State of Wyoming Archives: on Principles & Values

Cynthia Lummis: Uphold our religious freedoms; faith guides my decisions

A: Yes.

Q: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

A: I believe in upholding, and strict adherence to, the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." To me this Amendment, and the legal principle of separation of church and state, are paramount to upholding and protecting our religious freedoms.

Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values?

A: I am a lifelong member of The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. I attend the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I am a strong Christian and my faith guides my decisions as a mother, friend, neighbor and public servant.

Merav Ben-David: Will confirm qualified nominees for government positions

Gary Trauner: We don't need government telling us where to worship

We don't need government prying into our everyday lives, telling us what to think or who to love, where to worship, how to act or with whom we should associate. I will fight to ensure that government does what it should and keeps its nose out of our lives where it shouldn't.

Gary Trauner: Constitution about granting rights, not about discriminating

Charlie Hardy: Served as priest in South America for 25 years

Hardy chose to live in a cardboard hut and serve the people of South America. Hardy is a former priest, and survived years living in abject poverty with people who were threatened by a violent, corrupt government. "Our only job was to live among the people," he said.

In 1994, he chose the love of a woman he met while working in Venezuela over his vows. He was a priest for three decades before he and Susana were married in 1994. The couple divorced after six years, but Hardy remained in South America doing social work, spending a quarter century there in total. He finally returned to his hometown of Cheyenne in 2011 and has set his eyes on national office.

No, Charlie Hardy is not your normal, run-of-the-mill candidate. And what's more, he thinks he can win by running a low-cost campaign centered on what he believes are the true values of Wyoming residents.

Charlie Hardy: Run with Charlie: challenges Enzi to debate & road race

He's a daily runner and said he plans to challenge Enzi to both a debate and a road race. Hardy said he feels he can win both, and also believes he can win a Senate race without raising a lot of money.

"We're not going to raise a couple million dollars," Hardy said. "We don't need a couple million dollars. I'm not worried. I'm not worried. We're going to raise money but that's not our priority."

He said his slogan is "Run with Charlie" and he wants people to join his campaign. They can run alongside him and help send him to Washington, D.C.

Charlie Hardy: Take to DC the Wyoming tradition of cooperation & compassion

Charlie Hardy: Finished 10K road race in 28,580th place

Matt Mead: First Lady Carol works on literacy via Eat.Read.Grow program

I also recognize the team of 11 Wyoming runners, including Carol, who completed the New York City marathon last fall. The team raised $31,000 for the Wyoming Remember the 8 Endowment. The endowment supports programs to prevent alcohol use by high school students and to encourage responsible alcohol use by college students of legal drinking age. Thank you. For running for a worthy cause, I commend you.

Liz Cheney: Next election decides social democracy vs. fighting back

CHENEY: Because of the dangers facing this country and my state, Wyoming. I believe this is the most radical president ever to inhabit the Oval Office. I also believe we have a real limited window of time, and this next election is a moment of decision for us as a nation. Are we going to go along to get along and implement President Obama's agenda: European social democracy, a weakened nation overseas, and a massively expanded welfare state? For example, in Wyoming, there is an expanded Federal government, and bureaucracies like the EPA, that is doing anything they can to kill the coal, natural gas, and oil industries. We need to take this president on and consider what he is doing, declaring a "war on coal." There has to be people in Congress who are willing to stand up and fight back, like myself, and not sit on the sidelines.

Liz Cheney: NRSC, Enzi, & "Old Guard" are 100% for incumbent-protection

CHENEY: Obviously, the biggest problem is still Pres. Obama, but right behind him is some senators. Senator Enzi here in Wyoming has been in office for 18 years, and his biggest piece of legislation was a national sales tax proposal. He also played a role as part of the Gang of Six in the early years of ObamaCare. This old guard likes to do anything they can to defend the status quo. Take for example the special deals they have been getting under ObamaCare. They are getting a taxpayer subsidy and access to different parts of the website that no one else gets. This old guard really thinks they don't have to live under the laws they pass. Look at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is 100% an incumbent-protection agency. Unfortunately, this is not good enough when we are facing such a radical president. If all we do is protect incumbents, we are not going to be able to elect people to lead into the 21st century.

Liz Cheney: Carpetbagger from D.C.? No, experienced at cutting agencies

CHENEY: "When I was 12 years old, my dad ran for Congress and we campaigned together as a family all across Wyoming. I'm running for the United States Senate because it's time for a new generation of leaders to step up to the plate."

Q: You talk about your long family roots in Wyoming, but you, your husband, and your children just moved out from northern Virginia last year. Some people in Wyoming are saying you're a carpetbagger.

CHENEY: The folks making the carpetbagger charge tend to be people who don't want to talk about Senator Enzi's lack of resolve. The time that I spent working inside federal agencies in Washington is experience that's very important for what I think that has got to be the top priority of a Wyoming senator, which is rolling back the massive expansion of our federal government, cutting agencies, cutting their size, cutting their funding. You got to get the federal government under control

Liz Cheney: It's time for a new generation of people willing to lead

CHENEY: It's not about age. It's about that he's been here for 18 years. And the people of Wyoming are suffering greatly. We're ground zero for Obama's policies. It's not enough just to say, "I'm going to go along and get along. I'm going to continue business as usual here in Washington." You've got to demonstrate results. And it's going to take people on our side of the aisle who are willing to lead; people who are willing to stand up and say, "The president's war on coal isn't just going to devastate Wyoming, anybody around this country who likes to flip a switch and have the lights come on, who appreciate affordable electricity, you're with us in the war on coal." But it requires leadership. And, frankly, over the last five years, things have gotten worse for the people of Wyoming, not better.

Michael Enzi: FactCheck: Gets higher percent from PACs than any Senator

Though Liz Cheney has previously said her father wouldn't be campaigning for her, the former V.P. took the opportunity to accuse Enzi; however, we ran into trouble with Cheney's term "Washington-based PAC." In the Senate campaign cycle beginning in 2009, Enzi raised $1.64 million, with $1.19 million, or 73%, coming from PACs. Liz Cheney's campaign said they got to 84% by including a $74,463 transfer to the campaign from a joint fundraising committee, as well as $826,000 given to Enzi's leadership PAC from other political groups.

Using either figure, Enzi's percentage of PAC money is higher than any other senator--by quite a bit actually. The next closest received 66% of his donations from PACs.

So we rate Dick Cheney said as Mostly True.

Mark Gordon: Widower with two daughters; married single mom with two sons

Our family includes three sets of grandparents, all of whom are critically important to our children. We believe all of the members of our family deserve to feel safe, loved, and secure. As a nation, and as people, we have an obligation to make sure our families stay strong, secure, and safe.

Jim Geringer: Focus on building Wyoming’s capacity to grow