Conservatives Gather in Washington, DC
2006 Conservative Political Action Conference, February 9-11, 2006
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INTERVIEW WITH BARBARA FINGER
Finger hails from Oconto, WI (North of Brown County in the 8th CD).  This is her fifth CPAC.

Democracy in Action: What are the big issues facing the country in your view?

Big issues for me are tax relief and border security...

Democracy in Action: How should we address that [border security]?

In an ideal world we'd be able to have some sort of physical barrier there where if you want to come through you have to apply, probably have the proper paperwork, and you'd go through a hole in the wall, gate, fence, whatever, and it's monitored.  But having people come across illegally, we don't know what they're doing, what their ideology is.  Could they be here for reasons to harm the United States?  America is such an accepting country of diversity and...maybe some of those people are coming across the border and using our openness against us.

Democracy in Action: What are your thoughts on the state of the conservative movement?

I can't speak but for myself as far as the state of the conservative movement.  I think the conservative movement is a very dynamic movement.  It's not one single narrow ideology.  There's a wide spectru of views, agreements and disagreements.  That's one thing I want to make the point  of: people who aren't in the conservative movement and if all they hear about the conservatives is the mainstream media, they may think we're very narrow minded and that's not the case.

Democracy in Action: Have you formed any favorable or unfavorable opinions about any of the folks who have been mentioned as possible '08 candidates.  For example, George Allen.

My impression was wow, this man sounds really presidential.  It could have been a speech that he gave on behalf of America as our Commander in Chief, as our president...  He sounded really presidential.

Also Condi Rice.  She's not officially expressed interest, but there is a very strong movement that wants to draft her as a candidate in 2008.

Democracy in Action: What do you think about her?

She would really have to make the switch from being a diplomat.  And being a diplomat you really have to bite your tongue; you have to follow some strict rules of etiquette, and as a candidate you have fewer constraints against your expression of your ideas.  You have to be able to very openly let 'er rip as far as what you say and your beliefs, and tht would be a switch that she would have to make.

Democracy in Action: Sam Brownback?

I've heard that he's a possible candidate, but I don't know how viable he would be as a candidate, if he would garner enough support from a wide base of people to be a candidate.  Maybe this would be an exploratory--the 2008 campiagn would be an exploratory campaign.  Get him more widely known, get his ideas out there so that in 2012 he'd be more on the national stage.

Democracy in Action: Sen. Bill Frist?

Again I like a lot of his ideas.  I have no major disconnect with him, but again I don't konw if he would be, if he would speak for a wide enough of a base to be a viable candidate against whoever the Democrats put up.

Democracy in Action: Rudy Giuliani?

He was very masterful in his dealing with the situation after 9/11 but I have some major disagreements with him on the abortion issue.  He, from what I understand--I may be wrong--but that he's very pro-choice.  He tends to be more socially liberal than I am.

Democracy in Action: Newt Gingrich?

I agree with a lot of what he says but his ethics scandal from some years ago when he was forced to step down as the Speaker of the House, that may be a mark against him, and I want to put my efforts toward someone who I strongly feel could beat whoever the Democrats put forth, and I think maybe Newt Gingrich carries a little too much baggage.

Democracy in Action: Chuck Hagel?

He's from --Iowa?  I don't really know him.

Democracy in Action: Mike Huckabee?

Arkansas, right?  Maybe in a future general election cycle, but I don't know if he is well known enough throughout the country and has wide enought of a base to be a viable contender against the Democrats.

Democracy in Action: It sounds like you don't really know--

I do know him because he's the one who--apparently he'd been quite obese at one time and he really worked--I think he had some serious health crisis because of that obesity and he's dropped over 100 pounds.  He's living and advocating a very healthy lifestyle and eating well.  I do know that about him.

Democracy in Action: George Pataki?

I don't know enough about him to really say.  He's very well known in the Northeast, but is he well known in Wisconsin or Idaho or like that.  You need support from a wide base of people.

Democracy in Action: Mitt Romney?

Possibly in 2012 or later, but I don't know how viable he would be in 2008.

Democracy in Action: John McCain?

I don't know if I would really consider him a true Republican because he comes out--I don't know where to put him.

Democracy in Action: What is it--?

Well he came out with...about the strict rules of how we treat the prisoners.  Like insulting them to get information out of them, that's torture; making them feel bad that's torture.

Democracy in Action: Did he go that far?

Or just depriving somebody of sleep for 2 or 3 days to get them so tired that they'll tell you anything you want.  I don't find that to be torture.  This is our national security at stake.  I know John McCain was horribly treated when he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, but he of all people should understand that short of physically abusing someone, I think just about anything woudl go to get information that would be vital for our national security.

Democracy in Action: Any other thoughts on John McCain?

I think he's astride both sides of the aisle.  He tries to appeal to the Democrats and the media.  He's kind of a media darling.  Then he steps back across the fence and tries to say I'm a Republican, but I think he's truly more aligned with the Democratic Party.
 
Copyright © 2006  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action