NYT Headline: Bob Barr, AN ARDENT CLINTON FOE, Loses Seat in Primary (No Joke)

The New York Times ^ | 8-20-02 | Steven Holmes

[frmrda]

Rep. Barr, an Ardent Clinton Foe, Loses Seat in Primary

By STEVEN A. HOLMES

He may have lacked his opponent's flamboyance and national reputation, but Representative John Linder cruised to an easy victory yesterday in the Republican primary in Georgia's Seventh Congressional District.

With 57 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Linder, a five-term House member, had 72 percent, compared with 28 percent for Representative Bob Barr, a well-known and vocal conservative who was a leader four years ago in the impeachment of President Bill Clinton. Although tallies from several pro-Barr precincts were still out, The Associated Press called the race for Mr. Linder.

Mr. Linder, 59, a former dentist and business executive whose phlegmatic style was a sharp contrast to Mr. Barr's sizzle, had, at times, made his steady demeanor an issue in the campaign. During one debate, Mr. Linder said to his opponent, "I will remind you that I am the one who has been married for 39 years to the same woman," a subtle criticism of Mr. Barr, 53, who is in his third marriage.

The race between Mr. Linder and Mr. Barr, two incumbents running in a district reconfigured by redistricting, was one of the two highlights of the Georgia primary. In the Fourth Congressional District, Representative Cynthia A. McKinney, a vocal and very liberal Democratic incumbent, was locked in a fierce fight with Denise Majette, a Yale-educated former judge.

Early returns indicated the turnout to be heavy and the race too close to call. Reports indicated a strong turnout of Republican voters casting ballots in the Democratic primary, presumably in a bid to defeat Ms. McKinney. As of Tuesday, state officials were investigating the source of telephone calls made to voters in heavily Republican areas telling them, "It is a violation of state and federal law to attempt to vote in a Democratic primary without proper documentation."

Republican leaders charged that the phone calls originated with the McKinney campaign as an attempt to tamp down Republican crossover voting. A spokesman for Ms. McKinney denied the accusation.

In other races, Representative Saxby Chambliss, who ran with the strong backing of the White House, easily won the Republican primary for the Senate. He will take on Senator Max Cleland, the freshman incumbent who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

In the other important statewide race, former state Senator Sonny Perdue battled state schools superintendent Linda Schrenko and former Cobb County Commissioner Bill Byrne in the Republican gubernatorial primary for the right to face incumbent Democrat Roy Barnes. If none of the three gets more than half of the vote, the top two finishers will face off Sept. 10.

Mr. Linder and Mr. Barr, who has served four terms, ran against each other in the redrawn Seventh District, which cuts across Atlanta's northern suburbs.

[frmrda]

Good God, could they get a more biased headline. Notice it's "Ardent Clinton Foe" Bob Barr. You think if McKinney loses she will be "Ardent Bush Foe".

The bias is so bad, it's right out in the open.

[Ann Archy]

Maybe Bob Barr will go to the Justice Dept where he could be a BULLDOG and finally GET the damn Clintons.

[Commander8]

The RINOs are de-conservatizing the Republican Party. Barr's defeat is just the beginning.

[Brett66]

I wonder if they'll report McKinney as "an ardent Bush foe"?

[BFM]

God bless you Bob Barr. Your loss is a loss to us all.

BFM

[ArcLight]

Well, in all fairness, about the only reason anyone outside of Georgia ever heard of Barr is because of his enmity toward Clinton. So I think the headline makes sense.

[Reagan Man]

For the last forty years, the NYTimes has developed into a biased, partisan mouthpiece for the Democratic Party and liberal politics in general. Expecting the "Times" to become a fair and honest broker, is expecting the impossible.

[RobFromGa]

If John Linder were a RINO I'd agree. But, Linder is the main sponsor of the anti-IRS movement and the National Retail Sales Tax, as well as the next House Appropriations Committee chairman if we hold the House come November.

And, Bob Barr has much service yet to give America-- maybe more than as a mere Congressman.

[IncPen]

It's perfectly understandable if you see it through the NYT lens: It's all about Clinton; Clinton was undone by others, not by himself.

[wimpycat]

Naw! The headline will be 'MCKINNEY SUCKER PUNCHED BY ANGRY REPUBLICAN MOB!'

[MJY1288]

Bob Barr will be missed, He is a great friend to Free Republic and I will bet the rent that we havn't seen the last of him.

Headlines will read :

"Bob Barr nominated to head Office of Homeland Security"

[SEGUET]

"Maybe Bob Barr will go to the Justice Dept where he could be a BULLDOG and finally GET the damn Clintons"

Booby Baby couldn't find the cheeks of his A$$ with both hands on a dark night if you held the flashlight - send him over to the Border Patrol and let him handle about 164 miles of Canadian Border - without a gun - God knows he can't handle one of those either.

[JessicaDragonet]

Good God, could they get a more biased headline.

I would consider it an honor if everyone in the world referred to me as an ardent Clinton foe. Of course they meant it for ill....but it's quite a complement. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns up on somebody's tombstone. LOL

[OldFriend]

What kind of healine will the NYSlimes produce on the defeat of McKinney, the terrorist lover.

[OldFriend]

What kind of headline will the NYSlimes produce on the defeat of McKinney, the terrorist lover.

[gcruse]

God help us, I hope not. I can see DHS storm troopers pouring off their black helicopters in search of some dude in Iowa last seen smoking a proscribed vegetable 'for terrorism.'

[HAL9000]

Representative Bob Barr, a well-known and vocal conservative who was a leader four years ago in the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

More than just a leader, Bob Barr was a true visionary. Without him, Bill Clinton would not have been impeached and Clinton's socialist agenda would have gone much farther.

[stylin19a]

No Kiddin about the bias. The NY Slimes fails to mention that the redistricting was a Democrat-led redistricting.

[JohnathanRGalt]

Cynthia A. McKinney, a vocal and very liberal Democratic incumbent, was locked in a fierce fight with Denise Majette, a Yale-educated former judge.

Early returns indicated the turnout to be heavy and the race too close to call . . . .

Yeah, right, McKinney is running neck-and-neck, to close to call (~70% voted against her!). I bet the NY Times will demand a recount. Must have been those pregnant chads that caused her to lose.

[brat]

Please pray for him. We've lost a great and true Conservative. I don't know Linder's record, but I do know Barrs. I feel like I've lost one of the few voices of reason and Conservative values in the House. God Bless you Bob wherever you are. And thankyou for your kind service. I'll miss you.