Gary Bauer
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Gary Lee Bauer (born May 4, 1946, Covington, Kentucky)[1] is a conservative American politician notable for his ties to several evangelical Christian groups and campaigns. Bauer received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown College and a law degree from Georgetown University. He served as Ronald Reagan's Undersecretary of Education from 1982 to 1987, and as an advisor on domestic policy from 1987 to 1988.[1] While serving under Reagan, he was named Chairman of President Reagan's Special Working Group on the Family. His report, "The Family: Preserving America's Future," was presented to the President in December 1986.[2]
Bauer served as the president of the Family Research Council from 1988-1999.[3] He resigned from this position to run for the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States. He dropped out of the race after the primaries in February 2000. In 1996, he founded the Campaign for Working Families (CWF), a non-partisan Political Action Committee dedicated to electing pro-family, pro-life and pro-free enterprise candidates to federal and state offices.[4] In addition to serving as the chairman of CWF, Bauer is also the president of American Values, a non-profit organization committed to defending life, traditional marriage, and equipping children with conservative values. [5]. He also serves on the Executive Board of Christians United for Israel, a lobby group headed by John Hagee.[6] Gary Bauer was one of the signers of the Statement of Principles of Project for the New American Century (PNAC) on June 3, 1997.
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[edit] Political posture
Bauer describes himself as pro-life. He is in support of repealing laws that promote abortion. He advocates for the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade as the first step in the pro-life cause.[7] He wants to cut funding for Planned Parenthood and do away with any U.S. aid for abortions. Bauer also says that he would counsel raped family members against abortion.[8] He points to the Constitution and the Nazi view of human life as reasons for not supporting euthanasia, stating that, "all people have immeasurable value because they have been created in the image and likeness of God."[9] He is a supporter of the death penalty. Bauer opposes cloning and embryonic stem cell research, but supports adult stem cell research. He supports a Constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, and prefers abstinence programs to comprehensive sex education programs. Bauer wants to remove from the tax code all economic disincentives to marry.[10]
On foreign policy issues, Bauer supports strong ties with Israel, would not trade with China until the country improves its human rights record, and supports full funding for the Iraq War. Bauer believes that America should advance and protect freedom worldwide and "bring the message of freedom to the Arab world".[11]
Bauer supports enforcing all laws against illegal immigration and that all immigrants should learn English and U.S. traditions.[12]
On economic issues, Bauer supports income tax cuts and decreased regulation of small businesses. He has stated that corporations should serve the U.S. as well as their shareholders, and has occasionally been critical of the World Trade Organization.
[edit] Presidential campaign
Bauer announced his presidential campaign in April of 1999, running on a platform built mostly upon social issues like abortion and tax cuts.[13] Bauer endorsed John McCain when he pulled out of the race in February of 2000.[14]In the fall of 1999, two senior members of Bauer's campaign staff raised questions about closed-door meetings between Bauer and a female campaign aide, Melissa McClard. Bauer's denial of any impropriety prompted two campaign workers to resign.[15] However, there was never any actual evidence brought against Bauer. [16]
[edit] Trivia
Following an incident at a 2000 town hall event in which Republican primary candidate Alan Keyes crowd-surfed in the mosh pit of a group playing the music of rock band Rage Against the Machine, Bauer made a statement that "a band called The Machine Rages On - er - Rage Against the Machine, that band is anti-family, and it's pro-terrorist", which was quoted in the band's "Sleep Now In the Fire" video.[17]
While campaigning in Manchester, New Hampshire (at an event sponsored by Bisquick) during the 2000 Republican Primaries, Bauer fell off the stage while trying to catch pancakes he had flipped up into the air. Bauer wasn’t injured, and spoke of the event as a possible positive turning point in his campaign.[18]
[edit] Media activities
Bauer co-hosted a talk radio show with former Jerusalem Post CEO and President Tom Rose from March 2006 to March 2007 on WMET, a Washington, D.C. area radio station.[19] Bauer is also a frequent guest on many conservative talk-radio programs across the country.
[edit] Publications
Bauer is the author of several books, including:[20]
Our Journey Home, 1992
Children at Risk: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Our Kids, co-author with Dr. James Dobson, 1990
Our Hopes, Our Dreams: A Vision for America, 1996
Doing Things Right, 2001
[edit] Organizations
Bauer has been involved in the following organizations:
- American Values, president[21]
- Campaign for Working Families, chairman[22]
- Christians United For Israel, executive board[23]
- Family Research Council, past president[24]
- Project for the New American Century[25]
[edit] References
- ^ a b OnPolitics: Bauer (R). The Washington Post (2000). Retrieved on May 4, 2007.
- ^ http://www.ouramericanvalues.org/bauer_main.php
- ^ Family Research Council: Tuesday, February 5, 2008 "PG03F06"
- ^ Campaign for Working Families - Unapologetically Pro-Family, Pro-Life, and Pro-Growth
- ^ American Values - Gary L. Bauer, President
- ^ http://www.cufi.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_executive_board
- ^ Roe at 35 - HUMAN EVENTS
- ^ Gary Bauer on the Issues
- ^ American Values - Gary L. Bauer, President
- ^ American Values - Gary L. Bauer, President
- ^ Gary Bauer on the Issues
- ^ Gary Bauer on the Issues
- ^ Bauer officially jumps into 2000 race - April 21, 1999
- ^ CNN Transcript - Special Event: Gary Bauer Endorses John McCain for President - February 16, 2000
- ^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2000/106/21.0.html, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-09/30/012r-093099-idx.html
- ^ The Gary Bauer Scandal - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine
- ^ Fun_People Archive - 28 Jan - How They Got Alan Keyes to Dive Into Their Mosh Pit
- ^ Bauer vows to fight on despite long odds - January 31, 2000
- ^ The Official Bauer & Rose Site
- ^ American Values - Gary L. Bauer, President
- ^ American Values - Gary L. Bauer, President
- ^ Campaign for Working Families - Unapologetically Pro-Family, Pro-Life, and Pro-Growth
- ^ Christians United for Israel: Christians United for Israel
- ^ Family Research Council: Tuesday, February 5, 2008 "PG03F06"
- ^ Statement of Principles
[edit] External links
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