Sean Haugh in 2014 NC Senate debate
On Principles & Values:
YouTube-based campaign as Libertarian party nominee
Most evenings, Sean Haugh is a pizza deliveryman. But every other week or so, the Libertarian Party's Senate nominee in North Carolina opens a few craft beers on the counter of the bar in his campaign manager's basement. He takes deep gulps from a pint
glass bearing an image of Austrian-school economist Murray Rothbard and expresses his Everyman frustrations with the current political system into a video camera.So far, Haugh's campaign barely exists anywhere but on YouTube.
But it is doing surprisingly well in a high-stakes Senate contest in which candidates and outside groups have already spent more than $15 million.
Four polls lately put his support somewhere between 8 and 11 percent--not enough to suggest
a realistic possibility of winning, but conceivably enough to affect the outcome of the race. The same surveys show the margin between incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan and her GOP challenger, state House Speaker Thom Tillis, at six points or less.
Source: Washington Post on 2014 North Carolina Senate race
Jul 6, 2014
On Abortion:
No role for government in regulating abortion
In the first ever US Senate Libertarian candidates forum, Haugh outlined several areas where his views contrasted with those of his opponent, Tim D'Annunzio, including:- Abortion (Haugh says there is no role for government in regulating it;
D'Annunzio asserts government should protect the rights of the unborn)
- The Drug War (Haugh would end it; D'Annunzio is ambivalent)
- US military intervention abroad (Haugh opposes it; D'Annunzio says there are circumstances where it is justified)
Source: 2014 North Carolina Senate campaign website, SeanHaugh.com
Jul 2, 2014
On Drugs:
End the Drug War
In the first ever US Senate Libertarian candidates forum, Sean Haugh outlined several areas where his views contrasted with those of his opponent, Tim D'Annunzio, including:- The Drug War (Haugh would end it; D'Annunzio is ambivalent)
-
Immigration (Haugh favors free movement across borders; D'Annunzio advocates curbs on immigration)
- US military intervention abroad (Haugh opposes it; D'Annunzio believes there are circumstances where it is justified)
Source: 2014 North Carolina Senate campaign website, SeanHaugh.com
Jul 2, 2014
On Immigration:
Free movement across borders instead of curbs on immigration
In the first ever US Senate Libertarian candidates forum, Sean Haugh outlined several areas where his views contrasted with those of his opponent, Tim D'Annunzio, including:- Immigration (Haugh favors free movement across borders; D'Annunzio
advocates curbs on immigration)
- The Drug War (Haugh would end it; D'Annunzio is ambivalent)
- Abortion (Haugh says there is no role for government in regulating it; D'Annunzio asserts government should protect the rights of the unborn)
Source: 2014 North Carolina Senate campaign website, SeanHaugh.com
Jul 2, 2014
On War & Peace:
Opposes US military intervention abroad
In the first ever US Senate Libertarian candidates forum, Sean Haugh outlined several areas where his views contrasted with those of his opponent, Tim D'Annunzio, including:- US military intervention abroad (Haugh opposes it; D'Annunzio believes
there are circumstances where it is justified)
- The Drug War (Haugh would end it; D'Annunzio is ambivalent)
- Immigration (Haugh favors free movement across borders; D'Annunzio advocates curbs on immigration)
Source: 2014 North Carolina Senate campaign website, SeanHaugh.com
Jul 2, 2014
On Abortion:
No state nor federal government role in abortion
Neither candidate believes the federal government has a role in gay marriage or abortion. D'Annunzio opposes abortion because the victim "is a human being guaranteed a right to life just like
every other human being, and therefore under the Constitution every life is afforded the same right to life."Haugh said no level of government--state or federal--should have a role in those matters.
Setting aside morality and focusing on the economics of abortion, "Banning abortion works as well as banning alcohol, or drugs, or guns,"
Haugh said. "You're only going to make it more difficult for people. You just add more death and more violence."
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Budget & Economy:
Scrap the Federal Reserve
Haugh and D'Annunzio are the first Libertarian candidates for US Senate to appear on a primary ballot in North Carolina. They agree on dramatic cutbacks in government reach, strong Second Amendment rights, staying out of the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio,
repealing ObamaCare, and scrapping Common Core curriculum standards, the Patriot Act, and the Federal Reserve. But Haugh and D'Annunzio hold different views on abortion, legalizing drugs, the scope of US military action, and immigration controls.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Civil Rights:
Government has no say over whom consenting adults love
Neither candidate believes the federal government has a role in gay marriage. D'Annunzio said he could make both constitutional and religious arguments for the case. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman.
Anything else, you can call it what you want. That's fine with me," he said. "The federal government has no place in it," and should not be allowed to define it.
Haugh said no level of government--state or federal--should have a role in those matters. Marriage "is one of the most deeply personal
decisions you're ever going to make, and to have government say we get to regulate who consenting adults can love and how they love them is unimaginable," he said.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Drugs:
War on drugs is a war on our own people
Both candidates agree the federal government should not be involved in enacting and enforcing drug laws, though D'Annunzio said an argument might be made that drugs could be regulated as interstate commerce.
He said he is "on the fence" with drug legalization, especially illegal drugs that are more powerful than marijuana, but that decision should rest with the states.
"The war on drugs is a war, not only on our own people now, but a war between the state and federal governments," said Haugh, who favors releasing all nonviolent prisoners jailed on drug charges.
The country has shifted too far when militarized police SWAT teams raid homes because someone is smoking a plant, he said.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Education:
Scrap the Common Core curriculum standards
Haugh and D'Annunzio are the first Libertarian candidates for US Senate to appear on a primary ballot in North Carolina. They agree on dramatic cutbacks in government reach, strong Second Amendment rights, staying out of the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio,
repealing ObamaCare, and scrapping Common Core curriculum standards, the Patriot Act, and the Federal Reserve. But Haugh and D'Annunzio hold different views on abortion, legalizing drugs, the scope of US military action, and immigration controls.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Foreign Policy:
No global policeman; no foreign entanglements
Haugh said the antiwar themes in his campaign would place him to the left of Hagan. Both Haugh and Tim D'Annunzio said it is time to end our military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. The United States is using its military might at the behest of
other nations for "control of resources," Haugh said. America shouldn't be a global policeman, he said, quoting George Washington's admonition against foreign entanglements. Haugh's campaign is steeped in themes opposing war and seeking cooperation
through trade and diplomacy."I do believe that there are instances where the president has to act" arbitrarily and swiftly, and that is why the founders made him commander in chief, said D'Annunzio. But he lamented "the perversion it's grown into."
American engagement in military struggles once were intended to expand freedom and better ideas around the world, D'Annunzio said. But now it seems to be more about other nations using our troops to secure their national desires.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Free Trade:
We need to completely change to free trade
America shouldn't be a global policeman, he said, quoting George Washington's admonition against foreign entanglements. "We need to completely change [foreign policy] to free trade," said
Haugh, whose campaign is steeped in themes opposing war and seeking cooperation through trade and diplomacy.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Homeland Security:
Repeal the abomination of the Patriot Act
Haugh said the Patriot Act "is a total abomination. We need to repeal that immediately," and to "abolish the [National Security Agency] and delete their files" because it crossed the line from the government "investigating you for potential criminal
activities because they have a warrant to simply snooping on everybody."D'Annunzio said the Patriot Act has been abused. It should be repealed and the Department of Homeland Security abolished. He favors keeping the NSA, but reining it in.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Homeland Security:
Stop drone warfare
Haugh's top priority if elected would be "to stop drone warfare, and be the voice of conscience on that," and deny the president's unchecked practice of using the unmanned bombers because innocent women, children, neighbors,
and first responders are killed in the process, causing hatred for the United States."I'm not 100% against drones," D'Annunzio said. "It has to have a justified reason."
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Immigration:
I believe in open borders
D'Annunzio said it is impractical to think all illegals can be deported, but "I don't believe in amnesty." He supports building a border fence and enforcing laws already on the books. "I believe in open borders," Haugh said. "You should be able to
have the right to travel. You should have the right to seek to improve your life." Some people still come here to seek the American Dream, he said. "I think there are very, very few reasons why we should restrict free travel across our border."
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On Principles & Values:
The spoiler argument is bogus on every level
Asked how he could prevent voters from choosing him over Dr. Greg Brannon (R) if both were on the ballot, D'Annunzio said "if it looked like it was going to be a very tight race, and I was going to wind up being the cause of Greg Brannon to lose to Kay
Hagan, I would endorse him, not withdraw." D'Annunzio views his strategy "as an insurance policy" to ensure there would be "at least one person who believed in liberty on the ballot in the general election."Haugh was not impressed with his opponent's
reasoning. "I have no respect, none, for the spoiler argument," Haugh said. "It is bogus on every level." Haugh believes it is "absolutely vital to have a Libertarian voice in every election possible, especially at the top of the ticket." He said he
would be excited to debate Brannon if both men won their parties' nominations "because there are some stark differences" between them on the issues and their brand of libertarianism. Political science has disproven there is a spoiler effect, Haugh said.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On War & Peace:
Stay out of the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio
Haugh and D'Annunzio are the first Libertarian candidates for US Senate to appear on a primary ballot in North Carolina. They agree on dramatic cutbacks in government reach, strong Second Amendment rights, staying out of the Russia-Ukraine imbroglio,
repealing ObamaCare, and scrapping Common Core curriculum standards, the Patriot Act, and the Federal Reserve. But Haugh and D'Annunzio hold different views on abortion, legalizing drugs, the scope of US military action, and immigration controls.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
On War & Peace:
Iraq exit plan is to find a door and exit
For those concerned about splitting the vote, Haugh said, the antiwar themes in his campaign would place him to the left of Hagan, making it more likely he would drain votes from her. Both candidates said it is time to end our military engagements in
Iraq and Afghanistan. "We need to just get out. My exit plan is to find a door and exit," Haugh said. The United States is using its military might at the behest of other nations for "control of resources," he said.
Source: Carolina Journal on 2014 North Carolina Senate debate
Apr 8, 2014
Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018