Ca - 48th Steve Young LA Times Interview

[Cross Posted at Steve Young - Ca 48th]

Steve has been on local and LA area radio doing interviews and had articles and interviews in local newspapers. He's been on Al Franken's and Randi Rhodes. As important at these big names are they are mostly preaching-to-the-choir shows.

Now he's made the LA Times and in a major column. Dana Parson's did a pretty good job of playing the non-believer and I haven't talked to Steve to get his feel for how he thought it went but Steve came out very well.

The 48th is Christopher Cox's district and he dominated it since 1988 with wins in the 60% range and 72% in 1994. Parson's is trying to make the point that Steve doesn't stand a chance but Steve begs to disagree with

"Your premise is that Campbell is another Cox, and the answer is no," Young says. He challenges my assessment that the district, which includes coastal Orange County cities and moves inland as far as Irvine and Tustin, is "impregnable" to Democrats.

In another exchange Parson's is still making Steve's lose a forgone conclusion. Steve's having none of it.

The Campbell campaign "is anticipating a comfortable margin of victory" and that its 49% GOP registration in the district gives it a sizable advantage, Greene notes.

I must say, it sounds like business as usual in the district.

Which prompts me to ask Young, as politely as I could, if he were on a fool's errand. "I don't believe in sacrificial lambs," he says.

"But what I do feel is this campaign is less about me as an individual and more about a movement, the sense of the people wanting responsiveness again and input. That's what we're offering."

Earlier Parson's mentioned that Steve

...prides himself on giving any voter his private cellphone number.

Then to finish off the column Parsons has one

...last question, I wanted to double-check something.

"Are you sure you want voters calling your cellphone?" I ask.

"Yeah," he says, cheerfully, "I do."

Pure Steve Young; a man who, if you spent time with him you would know that he's not just playing politics when he says that.

•  I didn't know the name of the Republican...

  ... since the only signs I have seen in the district are for Steve Young.

  by Explorer8939 on Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 10:25:07 AM PDT

  •  Good point

    John Campbell.

    He so unlike Steve. John is stiff, insecure and a bowing servant to Bush. Early on in the special election to replace Cox but after the primaries John was called to Washington and obviously got his marching orders. In debates he sounds like he's a robot spouting his track programmed earlier to respond to certain key words.

    by CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream on Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 10:45:09 AM PDT

  •  Huh?

    Explorer, that is such trolling nonsense....ignore this guy....God knows what he is trying to accomplish....Everyone knows in the District in question that John Campbell is the incumbent.....

    by MKS on Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 01:18:56 PM PDT

    •  I just took his comment at face value.

      But Steve did tell me the other day that Campbell is not doing any TV ads or any advertising at all because they believe they have a lock on it.

      I just know the differences from the primary and what the campaign is doing different. I've seen Steve with voters and know how Bush's power grabs have got be affecting voters in this district in general.

      I don't know if it's all enough to put Steve over the top but I've got a good feeling about this after being a volunteer with campaign for over a year now. I know it's going to be a lot closer than people think.

      by CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream on Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 07:18:53 PM PDT

      •  Agreed

        Steve Young is a battler--and John Campbell is too scared to take him on directly....At minimum, Steve is making sure John stays home in is onw district instead of helping to create racist attacks elsewhere.

        by MKS on Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 08:51:46 PM PDT

•  Steve Young is GREAT!!!

  I thought the article was really depressing on the side of the reporter.  Steve did a GREAT JOB!

  I voted for him.  I think he would make an EXCELLENT Congressman.  He is an excellent lawyer, he has strength. He cares about people. He is smart, organized, and a TIGER.

  In a Republican district, I find it funny that most people I talk to are voting for DEMOCRATS this year.

  by Eyes Wide Open on Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 10:27:23 AM PDT

  •  The article had the feel

    of a Dana getting to know Steve to me. He didn't end up at all rah-rah but he did manage to allow Steve to be Steve.

    by CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream on Sun Oct 29, 2006 at 10:41:35 AM PDT