Jamie Radtke in 2012 Virginia Senate Debates
On Government Reform:
Country's biggest problem is activist judges
On the Virginia General Assembly's late-night vote to reject judicial nominee Tracy Thorne-Begland, a Richmond prosecutor who raises twin children with his same-sex partner, Allen offered subtle differences.Marshall, who led the House fight against
Thorne-Begland's confirmation, said he opposed the nominee because as a Navy officer 20 years ago, Thorne-Begland spoke out on national television against the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military just put in place by
President Bill Clinton.
Radtke, like Marshall, said Thorne-Begland would have brought an activist gay agenda to the bench. "The biggest problem we have in the country right now is activist judges,"
she said, noting that a federal judge had overturned a statewide California referendum that outlawed gay marriage.
Source: 4-NBC Washington on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 26, 2012
On War & Peace:
No US military in Libyan war without congressional consent
When the moderator asked the four about Obama's decision to involve the U.S. military in the Libyan uprising without congressional consent, Jackson, Marshall and Radtke quickly denounced it roundly.Allen, however, didn't pounce on Obama.
Instead, he recalled the gravity and anxiety of sending U.S. troops into Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist strikes. "In my estimation, it's the most solemn decision a president has to make," Allen said. "I have made that decision as far as
Iraq and Afghanistan."
"The concern I have is not whether we have a (congressional) authorization of force, it's whether or not our military is going to have the equipment, the armament, the up-to-date
technology that is paramount as they're trying to protect our freedoms," he said. "I'm really worried about the military readiness of our country."
Source: 4-NBC Washington on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 26, 2012
On Education:
Would vote against No Child Left Behind as too expensive
Tea Party activist Jamie Radtke hit the former one-term senator for voting to add an expensive prescription drug program to Medicare and backing No Child Left Behind, two initiatives sought by Republican
President George W. Bush. "Tim Kaine will not run to the right of me on spending," Radtke said, subtly criticizing the budgets Allen voted for during his previous Senate term.
For the most part, the four candidates found common ground on a number of issues, including their shared desire to shift more of the responsibility for education to the states.
Kaine's campaign responded to the repeated criticism following the
debate. "Virginia voters heard the Tea Party contenders push reckless economic policies that would damage Virginia's economy, create more uncertainty for our businesses, and make our nation less globally competitive," a Kaine spokeswoman said.
Source: Washington Examiner on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 25, 2012
On War & Peace:
Opposes sending troops overseas without declaration of war
The debate included an inquiry on whether the candidates supported the president sending troops overseas without a declaration of war from Congress. Radtke, Jackson and Marshall all were adamantly against it, but Allen instead attacked Obama for not
supporting potential government opposition in Iran."The concern I have is not whether you have an authorization of force," Allen said. "I really worry about the military readiness of our country, regardless of whether or not there's an authorization."
Source: Washington Examiner on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 25, 2012
On Budget & Economy:
Congress should have reformed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
According to Radtke, auring his Senate term, Allen "voted for every single spending bill, added $3 trillion to the national debt, and he voted for his own salary increase when we were deficit spending. He took money from Fannie and Freddie
Mac and refused to support reform, and we're still reeling from that, even today. And he voted for the largest expansion of entitlements since Lyndon Johnson's Great Society." Allen stuck to what he called his "positive agenda,"
focusing on small business and job creation. He said he'd support "policies that actually make it easier to invest and create jobs, including simple, fair and competitive tax laws, reasonable regulations, affordable, plentiful
American energy, and empowering education opportunities that will send a message to the world that America is open for business again."
Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 12, 2012
On Health Care:
Repeal Obama's health care overhaul
All four candidates pledged to work to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. But Radtke went further, blaming
Allen's "undisciplined campaign" in 2006 for handing control of the Senate to the Democrats, enabling passage of the health care law.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 12, 2012
On Principles & Values:
Career politicians are part of the problem
Radtke went on the offensive from the outset, calling Allen "part of the problem" of out-of-control federal spending. Radtke kept up the drumbeat through her closing statement, when she lumped Allen in with
the "career politicians" she said are destroying the country. "We need a new generation of conservative and courageous leadership that can inspire young people to believe in the conservative message again," she said.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 12, 2012
On Budget & Economy:
Focus on cutting spending; Allen voted to spend trillions
Radtke railed against Allen's time in Washington from 2001 to 2007 and blaming him for deficit spending. "We cannot return a politician like George Allen who voted for trillions of dollars in spending and spent our children's money,"
Radtke said. "We need someone who is going to focus on cutting spending in these serious times." Allen didn't respond to any of his opponents attacks personally.
Instead, he defended his term by pointing out proposals to curb spending by supporting a line-item veto, and introducing a balanced budget amendment.
He said the economy was out of control "because of the overspending, over-regulating big government policies of President Obama, Tim Kaine and the Washington liberals."
Source: Hampton Roads Daily Press on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 11, 2012
On Budget & Economy:
We need someone who is going to focus on cutting spending
Radtke railed against Allen's time in Washington from 2001 to 2007 and blaming him for deficit spending. "We cannot return a politician like George Allen who voted for trillions of dollars in spending and spent our children's money,"
Radtke said. "We need someone who is going to focus on cutting spending in these serious times." Allen didn't respond to any of his opponents attacks personally.
Instead, he defended his term by pointing out proposals to curb spending by supporting a line-item veto, and introducing a balanced budget amendment.
He said the economy was out of control "because of the overspending, over-regulating . big government policies of President Obama, Tim Kaine and the Washington liberals."
Source: Hampton Roads Daily Press on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 11, 2012
On Gun Control:
Oppose the Clinton-Feinstein gun ban
U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Radtke has questioned the National Rifle Association's endorsement of former senator and Governor George Allen. "I know all too many gun enthusiasts who would dispute this endorsement," Radtke told the Richmond Republican
Examiner.This Thursday the NRA endorsed Allen for the U.S. Senate citing his "stellar record of defending the Second Amendment" and protecting the Constitutional right to bear arms.
Radtke disputes this saying she has been to numerous gun shows all over the Commonwealth and the sentiment is overwhelming: "we don't need six more years of George Allen."
"Something is wrong when you have to lobby
George Allen to make sure he votes right on guns," Radtke told the Examiner. "He caved in in an election year and declared his support for the Clinton-Feinstein gun ban. Need I say more?"
Source: Richmond Republican Examiner on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 11, 2012
On Education:
Feds should not be in the student loan business
George Allen's campaign says that the former senator supports extending lower interest rates for student loans. The campaign also said that Allen supports the federal government playing a part in student loans.
Student loans have quickly become a hot button issue for candidates nationally and here in the Commonwealth. At Saturday's Republican Senate Debate in Roanoke candidates Bob Marshall, E.W. Jackson, and
Jamie Radtke all came out forcefully saying the federal government should be out of the student loan business. "When you have the federal government giving loans it does artificially inflate prices and tuitions for schools,"
Radtke said.
George Allen was quiet on the issue saying only he wants to freeze tuition costs and make college more affordable.
Source: WSLS-10 Roanaoke on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 5, 2012
On Government Reform:
Line-item veto to get rid of earmark spending
Radtke argued that Allen's declared support for a presidential line-item veto and a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution ring hollow. Shortly after Allen said that a line-item veto could help curb the excesses of congressional spending,
Radtke said, "It's great to talk about the line-item veto. We could have maybe gotten rid of the 52,000 earmarks that George Allen voted for." Allen said the country's economic and fiscal climate is different than it was when he voted for debt limit
increases during his Senate term. "The credit-worthiness of America for the first time in our history has been downgraded. The annual deficits are now over a trillion dollars every single year. When I left the U.S.
Senate, the annual deficit was about $160 billion."Radtke said she intends to continue pressing the issue for the duration of the primary campaign.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Apr 29, 2012
On Social Security:
Raise retirement age; private retirement security options
All four GOP candidates said Social Security should be preserved, but outlined different approaches to keeping the trust fund solvent. Allen said he would oppose tax increases, but consider other options, such as increasing the retirement age for
future recipients born after the 1960s.Marshall and Radtke said they could support a gradual increase in the retirement age, and Radtke said individuals should have private alternatives to Social Security.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Apr 29, 2012
On Budget & Economy:
If we do not deal with spending, nothing else matters
Tea Party activist Jamie Radtke lambasted Mr. Allen during the debate for his spending record in the U.S. Senate--as she has done since entering the race. "If we do not deal with spending, nothing else matters," she said,
alluding to Mr. Allen when she blasted "fiscal irresponsibility of career politicians in both parties who say they're for a balanced-budget amendment but then turn and vote for trillions of dollars in spending."
Source: Washington Times on 2012 Virginia GOP primary Senate debate
Apr 28, 2012
On Government Reform:
No more blank checks for Congress
The Republican primary is June 12th. The nominee will face former Governor Tim Kaine in the general election this November. "Virginians are demanding no more blank checks for
Congress, no more political cronyism and no more half measures that do nothing to solve our fiscal crisis," said Radtke.
Source: WSET-TV Lynchburg on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Apr 28, 2012
On Gun Control:
Second Amendment avoids infringement on civil liberties
Radtke said she is concerned with what she called the government's "infringement on civil liberties," adding: "The best defense for
Americans is the Second Amendment [the right to bear arms]."
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Apr 28, 2012
On Homeland Security:
Creating Department of Homeland Defense was not necessary
Asked if the creating the Department of Homeland Defense was necessary, Radtke was the only candidate to say no. "So we have the CIA, the FBI, State Department and Department of Defense and the solution in Washington was, 'let's create another
department,' " she said. "That's what's wrong with Washington." But Radtke went a step further, saying she is concerned with what she called the government's "infringement on civil liberties,"
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Apr 28, 2012
Page last updated: Dec 05, 2018