Dems push fresh faces... A California Democrat looking to flip a House seat in next years midterms believes he can appeal to both sides of the aisle and even pitch progressive ideas to President Trump. Ammar Campa-Najjar a 28-year-old communications staffer and former campaign worker of Mexican and Arab heritage says his background and resume put him in a position to succeed in the red district he hopes to represent. I talk about never being Arab enough in Gaza Hispanic enough in the Barrio or American enough in the post-9/11 world he told The Hill during a recent interview. I just dont come in with this preconceived notion of prejudice. It allows me to have an open mind and be tolerant see the world from their vantage point. Now Campa-Najjar is taking that perspective home to Californias 50th Congressional District where hell face an uphill battle against GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter. Campa-Najjar could eventually become part of a new generation in a party looking for fresh faces. But first he has to make it through a crowded primary election before taking on Hunter a Marine reservist who won his last race by nearly 30 percentage points. While other Democrats hope to capitalize on anti-Trump energy Campa-Najjar is pitching himself as a politician willing to work with Trump. And Duncans electoral chances might falter next year following an ethics investigation into accusations he used campaign funds to pay for vacations video games and even flights for the familys pet rabbit. The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Hunters potential ethics violations. Campa-Najjar acknowledged the issue in an interview with The Hill but said he wont make it a major part of his campaign. I dont know how to run a negative campaign he said. Im hoping that in my little island of America this campaign can be one of unity not division and a redeeming moment for people who felt that 2016 was from a different world. A San Diegan by birth Campa-Najjar moved to Washington D.C. after working as a deputy regional field director for former President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaEx-CBO head: Voting with no repeal score terrible mistake Trump: I'm watching Democrats defending ObamaCare 'lie' Judicial Watch: Two Trump trips to Mar-a-Lago cost more than million MOREs 2012 reelection campaign. The campaign job brought him to the White House and later to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he led the groups communications shop and became a regular face on cable news. He also worked at the Labor Department an experience he says helps him understand the struggle of blue-collar whites who feel left out in the post-recession economy. A lot of people probably [have questions when] this brown guy walks into the district with some red rural areas and shares his story Campa-Najjar said. The white working class still has a deficit of 700000 jobs because they live in places where businesses cant fly to drive to or get a metro to he added arguing his fluency in those issues helps him connect with those Americans. Campa-Najjars family moved from San Diego to the Gaza Strip in 1998 returning to California in 2001 amid unrest in Palestine. That brought him to America just months before 9/11 a pivotal experience for Campa-Najjar as an Arab-American. Its that experience that Campa-Najjar says gives him a nuanced perspective on Trumps controversial immigration policies including the unimplemented travel restrictions on citizens from six majority-Muslim countries. Campa-Najjar a contributor to The Hills opinion section believes that the travel ban is immoral and unconstitutional by virtue of Trumps December 2015 campaign promise to ban Muslim immigration. Courts have cited Trumps comments while blocking his executive orders in court. Nothing Trump does on bans is constitutional from here on out he said. His policies are forever tethered to his campaign pledges. Its the spirit of the law that makes it unconstitutional. The authorization is unconstitutional because of the authority. But Campa-Najjar who converted from Islam to Christianity says hes sympathetic to Americans concerned about national security threats. But he also wants to find a balance between the need to shore up Americas refugee vetting with the need to protect civil rights. Im against the ban but how can we make sure that [Islamic State in Iraq and Syria leader Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadis threats to exploit the immigration system never come to fruition while making sure at the same time we are not inviting discrimination? Campa-Najjar said. If elected he wants to work with consulates and embassies to shore up vetting procedures without using blanket bans. Campa-Najjars time in Gaza also informs his opposition to Trumps proposed wall on the border with Mexico. Trump has compared his plan to the border fence between Israel and Gaza a comparison endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But Campa-Najjar slams that comparison as dishonest noting that Israel and America have little in common when it comes to border security. Campa-Najjar points out that Americas largest illegal immigration problem is people who overstay visas who wouldnt be affected by the wall. And while he left before the fence was built Campa-Najjar said that the wall has had a negative effect on Gaza residents. Living in Gaza I felt the fear that plagued us all and the otherness and hopelessness the wall now embodies he added. Still Campa-Najjar believes that Democrats have to be willing to work with Trump on issues like infrastructure job creation and fair trade. During his work for the Hispanic Chamber Campa-Najjar sat in on meetings with the new administration. Campa-Najjar said a progressive groundswell could persuade Trump to work with Democrats in the name of political expediency. He compared Trumps potential to Lyndon B. Johnson who voted against civil rights legislation in the Senate but ultimately pushed the Civil Rights Act through as president years later. LBJ was a far greater ideologue than Trump he said. Donald TrumpDonald TrumpMiley Cyrus: Trump won 'because the system is f---ed up' Congresss wounds largely self-inflicted The Hill's 12:30 Report MORE is a pragmatist not an ideologue. So if you create the political pressure where progressive ideas are more expedient for him I guarantee hell embrace them. I think hed rather become a Democrat than a failed president not in name but in deed.
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