Steve Beren
Encyclopedia
Steve Beren is an American speaker, writer, and political activist from Seattle, Washington. Beren was also the 2006 and 2008 Republican
candidate for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic
Congressman Jim McDermott
.
Beren is a Tea Party activist, fiscal conservative, and an outspoken advocate for victory against terrorism. His campaigns have emphasized the issues of limited government
, fiscal conservatism
, foreign policy, immigration, and social conservatism
. His goal is to start rebuilding the Republican Party in Seattle, and to get dialogue going on major issues. Beren has been quoted by Fox News as saying that Republicans should "have bold colors, wave the Republican flag boldly; wave fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, immigration conservatism — boldly.
that concludes: "Your socialized medicine plan would restrict our liberty, increase government control over our lives...and contradict some already existing rights."
Speaking at a Seattle rally which was part of the April 15, 2009 Tea Party protests, Beren criticized politicians of both parties, including Arlen Specter
, Nancy Pelosi
, and Harry Reid
.
In the November 4, 2008 general election, Beren lost to McDermott by a margin of 84%-16%. Beren received 57,054 votes in the strongly Democratic 7th Congressional District, compared to McDermott's 291,963. Beren ran slightly ahead of Republican presidential candidate John McCain
, who received 55,200 votes in the 7th Congressional District.
Beren had been mentioned as a possible candidate for city council in the Seattle 2007 elections.
, and energy independence.
During the 2006 campaign, Seattle Times columnist David Postman criticized Beren's immigration stance and argued that Beren's candidacy would not "appeal to the state's most liberal congressional district." Seattle Post-Intelligencer
reporter Kristen Millares Bolt wrote that Beren had the "strident tones" of a true believer.
In reporting on one of Beren's 2006 debates with McDermott, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly said Beren resorted to "Vietnam-era sound bites" and "displays a convert's zealotry toward the Iraq conflict." Also in 2006, Seattle Times editorial writer Ryan Blethen questioned Beren's qualifications and chances against an incumbent who "is assured of winning again by a wide margin."
During their October 5, 2006 debate in Shoreline, Washington, Congressman McDermott said of Beren, "having listened to my opponent here, I think you have a clear choice.... If you like what George Bush has done to this country for the last six years, vote for Steve because he needs another one - he needs another vote."
, Beren states that he was raised in a nominal Jewish home and later became an atheist. From 1968 to 1990 he was an activist for the Socialist Workers Party
and a defender of Fidel Castro
. By 1990 he quit the SWP due to exhaustion with it. After that he joined the Democratic Party
. In 1995 he converted to Christianity. He remained with the Democratic Party until 2004. The September 11, 2001 attacks
led to his turn toward to the Political Right and at age 52 he became a Republican.
Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is an internet marketing publicist. He and his wife are members of Christian Faith Center.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Congressman Jim McDermott
Jim McDermott
James Adelbert "Jim" McDermott is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1989. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The 7th District includes most of Seattle and Vashon Island, and portions of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Tukwila, SeaTac, and Burien.He serves on the House Ways and Means...
.
Beren is a Tea Party activist, fiscal conservative, and an outspoken advocate for victory against terrorism. His campaigns have emphasized the issues of limited government
Limited government
Limited government is a government which anything more than minimal governmental intervention in personal liberties and the economy is generally disallowed by law, usually in a written constitution. It is written in the United States Constitution in Article 1, Section 8...
, fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
, foreign policy, immigration, and social conservatism
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
. His goal is to start rebuilding the Republican Party in Seattle, and to get dialogue going on major issues. Beren has been quoted by Fox News as saying that Republicans should "have bold colors, wave the Republican flag boldly; wave fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, immigration conservatism — boldly.
Involvement in "Tea Party" Protests
On August 12, 2009, when McDermott was scheduled to speak on healthcare to a Democratic Party meeting in Seattle, Beren initiated a call for a Tea Party protest outside the meeting. Beren had addressed an open letter to President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
that concludes: "Your socialized medicine plan would restrict our liberty, increase government control over our lives...and contradict some already existing rights."
Speaking at a Seattle rally which was part of the April 15, 2009 Tea Party protests, Beren criticized politicians of both parties, including Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
, Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
, and Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
.
2008 Election Campaign
Of the six candidates on the August 19, 2008 mixed party "top two" primary ballot, Beren was the only Republican, placing second and qualifying for the general election ballot. A few days before the primary, the Seattle Times called Beren "the longest of longshots" to unseat Congressman McDermott despite being a "Republican rising star."In the November 4, 2008 general election, Beren lost to McDermott by a margin of 84%-16%. Beren received 57,054 votes in the strongly Democratic 7th Congressional District, compared to McDermott's 291,963. Beren ran slightly ahead of Republican presidential candidate John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, who received 55,200 votes in the 7th Congressional District.
Beren had been mentioned as a possible candidate for city council in the Seattle 2007 elections.
2006 Election Campaign
Beren also opposed McDermott in 2006, receiving 16% of the vote against McDermott's 79%. In 2006, the main issues Beren's campaign focused on were victory in the war against terrorism, tough border security, limited governmentLimited government
Limited government is a government which anything more than minimal governmental intervention in personal liberties and the economy is generally disallowed by law, usually in a written constitution. It is written in the United States Constitution in Article 1, Section 8...
, and energy independence.
During the 2006 campaign, Seattle Times columnist David Postman criticized Beren's immigration stance and argued that Beren's candidacy would not "appeal to the state's most liberal congressional district." Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
reporter Kristen Millares Bolt wrote that Beren had the "strident tones" of a true believer.
In reporting on one of Beren's 2006 debates with McDermott, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly said Beren resorted to "Vietnam-era sound bites" and "displays a convert's zealotry toward the Iraq conflict." Also in 2006, Seattle Times editorial writer Ryan Blethen questioned Beren's qualifications and chances against an incumbent who "is assured of winning again by a wide margin."
During their October 5, 2006 debate in Shoreline, Washington, Congressman McDermott said of Beren, "having listened to my opponent here, I think you have a clear choice.... If you like what George Bush has done to this country for the last six years, vote for Steve because he needs another one - he needs another vote."
Personal information
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Beren states that he was raised in a nominal Jewish home and later became an atheist. From 1968 to 1990 he was an activist for the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (United States)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
and a defender of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. By 1990 he quit the SWP due to exhaustion with it. After that he joined the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. In 1995 he converted to Christianity. He remained with the Democratic Party until 2004. The September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
led to his turn toward to the Political Right and at age 52 he became a Republican.
Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is an internet marketing publicist. He and his wife are members of Christian Faith Center.
External links
- Steve Beren's official campaign site
- Steve Beren On Election Night by Don Ward, Seattle WeeklySeattle WeeklySeattle Weekly is a freely distributed newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. It was founded by Darrell Oldham and David Brewster as The Weekly...
, 11/4/08 - The Challenger to Jim McDermott by Bruce Ramsey, Seattle Times, 11/3/08
- Beren finally gets his debate by Emily Heffter, Seattle Times, 10/22/08
- 'C'mon, vote Republican for a change!' - Beren radio ad by Emily Heffter, Seattle Times, 10/2/08
- Sparks in Spokane: a GOP odyssey - Beren "increasingly impressive" by Scott St. Clair, Crosscut.comCrosscut.comCrosscut.com is a nonprofit, online newspaper based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Crosscut's stated purpose is to "produce journalism in the public interest"...
, 6/28/08 - GOP journal: Report from a county convention - Beren "one of the most optimistic" by Scott St. Clair, Crosscut.comCrosscut.comCrosscut.com is a nonprofit, online newspaper based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Crosscut's stated purpose is to "produce journalism in the public interest"...
, 4/28/08 - Credit 2 House long shots for challenging safe seats by Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-IntelligencerSeattle Post-IntelligencerThe Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, 7/26/06 - McKenna Consultant is Original Local Tea Party Activist and Former Socialist by Josh Feit, Publicola, 9/14/11