U.S. Representative Dick Swett (D-N.H.) spoke about his crusade to reform government at the first meeting of the Young Democrats at Dartmouth last night.
Young Democrats President David H. Lee '95 introduced Swett by citing the Congressman's achievements in Congress, such as helping to pass a comprehensive crime bill that banned 19 types of semiautomatic assault weapons in a district with the second highest per capita membership in the National Rifle Association, a major gun lobby.
Swett's resume also includes authoring the Congressional Accountability Act, which would force members of Congress to abide by the same laws as ordinary citizens.
Both Swett and Lee spoke about the importance of the Dartmouth community in the electoral process of a small state in which a small margin can decide an election.
Swett has acknowledged that the help of 20 to 30 Dartmouth students working on his campaign were instrumental in his upset victory for the House seat in 1990.
Swett faces a close re-election on November 8 against the Republican challenger Charlie Bass '74.
Bass may be benefiting from the anti-incumbent mood of the voting population, the backlash against the Democrats because of President Bill Clinton's sagging approval ratings and the traditional loss of several seats during the midterm congressional elections by the party that controls the White House.
"This is a year, whether for right reasons or wrong reasons, Democrats are hanging on by the skin of their teeth," Swett said.
Recent polls show Swett has over Bass a slight lead that currently appears to be widening.
Swett has been described as a moderate to conservative Democrat in a district that had not elected a Democrat since 1912.
He has based his four years in Congress as a fiscal conservative who opposes new taxes, supports a presidential line-item veto and the Balanced Budget Amendment.
In his talk to about 45 students in the 1930 Room in Rockefeller Center, the Congressman talked about his decision to try to reform the political establishment and to have hope, not pessimism.
"In a little state like New Hampshire, you hold the power to influence not only an election, but a generation of thought that is going to be so important as we head into the 21st century," Swett said.
Swett mentioned the importance of reforming health care, welfare, government accountability, public schools, gun control and banning semi-automatic weapons.
"Government has a role to play -- not in providing all the answers but to develop the tools necessary so that people can help themselves," Swett said.
Swett attacked his opponent Bass without mentioning his name. "My opponent ... can't stand for anything at all. If the Republican wins, we lose."
Swett, who co-sponsored the Clinton Health Security plan,
also voiced frustration at the inability of Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform this year. "The Republicans are throwing up a wall of obstruction for every piece of legislation that is coming through."
Conservative Union at Dartmouth Acting Co-President Jim Brennan '96 attended the meeting and said he thought Swett had many merits.
"Congressman Swett said a lot of interesting things about gridlock and policy in Washington and in his years in Congress he has done a great service to the state of New Hampshire," Brennan said.
Swett drove an hour from Concord to Hanover and was interviewed by WDCR Radio at 5:45 p.m. yesterday. Slightly before his speech, he appeared in Food Court and spoke to students eating dinner.
Nicole Weinreb '97 was in Food Court with some friends at 6:15 p.m. when she was approached by the Congressman.
"We talked about the weather and how much I liked it here at Dartmouth. He was very nice. I was impressed by his friendliness," Weinreb said.
After speaking at the Young Democrats meeting, he was whisked away to speak at the Kendall Homes, a retirement community in Hanover.
