ACLU to hire Rep. Bob Barr as consultant

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[chance33_98]

Posted Sunday, November 24 at 8:09 AM

ACLU to hire Rep. Bob Barr as consultant

ATLANTA - The American Civil Liberties has agreed to hire a Georgia Republican as a consultant to work on privacy, surveillance and national security issues.

Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga., one of the most conservative members of Congress, gained national attention for his relentless efforts in trying to impeach President Clinton.

Anthony D. Romero, the ACLU's executive director, said in an interview with The New York Times on Saturday that the organization was completing a six-month contract with Barr that will begin on Jan. 1.

Barr, a former prosecutor, was defeated by fellow Rep. John Linder in the Republican primary this year.

``We are delighted to have Congressman Barr join us in advocating for individual privacy,'' Romero told the newspaper. ``It indicates that the ACLU has no permanent friends and no permanent allies, just permanent values.''

Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Barr has made a point of challenging President Bush's administration policies that he believes might violate civil liberties.

Calls to Barr's office made by The Associated Press were not immediately returned.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey, a conservative Texas Republican with a libertarian bent, made a similar arrangement with the ACLU.

In the past, Armey has worked with the ACLU to protest what he considered government invasions of privacy.

Armey also opposed Attorney General John Ashcroft's Operation TIPS Terrorism Information and Prevention System that would have encouraged Americans to look out for suspicious activity and report anything unusual.

[gorush]

I predict that he'll not last long there, they won't like his consultations.

[jwalsh07]

``We are delighted to have Congressman Barr join us in advocating for individual privacy,'' Romero told the newspaper. ``It indicates that the ACLU has no permanent friends and no permanent allies, just permanent values.'

SO much for pushing for Second Amendment Rights from the inside. Barr's got his marching orders and they don't include stopping at the armory.

[lilylangtree]

While I have serious reservations about the Homeland Security Act and ramifications upon a person's privacy, I don't understand why Barr or Armey would be consultants to the ACLU. I thought they were anathemas to each other.

[caisson71]

I'm glad to see the ACLU looking for some "real people" to join their ranks. I think it will help them with their "that's stuipd" reputation. I also hope Bob Barr walks into his office the first day with a 12 gauge cradled in his arms instead of carrying a briefcase.

[pilgrim]

What are the differences between the aclu and certain members of congress?

[Commander8]

Some issues are not Left and Right issues. I don't have anything to hide, but I don't want some bureaucrat snooping in my bank account and keeping track of what I buy. That kind of snooping was wrong when Clinton was in office, it's wrong now with Bush in office and it still will be wrong when the next President takes the Oath.

[muir_redwoods]

Maybe he can inform them that there is a really, really important amendment in the Bill of Rights located just after the 1st amendment. They never seem to notice it.