The Republican Dems Should Want in 2008

U.S. News and World Report this week writes that Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is seriously considering a run for the presidency in 2008. This is TERRIFIC news for Democrats, as Barbour has more serious political liabilities than almost anyone.

HALEY BARBOUR, TOBACCO LOBBYIST: According to Public Citizen, "After Philip Morris was the top RNC donor in 1996, Barbour became a tobacco lobbyist." Time Magazine reported that during Barbour's tenure as a tobacco lobbyist, "two Republican Party officials" said Barbour deviously tried to slip a $50 billion tax break for tobacco companies into a budget bill. Now, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Barbour has used the governor's office to try to gut funding for Mississippi's award-winning youth tobacco prevention program. This, from the governor of the state that originally forced the tobacco companies to admit their products caused cancer.

HALEY BARBOUR, DRUG INDUSTRY LOBBYIST: Barbour was also a top lobbyist for the drug industry, at the very time the industry helped kill proposals to lower drug prices. The Washington Post reported that Barbour actually used his position as chairman of the Republican Party to intervene on a bill raising the minimum wage, and demand lawmakers include a massive tax break for the pharmaceutical industry. Barbour immediately returned to his lobbying firm after his stint at the RNC.

HALEY BARBOUR, ENERGY INDUSTRY LOBBYIST: The Associated Press reported that, as a lobbyist for large energy companies, Barbour "virtually papered the White House, from Vice President Dick Cheney on down, with a memo suggesting the president must provide a sound energy policy by not taking action against carbon dioxide." Time Magazine reported that Barbour was a key player in Vice President Cheney's secret energy task force - the same task force that conspired with Enron.

HALEY BARBOUR, INSENSITIVE TO MINORITIES: The Boston Globe reported that "a photo of Barbour is on the home page of the Council of Conservative Citizens, the racist group that is an offshoot of the old segregationist white citizens councils that tried to hold back the civil rights movement...Barbour is pictured along with five other men, including CCC field director Bill Lord." When Barbour was asked to respond, he refused to ask the CCC to take the photo off their website.

Barbour is the dream opponent for Democrats to run against in 2008, especially if they sharpen their economic message. Let's hope Republicans are stupid enough to nominate him.