Anthony Cristo
Libertarian | Texas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Anthony Cristo
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist.15
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, BA, 2002
WORK & MILITARY
United States Navy Reserve, Petty Officer 3rd Class, 2007-2011
AFFILIATIONS
Libertarian Party, National Delegate / Candidate, The American Cancer Society
Cancer Information Specialist, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Seminarian
Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Alumni Chairman, Pearson Education Assessment
Scoring Director
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
NA
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
NA
Race
Previous Races
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
This question will not receive a black or white answer from me. Having been a seminarian for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, I am a very reluctant supporter of a woman's right to choose. The official Libertarian Party platform states: "Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration." Currently, I am the only pro-choice candidate looking to make adoption easier and more affordable for childless couples. In doing this, my hope is to make adoption a more attractive choice for women in unplanned pregnancies. My method is to allow women with unwanted pregnancies to be covered under adoptive couples' insurance for prenatal, delivery, and post natal care. I will eliminate unnecessary court costs and bureaucratic red tape many couples face which can run in tens of thousands of dollars.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
Whenever the government offers to help cover costs or losses for businesses and their products, it allows companies to charge whatever they want because they know the government subsidies will cover it. Wal-Mart is a prime example: They pay most employees an unlivable wage so these employees get on government assistance programs (food stamps, medicare, WIC, etc.) Since Wal-Mart has a grocery department and pharmacy, where do these employees spend this government assistance? At their work because it is convenient. So basically, the Walton family is getting paid all this government money via food stamps, medicare, and WIC as a reward for keeping their employees on an unlivable wage. Eliminate these assistance programs, and Wal-Mart starts losing all this income from government stimulus programs. They must either adjust their wages so that their employees can continue spending money at their work.
What changes should be made to the tax code?
A simple flat tax of 8% should be implemented with no tax shelters or deductions. Eliminate all the wasteful government spending programs and use that to pay down the national debt. Once the debt is paid off, the tax may not even be necessary anymore.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
Eliminate government assistance programs. If you have a choice of either starving or finding a job, you will find a job...fast!
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Stop borrowing from it to pay for unnecessary wars and government programs.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Neutral
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
People do not need health insurance, they need health care. Forcing people to purchase something they may not want nor need is not what our forefathers wanted. When you force people to purchase insurance the only ones who benefit are the insurance companies. They net billions of dollars in profits every year while still denying payment for medical equipment and medical procedures their board deems "unnecessary." People should have the option to put their money into HSA (Health Savings Account) instead of an insurance company. This is a tax exempt account which holds your own money with interest until you need it to pay for medical expenses. The decision to pay for a procedure is decided by the patient and not the insurance company Once insurance companies start losing customers, they will need to make an adjustment to their rates to remain functional. That is how the free market works.
NATIONAL SECURITY
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Disagree
The United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies.
Disagree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
I support sanctuary cities.
Disagree
The United States should protect its sovereignty from the United Nations.
Agree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Having been a Corpsman who sat on suicide watch with numerous Marines who came back from Afghanistan in pieces (physically and emotionally), I think it is long overdue to bring our troops home. The prolonged presence and involvement in the affairs of Islamic nations fuels their anger and increases their resolve to attack us. Maintaining a very strong military but not involving it in police actions abroad is key. A wise leader never goes looking for war, but is always prepared for it.
EDUCATION
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Agree
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The kind old King George is the reason why we have a separation and limit of powers in the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation, which the newly independent colonists lived under after the American Revolution lacked the strength to keep a functioning government. They also did not like the dictatorial hand of the king. A compromise was made to create the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the government so that no one branch of the government can rule the people.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was baptized and raised Catholic so I will always respect any person's religious beliefs. Whether a person is Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu or even Agnostic is entirely up to their choice. There are many extremely good people of different faiths and beliefs in the world. Conversely, I have encountered quite a few "Hypo-Christians" in my time. People who use their faith to judge, condemn, or persecute people are not truly following their faith.
ABOUT YOU
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2012 General Election, 2014 General Election, 2016 General Election
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Moderate
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
www.CristoForCongress.com
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I graduated magna cum laude with my BA from Incarnate Word. I am also an autodidact (a self-taught person). Numerous things fascinate me and I take it upon myself to research and analyze. I look at things from perspectives most people do not care to look or overlook in their zeal to prove themselves correct.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
NA
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am not a career politician nor do I care to become one. I am simply a person who knows what it is like to live from paycheck to paycheck. I know what it's like to get behind on my bills. I know what it is like to have to borrow money from family to make ends meet. I am basically like 99% of the people in the United States and I want to fix everything from education to bringing our troops home.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support the death penalty.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Additional regulations are needed to prevent climate change.
Strongly Disagree
It is OK for Congress to exempt itself from compliance with laws applicable to all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
