State of Rhode Island Archives: on Principles & Values


Barry Hinckley: Extreme partisanship is killing this country

Hinckley criticized Whitehouse for being partisan. "How do you come to the middle when you vote with your leadership 96% of the time. A husband and wife don't get along that well," Hinckley quipped. "Extreme partisanship is killing this country. The Senate has been closed for business. If you don't like it, mark it up and send it back. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation."
Source: WPRI Eyewitness News on 2012 R.I. Senate debate Oct 23, 2012

Mark Zaccaria: I'm running for You, to rein in government

Welcome to the front lines of American electoral politics. I'm Mark Zaccaria and I'm busy right now taking a Giant Step. I'm challenging a Four Term Incumbent for the Congressional Seat here in the Second District of Rhode Island. Why am I doing that, you might ask? I'm doing it for You.

You are being hurt by Government every time it reaches into your pockets and removes more of your resources to continue funding inefficient bureaucracies. I'm running for Congress for You, so You won't be hurt by that process in the future.

Government has been distracted from its mandate to see that our Citizens are allowed to make their own decisions about how to spend their own paychecks, whenever that is possible.

Can One newly minted Member of Congress do anything effective to correct that course? By myself I have no chance. Do you agree that we need to rein in our government as a method of making our economy, and that means our Lives better? Then join with me in taking this Giant Step.

Source: 2008 R.I. House campaign website, markz4ri.org, "Mission" Nov 6, 2008

Lincoln Chafee: The Club for Growth is pouring the money for Laffey

There’s no coordination between the campaign and these outside groups. This is the same for Laffey. But when he says I’m going down to fight the special interests in Washington, when the goliath, when the great white shark of special interests is part and parcel of his campaign, he’s in their pocket. I find that once again extremely hypocritical. The Club for Growth is pouring the money into this Rhode Island race, almost 100% of it not for Laffey but attacking Chafee. Mostly erroneously, I’ll add.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI Aug 24, 2006

Lincoln Chafee: Being deliberate and responsible is not indecisive

I have an important, responsible job and I like to take my time at times. Be deliberate. Go through the evidence. And make a good decision. I’m responsible for every vote I take. I take that very seriously because I’m going to be held accountable for that vote & many have tremendous ramification on the future of this country. I’m doing my job when I take my time to listen to the evidence & talk to different people. If someone wants to interpret that as indecisive, I’ll argue and reject that criticism
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI Aug 24, 2006

Lincoln Chafee: Vote my conscience while keeping good relations with GOP

My record voting with the administration is spotty at best. I try to support the team when I can but I vote my conscience and I work hard with my leadership to let them know why I’m voting the way I’m voting and to explain myself and then eventually, hopefully, to change their point of view to my point of view. But so when that doesn’t work out, oftentimes I vote against my leadership. But I keep good relations with them and that has paid off for Rhode Island by delivering for Rhode Island.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI Aug 24, 2006

Stephen Laffey: Confront real problems directly with people

When I make a mistake, I apologize directly. I’ve done that in the past. If you’re in the public eye as much as I am, you’re going to say things from time to time that are a little bit strong. In the end, what we’ve done in Cranston is get real change starting to spread around so you sometimes have to confront real problems directly with people rather than giving into the special interests over and over again. When you want real change and people don’t want to change things, they will fight you.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI Aug 24, 2006

  • The above quotations are from State of Rhode Island Politicians: Archives.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Principles & Values:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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