Michael Oristian
Republican | California
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michael Oristian
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 53
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, BS, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
San Diego County Republican Party, Member, Saint Joseph Cathedral
Parishioner
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019)
Republican National Committee (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
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?
In cases of rape, incest or when the pregnancy will certainly threaten the life of the mother
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly 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?
Explore giving individuals a buy-out option with tax incentives or the like
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Any program better served by the private sector or state and local governments.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
None. School endowments grow. Education costs grow. Why should government be involved in bailing out these loans? Schools should eat defaults - it will move them to teach more marketable skills. Also, we need vocational vectors - there are other avenues besides college to achieving propsperity and fulfillment.
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
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Agree
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 means that no government can coerce a citizen to any religious belief or practice. While it still says "In God We Trust" on our currency, I've never never seen someone turn away a dollar in disgust.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
First I would require fully transparent cost breakdowns to patients. Second, I would require that individuals receive the same "most-favored nation" costs that Insurers are able to negotiate. Lastly, I would allow insurers to operate across the U.S. such that the risk pool is larger. I would also require that all providers accept all insurance plans.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Work with peaceful Islamic organizations to identify those who have been radicalized and who possibly want to inflict harm on American citizens.
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 Agree
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
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.
Strongly Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Meritocracy and marriage - marrying someone here or starting a business here as an employer. No chain migration, no birthright citizenship.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
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.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I accept people of all faiths and spirtual backgrounds and will fight for their right to worship as they choose. I was raised Catholic and confirmed. I strive to have an open dialogue with Jesus in the form of prayer, but I have wandered at many points in my life. I'm most definitely a sinner - I struggle most with lust, pride and sloth. While I believe that judeo-christian ethics have informed our system of government, my conservative instincts do not require my faith. I'm more free-thinking in my social outlook, and find political comradery with many agnostics who feel the same.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
See answer 26 for how my faith is not a requirement for my Republican values. I could be described as far more Libertarian/free-thinking when it comes to sexual orientation and recreational marijuana.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I think a sovereign energy future is critical to national security. With the Democrats focused on banning fossil fuels through the Green New Deal or adopting the Paris Climate Accord, we're at a critical crossroads in determining America's energy independence. I studied Environmental Engineering at Stanford and while I accept the scientific consensus on Climate Change, it is not in our interest to let apocalyptic mandates drive energy policy. Innovation should be driven by the market, not the other way around. I'm a huge fan of renewables and continuing to economically incentivize research and development in wind and solar, but I also believe we need to consider advances in nuclear and cold fusion to meet the growing demand for energy in our economy.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Federal gun safety course - including safe storage strategies. Background checks and red-flag laws will just be abused to restrict law-abiding citizens' 2nd Amendment rights.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
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?
1) Add political ideology as a protected class to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. 2) Ensure the freelancers right-to-work 3) Let social media companies choose between being a Public Utility with no algorithmic discrimination or a partisan publisher with the liabilities therein
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. Class stereotypes exist, for sure, but racial bias is far less prevalent than the media would like us to believe. In my experience, it's those who lecture the rest of us on our unconscious racial bias who are the most guilty of these prejudices. 15% of marriages are interracial. There are successful Americans of every ethnicity. Economic disparities across the US cannot be described in purely racial factors.
