• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

Is Great Valley Congressman Jeff Denham A True Conservative?, by Bruce Frohman

August 3, 2012 By Eric Caine 5 Comments

Jeff Denham

Like many of us, former Modesto City Councilman Bruce Frohman has noticed that labels like “conservative” and “liberal” don’t really apply to today’s politicians and issues. Here, Frohman looks at Congressman Jeff Denham through the lens of the traditional conservative and decides that Jeff Denham isn’t really very conservative at all.

Congressman Jeff Denham is a very nice fellow. He smiles a lot and has a charismatic personality. When one meets him, one just has to like him. But is he really the true conservative that he says he is? If one examines the actions, public statements and votes made by Congressman Jeff Denham, one may decide that he is not a true conservative. Let us look at some examples.

Social Security is self-sustaining, does not contribute to the federal budget deficit, is relied on by fifty million beneficiaries who earned what they are paid, and does much good for the citizens of this country. Abolishing Social Security is not a true conservative value. The true conservative maintains the fiscal integrity of successful programs and constantly strives to improve the performance and function of such programs.

Although Mr. Denham has stated in reelection campaign flyers that he supports Social Security, his deeds do not support that statement.

Congressman Jeff Denham associates with a group of legislators who want to abolish Social Security. The group plans to dismantle the program and let people rely on Wall Street Corporations to provide retirement plans. Social Security has not been late with monthly payments since benefits began 82 years ago, but Mr. Denham would abolish the program. A sizable percentage of the 50 million beneficiaries depend on each payment for their livelihood, but Mr. Denham has taken no action to insure that the program is fiscally sound for future generations.

The true conservative works for harmony and compromise in the legislative process. The conservative approach is most effective when advocated in a conciliatory manner. Congressman Denham has sided with the “my way or the highway” approach to resolving federal budget disagreements.

A true conservative will balance the budget before even thinking about cutting taxes. There has to be a revenue surplus before taxes would be cut. Congressman Jeff Denham signed the Grover Norquist pledge not to raise taxes even to balance the budget. A true conservative would never sign such a pledge.

A true conservative will collect enough taxes to provide government services. Laying off government employees is not a true conservative value. A true conservative would not take actions that lead to substantial job losses. Congressman Denham has voted against appropriations that would enable government to fulfill its mission and meet its obligations. He has been part of a group of legislators who have attempted to shut down the federal government via budget impasse.

Congressman Jeff Denham has supported tax preferences for highly profitable corporate businesses and very wealthy citizens despite the fact that the federal government has been running record budget deficits for several years. This is not a true conservative value.

True conservatives do not advocate for or encourage welfare for those who are not in need of it. Congressman Jeff Denham has supported welfare in voting for subsidies for large, highly profitable corporations. He has opposed eliminating tax breaks for large oil companies despite their huge profits and the lack of competition within the industry. He has allowed some large corporations to get away with paying no annual income taxes.

He has not supported a revamped tax code to make it more equitable.

Congressman Jeff Denham is a champion of subsidized water for large corporate farms. He supports crop subsidies that benefit large corporate farms. These are not the values of a true conservative.

A true conservative preserves the environment so that future generations will have a quality of life that is at least as good as the life we presently enjoy. Congressman Jeff Denham has one of the lowest ratings in Congress among environmental groups. He is working to eliminate wild and scenic designations of local rivers and to repeal the Endangered Species Act.

One of Mr. Denham’s proudest boasts is that he is leading the effort to sell off public property. Is this an action a true conservative would take? Is it wise to sell off property that the public may need in the future? Is it wise to sell off public property right after a collapse in real estate values? What would true conservative President Theodore Roosevelt say about selling public property?

Jeff Denham’s Congressional District in California has one of the highest unemployment and poverty rates in the nation. His failure to act as a true conservative could be a contributing factor. Instead of bringing money or new business home to his district, he has worked for special interests on the national stage. What has he done to stop the flow of jobs out of the country or out of his district? In fact, he’s opposing restoration of the San Joaquin River, which would bring thousands of jobs to our region.

Political labels don’t mean much, especially here in the Great Valley. Congressman Jeff Denham does not behave like a true conservative. He is not a liberal either. His main mission appears to be to represent special interests outside of his district rather than the good of the community he is supposed to represent. Mr. Denham has raised an enormous amount of cash for his reelection campaign. Special interests don’t make contributions unless they expect something in return. But, hey, he has a nice smile and we too often vote for people we like regardless of what they really stand for.

Filed Under: Featured, Politics Tagged With: Jeff Denham, Jeff Denham versus Jose Hernandez

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tim Fisher says

    August 4, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    Bruce is mistaken .. Social Security is not ‘self-sustaining’ and is needing funds from the Federal Budget to maintain payments .. Bruce will advocate for the benefits of Social Security as a former Social Security employee. Today there are only three employees paying for the benefits of each recipient; it is getting worse. If we leave it the way it is it will be ‘self-abolishing’ by going bankrupt.
    Denham is among a growing group of legislators who do not wish to abolish Social Security but wish to keep it solvent by raising the age limits .. as has been done before .. the folks (like AARP) who try to scare folks with ‘abolishment talk’ are thinking we elders are easily cowed; not too discerning.

    Reply
  2. Fred Herman says

    August 4, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    I’m not sure there’s a better use for federal funds than to augment social security, but the little chicken ultra-right has threatened us with the sky falling down for some time. Jess Denham is a political fraud. He bills himself as a local farmer. He is neither. He is a Salinas plastics man who moved east for political convenience.

    Reply
  3. Bruce Frohman says

    August 5, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    Social Security benefits are paid out of trust funds outside of the federal budget. The source of the money in the trust funds is the Payroll Tax that all working people pay. The annual income to the trust funds from the payroll tax usually exceeds the annual benefit payouts. The trust funds currently have about $3.5 trillion in cash. The “cash” is in the form of Treasury Bills like you can buy at the local bank.

    Social Security does not add a dime to the deficit. However, the federal deficit includes money that the Treasury owes to the Social Security trust funds. (T-Bills represent money borrowed by the government that has to be paid back so that benefits cans be paid.)

    Politicians have made a number of false and misleading statements regarding the social security program. Now, you know the reality.

    Reply
  4. Chuck Hollingsworth says

    August 15, 2012 at 4:24 pm

    Eric, your cousin, former Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, did not consider Jeff Denham to be a conservative legislator.

    Chuck Hollingsworth

    Reply
    • Eric Caine says

      August 15, 2012 at 10:29 pm

      Chuck, didn’t know I had a cousin in high places, but maybe one thing we can all agree on is the definition of “conservative” has changed. Always good to hear from you, Chuck.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

Louis DeJoy Is Killing It
Louis DeJoy Is Killing It
While Biden dithers, Trump’s minion wrecks the postal service.
nymag.com
So What if Romney Doesn?t Solve the ?Root Causes? of Poverty?
So What if Romney Doesn’t Solve the Root Causes of Poverty?
We handle problems all the time without dealing with their root causes.
nymag.com
The Facts of Life - The Bulwark
The Facts of Life – The Bulwark
My suggestion last week that perhaps the best way some of us who’ve been conservatives can now help the country is to help the Biden administration succeed, and help the Democratic party move to the center, seems to have stirred up a minor tempest in the conservative teapot. I asked whether one shouldn’t consider allying…
thebulwark.com
WSJ News Exclusive | Texas Electric Bills Were $28 Billion Higher Under Deregulation
WSJ News Exclusive | Texas Electric Bills Were $28 Billion Higher Under Deregulation
Texas’s deregulated electricity market left millions in the dark last week. For the past 20 years, its consumers have paid more for their electricity than state residents who are served by traditional utilities, a WSJ investigation found.
www.wsj.com
The making of Madison Cawthorn: How falsehoods helped propel the career of a new pro-Trump star of the far right
The making of Madison Cawthorn: How falsehoods helped propel the career of a new pro-Trump star of the far right
Cawthorn has emerged as one of the most visible figures among newly arrived House Republicans, who have promoted baseless assertions and pushed a radicalized ideology that has become a driving force in the GOP.
www.washingtonpost.com
Los Angeles Just Opened a Tiny Home Village for the Homeless
Los Angeles Just Opened a Tiny Home Village for the Homeless
The colorful community was built in just 13 weeks!
www.housebeautiful.com
California's coronavirus strain looks increasingly dangerous: 'The devil is already here'
California’s coronavirus strain looks increasingly dangerous: ‘The devil is already here’
California’s coronavirus strain is more transmissible than its predecessors, is more resistant to vaccines and may cause more severe cases of COVID-19.
www.latimes.com
More Than 150 Biz Leaders Endorse Biden's Sweeping COVID Package
More Than 150 Biz Leaders Endorse Biden’s Sweeping COVID Package
More than 150 business leaders from various industries have signed a letter backing President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief…
talkingpointsmemo.com
Exclusive: Defeated and impeached, Trump still commands the loyalty of the GOP's voters
Exclusive: Defeated and impeached, Trump still commands the loyalty of the GOP’s voters
www.usatoday.com
The Christian Prophets Who Say Trump Is Coming Again
The Christian Prophets Who Say Trump Is Coming Again
In the growing community of charismatic Christian prophecy, faith in Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House is a new dividing line.
www.politico.com
AOC raises $1 million in Texas relief, heading to Houston as Ted Cruz douses Cancun flames
AOC raises $1 million in Texas relief, heading to Houston as Ted Cruz douses Cancun flames
The New York congresswoman said she would travel to Houston to highlight the problems faced by Texans hit by power outages and freezing weather.
www.newsweek.com
Rush Limbaugh Did His Best to Ruin America
Rush Limbaugh Did His Best to Ruin America
How the right-wing talk radio icon corrupted the Republican Party, spread hate, racism, and lies, and laid the groundwork for Trumpism
www.rollingstone.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design