Dr. Paul Broun, an Athens physician, was elected on July 17 to the United States House of Representatives to fill the seat of the late Charlie Norwood, who passed away on February 13. In the first round of voting Dr. Broun, a Republican, placed second behind Jim Whitehead, a state senator from Augusta who is also a Republican. In the runoff Dr. Broun prevailed with just a 400-vote margin. THE GEORGIA GUARDDAWG spoke with Dr. Broun recently.
    GD: What’s it like so far being a freshman in the US Congress? What role do you see yourself playing in the Georgia delegation?
    PB: Being a freshman in the US Congress is a lot like being a freshman in college. You have so much to learn, so little time to do it in, and so many ‘upperclassmen’ to compete with that already know all the rules. It is a humbling experience to know that the people of the Tenth District have placed their trust in me to represent them to the best of my abilities.
    I am a conservative. I believe in the principles contained within the United States Constitution as it was drafted and intended to be understood by the framers of the document. I hope to be able to add my voice to those in the Georgia delegation who seek to restore a more limited government to our people. The people of the Tenth District, I think, generally support less spending, less taxation, less regulation, and the preservation of individual rights. I hope to be able to offer positive initiatives that will mirror these sentiments.
    GD: What was your opinion of General Petraeus’ report to the House of Representatives last week? How important is the Iraq War to the broader war against Islamic totalitarianism?
    PB: I believe that General Petreaus is serving his country with honor and distinction. He is an American patriot, and I was disgusted by the personal attacks levied against him by the leaders of the extreme anti-war movement. His report contained many positive signs that progress is being made, and that the military surge has shown measurable results. It underscored, for me, the need to continue fighting the terrorists abroad rather than here at home.
    The Iraq War is an incredibly important front in the war against Islamic extremism. America must win this war against Islamic fascists. A loss in Iraq would embolden the geopolitical aims of Iran and Syria, two primary state sponsors of Islamic terror. At a time when Iran is seeking nuclear weaponry, and is actively sponsoring and supporting attacks against American troops in Iraq, we can not afford to allow Iraq to become a proxy for Tehran. We must provide the Iraqi government with the time to create a functional state that can protect its interests and that can defend itself against the brand of Islamic extremism Iran and Syria export.
    GD: Clarke County is one of the poorest counties in the country. What will you do in Congress to alleviate poverty and the structural issues that contribute to it?
    PB: I think it is important that we provide an atmosphere that will encourage economic development in Clarke County. The federal government should lift regulatory and tax burdens that discourage people from investing in the area. I am also mindful of the need to bring opportunities to the area. For example, I am strongly supporting the efforts to bring the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility to the Athens area. This project would inject millions of dollars into Clarke County’s economy, and would create hundreds of jobs.
    GD: Can you talk about the mission trip you took to Iraq in 2004? Would you feel safe doing the same today?
    PB: The mission trip was an incredible opportunity for me to work on the Lord’s behalf. While I was in Iraq, I had the opportunity to meet with the Kurdish leadership, and I learned first hand of the persecution that they suffered under Saddam Hussein’s rule. It also allowed me to gain a sense of perspective as to what our troops are facing, which informs my decision making in Congress. Mission work is not about personal safety; it is about representing the Lord wherever he calls you to go. I think that Iraq is a safer place today than it was in 2004, however, and if I have the opportunity to go back to Iraq on a mission trip I would gladly do so.
    GD: Athens has a large Hispanic community that has become well integrated into the city’s life and is pivotal in, among other things, the operations of the University of Georgia. Would you like to see the immigrants in Athens who are here illegally deported to their country of origin?
    PB: My position on immigration is clear: those who break the law should not receive preferential treatment over those who immigrate properly. I do not support proposals that would extend ‘amnesty’ to illegal aliens currently in the country, and I believe that the laws that are on the books need to be enforced. If there are immigrants in Athens who have entered the country illegally, regardless of their country of origin, they should be returned so that they can avail themselves of the legal process for entry. We should allow people who want to come here to work in jobs that Americans refuse to fill to do so, but they must do so in accordance with American law.
    GD: Do you think encouraging physicians to return to making house calls could play any role in reforming healthcare? (Dr. Broun made house calls during his time as a practicing physician in Athens.)
    PB: I think so. I think that the practice of medicine has lost sight of its mission: to provide a service to its patients. I think when doctors visit their patients at home, they get a better feel for the kind of help a patient needs and they can tell whether a patient is actually following through with their prescribed treatments, which can eliminate waste. A house call practice also has lower overhead costs, which means that services can be provided less expensively to patients since the costs of maintaining an office or related facilities are essentially eliminated.