Issue Position: Fair Vote and Fair Representation

Issue Position

As a former ambassador, I have watched in anguish as President Trump erodes relationships and credibility with so many nations and peoples. His threats and tantrums undermine our alliances and, ultimately, long term U.S. goals. Going it alone is a recipe for failure. Our nation must be a leader, exemplifying the highest standards of human rights, climate security, election security and democracy.

While I believe in maintaining a strong military, I will always see diplomatic engagement as the first, second and third option, with force as a true last resort. We have been too quick to deploy US troops abroad, often on ill-conceived missions where a lack of strategic planning and clear goals limits their chance of success.

On human rights, we must not only exemplify the highest ideals but also maintain the U.S. legacy of mercy and outreach to the world's refugees and those who flee danger in their homeland. Foreign assistance should remain a central piece of our foreign policy toolkit, both for its strategic value and because we have a moral imperative to help the less fortunate.

On climate action and security, it is embarrassing that we are not more of a global leader. We must reenter the Paris accords, but cannot stop there. Climate change is a global crisis, and requires global solutions that will not occur unless the world's largest economy is fully committed to rising to meet the challenge. I trust that we will elect a Democrat to the White House in 2020 and accelerate our commitments and transition from fossil fuels.

I was a strong proponent of the Iran deal; Trump's about-face on this hard-won and far-reaching agreement was foolish and made the Middle East less safe. We need to renew the multilateral accord which prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. I also support ending U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen, a horrific conflict where none of our strategic interests are being served.

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