SENATE CANDIDATE DAN HUGHES SHARES VIEWS AT RON PAUL RALLY

 

By Nadin Abbott

 

May 8, 2012 (San Diego) -- United States Senate Candidate Dan Hughes is hoping to take the number two spot in the June primary under California’s new “top two” primary system so that he can directly challenge U.S., Senator Dianne Feinstein in November.

 

A hospital chief executive officer and former factory owner, Hughes has the backing of numerous Tea Party groups statewide. So what are his policy stances?  ECM interviewed Hughes during the Ron Paul rally in San Diego at UCSD on Saturday to find out.

 

Hughes favors a strong national defense within a Constitutional framework. “We need to follow the Constitution and declare wars though Congress,” he maintains.

 

Instead of free trade policies, he supports fair trade. “Under comparative economics, things that can be produced abroad more cheaply should, but Congress should insist on fair trade.”

 

On women’s issues, he says, “You cannot legislate morality.” He views birth control access as a matter of religious freedom—for employers. “You cannot force religious institutions to provide services that go against their conscience.”  Senator Feinstein, by contrast, has been a staunch advocate for protecting women’s reproductive freedoms.  

 

In an issue that matters to East County due to industrial-scale wind developments proposed, Hughes that the free market should be allowed to work with regard to energy issues. He opposes subsidies for the wind industry. On the other hand, he is also for removing the subsidies from oil companies under a free market system.