Doolittle prepares to exit stage, a complex legacy in place

U.S. Rep. John DoolittleU.S. Rep. John Doolittle’s final six months in office provide something of a sad bookend to a career of a man who was once considered a hero among California conservatives and a rising star within the Republican Party.

In a state that is largely dominated by the Democratic Party, Doolittle rose from the state senate to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he would eventually become House Conference secretary, the sixth-highest ranking position in the chamber.

“He was the golden boy for so long in a state that was Democratic,” said Barbara O’ Connor, a professor of political communications at California State University at Sacramento. “He was able to beat the odds.”

For more than two decades, while remaining popular with a largely conservative constituency, Doolittle has shaped – some would say dominated - politics in a wide stretch of the northernmost edge of California. But Doolittle, who announced in January that he would be stepping down at the end of his ninth term in the house, is leaving his position under a cloud of scrutiny. Last year federal officials, as part of an ongoing inquiry into Doolittle’s ties to now-jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, subpoenaed several of the congressman’s top staffers and raided Doolittle’s Virginia home. Doolittle received $14,000 from Abramoff personally and thousands more from his clients. Doolittle’s wife, Julie, a consultant, received $66,000 for work she did for Abramoff.

The widening investigation into Doolittle and his activities in the influence-peddling scandal came just months after Doolittle defeated Democrat Charlie Brown in a hard-fought race for the Roseville-area seat that saw Brown, a retired Air Force officer, slam Doolittle for his alleged ethical problems. Doolittle’s victory over Brown, coming as his legal problems mounted, highlighted the connection he had forged with the district.

“His stances comported very well with a conservative, entrepreneurial seat of folks. You just couldn’t get a better fit,” said Ron Rodgers, who has served as Doolittle’s chief of staff.

“He was hugely popular for so long,” said Larry DuBois, the chair of the Placer County Democratic Party. “He was a good conservative and that’s what mattered to Republicans in Placer County.”

Val Smith, a Sacramento-based Republican pollster, said Doolittle’s solidly conservative stances on issues like taxes, spending, abortion, property rights and gun control earned him the trust of Republicans in the district.

In his January retirement speech, Doolittle paid homage to those conservative principles.

“The foundation upon which our nation was built – and our freedoms secured – was the bedrock doctrine that each of us is born with certain, inalienable rights that are derived from our Creator. No government, no tyrant, no ideology will ever justly take those away from us,” he said.

For years, Doolittle’s name carried weight in Republican fundraising circles. He was focused on local politics in his Roseville-area district on the granular level, supporting candidates in races for city council, board of supervisors, and school board and using his influence to help them win. “I think he worked very hard to cultivate a relationship with elected officials, local activists, and constituents,” said Smith, the pollster.

Republicans at home and in Washington, however, are trying to put in the past the ethical scandals that cost the party dearly in 2006, and there is a feeling that Doolittle is getting the cold shoulder from his own party.

While a Doolittle aide indicated that the congressman was prepared to support and campaign for Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock to succeed him at the end of the term, McClintock’s side, which has embraced the outsider Republican mantle, has not rushed to embrace Doolittle.

“If you’re running as an outsider why would you want anyone’s endorsement?” asked John Feliz, a McClintock consultant, when asked if the campaign would be receiving Doolittle’s stamp of approval. “This election is about a new direction for our party. You might even say change.”

A Doolittle spokesman said the congressman has not yet been asked to endorse in this year’s presidential race. O’Connor, the Sacramento State professor, said that was a sign that he was being isolated from his party.

“While he still is respected in the district, and his endorsement would carry a lot of weight, people don’t want to be reminded,” O’Connor said.

Doolittle is still looked upon highly by some Republicans officials. At a private reception in April at the Capitol Hill Club, a building that adjoins the Republican National Committee in Washington, Doug Ose, a Republican candidate for Doolittle’s seat, toasted the outgoing congressman.

“This is a man who has huge shoes for anyone to fill,” Ose said at the event, which was also attended by U.S. Reps. Darrell Issa and Dan Lungren. “And I am going to try to fill them. And if I am half as successful as he is, I will consider my career to be a success.”

Doolittle’s ethical problems, however, have pushed him into an early retirement that he likely doesn’t want.

“He’s probably not the happiest of campers these days,” said Allan Hoffenblum, who is editor of the California Target Book. “He was forced to not seek re-election in a job he enjoys.”