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Joni Ernst on Principles & Values

 

 


Obama administration misused power to spy on Trump

Sen. Joni Ernst suggested the federal government misused its power to spy on President Donald Trump for political reasons as part of its investigation into Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 election. "With the federal government spying on political opponents--what have we come to?" Ernst said. "And that seemed to generate out of the Obama administration. So I think that there are some things that need to be looked at. We need to understand, when is it appropriate to misuse power so that you're using your federal assets to go after a political opponent? It sounds very much like something you find in Russia or someplace like that."

Ernst did not specify which of the federal government's actions she considers "spying." The senator was responding to a question from the group about special counsel Robert Mueller's report, a redacted version of which was released last week.

Source: Des Moines Register summary of Mueller Report , Apr 24, 2019

Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.

Ernst: Strongly Disagree.

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Ernst: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Ernst: I am a Christian. I have grown up in the Lutheran faith, worship in the church I grew up in, and continue to teach Sunday school in that very church. My faith and beliefs continue to define who I am today as a mother, wife, soldier, state senator and community leader.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Iowa Senate race , Sep 30, 2014

FactCheck: Missed half of state Senate votes for campaigning

Ernst has cited her National Guard duty to rebuff criticism for missing more than half of the votes in the Iowa Senate this year. However, a review shows very little overlap between Iowa Senate votes and her National Guard service.

[When asked about the missed votes, Ernst said], "They've included in those votes time I've been serving on orders with Iowa Army National Guard." The interviewer asked whether some of the missed votes were due to campaigning. "Yes, there were," Ernst said. "They were for other scheduled activities, and not knowing what the debate calendar is before they come up."

According to the Iowa National Guard, Ernst was on orders for training or other duty on [12 days this session, but] only two of those days--March 10-11-- overlapped with days the Iowa Senate held votes, accounting for 12 votes (or about 10%) of the 117 missed votes. Excluding the days that overlapped with Ernst's guard duty, she's missed 105 votes, or 57% of the Iowa Senate votes this session.

Source: The Gazette FactCheck on 2014 Iowa Senate race , Apr 14, 2014

AdWatch: "Let's make 'em squeal" in Washington

There is so little left in national politics to delight us. The candidates, for the most part, are scripted, strident and narrow people who betray their actual humanity at their own peril. But the last five years have brought one big bright spot to the political circus: Because of the viral nature of the Internet, the ads are just getting better. The latest case in point is a new 30-second jewel by Joni Ernst. Her pitch: I can castrate pigs so I am the perfect conservative for Iowa to send to the Senate.

Not only does she remove pig testicles, she smiles talking about it. The gender politics behind the spot--Ernst would join only four other female Republicans in the Senate if she wins--are both bold and hilarious. In a city of broken down men, she tells voters, it will take a woman with a knife to fix things. "Let's make 'em squeal," she announces. And at that point she is no longer talking about pigs, at least not of the livestock type.

Source: Time magazine AdWatch of 2014 Iowa Senate race , Mar 25, 2014

Values we grew up with are being threatened now

A common theme of the night [among Republican candidates] was the belief that the generations of today and tomorrow won't have the opportunities that have been afforded them.

Joni Ernst remarked that what drives her is a desire to protect Iowa values from federal overreach. "The values that I hold dear, that I grew up with and that I have fought for, for over 20 years are being threatened by the failed policies of this president," Ernst said.

Source: Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier on 2014 Iowa Senate race , Sep 23, 2013

Endorsed Endorsed by Donald Trump/MAGA during presidency.

Ernst is endorsed by Trump/MAGA endorsement list

Endorsements by Donald Trump, implying support of Trump's agenda and electoral style. The phrase `Make America Great Again` was popularized in Trump`s 2015 book Time to Get Tough:Making America Great Again. It is the campaign slogan embroidered on the ubiquitous red caps seen at Trump rallies (which after Trump`s presidency, became known as `MAGA rallies`).

Source: Ballotpedia 2016-2022 endorsement list 2022-MAGA on Jan 1, 2022

Certify 2020 Presidential election as fully & fairly counted.

Ernst 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.