John Laesch is running for Congress in Illinois’ 14th Distict, a seat recently vacated by former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. Laesch ran against Hastert in 2006 and received 40.25% of the vote. He has two opponents in the primary: Jotham Stein and Bill Foster.
To help progressives decide which candidate to support in this primary, I asked the Laesch campaign to answer some questions. Hopefully, the other campaigns will respond as well. Go below the fold for John Laesch’s answers to the Booman Tribune Open Seat Initiative.
Open Seat Initiative
BoomanTribune.com
Civil Liberties
We have learned since the passage of the Patriot Act that the government has used National Security Letters to invade people’s homes without a warrant, that they have violated the law to eavesdrop on our electronic communications, and they have held U.S. citizens in custody indefinitely, in violation of habeas corpus, which can only be constitutionally ignored in “cases of rebellion or invasion.”
1. Would you have voted for the Patriot Act?
I would have read the legislation and voted “no.”
2. Do you currently support the Patriot Act, desire to repeal it, or replace it? If replace, with what?
Repeal the Patriot Act as it violates the 1st amendment, 4th amendment, 5th amendment, 6th amendment and 8th amendment.
3. How do you balance civil liberties and the right to privacy with national security?
I don’t believe that we have to sacrifice our civil liberties in order to be safe. Perhaps the real question is, “How do we keep America safe?” Many of the abuses to civil liberties are a direct result of the culture of fear that has been amplified by the Bush Administration. If we want to make America safer, we need a foreign policy that deals with the root causes of terrorism. Having served as an intelligence analyst in the Middle East for three years, I have a grasp on some of these root causes of terrorism; namely, our continued presence in the Middle East. While foreign policy is the responsibility of the Secretary of State, the U.S. Congress can play an important role in encouraging a new era of relations with those in the Middle East and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
- Congress can work towards energy independence and alleviate the perceived need for a continuous military presence throughout Southwest Asia. For example, the $1.5 trillion spent on the Iraq War alone could have been invested in solar power for over 37.5 million homes in the United States.
Congress can work towards peace between Israel and Palestine by cutting off funding for military programs to that region.
Congress should at all costs protect civil liberties and the rights of individual citizens.
Perhaps this answer seems to be lengthy and still incomplete, but I believe that Benjamin Franklin was correct when he said, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
4. How would you have voted on the Military Commissions Act of 2006?
I would have voted “no” because it is unconstitutional and limits the rights of habeas corpus.
5. On July 28, 2007, President Bush called on Congress to pass legislation to reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This resulted in the Protect America Act of 2007. How would you have voted on this bill?
I would have voted “no.” I also think that the RESTORE Act does not go far enough as it still allows for secret surveillance programs to exist.
6. Do you support telecom immunity from responsibility for prior cooperation in warrant less surveillance?
No. I have spoken out against Bush’s effort to give telecoms immunity for the very act of spying on American citizens; violating the 4th amendment, the right to privacy.
7. Do you consider waterboarding to be a form of torture that is banned by our Constitution, specific statutes, and by signed treaty agreements? If so, what should be done to people that authorized waterboarding, and to the people that carried out those orders?
Yes, waterboarding is a form of torture. I support an International Criminal Court (ICC) and those who violate the Geneva Convention and torture POW’s should be tried by the ICC. Until the ICC becomes a reality, we should try those who utilize torture in a military or civilian court; depending on their current status of service. More importantly, those who authorize torture should be held accountable and I would like to see a full Congressional investigation of the practices utilized by Donald Rumsfeld.
The War in Iraq
1. The Authorization to Use Military Force in Iraq passed the House by a 296-133 vote. How would you have voted on this resolution? Did you comment on the resolution at the time?
I opposed the Iraq War from the beginning and I wrote my first letter to the editor on this issue after the United States Congress ceded their right to declare war in this blank-check vote. My background as an intelligence analyst, and understanding of Iraq, Iran and terrorism, caused me to get involved in electoral politics. I remain a staunch opponent of the occupation of Iraq, and ending the occupation will be high on my priority list when I am sworn in as the Congressman from Illinois’ 14th District.
2. Since the invasion of Iraq, there have been periodic supplemental funding bills. What, if any conditions would you have put on supporting those supplemental bills?
Understanding that President Bush is going to ignore any conditions on spending implemented by Congress is reason enough to vote “no” on any supplemental funding bill. Consider that the President has already usurped legislative authority by challenging over 1,150 laws by attaching “signing statements.” The only precedent for this unconstitutional behavior comes from Reagan’s Attorney General, Ed Meese. Because this will be a special election, I will have ability to use my vote to cut funding for the Iraq War before Bush leaves office; perhaps as soon as March of 2008.
3. Do you support an immediate drawdown of troops in Iraq, with the ultimate aim of complete withdrawal?
Logistically, we can safely leave Iraq within three months. I will work towards that goal as the next member of Congress from Illinois’ 14th District.
4. In July 2007, Senator Webb introduced an amendment that would have ensured that troops have as much time at home as they have in combat. Would you have supported the Webb amendment?
Yes, but it does not get us out of Iraq.
5. What, if any, current plans do you support for extricating ourselves from the quagmire in Iraq?
The diplomatic steps towards a peaceful, stable Iraq can only be implemented through the Executive Branch, and the order to withdrawal U.S. troops must come from the Commander in Chief. While Democrats have put forward legislation that would micro-manage the war effort, I believe that these efforts are not working. The Congress must exercise the power of the purse and defund the Iraq War if we are going to succeed in future diplomatic efforts that lead towards a peaceful, stable Iraq.
6. Do you support George Bush’s policy of pre-emptive war?
No, I oppose pre-emptive war. Both of my Democratic Primary opponents are on the record for supporting a pre-emptive strike in Iran. Please see the debates that have been posted on YouTube.
Clip.
We posted the exchange between myself and Stein after the DeKalb debate. During an earlier exchange in Kane County, I pushed them to both take a position on Iran and they would not. Here is a clip from the Daily Herald:
Laesch pushed Stein and Bill Foster, a scientist and businessman from Mill Creek, to say whether they’d immediately cut funding for the troops in Iraq and whether they’d authorize going to war with Iran. Laesch pledged, if elected, to cut funding for the Iraq war and to vote against going to war with Iran.
In response, neither Foster nor Stein would commit to vote “no” on going to war with Iran, saying they would need to study the issue further.
Domestic Issues
1. Are you pro-choice?
Yes.
2. What’s your position on the continued funding of abstinence-only sex-education?
I oppose abstinence-only sex-education.
3. Do you support added funding for family-planning programs (including subsidized birth control programs)?
Yes.
4. Do you support federally funded stem-cell research?
Yes.
5. Do you have a position on gay marriage, adoption, and equal rights under the law?
I support equal rights for all Americans; including equal marriage rights. A civil marriage is a civil right.
6. On April 14, 2005, the House passed The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. How would you have voted on this bill?
I would have voted “no” on this bill. I believe that both the lender and borrower have to be responsible when credit is concerned. I oppose the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 because it enables lenders to continue extending limitless credit to people who can never repay those loans. The real answer to the problem is fixing the economy. To rebuild our economy and strengthen the middle class, we need to invest heavily into renewable energy initiatives that create jobs. I believe that a 21st century energy policy that invests heavily in solar and wind technologies will create jobs, alleviate the perceived need to be in Iraq, and end global warming. I support the Employee Free Choice Act that empowers workers to collectively bargain for fair wages and defined benefits. I would oppose “free trade” agreements and support fair trade.
7. Do you think we have our tax priorities straight? How would you go about creating a fairer system and protecting future generations from being saddled with crippling debt?
No. I would like to see a more progressive tax system that asks the wealthy to pay their fair share.
8. Do you support a single-payer national health care program that provides universal coverage, a program that requires people to purchase private health insurance (with tax subsidies for the needy), or some other solution? What is your reasoning?
I am a strong supporter of a single-payer national healthcare program, H.R. 676. As an organizer for SEIU’s Illinois’ for Healthcare, I have looked at numerous healthcare financing mechanisms and I am convinced that healthcare financing could be greatly simplified by moving to a single-payer system. Economically and morally, this is the best way to fund healthcare and cover every single American.
Post Election
1. If elected, what committees would you like to sit on?
I would like to sit on the Intelligence Select Committee and the Veterans Affairs committee. My background as an intelligence analyst will be critical on the intelligence committee as Bush prepares for war with Iran. As a veteran I will fight for mandatory funding for the VA budget and strive to fill the shoes of Rep. Lane Evans.
2. If elected, would you join one of the congressional caucuses? Why, or why not?
I would join the Progressive Caucus and work hard to build that coalition. Please note that at least one of my opponents stepped into this race claiming to be a Blue Dog Democrat and announcing that he would join the Blue Dog Caucus. I have attached the Daily Herald article.
Foster said he’d be a Blue Dog Democrat, a coalition of moderate and conservative mostly Southern lawmakers. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington is one of them.
“There’s not much they’re pushing for I don’t agree with,” Foster said.
Early on in the race, Foster realized that his Blue Dog tendencies were not playing well and that there was already a strong, grassroots-powered progressive Democrat running in this district. He adjusted his tactics, message and in the last debate went so far as to call himself a “progressive.” Changing horses in the middle of the stream says something about his character.
