Congressmen Hangout

By Weston R. Sager | Thursday, March 1, 2007

Hodes

Representative Paul Hodes ‘72 spoke at Dartmouth a week ago--one of many politicians visiting Hanover in preparation for the New Hampshire presidential primary. Hodes, however, is not seeking the Presidency, as are many of the candidates who have graced the halls of Dartmouth College. Instead, he came to bask in the glory in his recent victory over six-time incumbent former Rep. Charlie Bass ‘74.

Despite a heavily negative and thoroughly misdirected campaign against Bass, Hodes still came away with a surprising victory over the popular incumbent. Having lost by roughly 20 points in the 2004 election, Hodes ran again in 2006 and managed to beat Bass, mostly due to a wave of Republican unpopularity in New Hampshire. Hodes, who was a lawyer and amateur children’s song performer before becoming a representative, now represents New Hampshire’s second congressional district.

— I'm not that sweet. —

Similar to his campaign in the fall, Hodes’s speech lacked any spark or originality. Likening the Democratic takeover of Congress to that of “cavalry coming over the hill,” Hodes’s arrogant tone overshadowed the description of his experiences as a freshman Congressman in the House. One could not help but conclude that this bombastic man will only serve as a one-term Congressman. He may have brought his “backbone” with him to Congress (as he promised in one of his many laughable campaign advertisements), but he surely did not bring his sense of humility.

When Representative Hodes’s two-year term is up, he is expected to go back to singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to throngs of adoring children.

Duncan

A week ago, Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA), spoke at Dartmouth. He was only the second Republican seeking the presidency to speak at the College so far this year.

Rep. Hunter is a long-shot to win the New Hampshire primary. A relative unknown, Hunter tried to separate himself from the other Republican candidates by advocating strongly for one issue: national defense.

— Are you 18? To vote that is. —

As a representative from a border district with Mexico, Hunter was the congressman who penned the bill for the building of an 854 mile fence along the Mexico-U.S. border. He promised he would complete the building of an anti-illegal immigrant fence when within the first six months of his presidency. Hunter cited the reason for the construction as vital to national security.

Hunter’s efforts to keep a strong national defense extended into his economic policy. He said he would push for reevaluating our trade relationship with China and for providing incentives for high-paying engineering and manufacturing jobs to stay within the United States as a means to keep America’s superpower status.

As for Iraq, Hunter articulated that the situation is not as dire as it seems, comparing a potential outcome in Iraq to the successes of Japan and El Salvador. Liberals, he thought, were perhaps making too quick a comparison between Iraq and Vietnam. He believes that now it is up the Iraqis to construct a stable government.

Whether Hunter will make an impact in the Republican primary is yet to be seen. A traditional Republican - strong in national defense, pro-life, and pro-veteran (he himself is a Vietnam veteran), Hunter may win the votes of the Republican mainstream who shy away from the more moderate McCain and Giuliani. Still, unless Hunter runs a stellar campaign, his odds of winning any primaries are slim.

Congressmen Hangout

Hodes

Duncan

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