U.S. Senate Candidate Sam Kephart: 'I’m a populist first'

The Yankton Press & Dakotan has an article on Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Kephart of Spearfish today.

Kephart said the majority of the nation’s problems come to down to power struggles.

“It’s not as much about partisan (politics), Democrats against Republicans, as it is about the ‘Ins’ versus the ‘Outs’,” he said. “Those with power are constantly struggling to keep the power, while those without power are constantly struggling to gain the power. How are we going to address the real issues if it is all about power? Well, we can’t and we’ll leave one big mess for the next generation.”

I'd have to agree that there are many in both parties who play things that way; they're more interested in power than advancing a philosophy or agenda.

But there are still plenty, in elected office and even more in the rank and file, who committed to ideas which will either help or hurt our country.

In the article, Kephart doesn't describe himself as a typical Republican:

Although Kephart, who is seeking the seat currently held by Sen. Tim Johnson, describes himself as a relatively conservative Republican, he says he is not a party ideologue.

“I’m an idealist, not an ideologue,” he said. “I don’t think that the I’m right so you’re wrong mentality is any way to build bridges.”

And

“I’m a populist first, which sets me apart from the other candidates,” he said.

I have to be honest, and I don't think this will come as a surprise to anyone who knows me: I'm not interested in building bridges to destructive agendas and working with people who are taking this country down the path to hell. Sorry, I'm just not. I know that sometimes you can't get everything you want, and sometimes you have to compromise, but compromise is far from Choice #1 (and I think it is for most people, if they'd admit it).

As for populism, to me that's a euphemism for "finger-in-the-wind politics," which doesn't constitute leadership.

We are a nation of laws, and are supposed to be governed by a Constitution. That means all laws apply equally to everyone. What's "popular" is irrelevant if it conflicts with our laws and the values of our Constitution.

I had a very pleasant and enjoyable lunch with Sam last year when I interviewed him for a column in the Rapid City Journal.

He's definitely a political outsider, if you're looking for someone who hasn't been a part of the process, and he's an "outside the box" thinker. He has some good ideas.

These qualities have their advantages, but I'd prefer someone who's more interested in working hard to implement ideas which benefit our nation and take us in the right direction, than in building bridges to dead-end ideas.