May 13, 2004: Headlines: COS - Ghana: Election2004 - Johnson: Politics: Mitchell County Pres News: Ghana RPCV Paul Johnson stumps Mitchell County in race for Congress

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ghana: Peace Corps Ghana : The Peace Corps in Ghana: May 13, 2004: Headlines: COS - Ghana: Election2004 - Johnson: Politics: Mitchell County Pres News: Ghana RPCV Paul Johnson stumps Mitchell County in race for Congress

By Admin1 (admin) (151.196.44.226) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 9:41 pm: Edit Post

Ghana RPCV Paul Johnson stumps Mitchell County in race for Congress

Ghana RPCV Paul Johnson stumps Mitchell County in race for Congress

Ghana RPCV Paul Johnson stumps Mitchell County in race for Congress

Johnson stumps Mitchell County

by Larry Kershner

Press-News Editor

Paul W. Johnson arrived in Osage Monday on one of many promised visits to Mitchell County during the 2004 campaign season. He is opposing Republican incumbent Tom Latham for the U.S. Congress--4th House District.

Johnson was critical of the current Bush Administration's mistakes in the war and post-war efforts in Iraq, but stopped short of the character assassination of the president which has become familiar Democratic diatribes of late.

"The question is not whether we should be in Iraq," Johnson said, "but if we should be there alone."

He said the administration has erred by "telling the world, 'it's my way or the highway.'" He said the fix is to convince other countries to come alongside and help with the transition in Iraq and delegate decision-making to those who respond.

"We are still a great nation and filled with wonderful people. But we have got to find a way to extend a hand to the Muslin world, which is an angry world."

Johnson said the election this November "...is not about me and it's not about Tom Latham. It's about where we want to be in the future."

Johnson described himself as an Independent Democrat. "I line up better with Democratic ideals, than I do with Republicans.

"If there were a middle party, I'd probably be part of it," he said afterwards.

Johnson calls Decorah home where he and wife Patricia own and operate a dairy farm--Oneota Slopes Farm. They reared three children who have rewarded them with five grand-daughters.

The campaign trail is a well-worn path for Johnson who has served three terms in the Iowa State Legislature from 1984 to 1990, during which he co-authored landmark legislation such as the 1987 Groundwater Protection Act, the 1989 Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Act and the 1990 Iowa Energy Act.

He noted that the Democratic Party has not done well in national elections lately because candidates are "trying to please everyone. And that just can't be done.

"Politicians are saying what they think the people want to hear," meaning, moderate middle-of-the-road stands on issue, and not saying what they really believe.

"But in politics, that's hard to do," he added. However, as a result, the Democratic base has been left unenergized.

Johnson also criticized Congressman Latham "who went to Washington under a contract with America, which promised to balance the budget.

"But something has gone wrong."

He is concerned over the extreme deficit the country is running up over Iraq.

He said he understands that some deficit spending "is necessary from time to time," he said, then added, "what we are doing now is very serious."

Following his tenure in the Iowa legislature, Johnson served as Chief of the Soil and Water Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service) at the U.S.D.A. offices in Washington, D.C. from 1993-1997 and as director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources from 1999-2000.

He said he was first motivated as a young man to serve the public by President John Kennedy. "I was a Kennedy Kid," he boasted, which led to his volunteering service time in the Peace Corps.




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Story Source: Mitchell County Pres News

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ghana; Election2004 - Johnson; Politics

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