Charles Bookwalter
Republican | Indiana
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Charles Bookwalter
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Indiana University, Bloomington, BS, 2001
WORK & MILITARY
US Army Special Forces, Staff Sergeant, 12
AFFILIATIONS
Lebanon Christian Church, small group leader - Children's ministry, In Libertas
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (3)
Michael Flynn
Stand For Health Freedom
Green Beret PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (5)
LTG Michael T. Flynn
Indiana Tea Party Coalition
Purple For Parents
Citizens' Coalition for Legislative Accountability
US Term Limits
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (6)
Becky Cash (2023)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2023)
Curt Nisly (2022)
John Jacob (2022)
Richard Bagsby (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Joseph Bookwalter Joseph G. Bookwalter (2023)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
League Of Conservation Voters (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
Should have limited use and not available OTC.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Only in extreme circumstances in order to save the life of the mother. I think the debate around how rape and incest victims need treatments is necessary to determine when and how they have access to termination as well. Life begins at conception.
Does the federal government have a role to play in limiting abortion, and if so what federal steps and/or federal legislation would you support?
It could be interpreted that way - yes (life, liberty, property). However, abortion is murder and murder is a state issue. We fought for decades to get Roe overturned and now that it is, I think, strategically, that the movement should get behind fighting it at the state level.
ECONOMY
What actions would you take that would allow Americans to retain more of their income and wealth?
Drastically cut the federal government bureaucracy by cutting the funding to all agencies. Close military bases oversees and return service members to the US. Pull out of NATO and the UN. Eliminate the Dept of Education, the ATF, et. al.
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Strongly Agree
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The State cannot mandate a particular Christian orthodoxy.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None. Informed consent.
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
D. With a phaseout.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
C. And the definition of imminent danger should be precise and narrowly defined.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Neutral
In the past (VIetnam, Japan) China has been a paper tiger because communism is a failed system. However, Liu's 100 year plan should be taken seriously. It will not be a strategic win for China as much as it will be a failure of the American foreign policy establishment.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Only in so far as it promotes peace and free trade abroad. It should not be at the expense of forever wars or genocide.
What are the causes of decline in U.S. military recruitment and retention?
An attack on patriotic midwestern conservative values. Forever wars and regime change. DEI and progressivism in the military. Complete bungling of foreign affairs by the ruling elite that has resulted in no trust or faith in our foreign policy establishment.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Our original mandate was for a strong defense not interventionism all over the world. Moreover, the Monroe Doctrine and corollary to that doctrine should guide our policy domestically as well as respect other sovereign spheres of influence abroad.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
People that have a skillset that can be used to make America a greater place to live. They should be able to make it here without any government assistance.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
As long as the money follows the students and has no federal regulations attached.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
This is a key part of our campaign.
VALUES
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Government should have stayed out of marriage entirely. By getting involved, they have invited secularists and atheist in to legally re-define this God ordained covenant.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a saved - born again Christian. I do not subscribe to dispensationalist doctrine. I think carrying your cross daily means trying to live every moment the way Jesus Christ showed us and although impossible to do, should be our goal. I encourage embracing the fruits of the spirit. We live our faith through homesteading, homeschooling and home church.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
If this occurred, a few major metropolitan areas would decide every election. Pure democracy is a terrible form of government that oppresses a large minority.
EQUALITY
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Climate catastrophe is a scam. The most reliable energy source for all energy, not just electricity is gas, oil and coal. We should be producing 10k times more energy worldwide than we are now in order to pull the remaining countries out of poverty.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Protect our God given rights of life, liberty and property.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
The Supreme Court should be reformed to include more seats.
Neutral
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Neutral
I support giving people their money back so that the people can support churches and community programs that actually help people.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Only restrictions on those with a record of violent crime. Otherwise, shall not be infringed.
