Political positions of Norm Coleman

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Main article: Norm Coleman

The political positions of Norm Coleman have changed dramatically over his career. Originally a Democrat and an anti-war activist as a university student during the Vietnam War, Coleman has since switched parties and is now generally considered a moderate Republican.

On social issues, Coleman is largely conservative, opposing abortion, same-sex marriage, and the use of embryonic stem cells. On foreign policy and security, Coleman supported the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq and continues to support the Iraq War and the War on Terror. He also generally favors stronger domestic security over civil liberty concerns. Fiscally, Coleman has supported greater federal spending than more conservative Republicans.

Coleman has voted inline with the Republican Party approximately 85% of the time.[1][2][3]

Contents

[edit] Fiscal policy

[edit] Domestic economy

In February of 2008, Coleman voted in favor of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.[4]

[edit] Pork barrel spending

Citizens Against Government Waste has given Coleman a lifetime rating of 38%.[5] The Club for Growth gave him a 33% "RePORK Card" rating for the year of 2007.[6] Both scores denote a generally weak stance towards fighting pork barrel spending.

[edit] CAFTA

Picture of Coleman, President Bush, and others at CAFTA signing
Picture of Coleman, President Bush, and others at CAFTA signing

Senator Coleman expressed reservations about supporting CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) unless the interests of the domestic U.S. sugar industry (including Minnesota's sugar beet industry) were accommodated.[7][8][9]

He voted in favor of CAFTA after obtaining quotas imposed on foreign sugar until 2008. He stood behind President Bush on August 2, 2005, as the trade agreement was signed into law.[10] "This is a 3 year insurance policy that I have purchased for my sugar farmers..." he said.[11]

[edit] Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Environment

On December 11, 2005 Senator Coleman voted in favor of invoking cloture on, thus advancing, a defense appropriations bill that included oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) after having pledged in 2002 to oppose such drilling. He stated that he did so because although he planned to vote against the bill, he didn't believe that a filibuster was warranted. In spite of this, many environmental advocacy groups (most notably the Sierra Club)[12] viewed his vote as a betrayal of his promise. His vote notwithstanding, the filibuster held, and Coleman voted to strip the ANWR provision from the bill in a subsequent vote.[13][14][15][16][17] Sen. Coleman received a score of 33% for 2007 from the League of Conservation Voters, [1][2] in their view taking the pro-environment position in just five of fourteen cases.

[edit] Foreign policy

[edit] Iraq

Coleman supported the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying at the time, "Saddam is a menace. His menace grows with each passing day. History will judge us harshly if knowing what we know, we fail to act with bipartisan solidarity to prevent the death of hundreds of thousands."[18] Since then, Coleman has repeatedly voted against setting a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.[18]

On January 22, 2007 Coleman, along with fellow Republican Senators John Warner and Susan Collins, joined the bipartisan opposition to President Bush's Iraq War troop surge of 2007.[19]

[edit] Iran

On September 26, 2007, Coleman voted to designate Iran's Quds Force as a terrorist organization.[20]

[edit] Torture

In 2008, Coleman agreed that waterboarding was a form of torture, but opposed a measure that would have outlawed its use by the CIA. The specific legislation would have limited the CIA to interrogation techniques outlined in the Army Field Manual.[21][22]

[edit] Social policy

[edit] Abortion, stem-cell research, and Schiavo case

Senator Coleman has campaigned as a pro-life candidate since at least 1993.[23] In 2006, Coleman was given a 0% rating by NARAL Pro-Choice America and a 100% rating by the National Right to Life Committee indicating a strong pro-life voting record.[24] Coleman attributes his position on abortion to the death of two of his four children in infancy from a rare genetic disease. He supports limiting stem cell research to adult stem cells and stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood, and, in July 2006, he voted against lifting restrictions on federal research dollars for new embryonic stem cell lines.[25][26] Senator Coleman voted in favor of efforts to prolong the life of severely brain-damaged Floridian Terri Schiavo.[27][28][29]

[edit] Gay rights issues

Coleman opposes the legal recognition of same-sex marriages or civil unions by either the federal or state governments.

  • As mayor of St. Paul, Coleman voted against an effort to repeal a city law that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation.
  • For the eight years he was Mayor of Saint Paul, Coleman failed to sign a city proclamation celebrating the annual gay pride festival, even though his two predecessors and both of his successors have signed the proclamation.

Norm defended his action in 1998: "What we have had in St. Paul and Minneapolis for many years is [the ritual of] signing a joint proclamation making it gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender month. I will say that I support human rights... And of course that includes sexual orientation. On the other hand, I've felt very strongly that is wasn't government's responsibility to give proclamations for people's sexuality. I don't think government has a responsibility to issue awards for one's sexuality."[30][31] However, in 1998, Coleman hired a transgendered person, Susan Kimberly, to be his deputy mayor. Kimberly also worked as Coleman’s Minnesota Senate Office as State Director.

  • While running for Governor of Minnesota in 1998, Coleman's campaign ran radio ads that attacked his DFL opponent Skip Humphrey for his support of same-sex marriage.
  • While running for Governor in 1998, Coleman used an anti-gay flyer at the Republican Party of Minnesota convention.[32]
  • Coleman opposes adoptions by gay and lesbian individuals.[32]
  • In his 2002 Senate campaign, Coleman pledged support for a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would ban any state from recognizing either same-sex marriage or similar civil unions.
  • In 2004, Coleman voted to end a bipartisan filibuster on that proposed amendment to the Constitution (Senate vote 155, July 14, 2004). The vote failed 48-50. He voted again with proponents of a constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in June 2006.[33]
  • Coleman has employed a transsexual woman, Susan Kimberly, as his Deputy Mayor in St. Paul, and more recently as the State Director of his United State's Senate office. Kimberly used to be Robert Sylvester, a St. Paul city councilman.[34]

[edit] Immigration

Coleman voted in favor of the Secure Fence Act of 2006 to extend the the border fence along the United States–Mexico border.[35]

[edit] Civil liberties

For the years of 2005-2006, Coleman was given a 17% rating by the American Civil Liberties Union indicating a weak civil liberties record.[24]

Coleman supported the REAL ID Act.[36] He also voted in favor of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 which, among other things, suspended habeas corpus for "unlawful enemy combatants" detained by the U.S.[37] In 2007, he co-sponsored the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. He also voted to grant legal immunity to telecom corporations that cooperated with the NSA warrantless surveillance program.[38]

[edit] Gun rights

In 2002, Coleman received a grade of "A" from the National Rifle Association, and in 2006 he received a 100% rating from Gun Owners of America.[24]

[edit] Marijuana issues

Coleman recently made this statement about marijuana legalization: "I oppose the legalization of marijuana because, as noted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, marijuana can have serious adverse health affects on individuals. The health problems that may occur from this highly addictive drug include short-term memory loss, anxiety, respiratory illness and a risk of lung cancer that far exceeds that of tobacco products. It would also make our transportation, schools and workplaces, just as examples, more dangerous."[39] According to Coleman's former college classmate Norm Kent, Coleman smoked marijuana regularly in his college years and was an outspoken opponent of drug busts.[40]

[edit] References

  1. ^ 108th Congress / Senate / Members voting with their parties. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  2. ^ 109th Congress / Senate / Members voting with their parties. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  3. ^ 110th Congress / Senate / Members voting with their parties. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
  4. ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes - On Passage of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  5. ^ Citizens Against Government Waste - Norm Coleman
  6. ^ The Club for Growth 2007 Senate RePORK Card
  7. ^ Earle, Geoff (2005-04-27). Coleman feeling heat on CAFTA. The Hill. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  8. ^ Murphy, Em (2005-07-27). Sugar Daddy No More. City Pages. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  9. ^ Frommer, Frederic J. (2005-05-09). CAFTA Has Little Support among Minnesota Lawmakers. Associated Press. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  10. ^ Bush Signs Trade Accord with Central America, Dominican Republic usinfo.state.gov 8/2/05
  11. ^ COLEMAN JOINS BIPARTISAN MAJORITY IN PASSING CAFTA AFTER BROKERING AGREEMENT TO FULLY PROTECT U.S. SUGAR INDUSTRY — Norm Coleman website 6/30/05
  12. ^ Senator Coleman breaks promise on oil drilling — Minnesota Sierra Club 12/21/05
  13. ^ Coleman votes in favor of debating ANWR provision in defense bill — KARE News 12/21/05
  14. ^ On the Concurrent Resolution (S. Con. Res. 74 ) senate role call
  15. ^ STATEMENT BY SEN. NORM COLEMAN: SENATE CLOTURE VOTE ON DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL — Norm Coleman website 12/21/05
  16. ^ ANWR STRIPPED FROM DEFENSE BILL BY 48-45 VOTE — Norm Coleman website 12/21/05
  17. ^ Coleman Votes Against Filibuster Of ANWR — cco.com 12/21/05
  18. ^ a b Norm Coleman on War & Peace. OnTheIssues.org. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  19. ^ Key GOP senator opposes Bush's Iraq plan — CNN 01/22/07
  20. ^ S.AMDT.3017. The Library of Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  21. ^ Collins, Jon (2008-02-07). Coleman opposes limiting interrogations. The Minnesota Daily. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  22. ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes on Passage of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. The U.S. Senate. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
  23. ^ Star Tribune, 8 March 1993, "Mayoral hopeful pits self against the city's DFL establishment"
  24. ^ a b c Project Vote Smart. Senator Norm Coleman - Interest Group Ratings. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  25. ^ Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 vote record 7/18/06
  26. ^ Coleman To Vote Against Stem Cell Bill. Associated Press (2006-07-12).
  27. ^ Timeline: Terri Schiavo case &mdsash; BBC News updated Thursday, 31 March, 2005
  28. ^ COLEMAN COMMENDS BIPARTISAN SENATE EFFORT TO SAVE TERRI SCHIAVO — Norm Coleman official website 3/20/05
  29. ^ Babington, Charles (2005-03-21). Congress Passes Schiavo Measure. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  30. ^ City Pages - Norm's Conquest
  31. ^ All the people should be equal under the law — Star Tribune, 5/4/94
  32. ^ a b Text Copy of Anti-Gay Flyer from Norm Coleman's 1998 Campaign
  33. ^ On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. J. Res. 1 ) vote record 6/7/06
  34. ^ Mad Becoming Mainstream. Journal of the Family Research Institute. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  35. ^ Norm Coleman. The Star Tribune. Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  36. ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 1st Session - H. R. 1268 Conference Report (2005-05-10). Retrieved on 2008-01-09.
  37. ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 2nd Session - On Passage of the Bill (S. 3930 As Amended ). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
  38. ^ U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes - On the Amendment (Dodd Amdt. No. 3907 ). Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
  39. ^ NORML's open letter to Sen. Norm Coleman. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  40. ^ Senator, You Used to Be a Pot Head -- Now You're Talking Like a Narc — alternet, 7/6/07

[edit] External links