James Mackler in 2020 TN Senate race

On Abortion: Woman's medical decisions should be between her & her doctor

If you agree with James that a woman's medical decisions should be between her and her doctor, add your name [to our email list].

On Government Reform: Doesn't accept corporate PAC contributions

When elected, I'll be a senator for all Tennesseans--not only people that vote for me. That's what we ought to expect. When the influence of corporate special interests turns that simple mission into an aspirational goal, it's time for new people to step forward.

Across Tennessee, people ask how one person can change a broken system. It's a tall task, and I find the answer in my faith. It's an uphill battle, and we need everyone wanting change on our team to make it happen.

On Principles & Values: Change broken system with Jewish tradition "Tikkun Olam"

The most important voice in my life is my wife, Rabbi Shana Goldstein Mackler. She often cites the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam, a Hebrew phrase meaning repair the world. "The fact that you cannot change everything doesn't absolve you of an obligation to try," she'll say.

It's my duty, and my mission, to try.

On Corporations: Trump's tax cuts make it easier for jobs to move overseas

Mackler said Trump's tax cuts are making it easier for jobs to move overseas and called the nation's trade war with China "a disaster."

On Crime: Prosecutor JAG in military, and in criminal law afterwards

Before those stints, Mackler spent three years as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division after he had put aside his legal work for the Army in 2001 following the attacks on 9/11. His military service included a deployment to Iraq.

Mackler, who continues serving in the Tennessee Air National Guard, earned his Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge and an Air Medal for "bold and audacious piloting." After his service in Iraq, Mackler transferred to the Judge Advocate General Corps, where he was a military prosecutor.

On Free Trade: Trade war with China is a disaster

Mackler said Trump's tax cuts are making it easier for jobs to move overseas and called the nation's trade war with China "a disaster."

On Health Care: Keep rural hospitals, to serve thousands of Tennesseans

Mackler said Trump's tax cuts are making it easier for jobs to move overseas and called the nation's trade war with China "a disaster."

On Homeland Security: Let immigrants serve in military, as they always have

Earlier this month, "some immigrant U.S. Army reservists and recruits who enlisted in the military with a promised path to citizenship are being abruptly discharged."

Fighting in Iraq, I know we would not have been able to complete our missions without standing side by side with new Americans and those who hoped to fulfill that dream.

On Drugs: Legalize medical marijuana for PTSD and chronic pain

If a doctor believes that their patient can benefit from medical marijuana, then it isn't any politician's place to stop them. Join me and call for the legalization of medical marijuana:
• Medical marijuana has also demonstrated promise in regards to managing symptoms resulting from epilepsy and chemotherapy.
• If legalizing medical marijuana can help manage a range of conditions that millions of Americans have--then there isn't a question about it, we need to legalize medical marijuana.

On Foreign Policy: Don't reduce funds for State Department nor reduce diplomacy

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.

On Homeland Security: Allow transgender people to serve in the military

James Mackler, a former Army helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division and a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, said such policies detract from mission readiness. "Having served in combat, I know we are better warfighters when we bring all of our assets to bear, and excluding entire classes of people without evidence that they do anything but strengthen our forces is shortsighted, counter productive, and undermines mission readiness," he said in a statement.