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Richard Shelby on Principles & Values

Republican Sr Senator (AL)

 


Judeo-Christian values should guide all that we do

Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Shelby: As a lifelong Presbyterian, I strongly believe that our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values and that those values should guide all that we do. Throughout my tenure in public office, I have consistently fought for conservative principles. I know that the best form of government is one that is smaller and less intrusive.

Q: Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which political philosophy best describes you?

Shelby: Very Conservative

Q: Please defend your answer by referencing your publicly available track record.

Shelby: I currently have an 87% conservative rating from Heritage Action, an A+ lifetime rating from the NRA for protecting the Second Amendment, and an A+ lifetime rating from Numbers USA for my strong record on immigration. I have also received the "ACU Conservative Achievement Award" from the American Conservative Union.

Source: 2016 AFA Action iVoterGuide on 2016 Alabama Senate race , Nov 8, 2016

OpEd: Voter presidential angst overcome in Senate primary

Sen. Richard Shelby won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate Tuesday night, beating back an unprecedented four challengers and proving that voter angst in the presidential campaign did not translate to the Senate race. Facing the biggest challenge of his Senate career, Shelby in short order built a fierce re-election machine that flooded the state with reminders of his conservative credentials and responded in kind to a challenger who attacked his character.

Jonathan McConnell, a 33-year-old former Marine, attacked Shelby's age, longevity, record and ethics. On Sunday, he campaigned at the door to the Donald Trump rally hoping to tap into those GOP voters angry with the establishment. In the end, the anti-Shelby vote splintered among McConnell and the other three challengers. And more notably, the results indicate that even some passionate Trump voters turned their ballots over and chose Shelby.

Source: Montgomery Advertiser on 2016 Alabama Senate race , Mar 1, 2016

OpEd: Makes Obama the icon of our xenophobia

The rhetoric of U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, the 81-year-old incumbent fending off several Republican challengers in the primary, often is disturbing. In his ubiquitous campaign ads, he panders to our least-rational fears. He recognizes our trepidation about people who look or sound different than us, and he plays it to maximum political advantage.

The Republican fights President Barack Obama--who has been made the icon of our xenophobia--"every hour of every day," according to a commercial he is running. And there's some truth to that. On issues where the Obama administration has stated a position, according to a recent study by Congressional Quarterly, Shelby voted against the White House 63.9 percent of the time. He leads the Senate in that statistic.

His opposition to a U.S. Supreme Court nominee that Obama has not even selected is a recent example of his blind opposition to the president. It may be a politically savvy strategy, but it interferes with the efficient workings of government

Source: Decatur Daily on 2016 Alabama Senate race , Feb 26, 2016

Voted with Republican Party 89.8% of 324 votes.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), was scored by the Washington Post on the percentage of votes on which a lawmaker agrees with the position taken by a majority of his or her party members. The scores do not include missed votes. Their summary:
Voted with Republican Party 89.8% of 324 votes.
Overall, Democrats voted with their party 88.4% of the time, and Republicans voted with their party 81.7% of the time (votes Jan. 8 through Sept. 8, 2007).
Source: Washington Post, "Congress Votes Database" on 2008 election , Sep 8, 2007

Converted from Democrat to GOP in tide of 1994

In political terms, the Republican tide of 1994 did not ebb the following year. Two senators, Richard Shelby (AL) and Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO), and one representative, Nathan Deal (GA), made it 78 local, state, and federal official who have become Republicans since Bill Clinton was elected president. The political map looks like a reversal of the map from New Deal days. The 104th Congress is the first since Reconstruction with a Republican majority of the 125 seats in the once-Solid South.
Source: Newt!, by Dick Williams, p.212 , Jun 1, 1995

Voted NO on confirming of Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court.

Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee kicked off the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. In her opening statement, Judge Sotomayor pledged a "fidelity to the law:"
"In the past month, many Senators have asked me about my judicial philosophy. It is simple: fidelity to the law. The task of a judge is not to make the law--it is to apply the law. And it is clear, I believe, that my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its terms; interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress's intent; and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and my Circuit Court. In each case I have heard, I have applied the law to the facts at hand."
Reference: Supreme Court Nomination; Bill PN506 ; vote number 2009-S262 on Aug 6, 2009

Voted YES on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice.

Vote on the Nomination -- a YES vote would to confirm Samuel A. Alito, Jr., of New Jersey, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Reference: Alito Nomination; Bill PN 1059 ; vote number 2006-002 on Jan 31, 2006

Voted YES on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Vote on the Nomination (Confirmation John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States )
Reference: Supreme Court Nomination of John Roberts; Bill PN 801 ; vote number 2005-245 on Sep 27, 2005

Religious affiliation: Presbyterian.

Shelby : religious affiliation:

The Adherents.com website is an independent project and is not supported by or affiliated with any organization (academic, religious, or otherwise).

What’s an adherent?

The most common definition used in broad compilations of statistical data is somebody who claims to belong to or worship in a religion. This is the self-identification method of determining who is an adherent of what religion, and it is the method used in most national surveys and polls.

Such factors as religious service attendance, belief, practice, familiarity with doctrine, belief in certain creeds, etc., may be important to sociologists, religious leaders, and others. But these are measures of religiosity and are usually not used academically to define a person’s membership in a particular religion. It is important to recognize there are various levels of adherence, or membership within religious traditions or religious bodies. There’s no single definition, and sources of adherent statistics do not always make it clear what definition they are using.

Source: Adherents.com web site 00-ADH5 on Nov 7, 2000

Supports Judeo-Christian framework of morality.

Shelby supports the AFA survey question on religious morality

The American Family Association Action Voter Guide asked if candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.' American Family Association Action (AFA Action) produces the online "iVoterGuide" for selected state and federal races. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America.

Source: American Family Association survey 16AFA_Q4A on Nov 8, 2016

Supports religious liberty and sees it at risk.

Shelby supports the AFA survey question on religious liberty

The American Family Association Action Voter Guide asked if candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.' American Family Association Action (AFA Action) produces the online "iVoterGuide" for selected state and federal races. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America.

Source: American Family Association survey 16AFA_Q4B on Nov 8, 2016

Certify 2020 Presidential election as fully & fairly counted.

Shelby voted NAY blocking certification of the Electoral vote

Explanation of 1/6/21 Electoral Certification, by Emily Brooks, Washington Examiner:Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar led an objection to counting Electoral College votes from the state of Arizona, the first formal objection to state results in a series of moves that will delay the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election over President Trump. Cruz is advocating for an `emergency 10-day audit` of election returns in disputed states. The usually ceremonial joint session of Congress that convenes to count and accept Electoral College votes will be put on hold as the House and Senate separately debate the objection.