John Doolittle
- This page is about the politician; for the fictional animal doctor, see Doctor Doolittle.
John Taylor Doolittle (born October 30 1950), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing the 4th District of California (map). He was born in Glendale, California, grew up in Cupertino, California, was educated at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of the Pacific, and was a lawyer and member of the California State Senate before entering the House. In his first years in Congress, as a member of the Gang of Seven, Doolittle worked to expose corruption. He, and the other six members, had a role in exposing the House banking scandal.
2006 elections
Three challengers have announced their candidacies to unseat Doolittle in 2006:
- Republican Mike Holmes, an educator and retired Navy officer [1];
- Democrat Charles Brown, a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel [2]
The 4th District of California is considered to be a Republican safe seat.
Miscellaneous
Doolittle has been a strong advocate for continued United States control of the Internet, arguing that this remains the only way for the Internet to remain free and uncensored by totalitarian governments. On November 16, 2005, the House of Representatives passed his resolution 423-0 to support that position.
Doolittle is known for boosterism of the Auburn Dam project. His stated reason for supporting the project is for flood control for Sacramento. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he cited the flooding in New Orleans as an example of why the project was needed. Critics replied that the Gulf Coast, with its hurricane season and the torrential rainfalls associated with it, is not a valid comparison to a region of the country which historically often has droughts, and said that Folsom and Nimbus Dams should suffice in an intense rainy season. Opponents of the project argue that the Dam will accelerate sprawl east of Sacramento, and that Placer County already has one of the highest growth rates in the country.
Doolittle was part of the effort to have the portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt removed from the United States dime and replaced by Ronald Reagan.
In January 2006, the Sacramento Union quoted Doolittle as saying that "A liberal front is underway to find God and all things pertaining to him unconstitutional." [4]
Doolittle appeared briefly but memorably in Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, turning from Moore and briskly walking away intoning a frank and almost accusing "Oh, no no no no no no no" when approached to sign a petition.
External links
- Official website
- Doolittle offers answers to media questions, The Press-Tribune, March 1, 2006