Truth 
in politics. 
What a concept!

Controversial Barrett 'supports the truth,' backers say

Samara Kalk Derby  —  6/24/2008 10:00 am: http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/292988

Michael Anthony, a self-employed handyman who lives in the Madison area, can't vote for Kevin Barrett, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Ron Kind in western Wisconsin's 3rd District, but did donate $10 to his campaign Monday night during a campaign event at the Dardenelles restaurant on Monroe Street.

"He's got guts. He's not afraid of controversy. A lot of people will run from controversy, especially if it means doing so on national television," Anthony said. "He has faced those Fox people with bat in hand."

Anthony was referring to Barrett's 2006 appearance on Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes" program, in which Sean Hannity called Barrett a "conspiracy nut" and an "extremist" and Barrett shot back, "Fox News is the biggest bunch of extremists on the planet."

Barrett, the controversial former UW lecturer who believes the U.S. government was responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, is running as a Libertarian and promises to call for an investigation into the terrorist attacks.

Anthony, the handyman, doesn't necessarily believe the government perpetrated or was complicit in 9/11, but said the government knows "a whole lot more than they have said. They certainly had a hand in it."

Andy Albrecht, a UW-Madison student of political science, made a $20 donation to the campaign Monday night. Albrecht's parents live in the 3rd District, and that is where he is registered to vote, although has never voted before.

Albrecht said he appreciates Barrett's tenacity and his anti-war stance.

"I like that he supports the truth. He really pushes the truth. He's not afraid to stand up for what he believes in," said Albrecht, who added that he doesn't necessarily believe 9/11 was "an inside job," but does think the government is withholding information.

Taking a page from Russ Feingold's 1992 "endorsement" from Elvis Presley, Barrett got Tim Biancalana, a dead ringer for John Lennon, to perform at the Dardanelles. About 30 people attended the event and watched the 2006 documentary, "The U.S. vs. John Lennon."

Biancalana, who is based in the Los Angeles area, performed Lennon's "Working Class Hero" and his original song, "Samsara."

"Behind every war there is a great big lie," Biancalana said. He is supporting Barrett, he said, because of "his truth."

"He's actually doing something for truth. When we have truth, we can get the peace we want," he said. "Everything today is about divide and conquer," but Barrett stands for the unity of people, said Biancalana, who has appeared on one of Barrett's radio programs.

Barrett, of Lone Rock, has three talk radio shows and spends eight hours a week on the air. The programs are broadcast, respectively, on Republic Broadcasting Network (RBN), Genesis Communications Network (GCN) and We the People Radio Network (WTPRN). None of them are broadcast locally, but all can be found on the Internet. He also does a daily five-minute news headline show strictly online at www.noliesradio.org.

Barrett's motto is, "Truth in politics. What a concept!"

"If we don't know what is going on we can't get peace and prosperity," Barrett told his supporters Monday night.

Kind has repeatedly voted for the war and against his own party's attempts to limit the duration of the war, Barrett said.

"He's also voted against the Constitution," Barrett said, noting that Kind has voted for Patriot Act I, Patriot Act II and HR 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.

Kind, D-La Crosse, has represented the 3rd District in Congress since 1996.

That's "too long," said Barrett. "His blow-dry has petrified on his head. He is way too comfortable. I promise when elected not to blow dry my hair."

Barrett needs 1,500 signatures to get on the ballot and has collected about 940, with a few volunteers helping him.

He considers himself a "new Libertarian candidate," calling himself much more moderate on economic issues than most libertarians.

"With the current imploding economy, the government will have to help people survive," he said. "We can't just shut down the social programs. We might even have to expand some of them."

Barrett's opponent in September's Libertarian primary is Ben Olson III of Wisconsin Dells, a longtime Libertarian party activist. If Olson weren't a Libertarian, he'd be a Republican, whereas Barrett would be a Democrat, Barrett said.

"Both parties are terminally corrupt at this point," he said.

Barbara Wright, who owns the Dardanelles, said she and Barrett have some things in common. Both are married to Moroccans and have a foot in the Muslim world. Barrett converted to Islam, while she has not, Wright said.

When Barrett told her he was going to run for Congress, she offered to host a fund-raising event at her restaurant.

"There needs to be some truth spoken about what is going on with our government, about the repression in society and the move toward fascism, the gutting of the middle class and the truth behind 9/11," Wright said. "I think that one of the ways you fight the fear that people feel is to get together as a community and talk about things."

Samara Kalk Derby  —  6/24/2008 10:00 am 

Barrett misses Nass in would-be confrontation
 By Patrick Marley 


9/11 conspiracy theorist Kevin Barrett today tried to confront a lawmaker who he said ended his academic career. And just to make the encounter that much more strange, Barrett was joined by a John Lennon impersonator. ...
- http://blogs.jsonline.com/
 

"While I don't agree with the guy - he is effective at getting his message out

Kevin Barrett, the controversial former UW lecturer who is big on the 911 conspiracy truth stuff, is running for congress. Check out this story in the Cap Times. I have not really examined the arguements much, and it appears pretty half baked, I have to give this guy a hand at his effective PR campaign for his cause. He has radio shows, gets in the news, gets supporters from all over to help him and then as he runs for congress he will get some good media coverage to promote his idea. Maybe after this campaign, he should start his own PR firm.
 

TOP