MYNORTHWEST NEWS

McDermott: I retire from the house forever humbled

Jan 5, 2016, 10:18 AM | Updated: May 11, 2016, 10:36 pm

Three Democratic candidates made their pitch in Seattle to replace U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott. ...

Three Democratic candidates made their pitch in Seattle to replace U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott. (AP)

(AP)

After 27 years representing Seattle in the U.S. House, Democrat Jim McDermott is retiring.

The word was out Monday morning, a couple hours before Congressman McDermott walked into a room packed with reporters. And so he began: “I’m not sure there’s any surprise here, having read the newspapers and the blogs.”

He says the decision was tough. He doesn’t want to be a quitter.

“I retire from the house forever humbled and grateful to my constituents for their unwavering embrace,” he said.

And unwavering it was for 14 terms, all the while as a no-holds-barred Progressive with many controversial tussles over the years.

Related: Should Kshama Sawant take over for Rep. Jim McDermott?

McDermott was called a traitor when, in 2002, he said President George Bush was so eager to go to war that he would lie to get the country into Iraq. On the right, he’s still known derisively as “Baghdad Jim” for that stance and for his visit to Iraq. On the left, he’s known as the guy who warned the public about a misguided war.

“What we’re looking at today, fourteen years later, is the result of the mistake we made going in there,” he said. “I don’t take any pleasure being right. I mean, I feel for the Iraqis and for Americans and for everybody else, but somebody has to say that stuff and this district gave me the power to do it.”

Fox News Anchor Megyn Kelly was applauded by conservatives for her interview with McDermott in 2013 after he challenged tea party activists who were speaking to Congress about mistreatment by the IRS.

She asked him if he was blaming the victim and in their tense exchange, he told her to stop putting words in his mouth. “Stop that,” he said. “Stop it!”

McDermott is known for his longtime push for healthcare reform, to the point he at first did not support the Affordable Care Act because it didn’t go far enough. He wants single-payer healthcare.

“Not surprisingly, everything has not worked out as I hoped, but I leave Congress with no regrets,” McDermott said.

He says access to healthcare has improved but he’s still pushing for cost control, things like lower prices for prescription drugs.

McDermott is 79 and says it was time to move on. Now, he’ll be able to spend more time with his sons, travel to Portugal, and paint.

He says he wasn’t concerned he would lose his seat, although a month ago, Democratic State Representative Brady Walkinshaw announced he would run against McDermott. Many called Walkinshaw the first viable challenger in years.

Will Walkinshaw be the winner? It’s a seat one man filled for 27 years. The list of hopefuls vying for the spot is likely to keep on growing.

McDermott says he won’t lend his support to any particular potential predecessor. At least not yet.

MyNorthwest News

lead cookware washington...

Frank Sumrall

Washington becomes first state to ban lead in cookware

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Lead in Cookware Act Thursday, banning lead from any products used to cook food.

10 minutes ago

delta sexual assault...

Frank Sumrall

Woman sues Delta Air Lines after sexually assaulted on flight by employee

Last year, a woman was sexually assaulted on a Delta Air Lines flight from Phoenix to Seattle by an airline employee.

1 hour ago

Photo: Lewis and Clark High School students thought quickly to save their track coach's life....

Julia Dallas

Spokane high school students save track coach’s life after his heart stops

Two Spokane high school students used their quick thinking and past training to save their track coach's life last week.

3 hours ago

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

15 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

16 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

18 hours ago

McDermott: I retire from the house forever humbled