MIKE WALTNER
Democratic candidate
Website: www.waltnerforcongress.com

IRAQ

LEAD has been calling for a timely withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, and we oppose any future attempts to substitute pre-emptive war for diplomacy. What is your position on the Iraq war and a timetable for ending it?

The war in Iraq is a disastrous foreign policy blunder, and a failed policy by the Bush administration. We have to bring our troops home as soon as possible, and in no more than 12 months, and facilitate the installment of an international peacekeeping force. In addition, we need to initiate an aggressive diplomatic push, including all regional powers, regardless of whether or not they are American allies. We need to help rebuild the shattered Iraq infrastructure, and put the Iraqi Government on notice, by establishing a firm timetable for our exit, so that it can take the necessary steps towards consolidating political authority. Our exit is not a retreat, it is a strategic redeployment. We have to focus our efforts on the War on Terror, by bolstering our forces in Afghanistan, particularly on the border with Pakistan. Our military is overextended, with too many brave young men and women serving far too many tours without the rest and recuperation that they need to be effective. I am a firm believer in the use of diplomacy. Our status in the view of the international community has suffered greatly due to this war, and we are not helping our cause by building an embassy in Iraq, dubbed ‘Fortress Baghdad’ by Foreign Policy Magazine, that seems by definition to contradict an effective diplomatic strategy by isolating our diplomatic corps. While I will not flatly rule out the future use of our military when needed, I do not support the notion of pre-emptive war as a substitute for diplomacy.

HEALTHCARE

Are you in favor of single payer health care?

Absolutely. In fact, I’m the only candidate in this race who openly supports single-payer health care. I fully back HR 676, which already has the support of nearly 90 Representatives and will have considerably more after this election cycle. This is not socialized medicine, it is civilized medicine.

EARTH

LEAD advocates preservation of our environment as vital to both the health and economic well-being of our families and future generations. Briefly, tell us your positions on energy conservation, climate change, protecting our water and air quality, building the proposed tire plant on the IP Industrial site, and on legislating more wilderness areas in the Allegheny National Forest.

The future of the 21st century economy must be built on a steadfast commitment to environmental protection. I believe that the salvation of our natural resources is achievable only through the increased efficiency of our consumer products, a redirection of commercial investment towards new, cleaner technology, and the protection of our natural treasures like the Allegheny National Forest and Presque Isle State Park. Overall, I believe that long term economic development must be married to the protection of our environment and natural resources in this region and throughout the country. There are literally billions of dollars for green venture capital projects that are waiting to be invested in regions like ours.

Environmentally sustainable economic development promises to be the next great innovation in the American economy. I will work at the federal level to ensure that Northwest Pennsylvania plays a vital role in this process. I do not believe that the proposed tire plant is in line with this thinking, nor does the potential economic benefit of its creation outweigh the negative impacts it could have on our local environment.

TRADE

Fast Track and Free Trade now appear to have not only cost millions of American jobs and destroyed thousands of American workplaces, they have also caused capital flight and a decline in our nation's position in the world economy. What are you willing to do to reverse this trend and to move towards fair trade to protect our working people?

Globalization is a reality, but our government has a moral obligation to protect American workers and require our trading partners to improve the working conditions and wages of their workers, as well as maintain the same environmental standards we expect of American industries. Our current trade policies are dangerously naïve and have led to the deterioration of the quality of life for working class Americans.

I will support only those trade agreements that ensure a level playing field for American and foreign manufacturers by requiring equitable wages and environmental protection regulations for both. To do this, we must call for a moratorium on all our trade agreements. In addition, we must suspend fast track authority of the President to ratify trade agreements.

I believe that we stand at the cusp of the next great transition in the American economy, in which sustainable, environmentally responsible development will be at the forefront of economic development and production. We need to ensure that America stands as a catalyst for this development. I believe that Northwest Pennsylvania, in particular, is well suited to be a national leader in this process, given our proud history of hard work, ingenuity, and natural resources. I will work to ensure that we, as a region, and as a nation, grasp this historic opportunity.

FREEDOM

LEAD values individual rights ensured by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, especially freedom of conscience and the principle of church-state separation. Do you affirm such rights? How will they guide your decisions on federal legislation?

I believe that the principle of church-state separation is of fundamental importance to our democracy. It ensures that we as citizens are free to believe, or not believe what we choose, without fear of government coercion or reprisal. The political process in this country is dependent on a plurality of different ideas and opinions. This ensures the protection of our First Amendment rights and our ability, as a nation, to collectively find productive solutions to the important issues of the day. We cannot defend the spirit on which this country was founded by violating the First Amendment rights of its citizens. I would not support legislation that seeks to impose a narrow set of ideological or sectarian viewpoints on the entire population.

REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES

What is your stand on abortion?

Like many Americans, I believe that abortion is a tragedy. However, I also believe that we tread dangerous waters when we toy with federal legislation that impedes a woman’s ability to fully control her body, and her health. I will support sensible family planning legislation that will aim to reduce the number of abortions in this country. This being said, I will never support a policy that inserts the Federal government into the decision-making process regarding a woman’s health - those choices are between a woman, her doctor, and her family. We have to remember that this is a part of the broader issue of women’s health. I am aware of this, and will also take steps in Congress to guarantee inclusive medical coverage for women and make contraceptives more accessible.

DEATH PENALTY

Do you favor a repeal of the death penalty?

I can not in good conscience support the death penalty. Over 120 innocent people have been released from death row in America since 1974. In Southern states, where capital punishment is most often used, they still have some of the highest murder rates in the country. In addition, the death penalty has never, in my opinion, been administered in either an effective or fair manner, nor has it concretely been proven to serve as an effective crime deterrent. I can find no convincing moral argument for it.

MILITARY

In view of the marked deterioration of our armed forces in the past 6 years, and the resulting risk of terrorist attacks to the United States, would you favor a military draft?

I do not favor the implementation of a mandatory military draft. While I understand the argument and the desire to bring a sense of shared sacrifice and patriotic duty back to this country, I do not support a draft. We do, however, need to take measures to replenish our armed forces, which have been so glaringly drained under George Bush’s failed leadership. In order to increase recruitment we must first end the disastrous war in Iraq and convince the American people that their leadership will no longer engage in such blunders. Another way to boost recruitment is to drastically improve the services that we offer to our veterans, which have been patently neglected by the Bush Administration. We must increase funding for the Veteran’s Administration, and take measures to streamline the benefits process. It is simply unacceptable that we have our recently wounded veterans being forced to pay for their own meals and phone calls while recovering in VA hospitals. Prospective recruits surely recognize this and will be more willing to serve once we take measures to correct it.

ECONOMY

What would you propose to correct the declining U.S. economy?

In the past decades we have seen our economy shift from the greatest lending power in the world to the biggest debtor nation, with China holding a vast sum of our federal bond reserves. We need to once again make America a leading center of ingenuity for the world economy, and to strengthen the place of the dollar. The process of globalization is undeniable and irreversible, and we have to take measures to ensure the standing of the American economy and worker. Fast track authority and free trade agreements have resulted in an exodus of jobs from America, we must put these men and women back to work. To do this, we need to stake our place as the leader in the next great transition in the world economy, sustainable, environmentally responsible development.

In broader terms, we need to end the costly war in Iraq and reinvest this money at home. We have spent nearly half a trillion dollars on this war. Just imagine how much we could have accomplished at home with this money. We need to implement economic policies that work for the American public, strengthening the middle class. We can no longer stand for the egregious CEO salary disparities and severance packages that take vast sums of money out of the pocket of the American worker. It is time to reverse the Bush tax cuts, and the corporate handouts that have become rife under this President’s watch.

OTHER

What else would you like to let people know about you?

I am a firm believer that “To lead is to serve.” That is why I have been focusing all of my campaign’s resources on building what is the largest grassroots operation in this race so that I can gain direct access to the voters of this district, so I can hear their voice and share with them my vision for positive change. Our campaign is predicated on an inclusive approach. With the largest, and, in fact, only functioning grassroots operation in this contest we are reaching out to all voters in this district, regardless of location, race, gender, age, or economic status To date we have already knocked on over 4,000 doors, making direct contact with over 8,000 individual voters. Our operation is constantly growing as we convey our message. We are confident that by April 22nd we will have knocked on nearly 30,000 doors, connecting with almost every Democratic voter in the district. I am the only candidate doing this, and I am also the only candidate in this race with a national fundraising base. In fact, the success of our grassroots campaign is bringing in new donors every day. I intend to use these two assets to ensure that Phil English is no longer our Congressman on January 1st, 2009. The way for us to affect real change in this district is to send a new type of leader to Washington. It is simply too risky to settle for another self-financing candidate, lawyer, or career politician. We’ve been trying this for the past 14 years and it has gotten us nothing. My extensive professional background in community service has informed my view of what leadership should be in this country, and I believe that I am the new type of leader who can once again make government serve the interests of the citizens of this district.

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