John Deaton in Survey of 2024 Senate campaign websites
On Principles & Values:
I am the grateful embodiment of the American Dream
Growing up in one of the worst neighborhoods in America, before eventually becoming a U.S. Marine, successful attorney, and father of three wonderful daughters, I am the grateful embodiment of the American Dream--a dream that is becoming unattainable
for far too many. Washington, D.C. is broken, and in more than a decade in office Elizabeth Warren has done nothing to fix it--in fact, she's become a big part of the problem.
Source: 2024 MA Senate campaign website JohnDeatonForSenate.com
Mar 5, 2024
On Technology:
Drawn to cryptocurrency helping underprivileged & unbanked
John became interested in "cryptocurrencies," like Bitcoin in late 2016. Remembering his mother relying on predatory inner-city "check cashing" operations to make sure he and his siblings had something to eat, he was drawn to cryptocurrency's
ability to help the underprivileged and unbanked. John developed a novel legal theory and filed a pro bono amicus brief eventually ending up with more than 75,000 individual token holders. Ultimately, John and the token holders were successful.
Source: 2024 MA Senate campaign website JohnDeatonForSenate.com
Mar 5, 2024
On Welfare & Poverty:
Mother held family together with food stamps, welfare
John was born in Highland Park in 1967 into generational poverty at a time of extreme racial tension and violence in the suffering city of Detroit. He was one of six siblings born to one mother and four different fathers. The fathers were rarely
in the picture, but despite the challenges of poverty and abuse, John's mother held the family together with the help of food stamps, welfare, and odd jobs whenever possible.
Source: 2024 MA Senate campaign website JohnDeatonForSenate.com
Mar 5, 2024
On Drugs:
Opioid addiction is directly related to Border crisis
America has lost over 1 million lives due to opioid addiction. Every 5 minutes, 1 person dies in the USA from a drug overdose and 72% of the overdoses are fentanyl.
Currently, Opioid-related overdose deaths in MA increased by 2.5% in 2022 compared to 2021 with rates among Black residents making up the largest increase.
Unfortunately, MA often ranks in the top 10 states for drug overdose deaths. The fentanyl crisis in this country is directly related to the Southern Border crisis.
China is exporting fentanyl through our southern border, and we must address the root of the problem, or the U.S. will continue battling addiction and losing American lives. We must secure the border and invest in treatment and behavioral health.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Civil Rights:
Enshrine equal marriage in law
LGBTQ Rights: One of the great policy failures of the 21st century was overreliance on Roe to protect women's access to abortion. Similarly, LGBTQ families in many states are only recognized legally because of the 2015
Obergefell decision by the Supreme Court. It is the responsibility of Congress and the Senate to enshrine the right to equal marriage under the law, and I promise to introduce that legislation in my first year in office.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Education:
We need more opportunities for kids in failing schools
The disparity in education in our country leaves our poorest and most vulnerable kids behind. Growing up in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods in America, I was a high school dropout like all my siblings before me, because
I didn't feel safe where I was supposed to learn. I got lucky and I found a principal at a small Catholic school that offered me a discounted tuition. I became the first in my family to graduate high school, and the first to go to college.
We need more opportunities for kids in failing schools. We need to empower parents and provide for school choice--the money should follow the student.
We need to provide access to charter and magnet schools, as well as increased vocational learning that prepares our kids to succeed in and stay in Massachusetts.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Energy & Oil:
Energy transition yes; but no Green New Deal
Our climate is changing. For coastal states like ours, the impact of climate change is greater.I oppose the Green New Deal. We need a multi-faceted and balanced approach to tackling this issue that protects our economy and is not ignorant to
what is happening across the globe including emerging economies. We need to move ourselves through an energy transition, reducing our carbon footprint in a very systematic way while not causing a significant detriment to our economic well-being.
Current policies promoted by Elizabeth Warren hurt the poor and middle class. Pursuing renewable energy and independence from fossil fuels is a must, but it must not be achieved on the backs of the people struggling the most. We must implement a plan
that eventually achieves carbon neutrality in a sensible way. I’m confident that our future lies in renewable & sustainable energy, and that the ingenuity of this country, especially in places like Massachusetts, is poised to lead the rest of the world.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Free Trade:
Return American jobs lost to China with fair trade deals
For over two decades, politicians in both parties have let China run amok on the global stage. Communist China steals our intellectual property, and manipulates their currency to undercut American workers.China seeks to expand its geopolitical
influence across the Middle East, Africa, and increasingly, Europe. To counter the growing threat of Communist China, we should pursue pro-growth economic policies, at home, to make America a more competitive place to invest and create jobs. We must
also improve our relationships with our trading partners so we can increase our exports to foreign markets and return American jobs lost to China.
China is without question America's biggest economic competitor, and we must maintain the global
advantage. Negotiating fair trade deals, addressing trade imbalances, and attracting foreign investments will help significantly. We must incentivize and support small businesses. We maintain a global advantage by investing in innovation and technology.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Government Reform:
Strong supporter of term limits
I'm a strong supporter of term limits and will work hard to see them implemented. I also pledge now that I will self-impose a limit of two terms in the Senate.Congress is dominated by career politicians, like Elizabeth Warren, who become conflicted
by special interests and fierce loyalty to only a party or political agenda. Simply put, if you can't effectuate change within twelve years of being in Washington, then someone else should get a chance.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Health Care:
Don’t let ObamaCare tax credits sunset
Quality, affordable health care in America is a necessity and should not be considered out of reach for anyone. Congress must do a better job at reining in administrative costs, but not at the expense of our citizens.- Expand the Premium Tax
Credit (PTC) for low-income families. Tax credits implemented under the Affordable Care Act are set to expire in 2025, and it's imperative that Congress has the courage to keep them from sunsetting. This cost-sharing tool allows citizens who seek
employment and transition away from Medicaid to maintain support while they adjust to an independent life.
- Ban the use of medical debt in credit scoring.
- Raise the cap on low-income families eligible for cost sharing reductions (CSRs).
These ideas require bipartisan compromises in order to change America's health care system for the better. As a nonpartisan U.S. Senator, I promise to seek solutions that are not rammed through on party-line votes.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Homeland Security:
Expand Veterans Choice Program to outside the VA
Having served in the U.S. Marine Corps, I understand the personal sacrifice that our men and women in uniform--and their families--make to keep our nation safe. When elected, supporting Veterans will be my top priority.I support choice for Veterans.
I believe we should expand the Veterans Choice Program to allow Veterans to seek treatment outside of the VA system to meet their medical needs and reduce the strain on the VA.
We must expand mental health services for Veterans returning home from foreign wars and conflicts. Thousands of troops have returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq with
PTSD that has gone untreated. This is wrong, and as your next Senator, I will fight to be on the Veterans Affairs Committee and fight to ensure that every service member who needs care receives it.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Immigration:
Right to shelter makes MA Ground Zero in migrant crisis
Today, our country faces an unprecedented crisis at our southern border. MA guarantees a right to shelter to the homeless, and because of that law enacted in 1983, the Commonwealth has become Ground Zero in the migrant crisis. In fact, during the summer
of 2023, Democratic Governor Maura Healey declared the Commonwealth in a state of emergency, caused by the inflow of illegal migrants. The crisis has gotten so bad that the Governor even asked the public to open their homes to help house undocumented,
unknown individuals from around the world, including from regions where hatred for America and Democracy are fostered. I believe most of the undocumented migrants are good people, desiring a better life.
But even if only a small percentage of people illegally entering America have bad intentions, our national security is at risk. Simply put, the status quo is unsustainable, undermines legal immigration, and it will cost MA taxpayers billions of dollars.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On Social Security:
Honor our commitments & replenish our national trust fund
We must honor our commitment to Americans who expect to rely on Social Security. At the same time, we must replenish a national trust fund that has been robbed for decades by politicians to fund pet projects without serious promises of paying back what
they took. Preserving Social Security should not be a partisan wedge issue, but unfortunately Senator Warren has made it one. One-party solutions will never happen, which is why we need nonpartisan leaders in Washington who can bring both sides to the
table. Modest tax increases on the wealthiest Americans, along with means testing, is not enough to close the $2.6 trillion hole in Social Security which accounts for 38% of the government's $35 trillion national debt.
We must get serious about confronting whether the current program is sustainable for those who come after us, and it will require us to ask private employers and individual families to join together in preparing for their retirement years.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On War & Peace:
Israel has the absolute right to defend itself
The brutal terrorist attacks of October 7th serve as a solemn reminder that evil, and anti-Semitism still exist in our world. I strongly believe that Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and its borders. Hamas is a terrorist organization whose
Charter is the complete destruction and annihilation of Israel and to bring death to every Jew. Any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must include an unequivocal acknowledgment of Israel's right-to-exist. In sum, Hamas seeks to kill Jews and
Americans and it must be defeated. From being the sole democracy in a troubled part of the world, to sharing intelligence on terrorists who want to kill Americans, Israel is one of America's strongest allies in the world--and supporting Israel is in
America's interests.I believe Rules of Engagement must be followed. Even a country defending itself from an act of genocide must takes measures to reduce the loss of civilian life, whenever possible.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
On War & Peace:
Only finance Ukraine with metrics for tactical independence
America is financing a war between Ukraine and Russia that has no plan and no end in sight. Hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent by lawmakers without a clear definition of what constitutes success.
Russia is undoubtedly an adversary and should not be allowed to invade neighboring nations, but Ukraine must also establish its own processes for self-determination.
As Senator, I would only support additional funds to Ukraine if
President Zelenskyy can meet metrics for financial and tactical independence established by the U.S. in a bipartisan matter.
Source: 2024 Massachusetts JohnDeatonForSenate.com campaign website
Sep 9, 2024
Page last updated: Nov 03, 2024