New Jersey 2006 Senate Debate: on Civil Rights


Robert Menendez: Support affirmative action in all government contracts

Q: Should the government should take greater account of affirmative action considerations in awarding its contracts?

KEAN: I support merit-based initiatives that recognize the value of diversity and believe we need to ban pay-to-play, which discriminates against minority access to government programs.

MENENDEZ: The federal government has a responsibility to ensure that all businesses have an equal opportunity to compete for contracts - including small, minority and women-owned businesses.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate (X-ref Kean) Sep 24, 2006

Robert Menendez: Supports Amendment banning flag-burning, a uniting symbol

Q: Do you support a constitutional amendment to prevent the burning of the American flag?

KEAN: I believe our flag is a sacred symbol, a monument to freedom and I support a Constitutional Amendment banning the desecration of the American flag.

MENENDEZ: I voted for the flag burning amendment because I believe the flag, as a uniting symbol of our country, should be protected.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate (X-ref Kean) Sep 24, 2006

Robert Menendez: Supports 1-man-1-woman marriage, but don’t take away rights

Q: Do you believe that same sex marriages should be legal?

KEAN: I believe marriage is between one man and one woman but do not support a federal constitutional amendment.

MENENDEZ: I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, but oppose a federal constitutional amendment. The constitution shouldn’t be amended to take away rights.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate (X-ref Kean) Sep 24, 2006

Thomas Kean Jr.: Support merit-based initiatives, not affirmative action

Q: Should the government should take greater account of affirmative action considerations in awarding its contracts?

KEAN: I support merit-based initiatives that recognize the value of diversity and believe we need to ban pay-to-play, which discriminates against minority access to government programs.

MENENDEZ: The federal government has a responsibility to ensure that all businesses have an equal opportunity to compete for contracts - including small, minority and women-owned businesses.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate Sep 24, 2006

Thomas Kean Jr.: Supports Amendment banning flag-burning, a sacred symbol

Q: Do you support a constitutional amendment to prevent the burning of the American flag?

KEAN: I believe our flag is a sacred symbol, a monument to freedom and I support a Constitutional Amendment banning the desecration of the American flag.

MENENDEZ: I voted for the flag burning amendment because I believe the flag, as a uniting symbol of our country, should be protected.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate Sep 24, 2006

Thomas Kean Jr.: Supports 1-man-1-woman marriage, but no Amendment

Q: Do you believe that same sex marriages should be legal?

KEAN: I believe marriage is between one man and one woman but do not support a federal constitutional amendment.

MENENDEZ: I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, but oppose a federal constitutional amendment. The constitution shouldn’t be amended to take away rights.

Source: Hall Institute N.J. Senate Virtual Debate Sep 24, 2006

  • The above quotations are from New Jersey Senate Virtual Debate - moderated by the Hall Institute, August to September 2006.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Thomas Kean Jr. on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for more quotes by Robert Menendez on Civil Rights.
Candidates and political leaders on Civil Rights:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 19, 2019