More Penn Jillette Political Musing Than You Probably Need

Penn Jillette phoned On Call recently to clarify that he's "probably" backing Libertarian candidate Bob Barr for president but not as enthusiastically as he would, say, Ron Paul. Barr, Jilette said, "took a little bit long to get on board" with Libertarian social positions, which broadly support the legalization of drugs and gay rights.

Jillette, a longtime Libertarian whose endorsement-ish Web video about Barr we ran earlier this month, said he "supports Barr more than Oprah supports Obama." But, he cautioned: "If you said to me right now, 'Penn, you have superpowers under a yellow sun because you were born on Krypton, we can make Ron Paul president. Is that gonna piss you off because you're behind Bob Barr?' I hate to insult Bob Barr, but I wouldn't have to think about that."

Perhaps wisely, Jillette downplayed the affect of his endorsement.

"Let's say we're in some crazy world where people listen to me - where I'm as big as Oprah, if I endorse Bob Barr, I destroy Bob Barr instantly," he said. "Because when they ask me the question, 'What do you think should be done about medical marijuana?' My answer is: 'Heroin should be legal.'"

(Hotline's EVAN McMORRIS-SANTORO)