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Sheldon Whitehouse on Principles & Values

Democratic Jr Senator, previously attorney general

 


OpEd 2006: Ran against President Bush, not Sen. Chafee

Sheldon Whitehouse had breezed through a noncompetitive primary and was sitting on enormous cash reserves raised by a Democratic apparatus that sensed victory in the race for Senate control.

Democratic donors poured money into key Senate races around the country, including mine. They firehoused me with criticism, linking me to the right-wing failures of the president and the Senate. I was well known for fighting the president and the GOP leadership.

I was the only candidate in the race with a record of standing up to entrenched powers, but a parade of Democratic Bush enablers came to Rhode Island to campaign for my opponent. Senators Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton, and others who had voted for the war in Iraq, urged my constituents, at this critical time in history, to elect one more of their own, as I saw it.

In any event, Whitehouse ran not against me, but against President Bush, whose approval rating in Rhode Island was abysmal.

Source: Against the Tide, by Sen. Lincoln Chafee, p.179-180 , Apr 1, 2008

Voted with Democratic Party 96.6% of 325 votes.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), 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 Democratic Party 96.6% of 325 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

Brings 20 years of public experience to change Washington

Sheldon Whitehouse has the experience to fight for Rhode Island in the U.S. Senate. As a former Attorney General, U.S.Attorney appointed by President Clinton, and Governor's Policy Director, Sheldon has twenty years of public service working for the people of Rhode Island.

Sheldon is running for the U.S. Senate because he sees the need to work for a change in Washington and a new national agenda. As a Senator, Sheldon will work to strengthen Social Security, protect the environment, and make health care more available and affordable. He will be a strong and reliable voice for the people of Rhode Island. Sheldon and his wife Sandra, a marine biologist and environmental advocate, reside in Providence with their two children, Molly and Alexander.

Source: 2006 Senate campaign website WhitehouseForSenate.com "About" , Dec 25, 2005

Question Trump on Emoluments clause.

Whitehouse signed questioning Trump on Emoluments clause

Excerpts from Letter from 17 Senators to Trump Organization: The Trump Organization`s continuing financial relationship with President Trump raises concerns about whether it is a pass-through for income that violates the Constitution`s two Emoluments Clauses: Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 on foreign Emoluments; and Article II, Clause 7 on domestic Emoluments. Please answer the following questions to help Congress understand:

Legal Analysis: (Cato Institute, `Emoluments Clause vs. Trump Empire,` 11/29/16): The wording of the Emoluments clause points one way to resolution: Congress can give consent, as it did in the early years of the Republic to presents received by Ben Franklin. It can decide what it is willing to live with in the way of Trump conflicts. If it misjudges public opinion, it will pay a political price at the next election.

FOIA argument: (ACLU Center for Democracy, `FOIA Request,` 1/19/17): We filed our first Freedom of Information Act request of the Trump Era, seeking documents relating President Trump`s conflicts of interest relating to his business connections. When Trump took the oath of office, he didn`t take the steps necessary to ensure that he and his family`s business interests comply with the Constitution. Some have even argued that upon taking the oath of office, the new president is already violating the Emoluments Clause.

Source: Letter from 17 Senators 17LTR-EMOL on May 18, 2017

Certify 2020 Presidential election as fully & fairly counted.

Whitehouse 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.