Getting Back To Basics: An Interview With Bruce Blakeman

In the September 14th primary election, Bruce Blakeman is one of three Republican candidates vying for the seat of New York’s junior Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand. Mr. Blakeman, an attorney and former Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, will face-off against David Malpass and Joe DioGuardi.

Confident in regard to his prospects for the Republican nomination, Mr. Blakeman commenced our August 30th phone interview with a list of national grievances: “I am running against Kirsten Gillibrand because, like most New Yorkers, I am angry, frustrated and worried about the direction that the country has taken in the past two years.” Mr. Blakeman noted that unemployment, the national deficit and mortgage foreclosures have continued to rise, and that “The very survival of our nation depends on going back to the principles that made America a great economic power.” Blakeman further excoriated Senator Gillibrand for voting “in favor of every spending bill,” for supporting the controversial “Ground- Zero Mosque,” and for “not being opposed to the trial of a terrorist, in a civilian court, in New York City.”

In relation to his hometown of Long Island, Mr. Blakeman believes that in addition to cutting taxes to allow for businesses to reinvest in “technology, equipment and people,” a prosperous Long Island will require “getting back to our manufacturing base.” Blakeman believes that the key to Long Island’s future is in the “high-tech” fields of production.

Blakeman appeared especially proud of his work as a consultant for Cannon U.S.A. Inc. He was influential in Cannon’s purchase of 52 acres of property in Melville, where the digital imaging giant will soon be building its new corporate headquarters. Mr. Blakeman believes that this purchase of property may eventually produce as many as 2,000 new jobs for the people of Huntington.

Candidate Blakeman touted his conservative credentials as he compared himself to his opponents in the upcoming Republican primary. “I am the only true conservative in this race. In the four years that I was in government in Nassau County, I cut over $150 million from the County Executive’s budget.”

Blakeman’s opponents in the September 14th primary will be David Malpass, a former Reagan Administration treasury official, and Joe DioGuardi, a former New York Congressman. Both of these candidates are claiming the conservative mantle as well. Irrespective of the viewpoints of his opponents, Blakeman’s platform does appear to pass the modern conservative litmus test. In what Mr. Blakeman refers to as his “C.P.R” approach, he enumerates his platform as follows: 1) Cut taxes and spending in order to create new jobs. 2) Protect our homeland and our borders. 3) Repeal Obama-Care.

“This country is failing,” said Mr. Blakeman in a tone reminiscent of Ronald Reagan. “It’s time to get back to basics.” New York’s September 14th primary election will determine whether or not Bruce Blakeman will be afforded the opportunity to act on his conservative ideals.