Issa Kicks Off Campaign to Unseat Boxer

Vowing to kick-start the Republican “revolution” that helped the GOP seize control of Congress in 1994, car alarm magnate Darrell Issa stressed a strongly anti-government theme Saturday as he officially began his campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.

While unstinting in his criticism of Boxer, the 44-year-old Issa also chastised his own party for not remaining faithful to the anti-government themes that led to the 1994 triumph.

“It seems to me that somewhere along the line, too many of the revolutionaries of 1994 became the elitists of 1998,” Issa told a small but enthusiastic gathering at a fig-packing plant in the state’s agricultural heartland.

“We elected the Republican Congress to reduce the size of government and simplify the tax code,” Issa said. “Instead, Republican leaders made a deal with the president . . . and increased spending beyond what even Bill Clinton asked for. . . . It is not enough for Congress to be simply Republican. It must also act Republican.”

If nothing else, Issa’s first official stump speech--which he repeated to a gathering at his factory in Vista and to an airport crowd in Chico--shows that he has no interest in moving to the middle of the political spectrum or softening his rhetoric in trying to grab the Republican nomination in the June primary.

Issa called for abolition of the IRS, appointment of judges willing to enforce the death penalty, increased military spending and a “new policy toward Iraq” that includes possible use of ground troops.

“We should use whatever means necessary--including the full force of American military power--to force Saddam Hussein from power and replace him with a government that respects the rights of its citizens and the territory of its neighbors,” Issa said.

On Bosnia, however, the former Army officer called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Contending that “our interests are not at stake in Bosnia,” Issa called on Clinton to “bring our boys and girls home from Bosnia now!”

Issa’s speech stressed national themes and issues but included no particular reference to California-specific issues such as water, desert protection or agricultural subsidies.

Born in Cleveland, Issa moved to northern San Diego County in 1985. His firm, Directed Electronics, is the nation’s largest manufacturer of car alarm systems, carrying such intimidating names as Viper, Hornet and Steal Stopper.

Making no reference to any of his potential Republican rivals in the primary, Issa branded Boxer as a “liberal extremist” who has undercut military preparedness and voted for numerous tax increases.

Issa’s determination to take the fight to Boxer’s home turf was short-circuited by the storms that engulfed the state Saturday. A plan to take the campaign plane to Sonoma County en route to a rally in Marin County was scrapped because of bad weather.

Many of Issa’s comments were about his success in turning a $7,000 investment into a business that has left him with a fortune that he can now invest in his first political campaign.

Of his meteoric rise, Issa, the son of a truck salesman, said, “And I tell that story not to show how smart I am. Heck, I’m not even the smartest person in my household. I tell you that story because it is a testament to the greatness in America.”

Although he did not mention the topic in his speech, Issa backs a statewide ballot measure that some educators believe would end bilingual education in California public schools.

Issa has run Spanish-language ads on radio stations in Los Angeles and San Diego.

“I believe Latino voters will identify with my message of opportunity, hard work, strong families, faith in God and a better future for all of our children,” Issa said before his speech.

Issa joins state Treasurer Matt Fong as the only announced Republican candidates. Fong, 44, has promised to wage a campaign on themes of cutting taxes, improving education and “breaking down barriers.”

Issa’s personal wealth is reflected on campaign disclosure statements that show him with $3,070,417 on hand as of Dec. 31, compared to $596,946 for Fong. The same statements also show that Issa spent $2,703,593 in 1997 and Fong $748,463.