Raising Kaine's exclusive interview today with Congressman Jim Moran went great. The only "problem" was that it went much longer than expected - about 1 hour and 20 minutes instead of 30 minutes as scheduled - so we have TONS of material and need to break it up. For that reason, I'm going to kick off with my questions. Then, we'll do Josh's and the questions from readers in short order. I hope this works for everyone.By the way, Jim Moran is a really, REALLY nice guy. I had met him before, but never for more than a minute or two at a big event. He is hospitable, friendly, warm, funny, engaging, and personable. Josh and I both were very impressed. Thanks again to Congressman Moran and to his assistant Austin for setting this up. It appears that Raising Kaine is the first Virginia Democratic blog to score an interview with Congressman Moran; pretty cool!
Anyway, here are my questions with Congressman Moran's answers, as best as I can recall. This interview was not recorded, so it's all from my notes and Josh's. It's paraphrased unless specifically quoted.
Raising Kaine: In a week or so, it will be 3 years since the invasion of Iraq. At the time, many reasons were given for why we invaded - oil, terrorism, WMD, Israel, etc. In hindsight, why do you think we REALLY invaded Iraq?
Congressman Moran: "All of the above." The number one reason, though, was "politics." Specifically, Karl Rove et al. realized that the President was in a slump, the economy wasn't reviving, and that it was "better to be Commander in Chief than head of a failed economy."
In addition to politics, the biggest reason for the invasion was oil. [Former Georgia Democratic Senator] Max Cleland is convinced that American oil companies made the case to the Cheney energy task force that they were in danger of losing control of the "trillions of barrels (sic) of oil under the Iraqi desert" to Russian and French companies. Meanwhile, the neocons - Wolfowitz, Perle - "had a grand design for the MIddle East" that would be to "Israel's benefit, America's benefit, and the world's benefit." The neocons are "not evil," but they are "ideologues" and "idealists" whose vision wasn't "tempered by talking to the Bush 41 people" like Brent Scowcroft and Jim Baker. If the vision of a Western-style Democracy in the heart of the Middle East "could have been done, it would have been ok." "[Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon didn't push us into Iraq."
Finally, there's "psychology." Bush was never expected to amount to much - Jeb Bush was the one the family thought would be President - so he always has to "prove something to his parents." Not only that, but he has to do it differently and "can't use his father's people." [Lowell's note: Bush 41 freed Kuwait from Iraq in 1991 but ended the war before the Iraqi armed forces were destroyed. He also decided - along with his advisors like Scowcroft, Baker, and Colin Powell - not to go to Baghdad. Bush 43 decided to invade Iraq and occupy the country.]
Raising Kaine: Who do you think are the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in Virginia this election year? What do you plan to do personally to help Democrats win this year across the state?
Congressman Moran: Says he will definitely help those who would benefit from his help. Believes that what David Englin did - helping other Democrats after winning his own primary - can be "replicated at the Congressional elections level." Regarding Tom Davis and Frank Wolf, Moran says that "they're in a position where my time is not best spent in that pursuit." Davis in particular "will never lose until the Washington Post stops" supporting him so strongly. In addition, Davis is a "moderate, Bush 41 Republican," and will be very difficult to beat. Frank Wolf is "driven more by his Christian fundamentalist beliefs," although his voting record is similar to Davis' and he will be tough to beat as well. "Judy Feder would make a wonderful Congresswoman," but Moran says he "would be hard pressed to work against Frank Wolf." Phil Kellam, on the other hand, has an excellent chance of winning, although Moran says he hasn't met him yet.
Raising Kaine:At Raising Kaine, we consider ourselves strong Progressives in the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Harry Truman and RFK. As such, we strongly support the Estate Tax. Do you believe the Estate Tax is a core principle of Progressivism, or has it outlived its usefulness?
Congressman Moran: "Some of it is double taxation," but overall "its objective of a fair and just society trumps this." Even many rich people - like Bill Gates, Sr., for instance - support the Estate Tax. Getting rid of it is "all about selfishness." Some of these Republicans read Ayn Rand's "The Virtue of Selfishness" in college but never outgrew it, like most of us did. Repealing the estate tax is a bad idea because it leads to "lazy, useless and decadent" people who "don't have to work." Finally, the Estate Tax encourages the creation of an "aristocracy," while it "undermines meritocracy."
Raising Kaine: The International Atomic Energy Agency is meeting today on Iran. Do you believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons, or is it simply developing nuclear power? What should we do about this situation?
Congressman Moran: Iran is "pursuing nuclear power AND nuclear weapons." This is "not a good thing," and we "don't want Iran to have nuclear weapons." Unfortunately, "we have very little leverage." Plus, this all goes back to the CIA overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mossadegh in the 1950s. "We put in the Shah of Iran," who was "pro-Western" but "brutally repressive." "Fast forward" 20 years or so, and "our illegal, immoral intervention in Iran led directly to the hostage crisis." Also, Iran argues that "Israel has nuclear weapons aimed at us, so why can't we have nuclear weapons?" Iran is the "center of Shi'a Islam," surrounded by Sunni Muslim countries. What we need to do is "use diplomacy," "work through Europe and Russia," and "bring Iran into the Western world."
Raising Kaine: What are your favorite and least favorite Virginia political blogs?
Congressman Moran "Raising Kaine is my favorite." Least favorite is one in particular that is "like gum that you walk on and can't get off your shoe." (Don't know which blog this is? Click here)
Next up: Josh's and readers' questions.