Jerome Corsi |
"Unfit For Command" co-author Jerome Corsi, fresh from establishing a committee to explore a run for John Kerry's Senate seat, says he has no illusions about the difficulty of challenging the man he helped defeat in the 2004 presidential election.
Corsi, 59, whose book is widely regarded as a key factor in President Bush's victory, still lives in New Jersey but is prepared to move to Massachusetts if the exploratory panel, announced this week, believes a Bay State campaign is viable.
"There are many hurdles," he told WND, "not the least of which is it's a very liberal state."
But Corsi, an admirer of Ronald Reagan who identifies himself as a pro-life, social conservative, believes it's important to help establish a conservative base in Massachusetts and continue to confront Kerry on issues, including unresolved matters related to the Vietnam War. Kerry still has not allowed full access to his controversial war records.
"I'm not afraid to go into a hostile environment and articulate themes I believe in," Corsi said.
He anticipates being "severely and unfairly attacked," pointing out intense criticism over remarks he made on the FreeRepublic.com forum, which "detractors continue to take out of context."
"I feel great sympathy for Bill Bennett," said Corsi, referring to the former Reagan staffer's recent controversial remarks. "The political left is not tolerant of anybody on the political right who makes sharp or provocative statements, and they are more interested in character assassination than in legitimate political debate."
But Corsi, who has a Ph.D. from Harvard University, says he won't plunge into the race "if it looks like it will just be a sympathetic effort that has no chance for success."
He has not registered with the Federal Election Commission, but his committee has taken the first step, obtaining an IRS identification.
A managing partner of U.S. Financial Marketing Group, Corsi sold his interest in the company and awaits the launch of his latest book, "Black Gold Stranglehold," an examination of U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
His previous book, published by WND Books, "Atomic Iran: How the Terrorist Regime Bought the Bomb and American Politicians," led to his establishment of the Iran Freedom Foundation, a group helping promote democratic change in Tehran.
Earlier his year, Corsi, a WND columnist, testified before the Israeli Knesset on Iran's nuclear threat and led an "Iran Liberty Walk" from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., that drew attention in Iran.
He points out that in addition to living in Boston while studying at Harvard from 1968 to 1972, he spent summers in Framingham, Mass., while growing up and says he always has hoped to establish a residence in Boston.
Kerry has indicated an interest in another try at the White House in 2008, recently garnering the endorsement of Massachusetts colleague Sen. Edward Kennedy. Corsi said he will consider running regardless of whether Kerry seeks to retain his Senate seat.
Responding to Corsi's exploratory committee, Massachusetts Democratic Party chairman, Philip W. Johnston, issued a statement Thursday.
''Massachusetts will not welcome a candidate whose calling card is slandering Catholics, the pope, Jews, and Vietnam veterans," Johnston said, according to the Boston Globe.
During the 2004 campaign, Kerry supporters dismissed Corsi and the swiftboat veterans about whom he wrote as "stooges" of the Bush administration. But the author says his recent investigative stories for WND on Supreme Court justice nominee Harriet Miers and her role in Texas scandals in the 1990s, should put that to rest.
Nevertheless, Corsi said, "It grieves me to have to do this, and I've called for the nomination to be withdrawn so the speculation and criticism, which has not been productive, would end."
Corsi said he strongly believes in an originalist interpretation of the Constitution.
Referring to the Miers controversy, he said, "I would have preferred the nomination of a clear originalist, a clear conservative with a good record, man or woman.
He is opposed to "stealth nominations," candidates with little or no written record who presumably can be more easily confirmed.
"If it took a fight in the Senate, I would have welcomed that happening, because it would have cleared the air and gotten a debate on the national agenda," he said.
Corsi believes the Supreme Court has gone "far adrift," legislating social positions.
Summarizing some of his views, he's against same-sex marriage, is "very strongly opposed to growth of government," believes the welfare system is "out of control" and says, "I do not want to see God removed from the U.S. of A."
He's eager to confront issues important to conservatives, he said, and is not afraid of being provocative.
"We can have civil debate, but I don't think it has to be within the constraints of the politically correct left," Corsi said.
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