When Democrats gather at the Four Seasons Hotel on January 15^th for our exciting Johnson Bentsen Richards Dinner, we will honor the extraordinary contributions of Ben Barnes. His work on behalf of the Democratic Party and the State of Texas are truly legendary, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will be there to say so.

Born Benny Frank Barnes in 1938, he began his meteoric political career when he pulled off an upset victory for State Representative at the age of 21. A few years later, he was chosen Speaker of the House and within a few more years was elected to the powerful post of Lieutenant Governor.

Since leaving office, Barnes has been a successful businessman and devoted civic leader. Founder of the Ben Barnes Group, a business consulting and lobbying firm, he brings interest groups and companies together with high-placed Democratic elected officials. And always, he uses his business success to help Democrats — as a donor, a mentor and an advisor.

After a whirlwind trip to Argentina over the Christmas holiday, Barnes talked with us about politics, patriotism and the need to bring both things together.

QUESTION: Compare the climate now, when gridlock is the most used word in politics, to the more collegial time when you were Speaker and then Lieutenant Governor?

BARNES: When I was in the Legislature, we tried to improve the quality of life. That’s been lost in this extremely partisan process of maintaining the party in power. We had conservative Republicans who actually voted for tax bills! It was not black or white; it was gray. If it was good for Texas, you had a chance to sell it to Republicans and Democrats. Of course, we were divided on issues, but when talking about things that were really important for Texas, liberals and conservatives all sat down and talked about Texas and how we could get stuff done for the state. Sometimes I was amazed by how much progress we made.

QUESTION: Travis County has managed to remain sane and blue in all of this. Why do you think that is?

BARNES: Travis County is one of most educated counties in Texas, and I’m really proud of it. We’ve had people, whether we agree or disagree, who study, analyze, diagnose the issues and try to come up with solutions and improve the quality of life. Travis County, unlike a lot of other places, has not turned red because we’re more informed.

QUESTION: There seems to be more distrust and dislike of government now than any other time I can remember – except maybe during the Vietnam War and Watergate. Why do you think that is?

BARNES: Any incumbent in Congress had better be fearful. People are disgusted with gridlock, and they don’t think Congress has looked after them. They’ve looked after their own issues, not jobs or medical care. Times have gotten a little better lately in terms of employment. Despite the Arab spring, we’re in a pretty peaceful time around the world, importing less foreign oil than ever. We’ve got a lot of things to be optimistic about, but people are not seeing the silver lining yet.

QUESTION: The opposition to President Obama is extremely personal — and probably racially motivated. Do you agree?

BARNES: I’m very disappointed. The greatest disappointment LBJ, who fought his whole life for civil rights, would have about politics today would be how Republicans have personalized their dislike of Obama. This has been a regressive time in American politics in that regard. I think his election changed the world for the better, but I think it’s very unfortunate how some people here at home have responded. And I blame a lot of this on talk TV and talk radio.

QUESTION: Sadly, Texas has become one of the reddest of the red states. Any thoughts on why — and what we can do to bring back the days of two-party politics here?

BARNES: Here’s another place we failed, and LBJ said this: You can’t let the business people totally go Republican. If you show them what you stand for and why and get them involved, business people can be aggressive visionaries. They have as much at stake in Texas as anybody, but we haven’t communicated enough with the business community. My home of Comanche County was Democratic, but in this last election, John McCain got 72 percent of the vote. Nobody is out there explaining why Democrats are for the things we’re for, like education and medical care. We’re not articulating the opposite view of Republicans as well as we should. We need tell our story better.

QUESTION: Some people believe that today’s extreme partisanship is turning off our future Democratic leaders. What do you think?

BARNES: I don’t think we’ve been as organized or as good at recruiting young people as we should be. I talk to young people all the time, and I can tell you they are interested in issues, not Republicans and Democrats. They want to know how we will make this country more sophisticated and educated so that we can compete in the world. They’re interested in common goals more than extreme partisanship.

QUESTION: Handicap the 2012 presidential elections for us.

BARNES: The greatest thing that has happened to President Obama is that the Republicans have gotten these people to run for President who they think look good on TV. But the debates have caused people to look at Perry and Gingrich and Romney and realize that Obama looks pretty good by comparison. I think it will be a barnburner of an election, though — a real knock down, drag out fight. Romney will get the Republican nomination, and when it’s all said and done, Obama will be reelected.