Vince Coakley's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
Vince Coakley has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2014 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests.
Issue Positions
For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2014.
- "Our Constitution guarantees a protection of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The most basic of these is life itself.Unfortunately we've watched America embrace a culture of death. All too often, what should be one of the safest places in the world, a mother's womb, is not safe. Since 1973, over 54 million babies have been aborted at the altar of "choice".Clearly there are medical situations where sincere people face tough choices when a mother's life is in danger. And while we should also be sensitive to the terrible trauma of the exceptional cases of rape and incest, these rare situations do not in any way excuse the senseless killings of tens of millions of innocent babies. We are a nation with blood on our hands.I believe we should do everything possible to protect the unborn. And while I support government protection to prevent abortions merely as a means of birth control, I also recognize our greatest need is for a change of heart: hearts alive to the conviction that we have an obligation to protect innocent human lives.My burden is greatest for my fellow Black Americans, who are involved in a disproportionate number of these abortions." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "Democrats and Republicans are to blame for the record debt, dearth of quality jobs, and oppressive regulations that are impeding our economic recovery and opportunities for the families and small businesses in the Twelfth District. Washington and Congress have been in a perpetual state of dysfunction for more than a decade now.The Democrat record for strengthening the economy and creating jobs has been to push for failed stimulus deals, increase government spending, and wreak havoc with our free enterprise system by forcing small businesses to operate under onerous regulations and higher taxes. Democrats are killing jobs and jeopardizing our nation's future with insurmountable debt.The Republican record for strengthening our economy and creating jobs has been to bailout Corporate America after they make poor decisions and allow for the abuse of earmarks and pet projects to drive up our national debt.Neither the Democrat nor Republican approach is working. And as a result, the middle-class is being squeezed." (votesmart.org)
- "To him, the foundation of government is individual liberty. That means getting rid of the regulatory state, ensuring free markets and getting the federal government out of issues such as education." (www.charlotteobserver.com)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "The so-called "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" has been a huge disappointment. It has never lived up to the promise, and it never will. There is no greater evidence of its failure than the President's promise, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it." His promise is now widely considered the biggest lie of the year (2013).Health premiums continue to soar, millions have been forced off their insurance plans, enrollment delays and glitches are creating insecurity for families and individuals, and new federal rules and guidelines are forcing hospitals to close and doctors to cancel their practice. This is the early legacy of the Affordable Care Act, and it will only get worse.The Affordable Care Act is not about health care it is about health insurance. It doesn't guarantee Americans access to health care. It guarantees the health insurance companies access to more paying customers through government decree. Patients and doctors lose under the plan while the health insurance companies win.Americans deserve access to quality and affordable health care. Patients deserve the freedom to choose their health care coverage in a free market system that isn't controlled by the government or health insurance companies. Doctors deserve the freedom to care for the sick, disabled, and elderly. The solution is to put patients and doctors first, not the health insurance companies." (votesmart.org)
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
- "As the world's only superpower, America has the responsibility to lead on issues of conflict and duress." (votesmart.org)
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