Leach touts Obama to Republicans, independents

Daily Reporter Staff

Former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach wants his fellow republicans to do what he did earlier this summer. The eastern Iowan took a pass on his party's presidential nominee and went to Denver for a convention speech supporting Barack Obama.

The tenor of the election has played a factor in the longtime congressman's decision.

"To me, Senator Obama, is very much in the category of someone trying to bring the country together," Leach said. "And then, if you look at some of the words out there, my party's candidates have been using the 's' word, and by that I mean socialism. It's not socialist to offer a much bigger middle-class tax cut than Senator McCain. It's not socialist to support ethanol and wind energy, which are so critical to northwest Iowa."

Leach didn't mention GOP Rep. Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota by name, but was critical of "a Congressperson who suggested that we ought to look in Congress to see who is really pro-America."

In the MSNBC interview, Bachmann told host Chris Matthews that she was concerned that Obama "may have anti-American views." She also called on the news media to do an "expose" on whether members of Congress have pro- or anti-America views. Bachmann's remarks drew condemnation from former Secretary of State Colin Powell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Bachmann later said she regretted using the phrase "anti-American."

"I think this notion that there are real Americans and unreal, or anti-Americans, is catastrophic for our society," Leach said. "We've got to all pull together," Having said that,

I think for those who really think we need a new approach to world affairs, I think Senator Obama is really presenting an alternative approach that is very much rooted in American history and American values and will symbolize great change at a time when we need great change. We have never gone through a period in which the American brand has been more challenged than it is today."

Leach defeated two-term Democrat Edward Mezvinsky in the 1976 election and served eastern Iowa in Congress for 30 years. He was defeated in his 2006 bid for reelection to a 16th term by current U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, a political science professor at Cornell College. Though he was considered a moderate inside the Beltway and has decided to support Obama, Leach says he wants to stay with the GOP.

"Frankly, I am very proud of the traditions of the Republican party," Leach said. "And I am very anguished that some of those traditions are not being well-reflected today. I don't want to give up on my party, but I do feel very strongly, for the country's sake, we need a new approach to issues."

During his tenure, Leach chaired the Banking and Financial Services Committee, which is the same position held by Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank.

Frank has a key position as world markets deal with a financial meltdown. Leach ended his chairmanship in 2000 and says the government didn't follow trends that accelerated the collapse: Some techniques of selling mortgages got ahead of traditional American approaches to home payments and home valuations.

"The regulators let their guard down very badly the last three or four years," Leach said.

Leach also said he is "exceptionally impressed" with the quality of the advisors Obama has assembled in the areas of economics and foreign policy.

"If you look at the Iowa economy and if you look at the northwest Iowa economy in particular, Obama in his brief career has been a strong advocate of wind energy," he said. "Senator McCain has voted against it at every turn. Obama has been a strong advocate of ethanol. Senator McCain has maintained stark opposition to ethanol. That is a profound contrast for Iowa economics."

The former congressman also has confidence in Obama's tax policy.

"Obama has carved out a very unique position," Leach said. "It's the first time I've ever known this contrast. He has a far bigger middle-class tax cut than Senator McCain does. Now, he also has a higher income tax increase, so what he's trying to suggest is: We've got to create a new fairness back in the tax code so one can expect higher income tax brackets to go up to the range where they were in the Clinton years."

Prior to his Spencer stop, Leach made an appearance in Sioux City. He has stops planned in Mason City and Waterloo on Saturday.