5.  What are the most important governing principles that you would rely upon as the framework for your presidency?
A) Describe how those principles would guide your decision-making process in
conducting the affairs of the nation as President.
B) Relate each of your governing principles to the U.S. Constitution and the vision of the Founding Fathers.

 

Mike Huckabee:

I believe that our rights come from God, not from our government; that the people should retain as much power and be left alone as much as possible; that the federal government should not do what can be done at the local or state level; that our government belongs to the people, not the lobbyists and special interests; that government at all levels exists to serve the people and not the other way around; that we must respect the separation of powers and no branch should usurp the authority of another; that my greatest responsibility is to protect the American people from all threats; that the free market, low taxes, and minimal regulation are the keys to economic growth and prosperity; that Americans are owed equal opportunity, but not an equal outcome; that we are a culture of life and recognize that each individual has intrinsic value and worth; that we are only as strong as our families; that we owe a huge debt to those who have given their lives for this country to protect the freedoms and way of life for which they sacrificed.

A) Describe how those principles would guide your decision-making process in

conducting the affairs of the nation as President.

 

I would weigh all of my decisions in the context of those principles to assure that I am doing the right thing and not the popular or expedient thing.  I will always err on the side of protecting life, strengthening our families, and protecting our citizens and

our country from possible threats to their safety.

 

B) Relate each of your governing principles to the U. S. Constitution and the vision

of the Founding Fathers.

 

The Founding Fathers shared my vision that our rights come from God.  I share

their concern that we never become victims of tyranny, and I will scrupulously honor the separation of powers and checks and balances they conceived for us and will staunchly defend all of our individual rights, including the Second Amendment, which some don’t take as seriously as our other rights.  I will appoint judges who will uphold the original intent of the Founding Fathers and preserve their wisdom.

John McCain:

My administration will be built on the principles of expanding personal, political and economic freedom. I believe that government should do only those things individuals cannot do for themselves, and do them efficiently. Defending the freedom of individuals through limited government is a central pillar of my government philosophy and a principle descended from our Founding Fathers and embedded in the Constitution.

America was founded through the blood of our forefathers to establish political freedom. My Administration would honor this sacrifice and others throughout our history by respecting our political freedom and protecting it from the influence of special interests and the judicial assault by those that legislate from the bench.

My administration would be committed to preserving and enhancing economic freedom in the U.S. and round the globe. Expanding economic freedom is a pro-growth agenda that is built on a competitive private sector and a small, responsive, results-oriented government. Economic freedom is my primary economic objective because a free society will be a prosperous and just one.

Ron Paul:

My presidency would be guided by Article II of the Constitution, which sets the powers and limitations of the president.

A) Describe how those principles would guide your decision-making process in

conducting the affairs of the nation as President.

The president must lead by example.  The American people cannot expect their Congress or local and state governments to govern properly if the president is overstepping his bounds.  As a congressman, I have sought to only vote for legislation expressly authorized by the Constitution.  This approach would also guide my presidency.  The president must uphold our Republican system, which means that he must lead the federal government in respecting the Tenth Amendment, leaving all powers not given to the federal government in the hands of the individual states.

B) Relate each of your governing principles to the U.S. Constitution and the vision of the Founding Fathers.

The Constitution and the vision of the founders have always guided my actions, and will continue to do so as president.

 

Mitt Romney:

The President's job is to keep America safe.  This is reflected most clearly in Article II of the US Constitution, the designation of the President as commander-in-chief, and the Presidential oath to defend the United States.  This fundamental principle will help guide each of my decisions as President on both domestic and foreign policy.

Of course the President must carry out all his duties in a way that is consistent with the Constitution, the rule of law, and that is mindful of the separation of powers – which is both explicit and inherent in our Constitution.  Under principles of federalism, for example, we must respect the role of the states and recognize that the federal government possesses limited, enumerated powers.  Federalism and all it entails is an important governing principle and a key safeguard against big government and the heavy hand of Washington.

Lastly, I recognize that government exists to serve its citizens, not the other way around.  Each decision a President makes must be guided by this simple proposition.  Those elected to office in Washington must work together to solve our nation's problems.  The American people sent us to Washington with a job to do, and we must carry through and get the job done.

In my view, the writers of the Constitution put in place a brilliant framework for our government and our future - complete with guiding principles and a vision - and anyone who holds the office of the President must recognize and embrace them.

 

Fred Thompson:

I am firmly committed to what I call “First Principles.”   These principles originated from the documents that established our nation and represent the collective wisdom of our founding fathers.   They are the core beliefs that would be the framework of my presidency.   They include:

Individual Liberty.  As Thomas Jefferson spelled out in the Declaration of Independence, our basic rights come from God, not from government.   Among these inalienable rights is the right to liberty.  Individuals should be able to live their lives with very minimal government interference.

Personal Responsibility.  The corollary to liberty is responsibility.  No society can succeed and thrive for any duration unless free people act in a responsible way.  All of us must take responsibility for our actions and strive to improve our own.

Limited Government. The Constitution grants specific powers to government and upholds the rights of individuals.   With these powers in mind, I believe government must be strong enough to protect us, competent enough to provide basic government services, but modest and humane enough to let the people govern themselves.

Protecting Our Country. The first responsibility of the federal government is to protect the nation and the American people.  There is no more important task.

The Rule of Law. Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution give specific responsibilities to each branch of government with regard to our nation’s laws.   The legislative branch was granted the power to make the laws, the executive branch was given the power to execute the laws, and a judiciary was given the authority adjudicate conflicts within the law.    I believe that any action by a branch of government that goes beyond its assigned roles is contrary to the intent of the founding fathers and should be opposed.   In particular, the judiciary should be free and independent but must only interpret the law by adhering strictly to the legal text and respect its limited role in our system of government.  We need judges who understand that role if we are preserve our republic and freedom.

 

Traditional American Values.  A healthy society is predicated on belief in God; respect for all life; strong families centered on the institution of marriage – the union of a man and a woman; and self-respect and tolerance of others.  While we are all free to live our lives in the pursuit of our own happiness, the government has a responsibility to respect the rights of parents to raise their children and to promote the values that produce the strongest society.

Free Markets. Free people are best equipped to order their own affairs. Our country benefits from and is improved by the aggregate success for all.  Government regulations should be minimized so as to promote the expansion of the economy and bring increased wealth to all Americans.

 

Rudy Giuliani

As a matter of policy, Rudy Giuliani does not respond to questionnaires, but his campaign provided a letter summarizing his positions. Click the above link to read the letter.

 

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All responses are listed in alphabetical order. The American Conservative Union provides these responses for public information only. ACU neither endorses these candidates nor their responses.