Freezing Rain Doesn't Put Damper on Cox's Campaign Spirit

02/24/2007 - By Matt Clark
http://iowapolitics.com

Freezing rain and sleet Saturday afternoon put a damper on previously planned stops for two presidential contenders, but Chicago businessman John Cox kept his commitment.

"Mother nature hasn't cooperated with us today," said Cox to a handful of supporters who braved the weather to attend a late afternoon luncheon at the Marriott.

"I made it in and they didn't," said Cox, referring to fellow Republicans Tommy Thompson and Sam Brownback who were unable to make scheduled appearances because of the weather. "So that says something about my dedication."

Cox said he is excited about campaigning in Iowa, noting he has been to all 99 counties - some two or three times - and plans to continue to make trips to the state.

"I'm excited about the prospect of what this is going to mean for America," Cox said. "I think there are some real changes that are necessary. I'm hoping that this campaign is not going to be all about who Hillary (Clinton) and (Barack) Obama raise money from. I hope it's going to start to talk about issues and the future of this country."

Young people are looking - with increasing criticism - at issues like the Iraq war, the growing size of the federal government and the unfair tax system, the Republican candidate said. This election may bring real change since the vice president isn't running, the race is lacking any real national figure with the full force of 'the political machinery,' he said.

"My message to the young people is to get involved in this presidential campaign, there may not be another one like it for a long time," said Cox. "Most campaigns are decided a lot differently than this one will be."

Kielyn Anderson, a Drake University student, said there are many things that make Cox an attractive candidate, even if he doesn't have the name recognition in Iowa yet.

"In a field that has more... I guess left-leaning candidates, particularly in the Republican Party, John is attracting a lot of social and fiscal conservatives who are looking for that right-of-center candidate," Anderson said.

"I'm a social conservative, but not in the vernacular of some of the other former candidates like Allen Keyes and Gary Bauer or Pat Robertson. I'm not a preacher, I'm an activist," Cox said.

Cox said he approaches his "conservative agenda" from a "practical standpoint" and cited the fact that if abortion was legal in 1955, he may not be here today.

Cox said that abstinence-only sex education in public schools only makes sense.

"I think the message you send when you hand out condoms is, 'it's fine and dandy to have sex,' when you're really not ready to handle it," he said.

On the issue of gay marriage, Cox said that he believes government should encourage a mother and a father raising a child and that he often felt a void growing up without a father.

"I have a sister who is gay and I don't agree with her lifestyle, but I love her and I want her to be happy," Cox said. "I don't want to regulate what goes on in anyone's bedroom, but by the same token I think the institution of marriage is one that should be encouraged in society."

Cox credited "media hype" as part of the reason why other campaigns have taken off faster than his own.

"I think this race is going to be about more than hype, it's going to be about substance," Cox said. "Who would we rather have? An untested senator like Obama who has never worked a day in the private sector in his life or a businessman with management skills, sound judgment, and experience? That's what I have going for me and I think it makes me the most qualified to run this business called U.S. Incorporated."

Former Wisconsin Gov. Thompson cancelled his breakfast scheduled for Saturday morning with College Republicans, but attended a fundraiser for the group Friday night in West Des Moines. Sen. Brownback, R-Kan., was scheduled to address the college Republicans, but also cancelled those plans due to the weather.