Brian Moore is running against Bill Nelson and Katherine Harris for U.S. Senate, but most people in Florida don’t know that. I heard of him when he received some media coverage by going to Cuba the night of the first Nelson-Harris debate.

I was intrigued by a guy who, like me, is a political independent, and who was savvy enough to figure out a way to garner some media coverage for his campaign while the Republican and Democratic candidates traded platitudes before a public television audience.

I contacted Moore’s campaign to see if he would agree to an e-mail interview. He was amenable, and what follows is the exchange between Brian Moore and me from Monday, Oct. 30.

Moore is 63, lives in Spring Hill, Fla., and has run for mayor and city council of Washington, D.C., and has mounted a campaign for the House of Representatives in 2002 and 2004. He has never won an election, though he has served in a variety of civic and activist organizations for 34 years.

PENSITO REVIEW: What gave you the idea to go to Cuba when the debate between Bill Nelson and Katherine Harris was broadcast?

BRIAN MOORE: I had to do something that could top them, and show up the hypocrisy of our so-called “Democratic system.” Cuba seemed a natural, because supposedly that is where there are no freedoms and Democratic rights. Plus, I could speak their language, the embargo was a contrast to my opponents, and the relevancy of Cuba to Florida was very high. In addition, I am an advocate for a national health care system, and their system is universal, comprehensive, accessible, portable and preventive.

One further point, there is a small group of Cuban-Americans in Miami who have contributed a lot of money to the two major political parties, and thus seem to have an abnormal amount of influence with our Florida legislators, and the us congress. I think they take advantage of the “communism” fear, and make congress feel if they oppose the embargo they will be accused of being unpatriotic or favoring communism.a real abuse of power!

PR: How did you get there?

BM: I was able to arrange for a flight through my religious background and non-governmental organization credentials. I was a Franciscan cleric for five years and was two years from ordination to the priesthood when I left the Franciscan order. Secondly, I worked for five years with a ngo, better called a non-governmental organization, where I traveled and worked in Latin America and Africa de-worming children

PR: What did you do in Cuba?

BM: I visited with government officials in ministries of public health, foreign affairs and the Cuban food program. I also visited with the Catholic cardinal, Jaime Ortega, and his chancellor, with whom I met with for over one hour. We spoke at great length about the Cuban constitution’s clear separation of church and state, which is atypical for the rest of latin America.

I also visited the oldest Catholic seminar. in Cuba, San Anselmo, and met with its rector and some seminarians. I also visited the us interest section, nearby my hotel, and was able to observe the ticker-tape red electronic messaging on the tenth floor of the building, in letters about 15 feet high, supposedly telling or showing the Cuban people what news there was in the world. It is an obvious slap at the controlled press in Cuba, saying we will give you the truth if the Cuban government cannot or chooses not to do it.

The Cuban government, in turn, has erected flags in front of the us interest section, about 50 150-foot-high flags, black in color, with white stars, dedicated to the martyrs of the revolution. These flags block the ticker-tape view. It is an obvious propaganda war going on. My reaction was that it is so petty, so typical of President Bush to order such a petty cowboy action.

PR: What did you learn from the trip?

BM: Cuba is poor materially but rich in spirit and pride. They are self-sufficient, with or without fidel castro. Our embargo has had a disastrous impact on their economy and we have imposed poverty and suffering on many people of the island. It is a petty vindictive shameless action, in my opinion, and it will be dropped immediately after Fidel Castro passes from the scene. The whole matte. seems based on our pride and the mean-spirited Cuban-Americans who will probably run to the island to grab land, or make a dollar, but never relinquish their favored privileged status in America.

I also learned about their efficient and intelligent health care system, and the country-wide education for everyone.. They are a politically sophisticated country, with everyone engaging in political discourse. They are up on world events, and on America. But they are content with their lives. and happy with themselves.

I also learned that the Catholics and their church yearn for more ways to express their spirituality, and adoration. They wish to be more public about their beliefs and customs, and to engage their young. They feel their young are neutral observers, willing to go along with the custom of their parents and grandparents, but not quite committed because they cannot take an active role in their religion.

PR: Did you see or learn anything that changed your views or feelings about Cuba or U.S. policy toward Cuba?

BM: I learned that the Cuban-Americans have a strong lobby in Florida and Washington, D.C., and that Cuba has not been that aggressive in combating it. However, that may change. I certainly am willing to help in informing and pressuring congress, and in educating the public in Florida about the unfairness, pettiness and loss of our constitutional rights in being able to freely travel to Cuba — from our present policy on Cuba. In the long run, we are the losers. We have imprisoned ourselves by our restrictive policies.

I agree with Robert Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy, that. “the travel ban to Cuba is inconsistent with traditional American liberties.. . and was not surprised that President Reagan, in order to make himself look anti-communist, just like nixon did in 1946, reinstated the ban in 1981, after President Carter has cancelled it in 1977.

I was pleased to see that the country has a clear division between church and state, more than I ever thought. However, I hope they reopen the country’s freedom to practice religion openly and publicly.

PR: Have you ever been affiliated with one of the two mainstream U.S. political parties? If so, what made you become an independent? If not, why not?

BM: I grew up a Democrat and became an independent in 1975 after becoming disillusioned with the two party system. I briefly became a Democrat in
2004 thinking my ideas and beliefs were consistent with that party, only to be sadly disappointed. I became an independent because the two parties do
not stand for principles but only grab for power. Plus, they have sold out to corporate America and interest groups..

PR: We know what the disadvantages are - lack of money, media attention, volunteers, etc. - but are there advantages to running as an independent?

BM: Not beholden to moneyed interest or party loyalty. Free to be yourself, and to run on principle and ethics. The biggest advantage is to demonstrate that I have not sold out to party loyalty or big money.

PR: We understand that you received the Green Party endorsement in the Florida Senate race, and the endorsement of Ralph Nader, one-time Green Party presidential candidate. Nader is such a polarizing, obnoxious figure in American politics, is it worth having his name associated with your campaign?
While I think the Green Party endorsement is a positive, to me, the Nader association is a negative. How do you respond?

BM: Ralph Nader is one of the giants of the previous century, and he will go down in history as a great intellectual, a great statesman, and a courageous and ethical person. He is one of the great leaders of all time. He speaks the truth, adheres to it, and moral principles, and does not wavier. I am humbled and very proud to have received his blessing and endorsement.

PR: What has been the single most frustrating thing about your campaign?

BM: The blackout by the press, and how they wield their power. It is one of the most shocking experiences of my political life. I have never eve. seen in all of my active years, how lazy, uninterested, undemocratic and unfair the Fourth Estate has acted. An independent could not have asked for better conditions to have the potential to win a race. The ideas I represent are from the majority of Americans, ironically. I am the one and only candidate against the Iraq war, and my record is unblemished when it comes to standing up against this war over four years ago, prior to our invasion.
Less than 20 percent of the American people believe in the united states congress. Neither political party has legislated for a national health plan. There is rampant corruption in the us congress and both political parties, and on and on.

However, the sa. part of this campaign is that the fourth estate has totally blacked out my candidacy. They have not reported that i, nor my fellow independents, are candidates. They have not included us in their political guides or profiles. They have not invited us to forums, debates and newspaper interviews. It is as if there is a conspiracy to not mention we exist. They do not feel we are viable. The palm beach post editorial editor said I was not written about nor seriously considered because I was not “a viable candidate.. he stated a viable candidate is one with substantial money, majority party support, statewide name recognition, and major endorsements.

Qualifying on the ballot, holding positions contrary to the two major party candidates, especially with regard to the crucial issues of our times (i.e. The Iraq war, the Patriot Act, the Cuban embargo, the torture bill, the need for a national health plan, etc.) and having track record regarding the war that has historically demonstrated good judgment, vision, courage, strength of character, leadership, qualifies, a person of principles and ethical conduct, etc.

PR: What is the primary motivating factor that helps you, day to day, to continue to pursue the U.S. Senate?

BM: To end the Iraq war. To stand up for principle, to force people to be accountable for their actions, and to prick the conscience of the two political parties, of corporate America and of the press and the media. I believe in myself and the principles of honesty and integrity and try to apply them in my life. When I see a wrong I try to right it. My long-term goals are to make life more bearable for the millions of human beings who live in poverty, pestilence and illnesses.

Our political system is corrupted an. broken and I want to right it.

PR: Are there other independent candidates in other parts of the country that you know of who have similar views on the issues to yours?

BM: Ralph Nader in 2004, Kevin Zeese running for us senate in Maryland, other congressional candidates and senate candidates throughout the country running on an antiwar platform.

PR: What do you think is most wrong with the U.S. political process today?

BM: It is corrupted by corporate dominance, money and interest groups. Our civil liberties are threatened and our democratic rights are on the verge of being trampled upon. We are fast becoming a fascist society, where the rights of individuals are on the verge of being lost.

PR: Is there a possibility of a viable third party gaining political credence in this country? If so, what would its platform look like?

BM: Third parties do have credibility and viability now. Almost 25 percent of all Americans have registered as independents. It is the big money that is difficult to overcome. Our society is becoming more entrenched, not less, and power rests at the top and with big money. Unless we finance public campaigns, then social chaos is certai. to come in our lifetime. Our country will soon reach a social plateau where life will not be acceptable and bearable; and then the watershed will come, and the dam will burst.

PR: I am a registered independent. Besides the fact that I get far fewer pollsters calling me and that I can’t vote in Florida’s primaries,
what other advantages or disadvantages of political independence can you identify for a regular citizen.

BM: The disadvantages are that you cannot vote in the primaries and that the press and media do not take you seriously if you wish to run as a minor party candidate. The advantages are that one has no party loyalty oaths, has more freedom to act courageously and is not labeled as being part of a singular group. Some times on. gains more respect if they say they are an independent as opposed to being part of a tradition political party.

PR: Do you care to give me a prediction about how you think the midterms are going to pan out? Will the Democrats gain control over either house of Congress?

BM: No, the Democrats will no. gain control of the house, nor should they. They are neither organized, funded adequately, and lack the backbone and spine to lead. They are a dead party, and this election will confirm it.

PR: You have a 9-year-old son. How do you explain to him what you are doing in pursuing this candidacy? What values are you trying to instill in him that you think are essential to being a good citizen of the United States of America?

BM: Civic responsibility and involvement, volunteer work for the community, political engagement, standing up for ones principles and what you believe in, getting involved in one’s community and society.

I tell him I am against the war, and I have to stand up for principle and act ethically. He understands, or is, at least, beginning to understand all of these above concepts.

PR: Thanks for taking the time.