Changes

Steve Beren was the 2008 Republican challenger for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott.<ref>Bruce Ramsey. [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/edcetera/2008/11/03/the_challenger_to_jim_mcdermot.html The Challenger to Jim McDermott], ''The Seattle Times'', November 3, 2008.</ref> For the 2008 elections, Steve Beren, as the Republican Party candidate trying to unseat McDermott, said it was a mistake to ditch the Republican Party label.

Steve Beren was the 2008 Republican challenger for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott.<ref>Bruce Ramsey. [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/edcetera/2008/11/03/the_challenger_to_jim_mcdermot.html The Challenger to Jim McDermott], ''The Seattle Times'', November 3, 2008.</ref> For the 2008 elections, Steve Beren, as the Republican Party candidate trying to unseat McDermott, said it was a mistake to ditch the Republican Party label.

He stated, "Have bold colors, wave the Republican flag boldly. Wave fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, immigration conservatism -- boldly."<ref>Dan Springer. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2008/06/24/washington-state-republicans-ditching-party-labels-to-compete/ Washington State Republicans Ditch Party Labels to Compete], FOXNews.com, June 24, 2008.</ref>  

He stated, "Have bold colors, wave the Republican [[flag]] boldly. Wave fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, immigration conservatism -- boldly."<ref>Dan Springer. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2008/06/24/washington-state-republicans-ditching-party-labels-to-compete/ Washington State Republicans Ditch Party Labels to Compete], FOXNews.com, June 24, 2008.</ref>  

Beren's 2008 campaign website said, "Steve Beren is promoting conservative values, free market solutions, constitutional principles, and Republican policies right in the heart of Seattle and King County.  Steve Beren stands for the GOP - the party of Abraham Lincoln - the party of Teddy Roosevelt - the party of Ronald Reagan.  Steve Beren is running to help the overall effort of GOP campaigns in King County (www.kcgop.org), Washington State (www.wsrp.org), and nationally (www.gop.org).  While the 7th congressional district is heavily Democratic, even a small incremental increase in the GOP percentage will make a difference in the overall GOP effort."<ref>[http://www.berenforcongress.com/boldcolors.html Steve Beren on Special Report with Brit Hume]</ref>

Beren's 2008 campaign website said, "Steve Beren is promoting conservative values, free market solutions, constitutional principles, and Republican policies right in the heart of Seattle and King County.  Steve Beren stands for the GOP - the party of [[Abraham Lincoln]] - the party of [[Teddy Roosevelt]] - the party of [[Ronald Reagan]].  Steve Beren is running to help the overall effort of GOP campaigns in King County ([http://www.kcgop.org/sitemax/ www.kcgop.org]), [[Washington]] ([http://wsrp.org www.wsrp.org]), and nationally ([http://gop.org www.gop.org]).  While the 7th congressional district is heavily Democratic, even a small incremental increase in the [[GOP]] percentage will make a difference in the overall GOP effort."<ref>[http://www.berenforcongress.com/boldcolors.html Steve Beren on Special Report with Brit Hume]</ref>

As in the 2006 elections, Beren acknowledged the difficulty of getting elected as a Republican in Seattle. The 10-term Jim McDermott is a liberal Democrat who has never gotten less than three-quarters of the vote in a re-election run. Despite the challenge, Steve Beren still ran a 30-second radio ad, urging Seattle's heavily Democratic voters: "C'mon, vote Republican for a change!"<ref>Emily Heffter. [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/politicsnorthwest/2008/10/02/cmon_vote_republican_for_a_cha.html 'C'mon, vote Republican for a change!'], ''The Seattle Times'', October 2, 2008.</ref> Beren also stated, in his plan to drill more domestic oil, "I'll help [[John McCain]] and [[Sarah Palin]] shake things up."

As in the 2006 elections, Beren acknowledged the difficulty of getting elected as a Republican in Seattle. The 10-term Jim McDermott is a liberal Democrat who has never gotten less than three-quarters of the vote in a re-election run. Despite the challenge, Steve Beren still ran a 30-second radio ad, urging Seattle's heavily Democratic voters: "C'mon, vote Republican for a change!"<ref>Emily Heffter. [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/politicsnorthwest/2008/10/02/cmon_vote_republican_for_a_cha.html 'C'mon, vote Republican for a change!'], ''The Seattle Times'', October 2, 2008.</ref> Beren also stated, in his plan to drill more domestic oil, "I'll help [[John McCain]] and [[Sarah Palin]] shake things up."