John Tompkins
Republican | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Tompkins
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, MD, 1981
Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City
WORK & MILITARY
United States Navy Reserve, Captain, 32
VA Medical Center, Orthopedic surgeon, 30
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor, 32
Integris/Baptist Medical Center, Orthopedic surgeon, 12
AFFILIATIONS
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Deacon, Oklahoma State Orthopedic Society
President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
No Answer
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
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.
No Answer
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Abortion should be allowed in cases of rape, incest, or serious health threats that a pregnancy poses to the mother.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Agree
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?
We need to be realistic about Social Security programs. There are no magic answers but there are practical solutions. The taxes collected obviously have to pay for the present and future benefits. Means testing is essential for both parts of the equation.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
We need to focus our spending on the institutions that keep us safe and secure. We should cut the spending and tax relief to multi-national companies that put their own profits ahead of the interest of the United States.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
Programs for paying off existing student loans should be tied to government service by those who have such loans.
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.
No Answer
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?
Although the words, "separation of church and state" are not written in the nation's Constitution, the principle that the government should not establish a state religion was clearly in the thinking of our founding fathers. This principle is as important today as it was when the country was created. We should all be free to develop and practice our religious beliefs without interference by any level of government.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Agree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
High quality healthcare should be accessible and affordable for everyone in the United States. Both private healthcare insurance and government supported healthcare should be available. Making high quality healthcare available to all people in our nation is the correct moral course and in the long run it is our best economic course. We should all keep in mind that allowing healthcare to remain unaffordable for people who are on the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder creates problems which burden all of us.
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?
The United States should monitor activities of people both inside and outside the borders of our country and use all legal means of preventing terrorist threats. In addition, it should promote human rights throughout the world as a means of undermining attempts of those who promote violence.
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.
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.
No Answer
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
No Answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should set policies that promote safe and legal immigration for people who are able to contribute to our nation from the standpoints of labor, education, technology, and culture. The circumstances can be broad, as has been demonstrated throughout the history of our country. But our policies must promote immigration of those who share the values that we hold dear, the values outlined in our Constitution.
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.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I was raised in a Christian home and believe in the values outlined in the Holy Bible. Faith in God and His son Jesus Christ is my touchstone. From the standpoint of politics I place my highest loyalty on the Constitution of the United States. I have served in the United States Navy Reserve for the past 32 years in defense of the Constitution.
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?
Somewhat Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I have never held any public office and have never written public statements outlining my political philosophy.
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 have a long history of government service as an orthopedic surgeon at the Oklahoma VA Medical Center dating back to 1987, when I first started working for the hospital on a part-time basis, and extending to November 2017. I have been in the Navy Reserve since July 1987, rising to the rank of Captain. Currently I am on active duty, having been mobilized in support of the Javits New York Medical Station's response to the coronavirus pandemic. I have long supported public health and the principles of preventive healthcare. My father, S. Fulton Tompkins, M.D. and I wrote a book about preventive healthcare. "An Ounce of Prevention: The Truth About Our Health" was published in 2011. As the name implies, I value truth, not only in regards to our personal health but also in regards to our society as a whole.
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?
Gun ownership must be restricted to individuals who have no history of violent crimes. Limits should be set on firearms and ammunition that are designed for purposes of inflicting mass casualties or otherwise threatening society. Examples include the ban of fully automatic weapons, so-called bump stocks, and armor-piercing ammunition.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Neutral
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Public health is of greatest concern. This is an area that has been terribly undervalued and underfunded for decades. The United States could have the absolute best public health system in the world, but we have squandered our time and resources. As a result, we find ourselves losing lives that should not be lost to the current pandemic. Affordable high quality healthcare for everyone in the United States is a goal that is within our grasp. We should understand that providing good care to all people in our country would actually reduce the costs for all of us. Fair and safe immigration policies should be established. Debate over this issue has gone on for many years but has failed to produce realistic legislation.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism has always been a threat to the security of the United States. We are a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history we have dealt with incidents of violence between racial groups that have undermined peace and prosperity.
