Jim Gilmore in 2008 VA Senate Debate between Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner
On Abortion:
As governor, I stood for the sanctity of life
Q: Do you support a constitutional amendment to limit abortion? When, if ever, should abortion be legal?Gilmore: As governor of Virginia, I stood for the sanctity of life, pushing through legislation that created a
24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions, required parental notification for minors and banned partial birth abortion. As your U.S. senator, I will continue to work to preserve Virginia values including the protection of human life.
Mark Warner: I support Roe v Wade. But I think folks with differing views on the issue of abortion can all agree that we ought to do everything we can to reduce unintended pregnancies. I signed a bill when I was
governor to require parental notification with a judicial bypass. As the father of three daughters, I am very comfortable with this law.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 17, 2008
On Civil Rights:
No quotas, but create opportunities for minorities
Q: Do you support affirmative action programs? Do you support any changes in those programs? Gilmore: I do not support quotas, but all during my career I have worked to create opportunities for minorities.
Warner: I'd like to see an America where there's not a need for affirmative action, but for now, we need to make sure there is a level playing field for everyone to participate.
I come from the business world, and I think most business people will tell you that they want to recruit employees who were educated in an environment where they were exposed to diverse people and ideas.
As I have said many times in the past, I continue to be opposed to the use of quotas.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 17, 2008
On Civil Rights:
Keep "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for gays in the military
Q: What is your personal view on gays in the military? Do you support any changes in current policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", which allows gays to serve as long as they don't make known their sexual preference?Gilmore: I do not support any changes
in the current policy.
Warner: I will seek the advice of our military leaders as they begin a review of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. We also need to have appropriate recruitment and retention polices that will keep our military strong.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 17, 2008
On Education:
No Child Left Behind Act isn't working
Q: What is the federal government's role in education?Gilmore: While I was governor, the General Assembly voted for my efforts to hire 4,000 new teachers so we could get our education resources into the classroom where they could make a difference for
our children. Today, as a result of that effort the pupil teacher ratio in Virginia is the third best in the nation. I also worked to implement the Standards of Learning, mandated that state lottery proceeds be used for education and helped
Virginia's college students by cutting the cost of college tuition by 20 percent. As for changes, I do not believe the "No Child Left Behind Act" is working and I believe we need to return those responsibilities to the states.
Warner:
The federal role in public education should be to provide the right incentives for underperforming schools. While I agree with the goals of No Child Left Behind, I think the policy has been poorly implemented.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 17, 2008
On Health Care:
Health Savings Accounts; association plans; and tort reform
Q: Would you favor legislation requiring that every American have health insurance? Gilmore: Every American deserves access to affordable, high-quality and reliable health care. In order to achieve this goal, I support a broad range of health care
reform including tax reform to help people buy health insurance and maintain health savings accounts; making it easier for small businesses to provide health care for their employees by allowing them to form association health plans.
I believe we also need medical liability reforms to reduce frivolous lawsuits and help bring down health care costs.
Warner: We need to fix our nation's health care system. It's both a moral issue and a competitiveness issue--
we simply cannot allow 47 million Americans to go without access to health care. I do not support a government run, single payer system.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 17, 2008
On Health Care:
Lower Medicare premiums for seniors & keep program solvent
Q: What is your stance on providing for Medicare and Social Security? Gilmore: I support lowering Medicare premiums. Seniors face a growing threat from higher Medicare premiums that diminish their Social Security and retirement savings. We have a
moral responsibility to older Americans and to future generations to address this difficult problem and if elected to the US Senate, I will work tirelessly to help keep Medicare and Social Security stable and solvent for current and future generations.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 17, 2008
On Homeland Security:
Close the pay gap for long-term military retention
Q: What changes would you propose to the current compensation and benefits provided to active-duty military personnel, injured service members and veterans? Gilmore: As a veteran myself, I believe we must provide for our service members
and their families while they serve and that our injured service members and veterans must not be left behind. As a U.S. senator, I will support closing the pay gap in order to further long-term retention and readiness. As governor of Virginia,
I dramatically cut taxes for many military families in the commonwealth. I support allowing military retirees to remain eligible for CHAMPUS or TRICARE military health care programs. As a beneficiary of the GI bill, I understand the importance of
offering a first-class education to those who put themselves in harm's way. As a U.S. senator, I will work to modernize the GI Bill and enact comprehensive reforms to support the men and women of our Armed Forces.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 17, 2008
On Budget & Economy:
I delivered a balanced budget; no deficit when I ended term
Warner criticized Gilmore for delivering [as Governor] a state budget “full of gimmicks” and accused him of implementing fiscal policy that helped create a $6 billion state shortfall. Gilmore said there was no deficit when he ended his term and that he
delivered a balanced budget. He also has noted throughout his campaign that Warner promised not to increase taxes when running for governor but later instituted the largest tax increase in state history.
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate in The Washington Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Budget & Economy:
More banking oversight, even if it means bigger government
When the debate turned to the crisis on Wall Street, Gilmore and Warner both said they would support an increase in regulation, even if it meant bigger government. “We have to have more oversight,” Gilmore said.
Warner said the problems in banking and the mortgage business were caused by “too many people asleep at the switch in Washington. Everyone was looking at the next quarterly profits, and no one had a long-term plan,” he said.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in Washington Post
Sep 19, 2008
On Corporations:
Washington “asleep at the switch” at financial oversight
The two candidates agreed that the country needs more oversight in its financial sector, following the recent crisis on Wall Street. Gilmore said the situation stems from companies allowing too much borrowing against too little assets. “We simply have
to have more oversight right now to make sure that people understand that they can’t operate their businesses that way against the public interest,” he said.
Warner faulted Washington and Wall Street for being “asleep at the switch.” He said the country should look at
Britain’s use of a single financial regulator as a possible model to fix the current crisis. “If there was ever a time to send somebody to Washington that can read a balance sheet... it’s now,” Warner said.
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate in The Washington Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Crime:
Reformed the juvenile justice system as attorney general
Gilmore touted his accomplishments and experience as “what a real record is in law enforcement.” He cited his four years as Henrico County commonwealth’s attorney. Gilmore said that as attorney general and governor, he reformed the
juvenile justice system, helped put an end to a rash of black church burnings, provided money for more school resource officers and pushed a program to provide more substance abuse treatment for drug offenders.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Crime:
Endorsed by four County sheriffs
Four sheriffs, including Bedford County’s Mike Brown and
Radford’s Mark Armentrout, endorsed Gilmore on Tuesday.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Drugs:
Provided more substance abuse treatment for drug offenders
Both men started out by citing what they’d done to boost law enforcement during their respective political careers. Gilmore touted his accomplishments and experience as “what a real record is in law enforcement.” He cited his four years as
Henrico County commonwealth’s attorney. Gilmore said that as attorney general and governor, he pushed a program to provide more substance abuse treatment for drug offenders.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Energy & Oil:
Favors drilling ANWR and also drilling offshore
Gilmore tried to distinguish his energy policy from Warner’s by insisting the Democrat would oppose offshore drilling. Warner has said he would be in favor of allowing states to explore the possibility of drilling off their shores.
He said “we need more drilling off the coast.” However, the candidates continue to differ on drilling in the ANWR: Gilmore favors it, while Warner opposes the practice.
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate in The Washington Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Foreign Policy:
Pursue terrorists into Pakistan, but maintain secrecy
Gilmore, who chaired a federal homeland security commission in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, agreed with Warner that US troops should have the right to enter Pakistan in search of terrorists. But
Gilmore also stressed that Pakistan remains a US ally. “I think I would not sit here in an open forum today and say and describe the country of Pakistan as one of the great potential threats,” Gilmore said.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in Washington Post
Sep 19, 2008
On Jobs:
Warner’s police endorsements come from unionization promise
Warner was endorsed by about 30 law enforcement officials as well as the Virginia Police Benevolent Association & the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police. Gilmore suggested that
Warner’s endorsements were motivated by his support for a bill that would allow public safety officers to unionize. Gilmore warned law enforcement officers supporting Warner that “there will come a time if Mark Warner is elected to the
Senate and we have public employee collective bargaining, when you will have to explain to your community why you supported a man who helped unionize your sheriff’s department.“
The legislation in question would provide a form of collective bargaining activity for public safety employees. But, according to a Warner spokesman, it ”explicitly says there’s no right for public safety workers to strike.“
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Roanoke Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Jobs:
Oppose making it easier to organize labor unions
Gilmore said he would support retaining President Bush’s tax cuts and pursuing the war in Iraq to completion.
He also would oppose efforts to make it easier to organize a labor union.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in Washington Post
Sep 19, 2008
On Principles & Values:
Will be conservative voice in Democratic-controlled Congress
Gilmore staked out strong conservative positions & Warner sought to embrace the center, including supporting gun rights in the District.They agreed that voters have a clear choice when it comes to personality and leadership styles. Gilmore said he
would be a conservative voice in the Democratic-controlled Congress.
Warner argued that he has the experience to end years of partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill and that Virginia voters are ready to embrace his philosophy of seeking common ground.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in Washington Post
Sep 19, 2008
On Tax Reform:
In times of economic stress, don’t raise taxes
Gilmore tried to portray Mark Warner as the mirror image of Barack Obama. “We have to put together an energy policy, financial policies that will do the right things for people, but Mark Warner wants to raise taxes; Barack Obama wants to raise taxes,”
Gilmore said. “This is not going to be healthy for the economy in a time of stress.” Warner said he has expressed support only for rolling back top-tier tax breaks by the Bush administration and is against tax increases on small businesses.
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate in The Washington Times
Sep 19, 2008
On Tax Reform:
Signature achievement: effort to eliminate Virginia car tax
Gilmore, whose signature achievement as governor was his effort to eliminate Virginia’s car tax, frequently mentioned that Warner pushed through a $1.4 billion tax increase in 2004.
The car tax never was fully revoked because of budget restraints. Warner countered that the tax increase was needed to close a $6 billion budget shortfall that he said he inherited from Gilmore. Gilmore said he left office with a balanced budget.
Gilmore said Warner’s tax increase did little to help road-building, and they were proof that Warner would support higher federal taxes as well. “Taxes are coming at us like a freight train,” Gilmore said. Gilmore was referring to
Obama’s proposal to roll back Bush’s tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans. Warner said he supports eliminating those tax cuts as a way of reducing the federal deficit.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in Washington Post
Sep 19, 2008
On War & Peace:
No timeline for withdrawal from Iraq
The two men differed on foreign policy: Warner said he favors the withdrawal of troops from Iraq but not on an “arbitrary timeline.” He said he has not completely agreed with either Obama or
McCain on the issue, but clarified that he previously stated troop withdrawal should begin in January. Gilmore said there should be no timeline for troop withdrawal.
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate in The Washington Times
Sep 19, 2008
On War & Peace:
Any kind of timetable in Iraq is not responsible
Gilmore said he would support pursuing the war in Iraq to completion. Warner said he would not set a timeline for troops to come home from Iraq. But Gilmore accused Warner of changing his stance from last year, when he said troops should start to leave i
January 2009. Gilmore said the troops should stay as long as needed. “Any kind of timetable is not responsible,” he said. “This is not the way to be conducting foreign policy in Iraq.”
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in Washington Post
Sep 19, 2008
On Education:
Claims Warner said home-schooling threatens America
Gilmore accused Warner of describing the Christian Coalition, the National Rifle Association, home-schoolers and antiabortion activists as “threatening to what it means to be a American” during a 1994 speech to the National Jewish Democratic Council.
Warner, who was executive director of the Virginia Democratic Party when those comments were allegedly made, responded by noting that his sister home-schools her children and that he has long had a reputation for being a supporter of gun rights.
Source: [Xref Warner] 2008 VA Senate debate
Sep 2, 2008
On Principles & Values:
Warner is ducking debates; doesn’t want his positions known
Gilmore said Warner is ducking a statewide televised debate and accused him of demeaning home-schoolers as well as gun-rights and antiabortion activists in a 1994 speech. Gilmore seized on Warner’s decision not to attend a League of Women Voters-sponsore
debate that would have been aired statewide. “He doesn’t want his positions known to the people of Virginia,” Gilmore said at a parade. “He covers up his positions on the issues because if he runs on his positions, he loses. In fact, he is not electable.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in Washington Post
Sep 2, 2008
On Energy & Oil:
US should seek alternative fuels but still drill for oil
The people of Virginia are distressed right now because of the higher gas prices they’re having to pay. It’s manifesting itself in higher food costs. People are concerned about the tuition they have to pay these days. The answer is we have to have a
decisive energy policy. We need this right now. I’ve put forward a comprehensive energy policy that includes wind energy and solar power. We can bring forth conservation efforts but we do need to use coal and nuclear power. We’re the richest of anybody
else in the world.The difference between Mark Warner and myself rests with the part of the energy plan that will help people immediately. And that means we have to have more domestic oil production and free ourselves from the people overseas.
We have to be prepared to drill in ANWR. We have to be prepared to drill offshore. And oil prices will go down if the United States has a decisive energy policy.
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate between Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner
Jul 19, 2008
On Energy & Oil:
US greatest energy resource is coal
GILMORE: [to Warner]: The difference between Mark Warner and myself rests with the part of the energy plan that will help people immediately. And that means we have to have more domestic oil production and free ourselves from the people overseas. We have
to be prepared to drill in ANWR. We have to be prepared to drill offshore. And oil prices will go down if the US has a decisive energy policy.WARNER: My position is that Congress should lift the moratorium on offshore drilling and leave that decision
to the states. But drilling alone isn’t going to solve the whole problem. Investing in alternative energy is going to provide more immediate relief.
GILMORE: We need a long term comprehensive, long term plan that deals with conservation, which Mark and
I agree on. But the typical Washington politician, like Harry Reed, who would be [Warner’s] leader in the Senate, have said that coal poisons all of us. And yet the US’ greatest resource in competition with the rest of the world is coal.
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate between Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner
Jul 19, 2008
On Energy & Oil:
Warner promised no offshore drilling, and now supports it
RHETORIC: Gilmore: “You said in your veto that you would not in fact exercise that state authority to begin to explore for oil back in 2005.”REALITY: Governor Warner’s veto message on the 2005 offshore drilling ban called on the state to
monitor “federal developments on domestic energy production,” as part of a larger state study. Warner vetoed the bill because it encroached on the role of the Governor to direct the activities of the Virginia Liaison Office and directed the
Commonwealth to advocate for federal legislation that has yet to be introduced. [Warner Veto Message, 3/29/05]
In January 2006, a study prepared for Governor Warner and state legislators “recommended that Virginia allow offshore exploration for natural
gas and oil deposits but take precautions to protect the environment.” The study “suggested that drilling take place at least 50 miles from the coast and that no pipelines or other equipment be placed ashore.” [Washington Post, 4/6/06]
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate: analysis by Warner campaign
Jul 19, 2008
On Tax Reform:
Warner raised taxes without fully informing us about revenue
RHETORIC: Gilmore: “Your Secretary of Finance John Bennett sent you a letter and reported in February [of 2004] and said ‘Guess what? Revenues are climbing’...Why didn’t you tell the people of
Virginia what you knew and what you were being told so that tax increase could have gone forward with all the facts available and probably would have never been enacted.
Why didn’t you tell the people of Virginia what you were being told by your own people?“ REALITY: The update to the Joint Finance Committee letters are public, e-mailed to all
General Assembly members, and posted on the web just after the Governor receives it. The monthly revenue reports also are widely reported by the media
Source: 2008 VA Senate Debate: analysis by Warner campaign
Jul 19, 2008
On Gun Control:
Strike down unconstitutional bans on possessing a firearm
Former Governor and current Senate candidate Jim Gilmore hailed the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn the District of Columbia's ban on possessing a firearm as a victory for the Second Amendment. He says, "Like all Virginia gun owners, sportsmen
and hunters I am pleased by the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the unconstitutional ban on possessing a firearm."Gilmore, a member of the Board of Directors for the National Rifle Association, has been an outspoken advocate for the Second
Amendment. "I have always believed that personal and responsible firearm ownership is a fundamental right guaranteed to us by the Constitution and we must only punish those who use firearms illegally to commit crimes," says Gilmore. "I will vote to
ensure the 2nd Amendment rights of law abiding citizens are never infringed upon by the Federal government."
Gilmore notes, "Today is another reminder of the necessity of appointing strict constructionist judges who properly interpret the Constitution.
Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported on WHSV, "Gun Decision"
Jun 27, 2008
Page last updated: Dec 02, 2018