By Richard E. Cohen National Journal
Many of the Republican candidates seeking House seats this year express a desire for major change in Washington and say they want to transform the nations fiscal policy. Five of those candidates sat for a nearly hour-long interview on May 26th. People want some common sense back in governing said Rick Berg who is the GOP nominee for the House seat in North Dakota.
In addition to Berg they were:
- Jon Barela of New Mexico
- Sean Duffy of Wisconsin
- Cory Gardner of Colorado and
- Jackie Walorski of Indiana.
we have shown fiscal discipline. It works.
We used to have soccer moms and NASCAR dads. Now we have debt moms and dads. -- Sean Duffy House Republican candidate in Wisconsin
Walorski: Its all about the economy. I represent the RV industry. Barack Obama has come there both as candidate and as president to announce the stimulus package as the savior of the economy in Indiana. What we have done in Indiana is a story that needs to be told in a very good sense. We have gone from deficit to surplus with no tax increase with a triple-A rating. Voters feel betrayed by Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly selling them out on health care. They came from European countries and disaster zones of socialism. These Democrats and senior citizens hold on to my hand and say that they may not have supported me in the past but that I am a front-line fighter and they feel betrayed. That is my reputation in fighting for people. Duffy: In Wisconsin we are concerned about the economy and about jobs. We are concerned about companies that are laying people off and that cant do business in Wisconsin anymore. A lot of them are going to Mexico or China. House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey who is retiring authored the $787 billion stimulus plan. That provided hope of turning the economy around. Since that bill passed it has been completely ineffective. People are looking for a new direction. They understand that government isnt the answer to job creation. We used to have soccer moms and NASCAR dads. Now we have debt moms and dads. People are concerned about a $13 trillion debt. They look at Greece and ask if that can be America. Gardner: Its the same in Colorado. I want to comment on the passion that every single candidate has brought to the table. There is a passion that we have not seen in Republican candidates for a generation. There is a real fire in what they are hoping for the direction of the country; and the knowledge that we have the ideas and the solutions to bring it back; and that we can stop the agenda that is taking place now and is going to bankrupt the country by 2020. NJ: What do your constituents make of the partisanship in Washington and whether it has changed much since Barack Obama was elected president? Duffy: It hasnt changed at all. There is partisanship and gridlock. They want to see real solutions and the two sides working together. With health care reform there is a real feeling that we all would have been better served had Democrats been willing to step across the aisle and bring Republicans into the process. Walorski: Everywhere I go independents and Reagan Democrats ask me what I thought about when Republicans had the trifecta of power and they spent money like drunken sailors. I can look them in the eye and say that was categorically wrong. What they want to hear you say is that you are not just throwing stones at this administration. Its a trust factor of who has constituents best interest at heart and cutting through the partisan interests. Barela: I worked as a legislative assistant in the early 1980s for Rep. Joe Skeen R-N.M.. I saw a different spirit then between House Speaker Tip ONeill and Ronald Reagan. Did they fight? Absolutely. But when the bell rang and the fight was over I believe that they were personal friends. Back then people from both parties were at the table. That doesnt exist today. You have to return to that. That is leadership. Leadership is bringing people in who may disagree with you and not
jamming down the throats of the American people this ridiculous health care bill.
There is a passion that we have not seen in Republican candidates for a generation. -- Cory Gardner House Republican candidate in Colorado
NJ: Was the health care bill a factor in your decision to run? Walorski: It tripped my decision to run. That was the overriding issue. Gardner: It defines everything that people at town hall meetings were talking about. Berg: The problem with this level of partisanship is that they dont follow the process. When something is done behind closed doors and is not vetted and you are not listening to both parties then you end up with a poorer result in legislation. In North Dakota whenever things got partisan you ended up with poorer results. Duffy: We are all happy warriors. We are people with a set of beliefs. But we are not personally attacking anyone. And we can get along with people. NJ: Do any of you mention Speaker Pelosi in your district? Walorski: I do in my district because I hear it a lot in my district. Its the conservative Reagan Democrats who say Stop this Pelosi agenda. I dont attack her personally; I attack her policies. NJ: As candidates what do you most have to offer? What will help you get elected? Barela: I bring to this race a unique background. I am proud to be a native Southwest Hispanic. Second I am a small-business guy and I understand the difficulties that small businesses face today. I have a practical background of having served in government. I was an assistant attorney general in New Mexico and I fought for transparency. Walorski: Its my experience in fighting for people and for those who cant fight for themselves. In the Legislature we had the experience of freezing the budget and cutting the budget. People view Jackie Walorski as a pit bull and that she stands and fights for people. Thats what this election is about. Berg: I have been in business for 30 years. I created jobs and I understand how the economy works. North Dakota people have seen that Rep. Earl Pomeroy has spent 18 years in Washington. And we are seeing huge debt expansion of government and a stalled economy. Somebody has to be held accountable.
People are concerned that we cant afford the good-old-boys politics of loading up the bills and spending money that we dont have.
Duffy: I am a father of six; the oldest is 10 and the newborn is 2 months old. This is not a good time for me to run for Congress. I am in this because we need people to come in and fight for the next generation. I am going to engage in that fight. My family will suffer because their dad isnt home many nights. But I think that in the end they are better off because I am in this race. I have good old-fashioned Wisconsin common sense.
Gardner: My family moved to eastern Colorado more than 120 years ago. I live in a small town where family and community are everything. I grew up thinking that we could do better. It is a district that I care deeply about. The farmers and ranchers and businessmen have gone through tough times and a government that doesnt seem to care. They want to be left alone.
NJ: How does it help you to be in the House Republicans Young Guns program?
Berg: Its a mentorship program that provides accountability. To win a campaign there are a lot of things that I didnt know about six months ago. Its about raising money about having a good schedule that connects with people. Its about articulating issues in a way that people can understand.
Barela: The Young Guns program has instilled a sense of discipline and excellence with a number of criteria. The path to victory for me is very clear. I have support from many independents and crossover appeal from many Democrats who have endorsed my candidacy because I have an ultra-left opponent. Most Democrats in this district are not that liberal. Those people have come home to my campaign.
Gardner: We have to turn out unaffiliated voters who believe in our ideas. In 2008 with Republicans we had an undervote. We have to get those voters to turn out again. The Young Guns program is useful to have someone to call and explain how all the pieces come together.
Duffy: This is a race about who has a better vision for Wisconsin and America. It will also be a race about shoe leather and who will work harder.
Walorski: The Young Guns program provides resources to take on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic activist George Soros. It also provides resources to get answers to your questions immediately.
