Protecting Civil Liberties
The civil liberties guaranteed to us by our Constitution are what set us aside from other nations. Protecting the foundation of our free society is of primary importance for elected leaders. Unfortunately for us, our district leadership is horribly negligent in this area. Our current representative, Chuck Soderberg, received a rating of 0 out of 100 from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa in 2007.
It is my feeling that it is our leaders duty to uphold and protect our freedoms as much as the safety of the people at the expense of neither. A leader who is sworn to protect his subjects at the expense of their liberty is a benevolent dictator, not the leader of a democratic republic. If we are safe, but not free, then the very ideals that make us Americans are in jeopardy and those who have shed their blood and given their lives to protect our freedoms have fought in vain.
What I will do
I will work closely with civil liberties groups to address any and all concerns regarding our rights and freedoms, as it will be my mission to preserve all of the protections and guarantees in our Bill of Rights. Any legislation that abridges our rights and freedoms will meet opposition from not only myself but I will also work to persuade other legislators to assist me in the fight.
I will also work diligently to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.
