Echo Magainze - Senate Candidate

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Democrats look to regain Arizona's U.S. Senate seat with Carmona

Dr. Richard Carmona puts a lot of faith in Arizona's residents. He believes in the goodness of people and thinks that when given the chance, they will be reasonable and reach humane decisions.

Carmona said he pins his hopes in becoming the state's next U.S. senator on this faith.

Carmona, who served in the George W. Bush Administration as surgeon general from 2002 to 2007, is running as the Democratic candidate. He likely will face Republican Rep. Jeff Flake, who is expected to defeat GOP opponent Wil Cardon in the Aug. 28 primary

Carmona, who has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), has reason for optimism. During the second quarter, he raised more money than Flake -- who is spending large amounts in his race against Cardon.

And, in a poll released Aug. 1 of likely voters, Carmona was tied with Flake. It's been a long time since a Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Arizona made a showing in the polls against a Republican opponent.

Supportive of LGBT issues

The HRC endorsement is appreciated, Carmona said during an interview, adding he is hopeful the LGBT community will be his "good luck charm."

Carmona's views on LGBT issues demonstrate why he deserves the support.

"It is a shame we have to legislate equality," Carmona said. "But if that is what it takes, then I'm absolutely supportive of the Democratic plank that supports marriage equality."

The Democratic Party announced in late July that marriage equality is part of its 2012 platform.

Carmona also supports employment non-discrimination.

"For me, legislation is a last resort," he said. "You would hope and believe that reasonable people would come to the right decision on equality. You would hope that reasonable people would be able to create hiring practices where there is no discrimination."

Carmona said he was offended that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer would act to strip benefits for same-sex partners of state and university employees.

"If the only way to ensure equality to all and to end discrimination is through legislation, then yes, I'm for it," Carmona said. "And because we live in such a politically divisive time, our only option may be that we may have to legislate these things."

The candidate's more optimistic view is that anti-LGBT sentiment will disappear eventually.

"We are seeing more tolerance and openness with the younger generation," Carmona said. "The younger generation, students in college, they can't understand why our generation is even bothering with issues like gay marriage and equality in the workplace when there are so many more important issues such as healthcare, the economy, two wars, jobs. The younger generation gives us hope."

As a veteran, Carmona applauded repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but he agreed more should be done.

"It is reprehensible to discharge someone from the military because of sexual orientation," he said. "These people took the same oath I took. They served with the same risks; why should they be disadvantaged?"

He said the records of any lesbians or gays who were dishonorably discharged for their sexual orientation should be reviewed and cleared.

The campaign for Senate

Carmona said he's disenchanted with the divisive politics in Washington, where he said members of Congress try to score political points rather that solve the nation's problems.

Late last year, Carmona decided to run for the seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Jon Kyl.

"I think my unique background in law, in the medical community, serving at the local and national level, help me to stay independent of politics ... and I think that is what makes me electable," Carmona said.

"I am running for the U.S. Senate to be a problem solver," according to a statement on his website. "We have big issues that need bold solutions, but Washington is too paralyzed by partisan bickering and entrenched ideology to provide them."

Arizona Democrats haven't won a U.S. Senate seat since Dennis DeConcini left office in 1995, but Carmona said he believes he may change that. But he needs to beat who he called the "model-looking" Flake.

"Once you look past the veneer of the nice smile and the gregarious nature, what do you have?" Carmona asked. "I've been talking to people throughout Arizona, Republicans, Democrats, businessmen, ranchers, farmers, and they are all asking what he has done in the 12 years he's been in Congress.

"This is someone who for 12 years has been against everything and for nothing," Carmona said. "With me, you're going to get someone who has been in service for the country and for people in various capacities, in law enforcement, in medicine, in policy making."

Carmona on other issues

HEALTHCARE: Carmona's medical background makes healthcare is an important issue for the candidate, who said the public should be as "disgusted" as he is at how politicized the debate has become.

"Providing healthcare to all Americans is a humanitarian issue," Carmona said. "We are the only industrialized nation that does not provide universal healthcare for its people, and we have 50 million people in this country without healthcare.

"As surgeon general I supported providing healthcare to people, and as a senator I would continue to support a system that ensures every American will have access to healthcare," he said. "I don't care what we call it or how we get there, as long as we can come up with a something that ensures that everyone has access to healthcare; that's the humane thing to do."

IMMIGRATION: Immigration is another issue that Carmona believes has become too political. He said the battle could have been solved if senators and representatives had taken up the 2006 immigration compromise that conservative Sen. John McCain, the late liberal Sen. Ted Kennedy and Bush reached.

"Because it came together from them should have sent a missile to Congress that it was the best plan to go forward," Carmona said.

"Many of our businesses in Arizona are suffering because of this immigration situation.," he said. "I recently was just down in San Luis and in Yuma and businesses down there can't get the labor they need. As a senator, I will get an immigration bill started and end this partisan debate."

JOBS AND THE ECONOMY: On perhaps the biggest issue of the fall campaign, Carmona said that jobs and the economy are intertwined.

"We have to instill confidence into the marketplace and in business," he said. "Right now, businesses don't have confidence. The business community is unsure about regulations, taxation, about trade policies, and because the confidence is down it's difficult to know when to hire or when to keep people."

He said that by instilling confidence in the marketplace by tackling issues such as the trade imbalance and by providing answers regarding the regulatory landscape, businesses would be more willing to hire. -E

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