As far as candidates go, I really believe Vince Micco is the best of the best. His positive attitude, conservative credentials, and genuine concern for his country are refreshing in a state where the large majority of our elected are more concerned about their personal power and advancement than bettering the lives of their constituents. An Iraqi War veteran with a long history in political activism, Vince is currently running for Congress in the 9th District against incumbent Rep. Steve Rothman. Considering New Jersey’s direction over the past several years, it is clear that the leadership of the status quo has not been effective; it’s a good idea to give candidates like Vince a closer look. Here’s a bit of what he has to say.

Q. With a good job in the mortgage industy, a beautiful family with four kids, an active political life, and experience in the United States Army and Iraq War, it would appear that you live quite the model life. What factors were behind your decision when you first decided to run for Congress and add even more to your plate?

I am so blessed to live in a great country that allows all of us the freedom to pursue our dreams without any restrictions. In America, the only hindrances we have in life are those we impose on ourselves. Whether it’s leading an Army squad an Iraq, being President of my local Chamber of Commerce, coaching my kids’ soccer teams or running for Congress, public service and leadership are both a privilege and a calling that are rooted in American tradition.

Our country faces dangers and challenges that I intend to step up and confront now while they’re manageable rather than leaving them for my four young children to face later because I’d shirked from my duty. Unlike my opponent, I want to help put America on the path to Energy Independence from Middle Eastern oil by drilling here now, and supporting a comprehensive “all of the above” approach to energy solutions. My opponent’s been in Congress for 12 years and New Jersey’s taxpayers are still in last place among the fifty states when you look at the return we get for tax revenue we sent to Washington DC. I want to make the current tax cuts permanent, abolish the Alternative Minimum Tax and scrap the current Federal Tax code in favor of a fairer, flatter one. Border security is a problem that the incumbent refuses to help remedy. I will vote to secure the border once and for all.

Q. I think I speak for most Republicans in the area when I say I’m thrilled that you are running for Congress again this year. As this is your second race, how do you feel it is different from the first and what have you learned from your first campaign that you can apply to the current one?

As an Iraq War Veteran, I’m thrilled at the prospect of running in this Presidential year with John McCain. He’s been so courageous on the issue of Iraq even when the outlook was very grim. I’m glad that he and I both are being vindicated with the success of the surge. I believe, as John McCain does, that in this Global War on Terror, our country needs leaders that will project resolve and persistence against our enemies. The same is true in my case, when running for Congress against a 12-year incumbent. Many members serving in Congress now had to run three and four times before they won their seat. Newt Gingrich is said to have run three times before he won his seat, and went on to be Speaker of the House.

Q. As anyone who knows you is probably aware, you are running as an Iraqi War veteran whose main platform deals with ensuring victory in Iraq, supporting our troops, and protecting America’s national security. How do you plan to bring this message to a divisive Congress if you are elected?

As an Iraq War veteran, if I am elected to Congress I will be in an ideal situation to shape the debate on Iraq. I will petition the party leadership in the House of Representatives to make me one of their key spokesmen on the issue. I will share my first hand experiences in Iraq with timid legislators of both parties to persuade them to my point of view. I will trumpet the success of the surge and share the heartwarming stories of courage and victory that our servicemen live everyday in the combat zone. I will be very assertive when speaking from the floor of the House of Representatives on not only supporting our troops, but on every issue that I’m passionate about- like energy independence, border security and lowering taxes.

Q. You spoke to the Bergen County Young Republicans a few months ago, and one of the things that struck me most was what you said about the Iraqi youth. You clearly have a passion for those kids, recalling how American soldiers would befriend them, give them candy, teach them games, and serve as role models. Most significantly, though, was your point that these youth are going to grow up with a different view of America and the West that their parents now have. And in a few more decades, you said, the United States is going to have a secure ally in Iraq because its people by that time will have mostly grown up knowing Americans for who they really are. I think this is a powerful concept that most of us haven’t taken much time to consider amid so much negative attention about the war. Do you care to expand on this? What gives you such confidence that the U.S. will some day have an ally in Iraq?

My warmest memories of my military service in Iraq are those spent with the Iraqi children. They really do look up to U.S. servicemen like we’re celebrities and love to interact with us. These young children are fascinated with American culture, particularly our television programs and music. I noticed that so many Iraqi children could sing the lyrics of popular American songs by heart. Whenever I received care packages in the mail from family and friends, I would often pack the goodies into my uniform before going out on convoys in cities like Baghdad, Balad, Ar Ramadi and Al Asad, in case we saw children. I noticed it was pretty common among my fellow American troops to share candy or potato chips with the Iraqi children. I often pulled out a U.S. dollar bill from my pocket and gave it to a child. The grateful children would give a kiss or an enthusiastic high-five and say “Shook-ron!” which means “Thank you” in Arabic. My belief is that while the prevailing age demographic in Iraq, currently running the government, is used to thirty years of Saddam’s tyranny, remarkably the younger generation of Iraqis represent a fresh new way of thinking that’s receptive to American values, like the tenets of a Democracy. Clearly, those children are the future of Iraq. In ten or twenty years, when they’re old enough to run their country we (the U.S.) will have an extraordinary ally in the heart of the Middle East. That’s when we’ll see real dividends on our investment that will last for generations to come.

Q. You’ve proven yourself to be a strong patriot and dedicated Republican. Do you also consider yourself a conservative? On what issues other than those mentioned do you also hold a conservative viewpoint?

Yes, I consider myself a conservative on all the traditional issues that commonly define conservatives. I am pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and pro-2nd Amendment. I also recognize that our country was founded by men who subscribed to Judeo-Christian values and I want to protect that particular identity and its traditions. I believe that the chief reason our country is so blessed, more than any other nation on earth, is because of our Judeo-Christian beliefs. I also believe that government exists to perform only those functions that individuals cannot do for themselves and that the most economically productive custodian of the taxpayers’ money is not a government institution, but the taxpayer himself.

Q. Your Democratic opponent, Congressman Steve Rothman, is running for re-election to what would be his seventh term in office. What do you think you could bring to the 9th District that Rothman has not, and why do you feel you are a better candidate?

Mr. Rothman is wrong and out of touch after 12 years in Washington DC. The reason why I feel I am the better candidate is because I provide a sharp contrast to Rothman’s positions on all the important issues like U.S. security, Energy Independence and Taxes. For example, just in the past two years alone, Rothman voted against full funding of construction of the border fence, including the funds necessary to build at least two layers of reinforced fencing, physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors. Rothman voted against funding our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan including soldier pay, armored vehicles, weapons, ammunition, funds for counterterrorist operations and military health programs for returning veterans. Rothman voted against the Protect America Act that would expand the ability of intelligence agencies to conduct surveillance of suspected foreign terrorists. This summer, when gas prices were $4.00 per gallon, Rothman voted to adjourn for a five week vacation rather than have a vote on “all of the above” energy legislation. Even though New Jersey ranks dead last out of all 50 states on return for our taxes sent to Washington, Rothman voted for a Congressional pay raise. Rothman voted for a House Budget that would raise taxes on millions of Americans by allowing all of the 2001 and 2003 Republican tax relief to expire. These are all examples where Rothman is wrong and I would be the better choice.

Q. You’ve always seemed like such an optimist to me, even during the rigorous and draining campaign seasons. How do you manage to stay so positive?

I consider it a thrill and a privilege to be a candidate for the United States Congress. Everywhere I go campaigning people are very nice, especially when they find out I’m an Iraq War veteran. It’s very moving and gratifying when nice people come up to me at a campaign event to say “We’re with you. You’ve got our vote.” or “We’re praying for you.” The prospect of representing the people of Bergen, Hudson and Passaic Counties in Congress gives me a lot of motivation to work hard.

Q. I’d like to make a quick plug for you and give you a chance to do so as well. For anyone interested in learning more about you, they should check out www.miccoforcongress.com. If anyone is interested in getting involved in your campaign or offering their support, what can they do to help?

Yes, the website has a “Contact” button for anyone who’s willing to enlist in the fight and join my team. Thank you very much.

Additionally, I posted yesterday about a fundraiser for Vince this Monday. I encourage anyone interested to find out more; we can’t afford not to. New Jersey needs far more candidates and elected officials like Vince. Fortunately for us, I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of him in the future.