| Amy Haas | |
|---|---|
| |
| 45th President of the United States | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2017 | |
| Vice President | Cory Booker |
| Preceded by | Daniel Walker |
| Governor of Virginia | |
| In office January 11, 2014 – November 9, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Bob McDonnell |
| Succeeded by | Adrian Warner |
| United States Senator from Virginia | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 11, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | George Allen |
| Succeeded by | Cecilia Cooke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Amy Elizabeth Andrews January 28, 1966 Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Alexander Haas |
| Children | Jason Haas (b. 1992)
Jacob Haas (b. 1992) Jamie Haas (b. 1996) |
| Residence | White House, Washington D.C. (Official)
Norfolk, Virginia (Private) |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia
Stanford Law School |
| Religion | Protestant |
Amy Elizabeth Haas (née Andrews) (born January 28, 1966) is the 45th and current President of the United States. She is the first woman to ever be elected president, as well as the first member of Generation X to ascend to the office. Prior to her election as president, she had served as the 72nd Governor of Virginia, and the first woman to ever hold that office. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina to a lower middle-class family, her childhood was often marked by economic insecurity. Her family moved to Norfolk, Virginia when she was 7 years old. She strived for success at every step of the way despite the many barriers presented to her. She attended the University of Virginia on a full scholarship, receiving dual degrees in political science and economics. She later went to Stanford Law School, where she met her future husband Alexander Haas.
Political Career[]
Haas's passion for people and politics led her to a job defending women's and children's rights after receiving her JD from Stanford. She moved back to Norfolk to pursue a career in politics, which began with her successful election to a city council seat in 1994. She oversaw the creation of local scholarships, domestic abuse hotlines, and several city projects designed to both beautify the city and lower its unemployment rate. She made a failed mayoral bid in 1998 against incumbent Mayor Declan Smith, citing his inefficacy and unwillingness to pursue her most ambitious social policies. After serving 8 years on the city council, Haas made a run for Virginia State Senate, her first run as a Democrat (Norfolk runs on a nonpartisan system). She ultimately succeeded in toppling incumbent Republican Senator Martin McGraw, a victory to which some pundits attributed Haas's youth and promising demeanor.
Haas gained notoriety in the state legislature for her bold stances in favor of women's rights, the environment, and campaign finance reform. Her most famous moment came in 2005 with her 23-hour filibuster of a bill that would have banned abortion past 9 weeks of pregnancy. State media immediately identified her as a rising star and a potential challenger to freshman Republican Senator George Allen in his reelection bid.
2006 Senate Run[]
Democratic Primary[]
Then-State Senator Haas announced her campaign for the US Senate in August 2005 in front of Norfolk City Hall, where she began her political career. She faced both friends and foes in the Democratic primary, among them Mayor Declan Smith of Norfolk (whom she unsuccessfully challenged in 1998 for the mayoralty of her home city), fellow State Senator Ingrid Laughlin, Assemblyman Lucas Sittenfeld, and a host of minor candidates.
During the primary campaign, her positive message and bold stances made her an attractive choice to Democratic voters; however, many feared that she lacked the experience to take on Allen in a general election. For this reason, she trailed five-term State Senator Laughlin for most of late 2005 and early 2006. Haas, however, was quick to draw parallels between herself and the more conservative Laughlin. She often attacked her for regressive policies she deemed as being out of step with Virginians. Laughlin, a well-respected senator and member of the Blue Dog Democrat caucus, countered with attacks on Haas's perceived inexperience and naïvete. Haas's fiery debate performances and polished public image, however, electrified the Democratic primary electorate and nearly evaporated Laughlin's poll numbers.
Three weeks before the primary, Haas became the frontrunner for the nomination. Haas seized on momentum from powerful debate performances and a suddenly increased cash flow to solidify her lead over Laughlin and her other competitors. In essence, Haas and Laughlin were the only viable contenders--both campaigns often made it seem like they were the only two people in the race. Haas's final TV ad before the primary, dubbed "We've Got Her on The Ropes," was the most memorable ad of the nation-wide primary campaign. The Laughlin campaign often blasted what they perceived to be arrogance on behalf of the Haas campaign. Laughlin's campaign, pressured by its donors and supporters as well as her sudden polling collapse, went increasingly negative during the waning days of the primary campaign.
On the day of the primary, State Senator Haas became the Democratic nominee for US Senate in the State of Virginia with 53% of the vote--a number that shocked most pundits. The rest were as follows: Ingrid Laughlin (30%), Lucas Sittenfeld (11%), Declan Smith (5%), and others/blank votes (1%).
The spectacular loss of the initial favorite to win, State Senator Ingrid Laughlin, led many to claim that the primary election was a groundbreaking shift in Virginian electoral politics. Though all of her fellow competitors endorsed Haas after their respective defeats in the primary and urged Democratic unity to defeat George Allen in the fall, Laughlin held out. Eventually, on August 15th 2006, Laughlin's office quietly released a statement expressing support for the election of "a Democratic senator from Virginia in the US Senate," with no mention of Haas's name. The timing of the statement came when polls showed a dead heat between Democratic nominee Amy Haas and Republican Senator George Allen, a dramatic improvement from the polls since Haas's victory in the Democratic primary--which consistently showed her in a double-digit loss to Allen.
General Election[]
Emerging from a tough primary battle with incredible momentum, the Haas campaign was emboldened to defeat Senator George Allen in the general election; However, most polls indicated that Allen would cruise to reelection. A May 2006 poll of Virginians concluded that Allen would win reelection 55% to Haas's 42%, a 13 percentage point advantage. As the race began to heat up and Haas gained more media attention, Allen's poll numbers began to erode. The debates between them gave Haas an opportunity to speak directly to voters and challenge the policies pursued by Allen in the Senate. Her fiery debate performances inspired the media to dub for the "far and away winner" of all three debates between her and Allen. In August of 2006, both candidates were polling at 45%,--a dead heat. The day before the election, Haas led Allen by 3 percentage points in most major polls. On Tuesday, November 7th 2006, Amy Haas was elected to the United States Senate by a margin of 52% to Allen's 48%. Her upset victory over an incumbent Republican Senator in a traditionally conservative-leaning state led many pundits to immediately give her rising-star status. On January 3, 2007, she was sworn in as the junior Senator from the State of Virginia.
US Senator from Virginia (2007-2014)[]
In the US Senate, Haas continued to pursue her most salient policies, including women's rights, labor laws, and environmentally friendly policies. She has been frustrated by the gridlock led by Republican members of Congress but has been successful to a certain degree in finding bipartisan agreement. She quickly gained popularity in Virginia and the Senate due to her folksy and kind demeanor. Her youth resonated with voters and gave her a unique role in Virginia politics.
In the Senate, her committee assignments were the Foreign Relations Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. She was an outspoken member of the Foreign Relations Committee, advocating for bold yet pragmatic foreign policy during the Conroy Administration. She became Chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee at the beginning of the 111th Congress on January 3, 2009 with the election of President Walker in a move by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that was intended to refine then-freshman Senator Haas's policy chops. Senator Boxer retained chair status in the Senate Ethics Committee. During her time on the Environment Committee, Chairwoman Haas pushed for ambitious climate bills that were usually lost by the time they arrived in their respective subcommittees. She was shocked at the nonchalance of her colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike, towards climate change and the environment. She received similar disappointment in her push for infrastructure bills aimed at bringing America's infrastructure into the 21st century. Her time on the committee has been a major motivator for some of the policy positions that she's articulated during her 2016 presidential run. As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, she's demonstrated her long-held beliefs and fought for the freedoms and rights that she believes all Americans are entitled to.
Virginia Gubernatorial Campaign[]
In 2009, she was met with electoral disappointment at home with the election of Republican Bob McDonnell over her preferred candidate Democratic State Attorney General Diane Lawson. Lawson and Haas were childhood friends that were roommates throughout their time at the University of Virginia. As a result, Haas campaigned heavily for Lawson, but after a close race she lost with 49% of the vote. In her speech after Lawson's concession, Haas expressed her disappointment with not being able to see a woman in the Executive Mansion at Richmond but ended the speech with her hope for one to govern Virginia "soon." The media immediately latched onto to the idea of a Haas candidacy for Governor in 2013.
Senator Haas announced her intent to run for a second term in April of 2011 during a stop in Richmond. The Republican field quickly emerged to challenge her over her perceived liberal policies that "are wrong for everyday Virginians." Former US Senator George Allen, who lost his seat to Senator Haas in 2006, made a late entrance to the Republican primary in November 2011. Despite having missed the majority of primary debates, his name recognition won him the Republican nomination easily, with over 60% of the vote. Allen spent the summer on a tour of Virginia's counties, especially the ones where he lost in an attempt to rebrand himself into a pragmatic, bipartisan centrist. Senator Haas's campaign focused on the senator's own successes in the Senate, but also Allen's true overly conservative leanings being masked by his new rebranding. Virginians, however, were not willing to return George Allen to the Senate, handing him a landslide 60-40 loss. On January 3, 2013, Senator Amy Haas was sworn in for a second term.
In 2013, the administration of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell was hit with many scandals--including the mismanagement of EPA funds and his own sex scandals. With general voter anger against the Republican governor and the likely nomination of his Lieutenant Bill Bolling, Haas sensed an opening and began her long-expected campaign for the governorship of Virginia. After announcing her candidacy May 2013, Haas consistently led Bolling in most major polls by the high single digits or low double digits. On election day, Haas trounced her Republican opponent 55% to 45%. On November 8th, 2013 she became the governor-elect of the state of Virginia. On January 11th, 2014, Amy Haas was sworn in as Virginia's 72nd governor.
Resignation Controversy[]
Governor-elect Haas stirred controversy when she refused to resign her Senate seat in the aftermath of her win in the gubernatorial race. Though she publicly stated that she still had unfinished business in the Senate, many pundits pointed out that she wanted to wait until she became governor to choose her interim replacement in fear of outgoing Governor McDonnell appointing a Republican to her seat. She nonetheless waited out her predecessor's term and appointed long-time staffer Cecilia Cooke to her seat, who immediately announced she had no intention of contesting the November 2014 special election to serve out the rest of Haas's term which expires on January 3rd, 2019. Fellow Democrat and former Governor Tim Kaine won the special election to serve out the rest of her term. He succeeded interim Senator Cecilia Cooke a week after the November 2014 election.
2016 Presidential Race[]
Haas announced her campaign on the steps of the Governor's Mansion in Richmond, Virginia. She stresses the importance of equality (social, political, and economic) and doing more to fight change. Her message includes a broad swath of progressive values that resonate with the Democratic base and are appealing to the general electorate. In foreign policy, she is tough yet pragmatic. She is unwilling to send American troops to Syria but will not take the option off the table if the circumstances become much worse.
The primary campaign has begun. Governor Haas has built up her campaign infrastructure and is kicking off the presidential primary race with a tour of all of Iowa's 99 counties to spread her positive message of progress in America. Her campaign is building support at the grassroots level to promote her candidacy in both early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. To a lesser extent, she has begun to create campaign infrastructure in the next set of states--South Carolina and Nevada.
Given her name recognition as a prominent female politician that has been featured in the national media since her surprise election defeat of incumbent Republican Senator George Allen in 2006, Haas is not an unknown figure. Her popularity during her time in the Senate and her high approval numbers in her home state of Virginia give her an aura of likeability and trustworthiness. She hopes that this will translate into higher fundraising numbers to emerge from the crowded Democratic field.
Governor Haas is presenting herself as a pragmatic progressive who has the experience and ability to be the commander-in-chief. Throughout her whole life, she's held the same views. The same cannot be said of some of her fellow candidates on either side. She is not a flip-flopper, she's not disruptive and divisive, she's consistent. She hopes America will see the same and elect her as the 45th President of the United States this November.
While she is campaigning heavily in Iowa and New Hampshire, Governor Haas has begun delegating more duties to Lieutenant Governor Adrian Warner. She has committed herself to being in the state as much as she can despite the campaign schedule. Governor Haas is an experienced campaigner that can withstand tough schedules. That being said, as the race heats up (especially if she becomes the Democratic nominee) she will delegate more to Lt. Governor Warner.
The Democratic Field[]
Governor Haas is competing for the nomination in a talented and crowded Democratic field. Her opponents are (in order by national poll numbers):
- Senator Lelia Afewerek (D-MN)
- Senator Nathan Cameron (D-MN)
- Senator Robert McCarthy (D-CT)
- Abdallah Salem
- Vice President Charles Morgan
- Governor Eric Harjo (D-NY)
- Governor Anthony Mitchell (D-MA)
- Governor Joshua Raleigh (D-CT)
- Governor Joseph Vernon
Statement from the Haas campaign: "Governor Haas seeks to emerge from the field as voters begin to resonate with her consistency and proven track record as a successful progressive Senator and Governor. She is not a flip-flopper, a conservative, nor is she a disruptive force. She is unifying and has an overall positive message for the American people. She is confident that the primary voters (and the general electorate) will see this and reject negativity and values inconsistent with today's Democratic party. She is not afraid to draw parallels between herself and other candidates vying for the presidency so the voters can better understand her candidacy. That being said, she will not negatively engage any Democratic candidate without prior provocation, especially in a debate. She seeks to draw differences, not attack." -Diane Lawson, National Chairwoman of Haas For America.
Governor Haas knows most of the field personally. She personally knows Senator McCarthy from the short amount of time they coincided in the Senate (January-November of 2013). She has met Senators Cameron and Afewerek at at Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's 68th birthday in early 2015 where she congratulated them both on their concurrent elections into the Senate the November before. In her capacities as both senator and governor, Governor Haas has had many conversations with Vice President Charles Morgan. As Vice-Chairwoman of the Democratic Governors' Association, she knows all sitting governors in the race (Harjo, Mitchell, and Raleigh).
Despite their personal ties, Governor Haas pledges to keep the debate on the issues and refuses to mudsling. She will not attack unless provoked, or to set the record straight. She knows her consistency and trackrecord as an effective, unifying leader will appeal to Democratic voters--hopefully elevating her above the field as the Democratic party's nominee to fight for all Americans.
On The Issues[]
| Issue/Question | Response |
|---|---|
| What is your position on gay marriage? | I firmly believe that all Americans deserve to love who they love and marry whomever they fall in love with. We cling to our definitions of marriage without thinking about who we push to the side when we articulate such definitions. Civil Unions are a means to an end--marriage equality. We cannot deny same-sex couples the benefits that come with traditional marriage. Too many Americans will be held back in starting their lives if we don't. Personal views aside, we cannot deny our fellow Americans the right to love and all the benefits thereto. |
| What is your position on abortion? | I am shocked to hear what some candidates have to say about a woman's right to choose, especially those of my fellow Democrats. Whether or not a woman receives an abortion is that woman's business, not the government's. I stand with women and their right to choose. |
| How much funding should Planned Parenthood receive from the federal government? | Yes. Planned Parenthood needs federal funding to provide its essential services to families. Too many candidates have conflated Planned Parenthood with just abortion when, in actuality, only about 3% of its services include abortion. We must ensure that people have access to critical services like disease screenings, safe abortions, and many more. |
| What restrictions do you support on the purchase of guns and ammunition? | We are the only advanced, industrial economy in the world that has the sheer level of gun violence that we have experienced for so many years. My own state has experienced such tragedies, like the Virginia Tech shooting some years ago. We must implement common sense legislation to protect American citizens while respecting the right to bear arms. We must reinstate the assault weapons ban and close the gun show loophole. Universal background checks must be implemented on a federal level. Those who are on the no-fly list should not be able to purchase guns, so we keep them out of the hands of potential terrorists. As president, I will make sure these policies are implemented--as I have in my own state--and stand up to the gun lobby in Congress. |
| Should marijuana be decriminalized? | I am willing to see to the legalization of marijuana under my administration. States like Washington and Colorado have succeeded and have even created budget surpluses as a result. I understand that the criminalization of marijuana has led to an uneven imprisonment of Black and Latino men, creating a whole separate criminal justice issue. |
| Should corporations be able to fund campaigns through PACs? | The business world is the business world and the political world is the political world. The ability of corporations to flood our democracy with unaccountable money must end. It gives the wealthy in this country a disproportionate say in our nation's political decisions, all while making Congress less accountable to the every day American. I won my governor's race in 2013 with a majority of my donations coming from middle-income people. I am accountable to the people and not corporate interests. The White House (and Congress for that matter) should not be for sale to the highest bidder. |
| Should the NSA be able to collect phone records? | The NSA has gone overboard. With the revelation of the Prism program and the leaks made public by Edward Snowden, it has become evident that the NSA has been given a blank check and compromised the privacy of American citizens. That needs to end. I am all for national security, but we risk becoming an Orwellian society if we let fear take precedence over individial freedoms enshrined in our Constitution. As president, I will make sure that our freedoms aren't compromised by spying. I will put in place specific measures that include Congressional and judicial oversight to ensure that no citizen of this country will be spied on without having a warrant. |
| Should the government raise the retirement age for Social Security? | What I am hearing in the current race is absolutely irresponsible and reckless with the lives of America's seniors. Raising the retirement age would deny Americans that have been paying into the system all their lives the benefits that they've been working towards for a very long time. We need to ensure that Social Security remains solvent going into the future and revitalize Social Security as it is to protect America's seniors and those approaching retirement age who are unsure of their own retirements. |
| What steps should the government take to make college more affordable? | It is absolutely reprehensible that certain candidates believe that higher education is a privilege and not a right. In the highly competitive global economy that we live in, an educated workforce is an incredible investment--especially for our disillusioned youth. They deserve to have a president that is dedicated to allowing them to have a proper education without being burdened by a mountain of debt. We must allow students to refinance their student loan debts. We must ensure that public universities in this country charge little to no tuition so students can be encourage to go to college, rather than turning them off with the exorbitant rates that we are charging them at the moment. For those who have debt, we must allow them to refinance. For those who will incur debt in the future, we need to slash interest rates. Education is the cornerstone of every successful economy and must be invested in to reap the rewards. I am the only governor in this race that has implemented successful measures to lower the cost of tuition in the University of Virginia system, allowing many low-income communities to see their children go to college for the first time. Young people are the future. Let's invest in them. |
| Do you support the Common Core? | While Virginia has yet to implement Common Core standards, I do see certain cracks in the system. It might be beneficial for us to see the success (or failure) of Common Core in other states before I will be willing to sign it into law in Virginia. |
| Should the government allow the Death Penalty? | We've seen time and time again that the death penalty is unwieldy and inefficient in its deterrence. It is incredibly expensive to keep someone on death row. I am also of the belief that God can only determine when we leave this Earth, not man. We cannot let the state play God. I am for maximum penalties for those committing the worst offenses, but not capital punishment. |
| To what extent do you support affirmative action? | I support affirmative action. It's only been 50 years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act. We cannot pretend that this nation has always been friendly to ethnic minorities. To level the playing field, we must keep these policies in place. I am willing to debate my fellow candidates on the merits of these policies, which I will uphold as president. |
| Do you believe global warming exists? If so, what should the government do to stop it? | Climate change is the defining issue on global scale. Without action, the future that our kids and grandkids are looking at is a grim one. Climate change comes with devastating effects to sea level, global food supply, and our wellbeing as a species. There is no denying the science. This is real and it's happening now. I am not a scientist, but I know our scientists do a great job--I believe them. Despite the grim forecasts, there is definitely hope for the future. As president, I will make it a top priority to forge an international climate treaty to curb and ultimately work towards eliminating CO2 emissions. China has been playing ball, which is a sign of great hope. We must find ways to aid the development of underdeveloped nations all while respecting the environment. I will increase solar energy tax credits and heavily invest in wind power, amongst other forms of renewable energy. It is our responsibility to mitigate and possibly reverse the effects of climate change. It is within our reach and it must be done so all future generations inherit an Earth that is habitable. |
| What is your tax plan (one of the most important questions)? | I believe in a fair tax system for all. Progressive taxation is the way to ensure that everyone pays their fair (and proportionate) share. The sheer inequality that is perpetuated by the broken and convoluted system we have now is growing at an alarming rate. The top 1% in this country are worth much more than the bottom 90% and their wealth seems to grow more every day. As president, I will increase taxes on the richest Americans and make sure that the middle class isn't burdened by more taxes. I have replicated this plan in Virginia, with the wealthy paying their fair share and--as a result--we've seen a budget surplus in the last fiscal year. My tax plan is responsible and fair. Flat taxes are irresponsible and promise a massive budget shortage if put into place. |
| What do you plan to do about the growing debt? | Our debt is out of control. We have a huge deficit and our government is hemorrhaging money. We must stick to my progressive taxation plan and implement an off-shore profits tax on corporations that evade taxes by moving abroad to reduce the deficit and create surpluses that we can then use to service our debt better. We must move forward and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure with a spending bill that revitalizes America, and stimulates the economy by creating thousands--possibly thousands--of jobs. |
| What do you plan to do about Social Security? | We need to ensure the solvency of Social Security to make sure that we are not cheating our seniors and those who are approaching retirement age. We cannot raise the retirement age. We must find other ways to make sure SS is solvent. We must increase the cap on taxable income to ensure that people properly pay into the social security system and to increase money flow into the SS coffers. By expanding Social Security like this, we can make sure that retirement isn't something America's seniors dread. If we implement a fair system, we can make Social Security solvent for generations to come. |
| Do you think that the large banks in the US should be broken up? | The banks are too big and I am for breaking them up. They have become too-big-too-fail and endanger our economy. We've seen that these banks are capable of wrecking our economy, as they did 8 years ago. We must resurrect Glass-Steagall to separate investment and commercial banking in order to create a fairer system. |
| If the government required you to cut funding to some government programs, what would you cut? | Under a Haas administration, we would not need to cut anything--especially if my fair taxation system is passed. If we do have to cut something, I would be for cutting military spending. We lead the world in military power. Our power is unrivaled. That is why I believe our military does not need to spend as much as the rest of the world combined. A responsible military spending program should be implemented. |
| What should the federal minimum wage be? | In Virginia, we've implemented a $12 minimum wage that has worked well. As the economy grows and inflation increases prices, we should raise the minimum wage to keep up with these economic conditions. I recognize that the United States is a large country with vastly differing economic conditions, which is why I favor a $12 minimum wage as a federal baseline. States can choose to raise it depending on the cost of living. As president, I will make sure that the minimum wage is raised whenever the conditions necessitate it. |
| How do you plan to lower the unemployment rate, and help those currently unemployed? | My government would lower the unemployment rate by lessening the burden on the middle class and small businesses--which are the real job creators. This will stimulate job creation and ultimately help the economy. My infrastructure bill will also create thousands of jobs. As jobs are created and wages rise, the economy will grow and the unemployment rate will plummet. |
| Do you believe labor unions help or hurt the economy? |
Labor unions are the backbone of the American workforce and must be kept in place in order to ensure collective bargaining and that employers do not abuse their employees. I am in favor of labor unions, as they provide essential services to American workers. The attack on them by the right must end. As president, I will fight to ensure the wellbeing of labor unions. |
| Should the government continue to subsidize farmers? | I am most definitely for them. However, we need to be weary of the big corporate farms. They abuse the system in a way that is tantamount to corporate welfare, which I do not support. America's small farmers are the backbone of our supply and they must be assisted. |
| Do you support deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership? | I am against the TPP. It is destructive to labor and environmental standards and has the potential to destroy American jobs and outsource them elsewhere. We must pursue fair trade deals, not dark and unaccountable ones. I also oppose TPP because of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement Clause (ISDS) that allows corporations to take our nation to court outside of our judicial system with unaccountable judges to strike down laws that hurt their profits. This is an irresponsible hijacking of American democracy and we cannot allow it to breach our sovereignty like that. |
| How can the US achieve energy independence? | Energy independence is achievable--but not with fossil fuels. I will gradually wean America off of fossil fuels and into the renewable energy future in order to become an energy superpower. With clean energy, we will achieve energy independence. This fits with my climate change plan as well. |
| What do you plan to change about the current healthcare system? | Healthcare is a right and not a privilege. If we are to ensure that everyday Americans have access to health care and are not dying waiting for treatment, we must install universal healthcare. With successful models all around the world, I am confident that we can implement a successful healthcare system. |
| Would you propose a new fossil fuel tax? |
I am open to the idea of a carbon tax. This fits neatly into my ambitious climate change plan. I realize that this will hurt coal mining communities. I also have a plan to aid coal communities as America leads the climate fight and the transition away from fossil fuels. My plan will uplift coal communities and aid the development of an economy that isn't dependent on coal for growth. No other candidate has proposed such a plan, they leave these communities behind. In Virginia, my emissions plan has had a similar clause to aid coal communities. We have yet to see the effects of my plan, given the amount of time I've been in office, but I'm sure it'll be successful. |
| What should the US do about its illegal immigrants? | There is no such thing as a person that is "illegal." Laws can be illegal. People are not. These undocumented people are living in the shadows and they should not live every day in fear. We must provide a pathway to citizenship for these new Americans and pass comprehensive immigration reforms. These immigrants perform essential jobs in our economy, specifically in agriculture. To reject these people is to reject an important part of our economy--as well as forsaking our values in the name of xenophobia. They are not taking anyone's jobs. |
| How much should the US be spending on its military? What cuts should there be, if any? | As I've stated before, we do not need to spend more on defense than the rest of the world combined to have a military that is already the best by every measure. We can make moderate cuts and still be on top. |
| Should the US intervene in Syria (Syria is different than in OTL, read the backstory)? | I am very much against putting boots on the ground in Syria. To counter the Sharia Caliphate, we must empower the nations currently embroiled in the battle against them. We must provide these allies with arms, money ,and logistical support in order to strengthen the fight against terrorism. We must also support deradicalization regimes to support impoverished communities in danger of embracing terrorism. We can do a lot more than is currently being done to destroy terrorism. Military force is a means to an end. We must focus on tackling terrorism at its roots, rather than destroying them and not fixing the socioeconomic conditions that spawned it in the first place. |
| Should the US accept refugees from civil wars in the Middle East? | We have a responsibility to embrace these refugees, which are fleeing the terror in the Middle East. We must understand that these people are NOT terrorists, but rather innocent people that have been displaced and are looking for a safe new home. We must admit these people. |
| How can the US stop terrorism at home? | We have a responsibility to check home-grown terrorism at the roots. We must empower individual communities to check in on those who are distant or depressed and provide mental health resources to those who need it. Only by being responsible stakeholders can we stop home grown terrorism. |
| What is your opinion about the Iran nuclear deal? What actions will you take regarding this? | I support the Iran nuclear deal. It is an important piece of diplomacy that ensures the disarmament of a potential nuclear weapons program and promotes a more peaceful Middle East. As President, I will defend it and ensure the cooperation of Iran. |
| How will you protect against cyber attacks and hacking such as the attack that Russia did in 2014? | It's time for us to realize that we are living in a world in which there is a fourth front of warfare besides land, air, and water: it's the electronic front. We must create the proper infrastructure to combar cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism. I believe that it is prudent to create a fourth division of the United States Armed Forces, one that deals exclusively with the electronic front. We will implement this and ensure that it is successful. It will be on a trial basis for 4 years under the Army before it is given its own wing. |
| What do you think of President Walker's actions to lift the embargo with Cuba? | We've seen the failure of our attempts to destabilize Cuba with the 50+ year old embargo. I praise President Walker's decisision to pursue normalization with Cuba. As president, I will continue this path and be receptive to other options that may present themselves. |
| Should the US continue to support Israel? Should it recognize Palestine? | Israel is an important ally in the Middle East and must be kept close. However, this should not give it a blank check to bomb an entire group of people at will. I am supportive of a two-state solution and would provide both parties the resources and venues necessary to pursue that route. |
| How much foreign aid should the US be giving? | Current US foreign aid should be continued. We must maintain standards for democracy and human rights for any and all countries receiving aid from us. |
| How do you plan to stop the growth of Al Qaeda and the Sharia Caliphate? | We must cut off the head of the Hydra, but we must also burn the stumps that they grow from. We must destroy terrorism by empowering our allies and giving them all necessary equipment and logistical support but NOT with American boots on the ground. We must also help implement community programs designed to deradicalize citizens in these countries. We must uplift them to destroy the conditions that spawn terrorism. |
| How should the US act regarding Russia following their cyber attack and actions in Crimea? |
We must be firm with Russia and tell it that it does NOT have a claim to Crimea and that it is violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine. My plans dealing with cyberwarfare have been laid out. We must be bold and strong in regards to Russia, who poses a major foreign policy obstacle to us. |
Press Releases/Remarks[]
Remarks by Governor Amy Haas, following the responses to the Omaha Attacks by her rivals: " I find it to be an affront to the grieving process that many candidates have chosen to show up and disrespect the people of Omaha by giving speeches from inside the city in a vain effort to score political points. I am tired of gun violence and I am tired of terrorism, but I will not make others's tragedies into an opportunity to boost my standing in the polls. I am disappointed in those who made that mistake and disrespected the people of Omaha. Representative Thorpe, Senator Ryder, Abdallah Salem, and Senator Cameron, I am disappointed in the way that you tried to boost your campaigns by showing up in a grieving city. You know better than that. That is all. I'll take questions now." -Governor Amy Haas in Richmond, Virginia on 2/2/16
Remarks by Governor Amy Haas, following her win in the Iowa Caucuses: "Tonight, I have you all to thank. Tonight, a bold vision for America both at home and abroad won out. Tonight, we succeeded. Our win here tonight shows that the Democratic race is heating up; I know this is just the beginning, but I'd just like to say this: Thank you, Iowa! We march forward towards New Hampshire, and the rest of America! This is only the beginning. I'd also like to thank my primary opponents for a good, productive debate on what's best for America. If I have the privilege to be the Democratic standardbearer, I will make you all proud. We will emerge from Iowa and race towards the nomination, then the general election, and finally the White House! Thank you everyone, goodnight!"
The Current Race[]
As of February 17th, 2016, Governor Amy Haas is the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.
Governor Haas won the first nominating contest of the 2016 race, the Iowa Caucuses, by five percentage points over her closest challenger--Minnesota Senator Nathan Cameron. After trailing the other Senator from Minnesota, Lelia Afewerek, by 1-2 percentage points, Governor Haas took home the win in Iowa. Afewerek collapsed following a disappointing debate performance, allowing Sen. Cameron and California Governor Joseph Vernon to surge past her--coming in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. Pundits initially had Afewerek winning Iowa by at least five points. They were surprised by her sudden collapse following the first debate.
The race now moves to New Hampshire, where Governor Haas trails Nathan Cameron by several percentage points. She intends to campaign heavily with New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan, who recently endorsed her. She hopes this can close the gap and bring an upset to frontrunner Nathan Cameron.
Governor Haas won both Nevada and South Carolina, the states following New Hampshire. She then went on to nearly sweep the Super Tuesday States. As she and Nathan Cameron fought for delegates, the other competitors dropped out. Haas eventually won enough delegates to claim the nomination.
She was nominated at the Democratic Convention in Cleveland, Ohio as the Democratic nominee for President--the first woman to ever be nominated for president on a major party ticket.
She went on to defeat Republican nominee Alexander Whitmore and Libertarian nominee Luke Recks in the general election.
Amy Haas was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 2017 in front of record-breaking crowds.
Personal Life[]
Governor Haas, when not campaigning or governing, loves spending time with her family and her kids.
She makes frequent visits to her alma mater, the University of Virginia, where her twin sons Jason and Jacob attended. She is known to frequent the quad and encourage questions amongst those who walk by and will often draw small crowds with her inpromptu "lectures." Her youngest child, Jamie, attended UVA as well until he dropped out due to drug-related issues. His problems led Governor Haas to pursue a smart drug policy, including her consideration of legalizing marijuana and providing more resources towards mental health programs in the state.
Her oldest sons, Jason and Jacob, have developed a passion for people and politics like their mother. After graduating from UVA in May of 2014, both Jason and Jacob took jobs working for Senator Barbara Boxer--a close friend of Governor Haas from her days in the Senate--as legislative aides. Jacob left the office after a year of working closely with the senator to go to Stanford Law School, his mother's alma mater. Jason stayed on with Senator Boxer, being promoted to Legislative Director in early 2016. As Senator Boxer is retiring in 2016, Jason has become well connected with Boxer's likely successor--California Attorney General Kamala Harris. He is working on her campaign and has already secured a job in her office should she win.
When not with family, Governor Haas enjoys relaxing with her husband Alexander at their home. She loves to watch Scandal, Saturday Night Live, and Breaking Bad.
Sometimes she tries to sing, but it doesn't really work for her.
Her husband, Alexander, is a surgeon at Johns Hopkins in the neighboring state of Maryland. As such, Governor Haas can sometimes be seen having lunch in many different Baltimore restaurants. The First Gentleman of Virginia often switches between being an on-call surgeon and his professorship at Johns Hopkins's medical school. Though he is known to have some of the hardest classes on campus, Professor Haas is widely respected and loved by his students.
In August of 2013, when his wife was campaigning for the governorship of Virginia, a student stood up during one of his lectures and shouted mysoginistic slurs about then-Senator Haas and held a knife against Professor Haas. The incident led university police to storm the building and arrest the student, but not before he got a chance to cut Professor Haas's arm. Though his wounds were not life-threatening, the trauma of such an experience led the administration of Johns Hopkins to provide security for Professor Haas. He has it to this day.