But not this year. In three weeks, we need to win 6 Senate seats to remove pro-abortion Harry Reid from control of the Senate. The stakes are high.
In South Dakota, Rick Weiland (D) and Larry Pressler (I) are beginning to catch up to pro-life, pro-family, pro-religious liberty Mike Rounds (R) in the polls.
After researching the three candidates in light of Catholic doctrine, it is clear to us at CatholicVote.org that Mike Rounds is the right candidate for Catholic voters and all South Dakotans.
Since educating faithful Catholics and encouraging them to get to the polls is one of our main priorities, we have created these simple, single page, side-by-side candidate comparison flyers for your reference.
As Catholics, abortion, marriage, and religious liberty are at the top of our list. But we have included some other issues that people of faith should also consider when deciding on a candidate.
[Click here or download by clicking on the flyer image above.]
LIFE:
“Mike Rounds is pro-life.” Source: Rounds for Senate campaign website
Rick Weiland believes unborn children do not have the right to life. Source: Washington Post, July 2, 2014
Larry Pressler supports legal abortion and opposed several pro-life laws passed recently in South Dakota. Source: Politico, November 14, 2013
MARRIAGE:
Mike Rounds believes that marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Source: Rounds for Senate campaign website
Rick Weiland favors the redefinition of marriage. Source: New York Times, May 28, 2013
Larry Pressler supports same-sex marriage. Petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn natural marriage. Source: The Daily Beast, February 28, 2013
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:
The HHS mandate is a policy where the federal government forces employers to pay for abortion pills and other morally objectionable services. The United States Senate on March 1, 2012, rejected the Blunt Amendment which would have restored the religious liberty rights of all Americans who objected to being forced to pay for abortion pills. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious liberty in the Hobby Lobby case in June 2014.
Mike Rounds celebrated the Hobby Lobby religious freedom case. “Today’s ruling is a tremendous victory for business owners and for those who believe in religious freedom in America. It’s encouraging to see that the Supreme Court agrees with our belief that this failed healthcare policy goes too far, and family business owners should not be forced to give up their constitutional liberties and religious freedom to comply with bad policy.” Source: Kelo, June 30, 2014
Rick Weiland criticized Mike Rounds’ support of the Hobby Lobby decision. Source: Rick Weiland for Senate campaign webiste
Larry Pressler made no known public statement after Supreme Court’s decision in favor of religious liberty in June 2014.
HEALTH CARE:
Mike Rounds “opposes Obamacare and would work to repeal and replace it with market-based, patient-centered solutions. Mike adamantly opposes a single-payer system and meaningless adjustments.” Source: Rounds for Senate campaign website
Rick Weiland believes Obamacare doesn’t go far enough. He favors a socialized health care system over private options. Source: Radio interview with Ed Schultz
Larry Pressler says “we need the Affordable Care Act” known as Obamacare, which raised the average family’s premium by 56% in 2014. Source: The Hill, October 9, 2014
EDUCATION:
“Mike believes in local control of education, and while standards are important, a “one size fits all” directive from the federal government does not serve our children well. Mike will seek to abolish the US Department of Education and defund its budget including the 5000 employees with an average annual salary of $102,000 each.” Source: Rounds for Senate campaign website
Rick Weiland supports expanding federal intervention in South Dakota’s schools. Source: Rick Weiland for Senate campaign website
Larry Pressler supported vouchers when in Congress from 1975-1997, but endorsed Barack Obama, who cut vouchers for low-income students in 2009. Source: Washington Post, December 10, 2009