Louis Vandenberg, candidate for California's 44th congressional district, interviewed by Charles Case, a reporter for The Hill. This is the complete unpublished interview.
Charles Case: Being in Congress means impossible hours, political muckiness, no down time and, if you represent California, never ending air travel. What motivates you in your pursuit of this office, especially in light of your three earlier bids for Congress?
Louis Vandenberg: Fundamentally, I am moved to stand as a candidate from a sense of service, which is grounded in a personal commitment to and belief in the advancement of American democracy, in the classical sense. I am also energized by a sense of outrage at the destruction the Bush administration and the Republican party has wrought in virtually every area of American life they have touched.
From the completely lunatic Republican war on and occupation of Iraq--probably the biggest strategic error in our nation's history, and the bungling of Afghanistan -- the other quagmire, and the generally hapless and destructive Bush foreign policy, to its covert regulatory changes favoring big business and the super-wealthy over everyday Americans. From what amounts to a Republican war on the environment, to the abysmal GOP Medicare "overhaul." From the Republican's stunning fiscal wrong-headedness and irresponsibility, leading to the biggest deficits in history, to the Cheney secret and crony-driven energy policies. From "No Child left Behind" in which multitudes of children are being left behind, to the Republican party's anti-scientific, anti-intellectual and anti-human restrictions on stem cell research, which is another outrageous cave-in to the crackpot flat-earthers of the religious right.
From very troubling elements in the Republican "Patriot Act," which severely erode our civil liberties, to the breaking down the wall of separation of church and state from which our religious liberty is derived. From the GOP's reckless indifference, to the deterioration of our nation's infrastructure, to the reckless indifference to the victims of Katrina. From Bush's unprecedented secrecy, creating a genuine "shadow government," to the lawlessness of his "signing statements" on legislation passed by congress.
From the disgusting Bush gulag of secret prisons, to the appalling practice of torture and kidnapping, and on and on. All of it (and there is much more besides) produces but one conclusion, that George W. Bush is this nation's worst president and his is the worst administration in American history. He is, in a number of extraordinary and crucial areas, operating lawlessly outside of limits prescribed in the Constitution of the United States of America, which he appears to regard as irrelevant. His is driven by what appears to be a truly crackpot and un-American ideology. Bush's outrageous and above-the-law "unitary executive" thesis of governance is totally unacceptable to a democratic society and must be vehemently opposed. His lawlessness, his recklessness, his incompetence, his failed ideology all make him manifestly unfit to serve as President of this nation.
I have said repeatedly that this president should pay royalties to the estate of George Orwell, given his devotion to and the use of the totalitarian lexicon of deceit and distortion defined by Orwell, and employed daily by Mr. Bush. I oppose his policies to such a degree that my effort as a candidate, put simply, is this: to repeal the Bush presidency, to reverse what the Republicans have done to our country, to hold them accountable and to reform our government as necessary to prevent a recurrence of this waking nightmare.
As to campaigning, I am not a grandstander, glad-hander or chest-thumper by nature. It is sometimes difficult for me to engage in the political process, since it is time-consuming, demands an endless well of social skill, raw energy and, lest we forget, an ability to raise money. I'm not the best fund-raiser. In fact, I am pretty bad at it. I'd much rather be talking about issues than asking people for money.
I am well aware that my campaign effort is perceived as somewhat quixotic in a Republican-dominated district. But, I see what I see in our nation today and no one else here of any credibility was stepping up to run for congress. So I asked myself, "what does patriotism really mean?" This -- running for office at this time and in this place -- for me, is what it means.
I am deeply moved whenever I visit a veteran's cemetery and, in some sense, those graves speak to me. I'm sorry if this seems maudlin or sentimental to some, but I believe that if those veterans laid to rest in those cemeteries can fight and be willing to die for this country, given what it has meant to humanity, in the light of human history on this planet, then I can set my personal reservations aside and run for public office.
CC: What support have you received from the DCCC, or any national Democratic organization? What do you think about Rahm's overall strategy?
LV: I have received no financial support, or support of any kind, other than a mention of my candidacy on their website, from the DCCC. I have received no contact from them whatsoever, other than pro-forma trivia and generic requests for donations sent to all Dems. Naturally, you would expect it to be disappointing, and it is.
I have read Mr. Emanuel's "plan," and find it to be old wine in a new bottle. I agree with his premise that one should not define a problem, or state a criticism, without offering a solution. That's always what I try to do. But, I don't agree with Rahm's assessment of the problems, and therefore don't agree with his solutions, in some significant respects.
But, if you are referring specifically to his campaign strategy, which totally abandons Democrats such as myself, for what he unilaterally regards as "safe bets" in swing-districts, well, obviously, I think it is further grim evidence of the party not functioning as a party.
Among other things, it is so disappointing to see fund-raising letters sent out to by the DCCC, and signed by Al Gore, whom I deeply respect and admire, going to Democrats in my district. Many of those Democrats probably think I am being helped by their donation to the DCCC via this letter and will give money on that basis. But, I'm not being helped at all. In fact, I am likely being hurt, since there are only a finite amount of resources in a district which will be given to support a congressional candidate. People who give to the DCCC, will likely not give again to my effort.
I think the time for the "play it safe" DLC has come and gone, long gone -- if it ever had a time. The DLC/DCCC leadership has practiced, in some unfortunate and critical respects, a "groundhog day" replaying of a failed strategy again and again. With this DLC/DCCC leadership, the Democrats have become the party that never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Rahm clearly has fine personal qualities. He's bright, but he's conventional and formulaic. I would, however, be happy to be wrong about this. If Rahm's strategy wins the House, or if the House is won in spite of his strategy, I'll be very, very happy, regardless of the outcome of my particular race. Success has a thousand fathers and failure is an orphan. We'll see what happens to Rahm's strategic baby in November. Will it survive whatever Rove's October surprise is?
In the end, we do the best we can, given our strengths and weaknesses, of which I'll admit to a few, and have here, and then the moment of election arrives. People go to the polls. Fate plays a role, and we are in its hands, however much we try to be its captain. People wake up on Wednesday morning, November 8th, and the struggle begins again. For my race, I must follow my own sense of what is right, and I do.
I like Howard Dean and prefer his approach to things over Emanuel's. Years ago, I gave an enthusiastic warm-up speech for him at his first appearance in California as presidential candidate.
CC: What events do you have planned to publicize your campaign?
LV: We have campaign events planned until the election. Each one will seek to have an educational component, bringing in experts to talk about some aspect of foreign or domestic policy.
CC: What does your family think of your repeated election bids? Does anyone around you ever question your remarkable tenacity in pursuing elected office? How do you rate your chances this time around?
LV: This is my fourth run, including as a write-in candidate, an effort which I did in 2000, when the party's designated candidate withdrew from the race for personal reasons. I am single, so there is no immediate family questioning my efforts, or trying to introduce sanity into my life. My brothers and parents, aunts, cousins, etc. vary in their regard for what I'm doing, ranging between pride and confusion -- usually a mixture of the two. Many, if not most, are rock-ribbed Republicans. There's a standing rule with some of them to not discuss politics. It can get heated, so we just avoid the subject.
As to the chances for my success, I'm realistic, but hopeful. There is a sense this time that the political zeitgeist has shifted substantially into an increasing awareness within the public mind that the Republican Bush administration is a catastrophe, including among Republicans. They're looking more hollow-eyed all the time. The rhetoric - reality gap is getting too big. It's vast now, actually.
Because, I think, of the media's failure to inform, people seem to feel the truth, more than have a solid conscious grasp of it. When I articulate the audience's feelings into words at events and speeches, there is often a sense of catharsis, a powerful response of "YES!" from the people, which has taken me aback with its energy level on occasion.
For so long, I have been tilting against the Bush windmill. But, that windmill now is creaky and ready to collapse. In many ways, the Republican game is a shared delusion of the administration, the unreasoning core party dittoheads and, very unfortunately, a supine press and media.
Really, all we have to do to stop this madness is simply to push back, to say no to it, by voting Democratic in November. Bush and the Republican party have feet of clay and have to fall. They have come to resemble a criminal conspiracy, somewhere between a gang and a cult, with the neocons mediating between these two elements.
The Republicans can never win in the long run, because delusion is not policy. And they can't win in the long run, because greed is no foundation for governance. The challenge for American citizens is to stop the destruction the Republicans are causing before it goes too far, before the damage is irreversible.
CC: What do constituents in this Republican-slanting district think of your progressive politics when you meet them on the stump?
LV: I don't wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and say "look at that progressive in the mirror." My analysis of issues is authentic and autonomous from any doctrinal mandates of the party, though naturally they tend to be aligned with it. I actually come from an Eisenhower, Goldwater, Republican family tradition. That's how I was raised. Coming from that background, I began my political citizenship as a registered Republican, who left that party during the Clinton administration to become a Democrat. I thought Bill Clinton was an excellent president.
By the way, I would like to see Al Gore run in 2008, sans Bob Shrum, the Democratic party's 0 for 8 campaign "strategist," who writes a hell of a concession speech. Can we please do better in the strategy department?
Here's a strategy that doesn't cost 9 million dollars: How about getting a spine? Try standing up for something. Here's a simple for-example place to start: do not allow anybody to be tortured in the name of the United States. Ever. Anywhere. Stop it by any and all means. Do everything you can. Stop it now. Simple and obvious. Let the Republican creeps who advocate for Bush's torture policies identify themselves with the worst practices done by the worst human beings who have ever lived. Let them choose that side. Let the record be clear. Let their inhumanity be there for everyone to witness. And you? Say no to torture absolutely, because that is the right and honorable and decent thing to do. Americans don't torture. That's what the bad guys do. Again, that one is obvious.
And then fight against the occupation of Iraq. This one is more difficult. It's a mess, for sure. But it's got to end sometime and somebody's going to end it. That person will be someone with the courage to say we made a mistake and take action. The Republicans got us into that mess. Who should get us out? That part is easy. Democrats, with true international cooperation, not Republican unilateralism. Do your job. Let's get to work.
I could go on, but I don't want to put the strategists out of work completely, and you probably get the idea anyway.
By the way, I think the "new" Al Gore would be an excellent candidate. Since 2000, despite a terrible campaign and unfortunate choice for running-mate, I have viewed him as the rightful President, something like a President-in-Exile.
But, back to the question, I thought the Republicans went completely off the tracks during the Clinton era, and became a mad parade of ideologues and extremists. Ken Starr was shameful -- a total disgrace to the law and common decency. The impeachment was crazy, an absurd and wasteful distraction. I had had enough. There was nothing left. I became an activist Democrat immediately.
I personally view my positions on issues as humane, reasonable, rooted in democratic ideals and "a decent respect for the opinions of mankind." I believe in checks and balances, not a one-party state - the Republican vision of un-America.
Further, I am a fiscal conservative. I endorse the fiscal critique of the Bush budget by Democratic Senator Kent Conrad. In looking at their budgetary management, you have to say that there is nothing conservative about Bush's Republican gang in Washington. They're just plundering everything.
I would support policies which would stem the erosion of America's middle-class, and would, instead, expand and strengthen it. We have now the biggest separation of rich and poor, since the Gilded Age. The Republicans want to dump F.D.R. and give us their "Old Deal." Hello, dust bowl.
I support rescinding all of Bush's tax cuts on the wealthy. The campaign to end the "Death Tax," propagated by something like 18 wealthy families and a PR firm, is a Republican fraud on the American people.
I agree with the analysis by Dr. George Akerloff, Nobel Prize winner in Economics 2001, that the Bush administration has created "a sea of red-ink as far as the eye can see," and George W. Bush -- based on his fiscal policies alone -- is the worst president in American history.
I support the elimination of corporate tax loopholes, such as off-shore Cayman Island headquarters. Let's help corporations get off welfare.
I support the critique of Bush labor policies as expressed by Senator Byron Dorgan. He's got a great new book out, "Take This Job and Ship It."
I strongly support Social Security and will take any and all steps I can to sustain it and assure its solvency as the "baby-boomers" retire. I oppose privatization, Bush's big Republican swindle.
I would prosecute corporate crime at the same priority level with which I would prosecute street-level crime against persons and property. Further, I would support prosecution of those who abuse the trust of the people in elected office.
I support education as a national priority and would seek to improve it at all levels. I want to see all those who are able to achieve academically have all opportunity and access to higher education they can use. We need to make higher education affordable for families and students. Americans need access to life-long learning, as well.
I support the rule of law internationally and strongly support the International Criminal Court. And I support the United Nations, which I believe is an institution which greatly serves the genuine American interests of world peace, international understanding and cooperation.
I support universal health coverage, via a single-payer plan. We now pay more and get less than any nation in the world. We're less healthy than the British, who have national health care. Under the single-payer system, we will pay less and get more. This is a winning system for everyone, except perhaps the insurance industry, who is making a killing on this "your money or your life" system we have.
These are not Democratic ideas, per se. They are American ideas rooted solidly in American tradition and expressing American values in the truest sense, which are about common-sense, and caring about each other and preparing for the future.
I am well aware of the Republican dominance of my district, but will not attempt to achieve a victory by accommodating bad ideas. Republicans are in some denial over Bush and his nonsense policies, but they have common sense, too, somewhere within them. They have children, too. They want a future for American, too. So, I engage Republicans with respect. I choose to have faith in their reason and humanity finally catching up to an honest and realistic perception of their party leadership, which is a total mess. They need to let go of their egos, and break out of their own rigid Republican political correctness, which is leading them nowhere other than off a cliff.
CC: How has "gerrymandering" impacted your race, if that is of any issue at all?
LV: Gerrymandering has produced national political stultification. There is less turnover in the United States Congress today than there was in the Politburo under communism in the old Soviet Union, according to the New York Times. And California's 44th congressional district has certainly been gerrymandered. My district is quite stretched out, making it difficult to campaign, in terms of organization and travel. However, I am making appearances in the OC portion of it. There are great people throughout the district, everywhere I go.
CC: Are you debating Mr. Calvert? If you could stand face to face with him what pithy and potent phrase or argument would you employ to demolish his record?
LV: Calvert has never debated me, or any other Democratic nominee during his time in office. I am most willing and would doubtless enjoy it very much. I have nothing personal against Mr. Calvert, but there's no "there" there, with him. He does what he is told by party leadership, and he does it collecting his "emoluments" along the way, gaining a reputation recently as one of the most corrupt members of congress, which is sad to see. I'm sorry, but the 14-year record is clear: Mr. Calvert is a Republican cliché, from the Republican political machine cookie-cutter, "an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect the bill." That's a quote from Francis Ford Coppola's film "Apocalypse Now," but it's somehow appropriate.
CC: Many thanks.
LV: Thank you, Charles.
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