When I first heard that 9/11 theorist and UW-Madison Lecturer Kevin Barrett was running as a Libertarian for Rep. Ron Kind’s 3rd District congressional seat, I was elated. Not because of any desire one way or the other to see Barrett unseat the congressman, but because it means the race is suddenly much more interesting then it was two weeks ago. Kind already has a competitor in Republican Paul Stark, but it is highly unlikely that Stark can unseat the New Democrat and Free Trader from La Crosse. Kind, who has held the seat since 1997, defeated his most recent Republican challenger in 2006 with 65 percent of the vote. Stark is trying to defeat Kind by tying the incumbent to Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. Obama defeated Senator Hillary Clinton in La Crosse County with 58 percent of the vote. On the Republican side La Crosse County went to Senator John McCain by 48 percent, but Mike Huckabee came in a close second with 41 percent of the vote.

With Stark as a non-starter, Barrett injects some much needed carnie magic into the election. Case in point, yesterday Barrett sent out an email alleging:

I listened to the segment of Sly’s show where he interviews Barrett and not once does Sly use the words “I endorse Kevin Barrett.” What he does say at the end of the interview, “I am fascinated by your candidacy and I am looking forward to talking to you through out it. Kevin, thanks for coming on with us. Kevin Barrett, the next congressman from the third district of Wisconsin.” Listen here.

Fascination, an endorsement does not make. I contacted Sly to verify Barrett's endorsement. His response:

Also in the email from Barrett is the announcement that Kind has accepted Barrett’s challenge to a debate. According to Barrett:

Please, zombie Jesus, make this debate happen.

You can listen to the entire Kevin Barrett segment on Sly’s show here. Below are a couple of the policy issues Barrett laid out during the program.

1. “We need a new investigation” into 9-11. He said Kind is “a coward” for not looking farther into the events surrounding September 11, 2001.
2. We should pull out of Afghanistan. “The only reason we went in there was to shore up the heroin business. The Taliban had shut down the $1.5 trillion a year heroin business which is largely run by corrupt elements of our own CIA.”
3. Considers himself a “New Libertarian.” Supports strengthening Social Security and public education.
4. Wants to develop alternative energy sources.
5. Would cut off aid to Israel because as soon as the U.S. does they would “make peace with indigenous Palestinians.”
6. Will lead charge against NAFTA and CAFTA to prevent “North American Union,” abolishment of the U.S. Dollar in exchange for the Euro, and the building of a “NAFTA superhighway across the country to bisect it.”
7. Abortion: States or communities should decide
8. Unclear if he would overturn Roe v. Wade, but if he really thinks states should decide on abortion, Sly points out, he would need to overturn it
9. Second amendment. Strong supporter of Second Amendment and a “well relegated militia” instead of “standing Army” “Americans should be allowed to carry all sorts of firearms including military style firearms.”
10. Congress should subpoena ex-military officers who are part of the “Disclosure Project” to testify on UFOs.

Related Links Kevin Barrett for Congress Ron Kind for Congress Paul Stark for Congress