After that MTV piece aired our paths kept crossing. We were both at the Republican National Convention, where he delivered a speech for the Campaign for Liberty. Later that week, he was all over CSPAN, MSNBC and CNN, as the spectator who interrupted Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) speech with a sign that read: “McCain Votes Against Vets” and “Your Can’t Win an Occupation.”

Today Kokesh is back in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. On May 3^rd, 2009, the 27-year-old Marine announced he would explore a run in New Mexico’s 3^rd Congressional District. If he decides to do it, he will face freshman U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján.

Here is an exclusive Q&A with the possible youth candidate – his thoughts on running, party politics and the use of new media tools in the halls of Congress.

EricaAmerica: On May 1^st, you created an exploratory committee to run in New Mexico’s 3^rd Congressional District. What brought you to this point and this decision? Obviously, your time in Iraq served as a major influence.

Adam Kokesh: The formation of the exploratory committee is just the formalization of a process that has really been going on for years. Since I was first politically active, people have been encouraging me to run for office, especially for Congress. This might just be the time and the place for me. When I got back from Iraq I realized that the issues we debate are more than just academic or intellectual issues, but when we are talking about government, the use of force, and war, the issues are in one way or another a matter of life and death. That’s what motivated me to get involved in the first place.

[Fallujah, Feb-Sep '04]

EA: You must be one of the youngest potential-candidates for Congress in the country’s history. How old are you?

AK: I am 27 years old. I’m sure there have been many younger candidates, but that’s pretty young by today’s standards.

EA: You said if you are elected, you will not accept the Congressional salary of $170,000, but the national average income. Why make that kind of monetary sacrifice?

AK: It’s time someone on Capitol Hill had some skin in the game. I don’t think our current leadership has any credibility when they are all making extraordinary sums of money (and I’m not just talking about their salaries) when they are supposed to be servants of the people.

EA: You are a member of the Libertarian party – but you will be running on the Republican ticket. What can Libertarian leadership bring to the 112^th Congress? To the Republican Party?

AK: As of yet, I have not committed to running with any party and I’m not ruling out any possibilities.

EA: Has new media (instant video uploads of your speeches, a blog to communicate with supporters) made it easier for you to enter into politics at such a young age? Has new media and online transparency of who you are and what you stand for created any problems?

AK: I don’t think new media has made it harder or easier, it’s just where it’s at. Some people who can’t adapt are getting left behind, but it’s not like it gives me an edge any more than any other tool at my disposal. When I first got involved with the anti-war movement, the war was still relatively popular and it would drive me nuts to see some of the comments about me online, but that’s just another part about being a public figure these days. It doesn’t get to me any more.

EA: Will you consider using Twitter to update voters and constituents on your day-to-day meetings, votes and observations of the Congress like Claire McCaskill (http://twitter.com/clairecmc ), John Boehner (http://twitter.com/johnboehner) and others do?

AK: I have been a little reluctant about Twitter since I have such success with Facebook status updates, but I’m getting more familiar with the platform. I think the idea of instant updates from representatives is a great idea, and I will use whatever’s available to do that effectively.

EA: Any additional thoughts to add?

AK: My political philosophy is based on my attitude towards humanity: love, faith, respect. Freedom and liberty are the political measurements of how respected we are by governement and people in our communities. When we have a society like ours that is so seemingly dependent upon violence and coercion, the real message of change is love.

As far back as Mark Twain, the American character has been ornery. We secretly love rascals, bank robbers, tricksters, swindlers, hell raisers, and outlaws. And when we feel so inclined, we laugh at them. Rush Limbaugh may represent a toxic form of entertainment — and the bile he spews bears no resemblance to true morality — but the fact that America makes room for him is something to be proud of.

Read Chophra’s article, Rush Limbaugh: Icon of Anti-Morality, here.