Sep 20 2012

Progressive Candidate Poses Challenge to Long-Time Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher

Orange County Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher added his opinion to the fray over protests in the Muslim world by tweeting, that it would be “outrageous if our gov[ernment] kisses rad[ical] Islam[‘s] feet by intimidating any one using free speech 2 criticize Islam.” Rohrabacher has mirrored Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s line on the issue.

Rohrabacher has served as an OC Congressman for nearly thirty years, after initially promising to serve no more than a few terms. He represents Congressional District 48, which after redistricting, now includes Seal Beach, Midway City, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, and Laguna Niguel plus parts of Westminster, Santa Ana, Irvine, Laguna Woods, and Laguna Hills.

Democrats have rarely bothered facing off Rohrabacher, who is up for reelection this November. Now, a progressive Democrat, Ron Varasteh, has taken up the challenge, hoping to oust the conservative incumbent. Rohrabacher was easily the top vote getter in this past June’s primary election, garnering 65.8% of the vote. However, Varasteh won 29.3%, making him eligible to run off against Rohrabacher in November.

Ron Varasteh describes himself as a “scientist and an engineer by education, a small business owner, …a 30+ year resident of Orange County, and an activist.” He was also instrumental in organizing Occupy Orange County in Irvine last year. He has made a set of 52 promises if elected, which include supporting a “fair and effective jobs bill,” pulling out of “unfair free trade agreements,” reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act, labeling genetically modified food, and legalizing and taxing marijuana.

GUEST: Ron Varasteh, Democrat running for California’s 48th Congressional District

Visit Ron’s website at www.ron4u.com.

3 responses so far

3 Responses to “Progressive Candidate Poses Challenge to Long-Time Republican Representative Dana Rohrabacher”

  1. Necla Maddenon 21 Sep 2012 at 7:15 pm

    Ron is a great guy, a smart progressive intellectual, with great enthusiasm to work for us the PEOPLE in Washington DC. as our next CONGRESSMAN.
    We have to retire Dana Rohrabacher from office. He has not done anything for us the PEOPLE since more than 26 yrs. in DC. but fill his deep pockets.

  2. carlon 01 Oct 2012 at 8:16 pm

    Will you be in attendance for the 10/19/12 candidates forum in Laguna Beach to provide an Uprising Voice?

  3. Eric Gon 19 Oct 2012 at 11:27 pm

    I have known Ron for over twenty years. I can wholeheartdly assure you he is for real. This platform he stands upon is what he has been talking about and taking action on without waiver for as long as I have known him. He is truly non partisin whether you are a democrate or a repbulican he will represent you and fight for the greater good of us all in, his district and our nation.

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