Henrico Citizen - Brat's Surprising Rise to Prominence "Fun but Exhausting'

News Article

By Ryan McKinnon

In June, Henrico County was the epicenter of a political shakeup that grabbed international headlines when Henrico resident Dave Brat made history by upsetting Henrico's Eric Cantor, the U.S. House Majority Leader, in a Republican primary election for the Seventh District House seat.

Brat became the story of the week. Analysts heatedly debated whether his victory was a portent of the future, when establishment leaders could be knocked off by grassroots candidates operating on a fraction of their budget, or whether Brat had simply found his opponent's weak spot (immigration) and ridden that all the way to victory.

Never having held public office, the college professor-turned-candidate has continued to generate buzz as reporters dissect his academic papers to determine his policy positions leading up to the November election (in which he'll face fellow Randolph-Macon professor Jack Trammell, a Democrat). Some hail him as a champion of anti-establishment moxie; others deride him as a crusader who wants to mix God with politics.

Brat recently agreed to a interview with the Citizen. Portions follow:

Henrico Citizen: How has your life changed since the primary in June?

Dave Brat: It just ramped up to just constantly keeping up with a whole new set of variables, going from early morning to late night every day. It's fun but exhausting. It is kind of the intersection of everything that I like -- keeping up with people, keeping up with policy. At the same time, I've got two kids. I'm trying to keep hitting tennis balls with my boy once in a while and stay true to my family.

HC: Many people would argue that Cantor lost here because he focused more on national issues than what directly impacts the Seventh District. What do you think are the key issues facing the Seventh?

DB: I went around and knocked on thousands of doors. Now, I don't want to say I got it all right because no one has all the answers, but there were three big issues right from the beginning of the campaign that resonated with people. First, Obamacare. It's really affecting big and small business and the average citizen in a big way. Everyone is adjusting to the new higher costs and the regulatory fees, so Obamacare is number one. Number two, I would ask everyone, "Is this country on the right track or the wrong track?" Ninety-nine percent would say we are on the wrong track. And that was my second issue, which is basic fiscal responsibility and the deficit. Everybody that looks at the numbers knows we are spending beyond our means, and there's a day coming when we have to get the house back in order. The financial crisis kind of went hand in hand with that. The third thing is immigration. The policies that were being put forward by national leaders were not sustainable. Now everybody's seeing on the border there is a disaster occurring, and it was pretty much predictable from the policies that were being put in place.

HC: That disaster hit close to home in June with the attempt to house unaccompanied minors in an abandoned college in Lawrenceville. What do you think is the solution to prevent something like this in the future?

DB: The basic answer is pretty simple and everybody knows what it is. What we have to do is control the border and only allow orderly, legal immigration. Legislators have been saying we need to secure the border for 30 years now and it has never happened. That's because there are major powerful groups within the country that want to attract cheap labor. But the American people know that the flip side of cheap labor is lower wage rates for everybody here. So the easy answer, the first thing you have to do is secure the border.

HC: What do you do if you can't get Democrats to agree to that?

DB: I think you gotta do what I did in the election and go straight to the people and explain the consequences. And that way I think you will get people on board.

HC: Do you think there will be a movement towards more bipartisanship?

DB: Yeah, I think that the fiscal numbers are gonna force it. In the past, both sides have been able to ignore the biggest number. The biggest number in the economic textbook is $128 trillion in unfunded liabilities. Now, the debt is $17 trillion, and most people understand that is a big problem. But you get $128 trillion if you add up all the social security, medicare, medicaid, and the Bush prescription drug plan. Those four programs alone will take up the entire federal budget by about 2040. Thats not a typo, that's the CBO's (Congressional Budget Office) number, and that's a pretty conservative estimate. We're gonna have to work across the aisle or we're gonna have an economic collapse. No alternative. We have to work together to fix those programs so that those programs remain in place in the future.

HC: Much has been made about the thesis you wrote while at American University regarding the role of religion in helping strengthen the economy. Some say you believe government regulation is not necessary, only the rule of God is necessary. Is that an accurate characterization? How would you explain this to the increasingly religious diverse Seventh District, with Muslims, Hindus and atheists all part of your constituency?

DB: First of all, people need to quote things accurately. I never said that. There are two separate issues here. The First Amendment summarizes my views very accurately. I do not believe in establishing a religion in the country as the founders said there should be no established religion. I believe in the land of liberty, so there is no establishment, but there is also equally free expression. Everyone has the exact same right to fully express their views when it comes to values, and that's what we believe in. We're a melting pot of ideas.

Regarding federal regulation, we live in a very complex world with complex technologies that need to be regulated at the federal level. When it comes to national defense, airline safety, all these things the fed government has a role, and an important role. My philosophy on the Republican side is just traditional. The federal government does have an important role, but where possible I do want to move the needle, and not in any utopian way, just incrementally move things back to the state and local level. If there is a unique role that can only be accomplished by the federal government that's fine, but right now the American people are seeing that the federal government is intruding into far too many issues in out lives.

HC: So what role would say religion plays in the economy?

DB: Religion has played an absolutely essential role, especially in the founding by laying out; it was the precursor to the protection of life that emerged in the modern world in the 1400s. It is absolutely key that we all value every single person as a child of God made in the image of God; that belief in the dignity of every single person led to the idea that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ought to be respected.

HC: Right after the primary, your critics said that you did not know your position on some of the prominent issues. How do you respond to that?

DB: Yeah, I think that one of the pieces said I wasn't prepared on what to do about minimum wage and that I didn't have an answer, and then the next day other reporters said that same publication failed to point out that I gave a 20-minute answer on minimum wage. They distorted my answer and clipped it into multiple pieces intentionally and misled people into saying that I wouldn't give lengthy answers to questions. I'm glad you asked the questions. Its on the reader to be very careful as they read the media. The media is supposed to follow journalistic ethic.They are not currently doing that. They are trying to play gotcha politics in order to sell more articles.

HC: How is fundraising for the general election coming along? How have you handled the Cantor loyalists who voted to reallocate $400,000 to the national GOP organizations?

DB: Well, I think it's all working out. We are working at building unity across every core group. I want to bring everyone to vote for me in the fall. I don't care what party you belong to. I'm running on the six principles in the Republican creed, and so fundraising has been very good. The report is coming out in about a week and I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised. There will be some big numbers coming out.

HC: How much did that reallocation hurt? Is that a dangerous sign that Republicans in the Seventh District may not be united?

DB: That reallocation is not finalized. It just depends on how it works out. I think its gonna work out fine, from what I'm hearing.

HC: So the money may not be reallocated after all?

DB: Right, right.

HC: How are you feeling about the election coming up in November?

DB: My goal is to get my message of those six principles and shake as many hands as possible. I think, like it said before, 99 percent of people think the county is on the wrong track. My very simple message is, do you want more of DC in your life of less? I'm running on the less side. My opponent is running on the more side, and that is the debate.

HC: Do you and Jack Trammell interact much?

DB: He's a nice guy -- we see each other at school, we played basketball together in the past. Now we're on summer break and in campaign mode.

HC: Are you concerned that in the primary non-Republicans may have voted for you, perceiving you as a weaker candidate than Cantor? Does that impact your strategy?

DB: No one knows the answer on that. That's a lot of speculation. The numbers are coming out in a few weeks. Once we look at the data there won't be any question left. A lot of people are spinning on that, making up stories for their side or the other side or whatever. I'm a scientific guy. I like looking at the numbers. We'll see them in a couple weeks and that will tell the tale.

HC: How do your kids like your newfound celebrity status?

DB: Well, they didn't like being trapped in the house when the news media was outdoors, but they've learned a lot by the process. A lot about the world. I think they've enjoyed the whole thing.

HC: Are you planning a return to the classroom if things don't work out?

DB: I think I'm just gonna go for the win and that's it for right now.

HC: If you win, what would be the first things you would try to achieve?

DB: I made three pledges that are very important. These were well received when I went door to door. Number one, I pledge to meet with people from every county once a month. I want to be accessible in that way. Secondly, I pledge to put in a fair or flat tax; we need to get rid of the special breaks for the crony capitalists up in D.C. Third, and I think the biggest, is I will put in a bill for term limits, and I plan to term limit myself to 12 years.

HC: Why is that?

DB: I don't think the founders saw -- they lived in a primarily agriculture age -- and I don't think they saw the massive accumulation of power that could take place around one city, Washington, D.C. The richest suburbs in the world are all right around D.C. They had the opposite in mind. You were a public servant, you went and did politics and then went home, did your job and returned to a normal life. That's not what we have right now. We have a permanent political class up in DC that's accumulating wealth and power beyond comprehension.

HC: Why 12 years?

DB: Three terms in House and two terms in the Senate. There's no magic in that number and I am willing to compromise with folks on that.

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