Federal Judiciary

It's Not the Kennedy Seat, Take II -- By: Kathryn Jean Lopez

No seat belongs to the Kennedys, not even in the House of Representatives. Announcing his candidacy on the same day that Sen. Scott Brown took his oath as successor to Edward M. Kennedy in the U.S. Senate, John Loughlin, a former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve who was deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and trained troops for Operation Iraqi Freedom, hoped to surprise the establishment in a similar way: succeeding Senator Kennedy?s son, Patrick, in the House. Loughlin has even picked up Brown?s advisers to help him pull it off.

And like Brown, Loughlin, who currently serves in the Rhode Island house, is running on a ?center right? platform. He?s against a ?government takeover of our health-care system.? He worries about America slipping back into a ?pre-9/11 mindset.? And he?s even willing to take a stand against most of Washington -- but with enlisted military -- by opposing the repeal of the so-called ?Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell? policy in the military.

Of congressman Kennedy, Loughlin says: ?He was the only member of Rhode Island?s delegation to refuse to hold a public town-hall meeting with his constituents. It?s clear that he?s not interested in the views of the people of Rhode Island.? In short, it?s the people?s seat. And Loughlin?s hoping the people will see it to be in their best interests to send him to Washington to fill it.

But can he do it? Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, currently has Patrick Kennedy as ?likely winner? for this year?s election for Rhode Island?s first congressional district. ?People incorrectly think Massachusetts is the most Democratic state,? Sabato tells NRO, ?but in fact, every election statistic says that it is Rhode Island.? But, he adds: ?Patrick Kennedy has had something of a checkered career, so he?s not unassailable. I?ll be shocked if Loughlin wins, just as I was shocked when Brown won. Occasionally, we?re all shocked!?

?In this environment, in a year that may see plenty of unexpected upsets; no sane analyst rules anything out. I?ve had several people mention John Loughlin to me, and his fundraising numbers are fair to good for a challenger. Clearly, he?s adopting Scott Brown as his model, and I understand he?s been recruiting some of Brown?s campaign staffers,? Sabato adds.

Patrick Kennedy recently referred to the Brown candidacy as a joke. With some hard work and campaigning, the political joke may be on him.

Here?s candidate Loughlin?s full interview with National Review Online:

Q: Why shouldn?t Patrick Kennedy be reelected?

A: It?s time for a new direction. Congressman Patrick Kennedy is part of the problem in Washington. He?s never seen a spending program or a tax increase that he has not embraced or supported. This is why he received a grade of ?F? from the National Taxpayers Union, a zero from the National Tax Limitation Committee, and a zero from the Business Industry Political Action Committee. In addition, I believe the congressman is disconnected from the voters. At a time when he should have focused on jobs, he was voting for the government takeover of our health-care system. At a time when he should have focused on jobs, he was voting for the cap-and-trade energy tax. He was the only member of Rhode Island?s delegation to refuse to hold a public town-hall meeting with his constituents. It?s clear that he?s not interested in the views of the people of Rhode Island.

Q: Why are you the guy to replace him?

A: I am a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel with an appreciation for America?s place in the world and the need to protect our interests. I?m a small-business owner who understands what it means to make a payroll. I?ve fought wasteful spending and higher taxes as a member of the Rhode Island house of representatives. I know the challenges of earning a living, protecting our country, and raising a family. I have always been available to my constituents and believe we have a right to expect responsive government. I also believe it?s time we had representation that believes, as I do, that the growth of government should be kept in check.

Q: Are you counting on angry people for your votes?

A: I don?t think people are angry as much as frustrated. There are more unemployed Americans today than there were at any previous time in our nation?s history. People want an economy that?s creating jobs again. Instead, Washington has lost touch with the people and our needs.

Q: What?s Media-Rite, and what are you most proud of that it?s done?

A: Media-Rite is my television production company, which produces a wide variety of TV spots and corporate video. I am most proud of the high-quality TV spots created in support of New England businesses.

Q: What brought you to politics?

A: I believe in public service. It started in my college years, when I enlisted in the National Guard, and continues to this day.

Q: What are you most proud of in your statehouse career?

A: In a body that has been controlled exclusively by the Democratic party since the 1930s, Republicans often find themselves as a check and balance against the worst excesses of the majority party. I proudly opposed bad budget after bad budget and recently led the fight on the floor to successfully defeat a new cable-TV tax. I also worked across the aisle with Democrats to co-sponsor legislation to provide enhanced benefits to National Guard and Reserves who are deployed overseas. I also fought for legislation to protect open space and save farms across Rhode Island.

Q: You talked about ?radical jihadists? during your candidacy announcement. Do people really want to hear about that? Is it really the best strategy?

A: We need to be aware and cognizant of the fact that we are at war with a determined enemy bent on our complete destruction. By minimizing the true nature of the threat we face, we return to a pre-9/11 mindset that leaves us vulnerable.

Q: If you were an adviser to the president on military policy, what would you be telling him about Iraq and Afghanistan?

A: Finish the job. Develop clear, measurable, and attainable military objectives and provide our troops with the tools they need to achieve them.

Q: Would you have advised him to talk about ?Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell? in his State of the Union?

A: I served 26 years in the reserve components of the U.S. military and spent years on active duty. I believe ?Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell? has served the military well and should not be repealed.

Q: What was your experience in Bosnia-Herzegovina like?

A: I was proud to have played a small part in enforcing the Dayton accords, serving with the finest men and women America has produced.

Q: You?ve said that ?the best social program is a good job that pays a decent wage.? What do you mean by that? How will it affect the way you vote in Congress?

A: I have always believed that when people are employed and can provide for themselves, they will be productive members of our society. We need to encourage the confidence and self-reliant spirit that built our country.

Q: Are there any other social programs that you value?

A: Absolutely. I believe government has a role to play in providing a safety net to help people get back on their feet in times of temporary crisis. There are also those among us, for instance those with debilitating disabilities, who need permanent assistance and care.

Q: How would you be contributing to the whole health-care debate if you were in Washington now?

A: I would work to find ways to reduce the cost of health insurance through meaningful tort reform, selling insurance across state lines, and other reforms that do not result in more spending and higher taxes. I would also work to find a solution to the issue of loss of coverage in situations where there is a pre-existing condition.

Q: What are some recent Kennedy votes you would have approached differently?

A: Representative Kennedy and I disagree on virtually every major issue -- from taxes, to spending, to treatment of terrorists, health-care policy, card check, and cap and trade, just to name a few.

Q: How would you describe your political philosophy?

A: Center-right.

Q: Why did you write a letter of apology to Rhode Island?s governor?

A: It was more a letter of clarification than a letter of apology. In this instance, a Democratic colleague asked me to sign on to a letter criticizing Governor Carcieri for cutting state aid to cities and towns in mid-fiscal year. These are funds that in many cases have been spent or at least obligated by the cities and towns. Upon reflection, I decided to clarify the letter by suggesting the governor index the cuts in aid in such a way to soften the impact on cities and towns that have prudent fiscal policies and look for new ways to help cities and towns control costs. Again, upon reflection, the original letter offered just criticism and no solutions, and that was not a fair approach.

Q: Patrick Kennedy referred to Scott Brown the other day as ?a joke.? Given you have some of the same team as Senator Brown, do you think as that actually directed at you?

A: No. Congressman Kennedy has a long history of insulting people or making intolerant outbursts. His style, it appears to me, is to demonize those with whom he disagrees.

Q: Speaking of jokes: What?s this about you being a stand-up comedian?

A: I was a part-time, stand-up club comic in Rhode Island and Boston from roughly 1984 to 1990. I hosted the Friday night room at Chan?s of Woonsocket for nearly five years. Stand-up is a young man?s game, and when my daughter Victoria was born in 1988, I started to slow down, but it was a fun way to moonlight and I got to meet Jay Leno, Lenny Clarke, Sam Kinison, Kevin Meaney, and a wide range of very funny people you?ve probably never heard of.

Q: Are there lessons you take from Scott Brown?s election?

A: There?s no such thing as a safe seat in 2010. Also, the Washington politicians have lost touch with the people. Scott Brown?s race showed us that people are fed up with business as usual.

Q: What do you read?

A: I like to read biographies of people I admire or find interesting. I just finished James Hansen?s First Man about Neil Armstrong.

Q: Have any favorite authors and books?

A: I like Tom Clancy and again, non-fiction biographies.

Q: What are you reading now?

A: I am currently partway through Bryan Burrough?s Dragonfly, which chronicles NASA?s experience with the Mir Space Station. It?s especially interesting reading because I know many of the players in the book from my time at NASA. For example, astronaut David Wolf worked as a capsule communicator during one of the Space Shuttle missions I worked on in mission control.

Q: Have you see any good movies lately?

A: I saw the Temple Grandin story on HBO. It?s a fascinating story of her battles with autism and her affinity for animals.

Q: Watch anything on TV?

A: I usually watch news programming.

-- Kathryn Lopez is editor-at-large of National Review Online.

Full post as published by Bench Memos - National Review Online on February 10, 2010 (boomark / email).