Democratic candidate visits Sidney for coffee, conversation

Dave Domina, U.S. Senate candidate says his heart is in rural Nebraska.

Although Domina is running as a Democrat, he thinks being an American and representing the interests of all Nebraskans should come before party politics.

"I don't see a party system as having value when it becomes a commanding ideology," Domina said.

The way the two parties go about passing laws needs to change, in his opinion.

"What we need in the United States Senate is somebody who does not buy into the cliche, 'I can reach across the aisle,'" Domina said.

The Senate should think about itself as a whole body representing the American people, he added.

"The constitution describes one United States Senate for one United States and calls upon each state to send two people to serve as United States Senators, not Republican senators, not Democratic senators, not senators on this side and others on this side glaring at each other across the abyss," Domina said. "Why don't we talk about taking the aisle out and literally focusing on things issue by issue."

He contends that in recent times, both sides have been content just to trade issues. When congress does this, the result is bad laws, instead of laws that make sense.

"We need to stop trading issues, start debating them one at a time and have a member of the United States Senate who is strong enough to say, 'I didn't come here to be average,'" Domina said.

Domina was born in Nebraska and raised on a farm south of Coleridge. This lawyer has worked on many high profile cases representing the people against big industry, including the meat packing and banking industries.

The candidate believes in giving people an opportunity to start businesses and grow them and that large and small businesses need to be treated fairly and proportionately. Ending tax loopholes for big business that would never be offered to private citizens is a must. Very few of the benefits in the tax code are coming to individuals.

He thinks a good Senator will be able to figure out the facts on his or her own instead of listening to party propaganda.

When it comes to foreign policy, Domina did not believe there was a justification for going into Iraq and saw no benefit from it. Although he agreed with the attempt to break up al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, he believes the U.S.'s time in that country is over.

"I tend to think now, that we need to get out of there as quickly as we can," Domina said. "We're not going to have a lasting impact, we're not going to succeed at breaking up the Taliban, it is too fragmented."

The rest of the world's opinion of the U.S. means something to Domina.

"We're the only country in the world that is identified by other nations and the press in other nations as having a dysfunctional legislative branch of our government," Domina said.

Although Domina was a Democrat for most of his life, he registered as an Independent in the 90s and only re-registered as a Democrat this fall when considering a Senate run.

"I am not part of a party ideology," Domina said. "The ideology must be the candidate's if the candidate is going to be worthy of the interests of the people."

He thinks it is possible for Republicans and Democrats to work together to get meaningful legislation passed through the work of a few high quality non-partisan senators who insist on sticking to their own ideology.

When it comes to social issues, Domina leans to the left. He believes in marriage and gender equality as well as adoption equality.

"If a person has to make the incredibly complicated, hurtful decision about having an abortion, that is a decision that person should make," he said.

Those who do decide to get an abortion deserve access to the best medical and psychological information out there in order to make an informed decision, he said. Some people out there need monetary assistance, but this needs to be done responsibly, in Domina's opinion.

"We owe it to people in need to have a safety net," he said. "And for it to be a quality safety net. We also owe it to those same people to help and to incentivize them to break out."

The importance of early childhood education to take pressure off single parents must not be overlooked, Domina believes.

"We have to help the family be more effective," Domina said. "There's no choice about that. And we have to recognize that the definition of family is very much multifaceted."

Even though Domina favors the DREAM act, he does not think the U.S. should attempt to harbor fugitives.

"People aspiring to be Americans should be helped to meet their aspiration by being given an immediate and thoughtful pathway to citizenship," Domina said.

Domina does not believe that rural Nebraskans are looking for partisanship from their Washington politicians.

"I don't think they want a Democrat or Republican," Domina said. "They want an American focused on the good of country. I think they want a United States Senator who can tell an important issue from a secondary issue."

The health, safety and soundness of the country are the most important things to rural Nebraskans, he added. This includes a safe banking system and competitive markets.

Some of those present at Domina's visit to the Coffee Corner last Friday appreciated his outlook on U.S. politics.

"I think that Mr. Domina is clearly thoughtful about the role of Senator in government, rather than going to Washington and representing the interests of one party or another," said Doug Schmale, a Lodgepole farmer.