Responses from Cecil Bothwell (D-NC 11)

The U.S. Role in the World

1. What role do you believe the U.S. should play in the world today?

We should be an equal partner with other nations which seek peace, support of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, food security, health care and environmental protection.

2. Under what circumstances would you authorize the President to take military action?

I would support military action to defend our national boundaries, and to defend other nations with whom we have mutual defense treaties. I would never vote to authorize wars of choice, as with invasion of nations which have not waged war on us. I would support United Nations actions to prevent genocide or to implement peacekeeping efforts.

Genocide Prevention

3. Will you support legislation directing the U.S. government to develop a comprehensive plan for prevention of genocides and atrocities around the globe?

Yes

Such a policy ought to be conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.

Protection of Civilians from Mass Atrocities

4. Will you support efforts of the U.S. government to protect civilians in situations where their own countries are either unable to do so or are deliberately subjecting their own civilians to genocide or crimes against humanity, working within international law and through the U.N. system and the U.N. Security Council?

Yes

5. Will you support the call for the U.S. and other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to voluntarily refrain from the use or threat of a veto regarding situations involving ongoing genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes?

Yes

Presumably a veto would only be threatened when a majority of the Security Council wanted to intervene in such situations. No country should be empowered to veto such efforts

United Nations: US Leadership and Contributions

6. Do you support the full and timely payment by the U.S. of its funding obligations to the U.N. and the U.N. special fund for peacekeeping operations?

Yes

7. Will you support providing the necessary personnel, logistical support, and equipment to U.N. peacekeeping missions when the U.S. government supports such action through the U.N. Security Council?

Yes

International Human Rights: The United Nations Human Rights Council

8. Will you support continued U.S. engagement with the U.N. Human Rights Council?

Yes

At the local level, as a member of Asheville's City Council, I have been advocating a Civil Liberties Resolution (which may get sufficient votes this year, due to newly elected Council members). This is intended to make the City's support of basic human rights explicit.

International Criminal Court

9. Will you support greater U.S. cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in situations where it is in the U.S. interest to bring to justice perpetrators of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity?

Yes

We should make our own political and military leaders subject to the ICC's jurisdiction as well.

10. Will you support the continued U.S. participation as an observer in the ICC’s governing body (known as the Assembly of States Parties)?

Yes

11. Do you support Senate accession and U.S. ratification of the Rome Statute, which would make the U.S. a full state party to the ICC?

Yes

Foreign Assistance

12. With very strong pressures to severely cut almost all budgets except defense, foreign assistance is often one of the first things targeted for reductions. Do you support protecting international assistance from disproportionate cuts compared to other portions of the U.S. budget as an investment in future security and prosperity?

Yes

I support CUTTING military assistance to other nations. Our aid programs should be targeted at food, water and medical assistance, not ramping up warfare.

Senate Only (Optional for House Candidates)

Nuclear Weapons: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

13. Do you support Senate accession and U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)?

Yes

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea: Pro-US Military, American Business and Global Environment

14. Will you support Senate accession and U.S. ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)?

Yes

Human Rights for Women Globally: The Treaty for the Rights of Women

15. Will you support Senate accession and U.S. ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), also known as the Treaty for the Rights of Women?

Yes

General Questions: House and Senate Candidates

16. Have you made public statements, written articles or taken formal positions on any of the issues covered in this questionnaire or on any other foreign policy, national security, or military intelligence issues? If, so please attach or provide reference.

Yes

I remain proud of this article, written and first published in the weeks after 911. (Although the page is titled "One year later" note the publication date on the story itself. http://www.alternet.org/911oneyearlater/11602/asteroids/?page=1 I haven't spoken out much on international issues during my current campaign, since the issues that resonate in my district are largely around jobs, education and health care.

17. If offered, would you accept the endorsement of Citizens for Global Solutions for election?

Yes

18. If offered, would you accept a contribution from Global Solutions PAC?

Yes

Yes, as long as your donor list is reported per FEC requirements. I will not accept donations from corporations, corporate PACs or help from anonymous sources or SuperPACs.

See candidates who returned our CQ

Paid for by Global Solutions PAC