Media coverage of IA political races in The Des Moines Register


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     ACLU: Fight ban on abortion when heartbeat is heard, at 6 weeks.     Kim Reynolds: Ban abortion after heartbeat is heard, at 6 weeks.     Rob Hogg: Vote against abortion ban at 6 weeks when heartbeat is heard.     Tom Fiegen: Vote against abortion ban at 6 weeks when heartbeat is heard.     Jim Carlin: Vote for abortion ban at 6 weeks when heartbeat is heard.     Terry Branstad: Signed law making abortion illegal at 20 weeks.     Nate Boulton: Voted NO on making abortion illegal at 20 weeks.     Randy Feenstra: Voted YES on making abortion illegal at 20 weeks.     Rob Hogg: Voted NO on making abortion illegal at 20 weeks.     Abby Finkenauer: Voted NO on making abortion illegal at 20 weeks.     Ashley Hinson: Voted YES on making abortion illegal at 20 weeks.     Jim Carlin: Voted YES on making abortion illegal at 20 weeks.     Carly Fiorina: Liberals believe in protecting flies, but not human life.     Joni Ernst: Affordable access to contraception.     Mitt Romney: Was pro-choice, now proudly pro-life.     Rudy Giuliani: Personally oppose abortion, but let the woman decide.

Budget & Economy     Chet Culver: 2009: across-the-board cuts of 10%, to balance budget.     Barack Obama: Bush & GOP dug budget hole; need years to dig out.     Barack Obama: Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don’t need them.     Bill Richardson: Balanced 5 state budgets; priority to balance federal budget.     Bill Richardson: Supports restricted Constitutional balanced budget amendment.     Bill Richardson: Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don’t need them.     Chris Dodd: Federal budget much more complicated & diverse than states’.     Hillary Clinton: Look back to 1990s to see how I’d be fiscally responsible.     Joe Biden: Balancing budget is about priorities; GOP made wrong choices.     Joe Biden: Save Pentagon spending by getting the troops out of Iraq.     John Edwards: Get rid of structural deficiencies in American economy.     Duncan Hunter: Budget deficit & trade deficit to China create security risk.     Fred Thompson: $9 trillion debt affects our national security.     Fred Thompson: Deficit spending ok for military, infrastructure, and R&D.     John McCain: Loss of economic strength leads to losing military strength.     Mike Huckabee: Do things differently so people need not sacrifice.     Mitt Romney: Economic strength comes from people, not from Washington.     Mitt Romney: Cut deficit via waste, like 342 different economic programs.     Ron Paul: Give up American empire; that reduces debt without sacrifice.     Ron Paul: We spend too much, tax too much, & print too much money.     Rudy Giuliani: Retire 42% of federal employees in next decade, to save $20B.     Rudy Giuliani: Restrain Congress’ spending; don’t ask people to sacrifice.     Rudy Giuliani: 10% across-the-board cut; people can get services other ways.     Tom Tancredo: End womb-to-tomb protections; stick to Constitutional limits.

Civil Rights     Fred Hubbell: Proud of Iowa's equal protection for same-sex couples.     Kim Reynolds: Same-sex marriage issue is now settled law.     Republican Party: Define marriage as one natural man and one natural woman.

Corporations     Rick Santorum: Pro-worker Republican; only 10% of Americans own businesses.     Ted Cruz: Get senseless obstacles from Washington out of the way.     Barack Obama: Cap the farm subsidies for Fortune 500 companies.     Bill Richardson: Eliminate $73 billion in corporate welfare.     Joe Biden: We’ve yielded to corporate America on trade.     Rudy Giuliani: Reduce corporate tax from 35% to 25%, to increase revenue.     Rudy Giuliani: FactCheck: Corporate tax cut would reduce revenue by half.

Crime     Fred Hubbell: Life sentence is sufficient instead of death penalty.     Kim Reynolds: Opposes reinstating the death penalty.

Drugs     Cindy Axne: Supports decriminalization, not necessarily legalization.     Fred Hubbell: Wait-and-see on decriminalizing marijuana.

Education     Kimberly Graham: Should be illegal for college loans to triple from interest.     Mike Huckabee: Common Core morphed into a frankenstandard that I oppose.     Rick Santorum: Reform education; only 30% get college degrees.     Michele Bachmann: Don't censor intelligent design, but it's a state issue.     Barack Obama: Get parents re-engaged in educating the children.     Bill Richardson: Make education a top priority and scrap No Child Left Behind.     Bill Richardson: FactCheck: NM teacher salary only moved from 44th to 36th.     Bill Richardson: FactCheck: NM test scores have not made “enormous progress”.     Chris Dodd: Parents are the first teachers.     Hillary Clinton: Fully fund special education & 21st century classrooms.     Joe Biden: Hire more teachers and pay them for smaller classes.     John Edwards: Provide continual education for those in the work force.     John Edwards: A comprehensive plan to improve education.     Alan Keyes: We allowed the judges to drive God out of our schools.     Duncan Hunter: Unions and status quo run good teachers out of teaching.     Fred Thompson: The NEA opposes school choice; we must stop them.     John McCain: We need more choice and competition in education.     Mike Huckabee: Education is a state issue, not a federal issue.     Mike Huckabee: FactCheck: AR improved test scores, but still below-average.     Mitt Romney: Education is not just the teachers’ union.     Mitt Romney: Bush was right on No Child Left Behind.     Mitt Romney: FactCheck: US scores at 50% internationally, not 10%-25%.     Mitt Romney: FactCheck: MA 1st in test scores, but was 1st before Romney.     Ron Paul: Encourage homeschooling & private school via tax writeoff.     Rudy Giuliani: Let parents be the deciders on their children’s education.     Tom Tancredo: We don’t need the Department of Education.

Energy & Oil     Rob Hogg: Address climate change with solutions that work for economy.     Bob Krause: 1978: Supported bipartisan gas tax increase.     Bill Richardson: 30% renewable sources in our electricity by 2020.     Bill Richardson: FactCheck: Reducing GHGs by 90% costs households $800/yr.     Joe Biden: The energy challenge take sacrifice and is a moral crusade.     Duncan Hunter: Give incentives in R&D to find new energy sources.     John McCain: Climate change is real and must be addressed.     John McCain: FactCheck: Oil independence will take 25 years, not 5 years.     Mike Huckabee: Biofuel mandates are not necessary.     Mitt Romney: Invest in new technologies to get us off of foreign oil.     Tom Tancredo: Give incentives in R&D to find new energy sources.

Environment     George Pataki: Opposed to RFS: no ethanol mandate in gasoline.     Barack Obama: Promote green technologies and fuel efficiency standards.     Chris Dodd: Advocate a corporate carbon tax.     Hillary Clinton: Advocate a cap and trade system.     John Edwards: Deal with energy independence in a serious way.

Families & Children     Abby Finkenauer: Better access to child care as infrastructure investment.     Ted Cruz: Opposes the unrelenting assault on traditional marriage.     Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Teenage birth rate declined from 1991 to 2005.     Mitt Romney: Strong military, strong economy, and strong families.

Foreign Policy     Carly Fiorina: I've accomplished something by traveling around the world.     Mike Huckabee: Islamic terrorism is the country's most pressing issue.     Barack Obama: Obama Doctrine: ideology has overridden facts and reality.     Barack Obama: China is a competitor but not an enemy.     Chris Dodd: Stay engaged; US has been AWOL on Israel for 6 years.     Chris Dodd: Human rights and security are not opposing interests.     Chris Dodd: FactCheck: No, Chinese government prosecutes slavery.     Hillary Clinton: Establish coherent diplomatic approach toward China.     Hillary Clinton: Establish leadership & moral authority via multilateralism.     Joe Biden: Doctrine of crisis prevention, not preemption.     John Edwards: US has ignored China because of obsession with terrorism.     John Edwards: Edwards Doctrine: long term vision over ad hoc policy.     Ron Paul: Focus on the Iraq war and foreign policy.

Free Trade     Patty Judge: Oppose TPP: I don't know that free trade is good for Iowa.     Bob Krause: Emergency legislation emphasizing fair trade.     Barack Obama: Enforce existing safety laws against Chinese products.     Barack Obama: NAFTA needs to be amended.     Bill Richardson: Ban contaminated toys and food from China.     Chris Dodd: China gains advantage by slavery & currency manipulation.     Chris Dodd: We need to get fair with China.     Dennis Kucinich: We need a policy of constructive engagement with China.     Dennis Kucinich: Either buy America or bye-bye America.     Joe Biden: No to tariffs; just enforce the law.     Joe Biden: Built environmental and labor standards in trade agreements.     John Edwards: Enforce country-of-origin labeling laws to deal with China.     John Edwards: Human rights should be central to the US trade policy.     Duncan Hunter: NAFTA is a bad business deal.     Fred Thompson: Free and fair trade is the backbone of our economy.     John McCain: Consider subsidies a mistake, and oppose them.     Mike Huckabee: A free country must feed, fuel, & fight for itself.     Mitt Romney: Re-negotiate trade deals with China and other countries.     Ron Paul: Look at the monetary system and deal with the trade issues.     Rudy Giuliani: NAFTA has been a good thing and should be enforced.     Tom Tancredo: Oil trade imbalance is a national security risk.     Tom Tancredo: NAFTA has been a disaster for many places, especially Mexico.     Lamar Alexander: Fast-track helps farm exports.

Government Reform     Abby Finkenauer: Advisor to "Next 50," increasing youth political engagement.     Kim Reynolds: Cut early voting period; close polls an hour earlier.     Fred Hubbell: Supports term limits for Iowa governor.     Kim Reynolds: Opposes term limits for Iowa governor.     Rob Hogg: Repeal the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.     Ben Carson: 5-year federal hiring freeze, to decrease size of government.     Terry Branstad: 2010: No fees for government records; 2011: imposed fees.     Bill Richardson: Focus on Iraq, energy reform, and restoring the Constitution.     Hillary Clinton: Never abuse the purpose of signing statements.     Joe Biden: Radical change to preserve family farmers.     John Edwards: Use signing statements as in the past, unlike Bush.     Alan Keyes: Focus on moral sovereignty, tax reform, & sealing the border.     Duncan Hunter: Focus on the military, immigration, & the industrial base.     Fred Thompson: Focus on the budget, social policy, and bipartisanship.     John McCain: Focus on homeland safety, restoring trust, and fiscal policy.     Mike Huckabee: Focus on uniting the country.     Mitt Romney: Focus on global Jihad, immigration, tax cut, and healthcare.     Rudy Giuliani: Focus on terrorism, immigration, tax cut, & small government.     Tom Tancredo: Focus on immigration and a war against radical Islam.

Gun Control     Orrin Hatch: Mental health check as part of background check.     Orrin Hatch: Gun violence problems can be solved by more enforcement.

Health Care     Kimberly Graham: Advocates universal, single-payer government coverage.     Donald Trump: Save Medicare & Medicaid without cutting them to the bone.     Ted Cruz: Support nuns' battle for religious liberty against ObamaCare.     Bruce Braley: Repealing ObamaCare would deprive millions of insurance.     Joni Ernst: FactCheck: False claim that ObamaCare cut Medicare benefits.     Barack Obama: Reforms in prevention and drug price negotiation save money.     Barack Obama: FactCheck: Reducing obesity would save $18B, not $1T.     Bill Richardson: Universal health care is a right for every American.     Bill Richardson: FactCheck: Between 7% and 31% of costs are administrative.

Homeland Security     Carly Fiorina: On Benghazi: I'm familiar with America's allies and enemies.     Donald Trump: Defeat ISIS and stop Islamic terrorists.     Newt Gingrich: Threat of militant Islam is comparable to pre-WWII Nazis.     Sarah Palin: Muslim jihadists threaten our way of life.     Joe Biden: Cut $350B in military programs, from Star Wars to F-22’s.     Fred Thompson: Intelligence and parts of our military were neglected.

Immigration     Lindsey Graham: Legal status for undocumented workers.     Ben Carson: Common-sense solutions: guest workers plus harsher penalties.     Rick Perry: If Washington refuses to enforce the border, Texas will.     Chet Culver: Feds should deal with immigration, not state police.     Terry Branstad: Cops should check citizenship status during traffic stops.

Jobs     Kim Reynolds: Double required job searches; drop federal benefits early.     Barack Obama: Paying more at Wal-Mart is worth it for having US jobs.     Chris Dodd: Preserve and protect the farms in Iowa.     Mike Huckabee: Excessive taxes, red tape, and litigation cause job losses.

Principles & Values     Ashley Hinson: Getting started in Congress; considering run for Senate.     Theresa Greenfield: Shaped by growing up on family farm.     Joni Ernst: Obama administration misused power to spy on Trump.     Cindy Axne: Government out of church decision on contraception insurance.     Jack Hatch: Iowans are ready for a fresh start.     Barack Obama: Focus on Iraq, revising presidential power, and healthcare.     Chris Dodd: Focus on the Constitution, Iraq, and the Middle East.     Hillary Clinton: Focus on foreign policy and revising executive orders.     Joe Biden: Focus on Iraq, ending torture, healthcare, and education.     John Edwards: Focus on the Iraq War, healthcare, and global warming.     Alan Keyes: Be authentic about who you are.     John McCain: Able to work with others with own set of principles.     Mike Huckabee: Treat others as you wish to be treated.     Mitt Romney: Draw upon the strengths of the conservative principles.     Ron Paul: All political action’s goal should be to preserve liberty.     Ron Paul: The term “revolution” was coined by the supporters.     Elizabeth Dole: Economic health masks serious societal problems.

Social Security     Pete Buttigieg: Would establish $90/day benefit for long-term care.     Theresa Greenfield: Credits Social Security with support after death of husband.     Fred Thompson: Reform entitlements now so our grandkids don’t have to.

Tax Reform     Rick Perry: Lower taxes & less regulation made Texas a job leader.     Bill Richardson: End unfair & unequal tax structure for wealthiest 2%.     Hillary Clinton: Want to restore the tax rates we had in the ‘90s.     Joe Biden: Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don’t need them.     John Edwards: Get rid of the tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.     Alan Keyes: FairTax turns off spigot that funds political ambitions.     Duncan Hunter: The IRS and current tax system cost too much.     Duncan Hunter: FactCheck: Cost of IRS compliance is $150B,not $250B.     Fred Thompson: Preserve the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003.     John McCain: Reform the tax code that nobody trusts and believes in.     Mike Huckabee: Support FairTax with a tax credit for the poor.     Mitt Romney: Reduce the tax burden on middle-income families.     Ron Paul: The most sinister of all taxes is the inflation tax.     Rudy Giuliani: Support a flatter and simpler tax and less corporate tax.     Tom Tancredo: Believe in a fair tax system.     Art Small: Tax cuts have short-term benefit and long-term costs.

War & Peace     Barack Obama: Iran: Bush does not let facts get in the way of ideology.     Chris Dodd: Exercise caution but pursuing diplomacy with Iran.     Chris Dodd: Keep all options on the table for Iran.     Dennis Kucinich: I was right the first time; now no evidence of nukes in Iran.     Dennis Kucinich: US role: security for Israel and a state for Palestine.     Hillary Clinton: Continue diplomatic engagement with Iran.     Hillary Clinton: Believed, with others, that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapon.     Joe Biden: Accept NIE conclusion that Iran stopped nukes in 2003.     Joe Biden: Muslims don’t like us because they do not trust us.     John Edwards: Stop the neocons march to war with Iran.     John Edwards: Muslim dislike from Bush’s bullying abusive behavior.     Mike Gravel: Iran’s not a problem, never has been, never will be.     Tom Tancredo: Stop policing Iraq, but cannot leave.     Art Small: Neocons still believe there are WMDs in Iraq.

Welfare & Poverty     Michele Bachmann: Liability shield to allow charities to provide healthcare.     Chris Dodd: Help lift people out of poverty and give them opportunities.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Abby Finkenauer Democratic Challenger Iowa ACLU Alan Keyes Republican Art Small 2004 former Democratic challenger; previously State Senator Iowa Ashley Hinson Republican U.S. Rep Iowa-1 Barack Obama Democratic President (elected 2008) Ben Carson HUD Secretary Bill Richardson New Mexico Former Democratic Governor (2002-2010) and Cabinet Sec'y Bob Krause Democratic Senate Challenger Iowa Bruce Braley Democratic Challenger Iowa Carly Fiorina California V.P. nominee toTed Cruz Chet Culver Iowa Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger Chris Dodd Democrat Cindy Axne Democrat U.S. Rep Iowa- 3 Dennis Kucinich Ohio Democratic candidate for Governor Donald Trump Republican Presidential incumbent Duncan Hunter Republican Elizabeth Dole North Carolina Former Cabinet Member (Labor Sec'y) and Senator Fred Hubbell Iowa Democratic candidate for governor of Iowa Fred Thompson Republican George Pataki New York Republican presidential candidate Hillary Clinton Democratic Presidential candidate Jack Hatch Iowa Democratic Challenger Jim Carlin Senate candidate Iowa Joe Biden Democratic V.P. John Edwards Democrat John McCain Republican Joni Ernst Republican Jr Senator Iowa Kim Reynolds Iowa Republican Kimberly Graham Democratic 2020 Senate Challenger Iowa Lamar Alexander Republican Sr Senator (retiring 2020) Tennessee Lindsey Graham South Carolina S.C. Senator; Republican Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann Republican Mike Gravel Democratic challenger for president Mike Huckabee Arkansas Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney Massachusetts Former GOP Governor (2003-2006); Pres. candidate (2008) Nate Boulton Iowa Democratic candidate for Iowa Gov Newt Gingrich Republican Orrin Hatch Republican Sr Senator (retiring 2018) Utah Patty Judge Democratic candidate for Senate Iowa Pete Buttigieg Indiana DOT Secretary Randy Feenstra Republican U.S. Rep Iowa-4 Republican Party Rick Perry Texas Former Secretary of Energy Rick Santorum Republican Presidential candidate Rob Hogg Democratic Senate challenger Iowa Ron Paul Republican (Libertarian 1988) Rudy Giuliani New York Former Mayor of NYC Sarah Palin Alaska Former Governor (resigned 2009); V.P. nominee (2008) Ted Cruz Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Terry Branstad Iowa Former Ambassador to China Theresa Greenfield Democratic Senate Challenger Iowa Tom Fiegen Democratic Senate challenger Iowa Tom Tancredo Colorado Republican Gubernatorial Challenger (withdrew)