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| 2024 Election: | Joe Biden's book | Kamala Harris' book | Donald Trump's book | JD Vance's book | 2024 Senate Debates |
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| Book Reviews | |||||||||||||||
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(from Amazon.com) | |||||||||||||||
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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |

from State of South Carolina secondary Archives (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Barack Obama: Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion. Catherine Templeton: Define personhood from conception; no exceptions for incest. Chris Dodd: Courts should decide abortion cases based on woman�s health. Dennis Kucinich: Litmus test on Roe, but as part of a culture of life. Donald Trump: Planned Parenthood does great work on women's health. Gary Johnson: Right to choose up until viability of the fetus. Henry McMaster: Stop providing state funds to abortion clinics. Henry McMaster: Supports Personhood Bill, defining life from conception. Henry McMaster: Budget shouldn't "contain a penny" for abortion providers. Henry McMaster: Prevent funneling of taxpayer dollars to Planned Parenthood. Henry McMaster: Send me the heartbeat bill and I will immediately sign it. Jaime Harrison: NARAL: Harrison "outspoken champion of reproductive freedom". Jaime Harrison: Should be between a woman, her doctor, her God. Jay Stamper: Limiting abortion isn't limited-government conservatism. Joe Biden: Nominees should agree on constitutional right to privacy. Joe Cunningham: Fetal Heartbeat Bill is restrictive and draconian. Joe Cunningham: Society benefits when women have autonomy over their bodies. John Edwards: Gov't should not decide for women on partial-birth abortion. Kevin Bryant: Supports Personhood Bill, defining life from conception. Kevin Bryant: Budget shouldn't "contain a penny" for abortion providers. Krystle Matthews: We must codify a woman's right to choose. Lee Bright: Human life begins at conception. Lee Bright: Require 24 hours after ultrasound before abortion. Lindsey Graham: Eliminate abortion on demand at 20 weeks. Mia McLeod: Fiercely advocate for reproductive rights and freedoms. Mike Huckabee: "Hate but allow abortion" is like "hate but allow slavery". Mitt Romney: Courts added tax-paid abortions to RomneyCare; not me. Mitt Romney: I had no litmus test for appointing judges, but I'm pro-life. Rick Santorum: FactCheck: Under 1/4 of pregnancies end in abortion, not 1/3. Rudy Giuliani: Allowing choice keeps government out of people's lives. Rudy Giuliani: Seek bipartisan ways to reduce abortion & increase adoption. Sam Brownback: Opposes abortion even for women pregnant by rapists. Thomas Dixon: Women choose what is best for their bodies. Thomas Ravenel: Hired abortion activist as campaign Communications Director. Tim Pawlenty: Stem-cell research ok on previous embryos, but not new ones. Tim Scott: Human life begins at conception. Tim Scott: Don't require 24 hours after ultrasound; 1 hour is enough. Tommy Thompson: New stem cell research means embryos need not be destroyed. Yancey McGill: Opposes abortion, even as Democratic State Senator. Henry McMaster: Signed Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act. |
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Budget & Economy Catherine Templeton: I took a buzz-saw to government. Gary Johnson: On verge of financial collapse unless we balance budget. Gloria Bromell Tinubu: Economic justice is the number one issue. Gloria Bromell Tinubu: Raise minimum wage to $15/hour if not higher. Henry McMaster: Propose nearly doubling rainy day reserve fund. Jeb Bush: Florida thrived under my leadership. John Kasich: Ohio went from $8 billion deficit to $2 billion surplus. Lee Bright: Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity. Lindsey Graham: Dollar-for-dollar offset: cut spending to raise debt ceiling. Lindsey Graham: Won't shut country down; getting back to business. Mia McLeod: Got SC Ports Authority to triple minority business goal. Mia McLeod: Allocate critical funds for infrastructure. Mitt Romney: Washington is broken; needs fundamental change. Nancy Mace: Restore some accountability in the budgeting process. Rick Wade: Oversaw Obama stimulus implementation at Commerce Department. Rick Wade: AdWatch: 5 years in Washington on failed $787B stimulus. Thomas Ravenel: Federal spending is headed for a doomsday scenario. Tim Pawlenty: I left MN with a balanced budget, not a $6B deficit. Tim Scott: Address fiscal cliff with sequestration & tax cut extension. Tim Scott: Free enterprise is the key to national prosperity. Tom Tancredo: Reduce budget deficit--restrict feds to Constitutional role. |
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Civil Rights Barack Obama: Put the Confederate flag in a museum, not the state house. Brad Hutto: Equal pay for equal work is the next women's milestone. Catherine Templeton: Proud of the Confederacy; don't rewrite history. Catherine Templeton: Opposes accommodating transgender people. Catherine Templeton: Transgender people should use bathroom matching birth gender. Chris Dodd: Supports civil unions but opposes gay marriage. Henry McMaster: No need for any new transgender bathroom law. Herman Cain: Ignoring DOMA is treasonous breach of presidential duty. Jaime Harrison: Encourage voter drives among unregistered African Americans. Jaime Harrison: Opposes voters having to provide Social Security numbers. Jaime Harrison: HRC: Harrison among strongest advocate for LGBTQ equality. James Clyburn: Voted for Hate Crimes Act & to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. James Emerson Smith: History of supporting LGBTQ rights earned their endorsement. Jay Stamper: Asked by Party to exit race after supporting gay marriage. Joe Cunningham: Endorsed by South Carolina Equality for LGBTQ rights. John McCain: Confederate flag on top of capitol was wrong; in front is ok. Kevin Bryant: No affirmative action in schools or government. Krystle Matthews: Opposed transgender sports law, leave transgender kids alone. Lee Bright: Government shouldn't redefine marriage. Nikki Haley: No need for any new transgender bathroom law. Rick Wade: First all-black U.S. Senate race in recent memory. Ron Paul: Government is totally unnecessary for gay marriage laws. Thomas Ravenel: Government should stay out of our bedrooms &our boardrooms. Thomas Ravenel: Stay out of marriage, but if not, treat gays equally. Tim Scott: Government shouldn't redefine marriage. Tim Scott: Require state employees to undergo implicit bias training. Krystle Matthews: Criticized Tim Scott for claiming America isn't racist. Jermaine Johnson: Opposed anti-DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) provision. Nancy Mace: Used slur in reference to transgender women . Ralph Norman: DEI is unacceptable at taxpayer-funded university. Nancy Mace: I'm going to hold the line against DEI. |
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Corporations Hillary Clinton: Corporate elite treat working-class America as invisible. Jay Stamper: Stop giving away millions in corporate welfare. Jeb Bush: Hedge fund managers should pay taxes the same as others. John Edwards: Hedge fund investors help figure out and reduce poverty. Lindsey Graham: 1997: Created trucking logistics company with 100 employees. Lindsey Graham: AdWatch: Hero of the taxpayer & guardian of small business. Mark Sanford: Cut corporate income tax by raising cigarette tax. Mitt Romney: Capitalism works; free enterprise works; & profit works. Nikki Haley: Reduce red tape; time is money. Rick Wade: Served in Obama's U.S. Commerce Department. |
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Crime Russell Fry: Clear record for first time drunk/disorderly offenders. Gary Bauer: Miranda rights not as important as victim rights. Henry McMaster: Jam cellphone signals inside state prisons. Henry McMaster: Invest $100 million in upgrading prisons. Henry McMaster: Don't clear record for first time drunk/disorderly offender. Henry McMaster: Shield companies providing drugs for lethal injection. Jaime Harrison: Done with racial profiling, bias, and over-policing. Jaime Harrison: Bring police and community together to address problems. Jay Stamper: Pleaded guilty to three white-collar felony charges in 2006. Kevin Bryant: Build more prisons; support the death penalty. Krystle Matthews: We do need to reimagine the way we do policing. Krystle Matthews: Clear record for first time drunk/disorderly offenders. Lindsey Graham: Capital punishment for child rapists. Lindsey Graham: I believe in reform but cops need our support more than ever. Mia McLeod: Will continue to push for meaningful criminal justice reform. Mia McLeod: Clear record for first time drunk/disorderly offenders. Nancy Mace: Clear record for first time drunk/disorderly offenders. Nikki Haley: Save millions by reducing recidivism. Orrin Hatch: Appointing conservative judges is more critical than Miranda. Thomas Dixon: Ban the box: let ex-cons get jobs. Lindsey Graham: Pardoning attackers of police sends the wrong signal . Ralph Norman: Change the ways judges are cutting criminals loose. |
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Drugs Russell Fry: Require reporting of administration of opioid antidote. Gary Johnson: Harm-reduction: health issue rather than criminal issue. Henry McMaster: Opioids: awareness, information, treatment, & enforcement. Henry McMaster: Require reporting of administration of opioid antidote. Jaime Harrison: Legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana like alcohol, tobacco. James Emerson Smith: Additional licenses for more drug treatment facilities. Kevin Bryant: Change Medicare incentives to address opioid addiction. Krystle Matthews: Require reporting of administration of opioid antidote. Krystle Matthews: South Carolina should be ready to support medical marijuana. Lee Bright: No additional licensure for drug treatment facilities. Lindsey Graham: For medical legalization; opposes recreational legalization. Mia McLeod: Sponsored bill that would decriminalize marijuana. Mia McLeod: Require reporting of administration of opioid antidote. Mia McLeod: Additional licenses for more drug treatment facilities. Nancy Mace: Require reporting of administration of opioid antidote. Nikki Haley: Vetoed additional licensure for drug treatment facilities. Rick Wade: State director of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. Ron Paul: We don't need laws to tell us to not use heroin. Thomas Dixon: Self-described former alcoholic and drug addict. Thomas Ravenel: In favor of ending the war on drugs. Thomas Ravenel: End the war on drugs; it's federal overreach & unsuccessful. Tim Scott: Marijuana is unhealthy, but states' rights are important too. Tommy Pope: Curb the opioid epidemic and focus on future prevention. Tommy Pope: Abstained from vote on licensing drug treatment facilities. Yancey McGill: Additional licenses for more drug treatment facilities. Lindsey Graham: We need a war on fentanyl. Ralph Norman: Fentanyl so dangerous it is comparable to terrorism. |
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Education Ben Carson: Free college is a non-starter. Bernie Sanders: Pay for free tuition with tax on Wall Street speculation. Catherine Templeton: Arm teachers: the only defense is a good offense. Elizabeth Warren: We have an obligation to treat our teachers better. Henry McMaster: Invest in school choice & robust charter school program. Henry McMaster: Supports arming teachers in schools. Henry McMaster: ReadySC: triple funding for technical training. Henry McMaster: Full-time police officer to combat threats to schools. Henry McMaster: Boost teacher pay; surpass southeastern average salaries. Henry McMaster: Fund PreK for needy kids, including religious schools. Henry McMaster: 5% funding increase for colleges not raising tuition. Henry McMaster: $13 million to establish Education Scholarship Accounts. Henry McMaster: Remove outdated "Common Core" textbooks from classrooms. Jaime Harrison: Losing a whole generation of teachers because of low pay. Jaime Harrison: We need 50-state strategy to open up schools: testing, masks. Jaime Harrison: Reduce college tuition, address student loan crisis. James Emerson Smith: Led fight against vouchers. Joe Biden: Pay teachers more to get better educational results. Joe Biden: FactCheck: Japan pays teachers more, but not India & China. Kevin Bryant: Consider arming teachers and other school employees. Kevin Bryant: Vouchers for public, private, or religious schools. Kevin Bryant: Abstinence-only and voluntary prayer in public schools. Kevin Bryant: Joins "Stop Fed Ed" vows to reject all Federal Ed mandates. Kevin Bryant: We leave jobs unfilled with "one size fits all" higher ed. Krystle Matthews: Frustrated with SC's consistent inadequacy with education. Lee Bright: Advocates abolishing the Department of Education. Lee Bright: Real choice including private schools and home-schooling. Lee Bright: Oppose nationwide Common Core standards. Lindsey Graham: Sex education about abstinence, not contraception. Mia McLeod: Prioritize pay increases for teachers, administrators, staff. Mitt Romney: Supports English immersion & abstinence education. Mitt Romney: Changed from closing Education Dept. to supporting NCLB. Nancy Mace: Strongly supports educational choice. Nikki Haley: Educate kids not based on where they happen to live. Nikki Haley: Incentives for teachers, including tuition & grad school. Nikki Haley: Incentivize teachers to work in rural districts. Nikki Haley: Higher education system is flush with cash. Rick Wade: All 6 siblings attended public schools. Rick Wade: Vision for S.C. focused on education and jobs. Thomas Dixon: Entitlement to quality education, including college. Thomas Ravenel: Charter schools' success prove point of local empowerment. Tim Pawlenty: Let school districts decide on teaching intelligent design. Tim Scott: Oppose nationwide Common Core standards. Tim Scott: COVID: direct some relief funding to school choice programs. Tommy Pope: $100 million for repairs in poor rural school districts. Tim Scott: In America a good education is the closest thing to magic. |
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Energy & Oil Russell Fry: Supported SC Energy Freedom Act promoting solar power. Bill Richardson: Sacrifice for Apollo-like program for renewable fuel. Henry McMaster: Oppose offshore drilling & onshore infrastructure. Henry McMaster: Signed SC Energy Freedom Act promoting solar power. Herman Cain: Establish real energy independence, with existing resources. Jaime Harrison: Green New Deal too expensive, but must reduce emissions. Jaime Harrison: Offshore oil spill would destroy jobs, harm environment. Joe Biden: Make every automobile sold be a flex-fuel automobile. John Edwards: Bold transformation to stop importing 12M bbl of oil per day. John Edwards: Cap carbon emissions & invest in carbon sequestration. Joyce Dickerson: Open the Savannah River Site nuclear reactor fuel project. Kevin Bryant: Coal, gas, oil, AND alternative fuel technology. Kevin Bryant: Open to exploring the risks/benefits of offshore drilling. Krystle Matthews: Supported SC Energy Freedom Act promoting solar power. Lee Bright: Deal with waste, to remove obstacles to new nuclear plants. Lee Bright: No subsidies for wind and solar. Lindsey Graham: Green New Deal is crazy; would destroy economy. Mia McLeod: Supported SC Energy Freedom Act promoting solar power. Mike Gravel: I started the nuclear critique in this country. Nancy Mace: Supported SC Energy Freedom Act promoting solar power. Nikki Haley: Open the Savannah River Site nuclear reactor fuel project. Rett Newton: There's strong bipartisan opposition to offshore drilling. Rick Wade: Head of China Operations for Green Tech Automotive. Rick Wade: V.P. of GreenTech Automotive, the "green car" company. Sam Brownback: Get more biodiesel & biofuels into system to prevent $4 gas. Thomas Dixon: Climate change is real and we must prepare for its effects. Tim Pawlenty: I made a mistake in considering cap-and-trade in MN. Tim Scott: No subsidies for wind and solar. Tom Tancredo: Global warming could be from humans, or could be nature. Tom Tancredo: FactCheck: Global warming has dissent, but not 50-50 split. Henry McMaster: AdWatch: Ban offshore drilling for oil and gas. |
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Environment Russell Fry: Rebuild banned sea wall for gated community. Donald Trump: Eminent domain is something you need very strongly. Henry McMaster: Oppose drilling and seismic testing along our coast. Henry McMaster: Vetoed bill to rebuild banned sea wall for gated community. Jeb Bush: Eminent domain should not be used for private purposes. Joe Cunningham: Great American Outdoors Act sets funding for public land. Lindsey Graham: Green diesel regulations cost $367 per truck per year. Mia McLeod: Rebuild banned sea wall for gated community. Nancy Mace: Don't rebuild banned sea wall for gated community. Rett Newton: As mayor of coastal town has made clean water a priority. Thomas Dixon: Make sure our planet is habitable for future generations. |
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Families & Children Jaime Harrison: How do I tell my black sons that this could be them? John Kasich: Put pimps in jail & treat women as victims of trafficking. John Kasich: A big mosaic: we all take care of each other. Kevin Bryant: No civil unions; no same-sex spousal rights. Lindsey Graham: Support traditional families & right to pray. Marco Rubio: Make investing in kids deductible like business expenses. Thomas Ravenel: Let churches provide for families in need, not state. |
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Foreign Policy Barack Obama: Europe & Japan are allies, but China is a competitor. Barack Obama: Palestinian people suffer-but from not recognizing Israel. Barack Obama: FactCheck: Palestinian suffering from stalled peace effort. Bernie Sanders: Cuba: Teaching people to read and write is a good thing. Bill Richardson: Strategic interests in Russia: loose nukes & Chechnya. Bill Richardson: Being stubborn isn�t a foreign policy--diplomacy is. Bill Richardson: Re-evaluate embargo for post-Castro Cuba. Brad Hutto: Focus on state's needs, not foreign conflicts. Brad Hutto: We should not act as the world's policeman. Donald Trump: Iran deal is one of the worst I've ever seen. Donald Trump: Figure out who our allies are. Hillary Clinton: Post-Gadhafi Libya replaced dictator with democracy. Jay Stamper: Trillions on foreign engagements isn't fiscal conservatism. Jeb Bush: Russia's Putin is not an ally of the US & everyone knows it. Joe Biden: Biggest threat to US is from North Korea, Iran, & Russia. John Edwards: Russia has moved from democracy to autocracy. John Edwards: Lead international effort on economic development. John Kasich: US should not be world's police in places like Iraq. Jon Huntsman: 80 million bloggers in China will take China down. Lee Bright: Remove Russia from G-8 over Ukraine invasion. Lindsey Graham: Create a democratic noose around Putin's Russia. Marco Rubio: Three main threats: Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Russia. Marco Rubio: I voted against the president's inadequate Syria strategy. Mike Gravel: US has no important enemies, so treat world as equals. Nancy Mace: No foreign aid to Egypt & countries who are our enemies. Rick Perry: China will end up on the ash heap of history, like USSR. Thomas Dixon: Lead by example and be a good actor. Thomas Ravenel: Opposed to foreign interventions. Tim Pawlenty: Never subordinate US decisions to UN, as Obama did in Libya. Lindsey Graham: Iran's ayatollah is a religious Nazi who wants purify Islam. Lindsey Graham: I have legislation that will crush the Russian economy. Lindsey Graham: Destroy Russian economy if Putin won't end war. Henry McMaster: Iran must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. |
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Free Trade Alan Keyes: Banks and American clout should help farmers. Donald Trump: Trade pacts are no good for us and no good for our workers. Duncan Hunter: China is cheating on trade by devaluing their currency. Gary Bauer: Revoke China's MFN & help US farmers. George W. Bush: Sow free trade and farmers will reap. John McCain: Substitute trade treaties for protectionism. Lindsey Graham: NAFTA drained away textile trade from Upstate SC. Mitt Romney: Trade with China only if they follow international rules. Mitt Romney: Go to WTO about China; we're already in a trade war. Nikki Haley: Trade mission to India to build S.C. ties. Richard Burr: Oppose preferential trade for China & others that bend rules. Rick Wade: Advocated for Asian-Pacific and African cooperation. Rick Wade: Envoy to China, to get investment via EB-5 visas. Ron Paul: China trade benefits American consumers. Thomas Dixon: Look at how trade impacts our own workforce. Tim Scott: Opposes currency manipulation as trade negotiation topic. Tim Scott: Yes to trade adjustment; Yes to fast-track. Henry McMaster: Trump's tariffs are getting other countries to negotiate. Ralph Norman: Increased prices from tariffs for the good of the country. |
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Government Reform Amy Klobuchar: Voter restrictions hit with surgical precision on minorities. Barack Obama: First bill ever passed was campaign finance reform. Ben Carson: Supreme Court was not partisan, but it has become so. Ben Carson: Appointing a justice before election would be divisive. Ben Carson: We have 645 federal agencies--that's way, way too many. Bill Richardson: Delayed call for Gonzales to resign until failed testimony. Catherine Templeton: Fight corruption & waste & good ol' boy system in Columbia. Chris Dodd: Supports public campaign finance, despite personal history. Dennis Kucinich: Impeach VP Cheney for taking US into Iraq War based on lies. Donald Trump: I would build consensus, not use Executive Orders. Henry McMaster: Magistrate judges should be lawyers, publicly screened. Jaime Harrison: Overturn Citizens United, end decade of Dark Money. James Emerson Smith: Voted NO on requiring photo ID in order to vote. Jeb Bush: I'm an Article II guy: Presidency over Supreme Court. Joe Cunningham: Criticized state officials for challenging Trump's loss. John Kasich: Country too partisan to appoint justice before election. Kevin Bryant: No limits on campaign donations nor campaign spending. Kevin Bryant: Reforms should include eliminating current ethics loopholes. Krystle Matthews: Grassroots effort to register 150,000 new voters. Krystle Matthews: Provide transparency between citizens and state government. Lee Bright: Photo ID for voting. Lee Bright: Require photo ID, and inspection of ID, in order to vote. Marco Rubio: No to a simple majority to confirm a Supreme Court justice. Marco Rubio: I will reverse US decline, both at home and abroad. Mark Sanford: End unlimited and undisclosed campaign donations. Mark Sanford: Change rules of governorship and state officers. Mia McLeod: Voted NO on requiring photo ID in order to vote. Nancy Mace: Term limits are the only way to stop the ruling elitists. Nancy Mace: Term limits of 12 years for Senate; 6 years for House. Nikki Haley: Require photo ID, and inspection of ID, in order to vote. Rick Wade: Washington is broken. Ron Paul: Close departments of Energy, Education & Homeland Security. Rudy Giuliani: Gets credit for killing the line-item veto. Ted Cruz: 80-year history of no Supreme Court changes in election year. Thomas Dixon: Voting rights need to be protected from attack. Tim Scott: Photo ID for voting. Tommy Thompson: Eliminate CDC stockpiles; they're wasteful & inefficient. Tommy Thompson: FactCheck: Only improve CDC stockpiles; don't eliminate them. Tim Scott: Jim Crow 2.0 exaggerates compared to historical Jim Crow. Barack Obama: FactCheck: no lobbyist money; yes from lobbyist spouses. Donald Trump: Delay, delay, delay on Supreme Court appointment. Donald Trump: I wouldn't nominate my sister to Supreme Court. Lindsey Graham: Third term for Trump: Trump 2028; I hope this never ends. Nancy Mace: D.C. has overregulated the childcare industry. |
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Gun Control Bill Richardson: The 2nd Amendment is precious. Elizabeth Warren: Treat gun violence as the public health emergency it is. Hillary Clinton: Background check system could prevent Virginia Tech massacre. Hillary Clinton: FactCheck: VA Tech shooter not declared a danger to others. Jaime Harrison: Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety for gun-sense majority. Joe Biden: Keep assault weapons ban; close gun show loophole. Joyce Dickerson: Right to guns, but address issues of gun violence. Kevin Bryant: Wants schools to have ability to shoot back in defense. Krystle Matthews: Gun owner, strong advocate for gun reform laws. Lee Bright: Opposes more gun restrictions. Mia McLeod: AR-15s shouldn't be in the hands of civilians. Mitt Romney: Supports Second Amendment rights but also assault weapon ban. Richard Burr: Hunter and sportsman; teach heritage & respect for firearms. Thomas Dixon: Close the gun show loophole and the Charleston Loophole. Tim Scott: Don't rush to judgment on gun control after school shootings. Tim Scott: Opposes more gun restrictions. |
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Health Care Barack Obama: National insurance pool & catastrophic insurance. Bill Richardson: Focus on preventive healthcare without raising taxes. Catherine Templeton: Blow up state health agency, from the inside out. Dennis Kucinich: Universal not-for-profit health care. Donald Trump: Taking care of poor sick people isn't single-payer. Elizabeth Warren: On tobacco: Have an FDA head who believes in science. Elizabeth Warren: Home health care workers to become critical occupation. Gloria Bromell Tinubu: Work toward making health care more affordable. Hillary Clinton: Still scarred from �94 failure, but ready for universal care. Hillary Clinton: 1990s plan failed after big pharma & insurance worked on it. Jaime Harrison: Lower access to care "ripping a heart out of a community". Jaime Harrison: COVID: Put blame on how we handled it, I take it seriously. John Edwards: Require employer coverage for every single American. John Kasich: Ohio expanded Medicaid but not for ObamaCare. John Kasich: We save $22,500 a year by treating addicts & mentally ill. Lee Bright: Full implementation of ObamaCare ends self-governance. Lee Bright: Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility. Lindsey Graham: Let ObamaCare show itself as a continuing debacle. Lindsey Graham: Opposed ObamaCare from day one. Lindsey Graham: COVID: no one attacked Wilson when he got Spanish flu. Mia McLeod: Join 39 other states in expanding Medicaid. Nancy Mace: ObamaCare will be the undoing of our American way of life. Nikki Haley: Let Medicaid buy generics for AIDS, cancer, & mental health. Nikki Haley: Reject ObamaCare state exchange; reject Medicaid expansion. Rick Wade: ObamaCare addresses closing health care disparities. Ron Paul: Legalizing prostitution is about protecting liberty. Steve Forbes: Solve health care affordability with choice. Thomas Dixon: ObamaCare needs to be protected and expanded. Thomas Ravenel: Against ObamaCare. Thomas Ravenel: Tort reform will reduce medical liability. Tim Pawlenty: No top-down, government-run, limited-choice system. Tim Scott: Repeal ObamaCare; it's not a government responsibility. Lindsey Graham: I am not going to vote to extend the ACA subsidies. Jermaine Johnson: Increase workplace mental health support statewide. |
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Homeland Security Bernie Sanders: CIA activities in Iran and Chile led to dictatorships. Catherine Templeton: Military shouldn't pay for gender reassignment surgery. Chris Dodd: Stateless terrorism requires a multinational response. Dennis Kucinich: Global war on terror is pretext for aggressive war. Gary Johnson: No waterboarding under any circumstances. Henry McMaster: Don't tax uniformed retirees: veterans, cops, firefighters. Henry McMaster: Proposes a significant investment in National Guard armories. Herman Cain: Trust military to determine torture; waterboarding is not. Herman Cain: Protect our people by whatever means, even waterboarding. Hillary Clinton: Big disconnect between rhetoric and reality on security. Jack Reed: Don't over-react to Benghazi; situation was confused. Jay Stamper: NSA domestic spying included innocent U.S. citizens. Jeb Bush: Reverse the sequester and rebuild the military. Joe Cunningham: COVID: provide healthcare benefits for National Guard. John McCain: Torture is ineffective as interrogation & for world opinion. Jon Huntsman: Waterboarding is torture & diminishes our standing in world. Joyce Dickerson: I'm mad as heel about delays in veterans' care. Kevin Bryant: Kneeling during anthem disrespects veterans. Lee Bright: Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal. Lindsey Graham: NSA domestic spying only targets terrorism suspects. Lindsey Graham: NSA leaker Edward Snowden is a felon, not a hero. Lindsey Graham: President did not do enough to protect Benghazi embassy. Lindsey Graham: Cuts to military systems will leave us with a hollow force. Lindsey Graham: Doing nothing about Benghazi leads to a more dangerous world. Marco Rubio: George W. Bush kept us safe and dealt with Hussein. Michele Bachmann: Waterboarding is effective; don't let the ACLU run the CIA. Mike Gravel: Threatening nukes is immoral foreign policy. Mike Gravel: Fighting terrorism with a war doesn't work. Mike Gravel: US is the greatest violator of the non-proliferation treaty. Mike Huckabee: Islamic jihadists celebrate death; we have culture of life. Mitt Romney: Double Guantanamo, to avoid terrorist access to lawyers. Rett Newton: Served 28 years in Air Force including post 9/11 air patrols. Rick Santorum: Giving money to Iran rebels is not enough. Rick Santorum: Waterboarding gets useful info, like on Osama bin Laden. Ron Paul: DHS is unmanageable bureaucracy--eliminate it. Ron Paul: Waterboarding is torture: illegal, uncivilized, and immoral. Ron Paul: Waterboarding doesn't achieve anything. Rudy Giuliani: Use every method you can think of to interrogate terrorists. Ted Cruz: Increase armed forces to 1.4 million troops. Thomas Ravenel: I want a military that defends America, not Germany or Japan. Thomas Ravenel: We absolutely must have the world's strongest military. Thomas Ravenel: We need bold leadership combating terrorists & terror states. Thomas Ravenel: No NSA snooping; defend the Fourth Amendment. Thomas Ravenel: No more blood & treasure on 'nation-building' in Iraq. Tim Pawlenty: Enhanced interrogation techniques counter radical jihadists. Tim Scott: Maintain a superior nuclear arsenal. Tim Scott: Require stronger evidence for FISA electronic surveillance. Tom Tancredo: Use Jack Bauer-like methods to protect Western civilization. Tommy Pope: Allow opt-out for REAL ID rules for drivers licenses. Donald Trump: How did W keep us safe? WTC came down during his watch. Henry McMaster: Sent National Guard troops to DC to support Trump's efforts. |
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Immigration Duncan Hunter: This administration has �the slows� on border enforcement. Henry McMaster: No sanctuary cities; plus annual compliance checks. Henry McMaster: Say "no" "sanctuary cities"; don't tolerate lawlessness. Hillary Clinton: Comprehensive reform to get 12 million out of shadows. Jaime Harrison: Congress should enact DACA into law with DREAM Act. James Emerson Smith: Voted NAY on police checking immigration status. Jeb Bush: Show compassion to illegals with a path to legal status. John Kasich: Nuts to deport 11M people; legalize with fine & back taxes. John McCain: America expects us to work on immigration together. Kevin Bryant: Local law enforcement should enforce federal immigration law. Kevin Bryant: Says no refuge resettlement until federal security is better. Lee Bright: Secure the border first; but no amnesty. Lee Bright: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry. Lee Bright: Charge 1% foreign wire fee;& police check immigration status. Lindsey Graham: Secure border now in place with comprehensive immigration. Lindsey Graham: New amnesty is tough and ends incoming illegals. Marco Rubio: Amnesty means no consequences; I was never for that. Mia McLeod: For equitable access licensure for undocumented immigrants. Mia McLeod: Voted NO on police checking immigration status. Mitt Romney: McCain's plan gives special pathway to those here illegally. Nikki Haley: Charge 1% foreign wire fee;& police check immigration status. Rudy Giuliani: Allow immigrants to work, with tamper-proof ID cards. Sam Brownback: Toughen the borders & combine enforcement with legalization. Ted Cruz: I led the fight to defeat the Reid-Schumer amnesty bill. Thomas Ravenel: Robust worker visa program, plus anything else reasonable. Tim Scott: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry. Tom Tancredo: McCain's plan is soft on immigration & amnesty. Lindsey Graham: Congress needs to appropriate money for more ICE agents. Lindsey Graham: Introduced bill to end birthright citizenship years ago. |
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Jobs Donald Trump: Bring jobs back from China, Mexico, Japan, and Vietnam. Gary Johnson: Long unemployment benefits postpones dealing with problem. Gloria Bromell Tinubu: Economic freedom includes federal minimum wage increase. Henry McMaster: S.C.Workforce Partnership: shift from toolboxes to tablets. Jaime Harrison: Current job protections the hard work of unions. Joyce Dickerson: Equal pay for women, and higher minimum wage. Lee Bright: It's just a myth that government can create jobs. Lindsey Graham: Biggest business headache is worker's compensation system. Mia McLeod: Raise minimum wage to at least $15/hour. Mia McLeod: Let people decide whether to unionize, against right to work. Mitt Romney: End crony capitalism to get Americans back to work. Newt Gingrich: Create transitional program for returning vets, like in WWII. Rick Santorum: National right-to-work law yes; Pennsylvania law no. Ron Paul: FactCheck: Feds paid for 8M WWII vets to attend college. Ron Paul: National right-to-work law reduces outsourcing. Steve Forbes: Farmers need policy reform. Thomas Dixon: Raise minimum wage to $15 per hour. Tim Scott: Opportunity Zone jobs have seen up to 8% wage increase. |
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Principles & Values Barack Obama: Biggest mistake was intruding in Terri Schiavo case. Ben Carson: 2AM phone calls are about presidential judgement. Bernie Sanders: Jewish identity means end racism & white nationalism. Bernie Sanders: Confederate monuments belong in museums not town greens. Bill Richardson: Biggest mistake is impatience, like pushing minimum wage. Buddy Roemer: Driving across SC and NH to shake hands & start listening. Chris Dodd: Biggest professional mistake was the Iraq War. Dennis Kucinich: Biggest mistake was firing police chief on Good Friday. Donald Trump: We should have impeached George W. Bush for Iraq War lies. Elizabeth Warren: I was a special education teacher; we never give up. Gloria Bromell Tinubu: 2018 Lt. Gov. candidate; 2012 & 2014 House candidate. Gloria Bromell Tinubu: Dropped Senate bid; endorses Jaime Harrison. Henry McMaster: We believe in faith, family, the flag, and freedom. Henry McMaster: COVID: We slowed down, but safely remained open. Hillary Clinton: Biggest mistakes: mishandling healthcare; believing in WMDs. Jaime Harrison: Helping others: cooking dinners, sharing campaign donations. Jaime Harrison: Not political issues: about doing what is right. Jaime Harrison: I will never lie to you; won't go back on my word. Jaime Harrison: First step working with other side is not to call them nuts. James Emerson Smith: Lost governor race by 8%; but most Dem candidates in decade. Jeb Bush: Other candidates' religion is none of my business. Jeb Bush: We need someone with a servant's heart and also a backbone. Jim Gilmore: Rudy McRomney is not a conservative and knows it. Joe Biden: Biggest mistake was thinking he could work with George Bush. Joe Cunningham: Pols more interested in keeping their jobs than doing it. John Edwards: Biggest professional mistake was voting for Iraq War. Joyce Dickerson: For various reasons, I won't campaign for Hillary in 2016. Krystle Matthews: Can work with Republicans but confront them when needed. Krystle Matthews: Not easily swayed without information, will read everything. Larry Elder: The question is which party can get government off our back. Lee Bright: I live all aspects of my life based on Biblical principles. Lee Bright: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework. Lindsey Graham: Big choice election: capitalism versus socialism. Marco Rubio: Suffers from blue-green color blindness. Mike Gravel: Did not plan on presidency, but candidates are frightening. Nancy Mace: Give a conservative voice to the people of South Carolina. Nikki Haley: Local government needs to be more accountable. Ralph Nader: Won't run as a Green-maybe as an independent. Rett Newton: Pursuing doctorate while serving as mayor. Rick Wade: Commitment to listen to the people, not special interests. Rick Wade: Ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state in 2002. Rick Wade: Withdraws from race, citing too-late entrance. Thomas Ravenel: Fiscally conservative and socially moderate libertarian. Thomas Ravenel: Values taught by church, not enforced by mandate. Tim Scott: Served in public office for 18 years, with 2 terms in House. Tim Scott: OpEd: Dems call Scott "senator for the Heritage Foundation". Tim Scott: Grew up poor in a black community in North Charleston. Tim Scott: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework. Yancey McGill: Served for 25 years as Democrat; now running as Republican. Jermaine Johnson: During first run for office felt God had a purpose for him. Nancy Mace: Cites God, Bible in House speech accusing ex-fiance. Ralph Norman: Don't know how to define antisemitism; it's subjective. |
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Social Security Donald Trump: I will save Social Security with more jobs, less waste. Henry McMaster: Shift pensions from defined benefit to defined contribution. Howard Dean: Reverse Bush tax cuts to shore up trust fund-don't privatize. Jaime Harrison: Social Security and Medicare are more than a promise. Jim Gilmore: Cap entitlements & create a culture of independence. Lindsey Graham: Link size of cost of living increases to income. Richard Burr: Protect retiree benefits & protect Trust Fund. Thomas Ravenel: Voluntary personal accounts for younger workers. Tommy Pope: Fund the state retirement system to keep our promises. Jermaine Johnson: Proposed life insurance for embryos. Nancy Mace: Eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits. |
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Tax Reform Ben Carson: Taxes start at 150% of poverty level & some tax below that. Henry McMaster: Low taxes spur economic growth and prosperity. Henry McMaster: Lower taxes helps us compete: $2.2B tax cut. Henry McMaster: Cut income tax by $2.6 billion over five years. Henry McMaster: 15% across-the-board reduction for all personal brackets. Herman Cain: Abolish the IRS; implement 23% national sales tax. Jaime Harrison: Repeal 2017 tax cuts which were for the wealthy. John McCain: Voted against Bush tax cuts for not reining in spending. Kevin Bryant: Vicious cycle of paying back a lot of earned tax credits. Krystle Matthews: Exempt feminine hygiene products from state sales tax. Lee Bright: Supports the FairTax to simplify taxes. Mike Huckabee: FairTax puts Going-Out-of-Business sign on IRS. Mike Huckabee: FactCheck: FairTax requires 34% sales tax +$600B entitlement. Mitt Romney: Pledges no new taxes in 2007 after refusing pledge in 2002. Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Did not raise MA taxes, but DID raise MA fees. Ted Cruz: Tax returns on a postcard. Thomas Ravenel: Tax cuts lead to growing economy with higher revenues. Mark Sanford: Vetoed 50-cent increase in cigarette tax. Tim Scott: Voted against 50-cent increase in cigarette tax. Nancy Mace: Slash the state income tax to zero percent. |
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Technology Alan Keyes: Abolish the income tax and eventually tax the Internet. Gary Bauer: Keep Internet tax-free; lower taxes for Main Street too. George W. Bush: Internet may or may not help mom & pop - wait & see. Jaime Harrison: Our infrastructure in this state sucks. John McCain: Internet tax ban saved consumers $600M this Xmas. Joyce Dickerson: Ensure the county has reliable public transportation. Joyce Dickerson: Serves on COMET transit system board of directors. Kevin Bryant: Keep politics out of fixing infrastructure; use common sense. Lee Bright: Dredge the Port of Charleston to a 50-foot depth. Lindsey Graham: $10 billion proposal for rural high speed internet. Mitt Romney: China must respect intellectual property if they want trade. Mitt Romney: SOPA, as written, restricts the Internet & free speech. Newt Gingrich: I favor Internet freedom; SOPA favors Hollywood. Nikki Haley: Invest in infrastructure, but no gas tax or any other tax. Orrin Hatch: Internet will not replace touching in stores. Rick Perry: Stand up cyber-command against China's cyber-crime. Rick Wade: Infrastructure investment in the poorest areas of S.C. Steve Forbes: Internet tax ban fosters growth. Thomas Ravenel: Government doesn't belong in your email inbox. Tommy Pope: Fix our dangerous and crumbling roads for the long-term. |
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War & Peace Barack Obama: Iraq has distracted us from Taliban in Afghanistan. Barack Obama: War in Iraq is �dumb� but troops still need equipment. Barack Obama: Increase ground forces in Iraq to decrease troop rotations. Barack Obama: Iran with nuclear weapons is a profound security threat. Ben Carson: Replacing Mideast dictators leads to chaos, like in Iraq. Ben Carson: Bomb oil tankers even if it hurts the environment. Bill Richardson: Stop funding for Iraq war-it is a disaster and must end. Chris Dodd: Cut off the funding spigot for Iraq in one year. Dennis Kucinich: One cannot be against Iraq war yet still fund it. Dennis Kucinich: Lack of info was no excuse for voting for Iraq war. Dennis Kucinich: 2003 war vote was audition for presidential decision-making. Dennis Kucinich: We�re in Iraq for oil & looking at attacking Iran for oil. Dennis Kucinich: FactCheck: Iraqi oil production has fallen during war. Donald Trump: We've spent $5T in the Mideast and gotten nothing. Duncan Hunter: Iraqi forces have stopped running and started fighting. Gary Johnson: I opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. Gary Johnson: No Afghan timetable; start tomorrow & finish in a few months. Herman Cain: No clear strategy in either Libya or Syria. Herman Cain: Economic sanctions on Iran, but no military. Hillary Clinton: This war is up to Iraqi people to win or lose, not the US. Hillary Clinton: Voted for Iraq war based on available info; now would not. Hillary Clinton: Continue anti-ISIS actions in Libya, with Europe & Arabs. Jay Stamper: Don't go on "war footing" against Russia over Ukraine. Jeb Bush: Policy of containment against ISIS just doesn't work. Jim Gilmore: Mandatory sanctions against nuclear Iran & possible strike. Joe Biden: Change the fundamental premise of Iraq engagement. Joe Biden: Replace pre-emption doctrine with prevention. John Edwards: Apologized for Iraq war vote; others must search conscience. John Kasich: How to deal with Russia on Ukraine: Punch 'em in the nose. John Kasich: If there weren't WMDs in Iraq, we shouldn't have gone. John McCain: Willing to be last man standing for US involvement in Iraq. Lee Bright: Intervention in Syria would help the Muslim Brotherhood. Lindsey Graham: Intervention in Syria to degrade Assad's chemical weapons. Lindsey Graham: Getting Syria wrong leads to Iranian nukes & war with Israel. Lindsey Graham: Support the Syrian rebels against Assad & Iran. Lindsey Graham: Syria: Assad must go, and small arms won't do it. Lindsey Graham: Slow Afghan withdrawal, with 15,000 US troops left behind. Lindsey Graham: Get involved in Syria to protect against al Qaeda and Iran. Lindsey Graham: Obama "screams loudly & carries no stick," in Russia & Syria. Lindsey Graham: More intervention in Iraq avoids an American city in flames. Mike Gravel: Soldiers in Iraq are dying in vain; so just get out. Mike Gravel: Iraq war was lost the day Bush invaded-make it illegal. Nancy Mace: Intervention in Syria would bolster al-Qaida. Mitt Romney: Iraq part of global jihadist effort to bring down the West. Mitt Romney: If we reelect Barack Obama, Iran will have a nuclear weapon. Mitt Romney: Crippling sanctions against Iran, & military, to stop nukes. Newt Gingrich: Covert operations & military, if needed, to stop Iran nukes. Newt Gingrich: Obama "screams loudly & carries no stick," in Russia & Syria. Rick Perry: Shut down the Iranian Central Bank to stop nukes. Rick Perry: Complete the mission in Afghanistan, with no timetable. Rick Santorum: Afghanistan victory means Taliban is neutered, not wiped out. Rick Santorum: Work with Israel to take out Iranian nukes by force. Ron Paul: We should have declared war in Iraq, or not gone in at all. Ron Paul: Ronald Reagan had the courage to turn tail & run in Lebanon. Ron Paul: Intervention abroad incites hatred & attacks like 9/11. Ron Paul: When we go to war carelessly, the wars don't end. Ron Paul: No war propaganda against Iran; learn from Iraq. Rudy Giuliani: Democrat timetable for retreat "fundamentally irresponsible". Rudy Giuliani: We did not invite the 9/11 attack by attacking Iraq. Rudy Giuliani: FactCheck: Did say GOP is fundamentally irresponsible on war. Sam Brownback: We have not lost war; we can win by pulling together. Ted Cruz: Overwhelming air power against ISIS, & arm the Kurds. Thomas Ravenel: Republicans are pro-invading this or that country. Thomas Ravenel: U.S. military is over-involved overseas. Thomas Ravenel: Intervention in Iraq based on same nonsense as in past. Tom Tancredo: Opposed the troop surge, but supports the troops. Tom Tancredo: Muslims attack us because it's a dictate of their religion. Tom Tancredo: Convert from constabulary force to supporting force. Tommy Thompson: Split oil revenue 1/3 federal; 1/3 local; 1/3 to people. |
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Welfare & Poverty Ben Carson: We the people--not government--should take care of indigent. Chris Dodd: No drug tests for welfare recipients. Henry McMaster: Require able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work. Hillary Clinton: Hedge funds incentivize risk, but need regulation. John Edwards: Despite mistake on $400 haircut, understands poverty. Larry Elder: Compassion is our job, not the Federal government's. Marco Rubio: Poverty means free enterprise not reaching people. Nikki Haley: Trade welfare check for dignity of paycheck. Ted Cruz: Regulations like ObamaCare lead to layoffs of the poorest. Thomas Ravenel: New Deal & Great Society are examples of federal overreach. |
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