Lincoln Chafee in Reason magazine
On Budget & Economy:
Dedicated to curbing $22.6 trillion debt
His "anti-war, anti-deficit, strongly protective of civil liberties" message, culminated in him thinking it was a good idea to run for president. "I am enthusiastically absolutely dedicated to not getting us into these quagmires overseas and
ending foreign entanglements" and trying to curb the "$22.6 trillion debt." Those are the particular issues he wants to make central to his campaign, both for the nomination and, if he wins it, in the general election.
Source: Reason magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jan 6, 2020
On Drugs:
Lobbied DEA to reclassify marijuana for medical use
If you weren't told Chafee had been a Republican and just looked at all of his positions, you'd think he was a Democrat anyway (pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-minimum wage increases, and eventually pro-Barack Obama).
He has lobbied the Drug Enforcement Agency to reclassify marijuana so that doctors could legally prescribe it as medication.
Source: Reason magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Aug 23, 1999
On Foreign Policy:
Work with UN on issues such as climate change & trade
Chafee was the only Republican in the Senate to vote against the Iraq War--like Webb, Chafee is a party-switcher--and he has said he's running to keep Iraq on the public's mind. His website promises to "end drone strikes, torture of prisoners, and
warrantless wiretaps." It also says he wants to work with the U.N. "to pursue strategic international agreements that reduce tensions, increase security, attack climate change, and promote civil liberties and fair trade."
Source: Reason magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 13, 2015
On Gun Control:
Distrust of government is reason for 2d Amendment advocacy
One of the issues he's been dinged for in the past by libertarians is gun control, but Chafee says he's come to think "the reason there is more advocacy for strong Second Amendment protections is distrust of our government, and that distrust is
legitimate." Chafee thinks mistrust of the government makes total sense, and he does "believe the authors of the Second Amendment wrote it with that in mind, and if there is distrust of government we want to have a well-regulated armed militia."
Source: Reason magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jan 6, 2020
On Gun Control:
Distrust of government is reason for 2nd Amendment
[On Iraq War]: "The biggest lie in American history," Chafee says, is that "Saddam [Hussein] had weapons of mass destruction and we invaded Iraq, and we are still there and it's getting worse." In the wake of a generation grown up dealing with the
effect of that lie, Chafee thinks, mistrust of the government makes total sense, and he does "believe the authors of the Second Amendment wrote it with that in mind, and if there is distrust of government we want to have a well-regulated armed militia."
Source: Reason magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jan 6, 2020
On Immigration:
Co-sponsor of DREAM Act
Martin O'Malley would grant more waivers to would-be immigrants, and would have the Department of Homeland Security "provide immediate relief from deportation, with work authorization, to all individuals covered by the Senate's comprehensive
immigration reform proposal." Chafee's policy page notes that he co-sponsored the original DREAM Act. It goes on to reprint that bill's text, so I guess it's a good guide to what he'd like to do in office.
Source: Reason magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 13, 2015
On Jobs:
Minimum wage of $10.10/hr.; $15 would hurt small business
Chafee wants a $10.10 minimum wage. (The $15 favored by Martin O'Malley, Chafee explains, "could have a significant adverse effect on small businesses.") He also wants to spend more money on Head Start and Pell grants, to expand paid medical leave,
to fight gender-based wage discrimination with a Paycheck Fairness Act, and to "work for a fair tax structure that removes excessive loopholes and tax cuts for wealthy citizens and corporations."
Source: Reason magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 13, 2015
On Tax Reform:
End excessive loopholes; tax cuts for wealthy & corporations
Chafee wants a $10.10 minimum wage. (The $15 favored by Martin O'Malley, Chafee explains, "could have a significant adverse effect on small businesses.") He also wants to spend more money on Head Start and Pell grants, to expand paid medical leave,
to fight gender-based wage discrimination with a Paycheck Fairness Act, and to "work for a fair tax structure that removes excessive loopholes and tax cuts for wealthy citizens and corporations."
Source: Reason magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls
Oct 13, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 24, 2023