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John Calvin Fleming, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Jim McCrery
Personal details
Born	(1951-07-05) July 5, 1951 (age 73) Meridian, Mississippi
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Cindy Fleming
Residence	Minden, Louisiana
Alma mater	University of Mississippi
Occupation	Physician, Businessman

John Calvin Fleming, Jr. (born July 5, 1951) is a Minden, Louisiana physician, the author of the book Preventing Addiction, and the Republican U.S. representative from Louisiana's 4th congressional district. Fleming defeated Democratic nominee Paul Carmouche in the 2008 election by a margin of only 356 votes.

He is a second cousin five times removed to Henry Clay of Kentucky, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. senator, and secretary of state. Fleming is a member of Sons of the American Revolution and Jamestowne Society.

Fleming is the first U.S. representative from Minden since 1937, when John N. Sandlin vacated the seat. Fleming is only the second Republican to hold the seat since Reconstruction.

Early life and education

Fleming was born in Meridian, in eastern Mississippi. He grew up in a working class home in which his mother became disabled when he was still young and could not work. Just prior to graduating from high school, Fleming's father suddenly died of a heart attack, which required Fleming to work his way through college. He attended college at the University of Mississippi in Oxford and medical school in Jackson. He entered the United States Navy to help fund his medical education. He was awarded his B.S. degree in 1973 and M.D. degree in 1976.

Fleming and his wife, Cindy, have been married since 1978 and have four children.

Medical career

After earning his medical degree, Fleming acted as chief resident in family medicine at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Camp Pendleton, California. He also trained at the drug and alcohol treatment unit at the Navy Regional Medical Center in Long Beach. Serving in the Navy after his residency, Fleming practiced military family medicine on the island of Guam. There from 1979 to 1981, he was the director of drug and alcohol treatment and chairman of the Navy’s Family Advocacy Committee. Thereafter, he performed similar duties in Charleston, South Carolina.

After leaving the Navy, Fleming established a private practice in 1982 in Minden. His family practice emphasized the treatment of depression, attention span disorder, and the prevention of chronic disease. Information his office released on March 6, 2009 revealed that, in the same year, he received a certification from the American Board of Family Practice and joined the staff of the Minden Medical Center. Fleming also joined the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP). In 2007, he was chosen as the LAFP "Louisiana Family Practice Physician of the Year."

In 2006, Fleming wrote the book Preventing Addiction: What Parents Must Know to Immunize Their Kids Against Drug and Alcohol Addiction, which he aimed at assisting parents in keeping their children from potential chemical dependency. He appeared on numerous national broadcast programs to promote his book.

Business career

Fleming also enjoyed success as a businessman; he was cited, as of November 30, 2008, as the owner of 33 Subway sandwich shops in northern Louisiana and of Fleming Expansions, LLC, a regional developer for The UPS Store, which supported stores in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

2011 tax plan comments

In a September 19, 2011 interview on MSNBC, in which Fleming criticized President Obama's proposed plan to increase taxes on the wealthy, Fleming told host Chris Jansing, "The amount that I have to invest in my business and feed my family is more like $600,000 of that $6.3 million...So by the time I feed my family I have, maybe, $400,000 left over to invest in new locations, upgrade my locations, buy more equipment." When Jansing asked Fleming if he thought the "average person" might be unsympathetic to Fleming's position, Fleming responded, "Class warfare never created a job...This is not about attacking people who make certain incomes. You know in this country, most people feel that being successful in their business is a virtue, not a vice, and once we begin to identify it as a vice, this country is going down."

Fleming's remarks were widely reported and resulted in considerable commentary. Bruce Alpert, of Louisiana newspaper The Times-Picayune, reported that "on liberal blogs, Fleming was portrayed as insensitive to millions of working Americans who are struggling to meet expenses in the face of high unemployment and stagnant wages." Conservative sources including Bill O'Reilly and the Drudge Report defended Fleming's remarks; Josh Beavers, publisher of the Minden Press-Herald in Fleming's hometown, wrote an editorial which stated, " sentiment was only that the more taxes he pays the fewer people he can employ. High taxes on business owners thwart economic activity."

Early political career

On October 21, 1995, having joined the Republican Party, Fleming was elected, on that ticket, as coroner of traditionally Democratic Webster Parish (2000 population: 41,831), having defeated the non-partisan candidate, Dr. Carlos A. Irizarry, 7,842 (60.6 percent) to 5,143 (39.6 percent). He succeeded Dr. Carl A. Hines, a Minden Democrat who did not seek re-election.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

Upon his election to the United States House of Representatives, Fleming was assigned to these committees:

• The Committee on Armed Services,
  • its Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, and
  • its Subcommittee on Strategic Forces;
• the Committee on Natural Resources,
  • its Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, and
  • its Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs, of which he was appointed Chair Representative;

in addition to:

• the Republican Study Committee and
• the Tea Party Caucus.

Political campaigns

2008 campaign

Fleming entered the race to become the Republican nominee for the District 4 House seat after McCrery announced retirement. He received political support from the LAFP and the American Academy of Family Physicians' (AAFP) political action committee for his campaign.

Fleming supported the FairTax, which would replace the income tax with a sales tax rate, as defined in the legislation, of 23 percent of the total payment, equivalent to a 30 percent traditional U.S. sales tax ($23 on top of every $77 spent before taxes.)

The primary and subsequent runoff election were delayed because of the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. In the October 4, 2008, Republican closed primary, Fleming ran against Jeff Thompson of Shreveport (McCrery's choice), and Chris Gorman (a trucking executive). In a close election, no candidate received a majority of the votes. Fleming led with 14,500 votes (35.1 percent), followed by Gorman with 14,072 votes (34.1 percent), and Thompson with 12,693 votes (30.8 percent). This set up a primary runoff between Fleming and Gorman which was held on November 4, along with the national presidential election.

In the runoff, Fleming defeated Gorman, 43,012 votes (55.6 percent) to 34,405 (44.4 percent) and carried all but one of the thirteen parishes in the district. On November 4, the total Republican vote for District 4 Representative was 72,754 ballots below the total cast on the Democratic side (150,171), where Carmouche won easily over Willie Banks, Jr., an African American attorney, 93,093 (62 percent) to 57,078 (38 percent).

In the 2006 race against McCrery, "Catfish" Kelley ran as a Republican and drew 12 percent of the vote under the still existing jungle primary format. In 2008, his 3 percent was far more than the margin between Fleming and Carmouche. A plurality is sufficient to win the general election—which, along with the District 2 race, were the last congressional races in the nation in 2008.

Outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney appeared in Shreveport on November 21 to speak at a fundraiser for Fleming. Politico.com indicated that McCrery supports Fleming but had made no official endorsement and had not appeared at any of Fleming's campaign events. On December 2, McCrery spoke on Fleming's behalf in an appearance on the Moon Griffon radio program, which is syndicated in most Louisiana media markets. He used the argument that Carmouche, if successful, would cast his first vote for Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.

Carmouche led in the count most of the evening, but Bossier Parish, considered the most Republican-leaning in the district (2nd most in the state after St. Tammany Parish), erased an earlier 2,000 vote lead for Carmouche and gave Fleming a district-wide margin of 356 votes. Carmouche won Caddo Parish, 22,742-15,510, but Fleming lost his own Webster Parish, 3,790 to 3,622. Bossier Parish gave Fleming 9,311 votes to Carmouche's 5,301 ballots. Fleming also won in traditionally Democratic Natchitoches and Claiborne parishes. Fleming succeeds Republican James Otis "Jim" McCrery, Jr., a 21-year incumbent who did not seek reelection.

On December 10, 2008, Paul Carmouche formally conceded the election to Fleming.

Political consultant Lee Fletcher managed Fleming's campaign for Congress and served for the first few months in the term as Fleming's chief of staff. However, cancer struck Fletcher, who died at the age of forty-three on September 30, 2009. Fletcher previously was the chief of staff to former 5th Congressional District U.S. Representative John Cooksey of Monroe. In 2002, Fletcher himself narrowly lost the 5th District congressional race to Rodney Alexander of Jackson Parish, then a Democrat who subsequently switched parties in August 2004.

2010 campaign

Fleming was unopposed in the Republican primary and was challenged by Democratic nominee David R. Melville, a Methodist minister from Bossier City and brother-in-law of former Governor Buddy Roemer. Artis Cash, a Shreveport community organizer, ran as an Independent in the general election. Buddy Roemer, a Republican, supported David Melville in the general election.

John Fleming was reelected by a large margin over David Melville, with 62.3% of the popular vote. Melville garnered 32.4% of the popular vote while Independent candidate Artis Cash came in third, with 5.3% of the popular vote. Fleming presented himself as an anti-Obama style Republican who would work to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Fleming claimed that Democratic policies were out of step with his district and most of America.

References

1. ^ Louisiana Secretary of State, Election returns, December 6, 2008:http://www400.sos.louisiana.gov:8090/cgibin/?rqstyp=elcms2&rqsdta=120608
2. Biographical Guide to the U.S. Congress, John N. Sandlin: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000043
3. Gannon, Patricia (September 2007). "Physician Spotlight: John C. Fleming". LousianaMedialNews.com. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
4. ^ Brown, Ida (June 27, 2007). "Meridian native named Family Doctor of Year". The Meridian Star. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
5. "Physicians". Minden Medical Center. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
6. Fleming, John C. (2006). Preventing Addiction: What Parents Must Know to Immunize Their Kids Against Drug and Alcohol Addiction. Hannibal Books. ISBN 0929292456.
7. Fleming, John C (July 18, 2007). "An Interview with John C. Fleming MD on Preventing Addictions" (Podcast) (Interview). Interviewed by David Van Nuys. Retrieved 2008-11-21. {{cite interview}}: Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help)
8. ^ "Minden's Fleming running for Congress". Minden Press-Herald. January 18, 2008. p. 1. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
9. ^ Kraushaar, Josh (November 11, 2008). "GOP fights to hold onto Louisiana seat". Politico. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
10. ^ Alpert, Bruce. "Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana catches flak for income remarks." The Times-Picayune, 2011-09-20.
11. The O'Reilly Factor. Fox News. 2011-09-22. Transcript.
12. Beavers, Josh. "Congressman Fleming Said Nothing Wrong." Minden Press-Herald, 2011-09-21.
13. United States Census Bureau. "Webster Parish Quickfacts". Retrieved 2008-02-02.
14. "Results for Election Date: 10/21/95 — Parish of Webster". Official Parish Election Results. Louisiana Secretary of State.
15. Submitted by Fleming for Congress. "John Fleming, MD, Wins the Republican Nomination for 4th Congressional District". Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians. Retrieved November 22, 2008. On Friday, October 31, Dr. Roberts, LAFP Past President, presented Dr. Fleming with a check from FamMedPac, the AAFP's Political Action Committee. 'We were honored to receive another check from FamMedPac. I have received lots of support from fellow physicians, and I want to sincerely thank each one who has helped my campaign.' {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
16. Regnier, Pat (September 7, 2005). "Just how fair is the FairTax?". Money Magazine. Retrieved September 24, 2008.
17. "Outstanding House Races". MSNBC. November 19, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
18. ^ "Still Some Undecided Races, But Obama Gets Electoral Grace Note in Nebraska". CQ Politics. November 11, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
19. "Results for Election Date: 10/04/08,". Official Election Results. Louisiana Secretary of State.
20. "Results for Election Date: 11/04/08" (See primary returns for Fourth Congressional District). Official Election Results. Louisiana Secretary of State.
21. "Results for Election Date: 11/07/06". Official Election Results. Louisiana Secretary of State.
22. Prine, John Andrew (November 22, 2008). "Cheney boosts Fleming's campaign". Shreveport Times. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
23. The Moon Griffon Show, syndicated radio program, December 2, 2008
24. Kraushaar, Josh (December 10, 2008). "Carmouche concedes to Fleming". Politico. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
25. KEEL Radio News, October 11, 2010
26. "Republican John Fleming re-elected for Congress" KSLA News, November 2, 2010. Accessed December 29, 2010.
27. "Elections 2010:Louisiana"

External links

• Congressman John Fleming official U.S. House site
• John Fleming for U.S. Congress official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart

v t e Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana
1st district	E. Livingston White H. Johnson White Slidell La Sére St. Martin Dunbar Eustis Bouligny Sypher Lawrence Gibson Hunt St. Martin Wilkinson Meyer Estopinal O'Connor Fernández Hébert Tonry B. Livingston Vitter Jindal Scalise
2nd district	Gurley Thomas Ripley Chinn Dawson la Branche Thibodeaux Conrad Bullard J. A. Landry Hunt Taylor Mann Sheldon Ellis Hahn Wallace Lagan Coleman Lagan Davey Buck Davey Gilmore Dupré Spearing Maloney H. Boggs Maloney H. Boggs L. Boggs Jefferson Cao Richmond Carter
3rd district	Brent Overton Bullard Garland J. Moore Dawson Harmanson Penn Perkins Davidson Newsham Darrall Acklen Darrall Kellogg Gay Price Broussard Martin Montet Mouton Domengeaux Willis Caffery Treen Tauzin Melançon J. M. Landry Boustany Higgins
4th district	Bossier Morse J. Moore Jones Sandidge Landrum Vidal Newsham McCleery Boarman Smith Levy Elam Blanchard Ogden Breazeale Watkins Sandlin Brooks Waggonner Leach Roemer McCrery Fields McCrery Fleming M. Johnson
5th district	Blackburn Morey Spencer Leonard Young King Newton Boatner Baird Ransdell Elder Wilson Mills McKenzie Passman Huckaby McCrery Cooksey Alexander McAllister Abraham Letlow
6th district	Nash E. Robertson Lewis Irion E. Robertson S. Robertson Favrot Wickliffe Morgan Sanders Sr. Favrot Kemp Sanders Jr. Griffith Sanders Jr. Morrison Rarick H. Moore Baker Cazayoux Cassidy Graves Fields
7th district	Pujo Lazaro De Rouen Plauché Larcade Thompson Edwards Breaux Hayes John Boustany
8th district	Aswell Overton Dear Allen G. S. "Doc" Long McSween G. W. Long S. Long G. W. Long C. Long Holloway
At-large	Robertson Butler Johnston Sheridan
Territory	Clark Poydras

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• American health care businesspeople
• American coroners
• American family and parenting writers
• American physicians
• Louisiana Republicans
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana
• People from Meridian, Mississippi
• People from Minden, Louisiana
• Sons of the American Revolution
• Southern Baptists
• United States Navy officers
• University of Mississippi alumni
• 1951 births
• Living people