ILDem

I'm not a single issue candidate. If I were I wouldn't be in the Democratic Party. When picking a Supreme Court judge, I would take into account his experience, his judicial record, and how he stands on the issues. First and foremost I would look at his views on campaign finance and collective bargaining and go from there.

The Hyde Amendment, which prevents taxpayer from being used for abortions, makes defunding Planned Parenthood a moot point. At that rate you would simply be defunding important prenatal care and other important services for women that I and everyone should support. So as long as the Hyde Amendment remains intact, I see no reason to defend Planned Parenthood. I oppose the abortion procedures they perform but it's no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water.

As Governor of West Virginia, I signed several pro-life bills including parental consent laws and allowing an ultrasound before an abortion. As President, I will work with both parties to reduce the number of abortions. I know that my opponent Speaker Knox is personally Pro-Life, and if I become president, he will be an important ally in pushing for measures to reduce abortions. I oppose abortion except for the usual exceptions. That's where Republicans agree with me. So, to answer your question, I will be seeking several avenues to push forward the pro-life cause.

I am firmly opposed to racism, turkey bacon, decaf coffee, and non-alcoholic beer.

Presidential Candidate Beau Bennett meets with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno in Nevada to answer questions they may have on their mind.

Speaker Knox, I'm a minister at Shem Creek Presbyterian down the road. A lot of what I hear from the people here is they are tad confused about your "personal pro-life. but politically pro-choice" stance on the unborn. If you believe life begins at conception, how can you personally believe it but not take it with you to Washington D.C.?

Mr. President, I second the motion to table this bill. The different version in the House addresses concerns of both sides of the debate, and as a Democrat who prides himself on bipartisanship, I believe it is in the best interests of the American people to hear the more nuanced version of this bill. I yield.

Tax reform is another issue that I plan to tackle as President, and it is an issue that I believe we can truly get bipartisan legislation put together to achieve it. My feelings on taxes is that before we discuss raising or lowering, we need to make sure everyone is paying them. I believe in closing loopholes for corporations. Most do not pay the actual tax rate they are assigned because of all the tricks and ways to take advantage of the system. In this country, we have a dual system of so many. Different expectations for different classes of people. The middle class is wondering: "where's my loophole?" It is for this reason that I support lower taxes on the working and middle classes. These people are the consumer class, the ones that buy all the goods. If we want a sound economy, we must ease some of the burden we put onto the consumer class. After closing all loopholes, we can assess the situation from there. I don't support raising taxes on earned income. I do, however, support raising taxes on capital gains and investments for bankers and hedge fund managers. At the end of the day, we don't want to punish people for doing well in life, however by that same token, income inequality keeps rising and the disparities are so large, that those with means should pay a little more. And it's not all for nothing. Taxes are not a punishment, they are an investment. They help fund our schools, our roads, and our public safety. I do think that tax reform should include an examination of where all the money goes, and ensure that government waste is cut out of the picture. It's only fair. The trade-off is simple. Taxes raise revenue, this revenue helps our services and fellow man. I know that taxes can be hectic and there's a lot of talk about it, but I will be a President that will lead the charge on a fairer tax system, one that will keep us competitive, one that will ensure your money is going to where it should, and one that will decrease income inequality.

Beau Bennett (Senate Multi) Tax reform is another issue that I plan to tackle as President, and it is an issue that I believe we can truly get bipartisan legislation put together to achieve it. My feelings on taxes is that before we discuss raising or lowering, we need to make sure everyone is paying them. I believe in closing loopholes for corporations. Most do not pay the actual tax rate they are assigned because of all the tricks and ways to take advantage of the system. In this country, we have a dual system of so many. Different expectations for different classes of people. The middle class is wondering: "where's my loophole?" It is for this reason that I support lower taxes on the working and middle classes. These people are the consumer class, the ones that buy all the goods. If we want a sound economy, we must ease some of the burden we put onto the consumer class. After closing all loopholes, we can assess the situation from there. I don't support raising taxes on earned income. I do, however, support raising taxes on capital gains and investments for bankers and hedge fund managers. At the end of the day, we don't want to punish people for doing well in life, however by that same token, income inequality keeps rising and the disparities are so large, that those with means should pay a little more. And it's not all for nothing. Taxes are not a punishment, they are an investment. They help fund our schools, our roads, and our public safety. I do think that tax reform should include an examination of where all the money goes, and ensure that government waste is cut out of the picture. It's only fair. The trade-off is simple. Taxes raise revenue, this revenue helps our services and fellow man. I know that taxes can be hectic and there's a lot of talk about it, but I will be a President that will lead the charge on a fairer tax system, one that will keep us competitive, one that will ensure your money is going to where it should, and one that will decrease income inequality. View full PR

Not at all. I believe the electoral college was set up for a reason. Smaller, more rural states should have as much a say as the larger more coastal ones. Simple as that. Flyover country's opinion matters too.

I oppose the assault weapons ban. I believe that curbing gun violence will be achieved by stricter background checks and better gun training. Banning particular types of weapons will not adequately stop the epidemic of violence in this country. More funding for mental health services, instant background checks, and closing the gun show loophole will help much more than a ban on certain weapons.

Thank you for your question and your candidness. I cannot tell you who to vote for, in fact, that would be very condescending of me. However, I can tell you that my initiatives as President would be beneficial to the black community. One of the aspects of my criminal justice reform platform includes police reform which will include body cameras and the demilitarization of the police. Couple that with local initiatives like community policing and stricter police training, we will see a decrease in police shootings in this country. And on the issue of jobs, my Workers Bill of Rights extends to all working people of every creed or color. Chief among them is the right to unionize. Over the last 20 years or more, collective bargaining has been torn apart, leading to layoffs, a skills gap, and an increase in poverty. My Workers Bill of Rights will restore dignity for every community that needs a rejuvenation. Again, thank you for question.

Friends, The issue of illegal immigration is extremely complicated. I'm sure, even after the debate last night, you have some questions about my specific beliefs on this issue. My opposition to illegal immigration is on the basis of protecting American Workers. It's amazing how my voice has become the minority in the Democratic Party. I believe that when big businesses hire illegals for lower wages, it undercuts wages for American citizens. It is for that reason that part of my reform plan will be to crack down on the businesses that exploit desperate people for their own financial gain. It's despicable and it needs to stop. The problem is not immigrants coming here for a better life, the problem is those who come here will ill-intent, overstay their visas, and the businesses that exploit the good ones to make a quick buck. I also believe that you don't blame kids for the sins of their parents, protecting Dreamers should be a priority. After these 2 large problems are addressed, I believe that we should fully secure our border and deport violent criminals. Otherwise law abiding immigrants who work hard and pay taxes should be allowed to stay. Obviously, immigration is not a one size fits all issue. Nuance. Nuance is what we are lacking at the moment. You have people calling to abolish birthright citizenship. Others say we should limit LEGAL immigration. On the other side, you have some people who believe illegal immigration isn't a problem. You cannot dismiss the concerns of the common man in order to make yourself feel superior. Illegal immigration is a problem but until we come together to solve it, the system will stay broken. As President I will lead reform for our immigration laws, reforms that will help balance our law and order instincts with our fairness instincts. Both need to be intact to solve this problem. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't want it solved. Simple as that.

Beau Bennett (Senate Multi) Friends, The issue of illegal immigration is extremely complicated. I'm sure, even after the debate last night, you have some questions about my specific beliefs on this issue. My opposition to illegal immigration is on the basis of protecting American Workers. It's amazing how my voice has become the minority in the Democratic Party. I believe that when big businesses hire illegals for lower wages, it undercuts wages for American citizens. It is for that reason that part of my reform plan will be to crack down on the businesses that exploit desperate people for their own financial gain. It's despicable and it needs to stop. The problem is not immigrants coming here for a better life, the problem is those who come here will ill-intent, overstay their visas, and the businesses that exploit the good ones to make a quick buck. I also believe that you don't blame kids for the sins of their parents, protecting Dreamers should be a priority. After these 2 large problems are addressed, I believe that we should fully secure our border and deport violent criminals. Otherwise law abiding immigrants who work hard and pay taxes should be allowed to stay. Obviously, immigration is not a one size fits all issue. Nuance. Nuance is what we are lacking at the moment. You have people calling to abolish birthright citizenship. Others say we should limit LEGAL immigration. On the other side, you have some people who believe illegal immigration isn't a problem. You cannot dismiss the concerns of the common man in order to make yourself feel superior. Illegal immigration is a problem but until we come together to solve it, the system will stay broken. As President I will lead reform for our immigration laws, reforms that will help balance our law and order instincts with our fairness instincts. Both need to be intact to solve this problem. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't want it solved. Simple as that. View full PR

I believe a strong education is the building block for success for every child and the foundation for our country’s long-term economic strength. For many communities in West Virginia, our schools are more than just classrooms, teachers and textbooks. They’re the heart of the community and a home away from home. They’re a place where nutritional meals are served and healthcare services are provided by trusted school nurses. As a country we need to do more at every level to ensure that all of our children receive a high-quality, well-rounded education that prepares them for college and a career. I also believe higher education is the key to opportunity and the best way to keep the United States competitive in the global marketplace. For many of our nation’s students, though, student debt has been overly burdensome and made it harder these students to meet their career goals. I have worked and will continue to work on bipartisan legislation that will simplify loan repayments for students and families so they can focus on getting the best education they can and being a productive member of society. As President, I will tackle education in a way that our current administration has been shockingly mute on. The current crop of Republicans really make bipartisanship difficult. It's easy to complain about the skills gap, about a perceived lack of hard work among younger people, but for all these complaints we see nothing to help fix the problems. At the end of the day, this does help show the differences between myself and the the dyed in the wool conservatives. I believe that a modest-sized and efficient government, free from lobbyist control, can be a beneficent force in people's lives, particularly on the issue of education. The far right believes that the government is there simply as a hindrance. It is much more nuanced then they make it sound like. I'm willing to let bygones be bygones, and reach across the aisle to help our kids have a better future when I become President. The ball will be in their court.