The Rehabilitation of Bob Barr

Back in the days of the Clinton administration, Bob Barr, then a Republican Congressman from Georgia, was one of the most strident Clinton attackers. He was even one of the house managers during the impeachment. If there really was a "vast right wing conspiracy," Barr was definitely near the top of the organizational chart.

Since he has left office, Barr has staked out a position of being a fairly principled conservative. He no longer touts the GOP party line when it conflicts with the conservative principles that supposedly animate the party. His latest public jousting with the administration comes in the gay marriage debate. No, Bob's not for it (perish that thought!), but he is going on record against a proposed federal marriage amendment. It's a state's rights issue, as he sees it.