Anthony Cristo
Libertarian | Texas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Anthony Cristo
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist.34
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.
Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Deciding what to do with an unplanned pregnancy is a very difficult and sensitive issue a woman will face. The government should not make the decision making process more difficult and stressful than it already is. What the government can and should do is eliminate all the bureaucratic red tape and fees that make adoption too expensive. If adoption becomes easier and more affordable then adoption becomes a more viable choice for women.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
I would stop borrowing from it for other government programs. I would also make paying into Social Security optional. An individual can better invest the money deducted for social security better than the government.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Eliminate all foreign aid. Before trying to help others one must first help oneself. Eliminate the ATF. Eliminate the Department of Education and put the education of children in the hands of parents, teachers, and educators who know how best to address the educational needs of their community. Auditing the Federal Reserve. Ending the Drug War. Consolidating intelligence organizations.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
We should eliminate all federally subsidized student loan programs and let the free market determine the price universities charge for education. Making student loans more available is what caused universities to raise their prices in the first place. Eliminating government back student loans and university enrollment will drop to where the university can't remain open unless they lower their tuition and rearrange their budget. The may not have that campus climbing wall or reflectin
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.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Neutral
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It is okay to have your religion, be proud of it, and even share it. However, you should never expect the government to force your religious beliefs on others. Just as one would oppose Shariah Law being forced on the public, so too would many others oppose forcing your religious standards of right,wrong and just punishment on them.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Neutral
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Eliminate government subsidies and let the free market determine price. For indigent people charities can help. That is why I donate to the American Cancer Society and Saint Jude's Childrens Hospital. Americans are at their best when things are at their worst. Until the free market stabilizes medical care prices, charities will be the best resource for aiding the indigent.
NATIONAL SECURITY
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?
Pull our troops out of the middle east and use our defense strictly for defense and not policing the world or nation building. The Libertarian party symbol is a porcupine. The porcupine has the most effective natural defenses of any other animal in the animal kingdom. Even the most dangerous predators know to leave the porcupine alone. However, the porcupine does not use this defense in an aggressive manner against other animals. It minds it's own business. That is the way our nation's defense should be. For defense only.
IMMIGRATION
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.
Strongly Disagree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Agree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Neutral
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Neutral
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone should be allowed to immigrate. The United States has a long history of discrimination against various people. The Chinese Exclusion Act is a great example of this.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was baptized and raised Roman Catholic. For a time I felt a calling to serve Christ and studied to be a Roman Catholic priest in 1993. I ultimately decided that I can help more people in a different capacity as there are many people who automatically close their minds if you approach them from a religious standpoint. Right now I have an ecumenical outlook on life and take other people's beliefs into consideration without judgment or condemnation.
ABOUT YOU
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.
Libertarian Party Platform
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No. I have not.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Many Libertarian policies sound crazy, but they are actually ahead of their time. When it was founded in 1971, Libertarians sounded crazy for supporting same sex marriage and marijuana legalization. It took over three decades but the other two recognize it's worth after it became politically popular. We have doctors, lawyers, educators, and nuclear engineers among our ranks. Our 2020 presidential candidate has a PhD in Psychology and is a key lecturer at Clemson University. Research our beliefs on your own and not through the biased filter the two main parties present our policies.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Gun restrictions will do absolutely nothing to stop gun violence. No criminal or psychopath obeys laws. All gun restriction laws would do is keep guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens. Creating gun control laws to give the people a false sense of security is a waste of the taxpayers money.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Neutral
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Agree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Balanced Budget Amendment Repealing No Child Left Behind Ending Qualified Immunity
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
There is room for improvement but things are not as severe as the media makes it out to be.
