Charlotte Sun - Our View: Rep. Clawson Marching to his Own Drummer

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By Unknown

While we don't always agree with him, it is refreshing that freshman Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., has no qualms about bucking the GOP establishment and voting for what he believes is right.

Rep. Curt Clawson, R-19th District, has a grain of arrogance in his approach to politics. You could see it in the former college basketball player's campaign ad challenging President Obama to a game of threepoint shooting as the confident Clawson drained shots (at least in the final edit).

He has never lacked for nerves as he entered the crowded race to replace Rep. Trey Radel - taking on a number of better-known Republican primary candidates - including then State Sen. Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto, the early favorite.

Clawson, with the backing of the Tea Party Express, won. And he has never looked back.

Once he got to Washington, he stayed true to his Tea Party leanings while still showing a willingness to vote his mind. It is doubtful the freshman lawmaker spends much time looking to the majority leader or House whip for a thumbs up or thumbs down when casting a vote.

For example: Last week, Clawson was the only GOP member to support immediate action on a resolution to take down, from the House side of the Capitol, any state flag containing any portion of the Confederate battle flag. The resolution, of course, came on the heels of a swell of public outrage over the flying of the controversial flag in South Carolina following the massacre of black church members in Charleston, S.C.

Clawson was the only Republican voting with Democrats on this bill.

"After what happened in South Carolina, isn't this the best moment to (have a conversation on the flag debate and race)," he said in an interview after Republicans blocked a floor debate on the issue.

It was not the first time Clawson bucked his party.

He was one of only 32 Republicans who voted against a bill giving President Obama authority to broaden military efforts against Islamic militants in Syria and Iraq.

And, he is one of the few Republicans who used the term "climate change." He is on record as saying he wants to stop talking about climate change and whether or not it is real and find solutions for it.

Finally, he believes those solutions should not include drilling off Florida's coast.

He co-sponsored a provision in the 2016 spending bill to "prohibit researching, investigating or studying drilling" in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Anyone could argue that is not an enormous climb out on the limb for anyone who represents the coast communities in Florida, or that it is semi-meaningless considering there is a ban on drilling in the Gulf now. He would say it is a stand that means something despite a ban on oil exploration in the Gulf through 2022.

The amendment to prohibit drilling, co-sponsored by Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., would not allow any funding in next year's budget to prepare for drilling after 2022. And, it would sabotage two attempts - one each in the House and Senate - to lift that ban. It also would not allow funding now for resources to prepare for drilling when the ban expires.

It is unclear in today's political world if Clawson is playing to the home crowd or simply committed to making Washington a place where change is possible.

But, give Clawson credit. He travels his own path.

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