Derrick Grayson in State of Georgia Archives
On Abortion:
Life begins at conception
I believe in the sanctity of ALL Human Life. For me, and science, life begins at conception. Albeit only a clump of cells, engaged in the process of division, it has begun a path of growth with the end result being that of the birth of a Human Baby.
That is where life starts and it ends in the physical realm at death. It's a damned shame that we've reached a point to where in order to dehumanize the process of Life, many refer to that life in it's initial stages as a zygote or a clump of cells.
Source: 2019-20 Georgia Senate campaign website GraysonForGA.com
Nov 22, 2019
On Abortion:
Will fight any taxpayer funding, let charity pay for it
I know many are concerned about Rape, Incest and even those who may have some cognitive limitations. It doesn't justify the taking of another innocent life. In the event she is unable or unwilling to raise that child, Adoption is the best
possible outcome for every life involved. I vow to fight to prevent ANY taxpayer funding of Abortion at the Federal Level. States can decide for themselves. If Abortion remains legal, let charity pay for it, not taxpayers.
Source: 2019-20 Georgia Senate campaign website GraysonForGA.com
Nov 22, 2019
On Budget & Economy:
End ever-increasing spending to keep system from imploding
Q: What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?A: Balancing the budget under our current monetary system is a myth. It must be abolished and replaced with a monetary owned by the people and is interest free. Our current
system requires ever increasing borrowing to meet the needs of ever increasing spending just to keep our current system from imploding.
Q: Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
A: None.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Civil Rights:
Government ain't got no business being involved in marriage
A softened stance on same-sex marriage seems nearly impossible in the ultra-conservative political landscape of Georgia--especially given the fact that Michelle Nunn, the presumed Democratic candidate, won't even voice support for the liberal bedrock.
However, Grayson has managed to find his footing on a middle ground."The government ain't got no business being involved in marriage," he claims. "Any laws that deal with marriage that are on the government's rolls need to be rescinded. Marriage is a
church thing; that's a religious thing. If there are gay people out there that want to get married, let them find a gay church."
In the spirit of a truly unbiased constitutionalist, Grayson goes on to express his approval of civil unions in the eyes of
the law. "Let me be clear now--I do not support same-sex unions as a Christian, but I would not stand in the way of two individuals if that's what they want to do," he says. "If that is their pursuit of happiness, then I want them to have it."
Source: CommDigiNews.com on 2016 Georgia Senate race
Mar 24, 2014
On Civil Rights:
Government should be involved in marriage, civil unions
I'm Christian and I follow marriage as prescribed by the Bible. Government has no business in marriage. States should abandon the license requirement. Marriage is a civil issue, a private contract and should be addressed as such. Christian churches,
if they desire not to, should not be forced to perform gay weddings. I ascribe to the Judeo/Christian definition of marriage, a union between a man and a woman. All others I view as civil unions and are also not the business of the government.
Source: 2019-20 Georgia Senate campaign website GraysonForGA.com
Nov 22, 2019
On Civil Rights:
America is not a racist country; laws address racists
Q: Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?A: No. America is not a racist country, but yes, racists do exist. They have always existed and will never go away, but their influence on America is of no consequence,
except in maybe individual encounters where illegal actions may occur, such as when a racist engages in activities that may negatively impact the lives of those they come in contact with. We have laws to address them.
However, the narrative of America as a whole, being a racist country is inaccurate and merely a tool that is used for the purposes of creating divisions between various groups of people. There are some situations where laws are implemented that
are discriminatory. They must be examined and abolished. These include legislation such as the Crime Bill of 1994 that disproportionately sentenced minorities to longer terms in jail for marijuana possession.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Education:
Common Core gets government further entrenched in education
Grayson sees the need for a big fix in Common Core, the reviled federal education package that has conservatives everywhere steaming from the ears. "Common Core is a way to get the government further entrenched in our education by making it a requirement
for all institutional programs," he states. "Everybody's not going to college, but that's the premise of Common Core."Ticking off a list of failed education policies, from President Jimmy Carter's implementation of the Department of Education to
President George W. Bush's defunct No Child Left Behind, Grayson argues that inner-city black schools have been hit the hardest and that the quality of all schools are next on the federal government's chopping block. "Who still enjoys decent schools in
this country? People who are home-schooled, people that are in private schools, and those in religious schools. Common Core will affect all of them, and then you will start to see the same trend that took place in many of the black schools."
Source: CommDigiNews.com on 2016 Georgia Senate race
Mar 24, 2014
On Education:
Taking God out of schools eliminated moral compass for many
I expressed before that based on my studies, we are once again living in a time of GREAT moral depravity, IN THIS COUNTRY. It may as well be Ancient Rome...-
We legalized the killing of our babies.
- 2. We took God out of our schools, thus eliminating a moral compass for many.
Source: 2019-20 Georgia Senate campaign website GraysonForGA.com
Nov 22, 2019
On Foreign Policy:
900 military bases in 150 countries is an empire
- 900 military bases in 150 countries is not the answer...that is an empire
- Bring our troops home immediately
- Giving up liberty for safety never works
- Non-intervention, as advocated by our founders, rather than being the world's policeman
- Stop borrowing and printing money to fight unjust, undeclared wars
- Stop sending tax payer money as `foreign aid` to sovereign nations
Source: 2016 Georgia Senate campaign website, grayson2016.com
Oct 9, 2015
On Government Reform:
Keep Georgians engaged; keep government transparent
On the issues, Grayson maintains a common-sense approach to applying classic constitutionalism to the legislative process. An important component of his Senatorial style would include keeping Georgians engaged, he says. "When legislation comes across the
floor, if I've got to pay somebody out of my own pocket, we will go through that legislation and we will disseminate what's in it to the American people," he states. "Because when you tell people what's really going on in D.C., they tend to do things a
little bit differently.""That transparency that Obama was talking about?" Grayson adds. "We didn't get that." Cutting spending, preserving Second amendment rights, and encouraging devolution in the education system hover at the top of Grayson's policy
to-do list, which focuses on restoring individual freedoms across the board. "I will not compromise on the liberties and freedoms of the American people. Period," he says. "That's not debatable. It's not optional. It's a job requirement."
Source: CommDigiNews.com on 2016 Georgia Senate race
Mar 24, 2014
On Government Reform:
PACs have agendas; don't take their money
A strong constitutional conservative with the ironclad principles to prove it, Grayson declines to take cash from organizations that would compel him to return the favor down the line. "[PACs] have agendas that they want to see pushed, and
I don't want their money," he says. "You want to give, fine. But the only thing I owe you is 100% of the Constitution. That's all I'll owe anybody who donates to this campaign."
Source: CommDigiNews.com on 2016 Georgia Senate race
Mar 24, 2014
On Gun Control:
National background check, and Constitutional Carry
Q: What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?A: Potential buyers must be of age, complete a national background check,
have no felonious convictions or current mental challenges on their records and Constitutional Carry must be implemented in all states.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Health Care:
Repeal ObamaCare and replace it with nothing
- Freedom cannot be sub-divided
- Gov't should stay out of our bedrooms
- Protect life & no tax dollars for abortions
- Protect all individual privacy
-
Preserve a tax free internet
- Defend private property rights
- Repeal ObamaCare and replace it with nothing
Source: 2016 Georgia Senate campaign website, grayson2016.com
Oct 9, 2015
On Health Care:
High-risk pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions
Q: How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?A: By encouraging States to do their job and allowing insurance companies to do business across states lines.
Also, ensuring a mechanism exists such as a high risk pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions, so that they may have guaranteed and affordable access to healthcare coverage as well.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Homeland Security:
Reform VA care for veterans to reduce suicides and shootings
In light of the recent tragedy at Fort Hood in Texas, Derrick Grayson is renewing his ongoing concern for America's veterans. "We need to honor our promises to our service members," read a press release from Grayson's office "No service member should
come home damaged and fight for treatment, sometimes for years."Grayson expressed his concern for the number of recent suicides at Ft. Hood: 22 in 2010, 10 in 2011 and 19 in 2012, claiming that the high rates are completely unacceptable. Grayson
suggested that reform of the Department of Veterans Affairs--especially the way it handles the medical records of military members--could offer a solution to the problems that cause shootings such as this one. "Veterans' biggest complaint was it could
take years to get the care they needed," he said. "VA records need to be computerized. Remove the adversarial review board that routinely denies care after service benefits. Give veterans priority in transitional services. I will fight for our veterans."
Source: Communities Digital News on 2016 Georgia Senate race
Apr 6, 2014
On Homeland Security:
Stop borrowing money to fight unjust, undeclared wars
- 900 military bases in 150 countries is not the answer...that is an empire
- Bring our troops home immediately
- Giving up liberty for safety never works
- Non-intervention, as advocated by our founders, rather than being the world's policeman
- Stop borrowing and printing money to fight unjust, undeclared wars
- Stop sending tax payer money as `foreign aid` to sovereign nations
Source: 2016 Georgia Senate campaign website, grayson2016.com
Oct 9, 2015
On Homeland Security:
Give veterans priority for treatment and services
- No service member should come home damaged and have to fight for treatment
- No service member should be homeless
- Computerize VA records
- Make information inter-departmentally
available electronically
- Hire civilian doctors to evaluate the urgency of care thus removing the adversarial review board that routinely denies care after service benefits
- Give veterans priority in transitional services
Source: 2016 Georgia Senate campaign website, grayson2016.com
Oct 9, 2015
On Principles & Values:
100% of the Constitution, 100% of the time
Grayson's clear, simple message of strict adherence to constitutional principles resonates with most Georgia Republicans, especially given the bad taste that outgoing incumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss has left in their collective mouth.
Punctuated by the catchy slogan, "100% of the Constitution, 100% of the time," Grayson's social media sobriquet, "Minister of Truth," embodies both his actual experience as a Christian minister and his commitment to bringing the truth about the
political process."There's really not much difference in the agendas of the political royals, regardless of their party. I'm talking about the Republicans and the Democrats. And I've found that they like to keep us divided," he explains. "Because
the longer we're distracted, the more they can push forward their agendas, and we're not any more the wiser." Political 'royals,' according to Grayson, are the "political elites who pull the strings."
Source: CommDigiNews.com on 2016 Georgia Senate race
Mar 24, 2014
On Principles & Values:
Social positions based on strong Christian values
Although Grayson bases his personal position on social issues on his strong Christian values, he refuses to be pulled into the endlessly petty social slog that has tripped up fellow candidates like Rep. Paul Broun and Rep. Phil
Gingrey. "We're not there to deal with the social issues of the country, as senators," he explains. "That's not our call. Our call is to protect the rights of the states."
Source: CommDigiNews.com on 2016 Georgia Senate race
Mar 24, 2014
On Principles & Values:
People free to worship or not; tax exempt status abolished
Q: Do you promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles?A: Yes.
Q: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
A: People are free to worship or not, as they choose, without government interference. Likewise, the tax exempt status for religious organizations must be abolished.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On War & Peace:
Non-intervention: Bring our troops home immediately
- 900 military bases in 150 countries is not the answer...that is an empire
- Bring our troops home immediately
- Giving up liberty for safety never works
- Non-intervention, as advocated by our founders, rather than being the world's policeman
- Stop borrowing and printing money to fight unjust, undeclared wars
- Stop sending tax payer money as `foreign aid` to sovereign nations
Source: 2016 Georgia Senate campaign website, grayson2016.com
Oct 9, 2015
On War & Peace:
Policies of regime change intervention must be abandoned
Q: What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?A: Enhanced immigration policies should be maintained in order to limit those coming into the country will ill intent towards Americans.
Our policies of regime change intervention must also be abandoned.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2019-20 Georgia 2-year Senate
Nov 3, 2020
On Welfare & Poverty:
Welfare policy rips black families apart, like slavery
Derrick Grayson, the only black candidate in the Republican U.S. Senate field, is taking the side of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who ruminated on whether African-Americans were better off under slavery than in the current welfare state.Grayson
says: "When he talked about black people being enslaved, I have been saying this for the last eight years--by liberal Democrat policies. I can say it, but a white person can't? A white person say it, the press is going to use it. Under slavery, families
were ripped apart, and it was a desire of black men & black women to be together with their loved ones. Family meant something. Well, what did government policies do? It broke up the black family, told the black family: `Hey, if you want to receive this
welfare check, the man can't be in the household.' In 1965, prior to that [welfare policy], illegitimacy in then black community was less than 13%. Today it's over 70%. Government liberal Democrat policies: The man was just simply telling you the truth."
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution on 2016 Georgia Senate race
May 1, 2014
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023