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'''Steve Beren''' (born September 9, 1951, [[New York, New York]]) is a speaker, writer, and political activist from Seattle, Washington.  Beren was also the 2008 Republican candidate for [[U.S. Congress]] in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic Congressman [[Jim McDermott]].<ref>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348203_congress22.html</ref>
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'''Steve Beren''' (born September 9, 1951, [[New York, New York]]) is a speaker, writer, and political activist from [[Seattle]], [[Washington State|Washington]].  He is a pro-liberty conservative citizen in support of the U.S. led war against [[terrorism]], and is actively involved in the [[Tea Party Movement]]Beren attended the [[Tax Day Tea Party]] on April 15, 2009, as well the September 12, 2009 National Taxpayers [[Tea party protests#September 12 March on Washington|Tea Party March on Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[http://www.steveberen.com/taxdayteaparty.html Tax Day Tea Party], SteveBeren.com.</ref> Steve Beren has run twice for Congress, campaigning for the 2006 and 2008 elections.<ref>Aaron. [http://www.rlc.org/2009/02/05/economic-stimulus/ Stimulus – Wasteful, harmful, job-killing, and a threat to liberty], RLC.org, ''Republican Liberty Caucus'', February 5, 2009.</ref> Beren was the 2008 Republican candidate for [[U.S. Congress]] in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic Congressman [[Jim McDermott]].<ref>[http://neo-neocon.blogspot.com/2006/10/steve-beren-changer-extraordinaire.html Steve Beren, changer extraordinaire: from Socialist to Republican]</ref> He had also been mentioned as a possible conservative candidate for city council in the Seattle 2007 elections.<ref>Neil Modie. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/296534_seattlegop20.html GOP seeking unlikely victories in Seattle], ''seattlepi.com'', December 20, 2006.</ref>
  
Beren, an outspoken defender and advocate of the U.S. military commitment in Iraq. His campaign is emphasizing the issues of foreign policy, immigration, the economy, and social conservatismHis goal is to start rebuilding the Republican Party in Seattle, and to get dialogue going on major issues.<ref>http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/121513.asp</ref>
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Steve Beren became a [[Christian]] in 1995. He and his [[wife]] live in the Seattle area where they are members of [[Christian Faith Center]].<ref>[http://www.steveberen.com/biography.html Steve Beren biography]</ref> Furthermore, Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is currently director of production operations for an internet marketing company.<ref>Scott St. Clair. [http://crosscut.com/2008/04/28/2008-election/13760/ GOP journal: Report from a county convention], ''Crosscut.com'', April 28, 2008.</ref>
  
Beren had been mentioned as a possible conservative candidate for city council in the Seattle 2007 elections.<ref>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/296534_seattlegop20.html</ref>  
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==Former leftist==
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Born in [[New York City]], Beren was raised in a non-religious, secular [[Jewish]] home and later became an [[atheist]]. From 1968 to 1990 he was an activist for the [[Socialist Workers Party]], a party inspired by [[Leon Trotsky]] and a defender of [[Fidel Castro]]. Steve Beren was a [[socialist]] and [[Vietnam War]] protester in the 1960s and '70s. After settling in Seattle in 1987, he quit the SWP in 1990 and became a Democrat in 1992, voting twice for [[Bill Clinton]] and once for [[Al Gore]]. Seattle's two daily newspapers described him as a former [[Democrat]] and former [[liberal]].<ref name=rams09/>  
  
Beren also opposed McDermott in 2006, receiving 16% of the vote against McDermott's 79%.  In 2006, the main issues Beren's campaign focused on were victory in the war against terrorism, tough border security, limited government, and energy independence.
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In 1995, Steve Beren converted from [[atheism]] to [[Christianity]]. He became a Republican at age 52, during the 2004 Bush-Kerry campaign. The [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] were influential in his turn toward the [[Republican Party]].<ref name=rams09>Bruce Ramsey. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003184531_rams09.html McDermott challenger knows a little something about the left], ''The Seattle Times'',August 9, 2006.</ref> After the [[9/11|Sept. 11, 2001]], [[terrorist]] attacks, he said, "[I] came to see that the Republican Party was far superior on foreign policy."<ref>Emily Heffter. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008112747_mcdermott14m.html McDermott faces 5 challengers but no real re-election challenge], ''The Seattle Times'', August 14, 2008.</ref> Since then he has become an evangelical Christian, a patriot, and a [[conservative]] Republican.  
  
During the 2006 campaign, Seattle Times columnist David Postman criticized Beren's immigration stance and argued that Beren's candidacy would not "appeal to the state's most liberal congressional district."<ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003034269_postmanpolitics02.html</ref>  Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Kristin Millares Bolt wrote that Beren had the "strident tones" of a true believer.<ref>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/289864_mcdermottrace25.html</ref>
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==Campaign for Congress==
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===Iraq War===
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Beren is an outspoken defender and advocate of the [[United States military|U.S. military]] commitment in [[Iraq]], as a strong supporter of the Iraq war, the [[Patriot Act]] and the [[Bush administration|Bush administration's]] use of wiretapping to disrupt terrost networks and activities.<ref name=postmanpolitics02>David Postman. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003034269_postmanpolitics02.html Sacrificial lamb or GOP star?], ''The Seattle Times'', June 2, 2006.</ref>  His campaigns emphasized the issues of foreign policy, immigration, the economy, and social conservatism.  His goal is to start rebuilding the Republican Party in Seattle, and to get dialogue going on major issues.<ref>Joel Connelly. [http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/121513.asp Beren for Congress], ''seattlepi'', September 10, 2007.</ref>  
  
In reporting on one of Beren's 2006 debates with McDermott, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly said Beren resorted to "Vietnam-era sound bites" and "displays a convert's zealotry toward the Iraq conflict."<ref>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/287986_joel09.html</ref> Also in 2006, Seattle Times editorial writer Ryan Blethen questioned Beren's qualifications and chances against an incumbent who has never received less than 72% of the vote in a general election.<ref>http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/</ref>
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===2006 elections===
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Beren opposed McDermott in 2006, receiving 16% of the vote against McDermott's 79%In 2006, the main issues Beren's campaign focused on were victory in the war against terrorism, tough border security, limited government, and energy independence.
  
During their October 5, 2006 debate in Shoreline, Washington, Congressman McDermott said of Beren, "having listened to my opponent here, I think you have a clear choice.... If you like what George Bush has done to this country for the last six years, vote for Steve because he needs another one - he needs another vote."
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During the 2006 campaign, Seattle Times columnist David Postman criticized Beren's immigration stance and argued that Beren's candidacy would not "appeal to the state's most liberal congressional district."<ref name=postmanpolitics02/> Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Kristin Millares Bolt wrote that Beren had the "strident tones" of a true believer.<ref>Kristin Millares Bolt. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/289864_mcdermottrace25.html McDermott, rivals to debate tonight], ''seattlepi.com'', October 25, 2006.</ref> 
  
In 2005, Beren came under sharp criticism from Hussein Ibish, Vice-Chair of the Progressive Muslim Union of North America.<ref>http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/05/kamal_nawashs_s.php</ref>
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In reporting on one of Beren's 2006 debates with McDermott, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly said Beren resorted to "Vietnam-era sound bites" and "displays a convert's zealotry toward the Iraq conflict."<ref>Joel Connelly. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/287986_joel09.html General urges U.S. to revise Iraq plan], seattlepi.com, October 9, 2006.</ref>  Also in 2006, Seattle Times editorial writer Ryan Blethen questioned Beren's qualifications and chances against an incumbent who has never received less than 72% of the vote in a general election.<ref>http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/</ref>
  
==Personal information==
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===2008 elections===
Born in [[New York City]], Beren states that he was raised in a non-religious, secular [[Jewish]] home and later became an [[atheist]]. From 1968 to 1990 he was an activist for the Socialist Workers Party and a defender of [[Fidel Castro]]. By 1990 he quit the SWP. After that he became a supporter of the Democratic Party.  In 1995 he converted from atheism to Christianity.  He became a Republican at age 52, during the 2004 Bush-Kerry campaign. The [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] was influential in his turn toward the Republican Party.<ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003184531_rams09.html</ref>  
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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.
  
Further Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is currently director of production operations for an internet marketing company. He and his wife are members of Christian Faith Center.
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He stated, "Have bold colors, wave the Republican [[flag]] boldly. Wave fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, immigration conservatism -- boldly."<ref>Dan Springer. [https://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>
  
== External links ==
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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>
*[http://www.berenforcongress.com Steve Beren's official campaign website]
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*[http://www.steveberen.com Steve Beren's speaking tour website]
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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."
*[http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/13760/ GOP journal: Report from a county convention - Beren "one of the most optimistic"] by Scott St. Clair, Crosscut.com, 4/28/08
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*[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348203_congress22.html State's U.S. House seats don't flip parties easily - Beren is running again this year] by Neil Modie, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/22/08
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For Beren, his race wasn't about winning or losing in the short term. It was about creating an atmosphere in Seattle's Seventh Congressional District which is encouraging enough to get some of the Emerald City's closet conservatives out to the polls. On elections night, Beren said, "We're sowing the seeds for the future."<ref>Don Ward. [http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2008/11/steve_beren_on_election_night.php Steve Beren On Election Night], ''Seattle Weekly'', November 4, 2008.</ref>
*[http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/121513.asp Beren for Congress - Seattle businessman getting ready for second campaign against McDermott] by Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 9/21/07
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*[http://soundpolitics.com/archives/008551.html Steve Beren on the McDermott decision] by Jim Miller, SoundPolitics.com, 5/2/07
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*[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/296534_seattlegop20.html GOP seeking unlikely victories in Seattle - Beren might run for Seattle City Council] by Neil Modie, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12/20/06
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*[http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/general/Results.aspx?o=1f491303-47d6-4c81-b168-b93a493c2a24 2006 General Election Results,] Washington Secretary of State
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*[http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1106ENDORSEMENTS_192 Endorsements 2006: Washington - Esquire endorses Beren] Esquire Magazine, November 2006
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*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003325106_ryan27.html There should be a place for a candidate like this] by Ryan Blethen, Seattle Times, 10/27/06
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*[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/289864_mcdermottrace25.html McDermott, rivals to debate tonight] by Kristen Millares Bolt, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/25/06
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*[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/287986_joel09.html General urges U.S. to revise Iraq plan - Beren displays zealotry toward the Iraq conflict] by Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/9/06
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*[http://neo-neocon.blogspot.com/2006/10/steve-beren-changer-extraordinaire_06.html Steve Beren, changer extraordinaire: part II] by Neo-Neocon, 10/6/06
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*[http://neo-neocon.blogspot.com/2006/10/steve-beren-changer-extraordinaire.html Steve Beren, changer extraordinaire: from socialist to Republican: part I] by Neo-neocon, 10/5/06
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*[http://soundpolitics.com/archives/007023.html Beren, McDermott to debate in Shoreline] by Andy MacDonald, SoundPolitics.com, 10/4/06
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*[http://soundpolitics.com/archives/006640.html Steve Beren: from socialism to the GOP] by Matt Rosenberg, SoundPolitics.com, 8/9/06
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*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003184531_rams09.html McDermott challenger knows a little something about the left] by Bruce Ramsey, Seattle Times, 8/9/06
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*[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/278854_joel26.html Credit 2 House long shots for challenging safe seats] by Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/26/06
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*[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003034269_postmanpolitics02.html Sacrificial lamb or GOP star?] by David Postman, Seattle Times, 6/2/06
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*[http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/05/kamal_nawashs_s.php Kamal Nawash's Very, Very Strange Bedfellows] by Hussein Ibish, 5/12/05
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==References==
 
==References==
 
<references />
 
<references />
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== External links ==
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*[http://www.berenforcongress.com Steve Beren's official campaign site]
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*[http://www.tcunation.com/profiles/blog/list?user=18w56r761mw34 Steve Beren's Blog] - TCUnation
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*[http://www.berenforcongress.com/news.html News] - Steve Beren in the news
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*[http://www.steveberen.com/healthcare2009.html "something fishy about government-run healthcare"] - Beren's open letter to President Obama
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*[http://www.steveberen.com/conservatism.html Conservatism]- Steve Beren, 7 distractions Conservatives must avoid
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*[http://www.vote.wa.gov/Elections/PrimaryResults/Results.aspx?o=1f491303-47d6-4c81-b168-b93a493c2a24 2006 Primary Election Results]
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*[http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/general/Results.aspx?o=1f491303-47d6-4c81-b168-b93a493c2a24 2006 General Election Results]
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*[http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?ElectionID=25&JurisdictionTypeID=3&JurisdictionID=153&ViewMode=Results August 19, 2008 Top 2 Primary]
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*[http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?ElectionID=26&JurisdictionTypeID=3&JurisdictionID=153&ViewMode=Results November 4, 2008 General Election]
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==See also==
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[[Jim McDermott]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Beren, Steve}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beren, Steve}}
 
[[Category:Political Activists]]
 
[[Category:Political Activists]]
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[[Category:Conservatives]]
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[[Category:Christians]]
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[[Category:Former Liberals]]
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[[Category:Former Leftists]]
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[[Category:Former Atheists]]

Latest revision as of 22:00, April 9, 2019

Steve Beren (born September 9, 1951, New York, New York) is a speaker, writer, and political activist from Seattle, Washington. He is a pro-liberty conservative citizen in support of the U.S. led war against terrorism, and is actively involved in the Tea Party Movement. Beren attended the Tax Day Tea Party on April 15, 2009, as well the September 12, 2009 National Taxpayers Tea Party March on Washington, D.C.[1] Steve Beren has run twice for Congress, campaigning for the 2006 and 2008 elections.[2] Beren was the 2008 Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott.[3] He had also been mentioned as a possible conservative candidate for city council in the Seattle 2007 elections.[4]

Steve Beren became a Christian in 1995. He and his wife live in the Seattle area where they are members of Christian Faith Center.[5] Furthermore, Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is currently director of production operations for an internet marketing company.[6]

Former leftist

Born in New York City, Beren was raised in a non-religious, secular Jewish home and later became an atheist. From 1968 to 1990 he was an activist for the Socialist Workers Party, a party inspired by Leon Trotsky and a defender of Fidel Castro. Steve Beren was a socialist and Vietnam War protester in the 1960s and '70s. After settling in Seattle in 1987, he quit the SWP in 1990 and became a Democrat in 1992, voting twice for Bill Clinton and once for Al Gore. Seattle's two daily newspapers described him as a former Democrat and former liberal.[7]

In 1995, Steve Beren converted from atheism to Christianity. He became a Republican at age 52, during the 2004 Bush-Kerry campaign. The September 11, 2001 attacks were influential in his turn toward the Republican Party.[7] After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he said, "[I] came to see that the Republican Party was far superior on foreign policy."[8] Since then he has become an evangelical Christian, a patriot, and a conservative Republican.

Campaign for Congress

Iraq War

Beren is an outspoken defender and advocate of the U.S. military commitment in Iraq, as a strong supporter of the Iraq war, the Patriot Act and the Bush administration's use of wiretapping to disrupt terrost networks and activities.[9] His campaigns emphasized the issues of foreign policy, immigration, the economy, and social conservatism. His goal is to start rebuilding the Republican Party in Seattle, and to get dialogue going on major issues.[10]

2006 elections

Beren opposed McDermott in 2006, receiving 16% of the vote against McDermott's 79%. In 2006, the main issues Beren's campaign focused on were victory in the war against terrorism, tough border security, limited government, and energy independence.

During the 2006 campaign, Seattle Times columnist David Postman criticized Beren's immigration stance and argued that Beren's candidacy would not "appeal to the state's most liberal congressional district."[9] Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Kristin Millares Bolt wrote that Beren had the "strident tones" of a true believer.[11]

In reporting on one of Beren's 2006 debates with McDermott, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly said Beren resorted to "Vietnam-era sound bites" and "displays a convert's zealotry toward the Iraq conflict."[12] Also in 2006, Seattle Times editorial writer Ryan Blethen questioned Beren's qualifications and chances against an incumbent who has never received less than 72% of the vote in a general election.[13]

2008 elections

Steve Beren was the 2008 Republican challenger for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott.[14] 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."[15]

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 (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."[16]

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!"[17] Beren also stated, in his plan to drill more domestic oil, "I'll help John McCain and Sarah Palin shake things up."

For Beren, his race wasn't about winning or losing in the short term. It was about creating an atmosphere in Seattle's Seventh Congressional District which is encouraging enough to get some of the Emerald City's closet conservatives out to the polls. On elections night, Beren said, "We're sowing the seeds for the future."[18]

References

  1. Tax Day Tea Party, SteveBeren.com.
  2. Aaron. Stimulus – Wasteful, harmful, job-killing, and a threat to liberty, RLC.org, Republican Liberty Caucus, February 5, 2009.
  3. Steve Beren, changer extraordinaire: from Socialist to Republican
  4. Neil Modie. GOP seeking unlikely victories in Seattle, seattlepi.com, December 20, 2006.
  5. Steve Beren biography
  6. Scott St. Clair. GOP journal: Report from a county convention, Crosscut.com, April 28, 2008.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Bruce Ramsey. McDermott challenger knows a little something about the left, The Seattle Times,August 9, 2006.
  8. Emily Heffter. McDermott faces 5 challengers but no real re-election challenge, The Seattle Times, August 14, 2008.
  9. 9.0 9.1 David Postman. Sacrificial lamb or GOP star?, The Seattle Times, June 2, 2006.
  10. Joel Connelly. Beren for Congress, seattlepi, September 10, 2007.
  11. Kristin Millares Bolt. McDermott, rivals to debate tonight, seattlepi.com, October 25, 2006.
  12. Joel Connelly. General urges U.S. to revise Iraq plan, seattlepi.com, October 9, 2006.
  13. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/
  14. Bruce Ramsey. The Challenger to Jim McDermott, The Seattle Times, November 3, 2008.
  15. Dan Springer. Washington State Republicans Ditch Party Labels to Compete, FOXNews.com, June 24, 2008.
  16. Steve Beren on Special Report with Brit Hume
  17. Emily Heffter. 'C'mon, vote Republican for a change!', The Seattle Times, October 2, 2008.
  18. Don Ward. Steve Beren On Election Night, Seattle Weekly, November 4, 2008.

External links

See also

Jim McDermott