For the better part of the past four months I have been regularly receiving random emails from candidates around the country. These candidates are sending me links to their websites, press releases and other assorted emails, I suppose, looking for publicity.
Generally I ignore them. But I have decided to take a different tact. And as the number of requests is slowing down as primaries have been mostly settled, I thought I would take a different approach and take the opportunity to find out if these folks emailing me are worthy of my support.
So, as a test case, I am going to pick on John Pistone who is running for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District. I got an email from him or someone on his staff with a link to his website. But I want specific questions answered. So what I did was send back the following questionnaire. Let’s see if he has the gumption to answer these questions!
I will let you know when or if I get anything back.
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Candidate Questionnaire:
1) Do you agree or disagree with the following statement. “The federal government is too big and is currently doing too many things beyond the limited powers assigned to it in the Constriction.” This question requires only a yes or no answer so please give only a yes or no answer.
2) If elected to Congress to represent the American people, please list 10 federal government programs/laws you would work to eliminate and in one sentence for each, explain why.
3) If elected to Congress to represent the American people, please list the top 3 policies/laws that you would work to enact and cite the Constitutional authority you would use for each to do so.
4) In one or two short sentences please state your position on Abortion.
5) Do you agree or disagree that the second amendment provides law abiding American citizens the right to keep and bear arms for their protection without federal, state or local interference. After stating whether you agree or disagree you may explain, if you feel necessary, why in one sentence.
6) Do you agree or disagree that a homeowner has the right to use lethal force to defend their home from criminal intrusion. After stating whether you agree or disagree you may explain, if you feel necessary, why in one sentence.
7) What is your position, in one or two short sentences, on the theory of man-made Global Warming?
If you had been in Congress in 2008, would you have voted for TARP? An explanation of why or why not may be given in one or two sentences. Did you make any public statements prior to its passage that can verify this position? If so, please list sources.
9) If you had been in Congress in January 2009, would you have voted in favor to the Obama “stimulus” plan passed by the House of Representatives on January 28th, 2009? Why or why not in one or two short sentences and provide sources for any public statements you made prior to its inaction to prove this position.
10) Which of the following statements do you most agree with:
a) “Only government can break the vicious cycles that are crippling our economy”
b) “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem.”
11) When it comes to the current federal income tax, do you believe that the rates are too high, not high enough or just about right?
12) Which of the following federal taxation systems would you most prefer to see the United States use moving forward:
a) the current progressive income tax
b) a flat income tax
c) a national sales tax
d) import and export tariffs only
e) no federal system of taxation
13) Do you believe that it is fiscally sound policy for government to spend more money than in collects in receipts each year? If yes, explain why. If no, explain what steps you would take to balance the budget.
14) Do you believe that the United States Government should actively work to retire the national debt. Why or why not in one or two short sentences.
15) Which of the following most closely represents you view on terrorists that would wish to do America harm:
a) There is no serious or significant terrorist threat.
b) There is a threat from terrorists, but it is a threat that the United States created because of our foreign policies over the years and we are to blame.
c) Terrorism is a result of poverty around the world and the United States should spend billions in foreign aid to make would-be terrorists like us.
d) The threat of terrorism is real and the United States must meet the threat head on with all means at our disposal EXCEPT for military force.
e) The threat of terrorism is real and the United States must meet the threat head on with all means at our disposal INCLUDING the use of military force.
f) I can’t decide … it’s too difficult of an issue.
16) Should terrorists taken on the battlefield be given rights and privileges under the Geneva Convention?
17) If you were approached by a fellow Congressman and asked to support a bill you would not normally support if he or she added pork directly benefitting your district and your constituents, would you change your vote in favor of said legislation?
18) Which statement most closely represents your views on immigration:
a) there should be no borders and people should be free to move from country to country claiming citizenship at their own will
b) sovereign nations have every right to enact immigration laws that apply the same standards to all people that desire entrance and citizenship
c) something other than a or b (in one sentence, explain)
20) Cite one quote from a founding father that you believe best sums up your political ideology. Do not explain why, just provide the quote please.
21) Which current or past Supreme Court Justice(s) do you think should be emulated with future appoints by the current president?
22) Do you agree or disagree with the concept of Affirmative Action and government mandated or recommended racial and sex based quotas? In one sentence explain why.
23) Do you agree or disagree with the concept of the federal government dictating who banks should and should not lend money to? In one sentence explain why.
24) Name a President of the United States you most admire and in one sentence tell why.
25) Do you agree or disagree with the policy of governments mandating a minimum or “living” wage? In one sentence explain why.
26) Should companies that are going bankrupt be bailed out by the federal government in order to save jobs? In one sentence explain why.
27) When it comes to the “general Welfare” clause of the Constitution, what is your understanding of its nature and meaning?
28) When it comes to the “interstate commerce” clause of the Constitution, what is your understanding of its nature and meaning?
28) In one or two short sentences, what are your thoughts on the Constitutionality of the following government programs/departments:
a) Social Security
b) Welfare
c) Food Stamps
d) Medicare
e) Medicaid
f) Department of Education
g) Environmental Protection Agency
29) Who do you believe is responsible for the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001?
a) The United States Government. They planned it themselves and made it happen.
b) The United States Government. They knew the attack was coming and let it happen.
c) Radical terrorists who want to kill non-Muslim infidels.
d) Someone else (please explain)
30) Which of the following statements do you most agree with:
a) all Muslims are terrorists
b) not all Muslims are terrorists, but much of the world’s terrorism today is perpetrated by radical elements within Islam
c) not all Muslims are terrorists and very little of the world’s terrorism today is perpetrated by radical elements within Islam
d) there is no such thing as a Muslim terrorist
e) the United States is the single greatest terrorist nation the planet today
32) List three pieces of federal legislations passed or proposed over the past four years that you agree with and would have voted for and in a single sentence for each explain why.
33) Agree or disagree, McCain-Feingold violates the first amendment. In one sentence explain why.
34) Agree or disagree, the “Fairness Doctrine” or a new incarnation thereof, violates the first amendment. In one sentence explain why.
35) Which of the following statements do you most agree with:
a) the first amendment prohibits free and non-coerced religious displays in the public square because they might offend someone
b) the first amendment protects free and non-coerced religious displays in the public square regardless of whether or not they offend someone
c) oh God … uh I mean … oh non-descript higher power of your choice or non-choice if you so choose, please don’t make me answer this question!
36) If a State or Commonwealth decided that it wanted to secede from the Union because its citizens no longer believed that the United States was adequately protecting the inalienable rights of the people, would you oppose such a move or support it? What principles or authority would you cite for your decision?
37) Name one event in American history that you believe exemplifies the spirit of America and in one or two sentences describe why.
38) If elected to Congress, could you be counted on to file Articles of Impeachment against any member of Congress, the federal Judiciary or even a sitting President who violated the Constitution and the public trust?
39) Regardless of your answer to the previous question, name one, if any, person in any federal position of public trust that you believe has committed impeachable offenses and document at least one such offense.
40) Would you:
a) vote against a piece of legislation that contained a unconstitutional act even if such an act was the only unconstitutional act within the entire legislation or
b) sign on to legislation that contained a single unconstitutional act in order to get other things that the legislation contained accomplished?
41) Are you currently, or have you in the past, engaged in illegal activity? Yes or no. Go ahead and explain if you like.
42) Do you have any other comments to make as to why you believe that you are qualified to be elected to public office? BRIEFLY explain and add them here.
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