State of Tennessee Archives: on Foreign Policy


Lamar Alexander: Russia out to destabilize western democracies

Russians have a big warehouse in Saint Petersburg where they're devoted to destabilizing western democracies. In one of the Baltic states, they accused a NATO officer of raping a local girl. Of course, didn't happen. But it threw the government into complete disarray for a week. So I think we need to be sensitive to the fact that the Russians are out to do no good, to destabilize western democracies, including us, and be very wary of theories that Russians come up with and peddle.
Source: Meet the Press 2020 Tennessee Senate race coverage Feb 2, 2020

Bill Hagerty: Ensure our allies support us and enemies fear us

Bill served as the United States Ambassador to Japan in President Donald Trump's administration, where he saw firsthand how President Trump is re-establishing America's role in the world as a leader. America is no longer "leading from behind" nor deploying "strategic patience." He has worked with President Trump to deal with the immediate threats of North Korea and the longer range issues that have built up with China and Russia. He stands with Israel, and he will never stop fighting to defeat radical Islamic terrorism. Bill believes we must stand firm against Sharia Law in our country and across the globe because it can be the foundation for radical Islam and terrorism. He is committed to working with President Trump to ensure that our allies support us and our enemies fear us.
Source: 2020 Tennessee Senate campaign website TeamHagerty.com Dec 24, 2019

Bill Hagerty: US has moral obligation to protect Israel

The United States has a moral obligation to protect Israel. He fully supported President Trump keeping America's promise to move our embassy to Jerusalem. He believes we must align ourselves against Israel's enemies and show Tehran the United States does not tolerate their attempts to bully our allies. Bill will push for a permanent nuclear deal that ensures Iran never has a nuclear weapon, and he will support continued foreign assistance to Israel.
Source: 2020 Tennessee Senate campaign website TeamHagerty.com Dec 24, 2019

James Mackler: Don't reduce funds for State Department nor reduce diplomacy

My time in the military affects my view of how we prosecute the War on Terror, of how we view the military and how we view diplomacy in so many ways.

Let me bring up a couple things that jump to mind right away. One of them is the importance of diplomacy. It troubles me a lot when we hear leaders talk about reducing funds for the State Department or reducing diplomacy in the name of serving soldiers or of national defense. I've seen the consequences of full-on military conflict, and I know that good diplomacy can reduce the number of deployments, it can reduce the length of deployments, and it can save American lives. We do soldiers a disservice when we try to underplay the importance of diplomacy.

When leadership doesn't stand up for those American values, for using force when necessary, but using it appropriately within the confines of the law, it really undermines the values that we went to war for. That troubles me a lot.

Source: The Nashville Scene on 2020 Tennessee Senate race Nov 9, 2017

Diane Black: Must stand up to North Korea's missile tests

"It is our responsibility in Congress to protect our citizens and hold North Korea accountable for their actions. This latest ballistic missile launch continues North Korea's alarming escalation of aggressive acts, and we will not tolerate it," said Congressman Black.
Source: 2018 Tennessee Gubernatorial website black.house.gov Aug 31, 2017

Bob Corker: Russia a bad actor, not moral equivalent to US

Q: Your views on Russia?

Corker: I do not see Russia as a friend of the United States in any form or fashion. Are there some things that we might be able to work together on? Sure. We certainly haven't seen evidence of their desire to fight terrorism with us. I mean, we see them kill civilians, and you know, help [Syrian President Bashar] Assad concentrate more fully his power.

Q: Trump said that he couldn't agree with criticism of Putin and that it was in effect hypocritical because we're killers too, here in America. Is that something that you agree with?

Corker: I see no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia. So look, they've got grievances. But I don't see the moral equivalency at all, and so I would strongly disagree with that.

Source: Susan Glasser on Politico.com on 2018 Tennessee Senate race Feb 13, 2017

David Kustoff: Our allies don't respect us and our enemies don't fear us

Under President Obama, the influence of the US has waned. Our allies don't respect us and our enemies don't fear us. This must change.

Israel is THE democracy in the Middle East. If Israel fails, democracy in the Middle East fails. The Iran Deal is a threat to our interest and Israel's interest. We must always support Israel.

Source: 2016 Tennessee House campaign website KustoffForCongress.com Nov 8, 2016

Gordon Ball: Promote human rights as cornerstone of US foreign policy

America's foreign policy should be focused on advancing peace and prosperity here at home and abroad. From advancing nuclear non-proliferation to eliminating conditions that breed terrorism, to combating global public health challenges, I will continue to advocate for policies that promote human rights and democratic policies that are the cornerstone of American foreign policy. Let me be clear: I will never advocate nation-building by America.
Source: 2014 Tennessee Senate campaign website, GordonBallSenate.com Aug 7, 2014

  • The above quotations are from State of Tennessee Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Foreign Policy:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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