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Dinner with a Congressional candidate  California Congressional candidate Paul McCloskey. As University students we are beginning our lives as active citizens, both inside and outside of the political realm. It is important, however, to know how much we are affected by those we choose to represent us in this Great American system.
Paul N. McCloskey, Jr. will be running against current California representative, Richard Pombo, to be the Republican representative for the 11 th district of California. The House of Representatives elections will be held on November 7, 2006.
I had the opportunity to meet this Congressional hopeful over dinner last week. Apart from learning about California politics and maintaining legitimate values for the American system, I learned about myself and what it takes to uphold what one holds dear. McCloskey stated in his Statement of Candidacy, gI would characterize this campaign as a battle for the soul of the Republican Party.  McCloskey is all smiles as he prepares for his campaign.
When I think of the variety of things one can accomplish in life, I see an example in McCloskey. I hope to teach you what I learned about this 78-year old Congressional hopeful by highlighting his views through his previous accomplishments. First, however, a little of his own words to me about his connection to the American people.
“I never wanted to get into politics,” said McCloskey. He told the story of his entry into the political realm when, at 21, he noticed the stance of the Democratic Party against the civil rights movement - he did not like the way things were going. “Something snapped,” explained McCloskey, “and I went into politics.”
“I’ve never been a very good politician,” argued McCloskey, “Because if you want to do what is right, people don’t always listen to you.”
McCloskey explained to me the revelation by which he has come to understand the role of young people in America. “All of the great movements in my lifetime were by young people,” emphasized McCloskey. Such movements included civil rights, women’s rights, anti-vietnam protests, labor laws, and human rights.
“Young people are idealistic,” continued McCloskey, explaining the mindset of young people that allows them the ability to take action. He explained how young people can readily take action on issues that affect them. When you are young, you can mold and change.
Picture this scenario: young people have the ability to change and reorder their lives without much consequence - you can change your major, dump your significant other, or protest human rights and still have time in your life to get things going your way. His congressional district covers stockton, tracy, and parts of the bay area.
However, a second scenario comes with age. It is not as easy to find work if you lose your job at age 60; it is not as simple to find another partner if you divorce after 50 years. This is how McCloskey painted the mobility of American youth. We are the backbone, the checks and balances of our nation. Mix in the passion and desire to change the system when we don’t like it, and we have had a lot of power throughout history.
Now, here is the man behind the inspiration. McCloskey received a number of heroic medals, including two purple hearts during the Korean War. He continued to serve over 20 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. McCloskey also founded what is now the largest law firm in California, located in Palo Alto. McCloskey was an environmental lawyer who protected and fought for natural habitats and endangered species. Not to be excluded are his 15 years in the House of Representatives as the representative for the San Francisco Peninsula. McCloskey is a politician who has experience in the system, a plus for pushing for what Californians want.
McCloskey was the cochairman of the first national Earth Day in 1970. Thirty-six years later, he is still aware of our environmental needs. For California, the issues involving the degradation of our environment are becoming more and more important. Here in the San Joaquin Valley, we are in the “fertile crescent” of both California and the United States. McCloskey knows and understands the intensity at which we must attack environmental questions. “I believe human-caused global warming is a real threat,” stated Mc- Closkey. He is planning on coming to Pacific to speak on Earth Day 2006, which falls on Saturday, April 22.
At our dinner, I found out McCloskey personally spoke to Yasser Arafat, former Prime Minister of Palestine, about recognizing and finding peace between Palestine and Israel. His work in this arena of international relations flows through the Council for National Interest for which McCloskey is president. This institution focuses on a balanced foreign policy between the U.S. and the Middle East. McCloskey argues that Israel needs to recognize the Palestinian government in the same way that Israel continually asks for international recognition.
In 1972, McCloskey unsuccessfully ran for president against Richard Nixon and the Vietnam War policies. Later, in 1973, McCloskey was the first member of Congress to give a speech for the impeachment of Nixon, a speech for which he is still well known.
I end this with one request: surprise those who think our generation is apathetic.
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