A Question of Priority

Government’s first and foremost responsibility is to protect the safety and security of our citizens. But a look at Barbara Boxer’s record reveals that she has her priorities out of whack – putting items like her job killing cap and trade proposal and raising taxes ahead of funding our men and women in uniform.

While we can all agree that terrorists pose a serious security threat to our nation, there is wide disagreement within the security community – and among the American people – about the role climate change plays in global security. Even the security expert and progressive Matthew Yglesias has said that “linking climate change with national security ‘has a bit of a whiff of hubristic imperialism about it.’” (Bryan Bender, “Fighting global warming with CIA?: Some say security fears are counterproductive,” Boston Globe, 8/22/09)

Despite this, Barbara Boxer has chosen to fight for cap-and-trade legislation under the auspices that somehow raising energy prices and killing American jobs will make us safer. At the same time, Boxer has voted against providing adequate funding to the men and women in uniform actually fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.

  • In 2007, Boxer Was One Of Only 25 Senators To Vote Against Supplemental Funding For The War In Iraq And Afghanistan. (H.R. 2764, CQ Vote #439: Motion agreed to 70-25: R 48-1; D 21-23; I 1-1, 12/18/07, Boxer Voted Nay)
  • Boxer Voted Against Providing $847 Million In Additional Funds To The Defense Department For Military Personnel, Working Capital Funds, Mission-Critical Maintenance, Force Protection. (S.1077, CQ Vote #226: Motion Agreed To 83-16: R 36-12; D 46-4; I 1-0, 7/10/01, Boxer and Feinstein Voted Yea)
  • Boxer Voted Against The 2006 Military Commissions Act, Which Would Have Allowed The Government To Proceed With The Prosecution Of High-Level Detainees. (S. 3930, CQ Vote #259: Passed 65-34: R 53-1; D 12-32; I 0-1, 9/28/06, Boxer and Feinstein Voted Nay)

Carly Fiorina on the other hand has served as a civilian advisor to the Central Intelligence Agency and to the Defense Department. She is tough on terror, believes the first priority of government is protecting the nation and understands that supporting our men and women in uniform should be at the top of the list, not the bottom.