Candidate's Survey Response

2010 Federal Questionnaire  THE NATURE OF PRO-LIFE ISSUES 1. Direct threats to human life include first of all abortion, which takes the lives of well over a million US children annually; embryonic stem cell harvesting; euthanasia; and cloning.  Additional threats to human life include poverty, capital punishment, racism, war, nuclear arms proliferation and exploitation.  Since each and every human being is unique and important, one's personhood or worth should not be arbitrarily determined by another's choice.  No one exists solely as a means to someone else's happiness.  The choices we make, as individuals and as a society, must be weighed in light of their impact on human life and dignity.  Do you acknowledge both the breadth of pro life issues, and the primacy of some of those issues, namely abortion, embryonic stem cell harvesting, euthanasia, and cloning?    There is no doubt that our society has become consumed with self and callous toward human life. Respect for human life is one of my basic principles. I belief in the potential of each person from conception to natural death.   ABORTION 2. Do you believe that a unique human life begins at conception?   Yes.        If not, when?  ___  3 mths  ___  6 mths  ___ 9 mths  ___  1 yr  ___ 18 yrs?       3.  The 14th Amendment states "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, 1973, stated that "if this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment." The Court regrettably concluded though that "we need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer." Do you believe that  the State has a compelling interest in protecting human life beginning at conception?   Yes. I am 100% pro-life, but the question is what is the problem? I believe that this is an issue of supply and demand. I believe Roe v. Wade was a bad decision and our government should not be supporting this callousness toward human life. However, the problem will not fundamentally be solved unless the hearts and minds of people are enlightened.   The best example of how to end abortion is Christopher Slattery in New York. Since 1985, he counseled over 60,000 mothers to keep their children with over 32,000 certain saves from abortion. If we can change the the hearts and minds of American people, we will win.   4. Is taking the life of a pre-born child through abortion ever permissible?  Check all that apply:   ____X_ No, it's never permissible _____ Yes, to save mother's life _____ Yes, in cases of rape or incest ____ Yes, for physical deformity _____  Yes, for gender _____  Yes, for race _____  Yes, to punish spouse _____ Yes, it's always permissible EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS AND CLONING 5. Do you oppose federal funding for embryonic stem cell research or cloning? Yes.      PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN ABORTION 6. Peer reviewed studies have shown that parental involvement laws reduce the occurrence of risky sex in teens, and more than 30 states currently have some form of them.  Either the teen refrains from engaging in sex or is more careful before having sex.  These laws help teen mothers and fathers get the support and guidance they need from parents in this important decision.  Not having them risks parental estrangement or alienation from the child when in the greatest need and denies the dignity of the family.  Minors already must have parental approval for even the most minor types of medical procedures or medications and should also for the complex procedure of abortion.   Without parental involvement, a minor impregnated by an adult often times is pressured into having an abortion so as to conceal the fact that the adult is guilty of statutory rape.  Will you promote/support parental involvement laws (with judicial override) for minors when seeking an abortion?   Absolutely.     PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE 7. Washington State Initiative 1000 which was passed in 2008, legalized Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) by allowing doctors to prescribe lethal doses of barbiturates to certain patients.  The objection to this sanctioning of suicide is that some vulnerable persons, such as those who are feeble, depressed, mentally ill, or handicapped, will likely experience coersion to end their lives.  For them a right to die, already protected in the Natural Death Act, (RCW 70.122), may become a duty to die.  The American Medical Association (policy H-140.952) as well as the Washington State Medical Association (2007 Resolution A-7) oppose PAS.  The AMA states that "physician assisted suicide is fundamentally inconsistent with the physician's professional role."  The initiative uses vague language that enable doctors "acting in good faith" to assist mentally ill or depressed patients to commit suicide, while protecting doctors from civil and criminal lawsuits.  Health care insurers can cut costs by providing prescriptions for suicide.  Will society's sanction of suicide have unintended consequences?  Sponsor and former governor Booth Gardner says that this is only a “first step” in legalizing assisted suicide for anyone who wants it.  When society fails to protect vulnerable people in their troubles, but instead offers them the violence of suicide, has not society abandoned them?  Do you oppose the availability of physician assisted suicide?   Yes. I oppose physician-assisted suicide. Human life is precious and we must never sanction the idea that life does not have enough meaning to continue it.   MARRIAGE PRESERVATION 8.  Children develop best within the context of a biologically related family.  This is a scientifically proven fact which the Washington State Supreme Court referenced when in 2006, it ruled on the state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  The court determined that the state's limitation of marriage to heterosexual couples "is constitutional because the legislature was entitled to believe that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples furthers ... the well-being of children by encouraging families where children are reared in homes headed by the children’s biological parents."  In concurrence, Justice James Johnson wrote "The unique and binary biological nature of marriage and its exclusive link with procreation and responsible child rearing has defined the institution [of marriage in law]."  In order to affirm and protect children’s rights and the primacy of those rights over adults’ aspirations for novel family forms, do you oppose laws that change the definition of marriage to include homosexual and polygamous relationships?    Yes, I oppose changing the definition of marriage. We need to reinforce the belief system that marriage provides an unusual mechanism for providing both emotional and financial stability for those who engage in this historic institution. If our society devalues it, then we should not be surprised that its fabric is deteriorating and all the associated effects, i.e. crime, poverty, single-parent homes. I believe marriage is between one man and one woman and that we should do nothing that would undermine this cornerstone of society.     MEDICAL CONSCIENCE CLAUSES 9. "The trend toward accepting the termination of some human lives as a normal part of medicine is accelerating ... Courts, policymakers, media leaders - even the elites of organized medicine - increasingly assert that patient rights and respect for patients’ choices should trump the consciences of medical professionals.  Indeed, the time may soon arrive when doctors, nurses, and pharmacists will be compelled to take, or be complicit in the taking of, human life, regardless of their strong religious or moral objections thereto." (Westlie J. Smith, 2009).  Should doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals be granted the right to refuse participation in the provision of medical services that violate the person's moral, ethical or religious beliefs?   Yes. There is no reason why anyone should be forced by the government to  commit acts that go directly against their principles.   PUBLIC SCHOOL SEX EDUCATION 10. The typical comprehensive sex education program spends as little as 5% of the time teaching abstinence principles (Zogby 3/27/07), instead spending significantly more time teaching students how to put condoms on models of male genitalia and promoting alternative forms of sexual activity called outercourse, which may include showering together and mutual masturbation as effective ways to avoid pregnancy and disease. In contrast, an emphasis on abstinence means teaching students about building healthy relationships and bolstering self worth and self-control.  Will you work to ensure sex education is wholesome, not dehumanizing and truly safe?   I think sex education has no place in public education. It should be taught in the home. Once our public education system can successfully teach reading, math, and science, then we can think about letting them teach our kids about sex.   DEATH PENALTY 11. The death penalty in the United States should:   _____ not be used _____ be used about the same _____ be used less __X___ be used more   GAMING 12. A proposed casino off I-5 near Ridgefield is projected to be one of the largest in the nation.  What is your position on the building of this casino?   I'm against it. We need to create manufacturing jobs, not jobs that prey on peoples' weaknesses.   QUALIFICATIONS AND COMMENTS 13. Please state your qualifications for office such as professional, educational, family and community accomplishments.  You may also add any any further comments regarding the relationship of your candidacy to respect life issues.   I am running for the United States Senate because I have a track record of creating jobs, fiscal responsibility, and results. I graduated college with a degree in education and spent my early career as a teacher, pastor, craftsman, and general contractor. I know what it takes to work with my hands, live within my means, and earn every dollar I get.   Thirteen years ago, I started a manufacturing business with my wife in my garage. We built it into an international product development company that distributes products all over the world. I built my success by listening to people's ideas, continuously improving, and eliminating waste. Even in this economic downturn in a state construction industry with 37% unemployment, my business is thriving and creating jobs.   My success in my life is because I tap into the life equity of regular people to innovate and find solutions. I believe that it is time that we expand our view of respect for human life to all areas. Our economy and national culture are in crisis because our leaders do not recognize the potential and creativity of individual people. We must respect life the whole way through. It is the right thing to do.   WEBSITE POSTING PERMISSION 14. May LifePac post your survey response on its website?  X Yes        No