On Monday, August 29, I had the privilege of joining seven other Nashville-area bloggers at a lunch with State Senator Rosalind Kurita, who is running for the U.S. Senate. (The bloggers consisted of three liberals, four conservatives, and one libertarian.)
Although the discussion was informal, it was understood that everything was on the record, and Senator Kurita, for the most part, showed herself to be a straight-shooter.
Perhaps the most poignant statement Senator Kurita made during the hour-plus discussion followed a request that she distinguish herself from fellow Democrat and candidate Harold Ford, Jr.
Said Kurita, “I know what it means to work hard for a living. I have worked for everything I have. I’m married. I have three children. I know what it means to save money for college. I know what it means to punch a time clock. I’ve worked the night shift. I’ve worked a swing shift. I know how to do a day’s work. I’m a nurse. I have really had to take responsibility for my actions. When you take care of people who have their lives in your hands, that’s accountability.”
The liberal side of Senator Kurita came out when she discussed U.S. energy policy. “We do not need to drill in the [Alaska National Wildlife Refuge], and it’s ridiculous that we — that bill passed the House. If we changed the speed limit, we could save more money than we could get out of the ANWR.”
Of course, the only way to lower gas prices is to extract more oil. Senator Kurita argued for alternative energy, but a capitalist economy cannot force its consumers into an alternative for which there is little demand at the present. The current demand is for more oil, and there’s plenty out there.
But there were several areas in which Senator Kurita and I agree.
On ethics, for example, Senator Kurita noted “I think that if someone has been an elected official, that they should not be a lobbyist. I think that the cooling off period is not very realistic. Once somebody is your peer they are always your peer, and that relationship isn’t going to change. I think that that’s more important than any other aspect that we look at in terms of the lobbyists. And I think we should have a reporting of lobbyists’ salaries, and this business that you make extra money if you accomplish a certain goal, I don’t like that. I really believe we need to change the culture on Capitol Hill.”
Senator Kurita has a strong love of the military, and deeply appreciates the fact that Ft. Campbell lies in her legislative district. She spoke very warmly of our soldiers and their families. When asked about Harold Ford, Jr.’s reference to our troops in Iraq as “oil cops,” Senator Kurita referred to them as “very brave soldiers,” and remarked that Ford’s characterization “doesn’t feel right.”
Senator Kurita shoots skeet out on the gun range at Ft. Campbell, and the troops she meets tell her things are going much better on the war front than are being reported by the media.
She also spoke very approvingly of fellow Senator Mae Beavers, acknowledging their friendly relationship and that Senator Beavers is a very strong woman (referring to her battle with cancer last year.)
I asked Senator Kurita if she believes President Bush’s judicial nominees each deserve an up-or-down vote. Senator Kurita cited the Senate’s “advice and consent” role, and that those charged in that role need information on each nominee and need to be fair. She believes it is “reasonable” for each nominee to receive an up-or-down vote, and that individuals should think for themselves and not vote one way or another simply because someone else tells them to.
Senator Kurita does not support a state income tax or the sales tax increase that got pushed through three years ago. She opposed the Supreme Court’s recent Kelo decision, and says there is “no way” a business should be able to take a person’s home.
She believes the way to erase deficit-spending at the federal level is to “stop spending.” Government programs have to work, and Senator Kurita cited the Medicaid program as one that needs reform — that the regulations currently on the book are too broad. We have to be realistic about expenditures.
The bloggers’ lunch with a top shelf U.S. Senate candidate was the first of its kind in the Nashville area, and exhibits the growing influence of blogs on politics. We were more or less able to interview a candidate who showed us the human side of a politician that voters rarely get to see. There were no sound bytes, no tap dancing, no campaign slogans — only open and honest discussion, transcripts of which were posted on several blogs by that evening.
Senator Rosalind Kurita showed herself to be a gracious lady, and seems to be genuine in her role as a representative of the people. Although there are issues on which she and I will have fundamental differences, one would have a hard time denying that she has the best interests of her constituents at heart.
