Watch: Joe Miller Wins Crowd at the Alaska Family Action Debate

Eagle River, Alaska. August 5, 2014 – Joe Miller demonstrated at the Alaska Family Action debate on Monday why he has strong grassroots support among conservatives in the state. Miller drew contrast with the other candidates on the issues of amnesty, life and same-sex marriage.

The debate moderator, Tom Minnery – President of Citizenlink, questioned Miller concerning his definition of amnesty. Miller stated that it includes giving the benefits of citizens—a pathway to citizenship–to those who entered our country illegally. He pointed out that Mead Treadwell supports a pathway to citizenship, and Dan Sullivan is backed by big amnesty proponents including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Senators John McCain and Susan Collins. Sullivan did not refute that amnesty money is behind his campaign, nor did he take the opportunity to state clearly his views on amnesty. Treadwell affirmed he does support a pathway to citizenship for illegals, but he conveyed as long as illegals didn’t get a “free pass” and “paid a penalty,” that is not amnesty.

Concerning the right to life, Miller noted he is the only candidate endorsed by Alaska Right to Life and both of his primary opponents blocked pro-life ballot initiatives during their terms in office. Sullivan and Treadwell stated their positions required them to follow the law, and Roe v. Wade is the law of the land. Miller pointed out Treadwell had previously said the Constitution protects life from conception. He then asked, “Was your oath to the Constitution or to the Supreme Court?” Treadwell declined to respond.

Miller stated both his opponents supported Lisa Murkowski in 2010, who is a pro-abortion senator. Minnery also made the audience aware of Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich’s recent vote for the Women’s Health Protection Act, which seeks to expand abortion availability nationwide.

Minnery, asked the candidates whether they had any exceptions to their pro-life stand. Sullivan stated he supports exceptions for rape and incest. Treadwell supports an exception for the life of the mother. Miller responded, “I don’t think we ought to be talking about about exceptions, we ought to be talking about life. We save every life we can…We protect those liberties God has given us. The foremost of which is life.” That principle applies to saving the life of the mother, if both cannot be saved. Miller pointed to the example of pro-life advocate Rebecca Kiessling, as one who was conceived in rape who would not be among us, if that exception were to be followed.

He also offered the example of a family supporting the campaign, whose adopted son, Aaron, was the result of the rape of a teenage girl. Miller said, “Why are we going to punish the sons and daughters for the fathers’ sins?” Aaron is now grown-up, with four children of his own, director of sales for their family business (which filed an amicus brief in the Hobby Lobby case.) “These are real life stories. You talk to Aaron, he would say this is a real world issue. This is me standing here flesh and bone. Why would you punish me and my right to life for the sin of another?…” Miller’s remarks on this issue drew perhaps the strongest applause and approval from the crowd during the debate.

On the topic of same-sex marriage, both Treadwell and Sullivan seemed to hedge on their support for traditional marriage, stating they would uphold the Alaska law. Sullivan went on to say that “it is an issue that is very fluid right now…” Treadwell said it is a “sacrament of the church” and that government should not be regulating it or “baptism either.” Miller made clear he supports traditional marriage: “It is the foundation of culture. It is our civilization” and “something government should encourage.”

“Joe Miller once again turned in a winning debate performance,” said Miller campaign spokesman Randy DeSoto. “He is the only true conservative in the race able to unite the Reagan coalition of traditional values and fiscal conservatives.”

Joe Miller is a husband, father, grandfather, combat veteran, and advocate of Constitutional liberty who believes in individual rights, private property, free markets and the sanctity of human life.