A few minutes with Senator Tom Coburn
I just got off the phone with Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, that state’s Junior Senator and one of the U.S. Senate’s 2 practicing physicians. He’s in South Dakota for a couple days campaigning on behalf of Republican Senate Candidate Joel Dykstra, and he was gracious enough to give me a few minutes of his time.
Senator – tell me why you’re here in South Dakota campaigning for Joel:
The problem with the US Senate is that there’s too many people that all the care about is helping themselves, without caring about the future and their country. We need to change out people on both sides, and to shut down the “good ol boy’s club.”
Joel cares about our future, and I think he’s the right man for the job.
One of the issues that’s come up in the campaign is the importance of debate in the job of US Senator, and the fact that Johnson refuses to debate Joel. What’s your take on that?
The United States Senate is the greatest deliberative body in the world. Debate is how Senators inform the American public on the issues. Without debate, you give up establishing what you believe.
If you’re not debating issues in the Senate, you’re letting 20 year old staffers make all your decisions for you, and that’s the last thing we need. We need more debate. Not less.
Have the South Dakota press been avoiding controversial questions in your discussions with them this week?
Out of 20 members of the press, only two have asked questions about Senator Johnson’s capabilities. The rest won’t touch it. Tim has been a hero in trying to overcome it, but in my opinion as a physician, he’s limited.
We need someone who can vigorously represent South Dakota. If he can’t make himself available in Washington, and can’t make himself available in South Dakota, and won’t debate in Washington, and won’t debate in South Dakota, where’s the representation?
Frankly, there’s bigger issues out there. There’s a reason that the Senate has a 9% approval rating.
We’re 10 trillion in debt. Johnson helped get us there. We need to ask “why he wasn’t watching out for us?”
Of all the Senate, only 14 Senators want to spend more. That places him up there with Teddy Kennedy. He’s voted for a museum at woodstock, the bridge to nowhere, and refused to give up any of his earmarks to repair the collapsed I-35 bridge.
On Pro-life issues, Johnson routinely votes against them.
What we need in this country is more people that care about the country than their careers. Joel Dykstra has proven his character, and that he’ll make decisions based on what is best for the country as a whole. That’s the difference with Joel.
Senator – Thank you for your time.
Thanks, and keep on blogging.
____________________________
Update – the Dems are already squaling like piggies over the interview. Read that here, as well as my response here.
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Comments
I voted against Tim Johnson for three reasons:
His opposition to curbing Fannie/Freddie and
his taking campaign money from Fannie/Freddie and
sneaking earmarks in rather than putting needs up to vote.
I like Coburn. He makes sense.
I voted for Dykstra because IMO Johnson’s health simply does not permit him to fully do the job. Also I don’t agree with his stances on many of the issues. But the elephant in the room that no one is allowed to talk about is his health, and it has stifled this election and has not been fair to the voters.
I have heard Dykstra talk twice now, and he is very competent, understands the issues, and would be a very good Senator for South Dakota. What is sad is that he hasn’t been able to get his message out well because he is not allowed to criticize the sainted Johnson without being Johnson crying “victim.”
Go, Dykstra!
Why didn’t you ask him about our other Senator – John Thune. Coburn was one of the Senators that worked to block the DM&E deal.
It’s easy to see why Coburn is concerned about approval/disapproval/net approval ratings. Here are his compared to Tom’s as of late Nov. 2006
Coburn, Tom R Jr 50% 38% 12%
Johnson, Tim D Sr 70% 26% 44%
Anyone have any more current info?
http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/State100USSenatorApproval061122.htm
Tsk tsk.
Tom Coburn, the man who blocked discrimination based on genetic information legislation, the man who refused to commemorate the works of Rachel Carson and the man who was accused of medical malpractice (nonconsentual sterilization of a woman) is not who I want to speak for me.
He is everything that is wrong with modern conservatism.
And Coburn tried to change the Senate ethics rules so he could keep making an outside income as a doctor. Guess $160,000 a year wasn’t enough for me.
Coburn is kinda far out there on the right, but I like his fiscal conservatism. If wasn’t for these dang far out views on things like abortion, I could really go for guys like Coburn or Dykstra.
Coburn is right on about staffers doing all the work!
Too bad thune is such a pansie and won’t help dykstra talk about the importance of verbal communication.