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2 Democrats vie to unseat GOP's Weldon(Orlando Sentinel, The (FL) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Aug. 5--TITUSVILLE -- They want the U.S. troops out of Iraq. They are in favor of socialized medicine and boosting the minimum wage. And they want to get elected to Congress in a conservative GOP stronghold. Democratic candidates Bob Bowman and John M. Kennedy are vying for their party's nomination in the Sept. 5 primary election for the 15th Congressional District seat. The two retired scientists, both 71 years old, share some impressive credentials -- and some liberal positions. In fact, Bowman, who once ran for president, has gone so far as to publicly suggest that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were an "inside job" and that Vice President Dick Cheney was the most likely architect. The White House has called those allegations absurd. Whoever wins the primary will face longtime incumbent Rep. Dave Weldon in the November general election. But neither has raised enough money to launch a serious challenge. Weldon, R-Palm Bay, who is seeking a seventh term, has raised more than $500,000 in campaign contributions. Bowman has collected $20,300, and Kennedy hasn't amassed enough to file a form with the Federal Elections Commission. Still, the two Democrats seem confident they have a good shot at winning the seat, which includes parts of Brevard, Osceola, and Polk counties, and all of Indian River County. "I'm running to take back America for the people," said Bowman, of Melbourne, a former nuclear scientist who ran for president in 2000 as a Reform Party candidate. "Mr. Weldon is a lap dog for the fat cats," he said. "He and most of them no longer represent the people who elected them, but the lobbyists who fill their coffers." Kennedy, a retired physicist and political newcomer, said he joined the race because the nation's leaders "are screwing up my country." "Corporate greed has replaced patriotism," he said. "Mr. Weldon's problem is that he doesn't know how to say no to the White House." Both said the key issues in the race are getting the troops out of Iraq, raising the minimum wage, finding alternatives to fossil fuels and providing health care to all Americans. Bowman, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew 101 combat missions in Vietnam, supports a rapid and responsible withdrawal of troops. "Our government should admit it was wrong and give up all rights to Iraqi oil," he said. "The Iraqi war has nothing to do with freedom or human rights or weapons of mass destruction. It has everything to do with money, oil and imperial power." Kennedy, who once ran the "Star Wars" military defense laboratory at the Cape, agrees with a rapid withdrawal but also said the Iraqi people first must be trained to take care of themselves, which will take time and money. He also questioned the country's role in the war and in the world. "It shouldn't be our job to spread freedom all over the world," he said. "And, that's not even why we are in Iraq. Why aren't we in Darfur? We're not there because there's no oil there." Darfur, a region of the Sudan, is currently embroiled in civil war. Bowman wants to establish a nationwide doctor-run, single-payer national health care system. Kennedy said he'd like to investigate how it's done in Europe, adding, "People say it's socialized medicine, but socialized medicine is better than no medicine at all." Both candidates called the $5.15-an-hour minimum wage ludicrous. Bowman said the minimum wage should be tied to inflation and made retroactive, boosting it to $15 an hour. He said ending tax breaks for the wealthy would pay for the sudden increase. Both support research to wean America off fossil fuels, with Kennedy suggesting appointing an "energy czar." Kennedy also cited education as a critical issue and said kids need to be taught how to think -- not how to take tests. Bowman accused Weldon of being on the wrong side of veterans' issues. "On his watch, we lost the VA hospital in Brevard and got a clinic as a consolation prize," he said. "He also has voted to cut VA funding at a time when we are creating thousands of severely injured veterans." Since being elected to the House in 1994, Weldon has faced opponents each election but won easily. Laurin Sellers can be reached at [email protected] or 321-795-3251. |