A Clear-Headed Heartland Conservative
An Interview with Congressional Candidate Craig McPherson CMC '06
Charles Johnson
Last Updated: 3/6/10 Section: Features
Craig McPherson is running for election in Kansas's third congressional district with a generous help from the education he picked up at Claremont McKenna and at the Henry Salvatori Center, where he was a research assistant. Combining a deep interest in America's Founding Fathers, a PPE major here at CMC, and a law and economics education from George Mason, can the 26-year-old from Kansas win the nomination in a crowded primary field?
In 2006, McPherson served as campaign manager for Republican hopeful Chuck Ahner in the same Kansas district. Ahner was trounced by incumbent Dennis Moore by the widest margin of Moore's 10-year political career. But 2010 is not 2006. McPherson is running for the seat his old boss lost in what is shaping up to be a national referendum on the big government schemes of the Obama administration and its Democratic allies in Congress. The race to replace Democratic incumbent Dennis Moore is heating up. At last count, eight Republicans have emerged, with McPherson announcing in late January.
Charles Johnson: You were a PPE student at Claremont. Do you feel as if that prepared you for a congressional run?
Craig McPherson: PPE is really excellent for delving very thoroughly into subject matters with tutorials with professors. There's that interdisciplinary connection. A lot of what our current congressman lacks is an understanding of what leads to economic growth. They might be strong on some issues, but they don't really have any core philosophy. A lot of them don't understand economics and what they can do becomes limited when they get into office. Without core principles, it is easy for them to become corrupted by the ways of Washington. In addition to that, there's also the CMC curriculum, particularly the study of the founding of our nation, which I got through my government major and in taking classes within the government department. That core philosophy of how the country was founded, the ideals that were a part of it, will help give me a background that will keep me rooted as a congressman.
In 2006, McPherson served as campaign manager for Republican hopeful Chuck Ahner in the same Kansas district. Ahner was trounced by incumbent Dennis Moore by the widest margin of Moore's 10-year political career. But 2010 is not 2006. McPherson is running for the seat his old boss lost in what is shaping up to be a national referendum on the big government schemes of the Obama administration and its Democratic allies in Congress. The race to replace Democratic incumbent Dennis Moore is heating up. At last count, eight Republicans have emerged, with McPherson announcing in late January.
Charles Johnson: You were a PPE student at Claremont. Do you feel as if that prepared you for a congressional run?
Craig McPherson: PPE is really excellent for delving very thoroughly into subject matters with tutorials with professors. There's that interdisciplinary connection. A lot of what our current congressman lacks is an understanding of what leads to economic growth. They might be strong on some issues, but they don't really have any core philosophy. A lot of them don't understand economics and what they can do becomes limited when they get into office. Without core principles, it is easy for them to become corrupted by the ways of Washington. In addition to that, there's also the CMC curriculum, particularly the study of the founding of our nation, which I got through my government major and in taking classes within the government department. That core philosophy of how the country was founded, the ideals that were a part of it, will help give me a background that will keep me rooted as a congressman.
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