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Rocky Anderson on Homeland Security

Justice Party challenger for President; former mayor of Salt Lake City

 


Reduce our own nuclear weapons before we call on others to

ROMNEY: The greatest threat of all is Iran, four years closer to a nuclear weapon. There's no question but that a nuclear-capable Iran is unacceptable to America. And of course, a military action is the last resort.

ANDERSON: Would Mitt Romney say that we should go over and attack North Korea because they have a nuclear bomb? How about Pakistan? How about China? How about Russia? We have an obligation, number one, to start reducing the number of nuclear weapons and provide that kind of leadership, because it's the United States who has led the way for other nations to build up their nuclear armaments. And if Iran feels like they're going to be attacked--and that's all they're hearing nowadays--of course they're going to consider building a nuclear capability to deter an attack. But there is no evidence that they have any nuclear capability. And it's an utter lie, totally baseless, for Mitt Romney to say that Iran is four years closer to building a nuclear weapon.

Source: Democracy Now! Expanded Third Obama-Romney 2012 debate , Oct 22, 2012

Unneeded military programs to bring home bacon: It's treason

OBAMA: [Romney] wants to spend another $2 trillion on military spending that our military's not asking for.

ANDERSON: This is how it works: The F-22 weapons program, Republicans and Democrats alike tried to keep it alive, even though the secretary of defense said it's an outmoded system, we've never used it, we're not going to use it--billions of dollars going into the system just for maintenance and repair. And it was Republicans and Democrats fighting for continued funding. And then you wonder, why would they do that? It's because the general contractor for that weapon system--they know what they're doing when it comes to Congress--they put in place contractors or subcontractors in 44 different states, because they wanted to take the bacon back home so they could brag about it when they run the next time. That is treasonous conduct, when people are looking out for their own political interests and hammering the American people, especially when there are so many unmet needs in this country.

Source: Democracy Now! Expanded Third Obama-Romney 2012 debate , Oct 22, 2012

Bipartisan corporatism and militarism expands war budgets

Q: What is the biggest difference between you and George W. Bush?

ROMNEY: President Bush and I are different people, and these are different times. And that's why my five-point plan is so different than what he would have done.

STEIN: There's been enormous bipartisan collaboration on the expansion of the war, and the list goes on.

ANDERSON: Bipartisan corporatism and militarism is what now defines both the Republican and Democratic parties. Barack Obama was partially correct when he said our debt problem is due to these massive Bush budget-busting tax cuts, but what he left out was the military budget, the wars and the cost of cleaning up after the economic disaster facing this country starting in 2008. And they still haven't done anything to make sure that we don't face that kind of economic meltdown again.

Source: Democracy Now! Expanded Second Obama-Romney 2012 debate , Oct 16, 2012

Citizens are worried about being safe FROM our government

OBAMA: The first role of the federal government is to keep the American people safe. That's its most basic function.

ANDERSON: Certainly, our government is supposed to keep us safe, but more and more, United States citizens are worried about being safe from our government. Our Government is spying on us. Even when there was illegal spying under the Bush administration, what did the next president, President Obama do? He said, let's not worry about those who violated federal laws when they spied on American citizens, let's just move forward and not look back. No accountability for a certain class of people. No sense of the rule of law controlling, no sense that we have a one-tiered system of justice. The Patriot Act needs to be repealed. We need to follow due process. We have a president who is targeting U.S. citizens for assassination. Where is the due process and that or indefinite detention?

STEIN: Yes, we certainly do need to hold government accountable.

Source: Democracy Now! Expanded First Obama-Romney 2012 debate , Oct 4, 2012

The Patriot Act harms civil liberties

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "The Patriot Act harms civil liberties"?

A: Strongly Support

Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org , Feb 10, 2012

Opposes expanding the armed forces

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Expand the armed forces"?

A: Strongly Oppose

Source: Email interview on presidential race with OnTheIssues.org , Feb 10, 2012

Repeal the PATRIOT Act

Source: Rocky Anderson's Facebook Page , Dec 14, 2011

No "disappearances"; accountability for war criminals

There is the question of whether we are going to be a country that continues going around the world kidnapping and disappearing people, not requiring accountability for war criminals. We have a two-tier system of justice, just as we have now a two-tier economy, where there are those very few rich, powerful people who get all of the favors, including immunity from the law, and everybody else who are suffering financially now are bound by the law, and sometimes, in very vicious ways.
Source: Interview on the Rachel Maddow Show , Nov 30, 2011

Fundamental patriotism to impeach Bush and Cheney

Anderson and the other activists outlined reasons why Congress should impeach Bush and Cheney. "They have betrayed our Constitution in the most fundamental way," Anderson said. "Impeachment is absolutely critical." Using similar lines from his speeches at anti-war rallies in Washington earlier this year, Anderson said that prior to Bush and Cheney coming into power, the United States looked down on other nations that tortured people, violated treaties or otherwise disregarded laws. But under this administration, the United States is becoming "just like them," the Salt Lake City mayor said. "We are going to stand up for the most fundamental patriotic values," Anderson added. The mayor said impeachment proceedings would send the message to other nations that torture, kidnapping and wiretapping are "not American values."

"Imagine how others in other countries view us," Anderson said. "These are frightening times."

Source: Suzanne Struglinski in Deseret News, ""Flays Bush" , Apr 26, 2007

  • Click here for definitions & background information on Homeland Security.
  • Click here for a profile of Rocky Anderson.
  • Click here for VoteMatch responses by Rocky Anderson.
  • Click here for AmericansElect.org quiz by Rocky Anderson.
Other big-city mayors on Homeland Security: Rocky Anderson on other issues:

Tom Barrett (D,Milwaukee)
Bill de Blasio (D,NYC)
Rahm Emanuel (D,Chicago)
Bob Filner (D,San Diego)
Steven Fulop (D,Jersey City)
Eric Garcetti (D,Los Angeles)
Mike Rawlings (D,Dallas)
Marty Walsh (D,Boston)

Former Mayors:
Rocky Anderson (I,Salt Lake City)
Tom Barrett (D,Milwaukee,WI)
Mike Bloomberg (I,New York City)
Cory Booker (D,Newark,NJ)
Jerry Brown (D,Oakland,CA)
Julian Castro (D,San Antonio,TX)
Rudy Giuliani (R,New York City)
Phil Gordon (D,Phoenix)
Tom Menino (D,Boston)
Dennis Kucinch (D,Cleveland,OH)
Michael Nutter (D,Philadelphia)
Sarah Palin (R,Wasilla,AK)
Annise Parker (D,Houston)
Jerry Sanders (R,San Diego)
Antonio Villaraigosa (D,Los Angeles)
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Page last updated: Mar 26, 2021