dour and austere social conservatism, like my own."<ref name="Interview on WAYY Radio, Wisconsin"/> Adding to his image, Barr has frequently protested about "cult hairstyles", saying "I cannot abide by people who adopt a cult hairstyle, or persistently dress inappropriately for meetings with me."<ref>WSB 750AM Radio, Georgia</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2017}}

[[Georgia's congressional districts]] were [[Redistricting#United States|reorganized]] by the Democratic-controlled [[Georgia General Assembly|Georgia legislature]] ahead of the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 2002|2002 elections]] for the [[108th United States Congress|108th Congress]].<ref name="Barone2002">{{cite magazine|last=Barone |first=Michael |title=Lessons from Rep. Cynthia McKinney's defeat |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_020829.htm |date=August 29, 2002 |access-date=April 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020903222124/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/baroneweb/mb_020829.htm |archive-date=September 3, 2002 }}</ref>  As part of the legislature's effort to get more Democrats elected from the state, Barr's district was renumbered as the 11th District and made significantly more Democratic.  A large slice of his base was drawn into the same district as fellow Republican [[John Linder]]. The new district was numerically Barr's district – the 7th – but contained most of the territory from Linder's old 11th District. This move profited Democrats by leading to the inevitable defeat of an incumbent Republican (i.e., either Barr or Linder).<ref name="Shipp2002">{{cite news|last=Shipp|first=Bill|title=Barr vs. Linder: Great Republican train wreck|publisher=Athens Banner-Herald/Online Athens|url=http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/060202/opi_20020602005.shtml|date=June 2, 2002|access-date=April 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526023104/http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/060202/opi_20020602005.shtml|archive-date=May 26, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Recognizing Barr's precarious situation, the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] seized on the opportunity to oust one of the federal [[War on Drugs|drug war]]'s most vocal proponents (Barr), and ran [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOuRsnVny7Y TV ads] criticizing Barr's opposition to [[medical marijuana]] during the Republican primaries.<ref name="LP2002-08">{{cite press release|title=Medical Marijuana Ads Play Role in Defeat of Barr|publisher=Libertarian Party|date=August 21, 2002|url=http://cannabisnews.com/news/13/thread13831.shtml|access-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref> Barr was soundly defeated by a 2-to-1 margin. Before the medical marijuana ads were aired,<ref name="LP2002-08"/> the Linder campaign acknowledged the race as being tight;<ref name="Jansen2002">{{cite journal|last=Jansen|first=J. Bradley|date=August 2002|title=Targeting Bob Barr|journal=Liberty|volume=16|issue=8|publisher=Liberty Foundation|url=http://libertyunbound.com/archive/2002_08/jansen-barr.html|access-date=April 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405224520/http://libertyunbound.com/archive/2002_08/jansen-barr.html|archive-date=April 5, 2008}}</ref> and Pat Gartland, southeastern director of the [[U.S. Chamber of Commerce]], called it "too close to call".<ref name="Shipp2002"/>

Barr's defeat was applauded by many Democrats and Libertarians. Rob Kampia of the [[Marijuana Policy Project]] called it "glorious news".<ref>{{cite press release|title=Medical Marijuana Patients Celebrate: Georgia Rep. Bob Barr Defeated in GOP Primary|publisher=Marijuana Policy Project|date=August 20, 2002|url=http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/d-c-initiative-news-4.html|access-date=June 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012145629/http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/d-c-initiative-news-4.html|archive-date=October 12, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ron Crickenberger, the Libertarian Party's political director and producer of the TV ads, was quick to warn other supporters of the [[war on drugs]]:<ref name="LP2002-08"/>

{{blockquote|With this victory, we have fired a warning shot for every drug warrior in Congress to hear. And any member of Congress – Democrat or Republican – who introduces legislation to make federal drug laws even more oppressive could be next on our list.}}

However, some individuals within these groups lamented Barr's defeat as a setback for [[privacy rights]]<ref>{{cite news|first=Declan|last=McCullagh|title=Net privacy loses a voice|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-955298.html|publisher = ZDNet News|location=Washington, D.C.|date=August 26, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041213044505/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-955298.html|archive-date=December 13, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] causes in general.<ref name="Jansen2002"/>  J. Bradley Jansen, vice chair of the Libertarian Party in the District of Columbia, opined:<ref name="Jansen2002"/>

{{blockquote|The LP has a historic opportunity to present itself as a viable alternative to the big parties, instead of spending its money and energy trying to defeat one of libertarianism's few friends in Congress just because they disagree with him on one issue.}}

===Political positions in Congress===
During his tenure, Barr was regarded as one of the most conservative members of Congress.<ref name="Walker2003">{{cite magazine |first = Jesse |last = Walker |author-link = Jesse Walker |title = Bob Barr, Civil Libertarian. The right wing of the ACLU |url = http://www.reason.com/news/show/28960.html |magazine = Reason Magazine |date = December 2003 |access-date = April 20, 2008}}</ref> In 2002, he was described by Bill Shipp in an OnlineAthens.com article as "the idol of the gun-toting, abortion-fighting, [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]]-hating hard [[right wing]] of [[American politics]]".<ref name="Shipp2002"/> However, Barr's criticism of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]]'s policies on privacy and other [[civil liberties]] after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11 attacks]] was unusual among House Republicans (see ''[[#Criticism of Bush Administration|Criticism of Bush Administration]]'' below).<ref name="Shipp2002"/> This criticism earned Barr other labels such as "[[wikt:maverick|Maverick]]",<ref name="Shipp2002"/> "[[Jekyll-and-Hyde]]",<ref name="DWC2001">{{cite news |title = While Reformers Brood, Politicos Make Drug-Terror Connection |url = http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/204/politicos.shtml |work = Drug War Chronicle |publisher = StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network |date = September 28, 2001 |access-date = April 24, 2008}}</ref> and "[[Libertarianism|Libertarian]]".<ref name="Jansen2002"/>

====Gun ownership====
Barr is a staunch proponent of [[Gun politics in the United States|gun rights]], and is opposed to any and all [[gun control|efforts to restrict the ownership of guns]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nolanchart.com/article4437-bob-barrs-gun-record-html|title=Bob Barr's Gun Record|date=August 6, 2008|access-date=December 22, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107043100/https://www.nolanchart.com/article4437-bob-barrs-gun-record-html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2016}}

During the 2002 race, a supporter handed Barr an antique pistol during a fundraiser at a private home. The gun went off in Barr's hands, though no one was injured.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/10/27/the-third-man-raffi-khatchadourian|title=The Third Man|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=2018-08-06|language=en-US}}</ref>

====War on drugs====
Barr was originally a strong supporter of the [[war on drugs]], reflecting his previous experience as an Anti-Drug Coordinator for the [[United States Department of Justice]].<ref name="CongressBio"/> While in Congress, he was a member of the [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]]'s Task Force for a Drug-Free America.<ref name="DWC2001"/> This task force was established in 1998 by then-Speaker [[Newt Gingrich]] to "design a World War II-style victory plan to save America's children from illegal drugs."<ref name="Hunter1998">{{cite press release |title = Speaker's Task Force Focuses on Supply Side Initiatives During "Drug-Free Borders Week" |publisher = U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) |date = May 13, 1998 |url = http://www.house.gov/hunter/news_prior_2006/13may98.htm |access-date = April 24, 2008 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080504052637/http://www.house.gov/hunter/news_prior_2006/13may98.htm |archive-date = May 4, 2008 }}</ref> The task force crafted legislation specifically designed to "win the war on drugs by 2002".<ref name="Hunter1998"/>

Barr advocated complete federal [[prohibition (drugs)|prohibition]] of medical marijuana. In 1998, he successfully blocked implementation of [[Initiative 59]]<ref name="initiative59">{{cite web|url=http://prop1.org/thomas/dcvotergate/textfrm.htm |title=Text of Initiative 59 |publisher=Prop1.org |access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>&nbsp;– the "Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative of 1998"&nbsp;– which would have legalized medical marijuana in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Twomey1998">{{cite news |first = Steve |last = Twomey |title = On the Hill, Barring Democracy |url = http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v98.n1072.a09.html |newspaper =The Washington Post |page = B01 |date = November 23, 1998 |access-date = April 25, 2008}}</ref> The "Barr Amendment" to the 1999 [[Omnibus spending bill]] not only blocked implementation of Initiative 59, but also prohibited the vote tally from even being released.<ref name="Twomey1998"/><ref>{{cite news |first = Peter |last = Slevin |author2=Caryle Murphy |title = Marijuana Vote Results Kept Secret |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/library/dcelections/marijuana4.htm |newspaper =The Washington Post |page = A37 |date = November 4, 1998 |access-date = April 25, 2008}}</ref> Nearly a year passed before a lawsuit<ref name="lawsuit">{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/10751lgl19981030.html |title=Turner v. DC Board of Elections, ACLU Complaint &#124; American Civil Liberties Union |publisher=Aclu.org |date=October 30, 1998 |access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> filed by the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] eventually revealed the initiative had received 69 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite press release |title = DC Medical Marijuana Initiative 59 – Landslide Win |publisher = ACT UP-DC |date = September 21, 1999 |url = http://cannabisnews.com/news/2/thread2973.shtml |access-date = April 25, 2008}}</ref> In response to the judge's ruling,<ref name="ruling">{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/10752lgl19990917.html |title=Turner v. DC Board of Elections, Court Decision &#124; American Civil Liberties Union |publisher=Aclu.org |date=September 17, 1999 |access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref> Barr simply attached another "Barr Amendment" to the 2000 Omnibus spending bill that overturned Initiative 59 outright.<ref>{{cite web |title = Democracy Held Hostage |work = ACLU Drug Law Reform Project |publisher = American Civil Liberties Union |date = December 31, 2000 |url = https://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/10718res20001231.html |access-date = April 25, 2008}}</ref> The Barr Amendment also prohibited future laws that would "decrease the penalties for marijuana or other [[List of Schedule I drugs|Schedule I drugs]]" in Washington, D.C.<ref name="MPP2006">{{cite press release|title=Battle Over Medical Marijuana in D.C. Moves to Appeals Court |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |url=http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/battle-over-medical-marijuana-in-d-c-moves-to-appeals-court.html |access-date=May 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918150701/http://www.mpp.org/news/press-releases/battle-over-medical-marijuana-in-d-c-moves-to-appeals-court.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref> This preemptively blocked future attempts by [[Marijuana Policy Project]] (MPP) to reform marijuana laws in DC via the initiative process.<ref name="MPP2006"/> In March 2002, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan struck down this portion of the Barr Amendment as being an unconstitutional restriction on [[free speech]].<ref name="MPP2006"/><ref>{{cite court |litigants = Marijuana Policy Project v. D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics |court = United States District Court for the District of Columbia |date = March 22, 2002 |url = http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/MEMORANDUM_OPINION.PDF |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080625093617/http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/MEMORANDUM_OPINION.PDF |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2008-06-25 }}</ref> Barr's response to the ruling was defiant:

{{blockquote|Clearly, the court today has ignored the constitutional right and responsibility of Congress to pass laws protecting citizens from dangerous and addictive narcotics, and the right of Congress to exert legislative control over the District of Columbia as the nation's capital.<br>{{mdash}} Bob Barr, March 28, 2002<ref>{{cite press release|title=Barr to Continue Fight Against Drug Legalization |publisher=U.S. Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) |date=March 28, 2002 |url=http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/barr-to-continue-fight-against-drug-legalization.html |access-date=May 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918150843/http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/barr-to-continue-fight-against-drug-legalization.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref>}}

The federal government later prevailed on appeal,<ref>{{cite court |litigants = Marijuana Policy Project v. United States of America |court = United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit |date = September 19, 2002 |url = http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/DC_APPEALS_DECISION.PDF |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080625093617/http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/DC_APPEALS_DECISION.PDF |url-status = dead |archive-date = 2008-06-25 }}</ref> reinstating the Barr Amendment just in time to thwart MPP's initiative 63 – "The Medical Marijuana Initiative of 2002" – which had already qualified for the November 2002 ballot.<ref name="MPPDCMed">{{cite web|title=D.C. Medical Marijuana Initiative |work=District of Columbia Legislation |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |url=http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/d-c-medical-marijuana-initiative.html |access-date=May 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918151026/http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/d-c-medical-marijuana-initiative.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Timeline of Initiative Events |work=District of Columbia Legislation |publisher=Marijuana Policy Project |url=http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/timeline-of-initiative-events.html |access-date=May 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918150902/http://www.mpp.org/legislation/dc/bills/timeline-of-initiative-events.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008 }}</ref> In 2009, both the United States Senate and House of Representatives voted to lift the ban against a medical marijuana initiative, effectively overturning the Barr Amendment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Congress Lifts Ban on Medical Marijuana for Nation's Capitol |work=Federal Advocacy Project |publisher=Americans for Safe Access |url=http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5866 |access-date=December 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222204301/http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=5866 |archive-date=December 22, 2009 }}</ref>

Barr later reversed his position on medical marijuana, [[#Marijuana Policy Project|joining MPP]] as a [[Lobbying in the United States|lobbyist]] five years later. In a June 4, 2008, interview with [[Stephen Colbert]] on the ''[[Colbert Report]]'', Barr confirmed that he now supports ending marijuana prohibition, as well as the war on drugs, for which he once vehemently fought.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bobbarr2008.com/snippets/2/bob-barr-on-the-colbert-report/ |title = Video:Bob Barr on the Colbert Report |access-date= June 5, 2008 |work = Barr '08 – Liberty for America |publisher= Barr 2008 Presidential Committee |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607232434/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/snippets/2/bob-barr-on-the-colbert-report/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 7, 2008}}</ref> In 2009, he was hired by the MPP to lobby to overturn the amendment that he had authored, an effort which was ultimately successful.<ref>{{cite web | title = Victory! Congress lifts ban on Washington, D.C.'s medical marijuana law| work = Stop the Drug War | url=http://stopthedrugwar.org/in_the_trenches/2009/dec/14/victory_congress_lifts_ban_on_wa| access-date=December 15, 2009}}</ref>

====Same-sex marriage====
Barr took a lead in legislative debate concerning [[same-sex marriage]]. He wrote and sponsored the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] (DOMA), a law enacted in 1996 which states that only marriages that are between a man and a woman can be federally recognized, and individual states may choose not to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/gay_marriage/act.html|title=ACT to expand computer-based testing|website=[[PBS]]|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109001618/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/gay_marriage/act.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the [[2008 Libertarian National Convention]], he apologized for the part of DOMA which prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjfDSPfL02w Bob Barr Nomination Speech], May 25, 2008, Libertarian National Convention, [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], Colorado.</ref>

He now supports same-sex marriage<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/news/news-features/2011/05/03/bob-barr-doma?page=0,1|title=Bob Barr on DOMA|publisher=Advocate.com|quote='Absolutely." to the question "So do you believe that gays and lesbians should have the fundamental right to marry?" |date=May 3, 2011|access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> and opposed the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]], having contended that it is a violation of [[states' rights]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=1234&wit_id=2874 |title=Testimony |publisher=Judiciary.senate.gov |date=July 8, 2010 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613081104/http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/testimony.cfm?id=1234&wit_id=2874 |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Before the United States Supreme Court mandated recognition of same-sex marriage in ''Obergefell v. Hodges'', Barr supported the [[Respect for Marriage Act]], which would have repealed the Defense of Marriage Act.<ref>{{cite press release|title=The Respect for Marriage Act Garners Support of President Clinton and Former Rep. Bob Barr, DOMA's Original Author |url=http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny08_nadler/DOMA20090915.html |publisher=United States House of Representatives |date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=September 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712092758/http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny08_nadler/DOMA20090915.html |archive-date=July 12, 2011 }}</ref>

====Terrorism====
He voted for the first [[USA PATRIOT Act]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=1312&wit_id=2874|title=Testimony of Bob Barr on Senate Judiciary Committee, September 22, 2004|access-date=April 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501073427/http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=1312&wit_id=2874|archive-date=May 1, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> but only after his amendments adding "[[sunset clause]]s" were added to the final bill.<ref name="fox2007">{{cite news |last = Vlahos |first = Kelley Beaucar |title = Bob Barr, Unlikely Leader But Possible Third Party Warrior |publisher = FoxNews.com |date = April 18, 2007 |url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266627,00.html |access-date = May 20, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080411025424/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266627,00.html |archive-date = April 11, 2008 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Barr played a similar role during the debate over Bill Clinton's Comprehensive Anti-Terrorism Act of 1995, crafting pro-civil liberties amendments to the original text.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/irp/congress/1995_cr/h951205-terror.htm|title=Congressional Record}}</ref> He now publicly regrets<ref name="Walker2003"/> his Patriot Act vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021001799.html |title=Bob Barr:Bane of the Right? |author=[[Dana Milbank]] |work=Washingtonpost.com |date=February 11, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref>

====War in Iraq====
In 2002, Barr voted for the [[Iraq Resolution]].<ref>{{cite web |title = US House Roll Call Vote 455 |work = Thomas |publisher = Library of Congress |date = October 10, 2002 |url = http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml |access-date = May 26, 2008}}</ref> He has since called for withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, leaving no permanent military bases. A press release from Barr's presidential campaign stated: "The next president should commit to a speedy and complete withdrawal from Iraq, and tell the [[Iraqi people]] that the U.S. troops will be going home."<ref>[http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/press-releases/14/tell-iraqis-no-permanent-bases-says-bob-barr/ Press Releases: Tell Iraqis No Permanent Bases, Says Bob Barr] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606020938/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/press-releases/14/tell-iraqis-no-permanent-bases-says-bob-barr/ |date=June 6, 2008 }}, Bob Barr 208 campaign site, June 3, 2008.</ref>

====Religious freedom====
In Congress, he also proposed that [[the Pentagon]] ban the practice of [[Wicca]] in the military.<ref name="Walker2003"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/burn_aw2.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000407195110/http://www.religioustolerance.org/burn_aw2.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 7, 2000|title=The Second "Burning Times Award": Representative Bob Barr of Georgia|website=www.religioustolerance.org}}</ref>

====Economic freedom====
Barr advocates the repeal of the [[Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|16th Amendment]], which gives the U.S. Congress the power to levy an income tax without apportionment. As an alternative, he proposes a form of [[consumption tax]], such as the [[FairTax]].<ref name="Issues">{{cite web |url = http://www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/ |title = Issues |access-date= May 27, 2008 |work = Barr '08 – Liberty for America |publisher= Barr 2008 Presidential Committee |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080521190118/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/issues/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 21, 2008}}</ref>

He also favors drastic reductions in [[Government spending#United States of America|government spending]] and the elimination of [[corporate welfare]].<ref name="Issues"/>

===Waco hearings===
The ''[[National Review]]'' described Barr as one of the few people able to "ask effective questions and make clear points" while questioning government witnesses during the 1995 House [[Waco siege]] hearings on the [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives]] and [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] actions against the [[Branch Davidians]] in 1993, sponsored by subcommittees of the House Judiciary Committee and [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform|Government Reform and Oversight Committee]].<ref>Ramesh Ponnuru, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n16_v47/ai_17244989/pg_1 Hearing impaired – hearings on Whitewater and Waco], [[National Review]], August 28, 1995.</ref> Barr has written: "The hearing was a farce: a virtual lovefest, during which members of the Clinton Administration responded to softball questions from their colleagues in the House with superficial answers, and Republican queries were ignored or glossed over with disdain, if not outright contempt."<ref>[http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20060209_barr.html NSA Kabuki Theatre: Though Same-Party Oversight Led to Weak Hearings on NSA Wiretapping, Some Important Facts Did Come Through], Bob Barr, February 9, 2006.</ref> Barr called for Congress to reopen investigations, but senior House Republicans refused.<ref>James Bovard, [http://www.fff.org/freedom/0398d.asp The Fires of Waco Are Still Burning] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020818181458/http://www.fff.org/freedom/0398d.asp |date=August 18, 2002 }}, March 1998.</ref> In 2003 testimony submitted to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Barr wrote: "[T]here remains time to turn back the constitutional clock and roll back excessive post-9/11 powers before we turn the corner into another Japanese internment or, closer to our own experiences, before we witness a legally sanctioned Ruby Ridge or Waco scenario."<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/congress/2003_h/031118-barr.htm Testimony Submitted to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Post-9/11: Freedoms Preserved or Freedoms Lost] by Bob Barr, 21st Century Liberties Chair for Freedom and Privacy at the American Conservative Union, November 18, 2003.</ref>

===Controversies over Barr's personal conduct===
In the early 1990s, Barr was photographed at a fundraising event licking whipped cream off a woman.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11455827 "Raising the Barr"] ''[[The Economist]]'' May 29, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.</ref> According to ''The Washington Post'', "Two people who observed the act say it wasn't exactly a bosom lick but more like a neckline lick, at the sort of event where business and civic leaders perform dares to raise money. 'Not exactly Mr. Effusive,' says Matt Towery, the former chairman of Newt Gingrich's political organization, who observed the brief and awkward licking. 'You can hardly get the guy to smile.{{'"}}<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081702456.html?sub=new Bob Barr, the Master of a Curious Universe], Monday, August 18, 2008; p. C01</ref>

===Role in Clinton impeachment===
Barr is best known for his role as one of the [[House managers]] during President [[Bill Clinton]]'s [[Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton|impeachment trial]].

In the spring of 1997, Republican, Bob Barr wrote House Committee on the Judiciary chairman [[Henry Hyde]], encouraging him to open an impeachment [[inquiry]]. Hyde responded that such an action would be premature.<ref name="pace1"/>

In November 1997, Barr first introduced [[1997 impeachment resolution by Bob Barr|a resolution]] directing the [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] to begin an [[Impeachment inquiry in the United States|impeachment inquiry]] against Clinton, with this resolution coming months before the [[Monica Lewinsky]] [[Lewinsky scandal|scandal]] came to light.<ref name=fr>{{Cite web|url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_bills&docid=f:hr304ih.txt.pdf|title=House Resolution 304, 105th Congress}}</ref><ref name="pace1">{{cite web |last1=Pace |first1=David |title=17 in House seek probe to impeach president |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/498562556 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Record | agency= The Associated Press |access-date=4 March 2021 |language=en |date=6 Nov 1997}}</ref> This resolution, introduced in November 1997 did not specify any charges or allegations.<ref name="hutcheson1"/> Foremost among the concerns Barr cited at the time was apparent obstruction of Justice Department investigations into Clinton campaign fundraising from foreign sources, chiefly the [[People's Republic of China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_n45_v13/ai_20035439/pg_1|title=FindArticles.com – CBSi|website=findarticles.com}}</ref> Barr argued that Clinton had been "systematically operating outside the bounds" of the law.<ref name="hutcheson1"/> He accused Clinton of "systematic abuse of office", alleging campaign finance law violations and obstruction of congressional investigations.<ref name="pace1"/> Eighteen other Republican members of the House of Representatives joined Barr in signing on to the resolution as co-sponsors. These members were [[Roscoe Bartlett]], [[Helen Chenoweth]], [[Barbara Cubin]], [[John Doolittle]], [[Lindsey Graham]], [[Duncan L. Hunter]], [[Sam Johnson]], [[Jack Kingston]], [[Jack Metcalf (politician)|Jack Metcalf]], [[John Mica]],  [[Ron Paul]], [[Dana Rohrabacher]], [[Pete Sessions]], [[Chris Smith (New Jersey politician)|Chris Smith]], [[Mark Souder]], [[Linda Smith (American politician)|Linda Smith]], [[Bob Stump]], and [[Todd Tiahrt]].<ref name="hutcheson1">{{cite web |last1=Hutcheson |first1=Ron |title=Some House Republicans can't wait for elections |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197738955 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Asheville Citizen-Times |agency= Knight-Rider Newspapers |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=17 Nov 1997}}</ref>

After the Lewinsky scandal broke, Barr was the first lawmaker in either chamber to call for Clinton's resignation.<ref name="Spoiler">McCaffrey, Shannon. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-bob-barr-be-the-ralph-nader-of-08/ Will Bob Barr be the Ralph Nader of '08?] [[Associated Press]] (via [[CBS News]]), June 22, 2008.</ref> After the [[Clinton–Lewinsky scandal]] came to light, Barr ramped up his efforts to push for Clinton's impeachment, appearing regularly on television, as well as even publishing a scholarly article in the [[Texas Law Review]] on the subject.<ref name="AP21may1998">{{cite web |title=Georgia's Rep. Bob Barr began building case for impeachment against Clinton almost one year ago |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/477336134 |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Elko Daily Free Press |agency=Associated Press |access-date=4 March 2021 |language=en |url-access=subscription |date=21 May 1998}}</ref>

During debate on the 1998 impeachment resolution on the House floor, Barr argued that Clinton's attempt to interfere with Lewinsky's testimony in the [[Paula Jones]] case endangered the Constitution. In doing so, Barr said, Clinton violated what Barr called a "fundamental right" of any American citizen – "the unshakable right each one of us has to walk into a courtroom and demand the righting of a wrong."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=1998_record&page=H11783&position=all|title=Congressional Record of Clinton impeachment debate}}</ref>

In 1999, during Clinton's impeachment trial, ''[[Hustler (magazine)|Hustler]]'' publisher [[Larry Flynt]] offered money to anyone who could provide evidence about prominent Republicans who had engaged in an extramarital affair. According to the ''[[American Journalism Review]]'',<ref>"Gatekeepers Without Gates" by Alicia C. Shepard, AJR, March 1999.</ref> investigators for Flynt said that Barr was "guilty of king-size hypocrisy." Flynt subsequently paid a sum of money to Barr's second wife, Gail Barr, after she had sworn an affidavit.<ref name="new yorker"/><ref>{{cite news | publisher = cnn.com | date =  January 12, 1999 | title = Publisher Larry Flynt levels accusations at Rep. Bob Barr | url =  https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/01/12/flynt.01/}}</ref>  Investigators reported that Bob Barr then "invoked a legal privilege from his 1985 divorce proceeding so he could refuse to answer questions on whether he'd cheated on his second wife with the woman who is now his third" (Jerilyn).<ref>"Gail Barr Affidavit" {{cite magazine |url=http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=530 |title=Gatekeepers Without Gates |magazine=American Journalism Review |access-date=July 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014921/http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=530 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Criticism of Bush Administration==
<!-- This is an overlapping bridge section.  It starts with installation of Bush II while Barr was still in Congress (2001) and continues though the present day (2008).  So it might be treated as a timeline, but it ties together Barr's criticism into a single narrative. The goal is to keep his post-congressional actions and views out of the "Congressional career" section.  Highlights should include Patriot Act, privacy infringements, failure of Republican Revolution to contain spending under Bush, Endorsement of Badnarick, and Departure from Republican Party. Because Barr joined the Libertarian Party while Bush was still in office, Barr's criticism should continue through his 2008 presidential bid -->
{{Rquote|right|A man faithful to the Constitution doesn't stop criticizing presidents when the letter after their names change.|Bob Barr|2007<ref name="fox2007"/>}}
Since leaving Congress in 2003, Barr has become a vocal opponent of the Patriot Act and has stated that he voted for it reluctantly<ref name="new yorker"/> and regrets voting for it, only agreeing because the Bush administration promised not to attempt to expand the granted powers or use them for non-terrorism purposes, and the administration agreed to report to Congress on their usage.<ref name="unc speech">Bob Barr speech, [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]], October 28, 2008</ref> Barr says that the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] promptly ignored these three promises given to Congress and has used the powers granted from the Patriot Act to further erode [[due process of law]] even in matters unrelated to terrorism.<ref name="unc speech"/> Barr claims that the [[Clinton administration]] did much of the same thing.<ref name="Walker2003"/> In 2005&nbsp;– the year the Patriot Act was due for renewal&nbsp;– Barr helped found an organization called Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances, a bipartisan group dedicated to eliminating aspects of the Patriot Act that could potentially affect law-abiding citizens rather than terrorists, and to "restore traditional checks and balances on government power so the country can effectively fight terror without sacrificing the rights of innocent Americans, rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.checksbalances.org/aboutus.php |title=www.checkbalances.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210181854/http://www.checksbalances.org/aboutus.php |archive-date=February 10, 2006 }}</ref>  Barr still serves as the group's chairman.

Barr has been a vocal opponent of President [[George W. Bush]]'s claim of authorization to [[NSA warrantless surveillance (2001–2007)|wiretap transnational phone calls without individual judicial license]]. He has said, "What's wrong with it is several-fold. One, it's bad policy for our government to be spying on American citizens through the National Security Agency. Secondly, it's bad to be spying on Americans without court oversight. And thirdly, it's bad to be spying on Americans apparently in violation of federal laws against doing it without court order."<ref name="wiretap">{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/16/sitroom.03.html |title=Transcript of Wolf Blitzer's ''The Situation Room'' from December 16, 2005 |publisher=CNN |date=December 16, 2005 |access-date=September 12, 2008}}</ref>

In 2006, he debated the architect of the Patriot Act, [[Viet Dinh]], on terrorism and privacy issues.<ref>{{cite news | last = Milbank |first = Dana |title = Bob Barr, Bane of the Right? |pages = A02 |newspaper =The Washington Post |date = February 11, 2006 |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021001799.html |access-date = May 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724041735/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/10/AR2006021001799.html |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Departure from Republican Party===
In the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]], Barr left the Republican Party and publicly endorsed<ref name="urlAcross the Divide">{{cite web
|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prwebxml171018.php
|title=Across the Divide; Bob Barr supports Badnarik for President. October 28, 2004
|access-date=May 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041129114602/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prwebxml171018.php |archive-date=November 29, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the Libertarian Party presidential nominee [[Michael Badnarik]].<ref name="Creative Loafing Atlanta An agonizing choice">{{cite web |url=http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/an_agonizing_choice/Content?oid=17235 |title=An agonizing choice, October 10, 2004 |publisher=[[Creative Loafing (Atlanta)]] |access-date=May 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919105457/http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/an_agonizing_choice/Content?oid=17235 |archive-date=September 19, 2008 }}</ref>

In 2006, he joined the Libertarian Party as a regional representative, then serving on the Libertarian National Committee.<ref name="reason">{{cite news |last = Weigel |first = David |title = Bob Barr Talks |publisher = Reason |date = November 2008 |url = http://www.reason.com/news/show/129221.html |access-date = October 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030021514/http://www.reason.com/news/show/129221.html |archive-date=October 30, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political associations==
Barr sat on the board of directors of the [[National Rifle Association of America]] from 2001 to 2007.<ref>NRA 2007 Official Ballot, up for re-election of a three year term</ref> He became president of the group in May 2024.<ref name="Filip Timotija">{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/business/4676862-bob-barr-elected-nra-president/amp/ | author=Filip Timotija | date=May 21, 2024 | title=Former Rep. Bob Barr elected president of NRA | website=The Hill}}</ref>

Barr is a commentator on political and social issues and is chairman of the [[American Conservative Union]] Foundation's '21st Century Center for Privacy and Freedom'.<ref>[http://www.fff.org/conference2007/speakers/index.htm#bbarr Future of Freedom Foundation:Restoring the Republic:Foreign Policy & Civil Liberties/Speakers:Bob Barr] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509054240/http://www.fff.org/conference2007/speakers/index.htm |date=May 9, 2008 }}, Accessed May 13, 2008</ref>

In January 2006, to emphasize the [[bipartisan]] nature of the event, Barr planned on introducing [[Al Gore]] at a speech co-sponsored by the [[Liberty Coalition]] and the [[American Constitution Society for Law and Policy]] to address what they called the "NSA Spying Scandal", in which Gore compared [[warrantless wiretapping]] to the [[FBI]]'s illegal [[COINTELPRO]] project surveilling, discrediting and disrupting [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Text_of_Gore_speech_0116.html |title = In Martin Luther King Day address, Gore compares wiretapping of Americans to surveillance of King |access-date = June 17, 2008 |date = January 16, 2006 |publisher = RawStory.com
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080527184429/http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Text_of_Gore_speech_0116.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 27, 2008}}</ref>

===Libertarian Party===
On December 12, 2006, Barr became a regional representative on the Libertarian National Committee, representing the Party's Southeast Region. Barr said: "I'm happy to announce that I am now a proud, card-carrying Libertarian who is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom."<ref name="LP2006-12"/>

===Marijuana Policy Project===
{{Rquote|right|Regarding the drug war, I've been there, done that, and know firsthand our current strategy is not working. Continuing to have the federal government run roughshod over the states, even if the citizens of a state decide they wish to legalize medicinal marijuana, for example, is wrong.|Bob Barr|May 22, 2008<ref name="Richardson2008"/>}}
In Congress, Barr's strong stance against medical marijuana put him at odds with marijuana policy reformers such as the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Despite this historic antagonism, in March 2007, Barr reversed his stance on medical marijuana<ref name="Frates2007">{{cite news |last = Frates |first = Chris |title = Bob Barr Flip-Flops on Pot |publisher = Politico |date = March 27, 2007 |url = https://www.politico.com/story/2007/03/bob-barr-flip-flops-on-pot-003329 |access-date = May 19, 2008 }}</ref> and began lobbying on behalf of MPP.<ref name="Evans2007">{{cite news |last = Evans |first = Ben |title = Former Georgia Rep. Lobbies for Marijuana Group |agency = Associated Press |date = March 30, 2007 |url = http://www.mpp.org/bob-barr-joins-mpp.html |access-date = May 19, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080517155644/http://www.mpp.org/bob-barr-joins-mpp.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 17, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Newmyer2007">{{cite news |last = Newmyer |first = Tory |author2=Kate Ackley|author3=Roll Call Staff |title = Up in Smoke |publisher = Roll Call |date = March 28, 2007 |url = http://www.mpp.org/bob-barr-joins-mpp.html |access-date = May 19, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080517155644/http://www.mpp.org/bob-barr-joins-mpp.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 17, 2008}}</ref> This new partnership saw Barr working to repeal his very own "Barr Amendment"<ref name="Richardson2008">{{cite news |first = Valerie |last = Richardson |title = Marijuana project parties with Barr |url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/may/23/marijuana-project-parties-with-barr/ |newspaper = The Washington Times |date = May 23, 2008 |access-date = May 26, 2008}}</ref>&nbsp;– the amendment<ref name="Frates2007"/> that overturned a voter-approved medical marijuana initiative in Washington, D.C.,<ref name="Evans2007"/> and bars consideration of similar initiatives.<ref name="SBS2007">{{cite web |title = State-By-State Medical Marijuana Laws |publisher = Marijuana Policy Project |year = 2007 |url = http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/SBSR_2007.pdf |access-date = May 20, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080625093607/http://www.mpp.org/assets/pdfs/pdf/SBSR_2007.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 25, 2008}}</ref>

Barr has been careful to state that he isn't pro-drug, but rather against government intrusion.<ref name="Frates2007"/>

Barr's reversal on drug policy surprised many, particularly MPP.<ref name="Newmyer2007"/> His new-found appreciation for [[harm reduction]] was heartily welcomed:

{{blockquote|It's very rare to find someone who's willing to change their position and then be so public about it. <nowiki>[Barr has]</nowiki> definitely increased the credibility of the Marijuana Policy Project. People have to take us seriously when we walk through the door with Bob Barr.<br>{{mdash}} [[Rob Kampia]], Executive Director, Marijuana Policy Project, May 2008<ref name="Richardson2008"/>}}

===American Freedom Agenda===
Barr is one of the four founders of the [[American Freedom Agenda]], which is described as "a coalition established to restore checks and balances and civil liberties protections under assault by the executive branch." The American Freedom Agenda has established a 10-point Freedom Pledge for presidential candidates to confirm their commitment to civil liberties.<ref name="disaffected">Charlie Savage: [http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/06/12/disaffected_conservatives_set_a_litmus_test_for_08/ Disaffected conservatives set a litmus test for '08]. In ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', June 12, 2007.</ref> He is also a member of the [[Constitution Project]]'s bipartisan Liberty and Security Committee.<ref>[http://www.constitutionproject.org/libertyandsecurity/members.cfm?categoryId=3 Liberty And Security Initiative:Members] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626065937/http://www.constitutionproject.org/libertyandsecurity/members.cfm?categoryId=3 |date=June 26, 2008 }}, www.constitutionproject.org</ref>

===Liberty Guard===
Barr is chairman of the board of directors of [[Liberty Guard]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Liberty Guard | url=http://www.libertyguard.org | year=2010 | access-date=January 2, 2012}}</ref> an IRS 501(c)4 organization, which states its mission is to protect and defend individual liberty.

===National Popular Vote===
Barr is a supporter of the [[National Popular Vote Interstate Compact]].<ref>{{cite web | title=National Popular Vote Interstate Compact | url=https://www.nationalpopularvote.com/sites/default/files/barr-letter-may-2016-pdf.pdf | year=2016 | access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>

==Other activities==
In early 2008, Barr became an [[Professor#Other designations|adjunct professor]] at [[Kennesaw State University]] and was scheduled to teach a course on privacy rights titled "Privacy and Public Policy in 21st Century Business and Society."<ref>[http://coles.kennesaw.edu/KSUColes/News/BarrColes011008.htm "Former Congressman Bob Barr joins KSU as adjunct professor"]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, January 10, 2008</ref>

Barr appeared in the [[Mockumentary|mock documentary]] ''[[Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan]]''. In his scene, he met with "[[Borat Sagdiyev]]" (portrayed by [[Sacha Baron Cohen]]) in the [[United States Capitol]]. Borat gave him cheese described as being made from Borat's wife's breast milk.<ref>[[Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan]] Sequence 0:23:30 to 0:24:00</ref>

Barr endorsed the [[Free State Project]] on July 22, 2008, saying, "I think it's tremendous!"<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/dlnPIW6pQUs Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20080805122149/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlnPIW6pQUs Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlnPIW6pQUs |title=Bob Barr on the Free State Project |access-date=September 1, 2008 |publisher=YouTube |date=July 22, 2008 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://freestateproject.org/about/endorsements#bob_barr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011134630/http://www.freestateproject.org/about/endorsements/#bob_barr |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2004 |title=Bob Barr's endorsement of the Free State Project |access-date=September 1, 2008 |date=July 22, 2008 }}</ref><!-- So, what is it? Explain -->

Barr is listed as the President of the Law Enforcement Education Organization, a non-profit organization with a mission of serving "active-duty and retired law enforcement officers, by educating and assisting law enforcement personnel and agencies meet challenges posed by certain laws and regulations."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laweeo.org/hello-world-2/ |title=Mission Statement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930163321/http://laweeo.org/hello-world-2/ |archive-date=September 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://laweeo.org/about/|title=Law Enforcement Education Organization|website=laweeo.org|access-date=May 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930213652/http://laweeo.org/about/|archive-date=September 30, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Publications and commentary===
Barr wrote ''The Meaning of Is: The Squandered Impeachment and Wasted Legacy of William Jefferson Clinton'' (published in 2004). He briefly wrote a regular column for ''Creative Loafing (Atlanta)'', an [[alternative weekly]] newspaper serving the [[Atlanta metropolitan area]].<ref name="Walker2003"/><ref name="Creative Loafing">{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/BrowseArchives?searchAuthor=oid%3A12429|title=Creative Loafing Atlanta Archives, Bob Barr|access-date=May 1, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919105702/http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/BrowseArchives?searchAuthor=oid%3A12429|archive-date=September 19, 2008}}</ref>

In 2008, Barr hosted a political talk radio show on [[Radio America (United States)|Radio America]] called ''Bob Barr's Laws of the Universe''.<ref>[http://www.americanfreedomagenda.org/About/barrbio.htm Bob Barr Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419052538/http://www.americanfreedomagenda.org/About/barrbio.htm |date=April 19, 2008 }}, www.americanfreedomagenda.org</ref> He has said that he plans to write a book with that title.<ref>Copeland, Libby (August 18, 2008) [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081702456.html "Bob Barr, the Master of a Curious Universe"], ''The Washington Post''; Retrieved on September 11, 2008</ref>

In August 2008, Barr published an opinion piece in ''[[The Washington Times]]'' that criticized the United States' response to the conflict between Russia and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] as being too emotional and not based on legitimate American national security concerns. He wrote: "The most important American interest is defending America; and intervening on behalf of Georgia against Russia has nothing to do with defending America."<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/21/no-war-for-georgia/ BARR: No war for Georgia] ''[[The Washington Times]]'' August 21, 2008</ref> In October 2008, Barr gave a [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8532808199834707466&hl=en one-hour talk] at [[Carnegie Mellon University]], allowing time to take audience questions. This was one of numerous lectures for which he was paid.

In 2008, in an [[Op-Ed]] article published in ''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'', Barr lambasted the new policy of [[Boston, Massachusetts]], police to allow warrantless search for firearms in teenagers' homes.<ref>Barr, Bob. [http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/barrcode/entries/2008/02/27/boston_police_jump_gun_with_sa.html Boston police jump gun with ‘Safe Homes’]. February 27, 2008.</ref> On March 7, 2009, ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' announced that Barr would be a weekly columnist for the paper.<ref>Wallace, Julia. [http://blogs.ajc.com/ajc/2009/03/07/ajc-changes/?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab "AJC Changes"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311161608/http://blogs.ajc.com/ajc/2009/03/07/ajc-changes/?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab |date=March 11, 2009 }}. March 7, 2008.</ref> His blog is known as ''The Barr Code''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/ |title=Bob Barr Blog – The Barr Code &#124; ajc.com |publisher=Blogs.ajc.com |access-date=August 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815202928/http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/ |archive-date=August 15, 2013 }}</ref>

===Advising Jean-Claude Duvalier===
In 2011, Barr traveled to Haiti to lobby on behalf of "former Haitian dictator [[Jean-Claude Duvalier|Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier]]."<ref name=Haiti>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110124223743/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/01/22/haiti.duvalier.barr/?hpt=T2 Former U.S. lawmaker assisting Duvalier], ''[[CNN]]''</ref> According to Barr, "he is not serving as Duvalier's attorney, but is in [[Port-au-Prince]] to consult, assist and be Duvalier's voice to the international community."<ref name=Haiti/>

==2008 presidential campaign==
{{Main|Bob Barr 2008 presidential campaign}}
In early 2008, rumors circulated that Barr was considering a presidential run under the Libertarian Party banner. Activists began a Facebook group dedicated to [[Political draft|drafting]] Barr into the nomination contest,<ref name="Times5-20">{{cite news |last = Hallow |first = Ralph |title = Libertarians seek Barr candidacy |newspaper = The Washington Times |date = March 20, 2008 |url = http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/NATION/214024441/1002 |access-date = May 18, 2008}}</ref> and Barr later confirmed his interest.<ref name="veryseriously">{{cite news |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2008/03/26/bob_barr_very_serious_about_a.html |title=Bob Barr thinking 'very serious' thoughts about a presidential race, Iraq, and torture |newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |date=March 26, 2008}}</ref> He launched a presidential exploratory committee and campaign website<ref name="site">{{cite web |url=http://www.bobbarr2008.com/ |title=Bob Barr 2008 campaign site |publisher=Bob Barr |access-date=March 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111025947/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/ |archive-date=January 11, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> on April 5,<ref name="reasonbarrruns">{{cite magazine |url= http://www.reason.com/blog/show/125852.html |title=The Weekend Political Thread: Bob Barr Edition |magazine=[[Reason Magazine]] |date=April 5, 2008}}</ref> and formally announced his candidacy<ref name=pressconference>{{cite news |url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/12/bob-barr-to-announce-presidential-plans/ |title=Former Republican announces plans to run as Libertarian candidate |publisher=Fox News |date=May 12, 2008}}</ref> for the Libertarian nomination on May 12.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna24582429 |title=Barr announces Libertarian White House bid |work=[[NBC News]] |date=May 12, 2008}}</ref>  His announcement came a mere ten days before the start of the Libertarian Party Convention, where delegates select the presidential candidate.<ref name="Libertarian National Convention Guide">{{cite web |url=http://www.denverlpcon.com/ |title=2008 Libertarian National Convention Guide |access-date=May 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520030733/http://www.denverlpcon.com/ |archive-date=May 20, 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:Bob Barr CMU-talk.JPG|thumb|Bob Barr speaks in October 2008.]]

Following his announcement, [[Rasmussen Reports]] had Barr polling at 6% nationwide against [[Barack Obama]] (42%), [[John McCain]] (38%), and [[Ralph Nader]] (4%).<ref name="Rasmussen2008">{{cite web |url= http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/will_third_party_candidates_tip_the_presidential_race |title= Will Third Party Candidates Tip the Presidential Race? |access-date= May 23, 2008 |date= May 18, 2008 |publisher= Rasmussen Reports |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080519210429/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/will_third_party_candidates_tip_the_presidential_race <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 19, 2008}}</ref> The study identified Barr as the Libertarian candidate, but most voters said they did not know enough about him to have an opinion of him personally.<ref name="Rasmussen2008"/> Barr's support in the poll was a net drain on Republicans; he picked up 7% of the Republican vote, 5% of the Democratic vote, and 5% of the unaffiliated vote.<ref name="Rasmussen2008"/>

On May 25, 2008, Barr became the 2008 Libertarian presidential nominee after six rounds of voting at the 2008 Libertarian convention. He beat [[Mary Ruwart]] in the final round of voting, with 324 delegates to Ruwart's 276, with 26 none-of-the-above votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lp.org/media/article_588.shtml |title=Presidential and VP Vote Totals – Updated Live! |publisher=[[Libertarian Party (United States)|LP]].org |date=May 25, 2008 |access-date=May 25, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080527184318/http://www.lp.org/media/article_588.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 27, 2008}}</ref> Barr had received the endorsement of [[Wayne Allyn Root]], one of his rivals for the nomination, after Root was eliminated following the fifth round of balloting. Barr, in turn, endorsed Root for the party's [[Vice President of the United States|vice presidential]] nomination, which he received. ''[[Reason magazine|Reason]]'' magazine senior editor [[Radley Balko]] called Barr "the first serious candidate the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|LP]] has run since I've been eligible to vote."<ref name=vote>[http://reason.com/archives/2008/10/29/whos-getting-your-vote/singlepage Who's Getting Your Vote?], ''[[Reason magazine|Reason]]''</ref>

On June 4, 2008, Barr invited the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee, [[John McCain]], and the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee, Barack Obama, to weekly [[United States presidential election debates|presidential debates]] through an official press release.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080604/pl_usnw/bob_barr_welcomes_election_contest_with_barack_obama_and_john_mccain__urges_weekly_debates|title=Bob Barr Welcomes Election Contest With Barack Obama and John McCain – Urges Weekly Debates |work=[[Yahoo News]]}}</ref>

Many opinion leaders predicted that Barr could siphon off conservative votes that would have otherwise gone to McCain. John Linder, who defeated Barr for the Republican nomination in a 2002 congressional race, said that Barr could cause serious problems for McCain in some states.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://reason.com/blog/show/127133.html |title = Won't You Be My Nader? |access-date = July 18, 2008 |last = Weigel |first = David |date = June 23, 2008 |publisher = ReasonOnline.com}}</ref> Barr repeatedly rejected this assertion as scapegoating, responding that small-government Republicans would not vote for McCain anyway, nor would civil liberties advocates vote for Obama.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/405635.aspx CBN News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814172536/http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/405635.aspx |date=August 14, 2008 }} Bob Barr to Brody File: McCain is a "Big Government Republican" July 8, 2008</ref>

Barr appeared on the ballot in 45 states.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/campaign-2008/story/755100.html |title=Presidential ballot has a bunch of third-party candidates to choose from |access-date=November 5, 2008 |last=Recio |first=Maria |date=November 4, 2008 |newspaper=[[Miami Herald]] }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In July, he filed a lawsuit against [[Oklahoma]] for its unusually restrictive [[Ballot access#Ballot access in the United States|ballot access]] laws,<ref>{{cite magazine |url = http://www.ballot-access.org/2008/07/17/barr-files-ballot-access-lawsuit-against-oklahoma/ |title = Barr Files Ballot Access Lawsuit Against Oklahoma |access-date = July 18, 2008 |last = Winger |first = Richard |date = July 17, 2008 |magazine = Ballot Access News}}</ref> which he contends are contrary to the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] right to petition one's government for a redress of grievances.<ref>{{cite news |title = Libertarian Presidential Candidate Will File Lawsuit Against Oklahoma |url = http://www.ksbitv.com/home/25481589.html |publisher = KSBI-TV.com |date = July 15, 2008 |access-date = July 18, 2008
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719065430/http://www.ksbitv.com/home/25481589.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = July 19, 2008}}</ref> In July, a [[Zogby poll]] had Barr receiving 6% of the vote nationwide, as well as double digits in several states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1523 |title=Sitemap – Zooomr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709162118/http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1523 |archive-date=July 9, 2008 }}</ref>

A [[Zogby International|Zogby]] poll released on August 15, 2008, indicated that most Republican and Democratic voters wanted Barr to be included in the presidential debates. The poll also indicated that almost 70% of independent voters would have liked to see him included.<ref>[http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1538 Zogby Poll: Majority Want Libertarian Bob Barr Included in Presidential Debates] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081107004127/http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1538 |date=November 7, 2008 }}, www.zogby.com</ref>

On September 17, 2008, Barr filed suit in Texas to remove both McCain and Obama from the ballot. Both political parties failed to file their nominees by the deadline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/press-releases/133/bob-barr-files-suit-in-texas-to-remove-mccain-obama-from-ballot/ |title=Bob Barr Files Suit in Texas to Remove McCain, Obama from Ballot — Bob Barr 2008 |access-date=September 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919164204/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/press-releases/133/bob-barr-files-suit-in-texas-to-remove-mccain-obama-from-ballot/ |archive-date=September 19, 2008 }}, Bob Barr Files Suit in Texas to Remove McCain, Obama from Ballot www.bobbarr08.com</ref>  On September 23, 2008, the Texas Supreme Court rejected the request without giving a reason for its decision.<ref>(2008-09-23) [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D93CLMO82.html "Texas Supreme Court rejects Barr request"], Dallas News.com</ref>

Among his campaign positions, Barr distinguished himself strongly from Obama and McCain by opposing the [[Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008|financial bailout bill]].<ref>Barr, Bob (October 2, 2008) [http://washtimes.com/news/2008/oct/02/no-more-government-guarantees/  No more government guarantees: "Solutions to the bailout's lessons learned"], ''[[The Washington Times]]''.com. Retrieved on October 2, 2008</ref>

On November 4, 2008, Barr received 523,686 votes, 0.4% of the national vote.<ref name="FEC">{{cite web |url= http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2008/2008presgeresults.pdf |title= 2008 official presidential general election results |access-date=February 3, 2009 |date= November 4, 2008 |publisher= [[Federal Election Commission|FEC]]}}</ref>

==Return to Republican Party==
[[File:Bob Barr by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|Barr speaking at the 2016 FreedomFest in [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]]]
Following his statement that he would not challenge the Republican incumbent in the 2012 primary race for [[Georgia's 14th congressional district]], he subsequently indicated his return to the Republican Party and support for 2012 GOP congressional candidates when stating – "Our country is at a serious cross-roads, without question we need new leadership in the White House, and a part of that turnaround in 2012 will be solid GOP majorities in both chambers of Congress."<ref name="Barr">{{cite web|url=http://www.bobbarr.org/default.asp?pt=newsdescr&RI=1375|title=Barr Will Not Seek 14th District Congressional Seat|date=December 14, 2011|access-date=December 14, 2011|work=BobBarr.org|first=Bob|last=Barr}}</ref>

===Aborted 2012 congressional campaign===
Barr had expressed interest in running for Congress again as a Republican in [[United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia, 2012|2012]], challenging incumbent Republican [[Tom Graves]] in [[Georgia's 14th congressional district|Georgia's 14th district]]. The newly created district included [[Floyd County, Georgia|Floyd]] and [[Paulding County, Georgia|Paulding]] counties, which were part of the territory Barr represented in his first congressional stint. Between them, they made up 38 percent of the 14th's population. Barr has lived in [[Smyrna, Georgia|Smyrna]], in [[Cobb County]], for many years, but told several friends he planned to move to Paulding County in order to challenge Graves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/10/14/bob-barr-contemplating-a-run-against-tom-graves-%E2%80%93-and-a-return-to-congress/|title=Bob Barr contemplating a run against Tom Graves – and a return to Congress?|date=October 14, 2011|access-date=October 17, 2011|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|first=Jim|last=Galloway|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016002523/http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/10/14/bob-barr-contemplating-a-run-against-tom-graves-%E2%80%93-and-a-return-to-congress/|archive-date=October 16, 2011}}</ref> Despite strong polling numbers, Barr chose to abandon his plans for running, citing concern on the potential impact it would have on his law firm and family.<ref name="Barr"/>

===2014 congressional campaign===
Barr held a news conference on March 28, 2013, at Adventure Outdoors in [[Smyrna, Georgia]], where he announced his upcoming run for his old congressional seat, the 11th. The seat had come open after his successor, [[Phil Gingrey]], gave it up to run for the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|title=Back to the future for Bob Barr?.|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/28/back-to-the-future-for-bob-barr/?hpt=hp_t2|access-date=March 28, 2013|work=CNN|date=March 28, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019155942/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/28/back-to-the-future-for-bob-barr/?hpt=hp_t2|url-status=dead}}</ref> Barr was vying to become the first Georgia Republican to return to the U.S. House after a gap in service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2013/04/01/bob-barr-seeks-rare-return-to/ |title= Bob Barr Seeks Rare Return to Congress from Georgia |work=Smart Politics |first=Eric |last=Ostermeier |date= April 1, 2013}}</ref> Barr placed second in his six-way House primary with 26% of the vote. State Senator [[Barry Loudermilk]], who was backed by the Senate Conservatives Fund, placed first in the primary with 37%. Since no candidate won at least 50% (plus 1) of the vote, a runoff took place on July 22, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/05/21/bob-barr-heads-to-gop-runoff-to-win-house-seat/|title=Bob Barr Heads to GOP Runoff to Win House Seat|first=Reid J.|last=Epstein|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 21, 2014}}</ref> Barr lost the runoff to Loudermilk by a nearly 2:1 margin.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/07/22/former-congressman-bob-barr-loses-in-georgia-runoff/|title=Former congressman Bob Barr loses in Georgia runoff|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|date=July 22, 2014|access-date=July 23, 2014|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

==NRA career==
On May 20, 2024, Bob Barr was elected by the National Rifle Association Board of Directors as NRA President.<ref name="Filip Timotija"/>

==See also==
* [[Defense of Marriage Act]]

==References==

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|s=no|v=no|b=no|wikt=no}}
* {{Official website|https://bobbarr.org/}}
* [https://uwg.galileo.usg.edu/repositories/2/resources/319 Bob Barr papers at the University of West Georgia]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080516125735/http://www.libertystrategies.org/ Liberty Strategies] Barr's consulting firm
* [http://www.libertyguard.org/ Liberty Guard] Barr's blog
* {{C-SPAN|36569}}

;Presidential campaign
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190111025947/http://www.bobbarr2008.com/ Official 2008 Presidential Campaign website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/BobBarr2008 Campaign page at YouTube]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=22028 Candidate profile] at [[Project Vote Smart]]
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Bob_Barr.htm Issue positions and quotes] at OnTheIssues.org
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161118041517/http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_08+C00340190 Campaign contributions] of The Bob Barr Leadership Fund from the FEC
* [http://reason.tv/picks/show/398.html Bob Barr, "Why I Want to be President"] at Reason.tv
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151017091549/http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_detail/P80005580/ Presidential campaign FEC disclosure report]

;Video
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbHtWQ-Hj04 Barr interviewed on Fox News]
* [http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/12251 Video interview/discussion with Barr] by [[Jane Hamsher]] on [[Bloggingheads.tv]]

;Congress
* [http://lcweb4.loc.gov/elect2002/catalog/1137.html Library of Congress web archive of 2002 campaign website]
* {{CongLinks | congbio=B000169 | votesmart=22028 | fec=H4GA07259 | congress= }}<!-- Links formerly displayed via the {{CongLinks}} template:
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00002526 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Bob_Barr.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* -->

;Writings
* [http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/barrcode/entries/index.html The Barr Code] archives of his columns from ''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' (2008)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060213182941/http://www.conservative.org/columnists/barr.asp Bob Barr] column archives at the [[American Conservative Union]] (2003–2007)
* [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-barr/ Bob Barr's blog] at ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' (2005–2006)
* [http://writ.news.findlaw.com/commentary/20040825_barr.html The FBI's Pre-Emptive Interrogations Of "Possible" Demonstrators]&nbsp;– Article by Barr on [[FindLaw]], August 25, 2004

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[George Darden|Buddy Darden]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States representatives from Georgia|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Georgia's 7th congressional district]]|years=1995–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Linder]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael Badnarik]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] [[List of United States Libertarian Party presidential tickets|nominee]] for [[President of the United States]]|years=[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gary Johnson]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mike Ferguson (politician)|Mike Ferguson]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former U.S. Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Marshall (Georgia politician)|Jim Marshall]]|as=Former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States presidential election, 2008}}
{{Libertarian Party (United States)}}
{{Impeachment and impeachment trial of Bill Clinton}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barr, Bob}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
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[[Category:United States attorneys for the Northern District of Georgia]]
[[Category:University of Southern California alumni]]