Maxinquaye
Member
Issa focuses on economy, not weapons
As governor, he would try to create jobs
By Dana Wilkie
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
June 29, 2003
WASHINGTON – For a man who wants to be California's governor, Rep. Darrell Issa professes to know little about topics – gun control and abortion, for example – that have roiled state politics for decades.
In an interview last week, Issa said he is zeroed in on a handful of issues: creating jobs and getting California's economy back on track, resolving state government's budget crisis and improving schools. As for other hot-button subjects, the Republican from Vista downplayed his interest and knowledge.
He said California's assault-weapons ban "is not an area of interest or concentration." In fact, he said, "I don't have an opinion on it, and it's not an issue I'll have an opinion on either way. I'm not even going to ask my staff for a briefing on it."
Similarly, Issa said he has not reviewed a congressional plan to extend the federal ban on assault weapons. He said he has no "special talent or understanding of the abortion issue." And he said he would address California's rising crime rate if and when he has to.
The Vista businessman, who was first elected to Congress in 2000, has spent about $1.15 million of his money in support of a campaign to put a recall of Gov. Gray Davis before voters. He is the only announced Republican candidate to replace Davis, though others are considering running.
Depending on whom you ask, Issa's narrow focus is an appropriate stance for an aspiring governor of a state facing massive economic problems, or a disingenuous maneuver by a candidate whose views are to the right of a majority of California's voters.
A spokesman for the group battling the recall effort called Issa's remarks "a shocking abrogation of responsibility for somebody who would be the state's chief executive."
"California voters do care about abortion rights," said Carroll Wills, spokesman for Taxpayers Against the Governor's Recall. "They do care about gun control. They care a lot more than Darrell Issa would like to imagine they care."
But California political analyst Tony Quinn said Issa is wise to focus on economic issues.
"Whoever runs will probably talk almost exclusively about the budget and economic matters," said Quinn, co-editor of the "California Target Book," a publication that tracks political races. "That is certainly front and center as far as Sacramento issues go."
Issa justified his limited interest in some social issues by saying he is more concerned about the state's economic climate and state government's $38 billion budget deficit.
"I'm concerned about the existence of jobs and the (economic) future of California . . . and that's all I'm really concerned about," Issa said. "From the day I arrive (in the governor's office), my issue will be how to get jobs back to California, get our schools back on track, get our budget into surplus again. Those are the only issues."
Issa, 49, has become the driving force behind the recall effort. About 40 percent of the nearly 900,000 signatures needed to put the recall question to voters have been collected.
In coming weeks, recall foes plan to hold public events questioning Issa's positions on gun issues.
Issa, who earned an "A" from the National Rifle Association for his congressional voting record, supported in April a plan to protect gun manufacturers from civil liability for damages resulting from the misuse of their products. The plan passed the House.
Sixteen months ago, Issa supported a plan to exempt gun-rights advertisements from campaign-finance restrictions being debated at the time. That plan failed.
Lately, Issa has gone back and forth on California Sen. Dianne Feinstein's attempt to extend the federal assault-weapons ban beyond next year. Issa told the Los Angeles Times he would support the extension. Last week, he said he had not read Feinstein's legislation and that he would view an extension skeptically "in light of my present belief that (the ban) has been a complete failure."
Asked about his views on California's 1989 assault-weapons ban – which the state Legislature broadened in 1999 to include more firearms – Issa said, "It's not an area of interest or concentration."
Issa said he hasn't even looked at the legislation, which outlawed more than 60 guns and was a response to a bloody attack on a Stockton schoolyard.
NRA spokesman Ted Novin said repealing the California ban remains one of his group's top priorities.
"We wish the congressman and his staff (would) take time to study this issue," Novin said. "Gun owners, who represent an active voting bloc in any election, are very concerned about" the ban.
Issa was similarly dismissive of other issues outside his chief interests. Acknowledging that murder, rape, robbery, burglary and vehicle-theft rates are rising in California, Issa said he would focus on the state's crime problems as necessary.
"I'm going to have to address that as governor, and the Legislature will send me a gaggle of legislation, and I'll have to look at every piece," Issa said. "But when it comes to what I'm going to work on, I'm going to work on making California at least somewhat business friendly."
Some observers suggested that Issa has plenty of opinions on gun control and other social issues, but that he fears Democrats will use his views to paint him as a right-wing extremist.
"All campaigns are basically about emphasis and salience," said Robert McClure, senior associate dean of the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. "You emphasize what will help you and de-emphasize what will hurt you."
This month, recall foes staged protests against Issa's abortion stands. While running for a California Senate seat in 1998, Issa said he supported amending the U.S. Constitution to ban abortion except in cases of rape and incest and to save the life of the mother. At the time, he also supported requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions, banning late-term abortions and banning federal funding of abortions.
Asked to elaborate on his abortion stands, Issa expressed ambivalence.
"I'm torn on how to protect women from having no choice, while at the same time wanting there to be respect for the well-being of children that may be brought into the world," he said.
Copyright 2003 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
As governor, he would try to create jobs
By Dana Wilkie
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
June 29, 2003
WASHINGTON – For a man who wants to be California's governor, Rep. Darrell Issa professes to know little about topics – gun control and abortion, for example – that have roiled state politics for decades.
In an interview last week, Issa said he is zeroed in on a handful of issues: creating jobs and getting California's economy back on track, resolving state government's budget crisis and improving schools. As for other hot-button subjects, the Republican from Vista downplayed his interest and knowledge.
He said California's assault-weapons ban "is not an area of interest or concentration." In fact, he said, "I don't have an opinion on it, and it's not an issue I'll have an opinion on either way. I'm not even going to ask my staff for a briefing on it."
Similarly, Issa said he has not reviewed a congressional plan to extend the federal ban on assault weapons. He said he has no "special talent or understanding of the abortion issue." And he said he would address California's rising crime rate if and when he has to.
The Vista businessman, who was first elected to Congress in 2000, has spent about $1.15 million of his money in support of a campaign to put a recall of Gov. Gray Davis before voters. He is the only announced Republican candidate to replace Davis, though others are considering running.
Depending on whom you ask, Issa's narrow focus is an appropriate stance for an aspiring governor of a state facing massive economic problems, or a disingenuous maneuver by a candidate whose views are to the right of a majority of California's voters.
A spokesman for the group battling the recall effort called Issa's remarks "a shocking abrogation of responsibility for somebody who would be the state's chief executive."
"California voters do care about abortion rights," said Carroll Wills, spokesman for Taxpayers Against the Governor's Recall. "They do care about gun control. They care a lot more than Darrell Issa would like to imagine they care."
But California political analyst Tony Quinn said Issa is wise to focus on economic issues.
"Whoever runs will probably talk almost exclusively about the budget and economic matters," said Quinn, co-editor of the "California Target Book," a publication that tracks political races. "That is certainly front and center as far as Sacramento issues go."
Issa justified his limited interest in some social issues by saying he is more concerned about the state's economic climate and state government's $38 billion budget deficit.
"I'm concerned about the existence of jobs and the (economic) future of California . . . and that's all I'm really concerned about," Issa said. "From the day I arrive (in the governor's office), my issue will be how to get jobs back to California, get our schools back on track, get our budget into surplus again. Those are the only issues."
Issa, 49, has become the driving force behind the recall effort. About 40 percent of the nearly 900,000 signatures needed to put the recall question to voters have been collected.
In coming weeks, recall foes plan to hold public events questioning Issa's positions on gun issues.
Issa, who earned an "A" from the National Rifle Association for his congressional voting record, supported in April a plan to protect gun manufacturers from civil liability for damages resulting from the misuse of their products. The plan passed the House.
Sixteen months ago, Issa supported a plan to exempt gun-rights advertisements from campaign-finance restrictions being debated at the time. That plan failed.
Lately, Issa has gone back and forth on California Sen. Dianne Feinstein's attempt to extend the federal assault-weapons ban beyond next year. Issa told the Los Angeles Times he would support the extension. Last week, he said he had not read Feinstein's legislation and that he would view an extension skeptically "in light of my present belief that (the ban) has been a complete failure."
Asked about his views on California's 1989 assault-weapons ban – which the state Legislature broadened in 1999 to include more firearms – Issa said, "It's not an area of interest or concentration."
Issa said he hasn't even looked at the legislation, which outlawed more than 60 guns and was a response to a bloody attack on a Stockton schoolyard.
NRA spokesman Ted Novin said repealing the California ban remains one of his group's top priorities.
"We wish the congressman and his staff (would) take time to study this issue," Novin said. "Gun owners, who represent an active voting bloc in any election, are very concerned about" the ban.
Issa was similarly dismissive of other issues outside his chief interests. Acknowledging that murder, rape, robbery, burglary and vehicle-theft rates are rising in California, Issa said he would focus on the state's crime problems as necessary.
"I'm going to have to address that as governor, and the Legislature will send me a gaggle of legislation, and I'll have to look at every piece," Issa said. "But when it comes to what I'm going to work on, I'm going to work on making California at least somewhat business friendly."
Some observers suggested that Issa has plenty of opinions on gun control and other social issues, but that he fears Democrats will use his views to paint him as a right-wing extremist.
"All campaigns are basically about emphasis and salience," said Robert McClure, senior associate dean of the Maxwell School for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. "You emphasize what will help you and de-emphasize what will hurt you."
This month, recall foes staged protests against Issa's abortion stands. While running for a California Senate seat in 1998, Issa said he supported amending the U.S. Constitution to ban abortion except in cases of rape and incest and to save the life of the mother. At the time, he also supported requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions, banning late-term abortions and banning federal funding of abortions.
Asked to elaborate on his abortion stands, Issa expressed ambivalence.
"I'm torn on how to protect women from having no choice, while at the same time wanting there to be respect for the well-being of children that may be brought into the world," he said.
Copyright 2003 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
