OnTheIssuesLogo

Buddy Roemer on Principles & Values

Former Governor (R-LA); frontrunner for AmericansElect presidential nomination


Served four terms in Congress, 1981-1988

Gov. Roemer served four terms in the US Congress from 1981-1988 as a conservative Democrat who often broke ranks with his party to vote with President Reagan, and was Louisiana Governor from 1988-1992 as both a Democrat and Republican. During his tenure in the Governor's office, unemployment in the state dropped by approximately half, the state budget was balanced all years despite inheriting a huge deficit, government unions were challenged, and sweeping campaign finance reform legislation was passed.
Source: Exploratory Committee website, www.buddyroemer.com, "About" , Jun 12, 2011

Founder & CEO of Business First Bank

Since leaving public office, Gov. Roemer has been involved in a number of business ventures. Most recently, he served as the founder, CEO, and President of Business First Bank, a small business community bank with approximately $650 million in assets that took no bailout money from the federal government. Gov. Roemer lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Scarlett, and is the father of three children. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Source: Exploratory Committee website, www.buddyroemer.com, "About" , Jun 12, 2011

Driving across SC and NH to shake hands & start listening

Roemer issued a statement saying he was disappointed with Fox's decision to bar him from the S.C. debate:

"My campaign pledge is to carry out politics in a new way--one that doesn't allow PAC money or large donations from multinational corporations. As such, we haven't spent time traveling across the nation introducing myself to voters. Rather, I've taken an approach of driving through South Carolina and New Hampshire to shake hands and start listening.

In order to be free to lead, our office holders should not be held hostage by the influence of money. That's why I've imposed a cap on contributions. I refuse to buy my way to 1% recognition [Fox News' threshold for inclusion in the SC debate]--I have to earn it. But, it sure becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy when the media will only legitimize my candidacy because of some arbitrary threshold of public recognition.

I will record my answers to the debate questions in real time and post them on my web site at www.buddyroemer.com."

Source: 2011 GOP primary debate in South Carolina , May 5, 2011

Placed third in 1991 re-election bid

Roemer made a splash more than two decades ago in the Louisiana governor's race with his "slay the dragon" cry, defeating an incumbent snared in corruption investigations. Four years later, Roemer made an ignominious exit from the governor's mansion when in a bid for re-election, he came in behind David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard.

Mr. Roemer, who switched from the Democratic to the Republican party while governor, made one more failed run in 1995, then retreated to the private sector.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, "Longshot from Louisiana" , Mar 16, 2011

Publicly described himself as "a church-going Methodist boy"

Roemer described himself at the forum as "a church-going Methodist boy" and added a fervent "thank you, Jesus" when he recounted meeting his third wife, a church pianist.

Roemer talks proudly of his successes in Louisiana: overhauling campaign-finance laws, strengthening environmental protection, testing teachers for competency and balancing the state budget. But he also gained a reputation in the state as arrogant and aloof. "He wouldn't return calls. To anybody," said one state Senator.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, "Longshot from Louisiana" , Mar 16, 2011

Other candidates on Principles & Values: Buddy Roemer on other issues:
Incumbents:
Pres.Barack Obama
V.P.Joe Biden
GOP Candidates:
Rep.Newt Gingrich(GA)
Rep.Ron Paul(TX)
Gov.Mitt Romney(MA)
Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Virgil Goode(C)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L)
Gov.Buddy Roemer(AE)
Jill Stein(G)
C.G.David Walker(AE)

GOP Withdrawals:
Rep.Michele Bachmann(MN)
Herman Cain(GA)
Gov.Chris Cristie(NJ)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Jon Huntsman(UT)
Rep.Thaddeus McCotter(MI)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.Tim Pawlenty(MN)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty





Page last updated: May 31, 2012