House Democratic Leader Kevin McCarthy (D-Des Moines) is the guest on this evening's IPTV program, "Iowa Press." (He made news about the Iowa Communications Network during the show.) At the end of the "Iowa Press" program, I asked him about his political aspirations.
Henderson: "You are a full-time legislator and a full-time attorney. What is your political future?"
McCarthy: "I don't know. I think about that sometimes of whether I should not have a political future (laugh), maybe go and try to make some money for my family for a change. It's a lot different from what people (think). If you have got a private career and you serve as a citizen-legislator, it's a financial sacrifice in most cases both in time and in resources and that's why I admire a lot of my colleagues who are up here, volunteering their time, but I don't have any plans other than getting through this session." (Laughter)
A.P.'s Mike Glover: "Let's get a little bit more specific, if we could. The congressman who represents Des Moines and the central part of the state is getting up there. He's got some grey hairs in his head — Leonard Boswell. Have you ever given any thought to that seat?"
McCarthy: "No."
Glover: "Congress is not an option for you."
McCarthy: "No."
Glover: "Why?"
McCarthy: "Just wouldn't be interested. I'm a little scared of plane travel. I'm not a big fan of flying. Going back and forth all the time would probably be more than I could handle."
After the program, Rod Boshart of The Cedar Rapids Gazette followed up. "You indicated that one of the drawbacks, looking at congress, was the flying issue. Is this something like John Madden that you're strictly a stay on the ground (guy)?"
"I don't know. I'm just scared of flying," McCarthy replied, laughing. "I don't know that there is anything beyond that. I always have been."
"Take off? Landing?" Tom Beaumont of The Des Moines Register asked.
"My palms are getting sweaty just thinking about it," McCarthy replief, with a laugh.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Boswell needs to go but Dems can do a lot better than McCarthy. Anyone else remember that his first choice for president was Joe Lieberman?