Richard Stallings Interview

Posted by Joe Vandal
June 25, 2006

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1st Disclaimer: I am not a member of any political party. I personally agree and disagree with aspects of both Republican and Democrat platforms.

2nd Disclaimer: I took notes during and after this interview. Since the conversation was not recorded, I gave a site business card to the interviewee and offered them to contact me if they felt I misquoted or mischaracterized them.

I was offered early to interview Richard Stallings, a four-term Idaho congressman. Richard Stallings is the Idaho Democratic Rock Star right now. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to interview him, feeling I might just get the most polished party message. Then someone told me he was Mormon, which is extremely unusual for Democrats, and I was convinced a talk with Stallings would be locally applicable.


I asked Richard about his Democratic political and Mormon religious beliefs, and he replied they never conflicted, though he pointed out that one must choose their battles. He said historically LDS church leadership divided their flock evenly between the Democrat and Republican parties, so that nobody had a monopoly on truth. However, when the abortion issues rose in the 60’s that conflicted with church morals, many Mormons began to side with the Republican party.

Richard said he taught at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) for several years, and so he felt the Democratic party better fit his philosophies of education and working families.

I asked the following question:

Why are Democrats so despised in Idaho?

Richard said Democrats have become defined by savvy (if untrue) Republican sound bites, like the latest, “cut and run Democrats”. He said these labels get applied to all Democrats even when individual candidates clearly disagree with party philosophy or the actions of a few members that brought the label.

Richard pointed out that some Democrats support abortion (which he does not), and so all Democrats are labeled pro-choice. He said Democrats have not been good at responding to these labeling attacks.

I suggested there might be an irony that Mormons readily accept and propagate these labels when they themselves are ultra-sensitive to being labeled by the actions of fringe members. Richard agreed and said it was an acute observation.

I asked the following question:

Democrats inherently seek to reach consensus and while noble it inevitably wastes considerable energy; is the Democratic party doomed through its own nature?

Richard admitted it was a weakness, but that he would rather have it that way. He said when Democrats ruled Congress for 40 years they knew when they could roll over the Republican minority, but that they still discussed issues with Republicans so as to reach consensus. He pointed out Republicans have not done that since they have been in power, both nationally and in Idaho. Richard feels it is good for people to be included in discussions to feel ownership in the outcome, even if they disagreed.

I asked the following question:

Won’t the Democrats just increase my taxes for social programs?

Richard laughed and said the way the Republicans have run our debt through the ceiling, they made the Democrats look good. He said Republicans have no longer cornered the market on fiscal responsibility with their actions in Idaho and nationally.


Richard said there are two choices when government needs money, which is to raise taxes or run deficits. Republicans have raised the American debt ceiling several times, and he said most of that has come as loans from China. He said the amount Republicans have gotten us into debt is $38,000 for every American. Richard asked the size of my family, I replied four, and he said we could write a check for $152,000 to China thanks to Republicans.

I asked the following question:

News reports and polls indicate Republican leadership and policies are failing. What would Democrats do differently and better than Republicans?

Richard said if Democrats earn majority power nationwide we could expect three issues to change:

  1. More open government, no industry-written legislation.
  2. Corruption cleanup, with revitalized ethics committees addressing ethical issues.
  3. Priorities on education, healthcare, and increased minimum wage.
Interviews, Political

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