Gary Mendoza
January 12,  2004

To the surprise of many, as the filing window was going down, Bob Dornan filed his papers to challenge Cong. Dana Rohrabacher in California’s 46th congressional district.  While Dornan has a national profile as a blunt and outspoken conservative, conservatives have the most to lose and liberals have the most to gain if, against all odds, Dornan’s most recent adventure is successful.

As it now stands, conservative interests are well-served by Rohrabacher.  Rohrabacher cut his political teeth as a senior speechwriter for President Reagan, and he played an important role in the development of the Reagan Doctrine.  He has been a strong promoter of SDI, one of the co-authors of the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act and a leader in the fight to give poor children in the District of Columbia an opportunity to escape D.C.’s dysfunctional public schools.  His effective advocacy for conservative principles has been recognized by the Family Research Council, the National Taxpayers Union and the Citizens Against Government Waste.

While Dornan shares many of Rohrabacher’s political views, he has never demonstrated an ability to advance conservative interests in any real way.  During his prior tenure in Congress, Dornan was well know for his pugnacious style and willingness to go toe-to-toe with liberal icons in the House.  Although he clearly demonstrated his rhetorical flair and was always willing to serve up the political red meat, Dornan was never able to put in any real wins in conservatives’ column.

Rather than substantively advancing conservative interests, Dornan’s bombast-above-substance style has often undermined GOP and conservative policy objectives.  He became a convenient symbol of  the “far-right” that liberals loved to caricature as they challenged conservatives’ political principles. 

Since he could not work across party lines and rarely played a constructive role among his GOP colleagues, Dornan’s no-doubt heart-felt political views were no threat to liberal ideology.  To the contrary, liberals would likely love to see Dornan take Rohrabacher’s place in the House.  Although they would have to withstand the rhetorical broadsides that Dornan would likely hurl with abandon, they could take some real comfort knowing that his overheated rhetoric and habit of shooting from the hip would generate more opponents than allies for the conservative views Dornan might be fighting to advance.

In important respects, a Dornan candidacy would be the same type of political blessing for liberal Democrats that a Dean nomination would be to GOP interests nationwide.  While Dean will raise a rhetorical ruckus, if he’s at the top of the ticket, the GOP should count on picking up three to four Senate seats.  (Unfortunately for the good doctor and President Bush, because he peaked so early and, the more people look, the less they like, I believe the conventional wisdom is wrong--Dean likely will not capture the nomination.) 

Likewise, while Dornan may huff and puff if he’s back in Congress, liberals will take a substantial amount of comfort knowing that Dornan won’t really do anything to upset the liberal house they want to build.

Contact Gary Mendoza at: garysmendoza@yahoo.com

Gary Mendoza is one of the most prominent Latino Republicans in the nation.  In 2002, he was the
Republican candidate for California Insurance Commissioner.  Mr. Mendoza previously served as Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles under Mayor Richard Riordan.  He
also served as California Commissioner of Corporations under Governor Pete Wilson.
 
 

Back to Today's News

Calnews.com News/Politics/and More