torchbearer
02-13-2008, 10:48 PM
http://www.libertymaven.com/2008/02/13/brent-sanders-louisiana-congressional-candidate-interview-part-1/
Brent Sanders is running for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District. He was kind enough to agree to an interview for Liberty Maven about the issues and his campaign.
All Liberty Maven interviews can be viewed by going to the interview page. The interviews are in multiple segments. This is the first interview segment for Sanders (and the first for Liberty Maven as well).
Brent is a regular on Ron Paul Forums and has gained much respect among the members there. Taking a page from Ron Paul’s fund raising success he is having his own money bomb on March 2nd and 3rd. I encourage everyone to pledge and donate to his campaign. Read on for the first segment of the interview.
LM: You are running for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District. Could you give us a bit of an introduction to you, your background, principles, and why you are running for Congress? Also, for those of us not familiar with the Louisiana election schedule please include the date(s) of the elections in which you are participating.
Sanders: I am a native of Louisiana. I grew up in a small farm village called Lone Pine, the son of an oilman. My interest in politics was fostered by hearing stories of my late grandfather, O’Hearn Mathews who was co-mayor of Alexandria in the late 60’s early 70’s. People spoke of him highly and I wanted to be that kind of politician from an early age.
My interest in politics led me to collegiate studies in Sociology and Political Science. I spent 11 years in the Libertarian Party, as I say, tempered in the flames of liberty. Standing by ones principles was a badge of honor, and that is what drew me to the LP. Ron Paul brought me over the the Republican Party. It was my desire to be a state delegate candidate that prompted my switch, and I plan to stay in the GOP and change the system from within. We have a great group of activists in Louisiana.
Dates for 2008 House Elections:
July 9-11,2008 Candidate Qualifying
September 6, 2008 Primary
October 4, 2008 Primary Run-off (if necesary)
November 4, 2008 General Election
LM: You have aligned yourself with Ron Paul on many issues and call yourself a Ron Paul Republican. Are there any differences between your beliefs on the issues and Paul’s? For instance, Ron Paul has been criticized for proposing earmarks for his district while championing for smaller government. Do you agree with Ron Paul’s explanation on this issue?
Sanders: I haven’t found any positions that Ron Paul holds in opposition of my own. With that said, I don’t know every vote he has ever cast in congress. I do agree with his explanation on earmarks. As long as the federal government is allowed to directly tax our citizens, it will be the duty of the representative to fight to get that money back to the district. Obviously, I think this system of taxation is absurd and needs to change. It allows the federal government too much power over the states and the people of the states. I’m for repealing any resolution or amendment that grants the federal government direct taxation powers.
LM: In your view what are the top three issues affecting your district? As a Congressman what would you do to help with these issues?
Sanders: The problems we face in Louisiana are not unique to Louisiana. These are national problems. Like Dr. Paul, I like to talk in terms of policy changes, because tinkering a little here and there is not going to fix any problems. The problems are systemic. Instead of listing 3 unique problems, I’d rather proclaim, that my main focus will be returning stability to our economy through sound money and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
Higher prices are hurting everyone. Its not hard to figure out the root of this problem. We spend close to a trillion dollars a year overseas maintaining an empire. That is a trillion dollars a year that leave our shores and doesn’t come back. It’s no wonder we are getting poorer each year. Imagine if all those military bases were here at home and that trillion dollars a year was circulating in our ecomony? This is where Dr. Paul is spot on. For us to have prosperity, we must have peace.
LM: Many past and current politicians talk about instituting term limits for Congress in order to eliminate the career politician and the influence of special interest groups. Do you support legislation for Congressional term limits?
Sanders: Yes, I whole-heartedly support term limits for Congress. We have term limits for President, and I think that system works great.
LM: Who is your favorite founding father and why?
Sanders: Ok, this is the hardest question, because its hard to pick one over another. If I had to pick one, George Washington is the founding father that impresses me the most. It was the restraint and wisdom he showed as the first President. He could have easily birthed this country with a strong executive branch, yet choose to be a humble President who resigned on his own volition setting our 2 term standard. If only we had more people like him in politics today. A person who put the love of country and Constitution above personal gain and party loyalty.
This completes the first interview segment Stay tuned for future interview segments with Sanders soon. In the meantime check out his campaign web site JoinSanders.com for more information.
Brent Sanders is running for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District. He was kind enough to agree to an interview for Liberty Maven about the issues and his campaign.
All Liberty Maven interviews can be viewed by going to the interview page. The interviews are in multiple segments. This is the first interview segment for Sanders (and the first for Liberty Maven as well).
Brent is a regular on Ron Paul Forums and has gained much respect among the members there. Taking a page from Ron Paul’s fund raising success he is having his own money bomb on March 2nd and 3rd. I encourage everyone to pledge and donate to his campaign. Read on for the first segment of the interview.
LM: You are running for Congress in Louisiana’s 5th District. Could you give us a bit of an introduction to you, your background, principles, and why you are running for Congress? Also, for those of us not familiar with the Louisiana election schedule please include the date(s) of the elections in which you are participating.
Sanders: I am a native of Louisiana. I grew up in a small farm village called Lone Pine, the son of an oilman. My interest in politics was fostered by hearing stories of my late grandfather, O’Hearn Mathews who was co-mayor of Alexandria in the late 60’s early 70’s. People spoke of him highly and I wanted to be that kind of politician from an early age.
My interest in politics led me to collegiate studies in Sociology and Political Science. I spent 11 years in the Libertarian Party, as I say, tempered in the flames of liberty. Standing by ones principles was a badge of honor, and that is what drew me to the LP. Ron Paul brought me over the the Republican Party. It was my desire to be a state delegate candidate that prompted my switch, and I plan to stay in the GOP and change the system from within. We have a great group of activists in Louisiana.
Dates for 2008 House Elections:
July 9-11,2008 Candidate Qualifying
September 6, 2008 Primary
October 4, 2008 Primary Run-off (if necesary)
November 4, 2008 General Election
LM: You have aligned yourself with Ron Paul on many issues and call yourself a Ron Paul Republican. Are there any differences between your beliefs on the issues and Paul’s? For instance, Ron Paul has been criticized for proposing earmarks for his district while championing for smaller government. Do you agree with Ron Paul’s explanation on this issue?
Sanders: I haven’t found any positions that Ron Paul holds in opposition of my own. With that said, I don’t know every vote he has ever cast in congress. I do agree with his explanation on earmarks. As long as the federal government is allowed to directly tax our citizens, it will be the duty of the representative to fight to get that money back to the district. Obviously, I think this system of taxation is absurd and needs to change. It allows the federal government too much power over the states and the people of the states. I’m for repealing any resolution or amendment that grants the federal government direct taxation powers.
LM: In your view what are the top three issues affecting your district? As a Congressman what would you do to help with these issues?
Sanders: The problems we face in Louisiana are not unique to Louisiana. These are national problems. Like Dr. Paul, I like to talk in terms of policy changes, because tinkering a little here and there is not going to fix any problems. The problems are systemic. Instead of listing 3 unique problems, I’d rather proclaim, that my main focus will be returning stability to our economy through sound money and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
Higher prices are hurting everyone. Its not hard to figure out the root of this problem. We spend close to a trillion dollars a year overseas maintaining an empire. That is a trillion dollars a year that leave our shores and doesn’t come back. It’s no wonder we are getting poorer each year. Imagine if all those military bases were here at home and that trillion dollars a year was circulating in our ecomony? This is where Dr. Paul is spot on. For us to have prosperity, we must have peace.
LM: Many past and current politicians talk about instituting term limits for Congress in order to eliminate the career politician and the influence of special interest groups. Do you support legislation for Congressional term limits?
Sanders: Yes, I whole-heartedly support term limits for Congress. We have term limits for President, and I think that system works great.
LM: Who is your favorite founding father and why?
Sanders: Ok, this is the hardest question, because its hard to pick one over another. If I had to pick one, George Washington is the founding father that impresses me the most. It was the restraint and wisdom he showed as the first President. He could have easily birthed this country with a strong executive branch, yet choose to be a humble President who resigned on his own volition setting our 2 term standard. If only we had more people like him in politics today. A person who put the love of country and Constitution above personal gain and party loyalty.
This completes the first interview segment Stay tuned for future interview segments with Sanders soon. In the meantime check out his campaign web site JoinSanders.com for more information.