Congressman Brad Ashford, D-Neb., has a unique decision-making process for determining his thoughts on how to approach the Islamic State.
In an email newsletter, Ashford asks his constituents for their opinion on the matter. “I always value the input of my constituents. Please participate in my survey.”
He asks, “Should Congress authorize the use of military force against ISIS?” The options one can then choose from are “Yes,” “No,” and “Unsure.”
Ashford’s flirtation here with direct democracy is not out of character.
Ashford is known as a peculiar first-term Congressman, who has switched between being a Republican and Democrat several times in his private life and while serving in the Nebraska Senate. Ashford is known as a reader of history, interested in some of the ideals and practices that were more commonplace in the years closer to the nation’s founding.
When Speaker John Boehner announced his retirement in October, Ashford proposed replacing him by secret ballot. His proposal was not adopted.
“The U.S. House of Representatives conducted leadership elections by secret ballot before 1839,” Ashford’s office said at the time.
Ashford has also run for office as an independent, and is thus seen an idiosyncratic House Democrat. Perhaps it’s helping him. Ashford’s district is seen as a swing district that should favor Republicans in conservative Nebraska, but Ashford was one of only two Democrats to upset an incumbent House Republican in 2014.
