Bob Barr’s campaign website currently makes no mention of the nomination of Wayne Allyn Root for Vice-President, but Root’s former Presidential campaign site has an enthusiastic press release from Root’s camp announcing the ticket.
In the release, Root notes how he gave the nomination to Barr (sort of true) and how Barr immediately embraced a Barr/Root ticket and endorsed Root for Vice-President. Now, I don’t know exactly what happened because I was only watching on C-SPAN, but it seemed like Barr was a mixture of relieved that he was probably going to win the nomination and a bit bewildered that Root was suddenly manhandling him and shouting “Barr/Root!” over and over again.
It was one of the few instances where I’ve ever seen someone TAKE and endorsement without exactly being offered an endorsement. At least no offer that was obvious to viewers on C-SPAN.
Below is the full press release (he’s been dubbed by the media as both “The King of Las Vegas” and “Ron Paul on steroids” in case you forgot)…
Las Vegas, NV- May 27, 2008 Wayne Allyn Root won the Libertarian Party Vice Presidential nomination in Denver, Colorado on Sunday. Root in his first-ever run for national office, beat out former United States Senator Mike Gravel, and ran a close third to former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr and longtime Libertarian activist and author Mary Ruwart.
In the 5th ballot for President, Root threw his support to Congressman Bob Barr, thus giving Barr the Presidential nomination. Barr immediately endorsed Root for his Vice Presidential running mate as part of a Barr/ROOT ticket. Libertarian Party delegates then chose Root as the Vice Presidential nominee on the second round of balloting.
It was an incredible weekend in Denver at the Libertarian Party National Convention. The suspense, drama, stress, excitement, and nonstop adrenaline rush added up to a political roller-coaster ride as the balloting for President and Vice President went on for hours.
Barr, a former nationally-recognized leader of the conservative political movement and one of the lead prosecutors of the Congressional impeachment of President Bill Clinton, said of the race for President, “I’m a competitor and I’m in this to win. I do not view the role of the Libertarian Party to be a spoiler and I certainly have no intention of being a spoiler,” Barr said.
Root said, “This is the most dynamic, credible and high-profile ticket in Libertarian Party history. Barr/Root will certainly break all-time Libertarian Presidential voting records. The possibility of a Libertarian third party ticket winning the White House is now a reality.”
Root, a colorful media personality with a dynamic and enthusiastic speaking style, brings several large voting blocs to the Barr/Root Libertarian ticket. ?As a small businessman, I will aim my campaign at 27 million American small business owners and millions of independent contractors such as real estate brokers, stockbrokers, insurance brokers and mortgage brokers. They are the economic engine of the U.S. economy. Small business now creates a majority of non-government jobs. I believe small businessmen and women across America will appreciate the fact that someone who understands their unique issues and concerns will be part of a Presidential ticket for the first time in modern political history.”
As a home-school parent of 4 young children, Root will also aim his campaign at parents searching for education reform, school choice and parental freedom. Root said, ?I believe choice, freedom and competition are the solution to remedy the disastrous failure of America’s public schools. We need to restore a parent’s right to give his or her children the best education possible- whether they choose public, private, parochial, charter or home-school. Taxation without representation is unacceptable. More freedom and choice is the only answer.?
But Vice Presidential nominee Root’s biggest constituency of all may be the 50 million poker enthusiasts and 10 to 12 million online poker players in America. Root, a celebrity TV sports host dubbed by the media as “The King of Vegas” has been creator, star, and producer of several poker and sports handicapping related TV shows. He is also the author of 6 books. Root said, “Millions of Americans enjoy playing poker. Yet our government has chosen to violate their rights and destroy their freedoms. The form of entertainment we choose in the privacy of our own homes, in our own bedrooms, on our own computers, with our own money, is quite simply none of the governments business.”
Dubbed by the media as “Ron Paul on steroids,” Root is a youthful 46 years old. He graduated Columbia University Class of ’83 alongside his classmate Barack Obama. Root will also use his Vice Presidential campaign to speak at college campuses across America about freedom, limited government, and Libertarian values.
30 responses so far ↓
1 RedPhillips // May 27, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Root is a relentless self-promoter. Already running for 2012. Barr may regret it happened this way. I don’t really see Root as a good foot-soldier for the ticket.
2 Lance Brown // May 27, 2008 at 5:10 pm
With the right speech, he could be useful on college campuses.
3 Peter Orvetti // May 27, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Funny how it’s a Barr/ROOT ticket in this release. By the next one, it’ll be
(barr)/ROOT!!!
4 G.E. // May 27, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I like (barr)/ROOT!!! a lot better anyway.
5 Peter Orvetti // May 27, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I should point out that I’m not anti-Root. I think he can be an effective advocate, though it would be nice if he didn’t crank it up to 11 all the time. I also thought his debate performance was poor. The Yogi Berra line turned me off. I am not a big reader of political philosophy myself; I don’t have the mind for it. But I know a few thinkers who have influenced me, and I imagine Wayne Root, Columbia ’83, does as well.
6 Jason_Gatties // May 27, 2008 at 5:32 pm
See, thats funny. Maybe because I’m just a big sports guy, but I liked the Ygo Berra line.
7 Jason_Gatties // May 27, 2008 at 5:33 pm
errrr…Yogi…
8 Peter Orvetti // May 27, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I’m actually a big Yogi Berra fan. Little-known fact: He’s played in more World Series games than anyone else ever. Still, I just thought after the other candidates’ picks, it sounded silly.
9 Lance Brown // May 27, 2008 at 6:11 pm
It got a laugh and it differentiated him, so tactically, it probably worked out.
10 G.E. // May 27, 2008 at 6:19 pm
J.G. – The other candidates’ picks were embarrassing. Bob Barr a Randist? Come on! Barry Goldwater a philosopher? David Nolan? I’m sorry, but no. At least W.A.R.’s answer was funny.
11 Peter Orvetti // May 27, 2008 at 6:32 pm
If I ever run, I’m gonna say the philosopher who inspired me most was former President Wayne Allyn Root (2025-2033).
12 Austin Cassidy // May 27, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Yeah, I should clarify that I thought Root did quite well during the debate and I was saying he’d be a good pick for VP because he could be dispatched to speak for Barr and whip up support.
If he could just get over his own ego.
13 Austin Cassidy // May 27, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I’ll say Dakota Root.
14 Steve Perkins // May 27, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Cut the Barr website folks some slack… it DID take them a few hours to pull down the Imperato photo!
15 Austin Cassidy // May 27, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I think they have a team of scientists and graphic artists trying to figure out how to design a campaign logo with a microscopic “Wayne Allyn Root” hidden somewhere on it.
16 Steven R Linnabary // May 27, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Well, he IS saying the right things, right now. And he IS a relentless self promoter. Lots of hyperbole (not a bad thing, neccessarily).
I’ve got a feeling that the Barr campaign is going to be reining him in a bit, though. He might be upstaging the Barr campaign with ” and one of the lead prosecutors of the Congressional impeachment of President”. I thought Barr WAS the lead prosecutor, not just ONE of them.
I have never heard anyone claim he was “Ron Paul on steroids,â€. If only.
If only I was “a youthful 46 years old”. Hell, I didn’t feel youthful back then.
Maybe this WILL work out, and be a good year for libertarianism, let alone the Libertarian Party. Too bad he is learning on the job.
PEACE
Steve
17 trinman // May 27, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I credit Root with one thing for sure: his answer at the debate on the healthcare Q was both pithy and dead on … I found myself thinking, “Gee, Mary should use that as the outline for her position paper …” I hope it gets that prominence in this campaign
18 darolew // May 27, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Root could be useful to the campaign in certain venues. He’s an undoubtedly energetic speaker, and if he doesn’t take it over the top that’s a positive quality. Someone else should write his speeches, though.
Even a shock collar would do: each and every time he says “son of a butcher” or “Barack Obama” + “classmate”, he gets a shock. If the audience questions his frequent convulsions and cries of pain, we’ll say Root gets seizures, or something. =)
19 Austin Cassidy // May 27, 2008 at 10:39 pm
If I owned a sales-driven business and I had to hire a salesman, I would hire Root in a second. I wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time talking to him or hanging out… but when it came down to moving product, he’s the one I’d pick.
And politics is a sales-driven business.
20 LPiberty // May 28, 2008 at 8:20 am
Root is excited?
Austin, how is best to contact you and what if anything might you want from the convention?
I have limited Barr material, which was certainly polished. Would you refuse materials from any of the candidates?
I would be free to send you items in early June.
21 LPiberty // May 28, 2008 at 8:23 am
If you saw the nomination speech by Dakota Root, I believe you saw how valuable home schooling might be.
22 LPiberty // May 28, 2008 at 8:27 am
The big question was whom Mr. Barr wanted for VP. As far as I know, he did not share his wish until after Mr. Root endorsed him.
But it seemed fairly clear that the convention was leaning towards this ticket as a more natural one. A greater Unity ticket did not happen, perhaps in part due to poor planning.
23 Peter Orvetti // May 28, 2008 at 8:43 am
I didn’t see Dakota Root’s speech — what did she say?
24 John P Slevin // May 28, 2008 at 10:31 am
Basically, Dakota Root said vote for my “beloved father”. She is an attractive, articulate young lady and an obvious asset both to the Barr/Root campaign and to the LP.
25 Austin Cassidy // May 28, 2008 at 11:29 am
I sent you an email – but you can message me at afcassidy@yahoo.com
I’d definitely love anything you don’t want, particularly from the other candidates that didn’t make the cut.
26 BuckeyeKned // May 28, 2008 at 11:45 am
I was not a Barr supporter, but a Wayne Allyn Root supporter. The Ohio delegation went 7 votes Root and 3 for Ruwart. It was the younger members that all voted for Wayne. I know him pretty well now and I can tell you that when the cameras are off, Wayne is very sincere, caring, and down-to-earth. He will learn a lot about politics and how to “craft” the libertarian message over the next few months. Maybe he can teach Bob Barr how to smile.
Buckeye Kned from Ohio
27 Austin Cassidy // May 28, 2008 at 12:53 pm
If Root can teach Barr to smile and Barr can teach Root to shut his mouth once in a while… the two will go very far together.
28 charleslawlesss // May 29, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Where is the Libertarian Campaigns officail website? Ive looked everywhere and cannot find it. Ive looked at http://www.BarrRoot08.com http://www.BarrRoot.com My vote is up for grab becuase I am not happy with either McCain or Obama. Ive like what ive seen of Bob Barr but dont know much about Wayne root and would like to know more about him if he is going to be Barrs veep vp Can someone direct me to the official campaign site of BarrRoot2008 Ive went every where. Ive even went to http://WWW.BarrRoot2008.com and there is nothing there. I did stumble on a pretty good anti McCain site called
http://WWW.McCanes.com it suggests that mccain is too old to be president and has lots of funny videos of “Old man McCain moments.” Please if anyone can direct me to the officail libertarian campaign ticket website let me know, My friend has not been able to find it either. If the Libertarians expect to do well they should get on the ball with the internet comapaigning. They should have these sites up all ready.
29 G.E. // May 29, 2008 at 4:02 pm
STOP POSTING THE SAME POST!
30 Austin Cassidy // May 29, 2008 at 5:55 pm
A clown and a domain squatter…
He’s probably trying to drum up some payment from the Barr campaign for those domains.
Charles, I wouldn’t hold your breath.
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