Replacing Rahm

I had the honor of conversing with Dr. Dave Anderson, who is running for Obama’s Chief of Staff’s old seat.

BP: What district and area you’re running in and WHY do you want to work in that Capitol Hill cesspool? Are you crazy?

DA: Sometimes I am a little crazy! Illinois’ 5th Congressional District. This is the special election to fill the vacancy left by Rahm Emanuel.

This could be fun…!

BP: Now, are you getting any help from the Illinois Republican Party, if there is one? That was a joke.

DA: The Illinois Republican Party won’t involve itself in the primary race. No endorsements, etc. They are helping candidates, in general, advising campaigns and tactical things, but very limited help available so far. Pretty grass roots now.

I am running because I am sure that the Democrat nominee for this seat will be some career Dem politician from Chicago who kept his mouth shut during all of the Blago stuff, and is suddenly a Johnny-come-lately reformer. Makes me mad!

BP: Tell us about Chicago politics. Is it as bad as they say?

DA: Yes, terrible. The Dem machine is terrible, and powerful. They have such a lock on things with the pay-to-play. Recently the Fitzgerald office has made some inroads, but Chicagoans have seen this for so long, that they are numb to it, and just don’t seem to care. Example: voter turnout in last mayoral election was 30%!!!

People think that if there are flowers in the boulevards, then the mayor is doing a good job. It’s very superficial, and those flowers are part of a kickback/campaign financing,”get my son-in-law” a city job scheme.

BP: In my experience, Republicans lose elections when they run on the vague: family values, smaller government, lower taxes. Like that’s not what most of us want.

DA: We DO have the highest sales tax in the nation, too.

BP: So, what’s your issue? What’s driving you?

DA: Well, last night I was at a forum in a primarily Dem neighborhood, and I had their attention with the corruption issue. I am running on corruption, citizen public service, and trade policy reform to protect jobs here. We need to level the playing field with Asia That’s where our jobs are going, and no matter how friendly you are to unions, it doesn’t matter if the company moves to Malaysia!

My issues are corruption and jobs.

BP: What do you mean by “citizen public service”? That sounds kind of Obama.

DA: Well, we have lots of career politicians here, and that leads to arrogance and corruption. I am not a famous person, and have no ties to any political mentors. I am a private sector business man who wants to serve briefly. We need turnover in public service.

BP: Good answer.

DA: I don’t NEED this job to pay my bills, and I can always make a living doing something else. I am a Ph.D. chemist, holder of six US patents, and I can do other things to make money.

BP: You’ll be one of over 430 congresspersons on Capitol Hill. You don’t come off as a go-along-to-get-along type. How would you go about making your mark?

DA: For one thing, I am not owned by anyone going in. I can serve according to ideals. Furthermore, I don’t need the job, so, I can give voters the truth, even if it hurts, and I’m not afraid of losing the next election, so I can act independently.

THIS election is very high-profile due to the history of this seat (Rahm Emanuel) and because Illinois is in the news every day now with Obama and Blago, and additional indictments coming just days before the April 7th special election. I will get a lot of free press attention, ESPECIALLY being a Republican, and winning in this district.

BP: What’s your opinion of the “stimulus bill”?

DA: Negatory!!! It is a joke to think that we’re broke and in recession, and the government can borrow itself into prosperity. Socialism can’t fix capitalism. The size of the bill is absurd, and to think that it can be effective and well done, after five days of preparation?

People spend more time researching what kind of car to buy than our congress has spent “carefully” crafting this bill.

There are dangerous Medicare provisions, and the debt is unethical; passing it to future generations. We should simply cut taxes and let the free market engine run! Revise the trade policy and stop shipping our wealth to Asia!

BP: Obviously Rahm Emanuel had the Clinton machine going for him when he ran. What helped him, and as that’s your obstacle, how do you plan on winning?

DA: I think the only chance we have is to drive home the corruption and the job losses. Lots of people out of jobs here, people are afraid of Asia and the jobs disappearing to the Far East and no new manufacturing investment at home. People are very aware and angry about the corruption, and most of the Dems are tied to Blagojevich.

The indictment of Blago is due April 3rd, and the election is April 7th, so the timing is good for us.

BP: So you implied you’re not “hard right”. Please define what you consider “hard right”, where have you softened, and do you think that could alienate you with conservatives?

DA: Sorry, I didn’t meant to imply that. I am a conservative, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, support low taxes, small government, less regulation, more personal freedoms, etc… standard conservative values. The lady I was talking about is very outspoken about immigration control, and in a district with 25% Hispanic, that’s not a winner.

BP: You’re in President Obama’s old stomping ground. Have you heard previously about his birth certificate issues, and how do you think it’s been handled by those whose job it is to uphold the Constitution?

DA: I assume the Supreme Court made the correct judgment, so, I guess I think it not worth the effort now. However, if it shown that he was not born in USA, he should be removed for sure!

BP: In closing, of all the people running, what makes you the best person to represent your district?

DA: I am an outsider, non-lawyer, analytical thinker, traditional conservative, which will help the jobs situation, and I am looking for 2-3 terms max, so no getting comfortable and arrogant in government service!

BP: Ooooh. We’ve heard that before and I hope I have the honor of interviewing the first-in-a-long-time politician that won’t forget who elected him and gets drunk with his own power.

Where can people get more information about your campaign, and how can they get involved?

DA: Of course, you’ve heard it before, but if we stick with what we’ve got now: Illinois Democrats, then for sure, we get more of the same. Check out www.drdaveforcongress.com. Send us an email or a donation!!!

BP: Best of luck, Dave.

I like that guy.