Fred2Blue

I’d like to thank Keith Hummel for taking some time out of his busy schedule. Dr. Hummel is a candidate in Virginia’s 1st congressional district, and will attempt to unseat freshman Rep. Rob Wittman.   -Chris

So what’s your background? Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in the Shenandoah Valley to a working-class family. I am a long-term resident of Westmoreland County and the 1st Congressional District.

I am a practicing medical doctor, board-certified in Emergency Medicine, with 35,000 hours of Emergency Department experience. I received my post-graduate training in a busy inner-city hospital ER in Brooklyn, NY. I received additional training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) in Pensacola, Florida and served as a flight surgeon in the Navy Medical Corps and was deployed on a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. While in the Navy I qualified “Expert” with a pistol. I am an avid hunter, a firm supporter of second amendment rights, and maintain a carry and conceal permit.

In addition, for five years I maintained a private practice in Montross which also provided free medical care to indigents and the working uninsured.

Our family operates a licensed Virginia Farm Winery on our property here in Westmoreland County.

My wife Penny and I have been married 35 years and have 5 children, of whom we are very proud. Elizabeth, an accomplished flutist and graduate of Mary Washington College, lives in New Hampshire with her husband. Maggie, an Irish harpist, is a published author and internationally collected artist who lives with her husband, a deputy sheriff, and their two small children in Westmoreland County. Andrew is currently completing his college education, plays the guitar and shares my interest in restoring classic cars. Kate plays the violin, is an accomplished Irish fiddler, and plans to major in music when she begins college. Jack, the youngest, has a strong interest in historic preservation, environmental conservation, dendrology, and classic car restoration. My wife, Penny, is a registered nurse, and has a keen interest in historic preservation. As a result of her research and efforts, our property, “Panorama,” is now an approved candidate for state and national registries of historic places.

During the past ten years, my family and I became Roman Catholics, and successfully overcame a decade-long financial struggle. As a result of these and other events, I feel compelled to do what I can to place the interests of the individual and nation above those who would subvert those interests for profit.

What made you decide to run for office?

Why am I running now? At the beginning of the Bush administration, oil was at $32 a barrel, a Euro could be purchased for 92 cents, we had created millions of new jobs, the country was at peace and respected by the rest of the world, we had a surplus and a workable budget, and we had a vibrant economy. Seven and a half years later, through greed, hubris, and incredible ineptitude, the Bush administration and its congressional supporters have given us oil at $114 a barrel, a Euro at a $1.60, the loss of more than three million industrial jobs, the outsourcing of our industrial base, an enormous deficit, and a budget hopelessly out of control. The war with Iraq has cost us 4,000 lives tens of thousands wounded and over $400B of our national treasury with the meter still running . We need a representative who will help put a stop to this and return control of Congress to the electorate and not the corporate lobbyists. It was easy for me to say we need someone to change this – but after a few years, that changed into the question “can I change this?”

With you running in the 1st, this will be the first time that Democrats have had candidates in every VA congressional race since we went to 11 districts following the 1990 census. Why do you think it’s taken this long and what do you think it means for 2008?

It means that Virginians are ready for a change! Americans are feeling anxious because certain basic tenets we have relied on for generations no longer seem certain: a strong dollar, job security, quality health care, world class education, national and domestic security (including secure borders) and a stable retirement. We have too long been encouraged to argue philosophy (divide and conquer), while the Republican empowered multinationals “clean out the store.”

Jim Webb’s Senate victory in 2006 makes it clear that Virginians are ready for a common sense populist approach to government.

Populism seems to be a philosophy that you really identify with. Could you elaborate on that a little?

In a very few words, as a populist, I apply the following litmus test to any issue: How will this affect the middle and working class individual? These are the people who make up the vast majority of our population. For too long, decisions have been made which benefit the small minority that constitutes the privileged wealthy elite in this country; those who control big banking, big oil, big communications, all of whom exercise an influence wholly out of proportion to their numbers. Their interests very frequently run contrary to those of the individual and the nation. As a populist, I support those policies which will improve and maintain the quality of life of middle and working class individuals while providing a well-administed temporary safety net for those who require it.

What have you observed about Rob Wittman from his short time in Congress? What would you do differently?

People often ask what my impressions of Rob Whitman are and what would I do differently. I’ve never really been comfortable defining other people! I think I’d prefer to tell you what kind of Congressman I would be and let the voter draw their own conclusions. As previously stated, any bill that came before me for a vote would be subjected to the following test: what’s the effect of this legislation on middle class and working class Americans? The tendency of Republicans to allow lobbyists to virtually draft legislation has often resulted in a subversion of individual and national interests.

I do have some concern that our present Congressman has been represented as an environmentalist and a compassionate conservative, but voted against an environmental bill and a bill to expand healthcare for children. These votes run contrary to my position of supporting bills which benefit the the quality of life of the average American.

What sort of challenges do you think the 1st congressional district faces that you’d like address as Representative?

Because our district is so diverse, the concerns facing the 1st Congressional District reflect those of the rest of the country: a failing economy, wholesale loss of jobs, and disastrous foreign policy decisions. In particular, health care and trade issues are of vital importance.

We’re told that our healthcare system is the envy of the world, and perhaps this is true if you are among the fortunate few who can afford to participate. We have, however, 47 million uninsured and 40 milion underinsured who, burdened with excessive co-pays and deductibles, must choose between feeding their family and seeking adequate medical care. Our healthcare system is in need of a revision which will provide basic universal healthcare for every American. We’re then told that such a program is too expensive, but the fact is that the per capita public and private costs per year for healthcare in the U.S. greatly exceed that of even the most expensive European universal healthcare model. A more detailed explanation of this is available on my website and blog.

I’m very supportive of business and think it is important that we foster an environment that promotes the formation and profitability of businesses. However, regulations and tax structures need to be written in a manner that promotes the establishment and continued profitability of corporations while not running contrary to the interests of the nation and the individual. Thanks to the efforts of the corporate lobbyists, our current trade policy has cost over 3 million industrial jobs and decimated our economy. Through the efforts of these lobbyists, the Bush administration and its congressional allies, we have outsourced materials, labor, transportation, advertising and accounting. These same forces now seek to construct a super highway from Texas to Kansas to allow foreign interests to flood the market with further foreign goods. We must pass tax and trade policies which stop and reverse this trend immediately. We are rapidly depleting the national treasure which has been accumulated by our country over the last 200 years. In short ,I am in favor of the export of products not jobs.

What’s your take on the current situation in Iraq?

Our involvement in Iraq is an ill-advised misadventure. To date, the war in Iraq has cost more than $400b, 4,000 American lives, and resulted in tens of thousands of American casualties. We have to ask ourselves: has this action been in the national interest? Are we safer now than we were five years ago? Is this action directly related to American security interests and what has been the cost in lost economic and diplomatic opportunities and American prestige?

There is no argument that Saddam Hussein was a brutal and oppressive dictator. However, he had no weapons of mass destruction and there was no substantial terrorist presence in Iraq prior to our invasion and occupation. Contrast that to our present situation. The invasion and complete destruction of the Iraqi infrastructure has allowed the country to become both a haven and rallying point for international terrorists. It has detracted from the real war on terrorism, having diverted tremendous resources from Afghanistan, which is truly a terrorist haven.

The purpose of the U.S. military is not adventurism or the overthrow of sovereign nations simply because we happen to disagree with the philosophies of those in charge. The American military is the best in the world. They don’t make the decisions as to where to engage in military activity; they go where they are told and do their job in a truly admirable fashion. Their reward has been a callous disregard for the sacrifices they have made. We have tens of thousands of physically and mentally broken veterans who have returned from Iraq, some with injuries so severe that they will never be able to engage in the every-day activities that those of us they protect take for granted. We need to provide the appropriate benefits to give these veterans the best quality of life possible.

As far as continued involvement in Iraq goes, the time has come for the Iraqis to step up to the plate. They’re sitting on the second largest oil reserve in the middle east. They must immediately begin to fund the cost of the restoration of their government, economy, and infrastructure. Their security forces must take responsibility for the policing and defense of their own country in a systematic fashion. American forces should begin an immediate and rapid drawdown, remaining only in an ever-decreasing advisory capacity. It is indeed a shame that the Bush administration’s military adventure created this chaos in Iraq, however, given our situation at home, and the need for a true fight against terrorism, we have neither the military nor economic resources to continue what is, as I said before, an ill-advised misadventure.

Immigration reform is another hot button issue right now. Do you believe it’s as big a problem as some are making it out to be, and what do you think should be done to deal with the illegal immigrants living in the U.S.?

Two tenets must stand inviolate: we are a nation of laws and we are a nation of immigrants. A border fence, either virtual or physical, isn’t the answer: those who cross the border in search of economic well-being will not be put off by either. The problem lies not with those who illegally cross the border for jobs, but with those who knowingly hire undocumented workers. The unrestricted hiring of these workers benefits those who hire them as virtual serfs while denying employment to legal immigrants and low-income citizens who compete for those jobs. Moreover, the unrestricted hiring strains medical, social service, law enforcement and education systems to the breaking point.

I would recommend a sensible immigration policy that considers the all of the following:

- Easily verifiable work documents issued in the home country.
-Strict and firmly enforced penalties for hiring undocumented workers.
-Preference for those with a working command of English.
-English as the official language of the United States.
-Emergency medical care as the sole social service provided to undocumented aliens.

Those undocumented workers already in this country pose a particular challenge, as there’s no method of dealing with their status that will not result in some hardship. Response to the new laws in Arizona indicates that just enforcing the above suggestions will result in many undocumented workers returning to their home countries.

I would recommend a guest worker program be instituted for positions which can not be filled by documented or citizen workers. Preference should be given to those workers who returned to their country of origin voluntarily with further preference awarded for skill, English proficiency, and amount of time spent in the U.S. The guest worker program is not a path to citizenship, but a recognition and acceptance of the service provided. This awards legal worker status and allows the individual to legally get in line for citizenship.

Immigration is an painful and emotionally charged issue. The balance of law and humanity is difficult, but a definitive resolution is essential.

How and/ or why do you think a Democrat can win in this district?

I strongly believe a Democrat could win in this district because a populist Democrat represents the interests of the middle and working class individual – a segment of the population too long neglected in the 1st Congressional District. This district is overwhelmingly made up by middle and working class families. A Democrat who is a strong supporter of national defense and veteran’s affairs has an excellent chance to resonate with the many active duty, retired military, and veterans of our district on both sides of the political divide. My pro-American trade, defense, and veterans’ positions should appeal to the conservative Republicans in our district.

Many who habitually pull the R lever will be encouraged to favor a populist position which expresses their rising concerns regarding healthcare, lost jobs, decreased spending power, and compromised national security. Gaining votes from those who usually vote Republican will be crucial, but it can be done. The policies of the Bush administration and its congressional supporters have created an economic, social, and foreign affairs disaster which grows more apparent day by day. Their policy of placing the interest of business elites above those of the nation and the individual are now readily apparent.

Who would you say are some of your political role-models, either past of present?

I think I would have to say Franklin Roosevelt, because during the 1930’s, when there were Americans literally starving to death, he instituted programs which put people back to work and provided a safety net, literally saving hundreds of thousands from starvation. Arguably, these programs have grown over time and need to be restored to their original purpose. The point is, however, that Roosevelt had the empathy and compassion to push these programs through despite the fact that they were opposed by 90% of congressional Republicans. He proved that even someone of great wealth could be a true populist, standing for the rights of the average American above all.

The same goes for JFK: his “New Frontier” programs included voter rights, civil rights, improved health care, and much need education and welfare reform. Like FDR, he faced considerable opposition from Republicans in Congress. They were only passed after his death as part of the “Great Society” programs of the mid 1960s. Both of these men were also huge proponents of a modern military deterrence second to none. As I said before, while it is true that our social programs are in need of overhaul and revision, the fact remains that it is always the Democrats who pass (over Republican opposition) the laws that benefit middle class and working Americans. My political role models are those people who have been strong on protecting true national interests while not engaging in foreign regime change or distraction; the ones you can trust to “lock the door and turn out the lights.” More recent additions to my list would be Sam Nunn and definitely Jim Webb, who I think would make an excellent President.