Former Rep. Bob Barr: DOMA “Clubs Down Rights of Law-Abiding Americans”

Jim Burroway

May 27th, 2008

Former Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga) authored the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which Pres. Bill Clinton signed into law in 1996. Today, Barr is now the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee. Speaking at the convention, Barr apologized for his role in further institutionalizing discrimination into American law:

Transcript:

But many of you have also come up and said, “Barr, why did you offer the Defense of Marriage Act? If you’re so set against the Patriot Act, why did you vote for it?”

Well, let me tell you. I have made mistakes. But they only way you make mistakes, the only way you get things done is by getting out there in the arena and making those mistakes, and then realizing as things go on the mistakes that you’ve made.

And I apologize for that. For example, as I mentioned to you all last night with the Defense of Marriage Act. … [Applause] As I mentioned to you all last night and I reiterate here today, standing before you and looking you in the eye, the Defense of Marriage Act insofar as it provided the Federal Government with a club to club down the rights of law-abiding American citizens, has been abused, misused and should be repealed. And I will work to repeal that [Applause]

queerunity

May 27th, 2008

wow I am SHOCKED!
atleast he says he will repeal it though, that is positive

KipEsquire

May 28th, 2008

Barr’s mea culpa rings quite hollow.

He also said in that clip that DOMA is being “abused and misused.”

Um, “abused and misused” — how?

I know of no instance — none whatsoever — where DOMA has been “abused and misused.” It has been, and will continue to be, used exactly the way Barr originally intended: to discriminate against gays and legitimize anti-gay bigotry.

Please do not mistake this microphone-addicted conservative has-been for a “libertarian.”

Ephilei

May 28th, 2008

How did DOMA ever pass for Libertarian? Isn’t the “keep your nose out of others’ business” philosophy of Libertarianism exactly why McCain won’t help DOMA?

Ephilei

May 28th, 2008

Oops, I seem to have confused DOMA with the Federal Marriage Amendment. I take my comment back.

PiaSharn

May 28th, 2008

Well, it’s nice that he has changed his mind. Although whenever I think of Mr. Barr now, I can’t help but remember his scene in the movie Borat.

Does anyone know if he ever appologized for trying to get Wiccans kicked out of the military because he did not agree with their religious beliefs?

Pepe Johnson

May 28th, 2008

PiaSharn,

That’s a good question. Thanks for providing the link. I’m not Wiccan, so I was unaware of his statement though I had heard something through a grapevine.

Have you contacted his campaign staff? If you don’t ask them, you’ll never know for sure. I read his Wall Street Journal Op-Ed about Don’t ask, Don’t tell and then had the chance to question him further. It confirmed for me that he has changed his position regarding gays in the military. Maybe you can do the same regarding Wicca.

A Stitch in Haste

May 28th, 2008

Obligatory Barr-DOMA Post…

Here is what he said:…

nudge

October 3rd, 2008

What a joke! Barr’s only saying this so he can be the libitarian nominee! It was a condition he had to meet.

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