Email interview series:
2008 Senate candidates interviewed by OnTheIssues.org

EXPLANATORY NOTE by OnTheIssues.org:

We at OnTheIssues.org ask all candidates for answers to our 20 questions in our VoteMatch quiz. The following Senate candidates have responded in detail. Responding to press inquiries like ours shows a level of openness that augurs well for the candidate in office, regardless of party affiliation.

Almost always, the incumbent ignores our requests, indicating that they don't want their constituents to know their issue stances. We track their voting records accordingly, and infer their VoteMatch responses based on those. We also collect up public statements and book excerpts, and include those in our VoteMatch quiz results as well.

Below are the responses from this year's candidates.

-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org

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

Abortion     Nick Carter: Abortion should be legal, safe, protected and rare.     Mike Nikitin: Abortion is not a woman’s right.     James Niemackl: Abortion is not a woman’s right.     Scotty Boman: Abortion is not a federal issue.     Kathy Cummings: Abortion is a woman’s private matter.     Chris Young: Abortion is not a woman’s right.     Dean Barkley: Abortion is a woman’s right.     Bob Tingle: Abortion is not a woman’s right.     Bob Underwood: Government shouldn’t decide abortion, but also shouldn’t pay.     Chris Rothfuss: Abortion is a woman’s right.     Prof. Tom Davis: Abortion is a woman’s right.     Scott Jameson: Abortion is a woman’s right.     Michael Cummins: Completely pro life.     Keith Goodenough: Abortion is a woman’s right.     Dave Brownlow: Life begins at conception.     Jim Risch: I oppose abortion.     Jack Hoogendyk: Abortion is the termination of a human life.     Rick Sikma: Inalienable rights exist for unborn, same as for living.     Sam Kephart: Opposes abortion except for rape, incest, & maternal health.     Rebekah Kennedy: Supports Roe v. Wade trimester system.     Larry Stafford: Abortion is a state issue; and only for mother’s health.     Ed O`Reilly: Supports abortion rights & embryonic stem cell research.

Civil Rights     Nick Carter: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Nick Carter: Sexual orientation should be protected by civil rights law.     Mike Nikitin: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Mike Nikitin: Sexual orientation not protected by civil rights law.     James Niemackl: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     James Niemackl: Sexual orientation not protected by civil rights law.     Scotty Boman: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Scotty Boman: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights law.     Kathy Cummings: Supports affirmative action.     Kathy Cummings: Sexual orientation should be protected by civil rights law.     Chris Young: Require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Chris Young: Sexual orientation not protected by civil rights law.     Dean Barkley: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Dean Barkley: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights law.     Bob Tingle: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Bob Tingle: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights law.     Bob Underwood: No quotas for women and minorities.     Bob Underwood: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights law.     Chris Rothfuss: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Chris Rothfuss: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights law.     Prof. Tom Davis: Require hiring women & minorities is too fuzzy to answer.     Prof. Tom Davis: Sexual orientation should be protected by civil rights law.     Scott Jameson: Don’t require companies to hire more women and minorities.     Scott Jameson: Sexual orientation not protected by civil rights law.     Michael Cummins: Let resume make decision, not gender or ethnicity.     Michael Cummins: Protection of sexual orientation is the law.     Dave Brownlow: God intended for marriage to be between a man and a woman.     Dave Brownlow: 1st amendment prohibits government from regulating marriage.     Keith Goodenough: No discrimination, but the best person should get the job.     Keith Goodenough: Sexual orientation should be protected by civil rights law.     Dave Brownlow: Government should stay out of employment decisions.     Dave Brownlow: No special consideration for homosexuals.     Jim Risch: Opposes mandates for affirmative action.     Jim Risch: Opposes sexual orientation as a protected civil right.     Jack Hoogendyk: Make hiring decisions on merit alone.     Jack Hoogendyk: Sexual orientation not protected by civil rights law.     Rick Sikma: Affirmative action is reverse discrimination.     Rick Sikma: Sexual orientation is not a civil right.     Sam Kephart: Opposes affirmative action.     Sam Kephart: Opposes same-sex marriage.     Rebekah Kennedy: Supports government and corporate affirmative action plans.     Rebekah Kennedy: Equal means equal, for sexual orientation.     Larry Stafford: No government favors; 100% free market.     Larry Stafford: No discrimination based on orientation, including marriage.     Ed O`Reilly: Allow same-sex couples to marry.     Ed O`Reilly: Affirmative action programs needed to combat discrimination.

Corporations     Ed O`Reilly: Close corporate loopholes instead of waging war.

Crime     Nick Carter: Opposes the death penalty.     Nick Carter: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Mike Nikitin: Death penalty only for rape, murder & child assault.     Mike Nikitin: Jury system instead of mandatory sentencing laws.     James Niemackl: Supports the death penalty.     James Niemackl: Supports mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Scotty Boman: Opposes the death penalty.     Scotty Boman: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Kathy Cummings: Strictly opposed to the death penalty.     Kathy Cummings: Opposed to Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Chris Young: Opposes the death penalty.     Chris Young: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Dean Barkley: Opposes the death penalty.     Dean Barkley: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Bob Tingle: Opposes the death penalty.     Bob Tingle: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Bob Underwood: Opposes the death penalty--there have been too many mistakes.     Bob Underwood: Three Strikes laws ok, but only for serious crimes.     Chris Rothfuss: Opposes the death penalty.     Chris Rothfuss: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Prof. Tom Davis: Opposes the death penalty.     Prof. Tom Davis: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Scott Jameson: Opposes the death penalty.     Scott Jameson: Opposes mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Michael Cummins: Supports death penalty only with DNA proof.     Michael Cummins: Supports mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Keith Goodenough: Opposes the death penalty.     Keith Goodenough: Let judge decide, instead of mandatory sentencing laws.     Dave Brownlow: Apply Bible principle of “two witnesses” for death penalty.     Dave Brownlow: No mandatory sentencing laws--we have too many incarcerated.     Jack Hoogendyk: Supports the death penalty for premeditated murder.     Jack Hoogendyk: Allow judges to make judgements on the merits of each case.     Rick Sikma: Death penalty is the most effective deterrent.     Rick Sikma: Supports Three Strikes for violent crimes.     Sam Kephart: Supports the death penalty.     Sam Kephart: Supports Three Strikes sentencing laws, but reforms needed.     Rebekah Kennedy: Death penalty is an outdated practice.     Rebekah Kennedy: Opposes Three Strikes sentencing laws.     Larry Stafford: Death penalty unnecessary if punishment fits crime.     Larry Stafford: Supports Three Strikes for violent felons.     Ed O`Reilly: Alternative sentencing over mandatory sentencing.     Ed O`Reilly: Opposes death penalty; but believes in states’ rights.

Drugs     Nick Carter: Don’t regulate drug use on basis of immorality.     Mike Nikitin: The war on drugs is a farce.     James Niemackl: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it.     Scotty Boman: No federal authority to regulate drug use.     Kathy Cummings: Drug addiction is a social issue, not criminal.     Chris Young: Opposes the drug war.     Dean Barkley: Don’t fight drug use as a moral issue.     Bob Tingle: Supports Personal Use of Marijuana Act.     Bob Underwood: Laws against drug use have not stopped the use of drugs.     Chris Rothfuss: Congress should never legislate morality, including drugs.     Prof. Tom Davis: Immoral is a lousy reason for drug law.     Scott Jameson: Don’t fight drug use as a moral issue.     Michael Cummins: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it.     Keith Goodenough: Treat drug use as a public health issue.     Dave Brownlow: Move from incarceration policy to treatment based solution.     Jim Risch: Enforce laws against drug use.     Jack Hoogendyk: Enforce laws against drug use.     Rick Sikma: Zero Tolerance on drug laws.     Sam Kephart: Enforce laws against drug use.     Rebekah Kennedy: Punishment rather than drug treatment does not work.     Larry Stafford: Distributing drugs is criminal; use or abuse is not.     Ed O`Reilly: De-criminalize first-time possession of marijuana.

Education     Nick Carter: No vouchers; make all schools better.     Mike Nikitin: Parents choose schools via vouchers.     James Niemackl: Let parents choose schools via vouchers.     Scotty Boman: No federal authority to decide voucher funding schemes.     Kathy Cummings: Vouchers segregate schools by income level.     Chris Young: Parents choose schools via vouchers.     Dean Barkley: Parents choose schools via vouchers.     Bob Underwood: If a state wants a voucher system, let them have it.     Chris Rothfuss: Vouchers hurt public schools.     Prof. Tom Davis: No vouchers the way they’re defined today.     Scott Jameson: Parents choose schools via vouchers.     Michael Cummins: Teach 3 R’s, not family values.     Michael Cummins: Vouchers give parents the right to choose.     Keith Goodenough: Opposes choosing schools via vouchers.     Dave Brownlow: Opposes vouchers because government would regulate them.     Jim Risch: Supports choosing schools via vouchers.     Jack Hoogendyk: Supports tuition tax credits and charter schools.     Rick Sikma: Supports choosing schools via vouchers.     Sam Kephart: Supports choosing schools via vouchers.     Rebekah Kennedy: Families impart family values, not public schools.     Rebekah Kennedy: Opposes school vouchers.     Larry Stafford: Don’t promote prayer in school, but also don’t ban it.     Larry Stafford: Schools need competition to improve.     Ed O`Reilly: No vouchers; and charters pick off the cream off the top.     Ed O`Reilly: No prayer nor Ten Commandments in schools.

Energy & Oil     Nick Carter: Clean coal can coexist with clean energy.     Mike Nikitin: Let market decide between oil & alternatives.     James Niemackl: Replace coal and oil with alternatives, via market methods.     Scotty Boman: No federal role in energy alternatives.     Kathy Cummings: Replace coal and oil with renewables.     Chris Young: Replace coal and oil with alternatives.     Bob Tingle: All-of-the-above approach to energy & alternatives.     Bob Underwood: Much of my platform is dedicated to replacing coal and oil.     Chris Rothfuss: We need coal and oil for energy independence.     Prof. Tom Davis: Renewables ok; nuclear fission, no.     Scott Jameson: Replace coal and oil with alternatives.     Michael Cummins: No good alternatives to oil & coal.     Keith Goodenough: Replace coal and oil with alternatives, eventually.     Dave Brownlow: Augment coal & oil with alternatives.     Jim Risch: Comprehensive policy with nuclear, clean coal & alternatives.     Jack Hoogendyk: Let free market explore clean coal and oil.     Rick Sikma: Expedite low-emission coal & oil alternatives.     Sam Kephart: Replace coal & oil as National Security priority.     Rebekah Kennedy: Dramatic increase in wind, solar and hydro-electric power.     Larry Stafford: Not possible to reduce use of coal & oil.     Larry Stafford: Get government out of way and new technology will meet needs.     Ed O`Reilly: Reduce use of coal, oil, & nuclear energy.

Environment     Kathy Cummings: Train for Green jobs in public schools.

Families & Children     Nick Carter: Teach facts in public schools, not family values.     Mike Nikitin: Teach basics in public schools, not family values.     James Niemackl: Teach family values in public schools.     Scotty Boman: No federal authority to teach family values in schools.     Kathy Cummings: Teach Green values in public schools.     Chris Young: Teach family values in public schools.     Dean Barkley: Whose family values should we teach?     Bob Tingle: No family values in public schools.     Bob Underwood: Let states decide about family values in public schools.     Chris Rothfuss: Opposes prayer in school in public schools.     Prof. Tom Davis: Teach family values? Whose family’s values?     Scott Jameson: Teach family values in public schools.     Keith Goodenough: Teach secular morals in public schools.     Dave Brownlow: Whose “family values” would be taught in public schools?     Jim Risch: Teach traditional family values in public schools.     Jack Hoogendyk: Teach family values in public schools.     Rick Sikma: Empower teachers to teach those moral values.     Sam Kephart: Teach traditional family values in public schools.

Foreign Policy     Jack Hoogendyk: We should get out of the UN.     Larry Stafford: Focus on major issues in China, not on human rights.

Free Trade     Nick Carter: Support fair trade, not free trade.     Mike Nikitin: Let market expand free trade.     James Niemackl: Don’t sell out our jobs and economy to the global market.     Scotty Boman: Support true free trade, not NAFTA & GATT.     Kathy Cummings: Fair Trade not Free Trade.     Chris Young: Opposes expanding free trade.     Dean Barkley: Support fair trade, not free trade.     Bob Tingle: I support Free and Fair Trade.     Bob Underwood: End free trade as it is now; it isn’t free.     Chris Rothfuss: Oppose free trade; support fair trade.     Prof. Tom Davis: The phrase “free trade” is a lie.     Scott Jameson: Support and expand free trade.     Michael Cummins: Free trade keeps prices low.     Keith Goodenough: Fairness should be the key to free trade.     Dave Brownlow: Free trade but not NAFTA, GATT, & WTO.     Jack Hoogendyk: For free trade as long as US sovereignty is maintained.     Rick Sikma: Replace “free trade” with “fair trade”.     Sam Kephart: I support “fair trade”, not “free trade”.     Rebekah Kennedy: Redesign trade agreements to protect workers & environment.     Larry Stafford: Free trade only with countries who freely trade with us.     Ed O`Reilly: Free trade is a misnomer.

Government Reform     Nick Carter: Stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Mike Nikitin: No restrictions on campaign funds.     James Niemackl: Limit campaign donations to people in district.     Scotty Boman: Limits on political donations restrict free speech.     Kathy Cummings: Stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Chris Young: Stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Dean Barkley: Campaign finance system is legalized bribery.     Bob Tingle: Public funding of political campaigns.     Bob Underwood: Laws about political expenditures do not work.     Chris Rothfuss: Restrict political campaign funds.     Prof. Tom Davis: Stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Scott Jameson: Loosen limits on political campaign funds.     Michael Cummins: Campaign donations are free speech.     Keith Goodenough: Stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Dave Brownlow: Opposes stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Jim Risch: Opposes stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Jack Hoogendyk: No limits on political campaign funds.     Rick Sikma: Stricter limits on political campaign funds.     Sam Kephart: Undecided on limiting on political campaign funds.     Rebekah Kennedy: Full public funding of elections.     Ed O`Reilly: 2000 Bush-Gore decision interfered with states’ rights.     Ed O`Reilly: We should have government funded elections.

Gun Control     Nick Carter: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Mike Nikitin: Absolute right to gun ownership.     James Niemackl: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Scotty Boman: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Kathy Cummings: 2nd amendment doesn’t include automatic weapons or WMDs.     Chris Young: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Dean Barkley: Restrict guns from convicted criminals and mentally ill.     Bob Tingle: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Bob Underwood: Average Americans are best defense against tyranny.     Chris Rothfuss: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Prof. Tom Davis: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Scott Jameson: Absolute right to gun ownership.     Michael Cummins: Government shouldn’t decide who can own a weapon.     Keith Goodenough: Absolute right to gun ownership; except felons.     Dave Brownlow: Individual right to gun ownership, not collective right.     Jim Risch: Gun ownership is a constitutional right.     Jack Hoogendyk: Absolute right to gun ownership; rated A with NRA.     Rick Sikma: Gun ownership is Constitutionally guaranteed.     Sam Kephart: Absolute right to gun ownership; no ammo tracking.     Rebekah Kennedy: Gun ownership is a fundamental right.     Larry Stafford: Individual right to carry & use guns.     Ed O`Reilly: 2nd Amendment is about militias, not about individual rights.

Health Care     Nick Carter: More federal funding for health coverage.     Mike Nikitin: Zero funding for health coverage--it’s unconstitutional.     James Niemackl: Opposes nationalized health care.     Scotty Boman: Less federal funding for health coverage.     Kathy Cummings: Supports single-payer healthcare.     Chris Young: More federal funding for health coverage.     Bob Tingle: Opposes nationalized health care.     Bob Underwood: Canadian system works; US is an epidemic waiting to happen.     Chris Rothfuss: Health coverage for all Americans.     Prof. Tom Davis: More federal funding for health coverage too fuzzy to say.     Scott Jameson: Less federal funding for health coverage.     Michael Cummins: Privatize health care instead of federalize.     Keith Goodenough: State-based systems for health coverage.     Dave Brownlow: Enough federal funding for health coverage already.     Jack Hoogendyk: Private market solutions over federal health coverage.     Rick Sikma: Supports federal assistance for healthcare red-tape.     Sam Kephart: Opposes federal funding for health coverage.     Rebekah Kennedy: Supports Universal Single Payer National Health Care.     Larry Stafford: No federal health coverage; it’s individual’s responsibility.     Ed O`Reilly: More federal funding as a step towards single payer system.

Homeland Security     Nick Carter: Enough spending on armed forces already.     Nick Carter: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Mike Nikitin: More spending on armed forces.     Mike Nikitin: Some parts of Patriot Act ok, some not.     James Niemackl: Less spending on armed forces.     James Niemackl: Repeal the Patriot Act.     Scotty Boman: Less spending on armed forces.     Scotty Boman: Repeal the Patriot Act.     Kathy Cummings: Less spending on armed forces.     Kathy Cummings: Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Chris Young: Decrease spending on armed forces.     Chris Young: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Dean Barkley: Less spending on armed forces.     Dean Barkley: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Bob Tingle: Keep us the strongest & most powerful country on earth.     Bob Tingle: I support the Patriot Act.     Bob Underwood: Less spending on armed forces.     Bob Underwood: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Chris Rothfuss: Better spending on armed forces, not more spending.     Chris Rothfuss: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Prof. Tom Davis: Cover our obligations from unjust wars.     Prof. Tom Davis: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Scott Jameson: Less spending on armed forces.     Scott Jameson: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Michael Cummins: More spending for armed forces on front lines and at home.     Michael Cummins: Supports the Patriot Act.     Keith Goodenough: Less money for the military.     Keith Goodenough: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties.     Dave Brownlow: We spend $1T per year to defend our empire.     Dave Brownlow: The Patriot Act is an atrocious piece of legislation.     Jim Risch: Supports the Patriot Act.     Jack Hoogendyk: Spend whatever necessary to protect sovereignty & security.     Rick Sikma: More spending on armed forces.     Rick Sikma: The Patriot Act protects us from threat of terrorism.     Sam Kephart: Attack fraud & cut pork in bloated military contracts.     Sam Kephart: The Patriot Act is potentially very dangerous.     Rebekah Kennedy: Less spending on armed forces & less aggressive war.     Rebekah Kennedy: Immediately repeal the Patriot Act.     Larry Stafford: No defense spending on policing the world.     Larry Stafford: Only fund feasible missile defense programs.     Ed O`Reilly: Reduce defense spending, starting with nuclear weapons.     Ed O`Reilly: Should filibuster against eavesdropping without a warrant.

Immigration     Nick Carter: Allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Mike Nikitin: Disllow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     James Niemackl: Don’t allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Scotty Boman: Don’t allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Kathy Cummings: Allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Chris Young: Opposes illegal immigrants earning citizenship.     Dean Barkley: Don’t allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Bob Tingle: Don’t allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Bob Underwood: Deport illegal immigrants.     Chris Rothfuss: Don’t allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Prof. Tom Davis: Allow some illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Scott Jameson: Don’t allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Michael Cummins: Illegal immigrants are illegal; so don’t allow citizenship.     Keith Goodenough: Earned citizenship ok, in a timely manner.     Dave Brownlow: Do not reward criminal immigration behavior.     Jim Risch: Don’t allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Jack Hoogendyk: Illegal immigrants need to return home.     Rick Sikma: Deport illegals; deny benefits; no anchor babies.     Sam Kephart: Earned citizenship ok, but no blanket amnesty.     Rebekah Kennedy: Allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.     Larry Stafford: Secure our borders immediately.     Ed O`Reilly: No border fence; encourage immigration.

Principles & Values     Prof. Tom Davis: Off ballot because of Texas’s byzantine regulations.

Social Security     Nick Carter: Don’t gamble by privatizing social security.     Mike Nikitin: Abolish social security--it’s unconctitutional.     James Niemackl: Supports self-investment for social security savings.     Scotty Boman: Privatize social security.     Kathy Cummings: Absolutely opposes privatizing social security.     Chris Young: Oppose privatizing social security.     Dean Barkley: Don’t privatize social security.     Bob Tingle: Supports investment choices for social security savings.     Bob Underwood: Don’t privatize social security.     Chris Rothfuss: Opposes privatizing social security.     Prof. Tom Davis: Don’t privatize social security.     Scott Jameson: Privatize social security.     Michael Cummins: Social Security is in real trouble; privatize it.     Keith Goodenough: Opposes privatizing social security.     Dave Brownlow: Supports privatizing social security.     Jack Hoogendyk: Supports privatizing social security, optionally.     Rick Sikma: Supports privatizing social security.     Sam Kephart: Supports privatizing social security.     Rebekah Kennedy: Social Security cannot be replaced by individual plans.     Larry Stafford: Privatize: control & operate your own plan.     Ed O`Reilly: No privatization of Social Security.

Tax Reform     Nick Carter: Make taxes more progressive.     Mike Nikitin: Every tax shrinks freedom.     James Niemackl: Reduce tax burden so people keep their earnings.     Scotty Boman: End the Federal Income Tax.     Kathy Cummings: Make taxes more progressive.     Chris Young: Opposes more progressive taxation.     Dean Barkley: Make taxes more progressive.     Bob Tingle: Abolish the Federal Income Tax and the IRS.     Bob Underwood: Lower all taxes by reducing government.     Chris Rothfuss: Make taxes more progressive.     Prof. Tom Davis: Make taxes more progressive is unanswerable.     Scott Jameson: Make taxes more progressive.     Michael Cummins: Opposes progressive taxation.     Keith Goodenough: Make taxes more progressive.     Dave Brownlow: Opposes progressive taxes; supports cutting budget by 85%.     Jim Risch: Top priority: make Bush tax cuts permanent.     Jack Hoogendyk: Supports flat tax & FairTax.     Rick Sikma: A flat tax rate would be fair for everyone.     Sam Kephart: Replace IRS with FairTax or something similar.     Rebekah Kennedy: Reasonable progressive tax on large estates.     Larry Stafford: Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy.

War & Peace     Nick Carter: Replace US troops with UN in Iraq.     Mike Nikitin: No UN in Iraq.     James Niemackl: Replace US troops with UN in Iraq.     Scotty Boman: Let Iraqis decide their own future.     Kathy Cummings: Replace US troops with UN in Iraq.     Chris Young: Don’t replace US troops with UN troops in Iraq.     Dean Barkley: Out of Iraq; real war on terror is in Afghanistan.     Bob Tingle: Keep our troops in Iraq.     Bob Underwood: Withdraw US troops from Iraq.     Chris Rothfuss: Draw down US troops and replace with Iraqis.     Prof. Tom Davis: Get US troops out of Iraq.     Scott Jameson: Replace US troops with UN in Iraq.     Michael Cummins: Keep US troops in Iraq under US control.     Keith Goodenough: Replace US troops with UN in Iraq.     Dave Brownlow: Remove all foreign troops from Iraq.     Jim Risch: No open-ended funding for Iraq but no precipitous withdrawal.     Rick Sikma: Let Iraqi government decide when if UN should come in.     Sam Kephart: No open-ended funding for Iraq but no precipitous withdrawal.     Rebekah Kennedy: Withdraw from Iraq.     Larry Stafford: No UN approval for military action.     Ed O`Reilly: Replace US troops with UN in Iraq.

Welfare & Poverty     Nick Carter: No church-based welfare services.     Mike Nikitin: Churches already provide welfare services.     James Niemackl: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Scotty Boman: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Kathy Cummings: Government should take care of people, not churches.     Chris Young: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Dean Barkley: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Bob Tingle: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Bob Underwood: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Chris Rothfuss: Don’t allow churches to provide welfare services.     Prof. Tom Davis: Churches can provide welfare, but not funded by state.     Scott Jameson: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Michael Cummins: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Keith Goodenough: No public money when churches to provide welfare services.     Dave Brownlow: Welfare services belong in churches.     Jim Risch: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Jack Hoogendyk: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Rick Sikma: Churches can provide welfare services, with accountability.     Sam Kephart: Allow churches to provide welfare services.     Rebekah Kennedy: Separate government welfare from religious charity.     Larry Stafford: No taxpyer funds for faith-based services.     Ed O`Reilly: No funding religious groups from federal funds.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Bob Tingle Republican Senate Challenger (2008) Rhode Island Bob Underwood Libertarian Challenger (2008) Massachusetts Chris Rothfuss Former Democratic Challenger (2008) Wyoming Chris Young Democratic Senate Challenger (2008) Rhode Island Dave Brownlow Constitution Party Senate Challenger (2008) Oregon Dean Barkley Independent Senate challenger (2008) Minnesota Ed O`Reilly Democratic Primary Senate Challenger (2008) Massachusetts Jack Hoogendyk Republican Senate challenger (2008) Michigan James Niemackl Libertarian Challenger (2008) Minnesota Jim Risch Idaho Former Republican Governor (2006-2007); U.S. Senator Kathy Cummings Green Challenger (2008) Illinois Keith Goodenough Former Democratic Senate Challenger (2008) Wyoming Larry Stafford Libertarian challenger (2008) Illinois Michael Cummins Challenger U.S. Rep Minnesota-8 Mike Nikitin Constitution/Taxpayers Party Senate challenger (2008) Michigan Nick Carter Former Democratic Senate Challenger (2008) Wyoming Prof. Tom Davis Green Challenger (2008) Texas Rebekah Kennedy Green Senate challenger (2008) Arkansas Rick Sikma 2008 Republican Senate Challenger Alaska Sam Kephart Republican Senate Challenger (2008) South Dakota Scott Jameson Libertarian Challenger (2008) Texas Scotty Boman Libertarian Senate Challenger Michigan