Winter 2004 Edition     

Steve Rothman   Fair Lawn News asked Congressman Steve Rothman (he lives near Saddle River Road in Fair Lawn) some tough, and not so tough, questions.   Earlier this year, you endorsed Joe Lieberman for President. Is he still your first choice. Are there any other candidates you also support? I still believe that Joe Lieberman is the best person to be President because he is the smartest and most experienced candidate and the one who best knows the needs of the East Coast and in particular New Jersey. He is also very well known and highly regarded by the world's leaders. While I still hope that Joe Lieberman wins and am helping his campaign, I believe that there are several other Democrats who are running for President who would do a much better job than President Bush. Have you have been thinking about running for higher office, like U.S. Senate. Have you been raising money and looking to build support for a statewide race? I am extremely grateful that the people of New Jersey's Ninth Congressional District have elected me four times to represent them in Washington. I recognize what a great privilege it is to serve in Congress and to fight to improve the quality of life for the people of my District. People have suggested that after the last election when I received 70 percent of the vote - the highest margin of victory of anyone ever in the Ninth Congressional District; and representing Bergen County - the county that any Republican would have to win in order to win statewide; and also representing portions of Hudson and Passaic Counties; and given my voting record; that perhaps I could be the candidate to someday represent the entire state of New Jersey. That would be a great honor and a great privilege. In New Jersey, we have two U.S. Senators and a Governor who are doing a very good job representing the people of our state. I intend to support all of them with their reelection campaigns. But you never know when a seat will open up so I am raising money and building support around the state just in case. Do you belong to any organizations in Fair Lawn? How do you stay in touch with the community? As a Fair Lawn resident, I meet and discuss issues and concerns with the people of the Borough all the time. Whether it is at CVS, at the bank, Benny's, the dry cleaners, the video store, or anywhere else around town, I often stop and talk with people who approach me with questions. Additionally, I visit schools, senior centers, veterans' halls, and other community organizations on a regular basis to give speeches and take questions from fellow Fair Lawn residents. Earlier this year, you said "With September 11 very much in my mind, I believe that our government must be proactive in protecting our people and our homeland. The risks of going to war are great, but the risks of not going to war to disarm Saddam Hussein now are far greater." Do you feel the same way, today? Do you feel you had the information you needed to support the President's decision at that time? As someone who supported President Bush's decision to send U.S. troops to Iraq, I am very troubled that the Bush Administration has continuously made statements about Iraq to the Congress and the American people that have proven to be highly exaggerated or for which evidence has not yet been found. Whether it was their saying that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction that posed an imminent threat to the security of the United States, that there would be very little post-war resistance to American occupying forces, or saying that the United States would not have to pay almost the entire cost to reconstruct Iraq, the Bush Administration's claims have proven more often than not to be wrong. Therefore, given their previous, inaccurate claims about Iraq and the U.S.'s role there; it is Congress' job to view with a high degree of skepticism anything this Administration now claims about Iraq. Because the Administration has been, at best, loose with the facts about this war effort from the beginning, the Congress and the American people need to question very deeply this Administration's estimates about the future cost of the war and reconstruction, in U.S. taxpayer dollars, but most importantly in the safety of our military men and women. However, now is not the time to cut and run. Rebuilding Iraq is vital to America's national security. It will stabilize that country, keep it from becoming a training ground for terrorists, serve as a model of democracy in the Middle East, and demonstrate America's resolve not to be intimidated by jihadists and other terrorists. Improving the security situation in Iraq through reconstruction is also crucial to protecting the tens of thousands of U.S. troops on the ground who are subject to snipers and ambushes every day. It is also unacceptable that the Bush Administration would only present a reconstruction plan for the next fifteen months, and would not even offer an estimate of the total cost for the war and reconstruction over the next five years. Either they don't have a fully thought out plan, or inexcusably they are unwilling to talk about U.S. costs in Iraq that will hit taxpayers after the next presidential election. Fair Lawn's previous Congressman, Bob Torricelli was known for dating starlets and celebrities (like Bianca Jagger). Should we expect to see you at the next Academy Awards with a movie star? While I am a huge movie buff and faithfully watch the Academy Awards every year, I do not think that I will get to grace the red carpet with a movie star anytime soon. Though, while I am a devoted father to two great children and co-parent with their mom, who is my dear friend, I am, as was Bob Torricelli, presently single.