Steve Beren

Steve Beren (born September 9, 1951, New York, New York) is a speaker, writer, and political activist from Seattle, Washington. Beren is also the 2008 Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Washington State's 7th Congressional District against incumbent Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348203_congress22.html] Of the six candidates on the August 19 mixed party "top two" primary ballot, Beren was the only Republican, placing second and qualifying for the general election ballot. [http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?ElectionID=0&RaceID=11&JurisdictionTypeID=3] 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." [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008112747_mcdermott14m.html]

Beren is an outspoken defender and advocate of the U.S. military commitment in Iraq. His campaign is emphasizing the issues of foreign policy, immigration, the economy, and social conservatism. His goal is to start rebuilding the Republican Party in Seattle, and to get dialogue going on major issues. [http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/121513.asp] 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." [http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/24/washington-state-republicans-ditching-party-labels-to-compete/]

Beren had been mentioned as a possible conservative candidate for city council in the Seattle 2007 elections. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/296534_seattlegop20.html]

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 government, 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." [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003034269_postmanpolitics02.html] Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Kristin Millares Bolt wrote that Beren had the "strident tones" of a true believer. [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/289864_mcdermottrace25.html]

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." [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/287986_joel09.html] Also in 2006, Seattle Times editorial writer Ryan Blethen questioned Beren's qualifications and chances against an incumbent who has never received less than 72% of the vote in a general election. [http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/]

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."

In 2005, Beren came under sharp criticism from Hussein Ibish, Vice-Chair of the Progressive Muslim Union of North America. [http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/05/kamal_nawashs_s.php]

Personal information

Born in New York City, 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 52 he became a Republican. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003184531_rams09.html]

Beren has lived in Seattle since 1987, and is currently director of production operations for an internet marketing company. He and his wife are members of Christian Faith Center.

External links

* [http://www.berenforcongress.com Steve Beren's official campaign site]
* [http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/politicsnorthwest/2008/10/02/cmon_vote_republican_for_a_cha.html 'C'mon, vote Republican for a change!' - Beren radio ad] by Emily Heffter, Seattle Times, 10/2/08
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008169947_impeachment10m.html McDermott backs Bush impeachment - Beren says impeachment effort is political ploy] by Emily Heffter, Seattle Times, 9/10/08
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008112747_mcdermott14m.html McDermott faces 5 challengers but no real re-election challenge] by Emily Heffter, Seattle Times, 8/14/08
* [http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/15421/ Sparks in Spokane: a GOP odyssey - Beren "increasingly impressive"] by Scott St. Clair, Crosscut.com, 6/28/08
* [http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/24/washington-state-republicans-ditching-party-labels-to-compete/ Washington State Republicans Ditch Party Party Labels to Compete - Beren says "wave the Republican flag boldly"] by Dan Springer, FoxNews.com, 6/24/08
* [http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/13760/ GOP journal: Report from a county convention - Beren "one of the most optimistic"] by Scott St. Clair, Crosscut.com, 4/28/08
* [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/348203_congress22.html State's U.S. House seats don't flip parties easily] by Neil Modie, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/22/08
* [http://soundpolitics.com/archives/008551.html Steve Beren on the McDermott decision] by Jim Miller, SoundPolitics.com, 5/2/07
* [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/296534_seattlegop20.html GOP seeking unlikely victories in Seattle - Beren might run for the Seattle City Council] by Neil Modie, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 12/20/06
* [http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/general/Results.aspx?o=1f491303-47d6-4c81-b168-b93a493c2a24 2006 General Election Results,] Washington Secretary of State
* [http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ1106ENDORSEMENTS_192 Endorsements 2006: Washington] Esquire Magazine, November 2006
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003325106_ryan27.html There should be a place for a candidate like this] by Ryan Blethen, Seattle Times, 10/27/06
* [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/289864_mcdermottrace25.html McDermott, rivals to debate tonight] by Kristen Millares Bolt, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/25/06
* [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/287986_joel09.html General urges U.S. to revise Iraq plan - Beren displays zealotry toward the Iraq conflict] by Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 10/9/06
* [http://neo-neocon.blogspot.com/2006/10/steve-beren-changer-extraordinaire_06.html Steve Beren, changer extraordinaire: part II] by Neo-Neocon, 10/6/06
* [http://neo-neocon.blogspot.com/2006/10/steve-beren-changer-extraordinaire.html Steve Beren, changer extraordinaire: from socialist to Republican: part I] by Neo-neocon, 10/5/06
* [http://soundpolitics.com/archives/007023.html Beren, McDermott to debate in Shoreline] by Andy MacDonald, SoundPolitics.com, 10/4/06
* [http://www.vote.wa.gov/Elections/PrimaryResults/Results.aspx?o=1f491303-47d6-4c81-b168-b93a493c2a24 2006 Primary Election Results,] Washington Secretary of State
* [http://soundpolitics.com/archives/006640.html Steve Beren: from socialism to the GOP] by Matt Rosenberg, SoundPolitics.com, 8/9/06
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003184531_rams09.html McDermott challenger knows a little something about the left] by Bruce Ramsey, Seattle Times, 8/9/06
* [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/278854_joel26.html Credit 2 House long shots for challenging safe seats] by Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/26/06
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003034269_postmanpolitics02.html Sacrificial lamb or GOP star?] by David Postman, Seattle Times, 6/2/06
* [http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/05/kamal_nawashs_s.php Kamal Nawash's Very, Very Strange Bedfellows] by Hussein Ibish, 5/12/05