Tuesday, December 20, 2005

“Good people” vs. Bad people

As you know, Trustee Tom Fuentes, along with notorious Christian Reconstructionist Howard F. Ahmanson (see ARCHIVES: 11/30/05)—is on the Board of Directors of the “Claremont Institute," an eccentric neoconservative think tank. (See Wiki on CLAREMONT INST.)

Today, at the CI website, I ran across an April 2005 interview of Fuentes by CI's Ken Masugi. For those of you who are interested in Mr. Fuentes’ politics—especially his views on teachers at public institutions—the interview is worth reading. Otherwise, I’d skip it.

I have provided brief excerpts below. To read the entire interview, go to

http://www.claremont.org/projects/
local_gov/Newsletter/fuentesinterview.html


Or click on:

INTERVIEW

THE MASUGI INTERVIEW (Excerpts):

Tom, …What is the California Dream? Is it in danger, or simply changing?
…..
My great-great-great grandfather arrived in San Diego aboard a ship from Mexico in 1834. He was born aboard another ship that came from Spain in 1810. Both he, and his parents before him, suffered hardships and trials so that he could reach this magnificent place we call California….

Today, I see ever growing government and more restrictions on our freedoms as Californians. Our state capital is infested with special interests and the average Californian has to pick up the tab to support the government and special interest elites…We need less government in California, not more….

California was the place from which came Proposition 13 and Ronald Reagan. This state gave to the nation a conservative agenda of reform. I hope that vision is not lost.

How does the November [2004] Republican victory nationwide reflect on the American/California Dream?

I liked the county-by-county, red versus blue map of the nation that was published after the election. It showed that most of California is red. That is to say, most of the communities of our state voted for President Bush. The Kerry victory in California came from the blue urban core areas.

I believe that the map demonstrates that the good and morally motivated people in most of California's towns and communities share common values with the vast majority of their countrymen.
…..
Is California out of step on moral issues that many cite as giving Bush the edge over Kerry and the Democrats in the last election?

I think that most Californians are good people who share noble ideals.

On the other hand, California is home to Hollywood and its violence and vulgarity…..

Are there…things you liked about [Governor Schwarzenegger’s recent] speech?

I am impressed by the Governor's candor in identifying the government worker labor unions, especially the teachers, as key elements of the problem [of over-spending]. The entitlements of money and benefits, especially retirement, will eventually bankrupt California if not soon checked.
…..
Your career has been marked by devotion to following principle and at the same time expanding the base of the party. What advice can you give to young politicians and those who are cynical about politics and how to match principle and electability?
…..
The Republican Party must outreach with a conservative message. Nationwide, the campaign found success in reaching Hispanics and Catholics, for example. In 2004, Catholic support for Bush was up to 52%--six points higher than in 2000….

But reaching these constituencies in California will be a real challenge. The state party today is in the hands of moderates, not conservatives. Many from big business, and moneyed moderates, do not want to encourage a more conservative party.
…..
On what local government issues should Republicans consider uniting? How should conservatives link local issues to state and national ones?

I have the privilege of serving as a trustee of a large community college district. As a local elected official, I am always amazed at how often local elected officials, who are registered Republicans, forget conservative ideals in their local decision-making. I know many a local elected official who has never met a new government program he or she did not like. We must teach what it is to be a conservative to those who serve in city, county and school posts.

As an example, the labor unions are as aggressive in the cities and school districts, as they are in Sacramento. I see self-identified Republican city council members and school trustees voting for outlandish salaries, retirement benefits and entitlement programs for public employees with little regard for the taxpayer. I see property rights challenged by these same people.


Tell us about your work for the Claremont Institute in its new Orange County Office.

I am delighted to be serving the Institute at its new offices in Newport Beach. Orange County has always had a warm spot in its heart for The Claremont Institute. The Institute has so many able and articulate scholars. I want to help get out their message to the people of Southern California and to recruit neighbors to support the work of the Institute in sharing the message of the American Founding in our contemporary political life. We have begun to have some fine showcase events to get more exposure for the work of the Institute. It's an exciting time. [END]

NOTES

1. I added the italics. --CW

2. Thomas L. Phillips of Phillips International is on Claremont Institute's board of “advisors.” See ARCHIVES: 9/23/02.

3. In the interview, Fuentes argues for the need to engage in state redistricting to make political races more competitive. Evidently, the Rose Institute of Claremont McKenna has produced studies that support such a reform. Eric Norby--who was appointed by the Board to replace Dorothy Fortune but who quickly resigned--works for the Rose Institute.

4. Here's a fun fact: one of Claremont Institute's projects is:

Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership -- "a group of health professionals familiar with guns and medical research, is the antidote to those who twist science to serve a misguided anti-gun ideology."

Don't believe it? Click on the link below:

CI PROJECTS

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...