Why I Want Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen To Run For POTUS

I had the pleasure of meeting Democratic Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland last September at the We Are Woman rally for equality. He not only showed up and spoke about voting rights and the importance of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment – he did so IN THE RAIN.

He is a true Democrat who is not afraid to stand up to obstructionist Republicans – and he does so with grace and dignity!

He fights for his constituents and has served in Congress since 2003.

Van Hollen is not a slave to corporate interests unlike some other possible Democratic 2016 front runners.

I was first introduced to Van Hollen in October 2013, when he blasted House Republicans for changing the rules in an effort to keep the government shut down.

Van Hollen: “So, Mr. Speaker . . . Parliamentary Inquiry. H. Res. 368 changed the Standing Rules of the House to take away from any member of the House the privilege of calling up the Senate bill to immediately re-open the government, is that right?”

Speaker Chaffetz: “It did change the operation of the Standing Rule, right.”

Check him out on the issues:

Budget & Economy:

Voted NO on prioritizing spending in case debt limit is reached. (May 2013)
Voted NO on terminating the Home Affordable mortgage Program. (Mar 2011)
Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009)
Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on monitoring TARP funds to ensure more mortgage relief. (Jan 2009)
Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
Voted YES on defining “energy emergency” on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
Voted YES on regulating the subprime mortgage industry. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on restricting bankruptcy rules. (Jan 2004)
Leader of House Budget Committee. (Mar 2011)
Increase debt limit from $14.3 trillion to $16.7 trillion. (Jul 2011)
Reform mortgage rules to prevent foreclosure & bankruptcy. (Feb 2008)
Ban abusive credit practices & enhance consumer disclosure. (Feb 2009)

Foreign Policy

Voted YES on supporting democratic institutions in Pakistan. (Jun 2009)
Voted YES on cooperating with India as a nuclear power. (Sep 2008)
Voted NO on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
Rated -1 by AAI, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May 2012)
Integrate gender into diplomatic and foreign aid processes. (Aug 2012)
Condemn China’s organ harvesting from Falun Gong prisoners. (Dec 2013)
Allow travel between the United States and Cuba. (Feb 2009)
Afghan laws violate women’s human rights on sex & divorce. (Apr 2009)

Abortion:

Voted NO on banning federal health coverage that includes abortion. (May 2011)
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Voted NO on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
Voted NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
Voted NO on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
Emergency contraception for rape victims at all hospitals. (Sep 2006)
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
Provide emergency contraception at military facilities. (Apr 2007)
Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services. (Jan 2014)
Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception. (Jan 2009)

Civil Rights:

Voted YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. (Feb 2013)
Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Rated 88% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 97% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery. (Jun 2008)
ENDA: prohibit employment discrimination for gays. (Jun 2009)
Constitutional Amendment for women’s equal rights. (Jun 2011)
Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools. (Mar 2011)
Ratify CEDAW (Discrimination Against Women). (Jan 2011)
Endorsed as “preferred” by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women’s rights. (Aug 2012)
Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools. (Apr 2013)
Sponsored removing deadline for ratification of the ERA. (May 2013)
Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender. (Jan 2013)
Recognize 1961 Freedom Riders against segregated buses. (Feb 2014)
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
Honor the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. (Jan 2009)

More:

On this issues.

Voting record.

His Facebook page – if you want Chris to run for POTUS, like his page and post a comment to let him know you would like see him run.

Watch him in action. He’s a Democratic badass!

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