TALKING POLITICS Morabito pursues unorthodox House campaign BY PETER IAN ASEN

The independent congressional campaign of Ed Morabito, once a top adviser to former governor Lincoln Almond, is based on a familiar Republican promise: "Less taxes. Less government. More freedom." Such a pitch might seem strange coming from Morabito, who with his wife, Sue, owns Cuban Revolution, a downtown Providence restaurant that features pictures of Fidel Castro on its menu. Castro’s Cuba is not known for freedom, low taxes, or the absence of government intrusion. So what gives?

"It’s not a matter of just saying government has the answers," Morabito says. The candidate, who is running a low-budget campaign, envisions a government from below, in which members of Congress get advice from their constituents in crafting policy, rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions from above.

As a small business owner, Morabito says he has a particular appreciation for government bureaucracy. And a state with as many small businesses as Rhode Island, he says, should have at least one person in its Congressional delegation with small business experience. As for the presence of Fidel on the menu, Morabito says, "We don’t celebrate Fidel Castro. But what we celebrate is the spirit of the Cuban Revolution," a spirit growing out of a movement for "individual freedoms and civil rights for all."

A longtime Republican who recently left the GOP because of his concerns about the Iraq war and the Bush administration, Morabito hopes to glean support from the left, right, and so-called "radical middle" in seeking the Second Congressional District seat held by US Representative James R. Langevin. The independent, however, will likely face an uphill battle in running a frugal campaign against a well-known, well-financed Democratic incumbent such as Langevin, who moved from the secretary of state’s office to Congress in 2000. Republican Chuck Barton, the town council president in East Greenwich, who resides in the same neighborhood as Morabito, is also running for the seat.

Morabito says he has a lot of respect for Langevin. The candidates agree on a number of issues, including their opposition to the war in Iraq war, and their dislike for many Bush policies. Morabito differs with Langevin on some issues. He is pro-choice, while the congressman is pro-life, and Morabito is pro-gay marriage. He claims to be stronger on immigrant concerns and civil liberties in general, and touts himself as being more vocal than Langevin on many local issues. "I’d be a different type of congressman," Morabito says.

Langevin spokesman Mike Guilfoyle says the incumbent has done plenty for Rhode Island. He cites Langevin’s role in finding a buyer for the former Rocky Point Park in Warwick, and his securing, along with US Senator Jack Reed, nearly $2 million for it as just two examples of the congressman’s achievements.

Morabito is trying to set himself apart through an unusual step – refusing to accept campaign contributions (any donations, he says, will be placed into a college scholarship fund for Rhode Island youth). He plans to pump about $20,000 of his own money into his campaign. Even though fundraising is a crucial factor in most races, he cites his self-funded campaign as a matter of principle.

Morabito knows his minimal war chest will put him at a disadvantage, but he says he will spend wisely, not wasting money on high-priced consultants, since he has run campaigns. (It’s worth remembering, though, that former Cranston city council president Kevin J. McAllister didn’t fare well when he ran a deliberately low-budget primary campaign, among two other Democrats, against Langevin in 2000). Still, Morabito, with the optimism of a fledgling candidate, contends that his opponents may underestimate him. "I am not easily contained," he says.