WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.000 good evening 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:03.000 I'm Dr. Rob Winningham and I serve as 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Provost and Vice President 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.000 for Academic Affairs here at 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:09.000 Western Oregon University it is my 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:10.000 pleasure to welcome all of 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:12.000 you and our bipartisan team 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:14.000 of former members of Congress 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:16.000 representative Rod Chandler 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:18.000 and representative Nick Lampson 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:20.000 to this Congress to Campus forum 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.000 representative Lampson and 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:23.000 Chandler have been on campus 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:26.000 all day today all day yesterday 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:28.000 and they'll be back again tomorrow 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.000 visiting classes and talking 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.000 with our campus community 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.000 we're incredibly grateful for 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:35.000 the time they've spent and these 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:37.000 opportunities facilitating 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:39.000 these conversations where they've 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:41.000 shared experiences about public 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:43.000 service these types of high 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:46.000 impact educational experiences 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.000 can shape lives further 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.000 knowledge about public policy 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:53.000 and I hope facilitate civil 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:56.000 debate and discourse in these 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:57.000 times that have been described 00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:60.000 as divided we need to learn or 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.000 possibly relearn how to listen 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.000 how to challenge our preconceived 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:09.000 notions how to be mindful of 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.000 our potential filter bubbles 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:14.000 and echo chambers with that in 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:15.000 mind we're incredibly grateful 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:16.000 for the Congress to Campus 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:18.000 program and their ability to 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:20.000 support opportunities like 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:23.000 this in addition to Western's 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:25.000 Congress to Campus opportunity 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:26.000 this would not have been 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.000 possible without the hard work 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:30.000 of Dr. Earlene Camarillo 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 and Dr. Mary Pettinger who 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:33.000 submitted the application for 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.000 this event and planned all 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:37.000 of the events please join me 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:41.000 in sharing our appreciation 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:43.000 thank you 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:44.000 I also want to thank the 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.000 faculty who hosted class sessions 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:47.000 with representative Chandler 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:49.000 and Lampson including 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:51.000 Dr. Emily Plec 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.000 Ms. CM Hall 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:54.000 Dr. Mark Henkels 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:56.000 Ms. Jennifer Moreno 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:58.000 Dr. Andrea Emerson 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:61.000 and Dr. Isidore Lobnibe 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.000 tonight's forum will focus on Congress 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.000 and we'll get to hear what 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:07.000 it is like to be a member of 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:09.000 Congress each representative 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:10.000 will give an overview of 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:12.000 their background role as a 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:14.000 representative and how they 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:16.000 view the role of Congress 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.000 more broadly then we'll have 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.000 some moderated questions and 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:21.000 then student ambassadors will 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.000 collect audience questions -- 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:26.000 via index cards we encourage 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:28.000 you to share your experience 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:29.000 tonight on social media 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:31.000 accounts feel free to take 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:32.000 photos and post what you are 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.000 learning please tag your 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:36.000 Western Oregon University 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.000 post we are @WOUnews on 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.000 Facebook Twitter and Instagram 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:44.000 we also encourage you to use 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.000 hashtags #HowlAboutIt 00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:51.000 on Twitter and Instagram 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:53.000 does anybody know what FMC 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:55.000 stands for former members of 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.000 Congress so you're welcome to 00:02:58.000 --> 00:02:59.000 take photos and post to social 00:02:59.000 --> 00:02:60.000 media throughout the event 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:01.000 but we ask that you please 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:04.000 silent your phones now now 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:05.000 we'd like to -- to introduce 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.000 the representatives there's 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:10.000 Rod Chandler served in the US 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:11.000 House of Representatives as 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:12.000 a Republican from Washington 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:14.000 state for ten years during 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.000 which time he served on a 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.000 number of committees including 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:19.000 the House Ways and Means 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:21.000 Committee where he worked on 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:24.000 tax laws pension issues trade 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:26.000 agreements social security 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:28.000 and Medicare after his 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:29.000 departure from the US House of 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:31.000 Representatives he maintained 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:33.000 he remained in Washington DC 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:34.000 as a lobbyist before ending 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.000 his career in Colorado as 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:39.000 a civil civics teacher at a 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:41.000 public high school today 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:43.000 Mr. Chandler enjoys retired life 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:44.000 as an accomplished amateur 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.000 photographer and we also have 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:49.000 representive Nick Lampson 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:50.000 who served in the US House of 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:52.000 Representatives as a Democrat 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.000 from Texas for ten years 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:55.000 and throughout his tenure 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:57.000 Representative Lampson served 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:58.000 on a number of committees 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:59.000 including the Committee on 00:03:59.000 --> 00:03:61.000 Science and Technology the 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:03.000 Subcommittee on Energy and 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:04.000 the Environment and the Space 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:06.000 and Aeronautics Subcommittee 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:08.000 to name just a few today he 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:10.000 resides in Beaumont Texas 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.000 serving as Vice President of 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:13.000 Operations for Riceland 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:17.000 Healthcare -- as well as government 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.000 for Gertz Law Firm and 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:24.000 chair of the board for Land Manor 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.000 a half-way house helping 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:27.000 recovery recovering substance 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:30.000 abusers transition back into 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.000 the community again a huge 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:34.000 thank you to everyone who 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:35.000 made these events possible 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.000 especially Representatives 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:39.000 Chandler and Lampson -- 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:42.000 giving them a warm 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:44.000 Western Oregon University welcome 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.000 thank you 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.000 applause 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.000 hello y'all I figured I'd 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:53.000 use the colloquial seeing as 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:56.000 I'm the one from Texas thank 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.000 you for coming here and and 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:60.000 thank you for welcoming us -- 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:03.000 to -- to to this university -- 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:05.000 we're very pleased to be here 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:08.000 we have spent a day and a half 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:10.000 now -- talking to students 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:12.000 throughout the campus and as 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.000 always it is a real pleasure to 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:18.000 hear of their interests see the 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.000 things that are done specially 00:05:19.000 --> 00:05:24.000 here -- and -- -- and 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:25.000 just learn how you do things 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:27.000 so it's a it's a real honor 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:29.000 to come I'm from southeast 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:32.000 Texas Beaumont -- Beaumont is 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.000 about a hundred miles east of 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:34.000 Houston and forty miles west 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.000 of Louisiana and twenty miles 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:39.000 north of the -- coastline of 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.000 the Gulf of Mexico we're in 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:46.000 a humid -- green area that -- 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.000 welcomes lots of hurricanes 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:50.000 so it's nice to get away from 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:52.000 that for just a little while 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:55.000 rainy season is -- is a bad one 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:59.000 it's not -- I got interested in 00:05:59.000 --> 00:05:61.000 politics while I was a student 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:03.000 at Lamar University in Beaumont 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:08.000 issues -- that I was requested 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.000 to by people that I knew 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:10.000 within the city government of 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:13.000 Beaumont and the interest stuck 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:15.000 and I got more and more engaged 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:19.000 in -- in -- student life 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.000 student government life and 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:22.000 became president of my student 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:25.000 body and at the last year of 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.000 my service to my university 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.000 I went to a statewide student 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:31.000 organizational meeting where I 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:32.000 met the governor of the state 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.000 of Texas who inspired me to do 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:37.000 public service as he had done 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:40.000 to the community that some of 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:43.000 what we receive so much of from 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:45.000 our communities and he challenged 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.000 me to do that through elected 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.000 office I took him up on that 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:52.000 challenge and set my goals 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:53.000 to run for public office as 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:55.000 soon as I could I intended to 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.000 run for my first office when 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:58.000 I was 35 years old 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:59.000 but I ran when I was 23 00:06:59.000 --> 00:06:61.000 and never quit -- it 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:03.000 was -- something that I got a 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.000 tremendous amount of benefit 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.000 from -- because I grew in 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.000 knowledge of my community grew 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:10.000 in knowledge of the people 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.000 that I served -- and put me in 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.000 a position hopefully to have 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:17.000 been able to add some benefit 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:19.000 to both people still call on me 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.000 for many of the activities -- 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:24.000 with while I was a member of 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:26.000 Congress -- and -- and that's 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:29.000 very much enjoyable to me I had 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.000 a little bit of a strange -- 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.000 situation with my service 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:34.000 in the House of Representatives 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.000 in that we were seeing a 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:39.000 political shift -- during the 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.000 late '90s and early 2000s 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.000 -- the Congress had 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:45.000 changed hands from Democratic 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:47.000 control to Republican control 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:50.000 in 1994 and the 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.000 person that beat my congressman 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.000 in 1994 I 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.000 challenged in 1996 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.000 and I returned I went to 00:07:59.000 --> 00:07:62.000 Congress then and from that 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.000 point forward the new newly 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:06.000 controlled or new controlled 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:07.000 by the Republican Party began 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:11.000 to slightly slip away the 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:13.000 numbers were declining and 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.000 so the then Majority Leader 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.000 and then -- well actually was 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:19.000 Majority Whip then Majority 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:21.000 Leader -- right around 2-- 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:25.000 Tom DeLay conceived of the 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:28.000 idea that he could create more 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:29.000 Republican seats in the House 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:31.000 of Representatives by drawing 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:34.000 congressional boundaries that 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:38.000 would more certainly guarantee 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.000 the election of a Republican 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.000 or a Democrat depending on how 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:43.000 the -- how the district was 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:45.000 drawn and he went after seven 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:47.000 white male Democrats in the 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.000 state of Texas that year and 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:51.000 he succeeded by getting five of 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:54.000 us -- the lines that were drawn 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:60.000 and -- displacing folks like 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:02.000 me making it difficult for the 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.000 people who had been voting for 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:05.000 me -- to be able to do so and 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.000 bring in a new set of people 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.000 to offset those that I lost 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:11.000 so for example my district 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:12.000 was a long district it ran down 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.000 the coastline from Beaumont 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:15.000 to Galveston basically 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:17.000 a little bit further than that -- 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.000 they split that district in 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:22.000 half and the southern half 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.000 the Galveston part of it 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:27.000 was moved east and west so 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:29.000 that the district included a 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:31.000 large part of the north part 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.000 of Houston now why is that 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.000 important the north part of 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:36.000 Houston was a white collar 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.000 while the remaining part of 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:42.000 the congressional district that 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.000 I had served in was a 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:47.000 petrochemical agricultural 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:51.000 blue-collar -- community the 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:53.000 interests were different and so 00:09:53.000 --> 00:09:56.000 with me being unknown in that 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:57.000 part of the new part of the 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:60.000 district -- and not having the 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.000 ability to raise enough money 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.000 to introduce myself in the very 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:05.000 short number of months of that 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:07.000 campaign after the districts 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.000 were approved by -- by the 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:10.000 by the legislature and by the 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.000 courts it made it literally 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.000 impossible for me to win in 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:14.000 the district that was designed 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:16.000 to perform at seventy percent 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:18.000 sixty eight sixty nine percent 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:22.000 Republican I got 50 -- 46 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:24.000 percent of the vote which 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.000 was a decent showing but I 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:29.000 lost the election that set in 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:31.000 motion because it occurred in 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:34.000 the middle of the decade -- -- 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.000 that set in motion something 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:37.000 that spread not just through 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:39.000 Texas but through many other 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:42.000 states to see other states 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:44.000 take advantage of mid-decadal 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:47.000 redistricting typically 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:48.000 redistricting according to the 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:50.000 Constitution takes place at 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.000 the end of the -- at the 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.000 end of the decade following 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.000 the census to reapportion 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:56.000 people taken into consideration 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.000 where they have moved where 00:10:57.000 --> 00:10:60.000 they're located now to do it 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:02.000 in 2003 to 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.000 affect the 2004 -- 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.000 but interestingly enough 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:12.000 following that effort in Texas 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.000 it began to happen in other 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.000 states so that today we have 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.000 gerrymandered enough districts 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.000 that there probably are no more 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.000 than a dozen really competitive 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:22.000 congressional districts in the 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:24.000 whole United States of America 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:26.000 that to me is a dangerous 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.000 thing if we're going to have 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:31.000 real -- representation of 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.000 our citizens and the citizens 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.000 are going to have to have 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:35.000 confidence that the -- that the 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:36.000 people are providing them as 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.000 good an opportunity to reach 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.000 solutions to our problems 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:42.000 as possible and I refer often to 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:45.000 what George Washington said 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.000 in his farewell address from 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.000 the White House that if we 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.000 allow political parties to 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.000 become more important than our 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:54.000 Congress then our Congress will not 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.000 be able to make decisions and 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:59.000 we are living that right now 00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:60.000 in order for us to change it 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.000 we're going to have to address 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:03.000 redistricting in a different 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.000 manner hopefully we'll find 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.000 a way to remove some of the 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.000 partisanship create some effort 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:11.000 to use commissions that may 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:12.000 have equal numbers of Democrats 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.000 and Republicans so that someone 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.000 has to act in a manner to 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:19.000 break a potential tie once we 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:20.000 can do that then I think that 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.000 we can begin to craft fairer 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:24.000 districts where you really 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:26.000 and truly do have an election 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.000 between differing minds that 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:30.000 will call some people from 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.000 one side to be pulled over to 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.000 the other in an effort to get 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:35.000 the best of the two candidates 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:36.000 rather than what we're doing 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.000 today which is to elect the 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.000 most Liberal Democrat or the 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:44.000 most Conservative Republican 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:45.000 the noisy voices are the ones 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:47.000 that are being heard we need 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:48.000 to find a way back to the 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:50.000 middle so that we can solve 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.000 the problems that our community 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.000 faces I'm gonna stop talking now 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.000 take over and tell you a little bit 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.000 about who he is and then we're 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.000 looking forward to answering 00:12:59.000 --> 00:12:62.000 your questions I really support 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:06.000 what -- Nick says -- my name 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:08.000 is Rod Chandler I grew up in 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:10.000 Oregon to the east of here 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.000 La Grande -- the Grande Ronde 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.000 Valley actually I grew up on a 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.000 small strawberry farm and -- 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.000 attended Eastern Oregon University 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:20.000 for one year and 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.000 completed my degree at 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.000 Oregon State University just down the 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.000 road -- you know it today I've 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.000 neglected -- we've asked -- 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.000 who's inspired you along the 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.000 way -- and of course Tom McCall 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.000 former governor Tom McCall was 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.000 a huge inspiration for me but 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:41.000 there was a English teacher 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:43.000 Mrs. Chapman at La Grande 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:46.000 High School she was about as tall 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.000 and about as wide as this 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:51.000 podium I loved that lady she was 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:53.000 passionate about the English 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:56.000 language and she loved poetry 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:59.000 and she had an exercise one day 00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:62.000 where well one unit where we all 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:06.000 were to master and deliver a 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:09.000 poem in front of the class now 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.000 as much as I enjoyed speaking 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:14.000 before people reading a poem 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.000 my goodness Mrs. Chapman I am 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.000 on the basketball team and in 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:21.000 fact I'm the captain why do 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:22.000 I have to read poetry in your 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.000 class she took me out in the 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:26.000 hallway and poked me in the 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:29.000 chest and said Rod Chandler 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.000 if you'd even live up to half 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:33.000 your potential you'd really 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.000 amount to something that was 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.000 ago I remember those words as 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.000 if they were spoken yesterday 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:45.000 and that was an enormous vote of 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.000 confidence for a young man 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:50.000 whose parents both had eighth 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.000 grade educations uncertain 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:53.000 about what I would do with my 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:56.000 future did I really have it to 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.000 make it out there in that big 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:60.000 world that seemed so scary to a 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:02.000 kid from over there in eastern 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.000 Oregon I'll bet by the time 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:06.000 I was in high school I'd eaten in a 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.000 restaurant five times that's 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.000 how sheltered I was -- growing 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.000 up over there but Mrs. Chapman 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:15.000 kind of gave me that little 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:17.000 bit of a confidence boost that 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:19.000 I needed to go on and then 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.000 with Tom McCall and others I 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:24.000 was inspired to -- take up a 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:27.000 position in politics when I 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.000 left Oregon State University 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:33.000 I -- went to Seattle and -- 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:35.000 became a journalist for 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.000 KOMO TV news channel 4 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.000 and -- KATU 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.000 here in Portland is is 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:45.000 a sister station of -- KOMO 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.000 and I worked there for 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:50.000 five years and part of my 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.000 the legislature and as I did 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:56.000 that I became more and more 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.000 excited about the possibility 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:60.000 of one day -- playing a role 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:03.000 as an active politician and 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:05.000 so in 1974 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:08.000 I ran for the state House of 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.000 Representatives and served 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:13.000 there for the next eight years 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.000 and was -- the Chairman of the 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.000 Ways and Means Committee in my 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:19.000 last term there was a new seat 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.000 that came open in the state of 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:25.000 Washington -- in -- 1982 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:27.000 thanks to the census 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:29.000 and states that were losing 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.000 population ours was growing so 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:33.000 we got a new seat so I had the 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:36.000 opportunity to grow -- 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:39.000 run for an -- run for an 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:42.000 open seat which was wonderful 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.000 because I didn't have to run 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:45.000 against an incumbent and I 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:48.000 was able to win that seat in 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:52.000 I served for -- the next ten 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.000 years in the US Congress I 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.000 served on the Ways and Means 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.000 Committee my first assignment 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.000 Technology Committee and one 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.000 of the great thrills was I got 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:07.000 to go out to California and see 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:09.000 the Hubble telescope before it 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:13.000 was launched into space so -- 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.000 and and I remember writing an 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:16.000 article about it that was in 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:19.000 Newsweek Magazine because 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:21.000 I was so thrilled to see that 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:23.000 piece of equipment that has 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:26.000 added so much to our knowledge 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:29.000 of space so that's enough 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:36.000 in responding to questions 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.000 so the way we're going 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.000 to do this is we're handing 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.000 around some index cards so if you 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:42.000 have a question -- write your 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.000 question on those index cards 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.000 and pass them to the inner aisle 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:48.000 so we'll collect those -- and 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.000 while you're doing that I have a few 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.000 prepared questions that we 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.000 have just to kind of get things 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:55.000 started so first this goes 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:57.000 out to both of you what was 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.000 the most surprising or what 00:17:59.000 --> 00:17:61.000 was most surprising to you as 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:03.000 newly elected representatives 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:05.000 when you first got office what was 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.000 kind of the most surprising 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.000 thing that you what inspired 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:09.000 me what was the most surprising 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:11.000 thing to you oh most 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:13.000 most surprising thing in as a 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:16.000 newly elected service in the Congress -- 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.000 the most surprising when you 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:21.000 first got there I think -- 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.000 much expected not to be able 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.000 to be received -- and appointed 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:28.000 to a big committee and have 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.000 opportunity to -- immediately 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.000 become a part of -- of the 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.000 business of of the Congress 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:38.000 right off -- perhaps the most 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.000 surprising thing that happened 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.000 to me was that I was able to 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:43.000 find a niche that I could step 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:45.000 into and actually accomplish 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:47.000 something with shortly after 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.000 I arrived three months after 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:51.000 I was sworn in a little girl 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.000 was abducted and murdered in my 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.000 congressional district not far 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:56.000 from my home and -- it became 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:59.000 such a -- a broad -- widely 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:61.000 supported effort to look for 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.000 her body while she was missing 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.000 a politician certainly I gotta 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.000 get home and and get in front 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:08.000 of the cameras right -- and so I 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.000 went down there with very self 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.000 serving interests but as I was 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:14.000 there and participated in the 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:17.000 search and happened to be there 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.000 at the time when they found her 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.000 body in pieces in a drainage 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:21.000 ditch and when her parents were 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:24.000 told about that -- it moved 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:28.000 me so much that I wanted to -- 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.000 go back to Washington DC and 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:32.000 make a difference on that issue 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:33.000 because I knew that there were 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.000 many other -- similar kinds 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:39.000 of exploitation and -- and 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:41.000 and abductive type activities 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:43.000 that were happening to young children 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.000 across the country and the 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:47.000 world for that matter so -- 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:49.000 in studying -- this issue with 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:52.000 my staff I was able to come up 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:54.000 with the idea that we ought to 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:57.000 have a caucus a concentration 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.000 of -- the effort to try to 00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:60.000 come up with legislation or 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.000 suggestions for legislation 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.000 regarding missing and exploited 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:06.000 children so I decided to create 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.000 the congressional caucus on 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.000 missing and exploited children 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.000 in 1997 and 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:12.000 by June we had completed the 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:14.000 paperwork we had gotten the 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.000 permission from the leaders of 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.000 the House of Representatives 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.000 and I found a Republican 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:21.000 counterpart who was willing 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:23.000 to be my co-chair of this 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:26.000 caucus and we set out trying 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:27.000 to raise the level of awareness 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:29.000 about these issues to our 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.000 colleagues by the end of the 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.000 year we had the largest issue 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:35.000 based bipartisan caucus in 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.000 the House of Representatives 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.000 there were over a hundred 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:40.000 and fifty six members of 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:43.000 that -- of of that caucus and 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.000 over the next several years 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:47.000 we made a lot of headway on 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.000 legislation that had to do 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.000 with how the internet is used 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.000 to lure children from their 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.000 homes -- how pornography is handled in 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:57.000 many different circumstances 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:59.000 particularly with the FBI 00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:60.000 today and the growth of the 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.000 National Center for Missing 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:03.000 and Exploited Children and 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:04.000 being able to find children who 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.000 are who are taken from their 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:08.000 families and probably the best 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.000 known piece of legislation that 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.000 we had was the nationalization 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:15.000 of the of the Amber Alert -- 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:23.000 that kind of thing happen that 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:26.000 quickly in my in my service 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:29.000 maybe that's my best surprise 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:30.000 that happened in the first year 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:34.000 there I was really surprised 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:36.000 and pleasantly so when I got 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.000 to Congress and discovered 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:40.000 the quality of the members 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:42.000 from both sides of the aisle 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:48.000 Senate so -- well educated 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.000 so bright so articulate -- it 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:54.000 was hard sometimes not to feel 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:57.000 do I really belong here just 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.000 looking at this incredible 00:21:59.000 --> 00:21:62.000 store of talent on both sides 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:08.000 the House and the Senate that 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:09.000 members of Congress when there 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:15.000 and criticize the Congress 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:17.000 itself and that's unfortunate 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.000 because it gives Congress a 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:21.000 bad reputation when I got there 00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.000 I had that view that oh gosh 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:25.000 I'm not sure I even want to be 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.000 a part of this group man I'll 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.000 tell you it was a wonderful 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:31.000 surprise to see how capable 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:34.000 many of those people were and 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.000 dedicated to what they were 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:39.000 doing alright so one more question 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:40.000 then we'll turn it over to audience 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:42.000 questions if there's one thing 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:43.000 you could change about how 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:45.000 the media portrays politics 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:47.000 and our government what would 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:49.000 it be and why me go first 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.000 because you -- oh I'd be happy 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.000 to I it won't take me long 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:54.000 the thing I would do if I 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:57.000 could change the news media 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:62.000 would be to have -- the media 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:05.000 concentrate on the issues -- 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.000 and less on the personalities 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:11.000 and the politics -- of -- of 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:13.000 the Congress and -- and the 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:15.000 presidency what we need to do 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:17.000 is we need to solve problems 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:20.000 and I see today -- journalists 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:22.000 interviewing journalists on 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.000 television that doesn't make 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.000 any sense at all the American 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:28.000 people need to understand how 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:31.000 severe -- -- -- and threatening 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:34.000 our debt is just as one example 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:37.000 they need to hear discussions 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:40.000 of healthcare in detail enough 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:42.000 that they realize yes there are 00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:44.000 solutions but they're not easy 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:47.000 and there are various interests 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:48.000 that are going to have to 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.000 be affected if we're going 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:52.000 to make major changes to the 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.000 healthcare system but instead 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:58.000 what journalists tend to -- 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:62.000 emphasize is of the horse race 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:03.000 here's who's leading here's 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:05.000 what the polls say here's what 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:08.000 the here's who -- won in the 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:11.000 debate that kind of stuff I'd 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:14.000 like to see that changed we 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:16.000 have to stop the division and 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.000 address the division of the 00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:19.000 whole nation and there are a number 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:20.000 ways that -- that that it 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.000 that it can be done obviously 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:24.000 the media and that what we 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:26.000 perceive today to be -- the 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:30.000 media -- has to has to change 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:33.000 but we also have to -- be 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:37.000 aware of what has come from the 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:39.000 change in journalism in the 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:41.000 country we don't know how to 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:43.000 get good information anymore 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.000 and so we seem to respond to 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:46.000 the loudest voices at each of 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:49.000 the two extremes and that was 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.000 done intentionally for us I 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:53.000 want to read something I have 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:54.000 a book that I published two 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:56.000 years ago that is entitled 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:59.000 The Death of Washington's Democracy 00:24:59.000 --> 00:24:60.000 with a question mark I don't 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.000 believe that democracy is dead 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.000 but I made the premise of my 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:05.000 book what George Washington 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:07.000 said at the end of his term 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:08.000 in the White House in his 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.000 farewell address when he said 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:11.000 that should we should not 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.000 allow political parties to 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.000 become more important than 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:15.000 the Congress or if we do your 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.000 your congress will not be able 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.000 to function so if we don't 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.000 correct that if we don't find 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:22.000 the way back to the middle and 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:23.000 the solutions that our founding 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:25.000 fathers intended us to be doing 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.000 then we're not going to have a 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.000 democracy and we won't be able 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:30.000 to resolve any of the problems 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:33.000 that face us and so with regard 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:36.000 to the the media and how it 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.000 functions let me read you a 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:40.000 passage that I copied from 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:42.000 a book that was written by 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Gabriel Sherman when he wrote 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:46.000 the biography of Roger Ailes 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:48.000 who happened to have been the 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:50.000 the communications director 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.000 for President Ronald Reagan 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:54.000 he said what -- what Roger 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.000 Ailes did when he created Fox 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:57.000 News was to create a television 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:59.000 news network that was anti 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:61.000 journalism and so what he did 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.000 with Fox News was to create it 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.000 as a political campaign that 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:07.000 would run against the American 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:09.000 media that would -- could 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:10.000 that would convince millions 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:12.000 of Americans not to trust the 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.000 mainstream so called mainstream 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.000 media and that Fox News would 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:18.000 be the only place on television 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:21.000 where you could find the truth 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.000 it was a brilliant marketing 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:23.000 and political message that 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:26.000 created a loyal core of viewers 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.000 and so the impact that it's 00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:29.000 had on American life over the 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:30.000 last twenty years now much 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:32.000 longer than that is almost 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.000 impossible to overstate and so 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:36.000 my point in that is to 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:40.000 agree with what Rod said we 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.000 have to change the media but 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:43.000 it changes through us we have 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:45.000 to recognize that we need to be 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.000 thinking for ourselves we don't 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.000 need to accept the Talking 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:51.000 Heads radio TV and otherwise 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:52.000 who are doing nothing more 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:54.000 than spouting either there's or 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:56.000 someone else's opinion taking 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:58.000 away our opportunity to find 00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:61.000 out what our truth should be 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:04.000 very difficult but it's still 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.000 something that we did for the 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.000 first couple hundred years of 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:08.000 our history and we need to do 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:10.000 it again all right so I'm gonna 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:11.000 read it in the mic and then 00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.000 I'm going to read it to you 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:15.000 good thank you -- how do you 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:17.000 deal with personal attacks any 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:19.000 advice on how to take how to 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:21.000 not take things personally I 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:25.000 hadn't gotten there yet -- and the 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.000 personal attacks that -- that 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:30.000 I get I typically -- see on the 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:32.000 face of my wife who is sitting 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.000 here on the front row or my 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:35.000 children which makes it one 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.000 of the most difficult things 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.000 in politics it's the families 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:40.000 often times that suffer more 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:43.000 than the -- than than the the 00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:47.000 office holders -- because most 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:48.000 of the time while there may be 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:50.000 something negative said about 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:52.000 us or to us there are also 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:54.000 many opportunities to hear 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.000 positive things that are said 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:58.000 about us or to us the family 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.000 doesn't always get that in the 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:61.000 same way that the candidate does 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:05.000 gotten thicker in many many 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:08.000 years 48 years of my 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:11.000 political career -- and I'm not 00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:13.000 sure it ever will -- it's 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:15.000 gotten so ugly in recent years 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:17.000 as much as I have wanted to 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:20.000 hold public office even now I 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:23.000 say often that if I came home 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:25.000 and told my wife that I was 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.000 going to run again she'd use 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.000 the knives that my daughters 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:30.000 are carrying to kill me 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:32.000 to make sure that I don't -- and it 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:34.000 shouldn't be that way -- it 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:36.000 it should be an honor and a 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.000 pleasure to serve our community 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:40.000 and to be able to step up and 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.000 carry your voices to a place 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:44.000 where we can make fun things 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.000 interesting things positive 00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:48.000 things happen -- for ourselves 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:51.000 and for our for our communities 00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:53.000 that's a good answer and 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:58.000 politician as difficult as it 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:61.000 is it is always best to ignore 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:04.000 the opponent's attack because 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:07.000 if you respond to it then you 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:09.000 give it life it's going to go 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:11.000 on then it gives them a chance 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:14.000 to respond and then you respond 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.000 one of the things that I've 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.000 noticed about -- President 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:20.000 Trump is that he is very -- 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.000 appears to be very sensitive 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:26.000 very thin skinned and anybody 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:28.000 who says anything critical of him 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:30.000 will get a response what does 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:32.000 that do very often you don't 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.000 even know anything was said 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:35.000 until you see the President's 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:38.000 response and that just never 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:41.000 works politically do you think 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:43.000 another four years of a Trump 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:45.000 presidency presidency will 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:47.000 cause the Republican Party 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:50.000 to split I do and I'm very 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:53.000 very concerned about that -- 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:55.000 there's no chance of nominating 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:58.000 another -- candidate -- this 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:60.000 year other than President 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.000 Trump -- I being an Oregonian 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:06.000 living here in Oregon when 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:11.000 register as a Democrat so that 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:13.000 I can vote in the Democratic 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:16.000 Primary and to have a voice 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:18.000 in hopefully selecting a 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:20.000 candidate that is going to be 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:22.000 able to defeat Donald Trump 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:24.000 because I'm concerned more about 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.000 my country than I am about 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:28.000 my political party but I can 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:30.000 tell you that -- whether 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:32.000 the party splits it's very 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:35.000 much split now with a very 00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:38.000 loud and angry voice that we 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:41.000 hear all the time and a baffled 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:44.000 confused frustrated voice that 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:45.000 we don't hear very much voices 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:51.000 like mine -- so I am I am 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:53.000 hoping that perhaps even there 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:55.000 will be a creation of a third 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:58.000 party to which people like 00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:60.000 Congressman Lampson and I could 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:02.000 belong to and we could carve 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:06.000 off the extremes and and -- and 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:10.000 coalesce around the middle 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:13.000 you wanna start that party 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.000 let's -- let's think of a 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:19.000 name I think -- I have to 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.000 to share that I've gotten to 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.000 know him in the last day and a 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:25.000 half much better than what 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:27.000 I've known him in the past and 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:30.000 I -- I know that he served at 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:32.000 a time when the Congress had a 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:34.000 completely different level of 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:38.000 civility -- and it was fun to 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:40.000 serve and it'd begun to change 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:42.000 when I got there but it was 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:44.000 even still fun to serve at the 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.000 beginning of of my ten years 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:48.000 but by the time 2001 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:54.000 ago now -- it had deteriorated 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:55.000 to the point where members of 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:57.000 Congress were starting to call 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:60.000 other offices of the opposite 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:03.000 party members to find out what 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:05.000 on so they wouldn't have to 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:07.000 be on the same airplane with 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:09.000 their quote enemy and if you 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:11.000 can't talk with one another 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:15.000 gonna certainly not be able 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:17.000 to talk to them about major 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:19.000 policy when you have to find 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:22.000 ways to to create -- acceptance 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:25.000 among your differences so -- I 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:26.000 think it's important for us to 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:28.000 consider the things that both 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:31.000 of us bring to this -- it 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:33.000 it I look forward to being able 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:35.000 to serve in a Congress that 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.000 much was like what he served 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:39.000 in -- during those years -- 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.000 they were doing things they 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:42.000 were doing magnificent things 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:45.000 far as space is concerned and 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:47.000 space growth and science which 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.000 I'm very much interested in 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:52.000 occurrences within our with 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:54.000 within our Congress during that 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:58.000 it began to change it changed 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:60.000 with airline travel because 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:01.000 members of Congress to be able 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:03.000 to go home every weekend -- so 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:05.000 instead of staying there and 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.000 letting their families get to 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:08.000 know each other his children 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:10.000 actually went to high school in 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:14.000 Washington DC mine did not -- 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.000 if we had been able to serve 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:20.000 together and my children 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:22.000 knew his children it'd be very 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.000 difficult for me to get up and 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:25.000 say something ugly about him 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.000 in front of the world or even 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:28.000 in front of the Congress and 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:31.000 vice versa if I don't know him 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:33.000 or his family it's very easy 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.000 for me to stand there and say 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.000 all the ugly stuff I want to 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:37.000 about him and if he wants to 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.000 shout back at me who cares 00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:41.000 he's irrelevant he's that's 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:43.000 not what our founding fathers 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.000 wanted us to have they wanted 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:46.000 us to have a participating 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:49.000 minority willing to accept 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:51.000 the will of the majority and 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:52.000 continue to fight for the 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.000 things that they want to see 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:56.000 to see us grow to what are your 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:58.000 thoughts on President Trump's 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:60.000 new immigration policies -- 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:02.000 do you feel that any of them 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:04.000 are borderline lawbreaking 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:06.000 borderline I'm not sure it 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:10.000 maybe let me start -- my family 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.000 is a family of immigrants 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.000 I'm the second generation of 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:14.000 my family born in the United 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:16.000 States of America and I know 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:17.000 why they came here they came 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:19.000 here in search of a better 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:21.000 life of -- of what has been 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:22.000 known around the world for 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:25.000 decades as the American dream 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:31.000 Louisiana to replace the jobs 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:33.000 that were being left by slaves 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:36.000 that mostly -- harvested sugar 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:38.000 cane -- throughout the south 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.000 particularly in Louisiana but 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:42.000 they came because there were 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.000 better opportunities for jobs 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:47.000 even labor related jobs in the 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:48.000 United States than there were 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:50.000 in Sicily where they had lived 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:54.000 in Italy -- the opportunity 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:56.000 that they brought to their 00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:58.000 children and grandchildren 00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:62.000 was enormous and the fact that 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:04.000 my mother got to sit in the 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:06.000 gallery of the US House of 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:09.000 Representatives after -- the 00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:12.000 life that she had lived -- on 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:14.000 their small little cotton farm 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:16.000 in Stafford Texas outside of 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:19.000 Houston -- and not even knowing 00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:20.000 how to speak English until she 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:22.000 was a teenager not being able 00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:24.000 to get an education but yet to 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:26.000 see her son sworn in into the 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:28.000 House of Representatives which 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.000 is one of the highest offices 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:32.000 in the land was a thrill to 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:35.000 me and it is the epitome of 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:37.000 what we all everyone of our 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:38.000 families has roots that go 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:40.000 back to a point where we want 00:35:40.000 --> 00:35:43.000 to welcome the best from the 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:45.000 world into our community and 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:46.000 the diversity that we have 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:48.000 brought over those decades is 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:50.000 what created our strength -- 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.000 we were able to capitalize on 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:54.000 the knowledge that people had 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:56.000 from unbelievable backgrounds 00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:58.000 to build something that has 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:61.000 that that has -- been the -- 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:04.000 the desire of probably most of 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:05.000 the countries in the world to 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:09.000 emulate and now we are sending 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:10.000 a different message we don't 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:11.000 want you here and I think 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:13.000 that's wrong it's certainly not 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:17.000 what we want probably the least 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:18.000 effective thing that we can 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:21.000 do is build walls I'm just 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:22.000 adamantly opposed to that the 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:25.000 spending that it requires what 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:31.000 if a president decided to go 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:33.000 to the organization of American 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:34.000 states and other countries in 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:38.000 the world said let's create 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:41.000 a Central America and Mexico 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:43.000 where people don't have to 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:46.000 want to leave and I am I am 00:36:46.000 --> 00:36:49.000 an idealist I admit it maybe 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:51.000 that's totally unrealistic well 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:54.000 why the hell not try because 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:56.000 building a wall isn't going 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:57.000 to keep desperate people from 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.000 coming and trying to come into 00:36:59.000 --> 00:36:62.000 this nation and I have such a 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:05.000 tremendous respect for those 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:07.000 people and what they want for 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:09.000 themselves and their families 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:11.000 and I see them every day in my 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:14.000 community what are they doing 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.000 working what are they doing 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:18.000 on Sunday worshipping what 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.000 are they doing Sunday afternoon 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:20.000 getting their families 00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:22.000 together and celebrating the 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:24.000 love and the care they have 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:25.000 for one another's they're 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:26.000 not terrorists they're not 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:29.000 criminals except in a few very 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:32.000 few cases we need to welcome 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:34.000 these people and let them 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:36.000 know that they're valued as 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:37.000 hopefully future citizens of 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:40.000 this country now admittedly 00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:42.000 we can't take everybody who 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.000 wants to come here there -- 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:45.000 there has to be a limit of 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:47.000 course but then that's when 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:50.000 we turn and try to help those 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:52.000 countries I remember being in 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:58.000 a diver and I take him to -- 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:60.000 that island down there to -- 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:02.000 dive once in awhile and this 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:04.000 young man was saying I'd give 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:06.000 anything if I could just go to 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:09.000 America where I have a chance 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:11.000 he was running the boat 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:13.000 and he says I will probably end 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.000 up doing this the rest of my 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:15.000 life because that's about all 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:19.000 there is to do hopelessness and 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:20.000 that's why people want to come 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:24.000 here and we need to at least 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:26.000 attempt to help those countries 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:29.000 build economies so that those 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:31.000 people do have -- the jobs and 00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:33.000 a hope for a future so if 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:34.000 it's not illegal it's at least 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:37.000 immoral -- yeah I agree -- his 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:40.000 efforts yeah is the concept 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:42.000 of two senators for each state 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:45.000 obsolete no I don't think so no 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:48.000 I don't think so -- I think that it's 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:51.000 a still a good measure of being 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:53.000 able to get -- representation 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:58.000 you you have a mix of of equal 00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:61.000 and -- equal by state and equal 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:03.000 by -- individual person within 00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:05.000 the within the electorate 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:07.000 so I I would I don't want to 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:09.000 see a change of that no 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:11.000 are there issues that you believe 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:14.000 should not be in politics 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:18.000 laughter 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:21.000 yes I will say -- 00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:23.000 let's let's start with but 00:39:23.000 --> 00:39:24.000 with the one that I believe 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:26.000 is the most egregious -- that 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:27.000 we face and that's abortion 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:34.000 issue that exists regardless 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:37.000 of how divisive it is that open 00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:39.000 minds can find common ground 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:41.000 to move ourselves forward with 00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:43.000 something that does not divide 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:45.000 the nation as so many of these 00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:48.000 issues have been divisive 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:53.000 believe by both sides is still 00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:54.000 misunderstood and certainly 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:57.000 missold -- the for our 00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:59.000 political gain I remember in 00:39:59.000 --> 00:39:61.000 the ten years that I served in 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:02.000 the Congress I voted thirteen 00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:05.000 times -- to ban partial 00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:07.000 birth abortion but it was a 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:09.000 wonderful issue to bring up to 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:12.000 divide people and make -- make 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:13.000 the Democrats who tended 00:40:13.000 --> 00:40:16.000 to vote against that effort to 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:20.000 stop the use of it to look like 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:23.000 terrible evil people and vice 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:27.000 versa -- it's a 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:29.000 sensational issue that I think 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:31.000 is -- is terribly divisive 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:35.000 gun legislation finally we're 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:37.000 getting around in my opinion to 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:39.000 waking up to saying yes there 00:40:39.000 --> 00:40:41.000 is a way to find some common 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:43.000 ground on that issue and I'll 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:45.000 bet we will see some movement 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:47.000 with that within a short period 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:49.000 of time and there are other 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:52.000 sensational issues -- 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:57.000 that follow the same category 00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:58.000 let's go to the next question 00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:59.000 that's a good answer and I 00:40:59.000 --> 00:40:65.000 don't have any issues with that 00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:07.000 what does it take to become 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:09.000 a Congress member in your opinion 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:12.000 lots of money 00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:14.000 no it takes a lot more than 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:16.000 that -- I'm being facetious 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:17.000 but it does take money to 00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:19.000 win elections -- because 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:20.000 keep in mind that there are 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:21.000 seven hundred fifty thousand 00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:23.000 people approximately in every 00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:24.000 congressional district in the 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:26.000 United States seven hundred 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:27.000 fifty thousand people is a 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:28.000 lot of folks to get in front 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:30.000 of and if you could go shake 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:31.000 that many hands and talk 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:32.000 with every person within the 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:33.000 congressional district you 00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:34.000 could give them a good flavor 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:36.000 of what you're about who you 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:37.000 are what the differences of 00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:38.000 your -- between you and your 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:40.000 opponent are and probably win 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:44.000 without the ability of seeing 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:46.000 that many people on a personal 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:48.000 basis then you have to find 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:49.000 ways through the mass media 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:50.000 to be able to reach them with 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:52.000 your message and so that means 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:53.000 that you have to use direct 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:57.000 mail and television and -- and 00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:60.000 signs and -- the electronic 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:02.000 media -- as well as social 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:04.000 media all of those things 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:06.000 require significant amount 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:09.000 of -- of funding -- to 00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:12.000 accomplish but beyond the money 00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:13.000 and beyond the advertising 00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:15.000 it also takes someone who has 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:18.000 decent communication skills 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:20.000 a real interest in your community 00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:23.000 and a love for people -- the 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:26.000 most -- the most favorite part 00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:28.000 of job of a member of Congress to 00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:31.000 me was constituent services 00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:33.000 I was more enamored with it 00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:35.000 then I was with the policy 00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:36.000 activities that were a major 00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:39.000 part of of the job so if if one 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:42.000 in my mind can't have a feeling 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:45.000 of connection relationship -- 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:46.000 with the people that they are 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:48.000 attempting to serve they will 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:49.000 not -- they will not be able to 00:42:49.000 --> 00:42:54.000 serve well in my opinion -- 00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:57.000 I agree with all that I have a 00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:59.000 little formula that I think you 00:42:59.000 --> 00:42:62.000 need to apply to any politician 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:03.000 and if that person can't 00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:05.000 convince you that they have 00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:06.000 these qualities they're not 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.000 going to do very well the first 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:10.000 one is credence -- it wouldn't 00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:12.000 be a C if I didn't honesty 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.000 really is a better term people 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:17.000 want to believe they can 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:19.000 believe you and believe in you 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:23.000 and trust you so -- credence is 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:25.000 the first C the second one is 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:28.000 competence that you can do the 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:30.000 job that you're bright enough 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:33.000 and articulate enough to go and 00:43:33.000 --> 00:43:35.000 be effective the third C 00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:38.000 is compassion do you care 00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:42.000 about me and I think if you 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:45.000 have those qualities and the 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:47.000 personality that you can go 00:43:47.000 --> 00:43:48.000 out and reach people and touch 00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:50.000 their lives and attract them 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:54.000 to you then you can run for 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:56.000 and be successful in -- 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:59.000 political life now the thing 00:43:59.000 --> 00:43:61.000 that with seven hundred and 00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:03.000 fifty thousand constituents 00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:04.000 you're never going to meet 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:07.000 them all but there are decision 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:09.000 makers out there that you will 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:12.000 meet and those are the ones 00:44:12.000 --> 00:44:14.000 that you have to expose your three 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:17.000 Cs to and convince them who 00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:19.000 then turn around and fund the 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:22.000 campaign or the the influence 00:44:22.000 --> 00:44:24.000 influence the groups that 00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:26.000 fund campaigns and and all the 00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:29.000 rest of it you you still have 00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:31.000 to go out and sell yourself 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:34.000 retail face to face person to 00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:37.000 person politics can I expand 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:39.000 on that just a tiny bit -- I 00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:40.000 know what he did when he was 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:41.000 a candidate he went in front 00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:42.000 of people and he had folks 00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:44.000 come to town hall meetings and 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:45.000 the neighborhood meetings to 00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:47.000 coffees and such and I want 00:44:47.000 --> 00:44:50.000 to challenge you to do that 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:53.000 and have these conversations 00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:54.000 within our neighborhoods and 00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:55.000 if we don't have them with our 00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:57.000 family and our friends and our 00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:60.000 neighbors -- then they many of 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:02.000 them are going to sit at home 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:03.000 in front of their television 00:45:03.000 --> 00:45:04.000 sets behind closed doors 00:45:04.000 --> 00:45:06.000 because either their heater 00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:08.000 or their air conditioner -- is 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:09.000 running and you don't want to 00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:11.000 get outside but if we can begin 00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:13.000 again to broaden our community 00:45:13.000 --> 00:45:14.000 broaden our communications 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:17.000 capabilities -- among our 00:45:17.000 --> 00:45:18.000 friends and associates we're 00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:20.000 gonna be able to raise issues 00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:23.000 opinions about the issues and 00:45:23.000 --> 00:45:24.000 not just hear what we very 00:45:24.000 --> 00:45:26.000 at the beginning talked about 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:28.000 which was I don't like you 00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:32.000 to to do -- in our political 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:33.000 system and we need to find 00:45:33.000 --> 00:45:35.000 a different way to do it so 00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:36.000 invite your friends over for 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:38.000 coffee and begin to have the 00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:40.000 conversations in a respectful 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:43.000 and an enticing manner -- 00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:44.000 that maybe put some of these 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:46.000 things on the table and you 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:47.000 really can make a difference 00:45:47.000 --> 00:45:49.000 with them what do you think 00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:50.000 is the biggest misconception 00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:52.000 the American public has 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:53.000 about Congress members 00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:56.000 and the work that they do 00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:60.000 go ahead -- want me to go -- biggest 00:46:00.000 --> 00:46:03.000 misconception that people have 00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:04.000 about members of Congress well 00:46:04.000 --> 00:46:06.000 we'll start with a fun one -- I 00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:08.000 think the biggest misconception 00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:09.000 perhaps is that we get our 00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:10.000 salary for the remainder of 00:46:10.000 --> 00:46:12.000 our life if we serve once -- 00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:14.000 if we serve one term and we 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:15.000 have free insurance for the 00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:18.000 rest of our lives and that we don't 00:46:18.000 --> 00:46:20.000 pay into social security system 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:24.000 attempting to help us dispel 00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:26.000 that because I know how many 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:29.000 emails I get -- 00:46:29.000 --> 00:46:31.000 challenging me or chastising 00:46:31.000 --> 00:46:33.000 me for -- for for being so 00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:34.000 wealthy as a former member 00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:37.000 of Congress the -- it may 00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:42.000 never stop I don't know 00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:47.000 also that 00:46:47.000 --> 00:46:50.000 how do I say it -- you 00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:51.000 know I guess if 00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:53.000 we continue to talk over and 00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:56.000 over and over again about how 00:46:56.000 --> 00:46:58.000 divided we are and how unable 00:46:58.000 --> 00:46:59.000 we are to work together we'll 00:46:59.000 --> 00:46:60.000 we won't pull ourselves back 00:47:00.000 --> 00:47:03.000 together so perhaps we need 00:47:03.000 --> 00:47:05.000 to change some of that some 00:47:05.000 --> 00:47:07.000 of that tone somehow I don't 00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:08.000 know that it's going to change 00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:10.000 until the citizenry changes 00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:14.000 and demands different from our 00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:17.000 politicians -- so I'm not sure 00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:18.000 I can give a good answer beyond 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:19.000 what I just did I'll let you 00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:23.000 handle that one Ron well the 00:47:23.000 --> 00:47:26.000 the misconceptions I can't tell 00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:27.000 you I know very much about the 00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:29.000 Congress -- right now I haven't 00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:31.000 been to Washington in a number 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:34.000 of years and I know a few of 00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:37.000 the members but -- not very 00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:38.000 many of them are there anymore 00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:41.000 with whom I served so -- I'm 00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:42.000 not very good at being able 00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:43.000 to characterize the difference 00:47:43.000 --> 00:47:45.000 between or if there is a 00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:46.000 difference between how they're 00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:48.000 portrayed and what they really 00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:51.000 are but I will tell you that -- 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:54.000 when I was there the media paid 00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:55.000 very little attention to those 00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:57.000 qualities I described earlier 00:47:57.000 --> 00:47:60.000 these tremendously bright 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:02.000 well educated committed people 00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:04.000 we used to go out during good 00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:07.000 weather and have little 00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:09.000 picnics on the lawn we'd have 00:48:09.000 --> 00:48:11.000 night sessions of Congress my 00:48:11.000 --> 00:48:13.000 wife would come in maybe bring 00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:15.000 some fried chicken or something 00:48:15.000 --> 00:48:17.000 lay a blanket on the lawn and my 00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:19.000 kids would run around playing 00:48:19.000 --> 00:48:21.000 with other they call themselves 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:24.000 congressional brats and play 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:26.000 with those other kids out there 00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:27.000 on the lawn and I asked a 00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:29.000 journalist one time why don't 00:48:29.000 --> 00:48:30.000 you cover that why don't you 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:33.000 do a story on that and he said 00:48:33.000 --> 00:48:34.000 nobody cares about anything 00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:36.000 like that in other words they 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:39.000 want to see the fight so that 00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:41.000 whether that's going on now I 00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:44.000 doubt it very very much one of 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:46.000 the things that we did almost 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:49.000 every afternoon -- around four 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:51.000 four thirty five o'clock a 00:48:51.000 --> 00:48:52.000 group of us and it would be 00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:54.000 a good size group would go to 00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:56.000 the gym and suit up and play 00:48:56.000 --> 00:48:58.000 basketball against each other 00:48:58.000 --> 00:48:59.000 Republicans playing on the 00:48:59.000 --> 00:48:61.000 same team with Democrats and 00:49:01.000 --> 00:49:04.000 vice versa and we made so many 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:07.000 friends that way now you you 00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:08.000 can't let news media into 00:49:08.000 --> 00:49:11.000 the gym of course but you know 00:49:11.000 --> 00:49:12.000 the the fact that that kind 00:49:12.000 --> 00:49:15.000 of thing goes on and it ought 00:49:15.000 --> 00:49:18.000 to be known by the public that 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:19.000 these people are actually human 00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:21.000 beings and they know how to 00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:23.000 get along together or did and 00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:26.000 for the American people to 00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:29.000 know that is there a way to 00:49:29.000 --> 00:49:31.000 change year round campaigning 00:49:31.000 --> 00:49:35.000 and unlimited funding probably 00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:37.000 one way -- quickly to begin 00:49:37.000 --> 00:49:39.000 is to start to control the 00:49:39.000 --> 00:49:43.000 use of money in politics -- 00:49:43.000 --> 00:49:44.000 it's gonna be very difficult 00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:45.000 and it probably will take a 00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:47.000 constitutional changes in order 00:49:47.000 --> 00:49:49.000 to restrict spending but if 00:49:49.000 --> 00:49:51.000 you can begin to restrict some 00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:52.000 of the spending you'll restrict 00:49:52.000 --> 00:49:54.000 some of the advertising and 00:49:54.000 --> 00:49:55.000 that's what would shorten the 00:49:55.000 --> 00:49:58.000 the season -- the more 00:49:58.000 --> 00:49:60.000 money the longer you -- 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:02.000 you have to get your ads out -- 00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:04.000 so -- making that compact 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:06.000 I guess technically you could 00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:09.000 also create a campaign season 00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:10.000 and say that you have to 00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:12.000 advertise and I don't know how 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:14.000 you differentiate advertising 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:15.000 and and talking about issues 00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:17.000 that -- -- certainly 00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:18.000 have to be allowed because 00:50:18.000 --> 00:50:20.000 of our freedom of speech 00:50:22.000 --> 00:50:25.000 in the nation but it also I 00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:27.000 think perhaps depends on the 00:50:27.000 --> 00:50:29.000 citizens because you too and I keep 00:50:29.000 --> 00:50:31.000 saying that over and over again 00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:33.000 we are the drivers of a lot 00:50:33.000 --> 00:50:35.000 within the communities and if 00:50:35.000 --> 00:50:37.000 we want it to change we can make 00:50:37.000 --> 00:50:39.000 a change -- by not supporting 00:50:39.000 --> 00:50:41.000 the people that are doing the 00:50:41.000 --> 00:50:42.000 things that you want to see 00:50:42.000 --> 00:50:45.000 done differently -- and -- and 00:50:45.000 --> 00:50:49.000 speaking out on them you remind 00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:50.000 me Winston Churchill he said 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:54.000 one time -- the -- greatest 00:50:54.000 --> 00:50:56.000 argument against democracy is 00:50:56.000 --> 00:50:57.000 five minutes with the average 00:50:57.000 --> 00:50:61.000 voter it's he had a great sense 00:51:01.000 --> 00:51:03.000 of humor obviously but I can 00:51:03.000 --> 00:51:06.000 tell you that -- even now as 00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:08.000 an ordinary citizen I know that 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:09.000 I'm not as well informed as I 00:51:09.000 --> 00:51:12.000 should be on on the issues that 00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:14.000 are affecting me my family and 00:51:14.000 --> 00:51:16.000 and the rest of the country 00:51:16.000 --> 00:51:18.000 it does take effort now I've 00:51:18.000 --> 00:51:20.000 had some distractions over 00:51:20.000 --> 00:51:22.000 the last few years and now I'm 00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:24.000 kind of freeing up some of my 00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:26.000 time and I intend to work a 00:51:26.000 --> 00:51:28.000 lot harder I haven't met my 00:51:28.000 --> 00:51:30.000 member of Congress from my 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:31.000 district yet and I intend to do 00:51:31.000 --> 00:51:36.000 that very soon -- so if we had 00:51:36.000 --> 00:51:38.000 a parliamentary system which 00:51:38.000 --> 00:51:40.000 is so radically different 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:42.000 than ours then you could limit 00:51:44.000 --> 00:51:47.000 limited campaign period but 00:51:47.000 --> 00:51:49.000 with a with a constitutional 00:51:49.000 --> 00:51:51.000 amendment that allows the the 00:51:51.000 --> 00:51:53.000 Congress to regulate spending 00:51:53.000 --> 00:51:56.000 that would be a huge huge 00:51:56.000 --> 00:51:58.000 difference my district or my 00:51:58.000 --> 00:51:61.000 former district changed from 00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:03.000 Republican to Democrat this 00:52:03.000 --> 00:52:05.000 year it's the first time since 00:52:07.000 --> 00:52:08.000 don't remember the numbers 00:52:08.000 --> 00:52:11.000 but more money was spent for 00:52:11.000 --> 00:52:12.000 that one seat in the United 00:52:12.000 --> 00:52:14.000 States House of Representatives 00:52:14.000 --> 00:52:16.000 than in any other district 00:52:16.000 --> 00:52:17.000 in the country so you 00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:18.000 know that it was in the multi 00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:21.000 millions of dollars and that's 00:52:21.000 --> 00:52:24.000 just obscene we really need 00:52:24.000 --> 00:52:29.000 to get that under control 00:52:29.000 --> 00:52:31.000 and to our final question what 00:52:31.000 --> 00:52:32.000 is the most important thing 00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:34.000 you would like to pass on to 00:52:34.000 --> 00:52:35.000 college students through the 00:52:35.000 --> 00:52:42.000 Campus to Congress Program 00:52:42.000 --> 00:52:45.000 I guess I come here because I 00:52:45.000 --> 00:52:47.000 really want to inspire young 00:52:47.000 --> 00:52:49.000 people to be involved in their 00:52:49.000 --> 00:52:52.000 government we have -- we are 00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:54.000 so blessed as citizens of the 00:52:54.000 --> 00:52:57.000 United States to to live in 00:52:57.000 --> 00:52:60.000 this country and to -- enjoy 00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:02.000 all of its privileges starting 00:53:02.000 --> 00:53:05.000 with that first amendment which 00:53:05.000 --> 00:53:06.000 secures all those rights that 00:53:06.000 --> 00:53:09.000 we cherish and there really is 00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:12.000 a danger of eventually losing 00:53:12.000 --> 00:53:16.000 it if we all as citizens don't 00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:19.000 participate in our government 00:53:19.000 --> 00:53:21.000 and I think we've allowed 00:53:21.000 --> 00:53:24.000 ourselves to become to be 00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:26.000 become discouraged and think 00:53:26.000 --> 00:53:28.000 I can't make a difference but 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:30.000 we can the other thing I want 00:53:30.000 --> 00:53:33.000 young people to know is you 00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:36.000 at age twenty or twenty one or 00:53:36.000 --> 00:53:39.000 eighteen you're just as unsure 00:53:39.000 --> 00:53:41.000 of yourself as I was at that 00:53:41.000 --> 00:53:44.000 age in terms of whether I could 00:53:44.000 --> 00:53:46.000 ever have a career in politics 00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:48.000 but I did and I overcame those 00:53:48.000 --> 00:53:50.000 fears with a lot of help of a 00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:52.000 lot of people and you can do 00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:55.000 it too and I I'd love going 00:53:55.000 --> 00:53:56.000 to campuses and sharing that 00:53:56.000 --> 00:53:59.000 message with young people I 00:53:59.000 --> 00:53:60.000 said at the beginning that it 00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:03.000 was about -- public service 00:54:06.000 --> 00:54:08.000 do public service by a very 00:54:08.000 --> 00:54:10.000 charismatic governor of the 00:54:10.000 --> 00:54:12.000 state of Texas and -- how he 00:54:12.000 --> 00:54:16.000 challenged me to give back to 00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:18.000 my community and to attempt to 00:54:18.000 --> 00:54:20.000 do it through elected office 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:22.000 you may find some other way 00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:24.000 of doing your public service 00:54:24.000 --> 00:54:26.000 but you have a debt to pay 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:28.000 you are receiving a great deal 00:54:28.000 --> 00:54:30.000 from your community from your 00:54:30.000 --> 00:54:32.000 neighbors from your families 00:54:32.000 --> 00:54:33.000 as you prepare yourselves to 00:54:33.000 --> 00:54:35.000 become the leaders of of this 00:54:35.000 --> 00:54:37.000 nation your communities and 00:54:37.000 --> 00:54:38.000 and of this nation and you 00:54:38.000 --> 00:54:41.000 have to recognize that so if I 00:54:41.000 --> 00:54:42.000 could leave you with anything 00:54:42.000 --> 00:54:44.000 it is to ask that you make 00:54:44.000 --> 00:54:47.000 a conscious effort to plan a 00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:49.000 time in your life where you 00:54:49.000 --> 00:54:51.000 would not just volunteer 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:52.000 to do something within your 00:54:52.000 --> 00:54:54.000 community to make a difference 00:54:54.000 --> 00:54:56.000 for the community but that you 00:54:56.000 --> 00:54:57.000 find a time in your life where 00:54:57.000 --> 00:54:60.000 you will seek public office 00:55:00.000 --> 00:55:03.000 even if it's the -- -- for a 00:55:03.000 --> 00:55:06.000 party office precinct chair or 00:55:06.000 --> 00:55:10.000 a city council position or a 00:55:10.000 --> 00:55:11.000 position in the state 00:55:11.000 --> 00:55:13.000 legislature or governor or 00:55:13.000 --> 00:55:15.000 President of the United States 00:55:15.000 --> 00:55:17.000 but you learn so much when 00:55:17.000 --> 00:55:20.000 you put yourself before your 00:55:20.000 --> 00:55:23.000 community as a candidate if 00:55:23.000 --> 00:55:25.000 you take it halfway seriously 00:55:25.000 --> 00:55:27.000 you're gonna find out things 00:55:27.000 --> 00:55:29.000 that you had no clue existed 00:55:29.000 --> 00:55:30.000 within your community and 00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:32.000 you're going to find out things 00:55:32.000 --> 00:55:34.000 that people are hurting over 00:55:34.000 --> 00:55:36.000 that you can make a difference 00:55:36.000 --> 00:55:40.000 with so challenge yourself to 00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:42.000 give back to your community 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:45.000 find a time to run for public 00:55:45.000 --> 00:55:49.000 office -- -- at any level 00:55:49.000 --> 00:55:54.000 and then talk find ways to tell 00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:56.000 citizens that you live with 00:55:56.000 --> 00:55:58.000 about the things that you see 00:55:58.000 --> 00:55:60.000 that are issues and get them to 00:56:00.000 --> 00:56:02.000 talk about those issues I'm 00:56:02.000 --> 00:56:04.000 probably I'm trying to think 00:56:04.000 --> 00:56:05.000 of what other things I don't want 00:56:05.000 --> 00:56:06.000 to leave something out and I'm going 00:56:06.000 --> 00:56:08.000 to anyway look for 00:56:08.000 --> 00:56:12.000 www.nolabels.org 00:56:12.000 --> 00:56:15.000 no labels is a an organization 00:56:15.000 --> 00:56:17.000 that promotes civility and 00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:19.000 the search for common ground 00:56:21.000 --> 00:56:23.000 free to join and you will 00:56:23.000 --> 00:56:24.000 help the people that want to 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:27.000 help us find the middle of 00:56:27.000 --> 00:56:28.000 the political spectrum again 00:56:28.000 --> 00:56:30.000 being aware of that talking 00:56:30.000 --> 00:56:32.000 about those issues among 00:56:32.000 --> 00:56:33.000 your friends and neighbors 00:56:33.000 --> 00:56:35.000 will change America back 00:56:35.000 --> 00:56:37.000 to what he and I envisioned 00:56:37.000 --> 00:56:39.000 when we went to Congress and 00:56:39.000 --> 00:56:44.000 hopefully we'll see again 00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:47.000 thank you 00:56:47.000 --> 00:56:51.000 applause 00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:56.000 that was great I 00:56:56.000 --> 00:56:57.000 hope you were as inspired 00:56:57.000 --> 00:56:59.000 by how much I was talking 00:56:59.000 --> 00:56:60.000 and listening to the 00:57:00.000 --> 00:57:01.000 representatives over the 00:57:01.000 --> 00:57:02.000 past two days has been 00:57:02.000 --> 00:57:04.000 wonderful we have a small token 00:57:04.000 --> 00:57:08.000 of -- appreciation -- for 00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:11.000 this one is for -- 00:57:11.000 --> 00:57:13.000 Representative Lampson 00:57:13.000 --> 00:57:14.000 Representative Chandler 00:57:14.000 --> 00:57:16.000 so thank you very much 00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:18.000 go Wolves 00:57:18.000 --> 00:57:21.000 applause 00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:23.000 what -- one final thing we want to 00:57:23.000 --> 00:57:24.000 say is a huge thank you to the 00:57:24.000 --> 00:57:26.000 student ambassadors who've 00:57:26.000 --> 00:57:27.000 been helping out over the past 00:57:27.000 --> 00:57:28.000 two days I expect is gonna be 00:57:28.000 --> 00:57:29.000 helping out tomorrow thank 00:57:29.000 --> 00:57:33.000 you and please feel free to 00:57:33.000 --> 00:57:34.000 stay I think we still have some 00:57:34.000 --> 00:57:36.000 cookies here some refreshments 00:57:36.000 --> 00:57:37.000 and -- please feel free to 00:57:37.000 --> 00:57:39.000 stay and -- talk so thank 00:57:39.000 --> 00:57:42.000 you for coming this evening 00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:46.000 music