Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

User:BoboMeowCat

2016-03-21T04:33:00Z

BoboMeowCat:

The Internet is toxic...need a break from crazy stalkers who track down other accounts to share rape fantasies
{{retired}}

I’m relatively new to Wikipedia (started editing in February 2014). I’m particularly interested in improving pages with bias/POV issues and presenting complicated issues, which people tend to have strong feelings about, in a neutral, encyclopedic way.

Lindy West

2016-03-17T14:50:20Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Career */

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lindy West
| image =
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| ethnicity =
| education =
| occupation = Writer, newspaper editor
| residence = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| religion =
| salary =
| credits =
| agent =
| parents = Paul West Ingrid West<ref name=ST/>
| relatives =
| spouse = [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]]
| website =
}}

'''Lindy West''' is an American writer,<ref name=Profile>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/lindy-west/Author?oid=21605 "Author Archive: Lindy West."] ''The Stranger.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> feminist and [[fat acceptance movement]] [[activist]], and film criticism [[newspaper editor|editor]].<ref name=Brodeur2013>{{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= July 7, 2013 |title= Lindy West: Finding 'Invisible Hypocrisies' |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2021322952_nicole30xml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}</ref><ref name=StrangerMasthead>{{Citation |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20111101113125/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |url= http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |archivedate= November 1, 2011 |newspaper= [[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |title= Masthead }}</ref> West won the 2013 [[Women's Media Center]] Social Media Award.<ref name=WomensMediaCenter>{{Citation |title= Lindy West Wins Women's Media Center Social Media Award |date= October 8, 2013 |url= http://www.womensmediacenter.com/press/entry/lindy-west-wins-womens-media-center-social-media-award |publisher= [[Women's Media Center]] }}</ref> West married musician and writer [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]] on July 11, 2015.<ref name=CA>{{cite web|work=CityArts|url=http://www.cityartsonline.com/articles/qa-ahamefule-j-oluo|title=Q&A with Ahamefule J. Oluo|date=December 2, 2014|first=Brett|last=Hamil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=My wedding was perfect – and I was fat as hell the whole time|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jul/21/my-wedding-perfect-fat-woman|website=The Guardian|date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

==Career==
Originally from [[Seattle, Washington]], West is the daughter of Ingrid and Paul West, who was a musician.<ref name=ST/> She attended [[Occidental College]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name=Profile/><ref name=PaulWestObit/>

In 2009, West began working as the film editor for Seattle's alternative weekly newspaper, ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]''.<ref name=Profile/> In 2011, she moved to Los Angeles, but continued to write for ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' until September 2012.<ref name=Profile/><ref>[http://seattlest.com/2011/08/30/lindy_west_announces_move_to_la_sea.php "Lindy West Announces Move to LA, Seattle Cries."] ''Seattlest.'' August 30, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref><ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/concessions/Content?oid=9935779 "So Long, Suckers!!! I Never Liked You!"] ''The Stranger.'' September 13, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref>

She was a staff writer for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]<ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/08/03/stop_calling_yourself_a_feminist_.html "Stop Calling Yourself A Feminist"] ''Slate.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2012-08-06/news/33086722_1_column-tosh-outrage "Whoa, The Reaction To That Column Was Crazy"] ''RedEye Chicago.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref> where she wrote on racism, [[sexism]], and [[sizeism|fat shaming]].<ref name=Brodeur2013/><ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.seattlemag.com/article/seattles-lindy-west-brings-womens-issues-light-online |title= Seattle's Lindy West Brings Women's Issues to Light Online; Writer, performer and activist Lindy West keeps her wit about her |first= Brangien |last= Davis |date= January 2014 |magazine= Seattle Magazine }}</ref> West's work has been published in the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/author/lindywest1/|title=Lindy West|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> ''[[GQ]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gq.com/contributors/lindy-west|title=Contributors: Lindy West|work=[[GQ]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> the ''[[New York Daily News]]'',<ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/anatomy-a-racist-awkward-relationship-mel-gibson-article-1.465097 "Anatomy of a racist: Our awkward relationship with Mel Gibson."] ''NY Daily News.'' July 19, 2010. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> ''[[Vulture (blog)#Digital expansion and blogs|Vulture.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2, 2012|title=Glee Recap: Takin’ It to the Streets|first=Lindy|last=West|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/glee-recap-season-3-episode-11.html|work=[[Vulture.com]]}}</ref> ''[[Deadspin]]'', ''[[Cracked.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=How To Be a Person: A Guide to Life for the Recent Graduate|date=June 11, 2011|author=West, Lindy|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19292_how-to-be-person-guide-to-life-recent-graduate.html|work=[[Cracked.com]]}}</ref> [[MSNBC]]<ref name="lindy west bio">{{cite web|title=I Jumped the Shark on My Pony. It Is My Pony's Only Trick.|url=http://lindywest.net/bio|publisher=Lindy West|accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name=Profile /><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/west-lindy "Lindy West."] ''The Guardian.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> In 2013 West won the Social Media Award from the Women's Media Center, presented by [[Jane Fonda]] in [[New York City]].<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/> Accepting the award, West said, "I hear a lot these days about the lazy, aimless '[[millennials]]' -- about how all we want to do is sit around twerking our iPods and Tweedling our Kardashians -- and I also hear people asking, 'Where is the next generation of the social justice movement? Where are all the young feminists and womanists and activists?' Dude, they're on the internet."<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/><ref>{{Cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-t5MnOmuk|title= Lindy West Receives the WMC's Social Media Award from Jane Fonda }}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West co-founded [[Shout Your Abortion]], a social media campaign on [[Twitter]] where women share their abortion experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". The social media campaign was initiated in response to the US House of Representatives efforts to defund [[Planned Parenthood]] following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

==Books==
*{{cite book
| last1 = West
| first1 = Lindy
| last2 = [[Dan Savage|Savage]]
| first2 = [[Dan Savage|Dan]]
| last3 = Frizzelle
| first3 = Christopher
| last4 = Clement
| first4 = Bethany Jean
| title = How to Be a Person: The Stranger's Guide to College, Sex, Intoxicants, Tacos and Life Itself
| location = [[Seattle, Washington]]
| publisher = [[Sasquatch Books]]
| publication-date = 2012
| pages = 250
| isbn = 9781570617782
| lccn = 2012011132
}}<ref name="lindy west bio" />

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=PaulWestObit>{{Citation |title= Entertaining Paul West always had 'droll story'; Obituary. (Obituary) |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2017017779_west15.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |date= December 15, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=ST>{{cite web|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|title=Entertaining musician, ad man Paul West dies|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/entertaining-musician-ad-man-paul-west-dies/|date=December 14, 2011|first=Paul|last=de Barros}}</ref>

}}

==References==
{{refbegin|30em}}
*{{Citation |last=Bell |first= W. Kamau |authorlink= W. Kamau Bell |work=[[Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell]] |title= Extended Talk with Jim Norton and Lindy West |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUb_E1qUHA |format=[[YouTube]] |date= May 31, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= October 29, 2013 |title= A Lot More Than Glitter at 'Golden Grrls' Gala |url= http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022143828_nicolenamesxml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}
*{{Citation |last= Burbank |first= Luke |url= http://mynorthwest.com/category/tbtl_player/?a=9957136 |work=[[Too Beautiful to Live]] |title= #1358 - Internet Trolls Have A Lindy West Problem |date= June 6, 2013 |authorlink=Luke Burbank }}
* {{Citation |last= Carman |title= For some, culinary shtick is hard to swallow |newspaper= The Washington Post blog |date= May 19, 2012 |first= Tim }}
* {{Citation |last= Chivers |title= Are women, on average, as funny as men? Who cares? |url= http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100161714/are-women-on-average-as-funny-as-men-who-cares/ |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph blog |date= May 30, 2012 |first= Tom }}
*{{Citation |last=Deahl |first=Rachel |magazine=[[Publishers Weekly]] |url= http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/65881-book-deals-week-of-march-16-2015.html |title= Book Deals: Week of March 16, 2015; West Gets 'Shrill' at Hachette |date=Mar 13, 2015 }}
* {{Citation |last= Gordon-Moershel |title= Challenging Sex Segregation in Sport |first= Ellie |magazine= [[Canadian Dimension]] |volume= 47 |issue= 4 |date= July–August 2013 |pages= 29–31, 4 }}
* {{Citation |last= Hesse |title= The Internet Can't Reprogram Brains |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= July 15, 2012 |first= Monica }}
*{{Citation |last= Hockenberry |first= John |authorlink=John Hockenberry |title= 'I Believe You, It's Not Your Fault': New Site Gives Outlet for Sexual Assault Victims |date= August 12, 2014 |url= http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/i-believe-you-its-not-your-fault-new-site-gives-victims-sexual-assault-space-tell-stories/ |work=[[The Takeaway]] }}
* {{Citation |title= How parents can help obese kids |url= http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20121012/ARTICLES/121019883 |newspaper= Starnewsonline.com |location= Wilmington, NC |date= October 12, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kerwicke |title= Watermelon Abuse As A Career Choice |newspaper= [[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |location= Bergen County, NJ |date= April 7, 2011 |first= Mike }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= My Fair Vagina: An intimate wash advertisement extends the frontiers of fairness to erogenous zones. Has it gone too far? |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= [[India Today]] |date= May 7, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= Net Flux: This week's app round-up is for children, football fans and early risers.
|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/exciting-apps-and-videos-from-the-world-of-web/1/189358.html |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= India Today |date= May 28, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last = Lawless |title= Twitter threats highlight blight of online trolls |url= http://news.yahoo.com/twitter-threats-highlight-blight-online-trolls-094629380.html |publisher= [[Associated Press]] |date= August 1, 2013 |first= Jill }}
* {{Citation |last= Lytton |title= Sadly it helps to be 'hot' if you're a feminist |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10109903/Sadly-it-helps-to-be-hot-if-youre-a-feminist.html |first= Charlotte |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= June 10, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Petri |title= Gwyneth Paltrow is your college essay |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/04/29/gwyneth-paltrow-is-your-college-essay/ |first= Alexandra |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= April 29, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |title= Roseanne Barr's Twitter Rape-Joke Rant Gets Her Blocked By Jezebel's Lindy West For 'Unhinged Abuse' |url= http://www.ibtimes.com/roseanne-barrs-twitter-rape-joke-rant-gets-her-blocked-jezebels-lindy-west-unhinged-abuse-1292965 |newspaper=[[International Business Times]] |date= June 5, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Simmons-Duffin |title= New Anti-Obesity Ads Blaming Overweight Parents Spark Criticism |work= [[NPR Morning Edition]] |date= September 27, 2012 |first= Selena }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= 'G.C.B.' – and let's just add a Big D, for dumb |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/gcb-add-a-big-d-for-dumb/2012/02/24/gIQALtI2kR_story.html |first= Hank |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= March 4, 2012 |page= EZ.3 }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= The Conversation |url= http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/09/the-conversation/309072/ |magazine= The Atlantic |date= September 2012 |pages= 16, 19–22, 26 }}
* {{Citation |last= Taranto |title= Does Obama Know? Does Obama Care? America needs an accounting of the health-care debacle |url = http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303680404579143462696720716 |first= James |newspaper= [[Wall Street Journal]] |date= October 18, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last1=Tiku |first1=Nitasha |last2=Newton |first2= Casey|url= http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/4/7982099/twitter-ceo-sent-memo-taking-personal-responsibility-for-the |title= Twitter CEO: 'We suck at dealing with abuse'; Dick Costolo says trolls are costing Twitter users |magazine=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date= February 4, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2015 }}

{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://lindywest.net/}}
*{{IMDb name|4873492}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = West, Lindy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American writer
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH = United States
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Lindy}}
[[Category:American newspaper editors]]
[[Category:American women writers]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:Fat acceptance activists]]
[[Category:People from Seattle, Washington]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:The Stranger (newspaper)]]
[[Category:Occidental College alumni]]
[[Category:Women newspaper editors]]

Lindy West

2016-03-17T14:45:44Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Career */ paragraph break

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lindy West
| image =
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| ethnicity =
| education =
| occupation = Writer, newspaper editor
| residence = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| religion =
| salary =
| credits =
| agent =
| parents = Paul West Ingrid West<ref name=ST/>
| relatives =
| spouse = [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]]
| website =
}}

'''Lindy West''' is an American writer,<ref name=Profile>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/lindy-west/Author?oid=21605 "Author Archive: Lindy West."] ''The Stranger.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> feminist and [[fat acceptance movement]] [[activist]], and film criticism [[newspaper editor|editor]].<ref name=Brodeur2013>{{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= July 7, 2013 |title= Lindy West: Finding 'Invisible Hypocrisies' |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2021322952_nicole30xml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}</ref><ref name=StrangerMasthead>{{Citation |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20111101113125/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |url= http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |archivedate= November 1, 2011 |newspaper= [[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |title= Masthead }}</ref> West won the 2013 [[Women's Media Center]] Social Media Award.<ref name=WomensMediaCenter>{{Citation |title= Lindy West Wins Women's Media Center Social Media Award |date= October 8, 2013 |url= http://www.womensmediacenter.com/press/entry/lindy-west-wins-womens-media-center-social-media-award |publisher= [[Women's Media Center]] }}</ref> West married musician and writer [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]] on July 11, 2015.<ref name=CA>{{cite web|work=CityArts|url=http://www.cityartsonline.com/articles/qa-ahamefule-j-oluo|title=Q&A with Ahamefule J. Oluo|date=December 2, 2014|first=Brett|last=Hamil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=My wedding was perfect – and I was fat as hell the whole time|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jul/21/my-wedding-perfect-fat-woman|website=The Guardian|date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

==Career==
Originally from [[Seattle, Washington]], West is the daughter of Ingrid and Paul West, who was a musician.<ref name=ST/> She attended [[Occidental College]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name=Profile/><ref name=PaulWestObit/>

In 2009, West began working as the film editor for Seattle's alternative weekly newspaper, ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]''.<ref name=Profile/> In 2011, she moved to Los Angeles, but continued to write for ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' until September 2012.<ref name=Profile/><ref>[http://seattlest.com/2011/08/30/lindy_west_announces_move_to_la_sea.php "Lindy West Announces Move to LA, Seattle Cries."] ''Seattlest.'' August 30, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref><ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/concessions/Content?oid=9935779 "So Long, Suckers!!! I Never Liked You!"] ''The Stranger.'' September 13, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref>

She was a staff writer for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]<ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/08/03/stop_calling_yourself_a_feminist_.html "Stop Calling Yourself A Feminist"] ''Slate.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2012-08-06/news/33086722_1_column-tosh-outrage "Whoa, The Reaction To That Column Was Crazy"] ''RedEye Chicago.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref> where she wrote on racism, [[sexism]], and [[sizeism|fat shaming]].<ref name=Brodeur2013/><ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.seattlemag.com/article/seattles-lindy-west-brings-womens-issues-light-online |title= Seattle's Lindy West Brings Women's Issues to Light Online; Writer, performer and activist Lindy West keeps her wit about her |first= Brangien |last= Davis |date= January 2014 |magazine= Seattle Magazine }}</ref> West's work has been published in the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/author/lindywest1/|title=Lindy West|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> ''[[GQ]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gq.com/contributors/lindy-west|title=Contributors: Lindy West|work=[[GQ]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> the ''[[New York Daily News]]'',<ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/anatomy-a-racist-awkward-relationship-mel-gibson-article-1.465097 "Anatomy of a racist: Our awkward relationship with Mel Gibson."] ''NY Daily News.'' July 19, 2010. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> ''[[Vulture (blog)#Digital expansion and blogs|Vulture.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2, 2012|title=Glee Recap: Takin’ It to the Streets|first=Lindy|last=West|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/glee-recap-season-3-episode-11.html|work=[[Vulture.com]]}}</ref> ''[[Deadspin]]'', ''[[Cracked.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=How To Be a Person: A Guide to Life for the Recent Graduate|date=June 11, 2011|author=West, Lindy|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19292_how-to-be-person-guide-to-life-recent-graduate.html|work=[[Cracked.com]]}}</ref> [[MSNBC]]<ref name="lindy west bio">{{cite web|title=I Jumped the Shark on My Pony. It Is My Pony's Only Trick.|url=http://lindywest.net/bio|publisher=Lindy West|accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name=Profile /><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/west-lindy "Lindy West."] ''The Guardian.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> In 2013 West won the Social Media Award from the Women's Media Center, presented by [[Jane Fonda]] in [[New York City]].<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/> Accepting the award, West said, "I hear a lot these days about the lazy, aimless '[[millennials]]' -- about how all we want to do is sit around twerking our iPods and Tweedling our Kardashians -- and I also hear people asking, 'Where is the next generation of the social justice movement? Where are all the young feminists and womanists and activists?' Dude, they're on the internet."<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/><ref>{{Cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-t5MnOmuk|title= Lindy West Receives the WMC's Social Media Award from Jane Fonda }}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West co-founded [[Shout Your Abortion]], a social media campaign on [[Twitter]] where women share their abortion experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret”, for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". The social media campaign was initiated in response to the US House of Representatives efforts to defund [[Planned Parenthood]] following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

==Books==
*{{cite book
| last1 = West
| first1 = Lindy
| last2 = [[Dan Savage|Savage]]
| first2 = [[Dan Savage|Dan]]
| last3 = Frizzelle
| first3 = Christopher
| last4 = Clement
| first4 = Bethany Jean
| title = How to Be a Person: The Stranger's Guide to College, Sex, Intoxicants, Tacos and Life Itself
| location = [[Seattle, Washington]]
| publisher = [[Sasquatch Books]]
| publication-date = 2012
| pages = 250
| isbn = 9781570617782
| lccn = 2012011132
}}<ref name="lindy west bio" />

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=PaulWestObit>{{Citation |title= Entertaining Paul West always had 'droll story'; Obituary. (Obituary) |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2017017779_west15.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |date= December 15, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=ST>{{cite web|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|title=Entertaining musician, ad man Paul West dies|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/entertaining-musician-ad-man-paul-west-dies/|date=December 14, 2011|first=Paul|last=de Barros}}</ref>

}}

==References==
{{refbegin|30em}}
*{{Citation |last=Bell |first= W. Kamau |authorlink= W. Kamau Bell |work=[[Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell]] |title= Extended Talk with Jim Norton and Lindy West |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUb_E1qUHA |format=[[YouTube]] |date= May 31, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= October 29, 2013 |title= A Lot More Than Glitter at 'Golden Grrls' Gala |url= http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022143828_nicolenamesxml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}
*{{Citation |last= Burbank |first= Luke |url= http://mynorthwest.com/category/tbtl_player/?a=9957136 |work=[[Too Beautiful to Live]] |title= #1358 - Internet Trolls Have A Lindy West Problem |date= June 6, 2013 |authorlink=Luke Burbank }}
* {{Citation |last= Carman |title= For some, culinary shtick is hard to swallow |newspaper= The Washington Post blog |date= May 19, 2012 |first= Tim }}
* {{Citation |last= Chivers |title= Are women, on average, as funny as men? Who cares? |url= http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100161714/are-women-on-average-as-funny-as-men-who-cares/ |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph blog |date= May 30, 2012 |first= Tom }}
*{{Citation |last=Deahl |first=Rachel |magazine=[[Publishers Weekly]] |url= http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/65881-book-deals-week-of-march-16-2015.html |title= Book Deals: Week of March 16, 2015; West Gets 'Shrill' at Hachette |date=Mar 13, 2015 }}
* {{Citation |last= Gordon-Moershel |title= Challenging Sex Segregation in Sport |first= Ellie |magazine= [[Canadian Dimension]] |volume= 47 |issue= 4 |date= July–August 2013 |pages= 29–31, 4 }}
* {{Citation |last= Hesse |title= The Internet Can't Reprogram Brains |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= July 15, 2012 |first= Monica }}
*{{Citation |last= Hockenberry |first= John |authorlink=John Hockenberry |title= 'I Believe You, It's Not Your Fault': New Site Gives Outlet for Sexual Assault Victims |date= August 12, 2014 |url= http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/i-believe-you-its-not-your-fault-new-site-gives-victims-sexual-assault-space-tell-stories/ |work=[[The Takeaway]] }}
* {{Citation |title= How parents can help obese kids |url= http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20121012/ARTICLES/121019883 |newspaper= Starnewsonline.com |location= Wilmington, NC |date= October 12, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kerwicke |title= Watermelon Abuse As A Career Choice |newspaper= [[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |location= Bergen County, NJ |date= April 7, 2011 |first= Mike }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= My Fair Vagina: An intimate wash advertisement extends the frontiers of fairness to erogenous zones. Has it gone too far? |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= [[India Today]] |date= May 7, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= Net Flux: This week's app round-up is for children, football fans and early risers.
|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/exciting-apps-and-videos-from-the-world-of-web/1/189358.html |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= India Today |date= May 28, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last = Lawless |title= Twitter threats highlight blight of online trolls |url= http://news.yahoo.com/twitter-threats-highlight-blight-online-trolls-094629380.html |publisher= [[Associated Press]] |date= August 1, 2013 |first= Jill }}
* {{Citation |last= Lytton |title= Sadly it helps to be 'hot' if you're a feminist |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10109903/Sadly-it-helps-to-be-hot-if-youre-a-feminist.html |first= Charlotte |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= June 10, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Petri |title= Gwyneth Paltrow is your college essay |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/04/29/gwyneth-paltrow-is-your-college-essay/ |first= Alexandra |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= April 29, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |title= Roseanne Barr's Twitter Rape-Joke Rant Gets Her Blocked By Jezebel's Lindy West For 'Unhinged Abuse' |url= http://www.ibtimes.com/roseanne-barrs-twitter-rape-joke-rant-gets-her-blocked-jezebels-lindy-west-unhinged-abuse-1292965 |newspaper=[[International Business Times]] |date= June 5, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Simmons-Duffin |title= New Anti-Obesity Ads Blaming Overweight Parents Spark Criticism |work= [[NPR Morning Edition]] |date= September 27, 2012 |first= Selena }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= 'G.C.B.' – and let's just add a Big D, for dumb |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/gcb-add-a-big-d-for-dumb/2012/02/24/gIQALtI2kR_story.html |first= Hank |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= March 4, 2012 |page= EZ.3 }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= The Conversation |url= http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/09/the-conversation/309072/ |magazine= The Atlantic |date= September 2012 |pages= 16, 19–22, 26 }}
* {{Citation |last= Taranto |title= Does Obama Know? Does Obama Care? America needs an accounting of the health-care debacle |url = http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303680404579143462696720716 |first= James |newspaper= [[Wall Street Journal]] |date= October 18, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last1=Tiku |first1=Nitasha |last2=Newton |first2= Casey|url= http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/4/7982099/twitter-ceo-sent-memo-taking-personal-responsibility-for-the |title= Twitter CEO: 'We suck at dealing with abuse'; Dick Costolo says trolls are costing Twitter users |magazine=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date= February 4, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2015 }}

{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://lindywest.net/}}
*{{IMDb name|4873492}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = West, Lindy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American writer
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH = United States
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Lindy}}
[[Category:American newspaper editors]]
[[Category:American women writers]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:Fat acceptance activists]]
[[Category:People from Seattle, Washington]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:The Stranger (newspaper)]]
[[Category:Occidental College alumni]]
[[Category:Women newspaper editors]]

Lindy West

2016-03-17T14:43:52Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Career */ clarify

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lindy West
| image =
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| ethnicity =
| education =
| occupation = Writer, newspaper editor
| residence = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| religion =
| salary =
| credits =
| agent =
| parents = Paul West Ingrid West<ref name=ST/>
| relatives =
| spouse = [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]]
| website =
}}

'''Lindy West''' is an American writer,<ref name=Profile>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/lindy-west/Author?oid=21605 "Author Archive: Lindy West."] ''The Stranger.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> feminist and [[fat acceptance movement]] [[activist]], and film criticism [[newspaper editor|editor]].<ref name=Brodeur2013>{{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= July 7, 2013 |title= Lindy West: Finding 'Invisible Hypocrisies' |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2021322952_nicole30xml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}</ref><ref name=StrangerMasthead>{{Citation |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20111101113125/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |url= http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |archivedate= November 1, 2011 |newspaper= [[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |title= Masthead }}</ref> West won the 2013 [[Women's Media Center]] Social Media Award.<ref name=WomensMediaCenter>{{Citation |title= Lindy West Wins Women's Media Center Social Media Award |date= October 8, 2013 |url= http://www.womensmediacenter.com/press/entry/lindy-west-wins-womens-media-center-social-media-award |publisher= [[Women's Media Center]] }}</ref> West married musician and writer [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]] on July 11, 2015.<ref name=CA>{{cite web|work=CityArts|url=http://www.cityartsonline.com/articles/qa-ahamefule-j-oluo|title=Q&A with Ahamefule J. Oluo|date=December 2, 2014|first=Brett|last=Hamil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=My wedding was perfect – and I was fat as hell the whole time|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jul/21/my-wedding-perfect-fat-woman|website=The Guardian|date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

==Career==
Originally from [[Seattle, Washington]], West is the daughter of Ingrid and Paul West, who was a musician.<ref name=ST/> She attended [[Occidental College]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name=Profile/><ref name=PaulWestObit/>

In 2009, West began working as the film editor for Seattle's alternative weekly newspaper, ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]''.<ref name=Profile/> In 2011, she moved to Los Angeles, but continued to write for ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' until September 2012.<ref name=Profile/><ref>[http://seattlest.com/2011/08/30/lindy_west_announces_move_to_la_sea.php "Lindy West Announces Move to LA, Seattle Cries."] ''Seattlest.'' August 30, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref><ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/concessions/Content?oid=9935779 "So Long, Suckers!!! I Never Liked You!"] ''The Stranger.'' September 13, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref>

She was a staff writer for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]<ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/08/03/stop_calling_yourself_a_feminist_.html "Stop Calling Yourself A Feminist"] ''Slate.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2012-08-06/news/33086722_1_column-tosh-outrage "Whoa, The Reaction To That Column Was Crazy"] ''RedEye Chicago.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref> where she wrote on racism, [[sexism]], and [[sizeism|fat shaming]].<ref name=Brodeur2013/><ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.seattlemag.com/article/seattles-lindy-west-brings-womens-issues-light-online |title= Seattle's Lindy West Brings Women's Issues to Light Online; Writer, performer and activist Lindy West keeps her wit about her |first= Brangien |last= Davis |date= January 2014 |magazine= Seattle Magazine }}</ref> West's work has been published in the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/author/lindywest1/|title=Lindy West|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> ''[[GQ]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gq.com/contributors/lindy-west|title=Contributors: Lindy West|work=[[GQ]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> the ''[[New York Daily News]]'',<ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/anatomy-a-racist-awkward-relationship-mel-gibson-article-1.465097 "Anatomy of a racist: Our awkward relationship with Mel Gibson."] ''NY Daily News.'' July 19, 2010. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> ''[[Vulture (blog)#Digital expansion and blogs|Vulture.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2, 2012|title=Glee Recap: Takin’ It to the Streets|first=Lindy|last=West|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/glee-recap-season-3-episode-11.html|work=[[Vulture.com]]}}</ref> ''[[Deadspin]]'', ''[[Cracked.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=How To Be a Person: A Guide to Life for the Recent Graduate|date=June 11, 2011|author=West, Lindy|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19292_how-to-be-person-guide-to-life-recent-graduate.html|work=[[Cracked.com]]}}</ref> [[MSNBC]]<ref name="lindy west bio">{{cite web|title=I Jumped the Shark on My Pony. It Is My Pony's Only Trick.|url=http://lindywest.net/bio|publisher=Lindy West|accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name=Profile /><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/west-lindy "Lindy West."] ''The Guardian.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> In 2013 West won the Social Media Award from the Women's Media Center, presented by [[Jane Fonda]] in [[New York City]].<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/> Accepting the award, West said, "I hear a lot these days about the lazy, aimless '[[millennials]]' -- about how all we want to do is sit around twerking our iPods and Tweedling our Kardashians -- and I also hear people asking, 'Where is the next generation of the social justice movement? Where are all the young feminists and womanists and activists?' Dude, they're on the internet."<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/><ref>{{Cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-t5MnOmuk|title= Lindy West Receives the WMC's Social Media Award from Jane Fonda }}</ref>
On September 19, 2015, West co-founded [[Shout Your Abortion]], a social media campaign on [[Twitter]] where women share their abortion experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret”, for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". The social media campaign was initiated in response to the US House of Representatives efforts to defund [[Planned Parenthood]] following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

==Books==
*{{cite book
| last1 = West
| first1 = Lindy
| last2 = [[Dan Savage|Savage]]
| first2 = [[Dan Savage|Dan]]
| last3 = Frizzelle
| first3 = Christopher
| last4 = Clement
| first4 = Bethany Jean
| title = How to Be a Person: The Stranger's Guide to College, Sex, Intoxicants, Tacos and Life Itself
| location = [[Seattle, Washington]]
| publisher = [[Sasquatch Books]]
| publication-date = 2012
| pages = 250
| isbn = 9781570617782
| lccn = 2012011132
}}<ref name="lindy west bio" />

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=PaulWestObit>{{Citation |title= Entertaining Paul West always had 'droll story'; Obituary. (Obituary) |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2017017779_west15.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |date= December 15, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=ST>{{cite web|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|title=Entertaining musician, ad man Paul West dies|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/entertaining-musician-ad-man-paul-west-dies/|date=December 14, 2011|first=Paul|last=de Barros}}</ref>

}}

==References==
{{refbegin|30em}}
*{{Citation |last=Bell |first= W. Kamau |authorlink= W. Kamau Bell |work=[[Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell]] |title= Extended Talk with Jim Norton and Lindy West |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUb_E1qUHA |format=[[YouTube]] |date= May 31, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= October 29, 2013 |title= A Lot More Than Glitter at 'Golden Grrls' Gala |url= http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022143828_nicolenamesxml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}
*{{Citation |last= Burbank |first= Luke |url= http://mynorthwest.com/category/tbtl_player/?a=9957136 |work=[[Too Beautiful to Live]] |title= #1358 - Internet Trolls Have A Lindy West Problem |date= June 6, 2013 |authorlink=Luke Burbank }}
* {{Citation |last= Carman |title= For some, culinary shtick is hard to swallow |newspaper= The Washington Post blog |date= May 19, 2012 |first= Tim }}
* {{Citation |last= Chivers |title= Are women, on average, as funny as men? Who cares? |url= http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100161714/are-women-on-average-as-funny-as-men-who-cares/ |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph blog |date= May 30, 2012 |first= Tom }}
*{{Citation |last=Deahl |first=Rachel |magazine=[[Publishers Weekly]] |url= http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/65881-book-deals-week-of-march-16-2015.html |title= Book Deals: Week of March 16, 2015; West Gets 'Shrill' at Hachette |date=Mar 13, 2015 }}
* {{Citation |last= Gordon-Moershel |title= Challenging Sex Segregation in Sport |first= Ellie |magazine= [[Canadian Dimension]] |volume= 47 |issue= 4 |date= July–August 2013 |pages= 29–31, 4 }}
* {{Citation |last= Hesse |title= The Internet Can't Reprogram Brains |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= July 15, 2012 |first= Monica }}
*{{Citation |last= Hockenberry |first= John |authorlink=John Hockenberry |title= 'I Believe You, It's Not Your Fault': New Site Gives Outlet for Sexual Assault Victims |date= August 12, 2014 |url= http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/i-believe-you-its-not-your-fault-new-site-gives-victims-sexual-assault-space-tell-stories/ |work=[[The Takeaway]] }}
* {{Citation |title= How parents can help obese kids |url= http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20121012/ARTICLES/121019883 |newspaper= Starnewsonline.com |location= Wilmington, NC |date= October 12, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kerwicke |title= Watermelon Abuse As A Career Choice |newspaper= [[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |location= Bergen County, NJ |date= April 7, 2011 |first= Mike }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= My Fair Vagina: An intimate wash advertisement extends the frontiers of fairness to erogenous zones. Has it gone too far? |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= [[India Today]] |date= May 7, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= Net Flux: This week's app round-up is for children, football fans and early risers.
|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/exciting-apps-and-videos-from-the-world-of-web/1/189358.html |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= India Today |date= May 28, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last = Lawless |title= Twitter threats highlight blight of online trolls |url= http://news.yahoo.com/twitter-threats-highlight-blight-online-trolls-094629380.html |publisher= [[Associated Press]] |date= August 1, 2013 |first= Jill }}
* {{Citation |last= Lytton |title= Sadly it helps to be 'hot' if you're a feminist |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10109903/Sadly-it-helps-to-be-hot-if-youre-a-feminist.html |first= Charlotte |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= June 10, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Petri |title= Gwyneth Paltrow is your college essay |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/04/29/gwyneth-paltrow-is-your-college-essay/ |first= Alexandra |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= April 29, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |title= Roseanne Barr's Twitter Rape-Joke Rant Gets Her Blocked By Jezebel's Lindy West For 'Unhinged Abuse' |url= http://www.ibtimes.com/roseanne-barrs-twitter-rape-joke-rant-gets-her-blocked-jezebels-lindy-west-unhinged-abuse-1292965 |newspaper=[[International Business Times]] |date= June 5, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Simmons-Duffin |title= New Anti-Obesity Ads Blaming Overweight Parents Spark Criticism |work= [[NPR Morning Edition]] |date= September 27, 2012 |first= Selena }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= 'G.C.B.' – and let's just add a Big D, for dumb |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/gcb-add-a-big-d-for-dumb/2012/02/24/gIQALtI2kR_story.html |first= Hank |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= March 4, 2012 |page= EZ.3 }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= The Conversation |url= http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/09/the-conversation/309072/ |magazine= The Atlantic |date= September 2012 |pages= 16, 19–22, 26 }}
* {{Citation |last= Taranto |title= Does Obama Know? Does Obama Care? America needs an accounting of the health-care debacle |url = http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303680404579143462696720716 |first= James |newspaper= [[Wall Street Journal]] |date= October 18, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last1=Tiku |first1=Nitasha |last2=Newton |first2= Casey|url= http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/4/7982099/twitter-ceo-sent-memo-taking-personal-responsibility-for-the |title= Twitter CEO: 'We suck at dealing with abuse'; Dick Costolo says trolls are costing Twitter users |magazine=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date= February 4, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2015 }}

{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://lindywest.net/}}
*{{IMDb name|4873492}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = West, Lindy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American writer
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH = United States
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Lindy}}
[[Category:American newspaper editors]]
[[Category:American women writers]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:Fat acceptance activists]]
[[Category:People from Seattle, Washington]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:The Stranger (newspaper)]]
[[Category:Occidental College alumni]]
[[Category:Women newspaper editors]]

Lindy West

2016-03-17T14:41:33Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Career */ punctuation

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lindy West
| image =
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| ethnicity =
| education =
| occupation = Writer, newspaper editor
| residence = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| religion =
| salary =
| credits =
| agent =
| parents = Paul West Ingrid West<ref name=ST/>
| relatives =
| spouse = [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]]
| website =
}}

'''Lindy West''' is an American writer,<ref name=Profile>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/lindy-west/Author?oid=21605 "Author Archive: Lindy West."] ''The Stranger.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> feminist and [[fat acceptance movement]] [[activist]], and film criticism [[newspaper editor|editor]].<ref name=Brodeur2013>{{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= July 7, 2013 |title= Lindy West: Finding 'Invisible Hypocrisies' |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2021322952_nicole30xml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}</ref><ref name=StrangerMasthead>{{Citation |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20111101113125/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |url= http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |archivedate= November 1, 2011 |newspaper= [[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |title= Masthead }}</ref> West won the 2013 [[Women's Media Center]] Social Media Award.<ref name=WomensMediaCenter>{{Citation |title= Lindy West Wins Women's Media Center Social Media Award |date= October 8, 2013 |url= http://www.womensmediacenter.com/press/entry/lindy-west-wins-womens-media-center-social-media-award |publisher= [[Women's Media Center]] }}</ref> West married musician and writer [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]] on July 11, 2015.<ref name=CA>{{cite web|work=CityArts|url=http://www.cityartsonline.com/articles/qa-ahamefule-j-oluo|title=Q&A with Ahamefule J. Oluo|date=December 2, 2014|first=Brett|last=Hamil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=My wedding was perfect – and I was fat as hell the whole time|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jul/21/my-wedding-perfect-fat-woman|website=The Guardian|date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

==Career==
Originally from [[Seattle, Washington]], West is the daughter of Ingrid and Paul West, who was a musician.<ref name=ST/> She attended [[Occidental College]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name=Profile/><ref name=PaulWestObit/>

In 2009, West began working as the film editor for Seattle's alternative weekly newspaper, ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]''.<ref name=Profile/> In 2011, she moved to Los Angeles, but continued to write for ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' until September 2012.<ref name=Profile/><ref>[http://seattlest.com/2011/08/30/lindy_west_announces_move_to_la_sea.php "Lindy West Announces Move to LA, Seattle Cries."] ''Seattlest.'' August 30, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref><ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/concessions/Content?oid=9935779 "So Long, Suckers!!! I Never Liked You!"] ''The Stranger.'' September 13, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref>

She was a staff writer for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]<ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/08/03/stop_calling_yourself_a_feminist_.html "Stop Calling Yourself A Feminist"] ''Slate.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2012-08-06/news/33086722_1_column-tosh-outrage "Whoa, The Reaction To That Column Was Crazy"] ''RedEye Chicago.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref> where she wrote on racism, [[sexism]], and [[sizeism|fat shaming]].<ref name=Brodeur2013/><ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.seattlemag.com/article/seattles-lindy-west-brings-womens-issues-light-online |title= Seattle's Lindy West Brings Women's Issues to Light Online; Writer, performer and activist Lindy West keeps her wit about her |first= Brangien |last= Davis |date= January 2014 |magazine= Seattle Magazine }}</ref> West's work has been published in the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/author/lindywest1/|title=Lindy West|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> ''[[GQ]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gq.com/contributors/lindy-west|title=Contributors: Lindy West|work=[[GQ]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> the ''[[New York Daily News]]'',<ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/anatomy-a-racist-awkward-relationship-mel-gibson-article-1.465097 "Anatomy of a racist: Our awkward relationship with Mel Gibson."] ''NY Daily News.'' July 19, 2010. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> ''[[Vulture (blog)#Digital expansion and blogs|Vulture.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2, 2012|title=Glee Recap: Takin’ It to the Streets|first=Lindy|last=West|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/glee-recap-season-3-episode-11.html|work=[[Vulture.com]]}}</ref> ''[[Deadspin]]'', ''[[Cracked.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=How To Be a Person: A Guide to Life for the Recent Graduate|date=June 11, 2011|author=West, Lindy|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19292_how-to-be-person-guide-to-life-recent-graduate.html|work=[[Cracked.com]]}}</ref> [[MSNBC]]<ref name="lindy west bio">{{cite web|title=I Jumped the Shark on My Pony. It Is My Pony's Only Trick.|url=http://lindywest.net/bio|publisher=Lindy West|accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name=Profile /><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/west-lindy "Lindy West."] ''The Guardian.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> In 2013 West won the Social Media Award from the Women's Media Center, presented by [[Jane Fonda]] in [[New York City]].<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/> Accepting the award, West said, "I hear a lot these days about the lazy, aimless '[[millennials]]' -- about how all we want to do is sit around twerking our iPods and Tweedling our Kardashians -- and I also hear people asking, 'Where is the next generation of the social justice movement? Where are all the young feminists and womanists and activists?' Dude, they're on the internet."<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/><ref>{{Cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-t5MnOmuk|title= Lindy West Receives the WMC's Social Media Award from Jane Fonda }}</ref>
On September 19, 2015, West co-founded [[Shout Your Abortion]], a social media campaign on [[Twitter]] where women share their abortion experiences without “sadness, shame or regret”, for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". The campaign was initiated in response to the US House of Representatives efforts to defund [[Planned Parenthood]] following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

==Books==
*{{cite book
| last1 = West
| first1 = Lindy
| last2 = [[Dan Savage|Savage]]
| first2 = [[Dan Savage|Dan]]
| last3 = Frizzelle
| first3 = Christopher
| last4 = Clement
| first4 = Bethany Jean
| title = How to Be a Person: The Stranger's Guide to College, Sex, Intoxicants, Tacos and Life Itself
| location = [[Seattle, Washington]]
| publisher = [[Sasquatch Books]]
| publication-date = 2012
| pages = 250
| isbn = 9781570617782
| lccn = 2012011132
}}<ref name="lindy west bio" />

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=PaulWestObit>{{Citation |title= Entertaining Paul West always had 'droll story'; Obituary. (Obituary) |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2017017779_west15.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |date= December 15, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=ST>{{cite web|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|title=Entertaining musician, ad man Paul West dies|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/entertaining-musician-ad-man-paul-west-dies/|date=December 14, 2011|first=Paul|last=de Barros}}</ref>

}}

==References==
{{refbegin|30em}}
*{{Citation |last=Bell |first= W. Kamau |authorlink= W. Kamau Bell |work=[[Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell]] |title= Extended Talk with Jim Norton and Lindy West |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUb_E1qUHA |format=[[YouTube]] |date= May 31, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= October 29, 2013 |title= A Lot More Than Glitter at 'Golden Grrls' Gala |url= http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022143828_nicolenamesxml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}
*{{Citation |last= Burbank |first= Luke |url= http://mynorthwest.com/category/tbtl_player/?a=9957136 |work=[[Too Beautiful to Live]] |title= #1358 - Internet Trolls Have A Lindy West Problem |date= June 6, 2013 |authorlink=Luke Burbank }}
* {{Citation |last= Carman |title= For some, culinary shtick is hard to swallow |newspaper= The Washington Post blog |date= May 19, 2012 |first= Tim }}
* {{Citation |last= Chivers |title= Are women, on average, as funny as men? Who cares? |url= http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100161714/are-women-on-average-as-funny-as-men-who-cares/ |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph blog |date= May 30, 2012 |first= Tom }}
*{{Citation |last=Deahl |first=Rachel |magazine=[[Publishers Weekly]] |url= http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/65881-book-deals-week-of-march-16-2015.html |title= Book Deals: Week of March 16, 2015; West Gets 'Shrill' at Hachette |date=Mar 13, 2015 }}
* {{Citation |last= Gordon-Moershel |title= Challenging Sex Segregation in Sport |first= Ellie |magazine= [[Canadian Dimension]] |volume= 47 |issue= 4 |date= July–August 2013 |pages= 29–31, 4 }}
* {{Citation |last= Hesse |title= The Internet Can't Reprogram Brains |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= July 15, 2012 |first= Monica }}
*{{Citation |last= Hockenberry |first= John |authorlink=John Hockenberry |title= 'I Believe You, It's Not Your Fault': New Site Gives Outlet for Sexual Assault Victims |date= August 12, 2014 |url= http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/i-believe-you-its-not-your-fault-new-site-gives-victims-sexual-assault-space-tell-stories/ |work=[[The Takeaway]] }}
* {{Citation |title= How parents can help obese kids |url= http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20121012/ARTICLES/121019883 |newspaper= Starnewsonline.com |location= Wilmington, NC |date= October 12, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kerwicke |title= Watermelon Abuse As A Career Choice |newspaper= [[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]] |location= Bergen County, NJ |date= April 7, 2011 |first= Mike }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= My Fair Vagina: An intimate wash advertisement extends the frontiers of fairness to erogenous zones. Has it gone too far? |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= [[India Today]] |date= May 7, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last= Kumaraswami |title= Net Flux: This week's app round-up is for children, football fans and early risers.
|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/exciting-apps-and-videos-from-the-world-of-web/1/189358.html |first= Lakshmi |newspaper= India Today |date= May 28, 2012 }}
* {{Citation |last = Lawless |title= Twitter threats highlight blight of online trolls |url= http://news.yahoo.com/twitter-threats-highlight-blight-online-trolls-094629380.html |publisher= [[Associated Press]] |date= August 1, 2013 |first= Jill }}
* {{Citation |last= Lytton |title= Sadly it helps to be 'hot' if you're a feminist |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10109903/Sadly-it-helps-to-be-hot-if-youre-a-feminist.html |first= Charlotte |newspaper= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date= June 10, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Petri |title= Gwyneth Paltrow is your college essay |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/04/29/gwyneth-paltrow-is-your-college-essay/ |first= Alexandra |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= April 29, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |title= Roseanne Barr's Twitter Rape-Joke Rant Gets Her Blocked By Jezebel's Lindy West For 'Unhinged Abuse' |url= http://www.ibtimes.com/roseanne-barrs-twitter-rape-joke-rant-gets-her-blocked-jezebels-lindy-west-unhinged-abuse-1292965 |newspaper=[[International Business Times]] |date= June 5, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Simmons-Duffin |title= New Anti-Obesity Ads Blaming Overweight Parents Spark Criticism |work= [[NPR Morning Edition]] |date= September 27, 2012 |first= Selena }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= 'G.C.B.' – and let's just add a Big D, for dumb |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/gcb-add-a-big-d-for-dumb/2012/02/24/gIQALtI2kR_story.html |first= Hank |newspaper= [[The Washington Post]] |date= March 4, 2012 |page= EZ.3 }}
* {{Citation |last= Stuever |title= The Conversation |url= http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/09/the-conversation/309072/ |magazine= The Atlantic |date= September 2012 |pages= 16, 19–22, 26 }}
* {{Citation |last= Taranto |title= Does Obama Know? Does Obama Care? America needs an accounting of the health-care debacle |url = http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303680404579143462696720716 |first= James |newspaper= [[Wall Street Journal]] |date= October 18, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last1=Tiku |first1=Nitasha |last2=Newton |first2= Casey|url= http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/4/7982099/twitter-ceo-sent-memo-taking-personal-responsibility-for-the |title= Twitter CEO: 'We suck at dealing with abuse'; Dick Costolo says trolls are costing Twitter users |magazine=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date= February 4, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2015 }}

{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://lindywest.net/}}
*{{IMDb name|4873492}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = West, Lindy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American writer
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH = United States
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Lindy}}
[[Category:American newspaper editors]]
[[Category:American women writers]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:Fat acceptance activists]]
[[Category:People from Seattle, Washington]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:The Stranger (newspaper)]]
[[Category:Occidental College alumni]]
[[Category:Women newspaper editors]]

Lindy West

2016-03-17T14:40:07Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Career */ add SYA

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lindy West
| image =
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = United States
| death_date =
| death_place =
| ethnicity =
| education =
| occupation = Writer, newspaper editor
| residence = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| religion =
| salary =
| credits =
| agent =
| parents = Paul West Ingrid West<ref name=ST/>
| relatives =
| spouse = [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]]
| website =
}}

'''Lindy West''' is an American writer,<ref name=Profile>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/lindy-west/Author?oid=21605 "Author Archive: Lindy West."] ''The Stranger.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> feminist and [[fat acceptance movement]] [[activist]], and film criticism [[newspaper editor|editor]].<ref name=Brodeur2013>{{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= July 7, 2013 |title= Lindy West: Finding 'Invisible Hypocrisies' |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2021322952_nicole30xml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}</ref><ref name=StrangerMasthead>{{Citation |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20111101113125/http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |url= http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Page?oid=21244 |archivedate= November 1, 2011 |newspaper= [[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |title= Masthead }}</ref> West won the 2013 [[Women's Media Center]] Social Media Award.<ref name=WomensMediaCenter>{{Citation |title= Lindy West Wins Women's Media Center Social Media Award |date= October 8, 2013 |url= http://www.womensmediacenter.com/press/entry/lindy-west-wins-womens-media-center-social-media-award |publisher= [[Women's Media Center]] }}</ref> West married musician and writer [[Ahamefule J. Oluo]] on July 11, 2015.<ref name=CA>{{cite web|work=CityArts|url=http://www.cityartsonline.com/articles/qa-ahamefule-j-oluo|title=Q&A with Ahamefule J. Oluo|date=December 2, 2014|first=Brett|last=Hamil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=My wedding was perfect – and I was fat as hell the whole time|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jul/21/my-wedding-perfect-fat-woman|website=The Guardian|date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

==Career==
Originally from [[Seattle, Washington]], West is the daughter of Ingrid and Paul West, who was a musician.<ref name=ST/> She attended [[Occidental College]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]].<ref name=Profile/><ref name=PaulWestObit/>

In 2009, West began working as the film editor for Seattle's alternative weekly newspaper, ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]''.<ref name=Profile/> In 2011, she moved to Los Angeles, but continued to write for ''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' until September 2012.<ref name=Profile/><ref>[http://seattlest.com/2011/08/30/lindy_west_announces_move_to_la_sea.php "Lindy West Announces Move to LA, Seattle Cries."] ''Seattlest.'' August 30, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref><ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/concessions/Content?oid=9935779 "So Long, Suckers!!! I Never Liked You!"] ''The Stranger.'' September 13, 2011. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref>

She was a staff writer for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]]<ref>[http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/08/03/stop_calling_yourself_a_feminist_.html "Stop Calling Yourself A Feminist"] ''Slate.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2012-08-06/news/33086722_1_column-tosh-outrage "Whoa, The Reaction To That Column Was Crazy"] ''RedEye Chicago.'' Accessed on August 20, 2012.</ref> where she wrote on racism, [[sexism]], and [[sizeism|fat shaming]].<ref name=Brodeur2013/><ref>{{Citation |url= http://www.seattlemag.com/article/seattles-lindy-west-brings-womens-issues-light-online |title= Seattle's Lindy West Brings Women's Issues to Light Online; Writer, performer and activist Lindy West keeps her wit about her |first= Brangien |last= Davis |date= January 2014 |magazine= Seattle Magazine }}</ref> West's work has been published in the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/author/lindywest1/|title=Lindy West|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> ''[[GQ]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gq.com/contributors/lindy-west|title=Contributors: Lindy West|work=[[GQ]]|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}</ref> the ''[[New York Daily News]]'',<ref>West, Lindy. [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/anatomy-a-racist-awkward-relationship-mel-gibson-article-1.465097 "Anatomy of a racist: Our awkward relationship with Mel Gibson."] ''NY Daily News.'' July 19, 2010. Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> ''[[Vulture (blog)#Digital expansion and blogs|Vulture.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|date=February 2, 2012|title=Glee Recap: Takin’ It to the Streets|first=Lindy|last=West|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/glee-recap-season-3-episode-11.html|work=[[Vulture.com]]}}</ref> ''[[Deadspin]]'', ''[[Cracked.com]]'',<ref>{{cite web|title=How To Be a Person: A Guide to Life for the Recent Graduate|date=June 11, 2011|author=West, Lindy|url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19292_how-to-be-person-guide-to-life-recent-graduate.html|work=[[Cracked.com]]}}</ref> [[MSNBC]]<ref name="lindy west bio">{{cite web|title=I Jumped the Shark on My Pony. It Is My Pony's Only Trick.|url=http://lindywest.net/bio|publisher=Lindy West|accessdate=October 25, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref name=Profile /><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/west-lindy "Lindy West."] ''The Guardian.'' Accessed on January 21, 2012.</ref> In 2013 West won the Social Media Award from the Women's Media Center, presented by [[Jane Fonda]] in [[New York City]].<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/> Accepting the award, West said, "I hear a lot these days about the lazy, aimless '[[millennials]]' -- about how all we want to do is sit around twerking our iPods and Tweedling our Kardashians -- and I also hear people asking, 'Where is the next generation of the social justice movement? Where are all the young feminists and womanists and activists?' Dude, they're on the internet."<ref name=WomensMediaCenter/><ref>{{Cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-t5MnOmuk|title= Lindy West Receives the WMC's Social Media Award from Jane Fonda }}</ref>
On September 19, 2015 West co-founded [[Shout Your Abortion]], a social media campaign on [[Twitter]] where women share their abortion experiences without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". The campaign was initiated in response to the US House of Representatives efforts to defund [[Planned Parenthood]] following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

==Books==
*{{cite book
| last1 = West
| first1 = Lindy
| last2 = [[Dan Savage|Savage]]
| first2 = [[Dan Savage|Dan]]
| last3 = Frizzelle
| first3 = Christopher
| last4 = Clement
| first4 = Bethany Jean
| title = How to Be a Person: The Stranger's Guide to College, Sex, Intoxicants, Tacos and Life Itself
| location = [[Seattle, Washington]]
| publisher = [[Sasquatch Books]]
| publication-date = 2012
| pages = 250
| isbn = 9781570617782
| lccn = 2012011132
}}<ref name="lindy west bio" />

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=PaulWestObit>{{Citation |title= Entertaining Paul West always had 'droll story'; Obituary. (Obituary) |url = http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2017017779_west15.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |date= December 15, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=ST>{{cite web|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|title=Entertaining musician, ad man Paul West dies|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/entertaining-musician-ad-man-paul-west-dies/|date=December 14, 2011|first=Paul|last=de Barros}}</ref>

}}

==References==
{{refbegin|30em}}
*{{Citation |last=Bell |first= W. Kamau |authorlink= W. Kamau Bell |work=[[Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell]] |title= Extended Talk with Jim Norton and Lindy West |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUb_E1qUHA |format=[[YouTube]] |date= May 31, 2013 }}
* {{Citation |last= Brodeur |date= October 29, 2013 |title= A Lot More Than Glitter at 'Golden Grrls' Gala |url= http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022143828_nicolenamesxml.html |newspaper= [[The Seattle Times]] |first= Nicole }}
*{{Citation |last= Burbank |first= Luke |url= http://mynorthwest.com/category/tbtl_player/?a=9957136 |work=[[Too Beautiful to Live]] |title= #1358 - Internet Trolls Have A Lindy West Problem |date= June 6, 2013 |authorlink=Luke Burbank }}
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* {{Citation |title= Roseanne Barr's Twitter Rape-Joke Rant Gets Her Blocked By Jezebel's Lindy West For 'Unhinged Abuse' |url= http://www.ibtimes.com/roseanne-barrs-twitter-rape-joke-rant-gets-her-blocked-jezebels-lindy-west-unhinged-abuse-1292965 |newspaper=[[International Business Times]] |date= June 5, 2013 }}
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* {{Citation |last= Taranto |title= Does Obama Know? Does Obama Care? America needs an accounting of the health-care debacle |url = http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303680404579143462696720716 |first= James |newspaper= [[Wall Street Journal]] |date= October 18, 2013 }}
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{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://lindywest.net/}}
*{{IMDb name|4873492}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = West, Lindy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American writer
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH = United States
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:West, Lindy}}
[[Category:American newspaper editors]]
[[Category:American women writers]]
[[Category:American feminists]]
[[Category:Fat acceptance activists]]
[[Category:People from Seattle, Washington]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:The Stranger (newspaper)]]
[[Category:Occidental College alumni]]
[[Category:Women newspaper editors]]

ShoutYourAbortion

2016-03-17T14:32:35Z

BoboMeowCat: Undid revision 709517728 by Magioladitis (talk) Removed orphan tag- article links to Hashtag Activism

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame." Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015 by American activists [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

==Background and origin==

On September 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret.”<ref name="Pearson" /> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s Facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about.” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24-hour period.<ref name="Wilmer" /><ref name="Aditi" /><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Support for abortion-rights==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion.”<ref name="West" /> West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Bonow expressed that perhaps she and her friends, whom Bonow described as "irreverent, foul-mouthed ladies" were better able than those currently inside the traditional abortion-rights organizations to talk frankly about their positive experiences with abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vara|first1=Vauhini|title=Can #ShoutYourAbortion Turn Hashtag Activism Into a Movement?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-shoutyourabortion-turn-hashtag-activism-into-a-movement|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=The New Yorker|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> Within days of the launch of the social media campaign, Bonow was contacted by [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] and Planned Parenthood with advice for harnessing the current outpouring of attention in order to turn Shout Your Abortion into something bigger and more organized. In November 2015, an official Shout Your Abortion web site and [[YouTube channel]] were launched.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Caitlin|title=How #ShoutYourAbortion is transforming the reproductive rights conversation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-shoutyourabortion-is-transforming-the-reproductive-rights-conversation/2015/11/13/aa64e68a-895f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html?postshare=1891447654778109&tid=ss_tw|accessdate=16 November 2015|publisher=The Washington Post|date=15 November 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism and backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion-rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight.”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Lewin">{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref name="Lewin" /><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other critical tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion."<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

Some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, the hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption was created in response to #ShoutYourAbortion, to promote [[adoption]] instead of abortion.<ref name="Lewin" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladwell|first1=Hattie|title=#ShoutYourAdoption: The campaign celebrating life and adoption|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/23/shoutyouradoption-the-campaign-celebrating-life-and-adoption-5404069/|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=Metro|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Writing for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]], Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

Shout Your Abortion was described as marking a significant tonal shift in the cultural conversation about abortion in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', by Caitlin Gibson. She described Shout Your Abortion as a shift away from describing abortion as a less-than-desirable outcome and a distancing from [[Hillary Clinton]]’s frequently-quoted 2008 remark that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare," saying the campaign moves the discussion away from extreme cases involving [[rape]], [[incest]], medical emergencies or severe birth defects.<ref name="Gibson" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
*[http://shoutyourabortion.com/ Official website - Shout Your Abortion]
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AL15Hw0yvc #ShoutYourAbortion Official YouTube Channel]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''
* [http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2015/10/05/shoutyourabortion-co-founder-discusses-hairy-armpits-and-fighting-stigma/ #ShoutYourAbortion Co-Founder Discusses Hairy Armpits and Fighting Stigma] - published by KQED Arts

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

Hashtag activism

2016-03-17T14:28:44Z

BoboMeowCat: Undid revision 708212790 by SSTflyer (talk) restored mass deletion of referenced long-standing content

'''Hashtag activism''' is a term coined by [[Mass media|media outlets]] which refers to the use of [[Twitter]]'s [[hashtag]]s for [[internet activism]].<ref name="Real Clear Politics">{{cite web | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/05/11/george_will_hashtag_activism_not_intended_to_have_any_effect_on_the_real_world.html | title=George Will: Hashtag Activism "Not Intended To Have Any Effect On The Real World" | publisher=Real Clear Politics | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/business/media/hashtag-activism-and-its-limits.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 | title=Hashtag Activism, and Its Limits | publisher=NYtimes | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/world/bringbackourgirls-why-hashtag-activism-has-its-cri/nfszq/ | title=#BringBackOurGirls: Why hashtag activism has its critics | publisher=Mediaite | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="Fox News">{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/11/fox-news-bringbackourgirls-hashtag-activism-brit-hume-george-will_n_5305749.html | title=#Bringbackourgirls, #Kony2012, and the complete, divisive history of 'hashtag activism' | publisher=Huffington Post | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref>

==Origin==
The oldest known mention of the term is from ''[[The Guardian]]'', where it was mentioned in context to describe [[Occupy Wall Street|Occupy Wall Street protests]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/29/occupy-wall-street-protest | title=Occupy Wall Street and the limits of spontaneous street protest | work=theguardian | date=29 September 2011  | accessdate=12 May 2014 | author=Eric Augenbraun}}</ref>

Hashtags have a history on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. The hashtag originated as "a means to coordinate Twitter conversations" between individual Twitter users. Chris Messina, a San Francisco resident, is credited with coining the term "hashtag."<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Use of Twitter Hashtags in the Formation of Ad Hoc Publics|journal=The Use of Twitter Hashtags in the Formation of Ad Hoc Publics|date=2011|pages=1–9|accessdate=Feb 17, 2015}}</ref>

== Notable examples==

===#Kony2012===
{{main|Kony 2012}}
Kony 2012 is a short film produced by [[Invisible Children, Inc.]] (authors of ''[[Invisible Children]]''). It was released on March 5, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/trending+now+kony+2012/video.html?v=2206826267#stories/video|title=News Hour – Trending Now: Kony 2012|accessdate=March 7, 2012|date=March 6, 2012|publisher=[[Global TV]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8431277/kony-2012-sheds-light-on-uganda-conflict|title=Kony 2012 sheds light on Uganda conflict|date=March 7, 2012|publisher=Ninemsn|accessdate=March 7, 2012|author=Lees, Philippa; Zavan, Martin}}</ref><ref name=JCTSK>{{cite news|url=http://post-journal.com/page/content.detail/id/599038/Jackson-Center-To-Show-KONY-2012.html?nav=5004|title=Jackson Center To Show KONY2012|date=February 14, 2012|publisher=[[The Post-Journal]]|accessdate=March 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17295078|title=Uganda rebel Joseph Kony target of viral campaign video|date=March 8, 2012|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> The film's purpose was to promote the charity's "Stop Kony" movement to make African cult and militia leader, indicted war criminal and the [[International Criminal Court]] fugitive [[Joseph Kony]] globally known in order to have him arrested by the end of 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://kykernel.com/2012/03/07/a-call-for-justice/|title=A call for justice|date=March 7, 2012|last=Myers|first=Julia|publisher=Kentucky Kernel}}</ref> when the campaign expired.
The film spread [[viral video|virally]] through the #Kony2012 hashtag.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theyorker.co.uk/news/citynews/10807|title=Kony fever hits York! |accessdate=March 7, 2012|date=March 7, 2012|work=[[The Yorker]]|author=Neylon, Stephanie}}</ref><ref name="Molloy">{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/892373-kony-2012-campaign-shedding-light-on-uganda-conflict-a-huge-online-success|title=Kony 2012: Campaign Shedding light on Uganda Conflict a Huge Online Success |accessdate=March 7, 2012|date=March 7, 2012|work=[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]|author=Molloy, Mark}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/07/kony-2012-invisible-children-documentary-sheds-light-on-uganda-conflict-video_n_1326183.html?ref=uk|title=Kony 2012: Invisible Children Documentary Sheds Light On Uganda Conflict |accessdate=March 7, 2012|date=March 7, 2012|work=[[Huffington Post]]|author= Nelson, Sara C.}}</ref>

===#BlackLivesMatter===
{{main|Black Lives Matter}}
The Black Lives Matter movement calls for an end to police brutality and the killings of African-Americans in the U.S. The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag was first started by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and [[Opal Tometi]] as a response to the trial and later acquittal of [[George Zimmerman]] who shot and killed 17-year-old [[Trayvon Martin]]. The hashtag saw a revival in 2014, after the [[shooting of Michael Brown]] in Ferguson, Missouri, and after a grand jury did not indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of [[Eric Garner]].<ref name="Yes Magazine">{{cite news|last1=Weedston|first1=Lindsey|title=12 Hashtags That Changed the World in 2014|url=http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/12-hashtags-that-changed-the-world-in-2014|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Yes Magazine|date=19 December 2014}}</ref>

=== #Oromoprotests ===
In 2014, IOYA (The International Oromo Youth Association) created the #Oromoprotests hashtag to bring awareness to [[Oromo people|Oromo]] student protests against the Ethiopian government's plan to expand Addis Ababa and annex areas occupied by Oromo farmers and residents. The hashtag was utilized again starting in late November/December 2015 to bring attention to renewed Oromo protests and the Ethiopian government's violent crackdown on students, journalists and musicians.<ref>http://www.opride.com/oromsis/articles/opride-contributors/3804-the-return-of-oromo-student-protests-calls-for-serious-reflection</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = OromoProtests (@OromoProtests) {{!}} Twitter|url = https://twitter.com/OromoProtests|website = twitter.com|accessdate = 2016-01-07}}</ref>

===#BringBackOurGirls===
[[File:Michelle-obama-bringbackourgirls.jpg|thumb|right|First Lady [[Michelle Obama]] initiated the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag]]
{{main|Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping}}
[[Boko Haram]] kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls from [[Chibok|Chibok, Nigeria]] in May 2014, refusing to return the girls.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/12/us-nigeria-girls-idUSBREA4A0B620140512 | title=Boko Haram offers to swap kidnapped Nigerian girls for prisoners | publisher=Reuters | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref> The hashtag ''#BringBackOurGirls'' was created and used in hopes of keeping the story in the news and bringing international attention to it.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.siliconbeat.com/2014/05/12/hashtag-activism-and-the-case-of-the-kidnapped-nigerian-girls/ | title="Hashtag Activism" and the case of the kidnapped Nigerian girls | publisher=Silicon Beat | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref> The hashtag was used by first lady [[Michelle Obama]] to raise awareness for the kidnapped girls.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/10/michelle-obama-nigeria-presidential-address | title=Michelle Obama raises pressure over kidnapped schoolgirls | publisher=The Guardian | accessdate=12 May 2014}}</ref> The hashtag in itself has received 2 million retweets.<ref name="Real Clear Politics"/>

===#YesAllWomen===
{{main|YesAllWomen}}
'''#YesAllWomen''' is a [[Twitter]] [[hashtag]] and [[social media]] campaign in which users share examples or stories of [[misogyny]] and [[violence against women]].<ref name="Nytimes">{{cite web |last=Medina| first=Jennifer | title = Campus Killings Set Off Anguished Conversation About the Treatment of Women | work = [[The New York Times]] | accessdate = May 28, 2014 | date = May 27, 2014 | url =http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/us/campus-killings-set-off-anguished-conversation-about-the-treatment-of-women.html?ref=us&_r=0 }}</ref> #YesAllWomen was created in reaction to another hashtag #[[NotAllMen]], to express that all women are affected by [[sexism]] and [[harassment]], even though not all men are sexist. The hashtag quickly became used by women throughout social media to share their experiences of misogyny and sexism.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jess Zimmerman |url=http://time.com/79357/not-all-men-a-brief-history-of-every-dudes-favorite-argument/ |title=Not All Men Meme Rise of Defense Against Sexism Misogyny |publisher=TIME |date=2014-04-28 |accessdate=2014-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jeff Bridges |url=http://time.com/2809276/notallmen-dont-get-it/ |title=#NotAllMen Don't Get It |publisher=TIME |date=2014-06-02 |accessdate=2014-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Plait |first=Phil |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/05/27/not_all_men_how_discussing_women_s_issues_gets_derailed.html |title=Not all men: How discussing women's issues gets derailed |publisher=Slate.com |date=2014-05-27 |accessdate=2014-07-13}}</ref><ref>http://jezebel.com/your-guide-to-not-all-men-the-best-meme-on-the-interne-1573535818</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Vendituoli |first=Monica |url=http://chronicle.com/article/NotAllMen-but-YesAllWomen-/146811/ |title=#NotAllMen, but #YesAllWomen: Campus Tragedy Spurs Debate on Sexual Violence - Students - The Chronicle of Higher Education |publisher=Chronicle.com |date=2014-05-28 |accessdate=2014-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://mashable.com/2014/05/26/yesallwomen-hashtag/|title = How the #YesAllWomen Hashtag Began|last = Pachal|first = Pete|date = 26 May 2014|work = [[Mashable]]|accessdate = 6 June 2014}}</ref><ref name="valenti">{{cite web|last=Valenti|first=Jessica|title=#YesAllWomen reveals the constant barrage of sexism that women face|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/28/yesallwomen-barage-sexism-elliot-rodger|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=8 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=#YesAllWomen Puts Spotlight On Misogyny|accessdate=9 June 2014|publisher=NPR|date=28 May 2014}}</ref> The hashtag was popular in May 2014 surrounding discussions of the [[2014 Isla Vista Killings]].<ref name=CNN>{{cite web|last=Grinberg|first=Emanuella|title=Why #YesAllWomen took off on Twitter|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/27/living/california-killer-hashtag-yesallwomen/|work=CNN Living|publisher=CNN|accessdate=28 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="LA Times">{{cite web|last=Pearce|first=Matt|title=#YesAllWomen: Isla Vista attack puts a spotlight on gender violence|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-isla-vista-women-20140525-story.html|work=LA Times|accessdate=28 May 2014}}</ref><ref name="TheTennesean">{{cite news | url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2014/06/07/hashtag-activism-offers-chance-take-stand/10104895/ | title=Hashtag activism offers chance to take a stand | work=The Tennesean | date=June 6, 2014 | accessdate=7 June 2014 | author=Kate O'Neill}}</ref>

===#ShoutYourAbortion===
{{main|Shout Your Abortion}}
'''Shout Your Abortion,''' also known as '''#ShoutYourAbortion''' is a [[hashtag]] and social media campaign used on [[Twitter]] that encourages women who have experience with abortion to break the silence surrounding it.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper {{!}} Lindy West|url = http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|website = the Guardian|accessdate = 2015-10-26|last = West|first = Lindy}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2015-10-01|access-date = 2015-10-26|issn = 0362-4331|first = Tamar|last = Lewin}}</ref><ref name=":4">Norris, Alison, et al. "Abortion Stigma: A Reconceptualization of Constituents, Causes, and Consequences." ''Women's Health Issues'' 21.3, Supplement (2011): S49-54. Web.</ref> The hashtag was created by American writer [[Lindy West]] and friends Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund [[Planned Parenthood]] following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]].<ref name="Pearson2">{{cite news|last1 = Pearson|first1 = Michael|title = Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url = http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate = 12 October 2015|publisher = CNN|date = 29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1 = Buchanan|first1 = Rose|title = Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate = 12 October 2015|publisher = The Independent|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1 = Wilmer|first1 = Henry|title = The women 'shouting' their abortions|url = http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate = 12 October 2015|publisher = BBC|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1 = Roy|first1 = Aditi|title = How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url = http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = ABC News|date = 23 October 2015}}</ref>

=== #icebucketchallenge ===
{{Main|Ice Bucket Challenge}}
The #icebucketchallenge is an act where a bucket of ice water is dumped over the head of an individual and documented by videos or pictures, and a "challenge" is issued to another person (or persons) to do the same. The "challenged" individual then either has to respond by dumping ice water on their head, or donate money to an [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] (ALS, also referd to as Lou Gehrig's disease) charity. However, doing both is also an option. The encouragement of the challenge is to circulate the video or photo on social media websites and applications with their community, friends, and family to show their support in raising awareness of the ALS disease.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Have You Heard about the|url = http://www.alsa.org/news/archive/ice-bucket-challenge.html|website = ALSA.org|accessdate = 2015-12-08}}</ref> The involvement of #icebucketchallenge with the global audience of social media generated so much awareness and support that in early August 2014, the national ALS charity foundation president Barbara Newhouse, directly attributed the movement to a fundraising "surge" of $168,000 that accumulated in just a week. That figure contrasted with the $14,000 raised in the same time the year prior prompted the CEO and her 38 years in the industry to view the difference in support as "crazy."<ref>{{Cite web|title = 'Ice Bucket Challenge' Leads To Major Surge In Donations To ALS Association|url = http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/08/08/ice-bucket-challenge-leads-to-major-surge-in-donations-to-als-association/|accessdate = 2015-12-08}}</ref> A month after the August 2014 fundraising week the number of videos that were directly associated with the #icebucketchallenge was tallied on the Facebook website from June 1 to September 1 at 17 million, according to the Facebook Newsroom.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Ice Bucket Challenge on Facebook {{!}} Facebook Newsroom|url = http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/08/the-ice-bucket-challenge-on-facebook/|website = newsroom.fb.com|accessdate = 2015-12-08}}</ref> As the videos continued to climb, so did the challenges. Eventually, public figures such as James Franco, Charlie Rose, and even former president George W. Bush took an activist role in raising money for research and awareness of the ALS disease.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ice bucket challenge: More than just "hashtag activism"?|url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-bucket-challenge-more-than-just-hashtag-activism/|website = www.cbsnews.com|accessdate = 2015-12-08}}</ref>

=== #Sosblakaustralia ===
In March 2015, an activism campaign took hold in Australia. '''#Sosblakaustralia''' was a campaign started in a small aboriginal town in Western Australia. This campaign was to combat an initiative that would close down 150 rural aboriginal communities.<ref>{{Cite web|title = #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIA: stop the forced closure of Aboriginal communities {{!}} #IndigenousX|url = http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/01/sosblakaustralia-stop-the-forced-closure-of-aboriginal-communities-indigenousx|website = the Guardian|accessdate = 2015-12-08}}</ref> Though this movement started in a rural community of 200 #Sosblakaustralia with poor internet connection, it eventually spread to thousands of followers including Australian celebrities such as [[Hugh Jackman]], this caused the movement to expand as far as London. In 18 days this movement had over 50,000 followers and had reached over 1,000,000 people worldwide.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = |title = Indigenous voices and mediatized policy-making in the digital age|last = Drejer|first = Tanja|date = 19 Oct 2015|journal = Information, Communication & Society|doi = 10.1080/1369118X.2015.1093534|pmid = |access-date = Dec 2, 2015|last2 = McCallum|first2 = Kerry|last name 3 = }}</ref>

=== #IdleNoMore ===
{{Main|Idle No More}}In the Winter of 2012-2013 in Canada a campaign was started by Canadian indigenous activists using #IdleNoMore in order to combat future legislation that would threaten indigenous land and water. The movement has continued to grow and unify native communities and the hashtag has made expansion possible. Idle No More started in Canada it has spread to native people around the world including the United States and Australia where indigenous people face similar issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/idle-no-more-where-is-the-movement-2-years-later-1.2862675|title = CBC News|date = December 7, 2014|accessdate = December 2, 2015|website = Idle No more: Where is the movement 2 years later?|publisher = CBC News|last = Sinclair|first = Niigaan}}</ref> The use of the hashtag and social media has been instrumental in spreading Idle No More's message to indigenous people around the world giving those who otherwise would be voiceless a means to participate in activism.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/9-questions-about-idle-no-more-1.1301843|title = CBCNews|date = January 9, 2013|accessdate = December 2, 2015|website = 9 Questions About Idle No More|publisher = CBC News|last = |first = }}</ref>

=== #UmbrellaRevolution ===
{{main|2014 Hong Kong protests}}
The response of the umbrella became a symbol in Admiralty, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay districts, Hong-Kong to protest about the free election systems in China. The Protestants had been camped on the streets and the public parks. The umbrella was used to protect the protesters in defence of the democratic political process in 2014 when police used tear gas in attempts to get them to leave. "Umbrella Revolution" and "Umbrella Movement" have been used to identify this event through British media outlet BBC. through social network services such as Twitter and Instagram made the events in Hong Kong reach many other people not directly involved with the protest with the use of #UmbrellaRevolution and created a worldwide social awareness to how Hong Kong was responding to support of the democratic process.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/30/world/asia/objects-hong-kong-protest/</ref><ref>http://time.com/3632739/hong-kong-umbrella-revolution-photos/</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/magazine/hong-kongs-umbrella-revolution-isnt-over-yet.html?_r=0</ref>

=== Other examples ===

[[File:GDC Europe 2014 Session- 1ReasonToBe (Tuesday, 8-12) (14927542606).jpg|thumb|The 2014 Europe [[Game Developers Conference]]'s #1ReasonToBe panel stemmed from #1reasonwhy hashtag conversations.<ref>http://www.polygon.com/2014/1/31/5365092/1reasontobe-panel-returns-to-gdc-this-year</ref>]]

A 2012 Twitter discussion among women working in games, collated under the hashtag ''#1reasonwhy'', indicated that sexist practices such as the oversexualization of female video game characters, workplace harassment and unequal pay for men and women were common in the games industry.<ref>{{cite news|last=Locker|first=Melissa|title=#1ReasonWhy: Women Take to Twitter to Talk about Sexism in Video Game Industry|url=http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/11/27/1reasonwhy-women-take-to-twitter-to-talk-about-sexism-in-video-game-industry/|accessdate=29 November 2012|newspaper=[[TIME magazine]]|date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|title=Here's a Devastating Account of the Crap Women in the Games Business Have to Deal With. In 2012.|url=http://kotaku.com/5963528/heres-a-devastating-account-of-the-crap-women-in-the-games-business-have-to-deal-with-in-2012|accessdate=29 November 2012|newspaper=[[Kotaku]]|date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Mary|title=#1reasonwhy: the hashtag that exposed games industry sexism|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2012/nov/28/games-industry-sexism-on-twitter|accessdate=29 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=28 November 2012}}</ref>

The hashtag #NotYourAsianSidekick was initiated by Suey Park in December 2013 on [[Twitter]]. Suey Park is a freelance writer who supports Asian American feminism. She started this movement for giving Asian American women stronger voices. It aims to limit the patriarchical power in Asian American spaces and to alleviate racism in that is often criticized as inherent in white feminism.<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news | url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/17/not-your-asian-sidekick-asian-women-feminism | title=#NotYourAsianSidekick is a civil rights movement for Asian American women | work=The Guardian | date=December 17, 2013 | author=Yoonj Kim}}</ref>

In August 2014, parents of children with [[autism]] started a social media campaign on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, called "[[Hear This Well]]", in which parents who believe their child suffers from [[Vaccine controversies|vaccine induced autism]] or other [[vaccine]] injury share their stories with the hashtag #hearthiswell.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Farber|first1=Celia|title=Autism Parents Reply to CNN: 'Hear This Well'|url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/933954-autism-parents-reply-to-cnn-hear-this-well/|accessdate=5 September 2014|publisher=Epoch Times|date=4 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Stokowski-Bisanti|first1=Jeannie|title=CDC denies autistic children a voice, parents demand they be heard|accessdate=5 September 2014|publisher=Examiner|date=1 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hoernlein|first1=Carol|title=The CDC Whistleblower – Injecting Sanity Into the Vaccine Debate|url=http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/blog/the-cdc-whistleblower-injecting-sanity-into-the-vaccine-debate/|accessdate=5 September 2014|publisher=Epoch Times|date=2 September 2014}}</ref>

In September 2014,The ''[[Hokkolorob Movement]]'' (Let The Voice Raise Movement) started. It is a series of protests initiated by the students of Jadavpur University in Kolkata, India that began on September 3, 2014. The term "hok kolorob" ("make some noise") was first used as a hashtag on Facebook.<ref>{{cite news|title=Students Against Campus Violence |url=https://www.facebook.com/studentsagainstcampusviolence/posts/354619941380270|date=9 September 2014|accessdate=22 September 2014}}</ref>

==Criticism==
Hashtag activism has been criticized by some as a form of [[slacktivism]].<ref name=hodges_nigerian>{{cite web|last1=Hodges|first1=Catherine|title=Hashtag activism proliferating, but is it effective?|url=http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/x1235864650/Hashtag-activism-proliferating-but-is-it-effective|website=The Herald-Sun|publisher=The Herald-Sun|accessdate=19 June 2014}}</ref> [[Chris Wallace]], [[George Will]], and [[Brit Hume]] of [[Fox News]] commented that hashtag activism was a "useless exercise in self esteem and that ... I do not know how adults stand there, facing a camera, and say, 'Bring back our girls.' Are these barbarians in the wilds of Nigeria supposed to check their Twitter accounts and say, 'Uh oh, Michelle Obama is very cross with us, we better change our behavior'?"<ref name="Fox News" /><ref name=msnbc>{{cite news|last=Richinick|first=Michele|title=Conservatives mock 'Bring Back Our Girls' hashtag|url=http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/conservatives-mock-bringbackourgirls|accessdate=26 May 2014|newspaper=MSNBC}}</ref><ref name=Sharockman>{{cite news|last=Sharockman|first=Aaron|title=PunditFact fact-checks the May 11 news shows|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/may/11/punditfact-fact-checks-may-11-news-shows/|accessdate=26 May 2014|newspaper=Politifact|date=11 May 2014}}</ref> The ease of hashtag activism has led to concerns that it might lead to overuse and public fatigue.<ref name="Dijck2013">{{cite book|last=Dijck|first=José van|title=The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=A6BqrWGIaFIC&pg=PA87|accessdate=6 June 2014|date=2013-03-21|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199970780|pages=87–}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Twitter diplomacy]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Internet activism]]
[[Category:Hashtags|*Activism]]

Marco Rubio

2016-02-08T22:50:47Z

BoboMeowCat: tweak & simplify lead & add link to campaign wikipage

{{For|the boxer|Marco Antonio Rubio}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Marco Rubio
|image = Marco_Rubio_by_Gage_Skidmore_8.jpg
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Florida]]
|alongside = [[Bill Nelson]]
|term_start = January 3, 2011
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[George LeMieux]]
|successor =
|office1 = [[Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives]]
|term_start1 = November 21, 2006
|term_end1 = November 18, 2008
|predecessor1 = [[Allan Bense]]
|successor1 = [[Ray Sansom]]
|office2 = [[Florida House of Representatives|Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 111th District]]
|term_start2 = January 25, 2000
|term_end2 = November 18, 2008
|predecessor2 = Carlos Valdes
|successor2 = [[Erik Fresen]]
|birth_name = Marco Antonio Rubio
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|5|28}}
|birth_place = [[Miami]], Florida, United States
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Jeanette Dousdebes]]|1998}}
|children = 4
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|education = {{ubl|[[Tarkio College]]|[[Santa Fe College]]|[[University of Florida]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])|[[University of Miami]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]])}}
|website = [http://www.rubio.senate.gov/ Senate website] [https://marcorubio.com/ Campaign website]
|religion = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]]
}}

'''Marco Antonio Rubio''' (born May 28, 1971) is an American politician and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Florida]]. Rubio previously served as [[Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives]]. He is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016|candidate for President of the United States]] in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]].

Rubio is a [[Cuban American]] from [[Miami]]. He is a graduate of the [[University of Florida]] and the [[University of Miami School of Law]]. In the late 1990s, he served as a [[City commission government|City Commissioner]] for [[West Miami]] and was elected to the [[Florida House of Representatives]] in 2000, representing the 111th House district.

Later in 2000, Rubio was promoted to be one of two majority [[whip (politics)|whips]], and in 2002 was appointed [[Majority leader|House Majority Leader]] by Speaker [[Johnnie Byrd]]. He was elected [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the Florida House, and served as Speaker for two years beginning in November 2006. Upon leaving the Florida legislature in 2008 due to term limits, Rubio started a new [[law firm]], and also began teaching at [[Florida International University]], where he continues as an [[adjunct professor]].

Rubio [[United States Senate election in Florida, 2010|ran for United States Senate]] in 2010, and won that election. In the U.S. Senate, he chairs the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard|Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard]], as well as the [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues|Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues]]. He is one of three [[List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress|Latino Americans serving in the Senate]]. On April 13, 2015, Rubio announced that he would forgo seeking reelection to the Senate to [[Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016|run for President]].

==Early life, education, and entry into politics==

Rubio was born in Miami, Florida,<ref>{{cite news |last=Linkins |first=Jason |date=October 20, 2011 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/marco-rubio-bobby-jindal-birthers_n_1022742.html |title=Marco Rubio, Bobby Jindal Become Focus Of Bipartisan Birthers |work=[[The Huffington Post]]}}</ref> the second son and third child of Mario Rubio Reina<ref name=riseofMR>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PG9Q5LAei_sC&pg=PA26|title=The Rise of Marco Rubio|author= Manuel Roig-Franzia|page=26|isbn=978-1451675450|publisher=Simon & Schuster}}</ref> and Oriales ([[Name at birth|née]] Garcia) Rubio. His parents were Cubans who immigrated to the United States in 1956, prior to the [[Cuban Revolution|rise of Fidel Castro]] in January 1959.<ref name="WaPo Exile" /> His mother made at least four trips back after Castro’s victory, including for a month in 1961.<ref name="WaPo Exile" /> Neither of his parents was a U.S. citizen at the time of Rubio’s birth,<ref>{{cite web|title=Marco Rubio Once Benefitted From Birthright Citizenship, Now He’s Open to Restricting It|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/twentysixteen/2015/08/18/marco-rubio-once-benefitted-from-birthright-citizenship-now-hes-open-restricting|work=National Journal|accessdate=November 2, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011162523/http://www.nationaljournal.com/twentysixteen/2015/08/18/marco-rubio-once-benefitted-from-birthright-citizenship-now-hes-open-restricting|archivedate=October 11, 2015|date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> but ultimately his parents applied for U.S. citizenship and were [[naturalized]] in 1975.<ref name="WaPo Exile">{{cite news |last=Roig-Franzia |first=Manuel |title=Marco Rubio's compelling family story embellishes facts, documents show |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/marco-rubios-compelling-family-story-embellishes-facts-documents-show/2011/10/20/gIQAaVHD1L_story.html |accessdate=October 21, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 21, 2011}} ''See also'' [http://live.washingtonpost.com/post-reporter-discusses-marco-rubio-story.html?hpid=z8 Live Chat: Marco Rubio's embellished family story], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (October 24, 2011).</ref>

Marco has three siblings: older brother Mario, older sister Barbara (married to [[Orlando Cicilia]]), and younger sister Veronica (formerly married to [[Carlos Ponce]]).<ref>O'keefe, Ed. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/04/13/whos-in-marco-rubios-inner-circle/ "Who’s in Marco Rubio’s inner circle?"], [[Washington Post]] (April 13, 2015).</ref> Growing up, his family was [[Roman Catholic]], though from age 8 to age 11 he and his family attended [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] while living in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web |first=Thomas |last=Burr |url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54325018-78/rubio-church-family-faith.html.csp |title=Marco Rubio's book explains why he left Mormonism |work=[[Salt Lake Tribune]] |date=June 18, 2012}}</ref> During those years in Nevada, his father worked as a bartender at Sam's Town Hotel and his mother a housekeeper at the [[Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Marco Rubio About|url=http://www.rubio.senate.gov/about.cfm|website=Marco Rubio Senator|accessdate=November 19, 2014}}</ref> He received his [[first communion]] as a Catholic in 1984, before moving back to Miami with his family a year later. He was confirmed and married in the Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/23/sen-marco-rubios-religious-journey-catholic-to-mormon-to-catholic-to-baptist-and-catholic/?hpt=hp_t3 |title=Sen. Marco Rubio's religious journey: Catholic to Mormon to Catholic to Baptist and Catholic |last=Marrapodi |first=Erin |date=February 23, 2012 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=February 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name=myflorida/>

[[File:Marco Rubio in high school.jpeg|125px|thumb|right|Marco Rubio in high school]]

Rubio attended [[South Miami High School|South Miami Senior High School]], graduating in 1989. He then attended [[Tarkio College]] in Missouri for one year on a [[college football|football]] [[athletic scholarship|scholarship]] from 1989 to 1990, before enrolling at [[Florida College System|Santa Fe Community College]] (now [[Santa Fe College]]) in [[Gainesville, Florida]]. He earned his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[political science]] from the [[University of Florida]] in 1993, and his [[Juris Doctor|J.D.]] degree ''[[cum laude]]'' from the [[University of Miami School of Law]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bennett|first=George|title=Republican candidate Marco Rubio casts U.S. Senate race as battle for America|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/republican-candidate-marco-rubio-casts-us-senate-r/nMBRR/|work=The Palm Beach Post|accessdate=February 19, 2014|date=October 2, 2010}}</ref><ref name=bio10>{{cite web |title=Marco Rubio – Biography |url=http://www.republicanbusinesscouncil.com/bios/rubio_bio.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324040831/http://www.republicanbusinesscouncil.com/bios/rubio_bio.pdf |archivedate=March 24, 2012 |publisher=Republican Business Council |year=2010 |accessdate=May 24, 2012}}</ref> Rubio has said that his education resulted in $100,000 of student loans, which he paid off in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/transcript-marco-rubios-state-union-response/story?id=18484413 |title=Transcript: Marco Rubio's State of the Union Response|publisher=ABC News |date=February 13, 2013 |accessdate=February 20, 2013}}</ref>

While studying law, Rubio interned for U.S. Representative [[Ileana Ros-Lehtinen]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Clark |first=Lesley |title=Miami's Marco Rubio becomes new Florida senator |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/05/2001675/miamis-marco-rubio-becomes-new.html |accessdate=August 24, 2011 |date=January 5, 2011}}http://wayback.archive.org/web/20151119231310/http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/05/2001675/miamis-marco-rubio-becomes-new.html</ref> He also worked on [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Senator [[Bob Dole]]'s 1996 presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Keefe |first=Ed |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-south-florida-jeb-bush-and-marco-rubio-are-forcing-locals-to-pick-sides/2015/04/09/331951a6-d3e3-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html |title=In South Florida, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are forcing locals to pick sides |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 10, 2014|accessdate=April 12, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Leary |first=Alex |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/marco-rubios-meteoric-rise-in-florida-politics/1127114 |title=Marco Rubio's meteoric rise in Florida politics |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |date=October 9, 2010|accessdate=April 12, 2014}}</ref> In April 1998, two years out of law school and 26 years old, Rubio was elected to a seat as City Commissioner for [[West Miami]] before moving on to the Florida House of Representatives in early 2000.<ref>Samuels, Robert. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-story-behind-marco-rubios-frustrating-first-job-as-a-politician/2015/07/29/5c0d4de6-308c-11e5-8f36-18d1d501920d_story.html "The story behind Marco Rubio’s frustrating first job as a politician"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (July 30, 2015).</ref><ref name=Mishak>Mishak, Michael. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/24397/what-kind-leader-is-marco-rubio-investigation "What Kind of Leader Is Marco Rubio? An Investigation; A look at what happens when the Florida senator wields power"], ''[[National Journal]]'' (November 5, 2015).</ref>

In October 2011, newspapers reported that Rubio's previous statements that his parents were forced to leave Cuba in 1959, after Fidel Castro came to power, were incorrect. His parents left Cuba in 1956, during the dictatorship of [[Fulgencio Batista]]. According to ''The Washington Post'', Rubio's "embellishments" resonated with many voters in Florida, and the newspaper claimed they would be less impressed by his family being economic migrants instead of [[political refugees]] from a communist regime.<ref name="WaPo Exile"/> Rubio responded, saying: "The real essence of my family's story is not about the date my parents first entered the United States. Or whether they traveled back and forth between the two nations. Or even the date they left Fidel Castro's Cuba forever and permanently settled here. The essence of my family story is why they came to America in the first place, and why they had to stay."<ref>{{cite web |first=Marco |last=Rubio |title=My family's flight from Castro |work=Politico |date=October 21, 2011 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/66567.html |accessdate=February 14, 2013}}</ref>

==Florida House of Representatives==

===Elections and concurrent employment===

In late 1999, a [[By-election|special election]] was called to fill the seat for the 111th House District in the [[Florida House of Representatives]], representing Miami. The seat had been held by Representative Carlos Valdes, who had run for and won an open [[Florida Senate|Florida State Senate]] seat.<ref>{{cite news | first=David | last=CM-Azares | title=Diaz De La Portilla Wins State Senate Seat | url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-12-15/news/9912150159_1_senate-post-state-senate-seat-miami-dade | newspaper=Sun Sentinel | date=December 15, 1999 | accessdate=February 14, 2013}}</ref> It was considered a safe Republican seat, so Rubio's main challenge was to win the GOP nomination. He campaigned as a moderate, advocating tax cuts and [[early childhood education]].<ref name=Mishak />

Rubio placed second in the Republican primary on December 14, 1999,<ref>{{cite web | title=December 14, 1999 Special Primary Senate 34 and House 111 & 115 | url=http://election.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/SummaryRpt.asp?ElectionDate=12/14/1999&Race=STR&Party=REP&DATAMODE= | publisher=Florida Department of State Division of Elections | accessdate=February 14, 2013}}</ref> but won the run-off election for the Republican nomination, defeating Angel Zayon (a television and radio reporter who was popular with Cuban exiles) by just 64 votes.<ref name=Mishak /><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2010-07-22/news/marco-rubio-tea-party-pretty-boy/full/ | title=Marco Rubio, Tea Party pretty boy | first=Tim | last=Elfrink | date=July 22, 2010 | accessdate=February 14, 2013 | work=Miami New Times}}</ref> He then defeated Democrat Anastasia Garcia with 72% of the vote in a January 25, 2000 special election.<ref>{{cite news | title=Legislator says he got calls demanding he end sit-in Series: AROUND THE STATE: [SOUTH PINELLAS Edition] | date=January 26, 2000 | accessdate=February 14, 2013 | work=St. Petersburg Times | url=http://0-search.proquest.com.alpha.stpaul.lib.mn.us/docview/263423613}}</ref>

In November 2000, Rubio won re-election unopposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=33133 |title=FL State House 111 Race – Nov 07, 2000 |publisher=Our Campaigns |accessdate=September 2, 2012}}</ref> In 2002, he won re-election to a second full term unopposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5594 |title=FL State House 111 Race – Nov 05, 2002 |publisher=Our Campaigns |accessdate=September 2, 2012}}</ref> In 2004, he won re-election to a third full term with 66% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=68885 |title=FL State House 111 Race – Nov 02, 2004 |publisher=Our Campaigns |accessdate=September 2, 2012}}</ref> In 2006, he won re-election to a fourth full term unopposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=297425 |title=FL State House 111 Race – Nov 07, 2006 |publisher=Our Campaigns |accessdate=September 2, 2012}}</ref>

Rubio served almost nine years in the Florida House of Representatives. Since the Florida legislative session officially lasted only 60 days, he was able to spend about half of each year in Miami, where he worked first at a law firm that specialized in land use and zoning, and later starting in 2004, took a position with [[Broad and Cassel]], a Miami law and lobbying firm, though state law precluded him from engaging in lobbying or introducing legislation on behalf of the firm's clients.<ref name=Mishak /><ref>{{cite web|author1=Hamburger, Tom|author2=Sullivan, Sean|date=June 29, 2015|title=How Marco Rubio turned political star power into a soaring personal income|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-marco-rubio-turned-political-star-power-into-a-soaring-personal-income/2015/06/29/8cdae1aa-13a8-11e5-9ddc-e3353542100c_story.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=November 7, 2015}}</ref>

===Tenure in legislature===

At the time Rubio took his seat in the legislature in [[Tallahassee]] in January 2000, voters in Florida had recently approved a constitutional amendment on [[term limits]]. This created openings for new legislative leaders due to many senior incumbents having to retire. According to an article in ''[[National Journal]]'', Rubio also gained an extra advantage in that regard, because he was sworn in early due to the special election, and he would take advantage of these opportunities to join the GOP leadership.<ref name=Mishak />

====Majority whip and majority leader====

Later in 2000, the [[majority leader]] of the House, [[Mike Fasano (politician)|Mike Fasano]], promoted Rubio to be one of two majority [[whip (politics)|whips]].<ref name=Mishak /> ''National Journal'' described that position as typically requiring a lot of arm-twisting, but said Rubio took a different approach that relied more on persuading legislators and less on coercing them.<ref name=Mishak />

Fasano resigned in September 2001 as majority leader of the House due to disagreements with the House speaker, and the speaker passed over Rubio to appoint a more experienced replacement for Fasano. Rubio volunteered to work on [[redistricting]], which he accomplished by dividing the state into five regions, then working individually with the lawmakers involved, and this work helped to cement his relationships with GOP leaders.<ref name=Mishak />

In December 2002, Rubio was appointed House Majority Leader by Speaker [[Johnnie Byrd]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F7DC37DA1706DF7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Dade Hispanics Set to Get Top Posts in House|publisher=Nl.newsbank.com|accessdate=September 9, 2012|date=December 10, 2002}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F832B87CC108EB4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Two S. Florida Democrats To Lead Senate Committees|publisher=Nl.newsbank.com|accessdate=September 9, 2012|date=December 18, 2002}}</ref> He persuaded Speaker Byrd to restructure the job of Majority Leader, so that legislative wrangling would be left to the whip’s office, and Rubio would become the main spokesperson for the House GOP.<ref name=Mishak />

According to ''National Journal'', during this period Rubio did not entirely adhere to doctrinaire conservative principles, and some colleagues described him as a [[centrist]] "who sought out Democrats and groups that don’t typically align with the GOP".<ref name=Mishak /> He co-sponsored legislation that would have let farm workers sue growers in state court if they were shortchanged on pay, and co-sponsored a bill for giving in-state tuition rates to the children of [[Illegal immigration to the United States|undocumented immigrants]].<ref name=Mishak /> In the wake of the [[September 11 attacks]], he voiced suspicion about expanding police detention powers, and helped defeat a GOP bill that would have required colleges to increase reporting to the state about foreign students.<ref name=Mishak />

As a state representative, Rubio requested legislative [[earmark (politics)|earmark]]s (called "Community Budget Issue Requests" in Florida), totaling about $145 million for 2001 and 2002, but none thereafter.<ref>Sharockman, Aaron. [http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/nov/16/steven-schale/marco-rubio-wasnt-always-against-earmarks-florida/ "Marco Rubio wasn't always against earmarks, Florida Democrat claims"], ''[[PolitiFact]]'' (November 16, 2010).</ref><ref name=Roig>Roig-Franzia, Manuel. ''The Rise of Marco Rubio'', [https://books.google.com/books?id=UwxnCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA106 pp. 106-107] (Simon & Schuster 2012).</ref> Additionally, an office in the executive branch compiled a longer list of spending requests by legislators, including Rubio,<ref name=Caputo>Caputo, Marc. [http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rubios-campaign-image-belies-history-of-250-million-in-pork-requests/1078548 "Rubio's campaign image belies history of $250 million in pork requests"], ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' (March 9, 2010).</ref> as did the non-profit group Florida TaxWatch.<ref name=JK>Kennedy, John. [http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2007-05-23/news/TURKEYS23_1_florida-taxwatch-turkeys-budget-items "Governor could ax these turkeys"], ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' (May 23, 2007).</ref> Many of those listed items were for health and social programs that Rubio has described as "the kind of thing that legislators would get attacked on if we didn't fund them."<ref name=JK /> A 2010 report by the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' and ''[[Miami Herald]]'' said that some of Rubio’s spending requests dovetailed with his personal interests.<ref name=Caputo /> For example, Rubio requested a $20 million appropriation for [[Jackson Memorial Hospital]] to subsidize care for the poor and uninsured,<ref name=JK /> and Rubio later did work for that hospital as a consultant.<ref name=Caputo /> A spokesman for Rubio has said that the items in question helped the whole county, that Rubio did not lobby to get them approved, that the hospital money was necessary and non-controversial, and that Rubio is "a limited-government conservative ... not a no-government conservative".<ref name=Caputo />

====House speaker====

On September 13, 2005, at the age of 34,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-speaker-20150710|title=The Speaker|work=National Journal|accessdate=July 23, 2015|date=July 11, 2015}}</ref> Rubio clinched the speakership after State Representatives [[Dennis Baxley]], [[Jeff Kottkamp]], and [[Dennis A. Ross]] dropped out. He was actually sworn in over a year later, in November 2006. He became the first [[Cuban American]] to be [[speaker of the Florida House of Representatives]], and would remain speaker until November 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fineout |first=Gary |url=http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031115/NEWS/211150381/1047 |title=Baxley backs off House leader bid |publisher=Ocala.com |date=November 15, 2003 |accessdate=September 2, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Speaker-designate Marco Rubio with a blank book titled 100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future.jpg|thumb|Then Speaker-Designate Rubio, challenging [[Florida House of Representatives|House]] colleagues to help write "100 Innovative Ideas For Florida's Future", September 2005]]

When he was chosen as future speaker in 2005, Rubio delivered a speech to the House in which he asked members to look in their desks, where they each found a hardcover book titled ''100 Innovative Ideas For Florida’s Future''; but the book was intentionally blank, because it had not yet been written, and Rubio told his colleagues that they would fill in the pages together with the help of ordinary Floridians.<ref name=Mishak /> In 2006, after traveling around the state and talking with citizens, and compiling their ideas, Rubio published the book.<ref>Rubio, Marco. ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/100_Innovative_Ideas_for_Florida_s_Futur.html?id=I6cXIZs6TogC 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future]'' (Regnery 2006).</ref><ref name="100IdeasPolitifact">{{cite web |title=Rubio claims 57 of his 100 ideas were made law by the Florida Legislature |url=http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/feb/26/marco-rubio/rubio-claims-57-his-100-ideas-were-made-law-florid/ |publisher=Politifact |accessdate=May 24, 2012}}</ref> The ''National Journal'' called this book "the centerpiece of Rubio’s early speakership".<ref name=Mishak /> About 24 of the "ideas" became law, while another 10 were partially enacted.<ref name="100IdeasPolitifact"/> Among the items from his 2006 book that became law were multiple-year car registrations, a requirement that high schools provide more vocational courses, and an expanded voucher-like school-choice program. Rubio's defenders, and even some critics, point out that [[Great Recession|nationwide economic difficulties]] overlapped with much of Rubio's speakership, and so funding new legislative proposals became difficult.<ref name=Mishak />

At the time Rubio took office as speaker, [[Jeb Bush]] was completing his term as governor, and Bush left office in January 2007. Rubio hired 18 Bush aides, leading capitol insiders to say the speaker's suite was "the governor’s office in exile." An article in ''National Journal'' described Rubio's style as being very different from Bush's; where Bush was a very assertive manager of affairs in Tallahassee, the article says, Rubio's style was to delegate certain powers, relinquish others, and invite former political rivals into his inner circle.<ref name=Mishak /> As incoming speaker, he decided to open a private dining room for legislators, which he said would give members more privacy, free from being pursued by lobbyists, though the expense of doing so led to a public relations problem.<ref name=Mishak />

[[File:House Select Committee on Private Property Rights Chairman Rep. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, left, guides discussion 2005-10-18.jpg|thumb|left|Rubio as Chairman of the [[Florida House of Representatives|House]] Select Committee on Private Property Rights, October 2005]]

In 2006, Florida enacted into law limitations upon the authority of the state government to take private property, in response to the 2005 Supreme Court decision in [[Kelo v. City of New London]] which took a broad view of governmental power to take private property under [[eminent domain]]. This state legislation had been proposed by a special committee chaired by Rubio prior to his speakership.<ref name=NR1 />

Jeb Bush's successor as governor was [[Charlie Crist]], a moderate Republican who took office in January 2007. Rubio and Crist clashed frequently. Their sharpest clash involved the governor's initiative to expand casino [[Gambling in the United States|gambling]] in Florida. Rubio sued Crist for bypassing the Florida Legislature in order to make a deal with the [[Seminole Tribe]]. The [[Supreme Court of Florida|Florida Supreme Court]] sided with Rubio and blocked the deal.<ref>Deb, Sopan. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/marco-rubio-young-but-a-longtime-fighter/ Marco Rubio: Young, but a longtime fighter], [[CBS News]] (November 3, 2015).</ref><ref name="BaconRevolt"/>

Rubio also was a critic of Crist's strategy to fight [[climate change]] through an executive order creating new automobile and utility [[emissions standards]]. Rubio accused Crist of imposing "European-style big government mandates," and the legislature under Rubio's leadership weakened the impact of Crist's climate change initiative.<ref name=Mishak /><ref name="BaconRevolt"/> Rubio said that Crist’s approach would harm consumers by driving up utility bills without having much effect upon the environment, and that a better approach would be to promote [[biofuel]] (e.g. [[ethanol]]), [[solar panel]]s, and [[efficient energy use|energy efficiency]].<ref>Dunkelberger, Lloyd. [http://www.theledger.com/article/20070726/NEWS/707260520 "Rubio: Crist's Plan Won't Work"], ''[[The Ledger]]'' (July 26, 2007).</ref><ref>Klas, Mary Ellen. [http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2007/07/rubio-clashes-w.html "Rubio clashes with Crist over climate change standards"], ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' (July 25, 2007).</ref><ref>Rubio, Marco. [http://carboncapture.us/docs/Miami_Herald_070725.htm "Use common sense on energy policies"], ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' (July 25, 2007) via carboncapture.us. Retrieved November 27, 2015.</ref>

Rubio introduced a plan to reduce [[Property tax in the United States|state property taxes]] to 2001 levels (and potentially eliminate them altogether), while increasing [[Sales taxes in the United States|sales taxes]] by 1% to 2.5% to fund schools. The proposal would have reduced property taxes in the state by $40–50 billion. His proposal passed the House, but was opposed by Governor Crist and Florida Senate Republicans, who said that the increase in sales tax would disproportionately affect the poor. So, Rubio agreed to smaller changes, and Crist's proposal to double the state's [[Homestead exemption|property tax exemption]] from $25,000 to $50,000 (for a tax reduction estimated by Crist to be $33 billion) ultimately passed.<ref name=Mishak /><ref name=NR1>{{cite news |title=When Rubio Was the Man of Florida's House |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/416889/when-rubio-was-man-floridas-house-jim-geraghty |accessdate=July 23, 2015 |work=National Review |date=April 13, 2015}}</ref><ref name=TB1>{{cite news |title=Marco Rubio's U.S. Senate campaign grew out of his 2007 antitax roots |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/marco-rubios-us-senate-campaign-grew-out-of-his-2007-antitax-roots/1108354 |accessdate=May 24, 2012 |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> Legislators called it the largest tax cut in Florida's history up until then.<ref name=NR1/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Bousquet|first1=Steve|title=Confused now? It will get worse|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/16/State/Confused_now_It_will_.shtml|accessdate=August 8, 2015|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=June 16, 2007}}</ref> At the time, Republican anti-tax activist [[Grover Norquist]] described Rubio as "the most pro-taxpayer legislative leader in the country."<ref name=TB1 />

[[File:Speaker Rubio standing with Dem leader.jpg|thumb|Rubio conferring with Democratic Leader, [[Dan Gelber]], during 2007 legislative session]]

As speaker, Rubio "aggressively tried to push Florida to the [[Right-wing politics|political right]]," according to [[NBC News]], and frequently clashed with the [[Florida Senate]], which was run by more [[moderate Republican]]s, and with then-Governor Charlie Crist, a centrist Republican at the time.<ref name="BaconRevolt">Perry Bacon Jr., [http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/florida-house-rubio-lead-conservative-revolt-against-fellow-republicans-n338736 In Florida House, Rubio Led a Conservative Revolt Against Fellow Republicans], NBC News, ''Meet the Press'' (April 14, 2015).</ref> Although a conservative, "behind the scenes many Democrats considered Rubio someone with whom they could work," according to biographer Manuel Roig-Franzia.<ref>Roig-Franzia, Manuel. ''The Rise of Marco Rubio'', p. 110 (Simon & Schuster, 2015).</ref> [[Dan Gelber]] of Miami, the House Democratic leader at the time of Rubio's speakership, considered him "a true conservative" but not "a reflexive partisan," saying: "He didn't have an objection to working with the other side simply because they were the other side. To put it bluntly, he wasn't a jerk."<ref name="AdamsBipartisanship">Chris Adams, [http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article27392902.html Moderate Marco? Not quite, but Rubio has history of bipartisanship], McClatchy Washington Bureau (July 16, 2015).</ref> Gelber considered Rubio "a severe conservative, really far to the right, but probably the most talented spokesman the severe right could ever hope for."<ref name="BaconRevolt"/>

While Speaker of the Florida House, Rubio shared a residence in Tallahassee with another Florida State Representative, [[David Rivera]], which the two co-owned. The house later went into foreclosure in 2010 after several missed mortgage payments.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bender |first=Michael C. |title=Rubio faces foreclosure on Tally home; his campaign says it's resolved |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/rubio-faces-foreclosure-on-tally-home-his-campaign-754440.html |accessdate=May 5, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |date=June 17, 2010}}</ref> At that point, Rubio assumed responsibility for the payments, and the house was eventually sold.<ref>Marc Caputo, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/marco-rubio-sells-house-of-horrors-118572 Marco Rubio sells his house of horrors], ''Politico'' (June 3, 2015).</ref><ref>Associated Press, [http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/rubio-sells-troubled-house-in-florida-for-117k/ Rubio sells troubled house in Florida for $117K]http://wrapper.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/rubio-sells-troubled-house-in-florida-for-117k/ (June 3, 2015).</ref>

[[File:Speaker Rubio Following Vote About Slavery.jpg|thumb|left|[[Florida House of Representatives|House]] Speaker Rubio and Senate President [[Ken Pruitt]] embrace after the House's unanimous approval of the [[Florida Senate|Senate's]] [[concurrent resolution]] to formally express deep regret for [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]]. March 2008]]

In 2007, Florida State Senator [[Tony Hill (politician)|Tony Hill]] (D-Jacksonville), chairman of the state legislature's Black Caucus, requested that the legislature apologize for [[slavery in the United States|slavery]], and Rubio said the idea merited discussion.<ref>Kleindeinst, Linda. [http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2007-04-18/news/SLAVERY18_1_slavery-florida-population-florida-role "Lawmakers consider apology for slavery"], ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' (April 18, 2007).</ref> The following year, a supportive Rubio said such apologies can be important albeit symbolic; he pointed out that even in 2008 young African-American males "believe that the American dream is not available to them".<ref>Colavecchio-Van Sickler, Shannon. [http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/05/State/Florida_mulls_slavery.shtml "Florida mulls slavery apology"], ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' (March 5, 2008).</ref><ref>Colavecchio-Van Sickler, Shannon. [http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/florida-apologizes-for-role-in-slavery/432823 "Florida apologizes for role in slavery"], ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' (March 26, 2008).</ref> He helped set up a council on issues facing black men and boys, persuaded colleagues to replicate the [[Harlem Children's Zone]] in the Miami neighborhood of [[Liberty City]], and supported efforts to promote literacy and mentoring for black children and others.<ref>Leary, Alex. [http://www.tampabay.com/news/perspective/perspective-rubio-seeks-the-sweet-spot/2191101 "Perspective: Rubio seeks the sweet spot"], ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' (August 1, 2014).</ref><ref>Hollis, Mark and Lewis, Gregory. [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-04-23/news/0804230013_1_role-models-african-american-black-men "Funding plan seeks to boost mentoring"], ''[[Sun-Sentinel]]'' (April 23, 2008).</ref><ref>Figueroa, Laura. [http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/05/weepy-speeches.html "Rubio's farewell : 'I leave here today with full peace in my heart'"], ''[[The Miami Herald]]'' (May 2, 2008).</ref><ref>[http://www.cssbmb.com/ "Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys"], home page. Retrieved November 27, 2015.</ref>

In 2010 during Rubio's senate campaign, and again in 2015 during his presidential campaign, issues were raised by the media and his political opponents about some items charged by Rubio to his [[Republican Party of Florida]] American Express card during his time as House speaker.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/marco-rubio-made-personal_n_476516.html | title=Marco Rubio Made Personal Charges on GOP Credit Card | publisher=HuffPost Politics | date=April 27, 2010 | accessdate=July 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/marco-rubio-florida-gop-under-federal-investigation-report-says/ | title=Marco Rubio, Florida GOP Under Federal Investigation, Report Says | publisher=CBS News | date=April 21, 2010 | accessdate=July 15, 2014 | author=Condon, Stephanie}}</ref><ref name=FN1108/> Rubio charged about $110,000 during those two years, of which $16,000 was personal expenses unrelated to party business, such as groceries and plane tickets.<ref name="MazzeiLeary">Patricia Mazzei & Alex Leary, [http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/hedy-goes-here-and-here-xy-for-rubio-cardy/2253087 Marco Rubio campaign releases previously undisclosed GOP credit card statements], ''Tampa Bay Times'' (November 7, 2015).</ref> Rubio said that he personally paid American Express more than $16,000 for these personal expenses.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/22/gop-credit-scandal-threatens-halt-rubios-momentum-primary/ | title=GOP Credit Scandal Threatens to Halt Rubio's Momentum in Primary | publisher=Fox News Channel | date=April 22, 2010 | accessdate=July 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>Aaron Sharockman, [http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/records-show-marco-rubio-spent-thousands-with-gop-credit-card/1075692 Rubio says GOP credit card paid with 'my money'], PolitiFact (March 11, 2010).</ref> In 2012, the Florida Commission on Ethics cleared Rubio of wrongdoing in his use of the party-issued credit card, although the commission inspector said that Rubio exhibited a "level of negligence" in not using his personal MasterCard.<ref>Leary, Alex. [http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/ethics-panel-dismisses-2010-claim-about-rubio/1242622 Ethics panel dismisses 2010 claim about Rubio], ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' (July 27, 2012).</ref><ref>Drew Griffin, Scott Zamost & Tal Kopan, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/05/politics/marco-rubio-finances-republican-party-card/index.html Marco Rubio's Florida spending caused alarm for colleague], CNN (November 6, 2015).</ref> In November 2015, Rubio released his party credit card statements for January 2005 through October 2006, which showed eight personal charges totaling $7,243.74, all of which he had personally reimbursed, in most instances by the next billing period.<ref name=FN1108>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/07/rubio-releases-gop-charge-card-statements-from-2005-06/ Rubio releases more credit card statements, team says 'nothing to hide'], Fox News (November 8, 2015).</ref><ref name="MazzeiLeary"/><ref>Eric Bradner, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/07/politics/marco-rubio-credit-card-statements/ Marco Rubio releases Florida GOP charge card statements], CNN Politics (November 7, 2015)</ref> When releasing the charge records, Rubio spokesman Todd Harris said, "These statements are more than 10 years old. And the only people who ask about them today are the liberal media and our political opponents. We are releasing them now because Marco has nothing to hide."<ref name=FN1108/>

== Adjunct professor at Florida International University ==

After leaving the Florida Legislature in 2008, Rubio started his own law firm,<ref>{{cite news |first=Beth |last=Reinhard |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |date=May 22, 2010 |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/rubios-income-grew-with-his-political-clout-tax-records-show/1096766 |title=Rubio's income grew with his political clout, tax records show |accessdate=February 14, 2013}}</ref> and also began teaching under a fellowship appointment at [[Florida International University]] (FIU) as an [[adjunct professor]].<ref name=Leary>{{cite web|last=Leary|first=Alex|title=At Florida International University, GOP rising star Sen. Marco Rubio is professor Rubio|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/at-florida-international-university-gop-rising-star-sen-marco-rubio-is/1226057|work=Tampa Bay Times|accessdate=February 19, 2014|date=April 20, 2012}}</ref> In 2011, he rejoined the FIU faculty after entering the U.S. Senate, and he has taught on most Mondays and Fridays, when the Senate is usually not in session.<ref name="Leary" /><ref name=Terris>Terris, Ben. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/what-its-like-to-take-a-political-science-class-with-professor-marco-rubio/2015/02/10/a02c7726-b0d6-11e4-886b-c22184f27c35_story.html What it's like to take a political science class with professor Marco Rubio], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (February 10, 2015).</ref> Rubio teaches in the Department of Politics and International Relations, which is part of FIU's Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs.<ref>[http://pir.fiu.edu/people/adjunct-professors/ Adjunct Professors], Department of Politics and International Relations, Florida International University. Retrieved November 9, 2015.</ref> He has taught up to four undergraduate courses per year, on [[Politics of Florida|Florida politics]], political parties, and legislative politics.<ref name=GB>Bennett, George. [http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/us-sen-marco-rubios-teaching-post-at-fiu-draws-scr/nLs9g/ U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's teaching post at FIU draws scrutiny],'' [[Palm Beach Post]]'' (June 13, 2011).</ref><ref>Alex Leary, [http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/sen-marco-rubio-returns-to-teaching-at-fiu/1173236 Sen. Marco Rubio returns to teaching at FIU], ''Tampa Bay Times'' (June 2, 2011).</ref>

Rubio's reviews from students have been positive, even from students who disagree with him politically.<ref name=Leary /> He generally gives the impression of being unbiased and nonpartisan, and when offering his own opinion identifies it as such.<ref name=Terris /><ref name=MC>Caputo, Marc. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/marco-rubio-florida-international-university-115003 Professor Rubio: Inside the classroom, the Florida Republican gives clues about his political future], ''[[Politico]]'' (February 9, 2015).</ref> Rubio says that he wants students, when they watch the news, to have an appreciation for what is really going on behind the scenes, and says that teaching "forces me to stop sometimes and analyze things".<ref name="Leary" />

As of 2015, Rubio's appointment as an FIU professor is no longer a matter of partisan criticism, though it was initially.<ref name=MC /> The university obtained considerable state funding when Rubio was speaker of the Florida House, but many other university jobs were being eliminated due to funding issues at the time FIU appointed him to the faculty.<ref name=Leary /><ref name=GB /><ref name="LearyReinhard">Alex Leary & Beth Reinhard, [http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/senate-run-puts-rubios-ties-to-fiu-under-fiscal-scrutiny/1058456 Senate run puts Rubio's ties to FIU under fiscal scrutiny], ''Tampa Bay Times''/''Miami Herald'' Tallahassee Bureau (December 12, 2009).</ref> According to news reporting about Rubio's speakership, he "might have helped FIU get money early, but all the projects already had been scheduled for funding by the state's [[Florida Board of Governors|Board of Governors]]."<ref name=GB /> The president of the [[faculty senate]] at the time criticized the appointment, and Charlie Crist raised the issue against Rubio during the 2010 U.S. Senate election.<ref name=Leary /><ref name="LearyReinhard"/> Both the university and Rubio's office deny that the teaching position was based on a "[[sweetheart deal]]".<ref name=GB /> The director of FIU's School of International and Public Affairs says that Rubio "brings a great deal of insight and hands-on knowledge of the political process to the classroom...our students will learn from a sitting U.S. senator, which is an incredible opportunity."<ref name=GB />
When Rubio accepted the fellowship appointment as an adjunct professor at FIU, he agreed to raise most of the funding for his position from private sources. Billionaire [[Norman Braman]], also a major campaign donor to Rubio, donated $100,000 to finance Rubio's position.<ref name="LearyReinhard" /><ref>Barbaro, Michael and Eder, Steve. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/us/billionaire-lifts-marco-rubio-politically-and-personally.html Billionaire Lifts Marco Rubio, Politically and Personally], ''[[The New York Times]]'' (May 9, 2015).</ref> Rubio's office says that his current arrangement with FIU was approved by the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics|Senate Ethics Committee]], and that other senators, such as then-Senator [[Joe Biden]], have held teaching positions during their terms of office.<ref name=GB />

==U.S. Senate==

[[File:Senator Marco Rubio - Welcome Message-wVvDxxLxCTM.ogv|thumb|The start of Rubio's official welcome message at his U.S. Senate website.]]

===2010 election===
{{Main|United States Senate election in Florida, 2010}}

On May 5, 2009, Rubio announced on his website that he planned to run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by [[Mel Martínez]], who had announced that he would not seek reelection. Martinez subsequently announced (in August 2009) that he would resign before completing his term, and upon his resignation was replaced by [[George LeMieux]]. Prior to making his May 5, 2009 announcement, Rubio had been meeting with fundraisers and supporters throughout the state.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/933424.html |title=Marco Rubio quietly registers to run for U.S. Senate |work=The Miami Herald |date=March 5, 2009 |first=Beth |last=Reinhard}}http://wayback.archive.org/web/20151117033152/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/933424.html</ref> Initially trailing by double-digits in the primary against the incumbent Governor of his own party, Charlie Crist, Rubio eventually surpassed Crist in polling for the Republican nomination.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1297.xml?ReleaseID=1417 |date=January 26, 2010 |title=Rubio Edges Crist In Florida Gop Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; President Obama Under Water As Voters Disapprove |publisher=Quinnipiac University}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/florida/election_2010_florida_gop_senate_primary |publisher=Rasmussen Reports |title=Election 2010: Florida Republican Primary for Senate|date=February 1, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209003948/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/florida/election_2010_florida_republican_primary_for_senate |archivedate=February 9, 2010 |accessdate=February 25, 2012}}</ref> In his campaign, Rubio received the support of members of the [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]], many of whom were dissatisfied with Crist's policies as governor.<ref name=mleib>{{cite news|last1=Leibovich|first1=Mark|title=The First Senator From the Tea Party?|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/magazine/10florida-t.html|accessdate=November 19, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=January 6, 2010}}</ref>

On April 28, 2010, Crist announced he would be running without a party affiliation, effectively ceding the Republican nomination to Rubio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/charlie-crist-will-run-for-senate-with-no-party-affiliation/1091169|title=Charlie Crist will run for Senate with no party affiliation|work=Tampa Bay Times|accessdate=December 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/04/28/crist-to-run-as-independent-in-fl-sen-race |title=Crist to Run as Independent in FL Sen Race |publisher=Fox News Channel |date=April 28, 2010 |first=Kimberly |last=Schwandt |accessdate=July 10, 2010}}http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/special-report/2010/04/29/all-star-panel-gop-gov-crist-running-independent-floridas-senate-race</ref> Several of Crist's top fundraisers, as well as Republican leadership, refused to support Crist after Rubio won the Republican nomination for the Senate.<ref>{{cite web |last=Romm |first=Tony |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/92869-mcconnell-crist-would-lose-all-gop-support-if-he-ran-as-independent |title=McConnell: Crist would lose all GOP support if he ran as independent |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=April 18, 2010 |accessdate=July 10, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35937.html |title=Top Charlie Crist supporters torn over indy bid |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |last2=Catanese |first2=David |date=April 17, 2010 |work=[[Politico]] |accessdate=April 17, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/24/marco-rubio-wins-florida-_n_693377.html |title=Marco Rubio Wins Florida GOP Senate Primary |first=Brendan |last=Farrington |first2=Jennifer |last2=Kay |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date= August 24, 2010 |accessdate=November 3, 2010}}</ref>

On November 2, 2010, Rubio won the general election with 49 percent of the vote to Crist's 30% and [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Kendrick Meek]]'s 20%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://elections.nbcnews.com/ns/politics/2010/florida/senate/ |title=Florida Senate Election Results |publisher=NBC News|date=November 8, 2010 |accessdate=February 19, 2013}}</ref> Following his victory in the elections, Rubio soon became the subject of speculation as a potential [[Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2012|Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/1106/President-Obama-Marco-Rubio-face-off-on-tax-cuts |title=President Obama, Marco Rubio face off on tax cuts |first=Brad |last=Knickerbocker |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=November 6, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/886650--florida-s-new-senator-seen-as-great-right-hope |title=Florida's new senator seen as 'Great Right Hope' |work=Toronto Star |date=November 5, 2010 |first=Lee-Anne |last=Goodman}}</ref> At the time of his election, Rubio joined [[Bob Menendez]] of New Jersey as the only two [[List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress|Latino Americans in the Senate]]. ([[Ted Cruz]] would be elected Senator of Texas two years later).<ref>{{cite web|title=Explaining the Senate's growing conservative Latino caucus|url=http://www.wbez.org/blogs/achy-obejas/2012-08/explaining-senates-growing-conservative-latino-caucus-101449|publisher=WBEZ91.5|accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref>

===Tenure in Congress===

Shortly after taking office in 2011, Rubio said he had no interest in running for president or vice president in the 2012 presidential election.<ref>Michael O'Brien, [http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/136955-rubio-rejects-running-as-republicans-vp-nominee Rubio rejects running as Republicans' VP nominee], ''The Hill'' (January 10, 2011).</ref> In March 2012, when he endorsed [[Mitt Romney]] for president, Rubio said that he did not expect to be or want to be [[Veepstakes|selected]] as a vice presidential [[running mate]],<ref name="RuckerVP">Philip Rucker, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-marco-rubio-is-being-seriously-vetted-as-possible-vice-presidential-choice/2012/06/19/gJQAUq19nV_story.html Romney: Marco Rubio is being seriously vetted as possible vice presidential pick], ''The Washington Post'' (June 19, 2012).</ref> but was [[Vetting|vetted]] for vice president by the [[Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2012|Romney campaign]].<ref name="RuckerVP"/> Former Romney aide [[Beth Myers]] has said that the vetting process turned up nothing disqualifying about Rubio.<ref>Alex Isenstadt, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/romney-rubio-vetting-215373 Romney alum rebuts Bush whispers: Rubio passed our vetting], ''Politico'' (October 29, 2015).</ref>

Upon taking office, Rubio hired [[Cesar Conda]] as his [[Congressional staff#Personal staff|chief of staff]].<ref>{{Cite news |authorlink=Stephen F. Hayes |last=Hayes |first=Stephen |date=January 28, 2011 |url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/marco-rubio-picks-chief-staff-cesar-conda_537520.html |title=Marco Rubio Picks a Chief of Staff: Cesar Conda |work=[[The Weekly Standard]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rubio taps Cheney aide for chief of staff|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0111/Rubio_taps_Cheney_aide_for_chief_of_staff_.html|publisher=Politico|accessdate=April 20, 2014|date=January 26, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Marco Rubio hires Cesar Conda to be chief of staff|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/sen-marco-rubio-hires-cesar-conda-to-be-chief-of-staff/1148232|work=Tampa Bay Times|accessdate=April 20, 2014|date=January 28, 2011}}</ref> Conda, a former adviser to Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], and former top aide to Sens. [[Spencer Abraham]] (R-Mich.) and [[Robert Kasten]] (R-Wis.), was succeeded in 2014 as Rubio's chief of staff by his deputy, Alberto Martinez, but Conda remained as a part-time adviser.<ref>O’Keefe, Ed and Costa, Robert. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2014/04/11/marco-rubio-announces-staff-changes-sure-to-fuel-2016-talk/ "Marco Rubio announces staff changes sure to fuel 2016 talk"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (April 11, 2014).</ref>

Rubio voted against the [[Budget Control Act of 2011]], which included [[United States budget sequestration in 2013|mandatory automatic budget cuts from sequestration]].<ref name="McAuliffSequester">Michael McAuliff & Erin Mershon, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/budget-cuts-sequestration_n_1735321.html Mandatory Budget Cuts From Sequestration Slammed By Republicans As 'Dumb,' 'Terrible'], ''The Huffington Post'' (August 2, 2012).</ref><ref>Amy Sherman, [http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2013/nov/26/marco-rubio/marco-rubio-says-he-never-supported-sequester/ Marco Rubio says he never supported the sequester], PolitiFact (November 26, 2013).</ref> Rubio said in August 2012 that defense spending should never have been linked to taxes and the deficit, calling the policy a "terrible idea" based on a "false choice."<ref name="McAuliffSequester"/>

In October 2011, Rubio co-sponsored the Reducing the Size of Federal Government Through Attrition Act. The bill, which was not voted on in the Senate, would have reduced federal employment by 10% by 2015.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ashley Lopez |title=Rubio cosponsors bill that would eliminate one out of every ten federal jobs |url=http://floridaindependent.com/51770/marco-rubio-government-layoffs-jobs |work=The Florida Independent |date=October 12, 2011 |accessdate=September 14, 2013}}</ref>

In November 2011, Rubio and Senator [[Chris Coons]], Democrat of Delaware, co-sponsored the American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Act (AGREE Act), which would have extended many [[tax credit]]s and exemptions for businesses investing in [[research and development]], equipment, and other capital; provided a tax credit for veterans who start a business franchise; allowed an increase in immigration for certain types of work visas; and strengthened copyright protections.<ref>{{cite news |author=Laura Green |title=Sen. Marco Rubio says bipartisan jobs bill built on common ground |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/sen-marco-rubio-says-bipartisan-jobs-bill-built-on/nLzkn/ |work=The Palm Beach Post |date=November 16, 2011 |accessdate=August 18, 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, Rubio introduced a bill, co-sponsored by [[Joe Manchin]], Democrat of West Virginia, to allow employers to be exempted from newly mandated coverage for contraception based on religious or moral grounds, but it was not adopted in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/obama-contraception-rule-marco-rubio-bill_n_1274291.html |title=White House Attacks Marco Rubio's Contraception Bill |work=The Huffington Post |agency=Associated Press |date=February 13, 2012}}</ref>

Rubio voted against the 2012 "[[United States fiscal cliff|fiscal cliff]]" resolutions. Although he received some criticism for this position, he responded: “Thousands of small businesses, not just the wealthy, will now be forced to decide how they'll pay this new tax, and, chances are, they'll do it by firing employees, cutting back their hours and benefits, or postponing the new hires they were looking to make. And to make matters worse, it does nothing to bring our dangerous debt under control.”<ref>{{cite web |last=Reinhard |first=Beth |title=Paul Ryan vs. Marco Rubio: The Politics of the Cliff Vote |work=National Journal |date=January 3, 2013 |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/paul-ryan-vs-marco-rubio-the-politics-of-the-cliff-vote-20130103?page=1}}http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/paul-ryan-vs-marco-rubio-the-politics-of-the-cliff-vote-20130103?page=2</ref>

[[File:Marco rubio cpac 2012.jpg|thumb|Senator Rubio speaking at the 2012 Conservative Political Action Conference ([[Conservative Political Action Conference|CPAC]]) in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]

In 2013, Rubio was part of the bipartisan "[[Gang of Eight (immigration)|Gang of Eight]]" Senators that crafted [[Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013|comprehensive immigration reform legislation]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Marco Rubio (R)|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/1856|accessdate=August 16, 2014|publisher=National Journal Almanac}}</ref> Rubio proposed a plan providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States involving payment of fines and [[back tax]]es, background checks, and a probationary period.<ref name=Foote>{{cite web
| last =Reiff
| first =Laura Foote
|author2=Nataliya Binshteyn
| title =President Obama to Outline Plan for Comprehensive Immigration Reform on Tuesday
| work =The National Law Review
| publisher =Greenberg Traurig, LLP
| date =January 28, 2013
| url =http://www.natlawreview.com/article/president-obama-to-outline-plan-comprehensive-immigration-reform-tuesday-0
}}</ref>

Rubio was chosen to deliver the [[Republican response to the State of the Union address|Republican response]] to President Obama’s [[2013 State of the Union Address]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/12/full-text-marco-rubios-republican-response/ |title=Full text: Marco Rubio's Republican response |publisher=CNN|date=February 12, 2013}}</ref> It marked the first time the response was delivered in English and Spanish.<ref>{{cite news |title=State of the Union: Marco Rubio to Deliver Republican Response |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/02/marco-rubio-to-deliver-gop-state-of-the-union-response/ |publisher=ABC News |first=Z. Byron |last=Wolf |date=February 6, 2013 |accessdate=February 19, 2013}}</ref> Rubio's attempt to draw a strong line against the looming defense sequestration was undercut by fellow Republican senator [[Rand Paul]]'s additional response to Obama's speech that called for the sequester to be carried out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130224/DEFREG02/302240006/Has-U-S-GOP-Lost-Its-Standing-Strong-Defense-Party-|title=Has U.S. GOP Lost Its Standing as The Strong-on-Defense Party?|work=Defense News|accessdate=December 16, 2015}}</ref>

In April 2013, Rubio voted against an expansion of [[National Instant Criminal Background Check System|background checks for gun purchases]], contending that such increased regulatory measures would do little to help capture criminals.<ref>Zach Carter, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/14/rubio-background-checks-i_n_3080364.html Marco Rubio: Background Checks In Gun Compromise Won't Capture 'Criminals'], ''The Huffington Post'' (April 14, 2013).</ref><ref name="S.Amdt 715 to S.649">{{cite web |url=http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00097 |title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress – 1st Session |publisher=[[United States Senate]] |accessdate=July 30, 2013}}</ref>

In May 2013, Rubio proposed the Regulation Costs to Small Businesses Act which would have required the [[Small Business Administration]] to conduct an annual study to estimate the total cost of regulations on small businesses.<ref name="WPHarrison">{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2015/04/14/what-a-marco-rubio-white-house-could-mean-for-businesses/ |title=What a Marco Rubio White House could mean for businesses |author=J.D. Harrison |date=April 14, 2015 |work=The Washington Post |accessdate=April 15, 2015}}</ref>

In July 2013, Rubio and Senator [[Ben Cardin]], Democrat of Maryland, introduced the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2013. The bill would require federal agencies to monitor and regularly report on the performance of foreign assistance programs based on specified goals and metrics. The reports would be published publicly. According to Rubio: "America’s foreign assistance programs need greater transparency to ensure that they are advancing our values and interests overseas."<ref>{{cite web |title=Senators Rubio and Cardin introduce bipartisan bill to increase transparency of foreign aid |url=http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/2013/07/10/senators-rubio-and-cardin-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-increase-transparency-of-foreign-aid/ |work=Gretawire |date=July 10, 2013 |accessdate=September 14, 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, Rubio co-sponsored legislation with Senator [[Mark Warner]], Democrat of Virginia, to revise the process for calculating and collecting student loans. The legislation would base student loan payments on the student's subsequent income and automatically collect payments from paychecks in order to simplify the process and eliminate loan servicer fees.<ref name="WPHarrison" />

In 2014, Rubio asked [[Pope Francis]] "to take up the cause of freedom and democracy" in Cuba after helping negotiate the release of [[Alan Gross]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/marco-rubio-cuba-pope-criticism-113645.html |title=Marco Rubio calls out pope on Cuba |last1=FRENCH |first1=LAUREN |last2=MIN KIM |first2=SEUNG |date=December 17, 2014 |publisher=politico.com |accessdate=December 17, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Marco Rubio (16491577129) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Rubio in 2015]]

In 2015, at a summit organized by Concerned Veterans for America, Rubio said that the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]] was "simply buckling under the weight of its own bureaucracy" as he endorsed their proposal to open veterans' care to private providers.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/26/va-health-care-task-force/24052871/ |title=Veterans propose major changes in VA health care |last1=Wagner |first1=Dennis |date=February 26, 2015 |website=USA Today |publisher=USA TODAY |accessdate=April 19, 2015}}</ref>

In March 2015, Rubio and Senator [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]], Republican of Utah, proposed a tax plan which, according to ''The Wall Street Journal'', combined thinking from "old-fashioned, Reagan-era supply siders" and a "breed of largely younger conservative reform thinkers" who are concerned with the tax burden on the middle-class. The plan would lower the top corporate income tax rate from 38% to 25%, eliminate taxes on capital gains, dividends and inherited estates, and create a new child tax credit worth up to $2,500 per child. The plan would set the top individual income tax rate at 35%. It also included a proposal to replace the means-tested welfare system, including food stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit, with a new "consolidated system of benefits".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/03/13/lee-rubio-plan-gives-life-to-2016-tax-debate/ |title=Lee-Rubio Plan Gives Life to 2016 Tax Debate |last1=King Jr. |first1=Neil |date=March 13, 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal |accessdate=September 24, 2015}}</ref>

According to analysis by [[Vocativ]] as reported by Fox News, Rubio has missed 8.3 percent of total votes since taking office, from January 2011 to February 2015.<ref>{{cite news |author= |date=April 23, 2015 |title=Absentee ballot: Ted Cruz a no-show at most committee meetings, floor votes |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2015/04/23/absentee-ballot-ted-cruz-no-show-at-most-committee-meetings-floor-votes/ |publisher=Fox News Channel |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=In February, an analysis carried out by Vocativ in partnership with GovTrack.us, showed that Rubio beats Cruz as the senator most absent from chambers, having missed 99, or 8.3 percent, of 1,198 total votes since taking office in January 2011 to February of this year. }}</ref> From October 27, 2014, to October 26, 2015, Rubio voted in 74 percent of Senate votes, according to an analysis by GovTrack.us, which tracks Congressional voting records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marco Rubio, Senator for Florida|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/marco_rubio/412491|website=GovTrack|publisher=Civic Impulse, LLC|accessdate=October 29, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rugaber|first1=Christopher S.|title=AP FACT CHECK: The Republican debaters and the facts|url=http://news.yahoo.com/ap-fact-check-republican-debaters-facts-005112443--election.html|accessdate=October 29, 2015|agency=Associated Press|date=October 28, 2015}}</ref> In historical context Rubio's attendance record for Senate votes is not exceptional among senators seeking a presidential nomination, such as Senator [[John McCain]] whose percentage of missed votes in 2007 was much higher. However it is the worst of the three senators currently running for the presidency.<ref>Bump, Philip. "The problem with Marco Rubio’s defense of his missed votes", ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (October 30, 2015).</ref>

===Committee assignments===

In the U.S. Senate, he chairs the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard|Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard]], as well as the [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues|Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues]]. His committee memberships are as follows.<ref name=Commerce /><ref name=Foreign />
* [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]]<ref name=Commerce>{{cite web |url=http://www.senate.gov/general/committee_membership/committee_memberships_SSCM.htm |title=Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation |publisher=U.S. Senate}}</ref>
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet|Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard|Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard]] (chair)
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]<ref name=Foreign>{{cite web |url=http://www.senate.gov/general/committee_membership/committee_memberships_SSFR.htm |title=Committee on Foreign Relations |publisher=U.S. Senate}}</ref>
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs|Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy|Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy]]
** [[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs|Subcommittee on Near East, South and Central Asia, and Counterterrorism]]
** [[Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere and Global Narcotics Affairs|Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues]] (chair)
* [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Select Committee on Intelligence]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]]

==2016 presidential campaign==
{{Main|Marco Rubio presidential campaign, 2016}}
{{Further|United States presidential election, 2016}}

[[File:Marco Rubio by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg|thumb|Rubio speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference ([[Conservative Political Action Conference|CPAC]]) in [[National Harbor, Maryland|National Harbor]], Maryland]]

Rubio stated in April 2014 that he would not run for both the Senate and President in 2016, as Florida law prohibits a candidate from appearing twice on a ballot, but at that time he did not rule out running for either office.<ref name=Berman>{{cite news|last=Berman|first=Matt|title=Marco Rubio Won't Run for Senate in 2016 if He Runs for President|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/marco-rubio-won-t-run-for-senate-in-2016-if-he-runs-for-president-20140402|accessdate=April 2, 2014|newspaper=National Journal|date=April 2, 2014}}</ref> He has since indicated that, even if he does not win the Republican nomination for president, he does not plan to run for reelection to the Senate.<ref>Camia, Catalina. [http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/04/14/marco-rubio-president-senate-florida/ "Marco Rubio: No Plan B to pivot back to Florida Senate race"], [[USA Today]] (April 14, 2015).</ref> Also in April 2014, the departure of Cesar Conda, Rubio's chief of staff since 2011, was seen as a sign of Rubio's plans to run for [[United States presidential election, 2016|President in 2016]]. Conda departed to lead Rubio's Reclaim America [[Political action committee|PAC]] as a senior adviser.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marco Rubio announces staff changes sure to fuel 2016 talk|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/11/marco-rubio-announces-staff-changes-sure-to-fuel-2016-talk/|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 20, 2014|date=April 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marco Rubio Shakes Up Staff And Stirs 2016 Presidential Rumors|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/04/14/marco-rubio-shakes-up-staff-and-stirs-2016-presidential-rumors/|publisher=Fox News Latino|accessdate=April 20, 2014|date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> Groups supporting Rubio raised over $530,000 in the first three months of 2014, most of which was spent on consultants and data analytics, in what was seen as preparations for a presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news|title=Paul, Rubio lead potential Republican 2016 contenders in spending|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-04-16/news/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-money-20140416_1_ron-paul-marco-rubio-state-hillary-clinton|work=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=April 20, 2014|date=April 16, 2014}}</ref>

A poll from the WMUR/University, tracking New Hampshire Republican primary voters' sentiment, showed Rubio at the top alongside [[Kentucky]] senator Rand Paul later in 2013, but as of April 18, 2014, he had dropped to 10th place behind other Republican contenders. The poll, however, also suggests that Rubio is not disliked by the primary voters, which could be positive for him if other candidates choose not to run.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marco Rubio's long, hard fall in New Hampshire|url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/marco-rubios-long-hard-fall-in-new-hampshire/article/2547467|publisher=The Washington Examiner|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref> Rubio placed second among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates in an online poll of likely voters conducted by Zogby Analytics in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latest Zogby Poll Declares Rubio a Real 'Player' |url=http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/latest-zogby-poll-declares-marco-rubio-real-player |publisher=Sunshine State News |accessdate=February 3, 2015|date=January 26, 2015}}http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/latest-zogby-poll-declares-rubio-real-player</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marco Rubio leaps to second place in Zogby poll (tied with Jeb and just behind Mitt) – but he’s first among women |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2923518/Rubio-skip-work-week-fundraise-probable-presidential-campaign.html |work=Daily Mail |accessdate=February 3, 2015|date=January 23, 2015}}</ref>

In January 2015, it was reported that Rubio had begun contacting top donors and appointing advisors for a potential 2016 run, including [[George Edward Seay III|George Seay]], who previously worked on such campaigns as [[Rick Perry]]'s [[Rick Perry presidential campaign, 2012|in 2012]] and [[Mitt Romney presidential campaign, 2008|Mitt Romney's in 2008]], and Jim Rubright, who had previously worked for Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and John McCain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/23/rubio-signs-on-top-fundraiser-lines-up-donors-in-move-toward-2016-bid/|title=Rubio signs on top fundraiser, lines up donors in move toward 2016 bid|publisher=Fox News Channel}}</ref><ref name=Murray>{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/marco-rubio-takes-steps-towards-2016-run-n292031 | title=Marco Rubio Takes Steps Towards 2016 Run | publisher=NBC News | date=January 23, 2015 | accessdate=January 24, 2015 | author=Murray, Mark}}</ref> Rubio also instructed his aides to "prepare for a presidential campaign" prior to a Team Marco 2016 fundraising meeting in [[South Beach]].<ref name=Caputo2>{{cite news | url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article8013126.html | title=Sen. Marco Rubio to aides: 'Prepare for a presidential campaign' | work=[[The Miami Herald]] | date=January 23, 2015 | accessdate=January 24, 2015 | author=Caputo, Marc}}</ref>

On April 13, 2015, Rubio announced that he would run for President in 2016.<ref name=2016Announce>{{cite news|last1=Parker|first1=Ashley|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/us/politics/marco-rubio-2016-presidential-campaign.html|title=Marco Rubio Announces 2016 Presidential Bid|work=The New York Times|accessdate=December 16, 2015}}</ref><ref name=rubiotells>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/marco-rubio-tells-donors-hes-running-for-president-in-2016/|title=Marco Rubio tells donors he's running for president in 2016|publisher=CBS News|date=April 13, 2015|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref><ref name=rubiorolls>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/marco-rubio-rolls-the-dice|title=Marco Rubio rolls the dice|publisher=MSNBC|author=Steve Benen|date=April 13, 2015|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref><ref name=rubiojumps>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/marco-rubio-jumps-in-will-leave-senate/article/2562951|title=Marco Rubio jumps in, will leave Senate|work=The Washington Examiner|author=David M. Drucker|date=April 13, 2015|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref> Rubio is acceptable to many parts of the GOP base in the 2016 presidential race; while not usually regarded by the base as a first choice as of July 2015, there was a growing audience for his youthfulness and oratorical skill.{{whom|date=February 2016}}<ref>Siddiqui, Sabrina. [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/12/marco-rubio-republican-iowa-barack-obama “'The future is now': can Marco Rubio broaden Republican appeal and win?”], The Guardian (July 12, 2015).</ref><ref>Downie, James. "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/07/30/marco-rubio-is-in-trouble/ Marco Rubio is in real trouble]", ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (July 30, 2015).</ref>

During his campaign, Rubio has often pitched his candidacy as an effort to restore the [[American Dream]] for middle and working-class families, who may find his working-class and immigrant background appealing.<ref name=GuardianSep252015>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/25/marco-rubio-tax-break-plan-employers-paid-family-leave | work=The Guardian | title=Marco Rubio proposes tax break for employers who give paid family leave | date=September 25, 2015}}</ref>

==Political positions==

As of early 2015, Rubio had a rating of 98.67 by the [[American Conservative Union]], based on his lifetime voting record in the Senate. Two other senators were tied with Rubio, and only two were rated as having more conservative ratings. According to the ''National Journal'', in 2013 Rubio had been the 17th most conservative senator.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24780745.html | publisher=McClatchyDC | title=Sen. Marco Rubio sees opportunity for redemption on the right | date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> The [[Club for Growth]] gave Rubio ratings of 93 percent and 91 percent based on his voting record in 2014 and 2013 respectively, and he has a lifetime rating from the organization above 90 percent.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20150310/BLOGS02/150319988/club-for-growth-zaps-votes-by-illinois-members-of-congress | publisher=Crain's Chicago Business | title=Club for Growth zaps votes by Illinois members of Congress | date=March 10, 2015}}</ref><ref name="USA Today">{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/08/05/gop-debate-pro-growth-candidates-column/31152497/ | work=USA Today | title=Rating GOP's pro-growth contenders: Club for Growth | date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2014/02/24/club-for-growth-ted-cruz-was-perfect-in-2013/ | work=The Washington Post | title=Club for Growth: Ted Cruz was perfect in 2013 | date=February 24, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Marco Rubio by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|Senator Rubio speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference ([[Conservative Political Action Conference|CPAC]]) in [[National Harbor, Maryland]]]]

Rubio initially won his U.S. Senate seat with strong [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] support, but his 2013 support for comprehensive immigration reform legislation led to a decline in that support.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/factbox-republican-2016-presidential-field-swells-14-christie-180536168.html Factbox: Republican 2016 presidential field swells to 14 with Christie], [[Reuters]] (June 30, 2015): "He was swept into the Senate in the Tea Party wave of 2010 but has fought to strengthen ties with conservatives after he helped lead a failed push for comprehensive immigration reform in 2013."</ref><ref name="MakTeaParty">Tim Mak, [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/13/tea-partiers-rage-against-rubio-2016.html Tea Partiers Rage Against Rubio 2016], ''Daily Beast'' (April 13, 2015).</ref> Rubio's stance on military, foreign policy and national security issues—such as his support for arming the Syrian rebels and for the NSA—alienated some libertarian-oriented Tea Party activists.<ref name="MakTeaParty"/><ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-06-22/budget-brawl-gives-ted-cruz-rand-paul-a-chance-to-break-out Budget Brawl Gives Ted Cruz, Rand Paul a Chance to Break Out], [[Bloomberg News]] (June 22, 2015): "The budget and spending fight highlights widening divisions in the Republican Party between conservatives like Florida's Marco Rubio, concerned about shoring up the military, and Tea Party-aligned Republicans, like Cruz and Paul, more committed to limiting the size of government."</ref>

===Energy and environment===

Rubio disputes the [[Scientific opinion on climate change|scientific understanding of climate change]], arguing that human activity does not play a major role in global warming and that proposals to address climate change would be ineffective and economically harmful.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/05/marco-rubio-explains-his-climate-change-skepticism.html |title=Marco Rubio explains his climate-change skepticism |last1=Caputo |first1=Marc |date=May 15, 2014 |work=The Miami Herald |quote='I’ve never denied that there is a climate change,' Rubio said. 'The question is: Is man-made activity causing the changes in the climate?' Rubio, however, won’t answer that with a yes or no. | accessdate=September 18, 2014}}</ref><ref name=climatechange>{{cite news|last=Bennett|first=Brian|title=Marco Rubio says human activity isn't causing climate change|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-rubio-denies-climate-change-20140511-story.html|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=May 11, 2014|quote="I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it"}}</ref> The website [[PolitiFact]] has said that Rubio "consistently either avoids the link between human activity and climate change, or outright denies it."<ref name="pf-climate-change">{{cite web | publisher = [[PolitiFact]] | title = Has Marco Rubio backtracked on climate change? | first = Julie | last = Kliegman | url = http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/may/14/has-marco-rubio-backtracked-climate-change/ | date = May 14, 2014}}</ref>

In response to the encyclical ''[[Laudato si']]'' by Pope Francis in 2015 in which he warns of the dangers of climate change,<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/us/politics/popes-views-press-gop-on-climate-change.html?ref=liveblog Pope’s Views on Climate Change Add Pressure to Catholic Candidates] in the New York Times</ref> Rubio replied: "I have no problem with what the pope did" and "He is a moral authority and as a moral authority is reminding us of our obligation to be good caretakers to the planet. I'm a political leader. And my job as a policymaker is to act in the common good. And I do believe it's in the common good to protect our environment, but I also believe it's in the common good to protect our economy."<ref>[http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/06/marco-rubio-no-problem-with-catholic-church-on-climate-change-but-economy-more-important.html Marco Rubio: 'No problem' with Catholic Church on climate change but economy more important] in Miami Herald</ref>

Rubio has proposed a federal energy plan intended to address what he calls "one of the most politicized and regulated aspects of our economy" with "restrictions that result in higher prices and fewer jobs for our people in exchange for minimal environmental benefits". His plan would remove the crude oil export ban, block the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]'s Clean Power Plan for reducing carbon emissions which he says would result in the closure of coal-fired power plants, and transfer energy regulation to the states.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/423403/securing-americas-energy-future |title=Securing America's Energy Future |last1=Rubio |first1=Marco |date=September 1, 2015 |work=National Review |accessdate=October 1, 2015}}</ref>

The [[League of Conservation Voters]] gave Rubio a lifetime score of 9% for votes on environmental issues.<ref>Rebecca Leber, [http://www.newrepublic.com/article/123051/marco-rubio-now-most-dangerous-gop-candidate-climate Marco Rubio Is (Now) the Most Dangerous GOP Candidate on Climate], ''New Republic'' (October 7, 2015).</ref><ref>[http://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/marco-rubio National Environmental Scorecard - Senator Marco Rubio (R)], League of Conservation Voters (access November 9, 2015).</ref>

===Government regulation===

Rubio has stated that he would cap government regulation on businesses. He has praised 'on-demand' businesses, such as [[Uber (company)|Uber]] and [[AirBnB]], as drivers of innovation that should be protected from government interference, and has criticized efforts by New York City to limit those businesses.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-rubio-criticizes-government-regulation-of-on-demand-economy-2015-10 |title=Rubio criticizes government regulation of on-demand economy |last1=Lemire |first1=Jonathan |date=October 6, 2015 |publisher=Business Insider |accessdate=November 9, 2015}}</ref>

In an [[op-ed]] for ''Politico'', Rubio criticized [[net neutrality law]]s for expanding government control over the Internet and applying "a 1930s law to a 21st century issue". As alternatives, Rubio has pointed to a resolution he proposed with Senator [[Claire McCaskill]], Democrat of Missouri, which called for the federal government to oppose international efforts to grant greater control over the Internet to the [[International Telecommunication Union]], as well as proposed legislation to increase mobile broadband by "expanding unlicensed spectrum".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/government-is-crashing-the-internet-party-116168 |title=Government is Crashing the Internet Party |last1=Rubio |first1=Marco |date=March 17, 2015 |publisher=Politico |accessdate=November 9, 2015}}</ref>

===Healthcare===

Rubio has stated that he would repeal and replace the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]].<ref>Roy, Avik. April 14, 2015. [http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2015/04/14/marco-rubio-pledges-to-repeal-and-replace-obamacare-but-with-what/ Marco Rubio Pledges To Repeal And Replace Obamacare -- But With What?] ''Forbes''. Retrieved September 26, 2015.</ref> In an opinion piece on the website ''[[Politico]]'', Rubio proposed an up-front [[tax credit]] to be used for [[health insurance in the United States|health insurance]], along with federally-supported, state-based [[high-risk pool]]s for those with [[pre-existing condition]]s to purchase health insurance and the expansion of [[health savings account]]s (HSAs). The plan also calls for [[Medicaid]] to be funded through per-capita block grants to states, which would eliminate [[federal mandate]]s, while [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] would be transitioned into a premium support system, like [[Medicare Advantage]] and [[Medicare Part D]].<ref>Sen. Marco Rubio (August 17, 2015). [http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/marco-rubio-plan-to-fix-health-care-121453 My Plan to Fix Health Care.] ''Politico''. Retrieved October 1, 2015.</ref>

Rubio pushed for elimination of the "risk corridors" used by the federal government to compensate insurers for their losses as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The risk corridors were intended to be funded by profitable insurers participating in the PPACA. However, since insurer losses have significantly exceeded their profits in the program, the risk corridors have been depleted. His efforts contributed to the inclusion of a provision in the 2014 federal budget which prevented other funding sources from being tapped to replenish the risk corridors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/261244-rubio-budget-win-is-dealing-heavy-blow-to-obamacare | publisher=The Hill | title=Rubio budget win is dealing heavy blow to ObamaCare | date=November 24, 2015}}</ref>

===Higher education===

Rubio has proposed a plan to reform the country's higher education system which includes enlarged vocational and apprenticeship programs, a proposed "Student Right to Know Before You Go Act" which would require colleges to inform students prior to taking out loans of the future income they could expect after obtaining a degree, a proposal to automatically base student loan payments on subsequent income, and enabling students to partner with investors who would receive a percentage of the students' income in return for funding their education. The plan also includes a commitment to create a new college accreditation program in the first 100 days of Rubio's administration.<ref>Abby Jackson (July 7, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/marco-rubios-plans-for-college-education-2015-7 Marco Rubio has a wild plan to have investors pay for college and make money off students' future earnings.] ''Business Insider''. Retrieved October 2, 2015.</ref>

===Immigration===
{{POV section|date=February 2016}}

As part of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" in the Senate, Rubio co-authored the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 to give illegal immigrants a pathway to legal status. His proposal contrasted with the Republican party’s long-held view that offering citizenship to undocumented immigrants is virtually the same as amnesty.<ref name=Foote>{{cite web
| last =Reiff
| first =Laura Foote
|author2=Nataliya Binshteyn
| title =President Obama to Outline Plan for Comprehensive Immigration Reform on Tuesday
| work =The National Law Review
| publisher =Greenberg Traurig, LLP
| date =January 28, 2013
| url =http://www.natlawreview.com/article/president-obama-to-outline-plan-comprehensive-immigration-reform-tuesday-0
}}</ref> On October 2013, four months after the Senate passed the bill he co-authored, Rubio publicly opposed its passage in the House of Representatives, proposing instead a series of individual bills.<ref>{{cite web|title=Has Marco Rubio Really Learned His Lesson on Immigration?|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419744/has-marco-rubio-really-learned-his-lesson-immigration-jim-geraghty|work=National Review|accessdate=November 4, 2015}}</ref>

Rubio now advocates stopping illegal immigration before addressing those illegal immigrants who are already in the country.<ref name="Guray 2015" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/us/politics/23rubio.html|title=Florida Candidate Veers From Tea Party’s Script|date=August 23, 2010|work=The New York Times|accessdate=December 16, 2015}}</ref> In an interview in September 2015 he stated: "I don't think it's a decision you have to make on the front end. The first two things you have to do is stop illegal immigration, then second you have to modernize our legal immigration system, and then third you can have a debate about how to even legalize people to begin with. And then ultimately in 10 or 12 years you could have a broader debate about how has this worked out and should we allow some of them to apply for green cards and eventually citizenship."<ref>{{cite web|title=Marco Rubio Won't Even Consider Path to Citizenship During His Presidency|url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/marco-rubio-opposes-path-to-citizenship.html|work=New York|accessdate=November 4, 2015}}</ref>

In addressing his change of posture, at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in 2015, Rubio stated that his biggest lesson from the failure of enacting comprehensive immigration reform, was that Americans would not support it until the border is secure.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/27/marco-rubio-cpac_n_6756806.html |title=Marco Rubio Attempts to Win Back Conservatives on Immigration |work=The Huffington Post |date=February 27, 2015}}</ref>

===International relations and security===

Rubio advocates for a more active presence of United States in the global affairs and "a robust American role in confronting" [[Iran]], [[Russia]] and [[North Korea]]. He has opposed efforts by the Obama administration to [[United States–Cuban Thaw|normalize political relations with Cuba]]. Rubio also opposes the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] deal with Iran's nuclear program which was partly brokered by the Obama administration, and has stated that he would continue to increase [[sanctions against Iran]] until it agreed to end its [[Nuclear program of Iran|uranium enrichment program]], and has pointed to the possibility of military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.<ref name="Guray 2015">{{cite web | last=Guray | first=Geoffrey | title=What does Marco Rubio believe? Where the candidate stands on 10 issues | website=PBS NewsHour | date=April 13, 2015 | url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/marco-rubio-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/ | accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Times 2015">{{cite news | last=Times | first=The New York | title=Marco Rubio on the Issues | website=The New York Times | date=April 13, 2015 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/us/politics/marco-rubio-on-the-issues.html | accessdate=October 6, 2015}}</ref>

In 2010, he stated that radical Islamist terrorists pose the greatest threat to the United States, and that these radicals intend to impose their beliefs on the world. He voted "yes" on extending the [[roving wiretap]]s provision of the [[Patriot Act]], which governs [[Patriot Act#Title II: Surveillance procedures|surveillance of suspected terrorists]].<ref name=OnIssues/>

In September 2013, Rubio voted against a resolution authorizing President Obama to use military force against Syria in response to the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons stating that he was skeptical that the planned military strike would have the intended effect.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/rubio-votes-against-syria-strikes/2139977 |title=Rubio votes against Syria strikes |last1=Leary |first1=Alex |date=September 4, 2013 |work=Tampa Bay Times |accessdate=September 17, 2014}}</ref> In July 2014, Rubio supported Obama's initial response to the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]'s invasion of Iraq. He also called for arms to support moderate elements in the Syrian opposition and a bombing campaign to stop [[ISIL]]'s advance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/us/republican-divide-over-strategy-for-middle-east-iraq-is-growing-1.292328 |title=Republican divide over strategy for Middle East, Iraq is growing |last1=Memoli |first1=Michael A. |date=July 7, 2014 |publisher=stripes.com |accessdate=July 8, 2014}}</ref>

Rubio favors the detention of terrorists at [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo Bay]] so that they can be interrogated for intelligence purposes, and has stated that if necessary he would re-open the military prison there.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/marco-rubio-reopen-gitmo-reverse-obama-foreign-policy/story?id=30292526 |title=Marco Rubio Would Reopen Gitmo, Reverse Obama Foreign Policy |last1=Good |first1=Chris |date=April 13, 2015 |publisher=ABC News |accessdate=November 16, 2015}}</ref>

===Social issues===

Rubio joined twenty-two other Republican senators in voting against [[Sunset provision#Federal level|reauthorizing]] the [[Violence Against Women Act]], stating that he largely supported it, but objected to certain new provisions added to the law by the reauthorization bill.<ref name=PoliticoVAWA>{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/marco-rubio-opposes-violence-against-women-act-87532.html |title=Marco Rubio opposes Violence Against Women Act |first=Seung Min |last=Kim |work=[[Politico]] |date=February 12, 2013 |accessdate=February 25, 2013}}</ref> His political opponents were pleased that Rubio cast a vote that could hurt him in 2016, though Rubio voiced support for the overall law.<ref>Hirschhorn, Dan. [http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rubio-gop-white-house-hopefuls-oppose-violence-women-act-article-1.1263096 "Rubio, other GOP White House hopefuls oppose Violence Against Women Act"], ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York'' (February 13, 2013).</ref>

Rubio identifies as [[pro-life]], and [[Opposition to abortion|opposes abortion]], including in cases of rape and incest.<ref name="LATimesAbortion">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-rubio-abortion-20150807-story.html|title=Marco Rubio takes tough stand against abortion, with no exceptions for rape or incest|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 7, 2015|first=Lisa|last=Mascaro}}</ref> Rubio has said: "I believe all human life, irrespective of the circumstance in which it came into being, is worthy of protection."<ref name="LATimesAbortion"/> Rubio strongly opposes the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark [[abortion rights]] decision in ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' (1973), calling it a "historically, egregiously flawed decision"<ref>Laura Bassett, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/10/marco-rubio-abortion_n_7772510.html Marco Rubio: Roe v. Wade Was 'Egregiously Flawed Decision'], ''The Huffington Post'' (July 10, 2015).</ref> and "one of America's most blatant instances of [[judicial activism]]."<ref>Evan Puschak, [http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/rubio-trashes-roe-v Rubio trashes Roe v. Wade as 'blatant' judicial activism], MSNBC (January 22, 2013).</ref>

On March 14, 2013, Rubio reiterated his [[Opposition to same-sex marriage in the United States|opposition to same-sex marriage]] at the [[Conservative Political Action Conference]], saying "that states should have the right to define marriage in the traditional way".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21790382 | publisher=BBC News | title=At CPAC, Marco Rubio ducks a challenge | date=March 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/15/17323938-gops-rob-portman-announces-support-for-same-sex-marriage | publisher=NBC Politics | title=GOP Rob Portman Announces Support for Same Sex Marriage | date=March 15, 2013}}</ref>

As of 2015, Rubio was given an A rating by the [[National Rifle Association]] (NRA) for his stance on [[Gun politics in the United States|gun control issues]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-ted-cruz-iowa-trouble-20151119-story.html | work=Chicago Tribune | title=Commentary: 6 reasons Ted Cruz is in trouble | date=November 19, 2015}}</ref>

Rubio opposed the nomination of [[Sonia Sotomayor]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] based on "her case history and testimony regarding the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] at the state level, [[Takings Clause#Eminent domain|eminent domain takings]] and the so-called [[Privacy laws of the United States|constitutional right to privacy]] that resulted in the ''Roe v. Wade'' decision."<ref name=OnIssues/><ref name=oped0809>{{cite web | title =Opposing the philosophy of Sonia Sotomayor isn't anti-Hispanic | work =[[Politico]] | url =http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25788.html}}</ref>

=== Drug policy ===

Rubio supports continued criminal penalties for recreational [[Cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] use. In January 2014, Rubio said: "I don't think legalizing marijuana or even decriminalizing it is the right decision for our country."<ref name="LearyMJ">Alex Leary, [http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/rubio-comes-out-in-support-of-medical-marijuana-but-not-ballot/2190709 Rubio comes out in limited support of medical marijuana], ''Tampa Bay Times'' (July 30, 2014).</ref> In a May 2014 interview, Rubio said that he believed that there is "no responsible way to recreationally use" marijuana and that legalization of the substance would be "bad for the country."<ref name="ReillyMJ">Mollie Reilly, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/19/marco-rubio-marijuana_n_5352382.html Marco Rubio Claims There's 'No Responsible Way To Recreationally Use Marijuana'], ''The Huffington Post'' (May 19, 2014).</ref> Rubio has said that he only supports the use of [[medical cannabis]] if it is the noneuphoric type (such as "[[Charlotte's web (cannabis)|Charlotte's web]]") approved by the Florida Legislature.<ref name="LearyMJ"/>

Regarding the legalization of drugs in general, Rubio has stated, "I personally believe that legalizing drugs would be a great mistake and that any reductions in sentences for drug crimes should be made with great care."<ref>Sullivan, Sean. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/04/28/how-rubios-stance-on-drug-laws-stands-out-in-gop-presidential-field/ How Rubio’s stance on drug laws stands out in GOP presidential field], ''The Washington Post'' (April 28, 2015).</ref>

===Taxes and spending===

Rubio opposed Obama's [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|stimulus package of 2009]]. He supports initiatives to balance the [[United States federal budget|federal budget]], including a [[balanced budget amendment]] and statutory caps on federal spending.<ref name=OnIssues>{{cite web |title=Marco Rubio |publisher=OnTheIssues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Marco_Rubio.htm#Budget_+_Economy}}</ref> Rubio supports [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] changes to prevent projected future deficits in the program. He believes the program should have a higher age for the start of benefits for workers who are more than ten years away from retirement to account for Americans living longer.<ref name=OnIssues/> He has stated his support of federal [[Research and development|R&D]] funding and space exploration funding to promote technological innovation, which he sees as critical to the development to the economy.<ref name=OnIssues/>

The [[National Taxpayers Union]], a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] [[Taxpayer groups|taxpayers advocacy organization]], gave Rubio grades of 'A' in 2011, and 'B+' in 2012 and 2013.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.ntu.org/state/legislator/marco-rubio|title=National Taxpayers Union - Marco Rubio|publisher=[[National Taxpayers Union]]|accessdate=September 3, 2015}}</ref>

In 2014, Rubio proposed legislation to replace the [[earned income tax credit]] with a federal wage enhancement for qualifying low-wage jobs. The proposal would apply to singles as well as married couples and families with children. It would also arrive in sync with a monthly paycheck rather than a year-end lump-sum credit. Rubio asserted that this was a "better way to support low-income workers than simply raising the minimum wage."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=958d06fe-16a3-4e8e-b178-664fc10745bf |title=Rubio Delivers Address on 50th Anniversary of the 'War on Poverty' |last1=Rubio |first1=Marco |date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=senate.gov |accessdate=January 18, 2014}}</ref> Rubio has also proposed a 25% tax credit for businesses that offer their employees at least four weeks of paid family leave. The tax break would be capped at 12 weeks, and at $4,000 per employee.<ref name=GuardianSep252015>{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/25/marco-rubio-tax-break-plan-employers-paid-family-leave | work=The Guardian | title=Marco Rubio proposes tax break for employers who give paid family leave | date=September 25, 2015}}</ref>

In March 2015, Rubio, along with Republican Senator Mike Lee, submitted a [[tax reform]] proposal which called for a simplified [[tax code]] with just two [[tax rate]]s: 15% for individuals earning less than $75,000 annually and 35% for those earning more than that. It would eliminate [[Capital gains tax in the United States|capital gains taxes]] and add a new $2,500 per [[child tax credit]] for families. The [[corporate tax]] rate would be reduced to 25%, and businesses would be able to fully [[Tax deduction|deduct]] the cost of investments in the year made.<ref name="Guray 2015" /> An analysis by the [[Tax Foundation]] found that Rubio's plan would result in a loss of government revenue of $2.4 trillion (using dynamic models which take into account the projected economic growth from tax cuts) to $6 trillion (using more traditional static models).<ref name="mc-tax">{{cite news | url = http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article39456081.html | title = GOP tax plans aim to boost economy, but will nation's debt pay a price? | first = Chris | last =Adams | date = October 16, 2015}}</ref><ref name="tax-foundation">{{cite web|url=http://taxfoundation.org/blog/presidential-hopeful-marco-rubio-already-has-tax-plan|title=Presidential Hopeful Marco Rubio Already has a Tax Plan|publisher=Tax Foundation|date=April 14, 2015}}</ref> The Tax Foundation says that under Rubio's plan, these revenue shortfalls would substantially increase the national debt, which would not return to its current level until 2040. Rubio's campaign has said that he will offset the lost revenue through spending reductions, such as by increasing the eligibility age for [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and by reducing Medicare spending.<ref name="mc-tax"/> Using static assumptions and [[dynamic scoring]], the proposed tax cuts would increase the after-tax income of the top 1% of earners by 12-28%, the top 10% by 6-20%, the middle 10% by 2-16%, and the bottom 10% by 44-56%.<ref>{{cite news | publisher = [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] | url = http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/trackers/2015-10-29/fact-check-study-says-rubio-s-tax-plan-helps-rich-more-than-middle-class-less-than-poorest | title = Fact Check: Study Says Rubio's Tax Plan Helps Rich More Than Middle Class, Less Than Poorest | date = October 29, 2015}}</ref> Rubio later updated his proposal to add a 25% tax bracket, so that the individual tax rate would be 15% for those earning less than $75,000 annually, 25% for those earning between $75,000 and $150,000 annually, and 35% for those earning more than that.<ref>{{Cite web|title = A Pro-Growth, Pro-Family Tax Plan for the New American Century|url = https://marcorubio.com/issues-2/rubio-tax-plan/|website = Marco Rubio|access-date = 2016-01-24|language = en-US}}</ref>

[[Jared Bernstein]], senior fellow at the [[Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]], criticized Rubio's proposals, writing that Rubio's plan "takes the cake" in making the [[tax code]] more [[Regressive tax|regressive]] and would "hemorrhage revenues while bequeathing a massive gift of wealth to the [[Income inequality in the United States|top 0.0003 percent]]."<ref>[[Jared Bernstein]], [https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/11/05/marco-rubios-tax-plan-gives-a-huge-gift-to-the-top-0-0003-percent/ Marco Rubio's tax plan gives a huge gift to the top 0.0003 percent], ''The Washington Post'' (November 11, 2015).</ref> In contrast, [[David M. McIntosh]] of the [[Club for Growth]] praised Rubio's tax plan, calling it a "pro-growth tax cut and reform plan that would fundamentally reform the tax code and the [[entitlements|entitlement state]]," as well as lauding Rubio's support for [[free trade]], [[tort reform]], and [[regulatory reform|reduced regulations]].<ref name="USA Today"/>

=== K-12 Education ===

In his role as a legislator, Rubio was active in pursuing K{{ndash}}12 policy including introducing the Educational Opportunities Act in 2013. As a presidential candidate, Rubio has argued on behalf of closing the federal [[United States Department of Education|Department of Education]],<ref>{{Cite news|title = Marco Rubio Swings Through New Hampshire|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/18/us/politics/marco-rubio-swings-through-new-hampshire.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = April 17, 2015|access-date = November 24, 2015|issn = 0362-4331|first = Ashley|last = Parker}}</ref> expanding public [[Charter schools in the United States|charter schools]],<ref>{{cite web|title = Marco Rubio On Education: 5 Things The Presidential Candidate Wants You To Know|url = http://www.forbes.com/sites/maureensullivan/2015/04/13/marco-rubio-on-education-5-things-the-presidential-candidate-wants-you-to-know/|website = Forbes|accessdate = November 24, 2015}}</ref> and for teaching both [[creationism]] and [[evolution]].<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{cite web|title = The Evolution of Marco Rubio's Education Policy and Common Core|url = http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-20/the-evolution-of-marco-rubio-s-education-policy-and-common-core|website = Bloomberg.com/politics|accessdate = November 24, 2015}}</ref>

Additionally, Rubio has taken a strong stance against the [[Common Core State Standards Initiative|Common Core State Standards]], arguing that, while they "started out as well-intentioned effort to develop more rigorous curriculum standards",<ref>{{cite web|title = Rubio comes out against Common Core, putting him at odds with Jeb Bush|url = http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/rubio-comes-out-against-common-core-putting-him-at-odds-with-jeb-bush/2133354|website = Tampa Bay Times|accessdate = November 24, 2015}}</ref> that they'll eventually be "used to force on states policies the federal government wants".<ref name="bloomberg.com"/>

==Personal life==

[[File:Rubio Sworn In.jpg|thumb|Rubio, and wife Jeanette, just after being sworn as a [[List of current United States Senators|U.S. Senator]] by Vice President [[Joseph Biden|Joe Biden]]. January 2011]]

Rubio married [[Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio|Jeanette Dousdebes]], a former bank teller and [[Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders|Miami Dolphins cheerleader]], in 1998 in a Catholic ceremony at the [[Church of the Little Flower (Coral Gables, Florida)|Church of the Little Flower]], and together they have four children.<ref name=10things >{{cite web |last=Rettig |first=Jessica |url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/05/04/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-marco-rubio |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Marco Rubio |work=U.S. News and World Report |date=May 4, 2010 |accessdate=February 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The women behind the men who would be Florida's senator |url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/the-women-behind-the-men-who-would-be-floridas-senator/1112189 |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |date=July 31, 2010 |accessdate=February 13, 2013}}</ref> Rubio and his family live in [[West Miami, Florida]].<ref name=myflorida>{{cite web |url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/SEctions/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4180&SessionId=42 |title=Representative Marco Rubio |publisher=Florida House of Representatives}}</ref>

When he was 8 years old and living in [[Las Vegas]], Rubio joined the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (Mormon), but he returned to [[Catholicism]] after receiving his [[first communion]] at 13 years old.<ref name="Schneider">{{cite journal |last=Schneider |first=Elena |date=September 13, 2015 |title=Marco Rubio's Mormon play: The Florida senator is subtly leveraging his LDS background to build support in Nevada, where the Mormon community is small, but influential in GOP politics. |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/marco-rubio-mormon-play-2016-213240|journal=Politico |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Politico, LLC |access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref> Rubio attends [[Christ Fellowship]], a [[Southern Baptist]] Church<ref name=sbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbc.net/churchsearch/church.asp?ID=2979-33157|title=Southern Baptist Convention|publisher=sbc.net}}</ref> in [[West Kendall, Florida]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Is Marco Rubio Catholic or Baptist? Or Is the Reformation Over? |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/15/is-marco-rubio-catholic-or-baptist-or-is-the-reformation-over/ |work=Politics Daily |first=David |last=Gibson |date=November 15, 2010 |accessdate=February 14, 2013}}http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/15/is-marco-rubio-catholic-or-baptist-or-is-the-reformation-over/print/</ref> as well as Catholic Mass at [[Church of the Little Flower (Coral Gables, Florida)|Church of the Little Flower]] in [[Coral Gables, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/us/27beliefs.html |title=Marco Rubio: Catholic or Protestant? |first=Mark |last=Oppenheimer |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 26, 2010}}</ref>

In an interview in 2012, Rubio said: "I'm a Roman Catholic. I'm theologically in line with the Roman Catholic Church. I believe in the authority of the church, but I also have tremendous respect for my brothers and sisters in other Christian faiths. I recognize, as the Catholic Church does, that there are excellent teachings of the Word throughout other denominations. The elements of salvation are found in these churches as well."<ref>{{cite news |title=Q & A: Marco Rubio on His Faith of Many Colors |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/july-august/marco-rubio-faith-of-many-colors.html?paging=off |first=Sarah Pulliam |last=Bailey |work=Christianity Today |date=June 19, 2012 |accessdate=February 14, 2013}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{incomplete|section|reason=we may want to include Florida Legislature elections as well|date=January 2016}}
{{Election box begin |title=Florida U.S. Senate election 2010}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Marco Rubio
|votes = 2,645,743
|percentage = 49%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = [[Charlie Crist]]
|votes = 1,607,549
|percentage = 30%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = [[Kendrick Meek]]
|votes = 1,092,936
|percentage = 20%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (US)
|candidate = [[Alexander Snitker]]
|votes = 24,850
|percentage = <1%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Writings==

* {{cite book|title=100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future |year=2006 |publisher=Regnery Publishing |isbn=978-1596985117 }}
* {{cite book|title=An American Son: A Memoir |year=2012 |publisher=Sentinel HC |isbn=978-1595230942 }}
* {{cite book|title=American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone |year=2015 |publisher=Sentinel HC |isbn=978-1595231130 }}

==See also==
*[[Republican Party presidential candidates, 2016]]
{{Portal|Biography|Florida|Politics}}

* [[Republican Party presidential candidates, 2016]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==

{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{Commons category|Marco Rubio}}

* {{CongLinks | congbio = R000595 | ballot = Marco_Rubio | votesmart = 1601 | govtrack = 412491 | natjournal = 1856 | opencong = 412491 | our = 5330 | rollcall = 32335 | factcheck = marco-rubio | politifact = marco-rubio | fec = S0FL00338 | opensecrets = N00030612 | assets = marco-rubio | legistorm = 2809/Sen_Marco_Rubio_FL.html | followthemoney = 31 | ontheissues = senate/Marco_Rubio.htm | congress = marco-rubio/2084 | worldcat = | c-span = marcorubio | rose = 7485 | imdb = 3811944 | bloomberg = marco-rubio | guardian = world/marco-rubio | nyt = r/marco_rubio | wsj = R/marco-rubio/6882 | washpo = gIQA5xxt6O }}
* [http://rubio.senate.gov/ Senator Marco Rubio] official U.S. Senate website
* [http://www.marcorubio.com/ Marco Rubio for President] campaign website
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Florida/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Marco_Rubio_%5BR%5D}}
* {{C-SPAN|marcorubio}}

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{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from Florida ([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[United States Senate election in Florida, 2010|2010]]}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[George LeMieux]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Florida|U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Florida]]|years=2011–present|alongside=[[Bill Nelson]]}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[John Hoeven]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States Senate|United States Senators by seniority]]|years=65th}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ron Johnson (U.S. politician)|Ron Johnson]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Current U.S. Senators}}
{{FL-FedRep}}
{{USSenFL}}
{{Current Florida statewide political officials}}
{{United States presidential election, 2016}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubio, Marco}}
[[Category:Marco Rubio]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American writers]]
[[Category:American male writers]]
[[Category:American memoirists]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American politicians of Cuban descent]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Cuban-American Republicans]]
[[Category:Florida city council members]]
[[Category:Florida International University faculty]]
[[Category:Florida lawyers]]
[[Category:Florida Republicans]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Florida House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States Senators]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Florida House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2016]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Florida]]
[[Category:University of Florida alumni]]
[[Category:University of Miami School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Miami, Florida]]

Bernie Sanders

2016-02-08T15:41:44Z

BoboMeowCat: tweak order to simplify opening sentence

{{pp-vandalism|expiry=April 15, 2016|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Bernie Sanders
|image = Bernie Sanders.jpg{{!}}border
|caption = Official Senate portrait of Sanders, 2007
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Vermont]]
|alongside = [[Patrick Leahy]]
|term_start = January 3, 2007
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Jim Jeffords]]
|successor =
|office1 = Chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]
|term_start1 = January 3, 2013
|term_end1 = January 3, 2015
|predecessor1 = [[Patty Murray]]
|successor1 = [[Johnny Isakson]]
|state2 = [[Vermont]]
|district2 = {{ushr|Vermont|AL|At-large}}
|term_start2 = January 3, 1991
|term_end2 = January 3, 2007
|predecessor2 = [[Peter Plympton Smith]]
|successor2 = [[Peter Welch]]
|office3 = [[Burlington, Vermont|Mayor of Burlington]]
|term_start3 = April 6, 1981
|term_end3 = April 4, 1989
|predecessor3 = Gordon Paquette
|successor3 = [[Peter Clavelle]]
|office4 = Chairman of the [[Liberty Union Party]]
|term_start4 = 1972
|term_end4 = 1979
|predecessor4 =
|successor4 =
|birth_name = Bernard Sanders
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|09|08|mf=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]], U.S.
|death_date =
|party =[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (2015–present) [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1979–2015)
|otherparty = [[Liberty Union Party|Liberty Union]] (1971–1979)
|spouse = Deborah Shiling (1964–1966) [[Jane O’Meara Sanders]] (1988–present)
|partner = Susan Mott (1969)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3155396/Bernie-Sanders-1960s-love-life-revealed-wife-woman-son-sugar-shack-home-lived-revolutionary.html |title=Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' 1960s love life revealed |date=July 9, 2015 |work=Mail Online}}</ref>
|children = Levi (w/ Susan Mott) 3 stepchildren (Dave Driscoll, Carina Driscoll, Heather Titus)
|nationality = [[United States nationality law|American]]
|religion = 
|alma_mater = [[University of Chicago]]
|signature = Bernie Sanders signature.svg
|website = {{URL|www.sanders.senate.gov|Senate website}} {{URL|berniesanders.com|Presidential campaign website}}
}}
{{Bernie Sanders sidebar}}
'''Bernard''' "'''Bernie'''" '''Sanders''' (born September 8, 1941) is an American [[politician]] and [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Vermont]]. He is a [[Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016|candidate]] for the Democratic nomination for [[President of the United States|President]] of the United States in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]].

A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] as of 2015,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/11/05/sanders-declares-democrat-new-hampshire-primary/jxK9D2LQAAKYdUW9CyjjdM/story.html |title=Bernie Sanders files for Democratic ballot in N.H. primary |first=Dan |last=Blomquist |author2=Robert Way |date=November 5, 2015 |work=Boston Globe |quote=Sanders arrived at the State House... accompanied by Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, who was there to support Sanders' filing in case any challenges were made to his status as a member of the party. None occurred.}}</ref> Sanders had been the longest-serving [[independent politician|independent]] in U.S. congressional history, though his [[caucusing]] with the Democrats had entitled him to committee assignments, and at times gave Democrats a majority.<ref name=Jones /> Sanders has been the [[ranking minority member]] on the [[Senate Budget Committee]] since January 2015, and previously served for two years as chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee]].<ref name=vet /><ref name=hillcommittee>{{cite web |last=Needham |first=Vicki |date=December 12, 2014 |title=Senate Democrats lock in key committee memberships |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=http://thehill.com/policy/finance/227000-senate-democrats-set-key-committee-memberships |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref>

He was born and raised in the [[New York City]] [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Brooklyn]] and graduated from the [[University of Chicago]] in 1964. While a student, Sanders was an active [[African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)|civil rights]] protest organizer for the [[Congress of Racial Equality]] and the [[Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee]].<ref name=kelly2015>{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Amita |date=April 29, 2015 |title=5 Things You Should Know About Bernie Sanders |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/04/29/399818581/5-things-you-should-know-about-bernie-sanders |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Nichols">{{cite web |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=July 6, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Speaks |website=The Nation |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-speaks/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref>

After settling in Vermont in 1968, Sanders ran unsuccessful [[third party (United States)|third-party]] campaigns for [[Governor of Vermont|governor]] and U.S. senator in the early to mid-1970s. As an independent, he was elected mayor of [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]], Vermont's most populous city, in 1981. He was reelected three times. In 1990, he was elected to represent [[Vermont's at-large congressional district]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. In 1991, Sanders co-founded the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]. He served as a congressman for 16 years before being elected to the U.S. Senate [[United States Senate election in Vermont, 2006|in 2006]]. In 2012, he was [[United States Senate election in Vermont, 2012|reelected]] with 71% of the popular vote.

Sanders rose to national prominence following his 2010 [[filibuster]]<ref>{{cite news |date=December 10, 2010 |title=Senator Sanders Filibuster |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?297021-5/senator-sanders-filibuster |accessdate=June 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite news |date=December 10, 2010 |last=Memoli |first=Michael A. |title=Sen. Bernie Sanders ends filibuster |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://articles.latimes.com/print/2010/dec/10/news/la-pn-sanders-filibuster-20101211 |accessdate=August 1, 2011}}</ref> against the proposed extension of the [[Bush tax cuts]]. Sanders favors policies similar to those of [[social democracy|social democratic]] parties in Europe, particularly [[Nordic model|those instituted by]] the [[Nordic countries]].{{refn|<ref name="HuffPost-DK">{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 26, 2013 |title=What Can We Learn From Denmark? |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/what-can-we-learn-from-de_b_3339736.html |accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Issenberg |first=Sasha |date=January 9, 2010 |title=Sanders a growing force on the far, far left |work=[[Boston Globe]] |quote=You go to Scandinavia, and you will find that people have a much higher standard of living, in terms of education, health care, and decent paying jobs. |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/01/09/sanders_a_growing_force_on_the_far_far_left/?page=1 |accessdate=August 24, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Scandinavia">{{cite web |last=McMurry |first=Evan |date=May 3, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: America Should Look More Like Scandinavia |website=[[Mediaite]] |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bernie-sanders-america-should-look-more-like-scandinavia/ |accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>}} He is a leading [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] voice on issues such as [[Income inequality in the United States|income inequality]],<ref name=sanders_confirms/> [[universal healthcare]], [[parental leave]], [[global warming|climate change]],<ref name="Totten">{{cite news |last=Totten |first=Shay |date=January 15, 2007 |title=Sanders to push global warming legislation in Senate |work=Vermont Guardian |quote=Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, said Monday he was making good on at least one of a handful of campaign promises – introducing a bill designed to cut U.S. contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade. ... Sanders added that construction of new power plants is "extraordinarily expensive" and he would prefer to see federal funding support used to expand the development of sustainable energy, as well as biofuels. |url=http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/012007/GlobalWarmingBill.shtml |archive-date=May 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508004601/www.vermontguardian.com/local/012007/GlobalWarmingBill.shtml |dead-url=yes}}</ref> [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]], and [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]].<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=March 22, 2015 |title=If We Don't Overturn Citizens United, The Congress Will Become Paid Employees of the Billionaire Class |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/sanders-to-senate-if-we-dont-overturn-citizens-united-the-congress-will-become-paid-employees-of-the-billionaire-class_b_6918468.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> Sanders has long been critical of [[U.S. foreign policy]] and was an early and outspoken opponent of the [[Iraq War]]. He is also outspoken on [[civil rights]] and [[civil liberties]], and has been particularly critical of [[Race and crime in the United States|racial discrimination in the criminal justice system]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Ken |date=August 16, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-racism_55d10b2be4b055a6dab0a4a8 |work=The Huffington Post |title=Bernie Sanders Vows To Better Address Racism}}</ref> and [[Mass surveillance in the United States|mass surveillance]] policies such as the [[Patriot Act|USA PATRIOT Act]]<ref name="blogs.wsj.com">{{cite web |last=Tau |first=Byron |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Rand Paul, Bernie Sanders Revel in NSA Ruling |website=[[The Guardian]] |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/05/07/rand-paul-bernie-sanders-revel-in-nsa-ruling/ |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> and the [[Global surveillance disclosures (2013–present)|NSA surveillance programs]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on NSA Surveillance |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/statement-on-nsa-surveillance |website=Sen. Bernie Sanders |accessdate=October 13, 2015}}</ref>

==Early life==
Sanders was born in the [[New York City]] [[Borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Brooklyn]]. His father, Eli Sanders, was born on September 19, 1904, in [[Słopnice]], [[Poland]],<ref name="jtaancestraltown">{{cite news |title=Bernie Sanders’ ancestral town in Poland kvells over his Iowa performance |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/02/news-opinion/united-states/bernie-sanders-ancestral-town-in-poland-kvells-over-his-iowa-performance?utm_medium=social&utm_source=jtafb&utm_content=jta&utm_campaign=bernie-sanders-ancestral-town |accessdate=February 3, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 2, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Geni.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Eli-Sanders/6000000027756093071 |title=Eli Sanders |publisher=[[Geni.com]] |accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref> to a Jewish family, and emigrated to the United States in 1921,<ref name="immigrationrecord ">New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 immigration record: Eliasz Gitman, sailing from Antwerp, mother Jetti Gutman, citizenship in 1927 as Elias Sanders</ref> at the age of seventeen.<ref name="jtaancestraltown"/><ref name=Chana>{{cite news |last1=Chana |first1=Jas |title=Straight Outta Brooklyn, by Way of Vermont: The Bernie Sanders Story |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/192931/bernie-sanders-story |accessdate=January 20, 2016 |work=[[Tablet (magazine)]] |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> His mother, Dorothy Sanders ({{née|Glassberg}}), was born in New York City on October 2, 1912,<ref name=gaudiano>{{cite web |last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole |date=April 28, 2015 |title=OnPolitics: 6 things to know about Bernie Sanders |work=USA Today |url=http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/04/28/6-things-to-know-about-bernie-sanders/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name=NYTSocSen>{{cite news |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Leibovich |date=January 21, 2007 |title=The Socialist Senator |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> to [[Polish Jews|Jewish immigrant parents from Poland]] and [[Russian Jews|Russia]].<ref name="Geni.com4">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Bessie-Glassberg/6000000003916154223 |title=Bessie Glassberg (Goldberg) |publisher=[[Geni.com]] |accessdate=January 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Geni.com3">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Benjamin/6000000027757230396 |title=Benjamin Glassberg |publisher=[[Geni.com]] |accessdate=January 27, 2016 |quote=Birthplace: [[Radzyn Podlaski]], [[Radzyń Podlaski County]], [[Lublin Voivodeship]], Poland}}</ref> Many of Eli's relatives who remained in Poland were killed in [[the Holocaust]].<ref name=kelly2015/><ref name=Chana/><ref name=NYTSocSen/><ref name=stone_p483>{{cite book |last=Stone |first=Kurt |date=2010 |title=The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members |publisher=Scarecrow Press |page=483}}</ref>

Sanders attended elementary school at [[P.S. 197]], where he won a borough championship on the basketball team.<ref name=untold>{{cite web |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=January 29, 2016 |title=The untold story of Bernie Sanders, high school track star |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/29/the-untold-story-of-bernie-sanders-high-school-track-star/ |accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Felsenthal |first=Carol |date=May 4, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Found Socialism at the University of Chicago |work=Chicago magazine |quote=He graduated from Brooklyn's P.S. 197 and James Madison High School where he was captain of his high school track team. |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/May-2015/Bernie-Sanders-University-of-Chicago/ |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> He attended [[Hebrew school]] in the afternoons, and celebrated his [[bar mitzvah]] in 1954. Sanders attended [[James Madison High School (Brooklyn)|James Madison High School]], where he was captain of the track team and finished in third place in the New York City indoor one-mile race.<ref name=untold/> While at Madison, Sanders lost his first election, finishing last out of three candidates for the student body presidency. Sanders's mother died in June 1959 at the age of 46, shortly after Sanders graduated from high school.<ref name=stone_p483/> Sanders's father later died on August 4, 1962, a month short of his 58th birthday.<ref name="Geni.com"/>

{{anchor|Civil Rights Movement}}Sanders studied at [[Brooklyn College]] for a year in 1959–60<ref name=cnnfastfacts1>{{cite news |title=Bernie Sanders Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/bernie-sanders-fast-facts/index.html |accessdate=October 13, 2015 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> before transferring to the [[University of Chicago]] and graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in [[political science]] in 1964.<ref name=cnnfastfacts1/>

Sanders' older brother, Larry, has recalled that during Bernie's childhood, the family never lacked for food or clothing, but major purchases, "like curtains or a rug," were difficult to afford.<ref name="Smith">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Nicola |title=Bernie ropes in British brother for showdown with Clinton |url=http://search.proquest.com/news/docview/1757568267/fulltext/9A72304BC0D7442APQ/3?accountid=10226 |accessdate=January 22, 2016 |publisher=Sunday Times (London) |date=January 17, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders has said that he became interested in politics at an early age: "A guy named [[Adolf Hitler]] won an election in 1932. He won an election, and 50 million people died as a result of that election in World War II, including 6 million Jews. So what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important".<ref name="Sathish2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/107170-bernie-sanders-quote-about-hitler-winning-an-election-is-powerful-its-also-misleading |title=Bernie Sanders’ Quote About Hitler Winning An Election Is Powerful. It’s Also Misleading |work=Bustle |date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=http://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/20160121053327/www.bustle.com/articles/107170-bernie-sanders-quote-about-hitler-winning-an-election-is-powerful-its-also-misleading |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |dead-url=no |first=Madhuri |last=Sathish}}</ref><ref name=feldman2015>{{cite web |last=Feldmann |first=Linda |date=June 11, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: 'I’m Proud to be Jewish' |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |quote='I'm proud to be Jewish,' the Independent from Vermont – and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination – responded Thursday at a press breakfast hosted by the Monitor. Though, he added, 'I'm not particularly religious.' As a child, Sanders said, being Jewish taught him 'in a very deep way what politics is about. A guy named Adolf Hitler won an election in 1932,' the senator said. 'He won an election, and 50 million people died as a result of that election in World War II, including 6 million Jews. So what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important.' |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2015/0611/Bernie-Sanders-I-m-proud-to-be-Jewish |accessdate=June 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2015/11/02/454051697/sanders-could-be-the-first-jewish-president-but-doesnt-like-to-talk-about-it |title=Sanders Could Be The First Jewish President, But He Doesn't Like To Talk About It |date=November 2, 2015 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>

==Early political career==
{{Main|Electoral history of Bernie Sanders}}

===Early political activism===
While at the University of Chicago, Sanders joined the [[Young People's Socialist League (1907)|Young People's Socialist League]],<ref name=Politico>{{cite news |last=Kruse |first=Michael |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Has a Secret: Vermont, his son and the hungry early years that made him the surging socialist he is today |newspaper=[[Politico]] |quote=After he graduated from James Madison High School in 1959, he went to Brooklyn College for a year before transferring to the University of Chicago, where he joined the Congress of Racial Equality, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Student Peace Union and the Young People's Socialist League. |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-vermont-119927_full.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> the youth affiliate of the [[Socialist Party of America]], and was active in the [[African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)|Civil Rights Movement]] as a student organizer for the [[Congress of Racial Equality]] and the [[Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee]].<ref name=kelly2015/><ref name="Nichols"/> In January 1962, Sanders led a rally at the University of Chicago administration building to protest university president [[George Wells Beadle]]'s [[Housing segregation in the United States|segregated campus housing policy]]. "We feel it is an intolerable situation when Negro and white students of the university cannot live together in university-owned apartments," Sanders said at the protest. Sanders and 32 other students then entered the building and camped outside the president's office, performing the [[University of Chicago sit-ins|first civil rights sit-in in Chicago history]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Frizell |first=Sam |date=May 26, 2015 |title=The Radical Education of Bernie Sanders |work=Time |url=http://time.com/3896500/bernie-sanders-vermont-campaign-radical/ |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Perlstein |first=Rick |date=January 2015 |title=A political education |publisher=The University of Chicago Magazine |url=http://mag.uchicago.edu/law-policy-society/political-education |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref> After weeks of sit-ins, Beadle and the university formed a commission to investigate discrimination.<ref name="Craven2015">{{cite news |last=Craven |first=Jasper |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Can Sanders’ civil rights experience at U. of C. translate on campaign trail? |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-met-20150826-story.html |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108182818id_/www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-met-20150826-story.html |dead-url=no |issn=1085-6706}}</ref> He once spent a day putting up fliers protesting against [[police brutality]], only to eventually notice that a [[Chicago police]] car was shadowing him and taking them all down.<ref name=Frizell/>

Sanders attended the 1963 [[March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom]], where [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] gave his "[[I Have a Dream]]" speech.<ref name=kelly2015/><ref name =Frizell>Frizell, Sam. [http://time.com/3896500/bernie-sanders-vermont-campaign-radical/ "The Radical Education of Bernie Sanders"], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (May 26, 2015).</ref><ref name=release>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |title=News August 25 |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/082513 |accessdate=June 17, 2015}}</ref> That summer, he was convicted of resisting arrest during a demonstration against [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregation]] in Chicago's public schools and was fined $25.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Tim |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Read 21-Year-Old Bernie Sanders' Manifesto on Sexual Freedom |work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-free-love |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref>

In addition to his civil rights activism during the 1960s and 1970s, Sanders was active in several [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|peace and antiwar movements]]. He was a member of the [[Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee]] and the [[Student Peace Union]] while attending the University of Chicago. Sanders applied for [[conscientious objector]] status during the [[Vietnam War]]; his application was eventually turned down, by which point he was too old to be [[Conscription in the United States|drafted]]. Although he opposed the war, Sanders never placed any blame on those who fought and has been a strong supporter of [[veterans' benefits]].<ref name="Washington Post Veterans">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-on-frontline-for-veterans/2013/04/14/d97c9830-9e04-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_story.html |title=Bernie Sanders on frontline for veterans |work=The Washington Post |date=April 14, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2015 |author=Vogel, Steve}}</ref><ref name="ABC News">{{cite web |last=Parks |first=Mary Alice |date=August 31, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Applied for 'Conscientious Objector' Status During Vietnam, Campaign Confirms |publisher=ABC News |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-applied-conscientious-objector-status-vietnam-campaign/story?id=33434041 |accessdate=September 30, 2015}}</ref>

===Liberty Union campaigns===

Sanders began his political career in 1971 as a member of the [[Liberty Union Party]], which originated in the [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|anti-war]] movement and the [[People's Party (United States, 1971)|People's Party]]. He ran as the Liberty Union candidate for governor of Vermont in 1972 and 1976 and as a candidate for [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]] in 1972 and 1974.<ref>[http://media.cq.com/members/509?rc=1 Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.)] RollCall.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> In the 1974 Senatorial race, Sanders finished third (5,901 votes; 4.1%) behind the victor, 33-year-old [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden County]] State's Attorney [[Patrick Leahy]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], VI; 70,629 votes; 49.4%), and two-term incumbent U.S. Representative [[Dick Mallary]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]; 66,223 votes; 46.3%).<ref>[https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/election-results/election-results-search.aspx?primaryFilterId=12449&secondaryFolderName=1974+Election+Results&q= "Election Results Search: 1974 Election Results"], ''sec.state.vt.us''; further: pdf for "1974GEUSSen.xls". Citation for votes (total for Leahy and percentages calculated from spreadsheet). Retrieved May 2, 2015.</ref><ref>Nelson, Garrison, [http://vtdigger.org/2014/09/14/garrison-nelson-jim-jeffords-reluctant-rebel-appreciation/ "Jim Jeffords: Reluctant Rebel" Section: "1974: Changing the Congressional Guard"], vtdigger.org, September 14, 2014. Citation for other candidate's full names and brief bios. Retrieved May 2, 2015.</ref>

The 1976 campaign proved to be the zenith of Liberty Union's influence, with Sanders collecting 11,000 votes for Governor and the party forcing the races for Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State to be decided by the state legislature when its vote total prevented either the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] or [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidates for those offices from garnering a majority of votes.<ref>Greg Guma, ''The People's Republic: Vermont and the Sanders Revolution.'' Shelburne, VT: New England Press, 1989; pp. 18-19.</ref> The campaign drained the finances and energy of the Liberty Union, however, and in October 1977 — less than a year after the conclusion of the 1976 campaign — Sanders and the Liberty Union candidate for Attorney General, Nancy Kaufman, announced their retirement from the party.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 19.</ref>

Following his resignation from Liberty Union, Sanders worked as a writer and the director of the nonprofit American People's Historical Society (APHS).<ref>[http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/sen_bernie_sanders.html Arena Profile: Sen. Bernie Sanders]. ''Politico''. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> While with the APHS, he made a 30-minute documentary about American Socialist leader and presidential candidate [[Eugene V. Debs]].<ref name=Politico/><ref>Bernard Sanders (1979). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka7qoXPliwQ Eugene V. Debs: Trade Unionist, Socialist, Revolutionary, 1855-1926 - Introduction] on YouTube. Retrieved July 13, 2015.</ref>

===Mayor of Burlington===
[[File:City Hall Burlington Vermont from southeast on Main Street.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Burlington City Hall, constructed in 1928.]]

In 1980, at the suggestion of his close friend and political confidante [[Richard Sugarman]], a professor of religion at the [[University of Vermont]], Sanders ran for mayor of [[Burlington, Vermont]]. The 39-year-old Sanders ran against incumbent Democratic mayor Gordon "Gordie" Paquette, a 5-term mayor who had served as a member of the Burlington City Council for 13 years before that, building extensive community ties and a willingness to cooperate with Republican leaders in controlling appointments to various commissions.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pp. 31, 36.</ref> Indeed, the Republicans had found Paquette so unobjectionable that they had failed to even field a candidate in the March 1981 race against him, leaving Sanders as the principal opponent to the long-entrenched mayor.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 33.</ref>

Sanders' effort was further aided by the decision of the candidate of the [[Citizens Party (United States)|Citizens Party]], Greg Guma, to exit the race so as not to split the progressive vote in the mayoral race.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 38.</ref> Two other candidates in the race, independents Richard Bove and Joe McGrath, proved to be essentially non-factors in the campaign, with the battle coming down to a battle between Paquette and Sanders.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 40.</ref>

Sanders castigated the pro-development incumbent as an ally of prominent shopping center developer Antonio Pomerleau, while Mayor Paquette promised ruin for Burlington if Sanders was elected.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pp. 40-41.</ref> The Sanders campaign was bolstered by a wave of optimistic volunteers as well as by a series of endorsements from university professors, social welfare agencies, and the police union.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 41.</ref> The final result came as a shock to the local political establishment, with the maverick Sanders winning election by a final margin of just 10 votes.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 42.</ref>

Sanders would ultimately be reelected three times, defeating both Democratic and Republican candidates. He received 53% of the vote in 1983 and 55% in 1985.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Hillinger |title=Two Politicians Who Broke Mold in Vermont |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-04-28/news/vw-21595_1_vermonters |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 28, 1985 |accessdate=November 2, 2015}}</ref> In his final run for mayor in 1987, Sanders defeated Paul Lafayette, a Democrat endorsed by both major parties.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 4, 1987 |title=Re-election easy for Socialist mayor |newspaper=[[Spokane Chronicle]] |location=Burlington, Vermont |page=A6 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PAwTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=efoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4864,620344&dq=paul+lafayette+burlington&hl=en}}</ref>

During his years as mayor, Sanders called himself a [[socialist]] and was so described in the press.<ref name="Banks">{{cite news |last=Banks |first=Russell |authorlink=Russell Banks |date=October 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders, the Socialist Mayor |work=[[The Atlantic]] |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-mayor/407413/ |accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name="SelfStyledSocialist">{{cite news |date=April 7, 1981 |title=Self-Styled Socialist Takes Oath as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont |agency=Associated Press |work=[[Boston Globe]]}}</ref> During his first term, his supporters, including the first [[Citizens Party (United States)|Citizens Party]] City Councilor [[Terry Bouricius]], formed the Progressive Coalition, the forerunner of the [[Vermont Progressive Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Senator Bernie Sanders |work=Vermont Progressive Party |url=http://www.progressiveparty.org/senator-bernie-sanders |accessdate=June 8, 2015}}</ref> The Progressives never held more than six seats on the 13-member city council, but they had enough votes to keep the council from overriding Sanders's vetoes. Under Sanders, Burlington became the first city in the country to fund [[community land trust|community-trust housing]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dreier |first1=Peter |last2=Clavel |first2=Pierre |title=Bernie's Burlington: What Kind of Mayor Was Bernie Sanders? |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=June 4, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernies-burlington-what-k_b_7510704.html |accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref>

During the 1980s, Sanders was a staunch [[Foreign policy of the United States#Criticism|critic of U.S. foreign policy]] in [[Latin America]].<ref>Zaid Jilani (May 18, 2015). [http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/bernie-sanders-has-been-against-cias-role-destroying-democracy-his-early-days Bernie Sanders Has Been Against CIA's Role in Destroying Democracy Since His Early Days in Politics (Video)]. ''AlterNet''. Retrieved August 29, 2015.</ref> In 1985, Burlington City Hall hosted a foreign policy speech by [[Noam Chomsky]]. In his introduction, Sanders praised Chomsky as "a very vocal and important voice in the wilderness of intellectual life in America" and said he was "delighted to welcome a person who I think we're all very proud of."<ref>Bethania Palma Markus (August 11, 2015). [http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/the-bernie-effect-noam-chomsky-says-sanders-will-push-the-entire-democratic-party-to-the-left/ The Bernie effect: Noam Chomsky says Sanders will push the Democratic Party to the left]. ''[[The Raw Story]].'' Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chomsky Speech at Burlington City Hall - 1985 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvZRsdHgxgA |accessdate=August 21, 2015}}</ref>

Sanders's administration balanced the city budget and drew a [[minor league baseball]] team, the [[Vermont Reds]], then the Double-A affiliate of the [[Cincinnati Reds]], to Burlington.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> Under Sanders's leadership, Burlington sued the local television cable franchise, winning reduced rates for customers.<ref name=NYTSocSen/>

As mayor, Sanders led extensive [[urban renewal|downtown revitalization]] projects. One of his signature achievements was the improvement of Burlington's [[Lake Champlain]] waterfront.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> In 1981, Sanders campaigned against the unpopular plans by Burlington developer Tony Pomerleau to convert the then-industrial<ref name="Gram2015b">{{cite news |url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/politics-government/article22907835.html |title=Bernie Sanders kicks off 2016 bid from Clinton’s left |work=The Bellingham Herald |date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=http://webcitation.org/query?date=2015-12-09&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bellinghamherald.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-government%2Farticle22907835.html |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |dead-url=no |last1=Gram |first1=Dave |last2=Thomas |first2=Ken |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> waterfront property owned by the [[Central Vermont Railway]] into expensive condominiums, hotels, and offices.<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=David |date=1997 |title=Democracy Unbound: Progressive Challenges to the Two Party System |publisher=South End Press |page=162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fx1XBsYc8BwC |isbn=9780896085633}}</ref> Sanders ran under the slogan "Burlington is not for sale" and successfully supported a plan that redeveloped the waterfront area into a [[mixed-use]] district featuring housing, parks, and public space.<ref name="Reynolds"/> Today, the waterfront area includes many parks and miles of public beach and bike paths, a boathouse, and a science center.<ref name="Reynolds"/>

In 1986, Sanders unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Governor [[Madeleine Kunin]] (D) in her run for reelection. Running as an Independent, Sanders finished in 3rd place with 14.4% of the vote. Kunin won with 47%, followed by Lt. Governor [[Peter P. Smith]] (R) with 38%.

In 1987, [[U.S. News & World Report|U.S. News]] ranked Sanders as one of America's best mayors<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwwwn9zHT-8 |title=Real Change |date=November 1, 2015 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and Burlington is today regarded as one of the most livable cities in the nation.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Great Places to Live, 2013 |publisher=kiplinger.com |url=http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/real-estate/T006-S003-10-great-places-to-live-2013/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=August 20, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: The 'Uncola' of American politics |work=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/20/bernie-sanders-is-the-uncola-of-american-politics/}}</ref>

After serving four two-year terms, Sanders chose not to seek reelection in 1989. He briefly taught political science at [[Harvard University]]'s [[Kennedy School of Government]] that year and at [[Hamilton College (New York)|Hamilton College]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |title=WSJ Sanders Profile |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/bernie-sanders--VT-S |accessdate=January 18, 2013}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
{{See also|Electoral history of Bernie Sanders}}

Sanders' 1990 victory was heralded by the ''[[Washington Post]]'' and others as the "First Socialist Elected" to the [[United States House of Representatives]] in decades.<ref name=Daly>{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Christopher B. |date=November 11, 1990 |title=For Vermont's Sanders, Victory Followed Long Path; First Socialist Elected to House in Decades Gets Attention With Frank Talk of Class Conflict |work=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1158059.html |subscription=yes |accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Pertman/> Sanders served in the House from 1991 until he became a senator in 2007.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

===Elections===
In 1988, incumbent Republican Congressman [[Jim Jeffords]] decided to run for the U.S. Senate, vacating the House seat representing [[Vermont's at-large congressional district]]. Former [[Lieutenant Governor of Vermont|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Peter P. Smith]] (R) won the House election with a plurality, securing 41% of the vote. Sanders, who ran as an independent, placed second with 38% of the vote, while Democratic State Representative Paul N. Poirier placed third with 19% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=VT At-Large Race, November 8, 1988 |publisher=ourcampaigns.com |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37984 |accessdate=February 17, 2013}}</ref> Two years later, Sanders ran for the seat again and defeated the incumbent Smith by a margin of 56% to 40%.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

Sanders was the first independent elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] since [[Frazier Reams]]' election to represent [[Ohio]] 40 years earlier.<ref name=Pertman>{{cite news |last=Pertman |first=Adam |date=November 11, 1990 |title='The Times Caught Up' To Vermont Socialist |work=[[Boston Globe]] |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61683884.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11%2C+1990&author=Adam+Pertman%2C+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=%27THE+TIMES+CAUGHT+UP%27+TO+VERMONT+SOCIALIST&pqatl=google}}</ref> He served as a Representative for 16 years, winning reelection by large margins except during the 1994 [[Republican Revolution]], when he won by 3.3%, with 49.8% of the vote.<ref name="Carle1995">{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994/94Stat.htm#45 |title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994 |date=May 12, 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114171645/clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994/94Stat.htm#45 |archive-date=November 14, 2015 |dead-url=no |editor-last=Carle |editor-first=Robin H.}}</ref>

===Tenure===
[[File:Bernie Sanders 1991.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Sanders in 1991]]
During his first year in the House, Sanders often alienated allies and colleagues with his criticism of both political parties as [[Corporatocracy|working primarily on behalf of the wealthy]]. In 1991, Sanders co-founded the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]], a group of mostly [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] Democrats that Sanders chaired for its first eight years.<ref name=NYTSocSen/>

In 1993, Sanders voted against the [[Brady Bill]], which mandated federal background checks and imposed a waiting period on firearm purchasers in the United States; the bill passed by a vote of 238–187.<ref name="Tampa Bay Times ">{{cite web |last=Qiu |first=Linda |date=July 10, 2015 |title=Did Bernie Sanders vote against background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases? |work=Tampa Bay Times |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/jul/10/generation-forward-pac/did-bernie-sanders-vote-against-background-checks-/ |accessdate=August 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 614 |website=US House of Representatives |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1993/roll614.xml |accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> In 2005, he voted for the [[Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 534 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll534.xml |accessdate=July 18, 2007}}</ref> The act's purpose was to prevent firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable for negligence when crimes have been committed with their products. In 2015, Sanders defended his vote, saying: "If somebody has a gun and it falls into the hands of a murderer and the murderer kills somebody with a gun, do you hold the gun manufacturer responsible? Not any more than you would hold a hammer company responsible if somebody beats somebody over the head with a hammer."<ref name="CNN">{{cite web |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=July 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders wants to 'bring us to the middle' on guns |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/05/politics/bernie-sanders-gun-control/ |accessdate=July 6, 2015}}</ref>

Sanders voted against the [[Iraq Resolution|resolutions]] authorizing the use of force against Iraq in 1991 and 2002, and opposed the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. He voted for the 2001 [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 342 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll342.xml |accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> that has been cited as the legal justification for controversial military actions since the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnsen |first=Gregory D. |date=January 16, 2014 |title=60 Words And A War Without End: The Untold Story Of The Most Dangerous Sentence In U.S. History |publisher=Buzzfeed |url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/gregorydjohnsen/60-words-and-a-war-without-end-the-untold-story-of-the-most |accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> Sanders voted for a [[non-binding resolution]] expressing support for troops at the outset of the invasion of Iraq, but gave a floor speech criticizing the partisan nature of the vote and the [[George W. Bush]] administration's actions in the run-up to the war. Regarding the investigation of what turned out to be a leak of CIA agent [[Valerie Plame]]'s identity by a State Department official, Sanders stated: "The revelation that the President authorized the release of classified information in order to discredit an Iraq war critic should tell every member of Congress that the time is now for a serious investigation of how we got into the war in Iraq and why Congress can no longer act as a rubber stamp for the President".<ref name="Yost2006">{{cite news |last=Yost |first=Pete |date=April 7, 2006 |title=Libby: Bush, Cheney OK’d leak campaign |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_3683110 |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209220920/www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_3683110 |work=Bennington Banner |dead-url=no}}</ref>

Sanders was a consistent critic of the [[Patriot Act]]. As a member of Congress, he voted against the original Patriot Act legislation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 398 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll398.xml |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref> After its 357-to-66 passage in the House, Sanders sponsored and voted for several subsequent amendments and acts attempting to curtail its effects,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=David L., Jr. |date=May 25, 2004 |title=Patriot Act |work=Libraries and First Amendment |publisher=First Amendment Center |url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/patriot-act |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref> and voted against each reauthorization.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: It's Time To End Orwellian Surveillance of Every American |work=Time |url=http://time.com/3850839/bernie-sanders-usa-patriot-act/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> In June 2005, Sanders proposed an amendment to limit Patriot Act provisions that allow the government to obtain individuals' library and book-buying records. The amendment passed the House by a bipartisan majority but was removed on November 4 of that year in House-Senate negotiations and never became law.<ref>{{cite journal |date=November 4, 2005 |title=Sanders' Freedom to Read Language Dropped from Spending Bill |journal=[[American Library Association]] Washington Office Newsline |volume=14 |number=107 |url=http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washnews/2005ab/107nov04.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060604000337/http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washnews/2005ab/107nov04.htm |archivedate=June 4, 2006}}</ref>

In March 2006, after a series of resolutions passed in various Vermont towns calling for him to bring [[articles of impeachment]] against George W. Bush, Sanders stated that it would be "impractical to talk about [[Impeachment in the United States|impeachment]]" with Republicans in control of the House and Senate.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=March 8, 2006 |title=Vermont Town Votes to Impeach President |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/08/nation/na-impeach8 |accessdate=July 19, 2015 |quote=Sanders said in a statement that although the Bush administration 'has been a disaster for our country, and a number of actions that he has taken may very well not have been legal,' given the reality that the Republicans control the House and the Senate, 'it would be impractical to talk about impeachment.'}}</ref> Still, Sanders made no secret of his opposition to the [[George W. Bush administration|Bush Administration]], which he regularly criticized for its cuts to social programs.<ref>{{cite web |author=Office of Bernie Sanders |date=May 20, 2004 |title=Sanders Blasts Bush's Housing Secretary on Housing Cuts in Vermont |publisher=US House of Representatives |url=http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20040520150051.asp |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926074517/http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20040520150051.asp |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |title=Have They No Shame? |publisher=TPMCafe.com |date=June 24, 2005 |url=http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/24/155932/073 |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114164102/http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/24/155932/073 |archivedate=November 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 20, 2006 |title=(VIDEO) Bernie Speaks Out Against The President's Attempt to Eliminate Critical Program Providing Food to Low-Income Seniors |publisher=Internet Archive: Wayback Machine |url=http://bernie.house.gov/multimedia/video.asp?video='4791' |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926083930/http://bernie.house.gov/multimedia/video.asp?video='4791' |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref>

Sanders was a vocal critic of [[Chair of the Federal Reserve|Federal Reserve Chair]] [[Alan Greenspan]]; in June 2003, during a question-and-answer discussion with the then-[[Chairman of the Federal Reserve|Chairman]], Sanders told Greenspan that he was concerned that Greenspan was "way out of touch" and "that you see your major function in your position as the need to represent the wealthy and large corporations".<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of Congressman Sanders on 7/16/2003 regarding: Congressman Sanders' Questioning of Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan |via=Web.archive.org |url=http://bernie.house.gov/statements/20030716135257.asp |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926023514/http://bernie.house.gov/statements/20030716135257.asp |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGt60lxpMvE Bernie Sanders vs. Alan Greenspan (Best Video Quality)]. C-SPAN video on YouTube. Retrieved June 20, 2015.</ref> In October 2008, after Sanders had been elected to the Senate, [[Greenspan]] admitted to Congress that his economic ideology was flawed.<ref>Edmund Andrews for the New York Times. October 23, 2008 [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/business/economy/24panel.html Greenspan Concedes Error on Regulation]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96070766 |title=Greenspan Admits Free Market Ideology Flawed |publisher=NPR |date=October 24, 2008 |accessdate=January 18, 2016 |author=Naylor, Brian}}</ref> In 1998, Sanders voted and advocated against rolling back the [[Glass–Steagall Legislation]] provisions that kept [[investment banks]] and commercial banks separate entities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_10535992 |title=Who should pay? |work=Brattleboro Reformer |date=September 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529131100/www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_10535992 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |dead-url=no}}</ref>

On November 2, 2005, Sanders voted against the Online Freedom of Speech Act, which would have exempted the Internet from the [[campaign finance in the United States|campaign finance]] restrictions of the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act|McCain–Feingold Bill]].<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2, 2005 |title=H.R.1606 - Online Freedom of Speech Act: Final Vote Results For Roll Call 559 |publisher=Congress.gov |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll559.xml}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==

===Elections===
{{Main|United States Senate election in Vermont, 2006|United States Senate election in Vermont, 2012}}
[[File:Sanders swearing-in3.jpg|thumb|right|Bernie Sanders being sworn in as a [[List of current United States Senators|U.S. Senator]] by then Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] in the [[Old Senate Chamber]]. January 2007.]]
Sanders entered the race for the U.S. Senate on April 21, 2005, after Senator Jim Jeffords announced that he would not seek a fourth term. [[Chuck Schumer]], Chairman of the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]], endorsed Sanders, a critical move as it meant that no Democrat running against Sanders could expect to receive financial help from the party. Sanders was also endorsed by [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Leader]] [[Harry Reid]] of [[Nevada]] and [[Democratic National Committee]] Chairman and former Vermont Governor [[Howard Dean]]. Dean said in May 2005 that he considered Sanders an ally who "votes with the Democrats 98% of the time".<ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2005 |title=Meet the Press: Transcript |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7924139 |accessdate=August 1, 2011}}</ref> Then-Senator [[Barack Obama]] also campaigned for Sanders in Vermont in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krieg |first=Gregory |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Watch Young Senator Barack Obama Campaign for Bernie Sanders in 2006 |publisher=mic.com |quote=Back in March 2006, the future president traveled to Vermont to headline a rally and fundraiser for then-Rep. Bernie Sanders, an independent running for Senate, and Pete Welch, a Democrat seeking election to Sanders' House seat. |url=http://mic.com/articles/122011/watch-young-senator-barack-obama-campaign-for-bernie-sanders-in-2006 |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref> Sanders entered into an agreement with the Democratic Party, much as he had as a congressman, to be listed in their primary but to decline the nomination should he win, which he did.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Jessica |date=June 24, 2015 |title=This Quirky New Hampshire Law Might Keep Bernie Sanders Off The Ballot |publisher=NPR |quote=He did appear on the Democratic primary ballot in Vermont for the Senate in both 2006 and 2012, winning their primary, but he declined the nomination both times so he could run as an independent. |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/24/416929786/this-quirky-new-hampshire-law-might-keep-sanders-off-the-ballot |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=May 26, 2015 |title='Don't Underestimate Me': Bernie Sanders Knows a Thing or Two About Winning |work=The Nation |quote=When Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords, a Republican who turned independent in his last term, announced that he was stepping down in 2006, Sanders jumped into a race that a number of Democrats would have liked to run. He won the Democratic primary and then declined the nomination, mounting an audacious independent run that was not supposed to be easy. |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/why-bernie-sanders-says-dont-underestimate-me/ |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref>

In the most expensive political campaign in Vermont's history,<ref name="BGlobe-110706">{{cite news |last=Ring |first=Wilson |date=November 7, 2006 |title=Sanders, Welch are winners in Vermont |work=[[Boston Globe]] |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/VT/2006-11-08-us-congress_x.htm |accessdate=January 25, 2007}}</ref> Sanders defeated businessman [[Rich Tarrant]] by an approximately 2-to-1 margin. Many national media outlets projected Sanders as the winner just after the polls closed, before any returns came in. He was reelected in 2012 with 71% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vermont Election Results |work=Decision 2012 |publisher=NBC News |url=http://elections.nbcnews.com/ns/politics/2012/vermont/ |accessdate=April 21, 2013}}</ref>

Sanders was only the third senator from Vermont to caucus with the Democrats, after Jeffords and Leahy. His caucusing with the Democrats gave them a 51–49 majority in the Senate during the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]] in 2007–08. The Democrats needed 51 seats to control the Senate because [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] would have broken any [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by Vice Presidents of the United States|tie]] in favor of the Republicans.<ref name=Jones>Jones, Van and Conrad, Ariane. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=XZ2T0YR33isC&pg=PA27 Rebuild the Dream]'', p. 27 (Nation Books 2012).</ref> When he officially announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for president, Sanders set himself on a path to become only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the Senate, the other being Leahy.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

===Tenure===
Polling conducted in August 2011 by [[Public Policy Polling]] found that Sanders's approval rating was 67% and his disapproval rating 28%, making him then the third-most popular senator in the country.<ref>{{cite web |last=Easley |first=Jason |date=August 2, 2011 |title=Americans Love Socialism: Bernie Sanders Is The 3rd Most Popular US Senator |website=Politics USA |url=http://www.politicususa.com/socialism-bernie-sanders.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> Both the [[NAACP]] and the [[National Hispanic Leadership Agenda|NHLA]] have given Sanders 100% voting scores during his tenure in the Senate.<ref name="Ackerman2015">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/sanders-race-primary-president-civil-rights/ |title=Give the People What They Want: Bernie Sanders’ signature issues aren’t ‘white’ issues |work=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]] |date=June 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721162037/www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/sanders-race-primary-president-civil-rights/ |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |dead-url=no |last=Ackerman |first=Seth |issn=2158-2602}}</ref> In 2015 Sanders was named one of the Top 5 of ''[[The Forward]]'' 50.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2015 |url=http://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/ |title=Forward 50 2015 |publisher=Forward.com |accessdate=November 11, 2015}}</ref> In a November 2015 Morning Consult poll, Sanders had an approval rating of 83% among his constituents, making him the most popular senator in the country.<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-most-popular-senator-397853 Bernie Sanders Is America's Most Popular Senator, New Survey Says]. ''Newsweek''. November 24, 2015.</ref>

As an independent, Sanders worked out a deal with the Senate Democratic leadership in which he agrees to vote with the Democrats on all procedural matters except with permission from Democratic whip [[Dick Durbin]] (a request that is almost never made or granted). In return, he is allowed to keep his seniority and received the committee seats that would have been available to him as a Democrat; in 2013-14 he was Chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs]] (during the [[Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014|Veterans Health Administration scandal]]).<ref name=vet>[http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/10/15/bernie-sanders-veterans-affairs-griffin-dnt-ac.cnn "Bernie Sanders criticized for leadership in VA committee"], [[CNN]] (October 15, 2015).</ref> Sanders is free to vote as he pleases on policy matters, but has almost always voted with the Democrats.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

====Budget====
On September 24, 2008, Sanders posted an open letter to Treasury Secretary [[Henry Paulson]] decrying the initial [[financial crisis of 2007–08|bank bailout]] proposal; it drew more than 8,000 citizen cosigners in 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 24, 2008 |title=(Video) Bailout Petition Statement |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=303544 |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014003612/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=303544 |archivedate=October 14, 2008}}</ref> On January 26, 2009, Sanders and Democrats [[Robert Byrd]], [[Russ Feingold]], and [[Tom Harkin]] were the sole majority members to vote against confirming [[Timothy Geithner]] as [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]].<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records: Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00015 |accessdate=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

{{anchor|2010 filibuster}}{{anchor|2010 Filibuster}}{{anchor|filibuster}} On December 10, 2010, Sanders delivered an 8½-hour speech against the [[Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010]], the proposed extension of the [[Bush-era tax rates]] that eventually became law, saying "Enough is enough! ... How many homes can you own?"<ref>{{cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=October 25, 2011 |title=Bernie Sanders' war on the banks |website=Salon |url=http://www.salon.com/2011/10/25/bernie_sanders_war_on_the_banks/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}} A long speech such as this is commonly known as a [[filibuster]], but because it didn't block action, it was not technically a filibuster under Senate rules.</ref><ref name="Los Angeles Times"/> In response to the speech, hundreds of people signed online petitions urging Sanders to run in the 2012 presidential election, and pollsters began measuring his support in key [[political primary|primary]] states.<ref name="Prez" /> [[Contemporary progressivism|Progressive]] activists such as Rabbi [[Michael Lerner (rabbi)|Michael Lerner]] and economist [[David Korten]] publicly voiced their support for a prospective Sanders run against President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="Prez">{{cite news |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=December 29, 2010 |title=That 'Sanders for President' Talk is Real Enough, But Bernie's Not Going There |work=[[The Nation]] |url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/157346/sanders-president-talk-real-enough-bernies-not-going-there}}</ref>

Sanders's speech was published in February 2011 by [[Nation Books]] as ''The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class'', with authorial proceeds going to Vermont nonprofit charitable organizations.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 20, 2011 |title=Sen. Bernie Sanders' 8 1/2-hour Speech to be Sold in Book Form |newspaper=[[Burlington Free Press]] |url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110120/NEWS03/101200323/Sen.-Bernie-Sanders-8-1-2-hour-speech-to-be-sold-in-book-form |accessdate=January 20, 2011}}</ref>

====Senate Budget Committee====
In January 2015, Sanders became the [[Ranking member|ranking minority member]] of the [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Senate Budget Committee]].<ref name=hillcommittee /> He appointed economics professor [[Stephanie Kelton]], a [[modern monetary theory]] scholar and self-described "deficit owl", as the chief economic advisor for the committee's Democratic minority<ref>{{cite web |last=Lawler |first=Joseph |date=December 26, 2014 |title=Sanders names 'deficit owl' his chief economist |work=[[Washington Examiner]] |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sanders-names-deficit-owl-his-chief-economist/article/2557903 |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> and presented a report aimed at helping "rebuild the disappearing middle class", which included proposals to raise the [[minimum wage]], boost [[Infrastructure-based development|infrastructure spending]], and increase [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] payments.<ref>{{cite web |last=Resnikoff |first=Ned |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders, mulling presidential run, adopts novel stance on deficit |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/19/bernie-sanders-mulling-2016-bid-adopts-a-novel-stance-on-the-deficit.html |accessdate=March 25, 2015}}</ref>

====Committee assignments====
[[File:Bernie Sanders 2014.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Senator Sanders listening to testimony by then acting [[United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs|U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] Sloan D. Gibson, in 2014.]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]''' (Ranking Member)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]'''
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy|Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Committee on Energy and Natural Resources]]'''
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Energy|Subcommittee on Energy]]
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on National Parks|Subcommittee on National Parks]]
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power|Subcommittee on Water and Power]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions]]'''
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Children and Families|Subcommittee on Children and Families]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging|Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging]] (Ranking Member)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]'''

==2016 presidential campaign==
{{main|Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016}}
[[File:Bernie Sanders in Littleton, NH, on August 24, 2015 (20703289249).jpg|thumb|left|alt=|Sanders at a campaign event in [[Littleton, New Hampshire]], August 2015]]
Sanders announced his intention to seek the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s nomination for [[President of the United States|president]] on April 30, 2015, in an address on the [[United States Capitol|Capitol]] lawn.<ref name="kane2015">{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Paul |last2=Rucker |first2=Philip |date=April 30, 2015 |title=An unlikely contender, Sanders takes on 'billionaire class' in 2016 bid |work=[[The Washington Post]] |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-takes-on-billionaire-class-in-launching-2016-bid-against-clinton/2015/04/30/4849fe32-ef3a-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20150429">{{cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Announces He Is Running for President |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-for-president.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Cogan">{{cite web |last=Cogan |first=Marin |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Daily Intelligencer: Bernie Sanders Is Officially Running for President – That Doesn't Mean You Can Ask Him About Hillary Clinton |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/04/sanders-is-running-just-dont-say-hillary.html |access-date=July 18, 2015}}</ref> [[Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016|His campaign]] was officially launched on May 26, 2015, in [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]].<ref name="NYT-20150429" />

In his announcement, Sanders said, "I don't believe that the men and women who defended American democracy fought to create a situation where billionaires own the political process," and made this a central idea throughout his campaign.<ref name=kane2015/><ref name="NYT-20150429" /> Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] welcomed Sanders' entry into the race, saying, "I'm glad to see him get out there and give his version of what leadership in this country should be." On June 19, 2015, the "Ready For Warren" organization (Warren resisted calls to become a candidate herself) endorsed Sanders and rebranded itself "Ready to Fight".<ref>{{cite news |last=Pointdujour |first=Prisca |date=May 2, 2015 |title=Elizabeth Warren praises Bernie Sanders prez bid |work=[[Boston Herald]] |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/05/elizabeth_warren_praises_bernie_sanders_prez_bid |accessdate=May 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kamisar |first=Ben |date=June 19, 2015 |title=Ready for Warren Endorses Sanders |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/245541-ready-for-warren-endorses-sanders |accessdate=August 24, 2015}}</ref>

Sanders stated that he would not pursue funding through a "[[Super PAC]]", instead focusing on small individual donations.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Sanders doesn't want billionaires' backing |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/30/politics/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-first-interview/ |accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> His presidential campaign raised $1.5 million within 24 hours of his official announcement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Ken |date=May 1, 2015 |title=Sanders raises $1.5M after announcing presidential bid |agency=[[Associated Press]] |website=Yahoo News |url=http://news.yahoo.com/sanders-raises-1-5m-announcing-presidential-bid-194439911--election.html |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> At year's end the campaign had raised a total of $73 million from more than one million people making 2.5 million donations, with an average donation of $27.16.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 2, 2016 |title=Sanders raises $33M in final quarter, $73M total for 2015 |work=Politico |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/sanders-fundraising-final-quarter-2015-217288?cmpid=sf |accessdate=January 2, 2016}}</ref> The campaign reached 3.25 million donations by the end of January 2016, raising $20 million in that month alone.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-fundraising_us_56ae4f7ee4b0010e80ea7bdb Bernie Sanders' Small Donor Fundraising Continues To Set Records]. ''The Huffington Post.'' January 31, 2015.</ref>

Sanders has used social media to help his campaign gain momentum.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corasaniti |first=Nick |date=May 18, 2015 |title=Seeking the Presidency, Bernie Sanders Becomes Facebook Royalty Through Quirky Sharing |work=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/us/politics/bernie-sanders-wants-to-be-president-but-hes-already-facebook-royalty.html |accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref> He posts content to online platforms such as [[Twitter]] and [[Facebook]], and has answered questions on [[Reddit]]. Sanders has also gained a large grassroots organizational following online. A July 29 meetup organized online brought 100,000 supporters to more than 3,500 simultaneous events nationwide.<ref>Lisa Lerer (July 30, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-draws-more-than-100000-2015-7 More than 100,000 people participated in a mega-grassroots Bernie Sanders event]. ''Business Insider''. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> Sanders has received over one million individual online donations. He has credited this to his "organic" approach to social media, and to writing his campaign's online postings himself.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bernie Sanders Social Media Movement |url=http://growingsocialmedia.com/bernie-sanders-social-media-movement/ |website=Growing Social Media |accessdate=November 5, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Bernie Sanders before a crowd in Conway, NH, on August 24, 2015 (20876809366).jpg|thumb|right|Sanders before a crowd in [[Conway, New Hampshire]], August 2015]]

Sanders' campaign events in June 2015 drew overflow crowds around the country, to his surprise.<ref name=":1">Sofia Tesfaye (June 16, 2015). [http://www.salon.com/2015/06/16/america_is_feeling_the_bern_bernie_sanders_draws_overflow_crowds_and_surges_in_the_polls/ America is feeling the Bern: Bernie Sanders draws overflow crowds – and surges in the polls]. ''Salon''. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref><ref>John Wagner (June 15, 2015). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/06/15/meet-the-people-coming-to-see-bernie-sanders-in-iowa/ Meet the people coming to see Bernie Sanders in Iowa]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref><ref name="Keith">Tamara Keith (June 15, 2015). [http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/15/414689799/bernie-sanders-stunned-by-large-crowds-showing-up-for-him Bernie Sanders 'Stunned' By Large Crowds Showing Up For Him]. NPR. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref> When Clinton and Sanders made public appearances within days of each other in Des Moines, Iowa, Sanders drew larger crowds, even though he had already made numerous stops around the state and Clinton's visit was her first in 2015.<ref name=GuardianSandersVsClinton>{{cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Ben |date=June 25, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders closes on Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire Democrats poll |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/25/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-new-hampshire-democrats-poll |work=The Guardian |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref> On July 1, 2015, Sanders' campaign stop in Madison, Wisconsin, drew the largest crowd of any 2016 presidential candidate to that date, with an estimated turnout of 10,000.<ref name="MSNBCMadisonBiggestCrowd">{{cite web |last=Seitz-Wald |first=Alex |date=July 1, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws biggest crowd of any 2016 candidate yet |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bernie-sanders-draws-biggest-crowd-any-2016-candidate-yet |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="HuffPo10K">{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=Mollie |title=Bernie Sanders Draws His Biggest Crowd Yet In Progressive Stronghold |website=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/01/bernie-sanders-madison_n_7709966.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067 |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref> Over the following weeks he gained even larger crowds of 11,000 in Arizona,<ref name="Washington Post AZ crowd">{{cite web |last=Wagner |first=John |date=July 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws his biggest crowd yet – in Arizona of all places |work=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/07/19/bernie-sanders-draws-his-biggest-crowd-yet-in-arizona-of-all-places/ |accessdate=July 21, 2015}}</ref> 15,000 in Seattle,<ref>{{cite web |last=Connelly |first=Joel |date=August 8, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws 15,000 people at UW, state's biggest political crowd since 2010 Obama visit |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/08/08/bernie-sanders-draws-15000-people-at-uw-states-biggest-political-crowd-since-2010-obama-visit/ |accessdate=August 9, 2015}}</ref> and 28,000 in Portland.<ref>Chris Cillizza (August 10, 2015). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/10/this-bernie-sanders-crowd-shot-should-make-hillary-clinton-a-little-jittery/ This Bernie Sanders crowd shot should make Hillary Clinton a little jittery]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved August 10, 2015.</ref>

On December 4, 2015, Sanders won [[Time (magazine)|Time]]'s 2015 [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]] readers' poll with 10.2% of the vote<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/bernie-sanders-time-person-of-the-year-poll-216481?cmpid=sf/ |title=Bernie Sanders wins Time's Person of the Year readers' poll |publisher=[[Politico]] |accessdate=December 7, 2015 |date=December 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4137173/bernie-sanders-time-person-of-the-year-poll-win/ |title=Bernie Sanders Wins Readers’ Poll for TIME Person of the Year |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |accessdate=December 7, 2015}}</ref> but did not receive the editorial board's award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usuncut.com/politics/time-magazine-snubs-bernie-sanders-person-of-the-year/ |title=TIME Snubs Bernie Sanders for Person of the Year After He Crushes Readers' Poll |publisher=U.S.Uncut |accessdate=December 7, 2015}}</ref>

In December 2015, the [[Democratic National Committee]] suspended the campaign's access to its voter data after a campaign staffer viewed data from Hillary Clinton's campaign during a firewall failure. The staffer denied accessing the data but the DNC confirmed it and Sanders apologized.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/politics/sanders-dnc-data-breach-josh-uretsky/ |title=Fired Sanders aide: I wasn't peeking at Clinton data files |first=Dan |last=Merica |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The Sanders campaign criticized the DNC's reaction as excessive and threatened possible legal action unless the Committee restored its access.<ref name="databreach">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-dnc-suspension/ |title=Sanders campaign threatens legal action against DNC |first=Catherine |last=Treyz |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The campaign claimed it had warned the DNC about glitches in the voter file program months before.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/263730-report-sanders-campaign-told-dnc-of-data-issue-months-ago |title=Report: Sanders campaign told DNC of data issue months ago |first=Ben |last=Kamisar |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a40610/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-data/ |title=Why Did the DNC Let the Bernie-Hillary Tech Story Leak? |first=Charlie |last=Pierce |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=Esquire}}</ref> On December 18, 2015, the campaign filed a lawsuit, stating the Committee had unfairly suspended its access.<ref name="datalawsuit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-threatens-to-sue-dnc-if-access-to-voter-list-isnt-restored/2015/12/18/fa8d6df8-a5a2-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html |title=Sanders sues the DNC over suspended access to critical voter list |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=The Washington Post |author=John Wagner, Abby Phillip and Rosalind S. Helderman}}</ref> Former Obama adviser [[David Axelrod]] contended on Twitter that the DNC was "putting a finger on the scale" for Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/263792-ex-obama-adviser-on-sanders-scandal-dnc-putting-finger-on |title=Ex-Obama adviser: DNC 'putting finger on scale' for Hillary |first=Caitlin |last=Yilek |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=The Hill}}</ref> The DNC and the Sanders campaign struck a deal the same day that restored the campaign's access to voter data.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/bernie-sanders-campaign-dnc-reach-voter-data-deal-n483031 |title=Bernie Sanders Campaign, DNC Reach Voter Data Deal |first=Alex |last=Seitz-Wald |date=December 19, 2015 |accessdate=December 19, 2015 |publisher=NBC News}}</ref>

===Polling===
[[File:Bernie Sanders in Des Moines (21145177954).jpg|thumb|right|Sanders speaks with young adults in [[Des Moines]], September 2015]]
Since the campaign began in May, polls have shown a tightening race against Hillary Clinton. The ''[[Huffington Post]]''<nowiki/>'s survey of polls as of January 28, 2016, showed him trailing Clinton by 14.5 percentage points nationally,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-national-democratic-primary |title=2016 National Democratic Primary |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> with a 0.9 point disadvantage in Iowa<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-iowa-presidential-democratic-caucus |title=2016 Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> and a 13.9 point advantage in New Hampshire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-new-hampshire-presidential-democratic-primary |title=2016 New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref>

On December 3, 2015, a [[Quinnipiac University]] poll found Sanders to be the most electable presidential candidate in either major party, and more electable than Hillary Clinton against top Republican candidates.<ref name="Budowsky2015">{{cite web |url=http://observer.com/2015/12/shock-poll-bernie-sanders-is-the-most-electable-candidate-in-either-party/ |title=Bernie Sanders is the Most Electable Candidate in Either Party |first=Brent |last=Budowsky |date=December 3, 2015 |work=Observer}}</ref>

===Democratic Party presidential debates===
{{main|Democratic Party presidential debates, 2016}}

The 2016 Democratic Party presidential debates occur among candidates in the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2016|campaign for]] the Democratic Party's nomination for the President of the United States in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]]. The DNC announced on May 5, 2015, that there would be six debates, much fewer than the 26 debates and forums during the 2008 Democratic primary.<ref name="debatesix">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/05/politics/2016-democratic-debates-hillary-clinton/ |title=First on CNN: Clinton, Democratic presidential opponents to debate six times |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=May 5, 2015 |author=Preston, Mark}}</ref> Critics, including the Sanders campaign, have alleged that the debate schedule is part of the DNC's deliberate attempt to protect the front-runner, Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Politics-Voices/2015/1222/How-Saturday-debates-protect-Hillary-Clinton |title=How Saturday debates protect Hillary Clinton |first=Doug |last=Mataconis |date=December 22, 2015 |accessdate=December 23, 2015 |work=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/2015/12/bernie_sanders_dems_tipping_scales_in_hillary_clintons_favor |title=Bernie Sanders: Dems tipping scales in Hillary Clinton's favor |first=Chris |last=Cassidy |date=December 19, 2015 |accessdate=December 23, 2015 |work=Boston Herald}}</ref> Clinton has expressed willingness to hold more debates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/254118-hillary-willing-to-do-more-debates |title=Hillary willing to do more debates |work=TheHill}}</ref>

===Party affiliation since 2015===
In November 2015, Sanders announced that he would be a Democrat from then on, and will run in any future elections as a Democrat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/11/05/sanders-declares-democrat-nh-primary/75242938/ |first=Kathleen |last=Ronayne |newspaper=''[[Burlington Free Press]]'' |title=Sanders declares as Democrat in NH primary |date=November 5, 2015 |quote=Sanders says he’ll run as a Democrat in future elections. He says, 'I am running as a Democrat obviously, I am a Democrat now.'}}</ref><ref>Blomquist, Dan and Way, Robert. [https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/11/05/sanders-declares-democrat-new-hampshire-primary/jxK9D2LQAAKYdUW9CyjjdM/story.html "Bernie Sanders files for Democratic ballot in N.H. primary"], ''[[Boston Globe]]'' (November 5, 2015): "When a reporter asked Sanders his party allegiance after he filed, Sanders responded, 'I’m a Democrat.' He then called on Buckley, the Democratic chairman, who confirmed the senator’s party allegiance. Sanders added that he would run as a Democrat in any future elections."</ref><ref>Seitz-Wald, Alex and Koenig, Kailani. [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-files-new-hampshire-state-ballot-without-incident-n458271 "Sanders Files for New Hampshire State Ballot Without Incident"], ''[[NBC News]]'' (November 5, 2015): "Sanders declared himself a Democrat Thursday, and said he will run as a Democrat in future elections, and that was good enough for Gardner."</ref> In 2016, many additional sources, such as ''[[PBS]]'',<ref>Bykowisz, Julie. [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/sanders-ad-burst-coincides-with-upward-movement-in-polls/ "Sanders ad burst coincides with upward movement in polls"], [[PBS]] (January 13, 2016): "Democratic presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., speaks at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 2015."</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'',<ref>Harder, Amy and Mayer, Kris. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-panel-summons-officials-to-testify-on-flint-water-crisis-1454523291 "Federal Lawmakers Ramp Up Response to Flint Water Crisis"], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' (February 3, 2016): "The Democratic Party also said its two presidential hopefuls, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D., Vt.), would hold a debate in Flint on March 6 as a way to draw attention to the contaminated-water issue."</ref> and ''[[CBS]]''<ref>Perry, Tim. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-in-the-news-donald-trump-and-bernie-sanders-gain-momentum-heading-into-iowa/ "Face in the News: Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders gain momentum heading into Iowa"], [[CBS News]] (January 25, 2016): "Sen Bernie Sanders (D-VT) responded to criticisms that his campaign was too 'idealistic,' and showed optimism about his chances in South Carolina."</ref> described Sanders as a Democrat.

The United States Senate website includes pages that refer to Sanders as an Independent<ref>See [http://www.senate.gov/general/search/search_cfm.cfm?q=+%22Sanders+%28I-VT%29%22&x=16&y=10&site=default_collection&num=10&filter=0 search results for "Sanders (I-VT)" at www.senate.gov].</ref> as well as pages that refer to him as a Democrat. Some of the pages calling him a Democrat are dated before 2015, possibly in error or in reference to his caucusing with the Democrats, not his later-declared affiliation.<ref>See [http://www.senate.gov/general/search/search_cfm.cfm?q=%22Sanders+%28D-VT%29%22&x=0&y=0&site=default_collection&num=10&filter=0 all search results for "Sanders (D-VT)" at www.senate.gov]. Also see [http://www.senate.gov/general/search/search_cfm.cfm?q=%22Sanders+%28D-VT%29%22+and+2015&x=0&y=0&site=default_collection&num=10&filter=0 search results for "Sanders (D-VT) and 2015"].</ref> In January 2016, his official Senate website still referred to him as an Independent,<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-places-hold-on-fda-nominee "Sanders Places Hold on FDA Nominee"], www.sanders.senate.gov (January 26, 2016).</ref> but in February 2016 a press release omitted party affiliation.<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-legislation-expanding-social-security-would-extend-solvency-40-years-according-to-new-analysis "Sanders’ Legislation Expanding Social Security Would Extend Solvency 40 Years, According to New Analysis"], www.sanders.senate.gov (February 4, 2016).</ref>

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Bernie Sanders}}

Sanders is a self-described [[Socialism|socialist]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/04/29/bernie-sanders-is-an-avowed-socialist-and-democrats-are-actually-pretty-ok-with-that/ |title=Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist. 52 percent of Democrats are OK with that. |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=April 29, 2015 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=November 19, 2015 |quote=I am a socialist and everyone knows that}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-socialist-successes |title=Sanders Socialist Successes |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=April 22, 2009 |access-date=December 6, 2015 |quote=Representative Spencer Bachus is one of the only people I know from Alabama. I bet I'm the only socialist he knows.}}</ref> [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]],{{refn|<ref name=sanders_confirms>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders confirms presidential run and damns America's inequities |work=[[The Guardian]] |quote=The self-described 'democratic socialist' enters the race as a robust liberal alternative... |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/30/bernie-sanders-confirms-presidential-run-and-damns-americas-inequities |accessdate=June 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="socialism">{{cite news |last=Dreier |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Dreier |date=May 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' Socialism Is as American as Apple Pie |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |quote=...because the 73‑year{{bracket|‑}}old U.S. senator from Vermont describes himself as a 'democratic socialist.' |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernie-sanders-socialism-_b_7210120.html |accessdate=May 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="politicosocialist">{{cite web |last=Lerer |first=Lisa |date=July 16, 2009 |title=Where's the outrage over AIG bonuses? |work=[[The Politico]] |quote=Only a handful of members, including self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), criticized... |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25000.html |accessdate=April 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name="postsocialist">{{cite news |last=Powell |first=Michael |date=November 6, 2006 |title=Exceedingly Social But Doesn't Like Parties |work=The Washington Post |quote=He knows what the corporate media might do with his answer, but whatever... 'Yeah. I wouldn't deny it. Not for one second. I'm a democratic socialist.' |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/04/AR2006110401124.html |accessdate=November 26, 2012}}</ref>}} and progressive who admires the [[Nordic model]] of [[social democracy]] and is a proponent of [[workplace democracy]].<ref name="Scandinavia"/><ref name ="socialism"/><ref>Ben Schreckinger and Jonathan topaz (July 6, 2015). [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-socialist-surge-119785.html The socialist surge]. ''[[Politico]].'' Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.salon.com/2015/10/08/bernie_sanders_is_ayn_rands_worst_nightmare_hes_changing_how_we_view_socialism_and_exposing_free_market_parasites/ Bernie Sanders is Ayn Rand's worst nightmare: He's changing how we view socialism – and exposing free market parasites]. ''Salon'' October 8, 2015.</ref> In November 2015, Sanders gave a speech at [[Georgetown University]] about his view of democratic socialism, including its place in the policies of presidents [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].<ref name=atlanticsocialism>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/bernie-sanders-makes-his-pitch-for-socialism/416913/ |title=How Bernie Sanders Explains Democratic Socialism |first=Clare |last=Foran |work=The Atlantic}}</ref><ref>[https://berniesanders.com/democratic-socialism-in-the-united-states/ Senator Bernie Sanders on Democratic Socialism in the United States]. BernieSanders.com, November 19, 2015.</ref> In defining what democratic socialism means to him, Sanders said: "I don’t believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a decent standard of living and that their incomes should go up, not down. I do believe in private companies that thrive and invest and grow in America, companies that create jobs here, rather than companies that are shutting down in America and increasing their profits by exploiting low-wage labor abroad."<ref name="atlanticsocialism" />

Many commentators have noted the consistency of Sanders' views throughout his political career.<ref name="Gram2015a">{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/bernie-sanders-has-had-consistent-message-for-4-decades/ |title=Bernie Sanders has had consistent message for 4 decades |date=May 11, 2015 |work=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111064629/www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/bernie-sanders-has-had-consistent-message-for-4-decades/ |archive-date=November 11, 2015 |dead-url=yes |issn=0745-9696}}</ref><ref name="maddow1">{{cite news |last1=Maddow |first1=Rachel |title=Bernie Sanders' track record distinguished by consistency |url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/sanders-record-distinguished-by-consistency-504479811515 |accessdate=October 13, 2015 |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=August 13, 2015}}</ref> Calling international trade agreements a "disaster for the American worker", Sanders voted against and has spoken for years against [[NAFTA]], [[CAFTA]], and [[PNTR]] with China, saying that they have resulted in American corporations moving abroad. He also strongly opposes the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]], which he says was "written by corporate America and the pharmaceutical industry and Wall Street."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 21, 2015 |title=The TPP Must Be Defeated |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/the-tpp-must-be-defeated_b_7352166.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="On the Issues">{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Bernie_Sanders_Free_Trade.htm |title=Bernie Sanders on Free Trade |publisher=On the Issues |accessdate=January 20, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders focuses on economic issues such as [[Income inequality in the United States|income]] and [[Wealth inequality in the United States|wealth inequality]],<ref name="sanders_confirms" /><ref>{{cite web |title=On the Issues: Income and Wealth Inequality |url=https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/ |publisher=BernieSanders.com |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> raising the [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]],<ref>Samantha Lachman (July 22, 2015). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-minimum-wage-bill_55afbbd1e4b0a9b9485332eb Bernie Sanders Introduces $15 Minimum Wage Bill As Federal Contract Workers Strike]. ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref> [[universal healthcare]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Jaffe |first=Sarah |date=July 14, 2009 |title=Sanders Schools McCain on Public Healthcare |work=[[The Nation]] |quote=Senator Bernie Sanders is one of the Senate's fiercest advocates for real healthcare reform that puts Americans, not private insurance companies, first. Recently, Sanders told The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel, '[I]f you are serious about real healthcare reform, the only way to go is [[single-payer]].' |url=http://www.thenation.com/video/sanders-schools-mccain-public-healthcare |accessdate=October 16, 2013}}</ref> reducing the burden of [[student debt]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Dash |first=Stephen |date=April 22, 2015 |title=What Is Bernie Sanders' Endgame for College Affordability and Student Loans? |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-dash/what-is-bernie-sanders-en_b_7119602.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> making public colleges and universities tuition-free [[Robin Hood tax|by taxing financial transactions]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Resnikoff |first=Ned |date=May 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders unveils plan for tuition-free public colleges |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/19/bernie-sanders-unveils-plan-for-tuition-free-public-colleges.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> and expanding [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] benefits by eliminating the cap on the payroll tax on all incomes above $250,000.<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-on-congress-to-strengthen-and-expand-social-security Sanders Files Bill to Strengthen, Expand Social Security]. Senate.gov. March 12, 2015.</ref><ref>Nicole Woo, Janelle Jones and John Schmitt (September 2011). [http://www.cepr.net/publications/reports/whos-above-the-social-security-payroll-tax-cap Who's Above the Social Security Payroll Tax Cap?] [[Center for Economic and Policy Research]]. Retrieved September 7, 2015.</ref> He has become a prominent supporter of laws requiring companies to give their workers [[parental leave]], [[sick leave]], and [[List of statutory minimum employment leave by country|vacation time]], noting that such laws have been adopted by nearly all other developed countries.<ref name="agenda">{{cite web |title=Family values agenda: paid family leave, paid sick leave, paid vacation |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/061115-familyvaluesagendafactsheet?inline=file |format=PDF |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> He also supports legislation that would make it easier for workers to join or form a [[Labor unions in the United States|union]].<ref name="Economic Agenda">Bernie Sanders (December 1, 2014). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/an-economic-agenda-for-am_b_6249022.html An Economic Agenda for America: 12 Steps Forward]. ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved June 27, 2015.</ref><ref>Ned Resnikoff (October 6, 2015). [http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/6/bernie-sanders-proposes-labor-law-reforms.html Bernie Sanders proposes sweeping labor law reforms]. Al Jazeera. Retrieved October 6, 2015.</ref>

Sanders has advocated for greater democratic participation by citizens, [[campaign finance reform]], and the overturn of ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislation: Campaign Finance |website=Bernie Sanders: U.S. Senator for Vermont |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/legislation/issue/?id=a22c4c55-2c79-4d6b-895b-704230412415 |accessdate=February 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=March 22, 2015 |title=If We Don't Overturn Citizens United, The Congress Will Become Paid Employees of the Billionaire Class |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/sanders-to-senate-if-we-dont-overturn-citizens-united-the-congress-will-become-paid-employees-of-the-billionaire-class_b_6918468.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> He also advocates comprehensive financial reforms,<ref>{{cite web |title=Text of Bernie Sanders’ Wall Street and economy speech |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/text-of-bernie-sanders-wall-street-and-economy-speech-2016-01-05 |work=MarketWatch |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref> such as breaking up [[too big to fail|"too big to fail]]" financial institutions, restoring [[Glass–Steagall legislation]], reforming the [[Federal Reserve Bank]] and allowing the Post Office to offer basic financial services in economically marginalized communities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Break Up Big Banks |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/break-up-big-banks_b_7233284.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |title=Bernie Sanders backs big bank breakups, in contrast with Hillary Clinton |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-big-ban-break-ups-glass-steagall-120287.html |website=Politico |publisher=Politico |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanders |first1=Bernie |title=Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/23/opinion/bernie-sanders-to-rein-in-wall-street-fix-the-fed.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=December 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pinsker |first1=Joe |title=Bernie Sanders's Highly Sensible Plan to Turn Post Offices Into Banks |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-lets-turn-post-offices-into-banks/411589/ |work=The Atlantic |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref> Sanders strongly opposed the [[U.S. invasion of Iraq]] and has criticized a number of policies instituted during the [[War on Terror]], particularly [[Mass surveillance in the United States|mass surveillance]] and the [[Patriot Act|USA PATRIOT Act]].<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/video/flashback-rep-bernie-sanders-opposes-iraq-war Flashback: Rep. Bernie Sanders Opposes Iraq War] Official Senate Site</ref><ref>Krieg, Gregory (May 7, 2015). [http://mic.com/articles/117738/bernie-sanders-rips-nsa-spying-and-pushes-for-end-to-mass-surveillance Bernie Sanders Rips NSA Spying and Pushes for End to Mass Surveillance]. Mic.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref>

Sanders has liberal stances on social issues, having advocated for [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]] and against the [[Defense of Marriage Act]]. He is also [[pro-choice]] regarding abortion, and opposes the defunding of [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lyons |first=Kim |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' Views on Gay Marriage Show He's Been a Supporter for a Long Time |url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/79951-bernie-sanders-views-on-gay-marriage-show-hes-been-a-supporter-for-a-long-time |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lavender |first=Paige |date=July 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: GOP Efforts To Defund Planned Parenthood 'An Attack On Women's Health' |website=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-planned-parenthood_55b8f386e4b0074ba5a6fe60 |accessdate=October 5, 2015}}</ref> He has denounced [[institutional racism]] and called for criminal justice reform to reduce the [[incarceration in the United States|number of people in prison]], advocates a crackdown on [[Police brutality in the United States|police brutality]], and supports abolishing [[Private prison#In the United States|private, for-profit prisons]]<ref>[https://berniesanders.com/issues/racial-justice/ Issues: Racial Justice]. BernieSanders.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.salon.com/2015/09/17/bernie_sanders_declares_war_on_the_prison_industrial_complex_with_major_new_bill/ Bernie Sanders declares war on the prison-industrial complex with major new bill]. ''Salon''. September 17, 2015.</ref><ref>Bernie Sanders (September 22, 2015). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernie-sanders/we-must-end-for-profit-pr_b_8180124.html We Must End For-Profit Prisons]. ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved September 23, 2015.</ref> and the [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]].<ref>[http://www.vice.com/read/bernie-sanders-wants-to-abolish-the-death-penalty-vgtrn-1030 Bernie Sanders Wants to Abolish the Death Penalty]. ''Vice''. October 30, 2015.</ref> Sanders supports legalizing marijuana at the federal level.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/bernie-sanders-supports-ending-federal-marijuana-ban-20151028 Bernie Sanders Supports Ending Federal Marijuana Ban]. ''Rolling Stone''. October 28, 2015.</ref> On November 15, 2015, in response to [[ISIS]]'s attacks in Paris, Sanders cautioned against "Islamophobia" and said, "We gotta be tough, not stupid," in the war against ISIS, and said the U.S. should continue to welcome Syrian refugees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/politics/bernie-sanders-cleveland-isis/index.html |title=Bernie Sanders on ISIS: U.S. needs to be "tough" not "stupid" |author=Tom LoBianco, CNN |date=November 17, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>

Sanders advocates bold action to reverse [[global warming]] and substantial investment in [[infrastructure]], with "energy efficiency and [[sustainability]]" and [[job creation]] as prominent goals.<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/2014/9/22/bernie_sanders_at_peoples_climate_march Bernie Sanders at People's Climate March: To Stop Global Warming, Get Dirty Money Out of Politics]. ''[[Democracy now!]]'' September 22, 2014.</ref><ref>Ashley Halsey III (January 27, 2015).[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/01/27/bernie-sanders-wants-to-spend-1-trillion-on-infrastruture/ Bernie Sanders wants to spend $1 trillion on infrastruture]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref> Sanders considers [[Climate change and national security|climate change as the greatest threat]] to national security.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/260184-sanders-climate-change-still-greatest-threat-to-national-security |title=Sanders: Climate change still greatest threat to national security |publisher=The Hill |year=2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Bernie and Jane Sanders by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Sanders with his wife [[Jane O'Meara Sanders|Jane O'Meara]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa]], January 2016]]
Sanders married Deborah Shiling in 1964 and they bought a summer home in Vermont; they had no children and divorced in 1966. Over the next few years, he took various jobs in New York and Vermont and spent several months on an Israeli [[kibbutz]] [[Sha'ar HaAmakim]].<ref name=Politico/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Aderet |first1=Ofer |title=Mystery Solved? Haaretz Archive Reveals Which Kibbutz Bernie Sanders Volunteered On |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.701513 |website=Haaretz |accessdate=5 February 2016 |date=4 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="Leibovich2007">{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Leibovich |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |title=The Socialist Senator |date=January 21, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref> His son, Levi Sanders, was born in 1969 to girlfriend Susan Campbell Mott.<ref>Talbot, Margaret. [http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/12/the-populist-prophet "The Populist Prophet"], ''[[The New Yorker]]'' (October 12, 2015).</ref> In 1988, Sanders married [[Jane O’Meara Driscoll]] ({{née|Mary Jane O'Meara}}), who later became president of [[Burlington College]], in Burlington, Vermont.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenhouse |first=Emily |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Getting to Know Jane Sanders, Wife of Bernie |publisher=Bloomberg |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-12/getting-to-know-jane-sanders-wife-of-bernie |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> With her he has three stepchildren—Dave Driscoll, Carina Driscoll, and Heather Titus (née Driscoll)—whom he considers to be his own children.<ref name=Politico/><ref>{{cite web |publisher=CNN |date=May 27, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/bernie-sanders-fast-facts/ |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> He also has seven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/article/bernie-sanders-fun-grandpa |title=Bernie Sanders Is 'Fun Grandpa': 5 Things We Learned at His Home : People.com |work=PEOPLE.com}}</ref>

In December 1987, during his tenure as mayor, Sanders recorded a folk album titled ''[[We Shall Overcome (Bernie Sanders album)|We Shall Overcome]]'' with 30 Vermont musicians. As Sanders was not skilled at singing, he performed his vocals in a [[talking blues]] style.<ref name="nprbehindthemusic">{{cite news |title=Behind The Music: Bernie Sanders |url=http://www.npr.org/2016/01/30/464736315/behind-the-music-bernie-sanders |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |work=NPR |date=January 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-untold-story-of-bernie-sanders-1987-folk-album-20151202 |work=Rolling Stone |title=The Untold Story of Bernie Sanders' 1987 Folk Album |date=December 2, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |author=Tessa Stuart}}</ref> Sanders appeared in a cameo role in the 1988 comedy-drama film ''[[Sweet Hearts Dance]]'', playing a man who distributes candy to young trick-or-treaters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/who-knew-bernie-sanders-had-career-low-budget-rom--231777 |title=Bernie Sanders has appeared in not one, but two low-budget rom-coms |publisher=A.V. Club.com |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |date=February 5, 2016 |author=Joe Blevis}}</ref> In 1999, he acted in the film ''My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception'', playing the role of Rabbi Manny Shevitz. In this role he mourned the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] moving to Los Angeles, reflecting Sanders' own upbringing in Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/bernie-sanders-played-rabbi-1999-romantic-comedy-article-1.2519921 |work=New York Daily News |title=Bernie Sanders plays rabbi Manny Shevitz in 1999 romantic comedy, goes on long-winded Brooklyn Dodgers rant |date=February 4, 2016 |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |author=Meg Wagner}}</ref> On February 6, 2016, Sanders was a guest-star on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' alongside [[Larry David]].<ref name="SNL">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2016/02/07/465892623/with-a-little-help-from-larry-david-bernie-sanders-does-snl|title=With A Little Help From Larry David, Bernie Sanders Does SNL|publisher=NPR.org|accessdate=February 7, 2016|date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> He played a Polish immigrant on a [[steamboat]] that was sinking near the [[Statue of Liberty]].<ref name="SNL"/>

Sanders's elder brother, [[Larry Sanders (Green Party)|Larry Sanders]], lives in [[England]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sanders brothers: A tale of two underdogs |publisher=BBC News |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33254500}}</ref> He was a [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] [[county councillor]] representing the East Oxford [[Electoral division (UK)|division]] on [[Oxfordshire County Council]], until he retired from the Council in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=June 4, 2009 |title=Election results for East Oxford |publisher=Oxfordshire County Council |url=http://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/%28S%2833rhih553gpijinuki3kvf55%29%29/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=27 |accessdate=May 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= |date=June 8, 2013 |title=Green County Councillor Retires |publisher=Oxfordshire Green Party |url=http://www.greenoxfordshire.com/news/green-county-councillor-retires.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> Larry Sanders ran as a Green Party candidate for [[Oxford West and Abingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford West and Abingdon]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2015|2015 British general election]] and came in fifth.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Lauren |date=May 8, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' brother lost his longshot bid for British Parliament |work=The Week |url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/554052/bernie-sanders-brother-lost-longshot-bid-british-parliament |accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Collinson>{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' brotherly love |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/07/politics/bernie-sanders-brother-larry-sanders-uk/index.html |accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref> Bernie told CNN, "I owe my brother an enormous amount. It was my brother who actually introduced me to a lot of my ideas."<ref name=Collinson/>

===Religion===
Sanders had a Jewish upbringing, attended [[Hebrew school]], and had a [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah|bar mitzvah]] ceremony.<ref name=Sellers /> In 1963, in cooperation with the [[Labor Zionism|Labor Zionist]] youth movement [[Hashomer Hatzair]], he and his first wife volunteered at [[Sha’ar HaAmakim]], a kibbutz in northern Israel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zeveloff |first=Naomi |date=February 4, 2016 |title=Bernie Sanders Kibbutz Revealed at Last |url=http://forward.com/news/israel/332946/bernie-sanders-kibbutz-revealed-at-last/ |newspaper=Forward |location=|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="jtamysterysolved">{{cite news |title=Mystery solved: Sanders volunteered at Kibbutz Shaar HaEmekim |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/05/news-opinion/politics/sanders-in-1990-named-the-kibbutz-were-he-stayed-in-the-early-1960s?utm_source=Newsletter+subscribers&utm_campaign=c0288f7c11-Daily_Briefing_2_5_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2dce5bc6f8-c0288f7c11-28459777 |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Frances Stead Sellers |title=The kibbutz Bernie Sanders stayed in may have been revealed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/05/the-kibbutz-bernie-sanders-stayed-in-may-have-been-revealed/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 5, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders is a [[Jewish secularism|secular Jew]],<ref>Bruinius, Harry. [http://m.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2016/0129/Rise-of-Trump-and-Sanders-Does-religion-still-matter-in-politics "Rise of Trump and Sanders: Does religion still matter in politics?"], [[Christian Science Monitor]] (January 29, 2016).</ref><ref>Henneberger, Melinda. [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-09-14/how-the-presidential-campaign-got-religion "How the presidential campaign got religion"], [[Bloomberg News]] (September 15, 2015).</ref> He has rarely talked about religion and has downplayed questions of religion.<ref name=Sellers /> Sanders has said he is "proud to be Jewish" but is "not particularly religious",<ref name=feldman2015/><ref name=Sellers>Sellers, Frances and Wagner, John. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-finally-answers-the-god-question/2016/01/26/83429390-bfb0-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html "Why Bernie Sanders doesn’t participate in organized religion"], ''[[Washington Post]]'' (January 27, 2016).</ref> saying he believes in God but is "not actively involved" with [[organized religion]].<ref name=Sellers /><ref>Winston, Kimberly. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/bernie-sanders-disappoints-some-atheists-with-very-strong-religious-feelings/2016/02/04/433a07f8-cb89-11e5-b9ab-26591104bb19_story.html "Bernie Sanders disappoints some atheists with ‘very strong religious’ feelings"], [[Washington Post]] (February 4, 2016).</ref> A press package issued by his office states, without elaboration, "Religion: Jewish".<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/press-package?download=1 "Press Package"], www.sanders.senate.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2015.</ref>

His brother, Larry, has described him as "quite substantially not religious".<ref name=Sellers /> In October 2015, on the [[late-night talk show]] ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', Bernie Sanders said:<ref>Friedman, Gabe. [http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.682069 "WATCH: Bernie Sanders talks spirituality, Larry David and marijuana on 'Jimmy Kimmel'"], ''[[Haaretz]]'' (October 24, 2015).</ref>
<blockquote>I am who I am, and what I believe in and what my spirituality is about is that we’re all in this together. That I think it is not a good thing to believe as human beings we can turn our backs on the suffering of other people ... and this is not Judaism, this is what Pope Francis is talking about, that we can’t just worship billionaires and the making of more and more money. Life is more than that.</blockquote> In 2016 he stated he had "very strong religious and spiritual feelings" and explained, "My spirituality is that we are all in this together and that when children go hungry, when veterans sleep out on the street, it impacts me".<ref name="jtasandersdiscussesfaith">{{cite news |title=Sanders discusses faith, Clinton grapples with rabbinical question on humility |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/04/news-opinion/politics/sanders-discusses-faith-clinton-grapples-with-rabbinical-question-on-humility |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 4, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders's wife is [[Roman Catholic]], and he has frequently expressed admiration for [[Pope Francis]], saying that "the leader of the [[Catholic Church]] is raising profound issues. It is important that we listen to what he has said." Sanders has said he feels "very close" to Francis's economic teachings, describing him as "incredibly smart and brave".<ref name=gaudiano/><ref name="Pope Francis">{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=February 15, 2015 |title=Pope Francis |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/pope-francis |accessdate=June 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>Heilman, Uriel. [http://www.timesofisrael.com/nh-jewish-vote-all-over-the-map-ahead-of-first-presidential-primary/ "New Hampshire Jews all over the map ahead of presidential primary"], ''[[The Times of Israel]]'' (February 2, 2016).</ref>

==See also==
* [[American Left]]
* [[Democratic Party presidential candidates, 2016]]
* [[History of the socialist movement in the United States]]
* [[Senate Democratic Caucus]]
* [[Third party officeholders in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last=Rice |first=Tom W. |year=1985 |title=Who Votes for a Socialist Mayor?: The Case of Burlington, Vermont |journal=Polity |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan Journals |doi=10.2307/3234575 |issn=0032-3497 |jstor=3234575 |oclc=5546248357 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=795–806 |subscription=yes}}
* {{cite book |last=Rosenfeld |first=Steven |date=1992 |title=Making History in Vermont: The Election of a Socialist to Congress |publisher=Hollowbrook Publishing |location=Wakefield, New Hampshire |isbn=978-0-89341-698-0 |lccn=91034055 |oclc=24468446 |ol=1553980M}}
* {{cite book |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=2011 |title=The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Wn_AgAAQBAJ |publisher=Nation Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1-56858-684-7 |lccn=2011920256 |oclc=697261221 |ol=25090387M}}
* {{cite book |last1=Sanders |first1=Bernie |last2=Gutman |first2=Huck |date=1998 |orig-year=1st <abbr title="published">pub</abbr>. 1997 |title=Outsider in the House |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_2YjBm2_JGUC |publisher=Verso |location=London |isbn=978-1-85984-177-8 |lccn=97024753 |oclc=477165857}}
* {{cite book |last=Soifer |first=Steven |date=1991 |title=The Socialist Mayor: Bernard Sanders in Burlington, Vermont |publisher=Praeger |location=Westport, Connecticut |isbn=978-0-89789-219-3 |lccn=90048954 |oclc=22491683 |ol=1887682M}}

==External links==
{{wikisource-author}} {{wikiquote}} {{Commons category|Bernie Sanders}}
* [http://www.sanders.senate.gov Official U.S. Senate Site]
* [https://berniesanders.com/ Official Presidential Campaign Site]
* [http://feelthebern.org/ FeelTheBern.org] - detailed position descriptions compiled by volunteers
* {{CongLinks |congbio=s000033 |ballot=Bernie_Sanders |nndb=304/000040184 |votesmart=27110 |govtrack=400357 |natjournal=439 |opencong=400357 |rollcall=509 |politifact=bernie-s |fec=S4VT00033 |opensecrets=N00000528 |assets=bernard-sanders |legistorm=460/Sen_Bernard_Sanders.html |followthemoney= |ontheissues=Senate/Bernie_Sanders.htm |congress=bernard-sanders/1010 |worldcat=lccn-n79-136413 |cspan=994 |rose= |imdb=0761471 |bloomberg=bernie-sanders |nyt=s/bernard_sanders |washpo=gIQABiDjMP}}
* {{C-SPAN|Bernie Sanders}}
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Vermont/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Bernie_Sanders_%5BI%5D}}

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[[Category:Bernie Sanders| ]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century American writers]]
[[Category:Activists for African-American civil rights]]
[[Category:American anti–Iraq War activists]]
[[Category:American filmmakers]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:American male writers]]
[[Category:American people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:American progressives]]
[[Category:American socialists]]
[[Category:Ashkenazi Jews]]
[[Category:Brooklyn College alumni]]
[[Category:Critics of Islamophobia]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States Senators]]
[[Category:Democratic socialists]]
[[Category:Harvard University faculty]]
[[Category:Independent members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Independent United States Senators]]
[[Category:Jewish American mayors]]
[[Category:Jewish American writers]]
[[Category:Jewish members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Jewish socialists]]
[[Category:Jewish United States Senators]]
[[Category:LGBT rights activists from the United States]]
[[Category:Liberty Union Party politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mayors of Burlington, Vermont]]
[[Category:Mayors of places in Vermont]]
[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont]]
[[Category:People from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Progressivism in the United States]]
[[Category:Researchers]]
[[Category:Secular Jews]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2016]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Vermont]]
[[Category:University of Chicago alumni]]
[[Category:Vermont Democrats]]
[[Category:Vermont Independents]]
[[Category:Writers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Writers from Vermont]]

Bernie Sanders

2016-02-08T15:37:07Z

BoboMeowCat: this is not standard enough terminology to be included in the opening sentence of lead and the lead is supposed to represent body and this terminology is not in body of article

{{pp-vandalism|expiry=April 15, 2016|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Bernie Sanders
|image = Bernie Sanders.jpg{{!}}border
|caption = Official Senate portrait of Sanders, 2007
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Vermont]]
|alongside = [[Patrick Leahy]]
|term_start = January 3, 2007
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Jim Jeffords]]
|successor =
|office1 = Chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]
|term_start1 = January 3, 2013
|term_end1 = January 3, 2015
|predecessor1 = [[Patty Murray]]
|successor1 = [[Johnny Isakson]]
|state2 = [[Vermont]]
|district2 = {{ushr|Vermont|AL|At-large}}
|term_start2 = January 3, 1991
|term_end2 = January 3, 2007
|predecessor2 = [[Peter Plympton Smith]]
|successor2 = [[Peter Welch]]
|office3 = [[Burlington, Vermont|Mayor of Burlington]]
|term_start3 = April 6, 1981
|term_end3 = April 4, 1989
|predecessor3 = Gordon Paquette
|successor3 = [[Peter Clavelle]]
|office4 = Chairman of the [[Liberty Union Party]]
|term_start4 = 1972
|term_end4 = 1979
|predecessor4 =
|successor4 =
|birth_name = Bernard Sanders
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|09|08|mf=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York]], U.S.
|death_date =
|party =[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (2015–present) [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1979–2015)
|otherparty = [[Liberty Union Party|Liberty Union]] (1971–1979)
|spouse = Deborah Shiling (1964–1966) [[Jane O’Meara Sanders]] (1988–present)
|partner = Susan Mott (1969)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3155396/Bernie-Sanders-1960s-love-life-revealed-wife-woman-son-sugar-shack-home-lived-revolutionary.html |title=Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' 1960s love life revealed |date=July 9, 2015 |work=Mail Online}}</ref>
|children = Levi (w/ Susan Mott) 3 stepchildren (Dave Driscoll, Carina Driscoll, Heather Titus)
|nationality = [[United States nationality law|American]]
|religion = 
|alma_mater = [[University of Chicago]]
|signature = Bernie Sanders signature.svg
|website = {{URL|www.sanders.senate.gov|Senate website}} {{URL|berniesanders.com|Presidential campaign website}}
}}
{{Bernie Sanders sidebar}}
'''Bernard''' "'''Bernie'''" '''Sanders''' (born September 8, 1941) is an American [[politician]] and [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Vermont]]. A [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] as of 2015,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/11/05/sanders-declares-democrat-new-hampshire-primary/jxK9D2LQAAKYdUW9CyjjdM/story.html |title=Bernie Sanders files for Democratic ballot in N.H. primary |first=Dan |last=Blomquist |author2=Robert Way |date=November 5, 2015 |work=Boston Globe |quote=Sanders arrived at the State House... accompanied by Raymond Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, who was there to support Sanders' filing in case any challenges were made to his status as a member of the party. None occurred.}}</ref> he had been the longest-serving [[independent politician|independent]] in U.S. congressional history, though his [[caucusing]] with the Democrats had entitled him to committee assignments, and at times gave Democrats a majority.<ref name=Jones /> Sanders has been the [[ranking minority member]] on the [[Senate Budget Committee]] since January 2015, and previously served for two years as chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee]].<ref name=vet /><ref name=hillcommittee>{{cite web |last=Needham |first=Vicki |date=December 12, 2014 |title=Senate Democrats lock in key committee memberships |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=http://thehill.com/policy/finance/227000-senate-democrats-set-key-committee-memberships |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> He is a [[Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016|candidate]] for the Democratic nomination for [[President of the United States|President]] of the United States in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]].

Sanders was born and raised in the [[New York City]] [[borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Brooklyn]], and he graduated from the [[University of Chicago]] in 1964. While a student, Sanders was an active [[African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)|civil rights]] protest organizer for the [[Congress of Racial Equality]] and the [[Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee]].<ref name=kelly2015>{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Amita |date=April 29, 2015 |title=5 Things You Should Know About Bernie Sanders |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/04/29/399818581/5-things-you-should-know-about-bernie-sanders |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Nichols">{{cite web |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=July 6, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Speaks |website=The Nation |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-speaks/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref>

After settling in Vermont in 1968, Sanders ran unsuccessful [[third party (United States)|third-party]] campaigns for [[Governor of Vermont|governor]] and U.S. senator in the early to mid-1970s. As an independent, he was elected mayor of [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]], Vermont's most populous city, in 1981. He was reelected three times. In 1990, he was elected to represent [[Vermont's at-large congressional district]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. In 1991, Sanders co-founded the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]. He served as a congressman for 16 years before being elected to the U.S. Senate [[United States Senate election in Vermont, 2006|in 2006]]. In 2012, he was [[United States Senate election in Vermont, 2012|reelected]] with 71% of the popular vote.

Sanders rose to national prominence following his 2010 [[filibuster]]<ref>{{cite news |date=December 10, 2010 |title=Senator Sanders Filibuster |publisher=[[C-SPAN]] |url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?297021-5/senator-sanders-filibuster |accessdate=June 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite news |date=December 10, 2010 |last=Memoli |first=Michael A. |title=Sen. Bernie Sanders ends filibuster |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://articles.latimes.com/print/2010/dec/10/news/la-pn-sanders-filibuster-20101211 |accessdate=August 1, 2011}}</ref> against the proposed extension of the [[Bush tax cuts]]. Sanders favors policies similar to those of [[social democracy|social democratic]] parties in Europe, particularly [[Nordic model|those instituted by]] the [[Nordic countries]].{{refn|<ref name="HuffPost-DK">{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 26, 2013 |title=What Can We Learn From Denmark? |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/what-can-we-learn-from-de_b_3339736.html |accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Issenberg |first=Sasha |date=January 9, 2010 |title=Sanders a growing force on the far, far left |work=[[Boston Globe]] |quote=You go to Scandinavia, and you will find that people have a much higher standard of living, in terms of education, health care, and decent paying jobs. |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/01/09/sanders_a_growing_force_on_the_far_far_left/?page=1 |accessdate=August 24, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Scandinavia">{{cite web |last=McMurry |first=Evan |date=May 3, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: America Should Look More Like Scandinavia |website=[[Mediaite]] |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bernie-sanders-america-should-look-more-like-scandinavia/ |accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>}} He is a leading [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] voice on issues such as [[Income inequality in the United States|income inequality]],<ref name=sanders_confirms/> [[universal healthcare]], [[parental leave]], [[global warming|climate change]],<ref name="Totten">{{cite news |last=Totten |first=Shay |date=January 15, 2007 |title=Sanders to push global warming legislation in Senate |work=Vermont Guardian |quote=Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, said Monday he was making good on at least one of a handful of campaign promises – introducing a bill designed to cut U.S. contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade. ... Sanders added that construction of new power plants is "extraordinarily expensive" and he would prefer to see federal funding support used to expand the development of sustainable energy, as well as biofuels. |url=http://www.vermontguardian.com/local/012007/GlobalWarmingBill.shtml |archive-date=May 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508004601/www.vermontguardian.com/local/012007/GlobalWarmingBill.shtml |dead-url=yes}}</ref> [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]], and [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]].<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=March 22, 2015 |title=If We Don't Overturn Citizens United, The Congress Will Become Paid Employees of the Billionaire Class |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/sanders-to-senate-if-we-dont-overturn-citizens-united-the-congress-will-become-paid-employees-of-the-billionaire-class_b_6918468.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> Sanders has long been critical of [[U.S. foreign policy]] and was an early and outspoken opponent of the [[Iraq War]]. He is also outspoken on [[civil rights]] and [[civil liberties]], and has been particularly critical of [[Race and crime in the United States|racial discrimination in the criminal justice system]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Ken |date=August 16, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-racism_55d10b2be4b055a6dab0a4a8 |work=The Huffington Post |title=Bernie Sanders Vows To Better Address Racism}}</ref> and [[Mass surveillance in the United States|mass surveillance]] policies such as the [[Patriot Act|USA PATRIOT Act]]<ref name="blogs.wsj.com">{{cite web |last=Tau |first=Byron |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Rand Paul, Bernie Sanders Revel in NSA Ruling |website=[[The Guardian]] |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/05/07/rand-paul-bernie-sanders-revel-in-nsa-ruling/ |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> and the [[Global surveillance disclosures (2013–present)|NSA surveillance programs]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on NSA Surveillance |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/statement-on-nsa-surveillance |website=Sen. Bernie Sanders |accessdate=October 13, 2015}}</ref>

==Early life==
Sanders was born in the [[New York City]] [[Borough (New York City)|borough]] of [[Brooklyn]]. His father, Eli Sanders, was born on September 19, 1904, in [[Słopnice]], [[Poland]],<ref name="jtaancestraltown">{{cite news |title=Bernie Sanders’ ancestral town in Poland kvells over his Iowa performance |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/02/news-opinion/united-states/bernie-sanders-ancestral-town-in-poland-kvells-over-his-iowa-performance?utm_medium=social&utm_source=jtafb&utm_content=jta&utm_campaign=bernie-sanders-ancestral-town |accessdate=February 3, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 2, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Geni.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Eli-Sanders/6000000027756093071 |title=Eli Sanders |publisher=[[Geni.com]] |accessdate=January 23, 2016}}</ref> to a Jewish family, and emigrated to the United States in 1921,<ref name="immigrationrecord ">New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 immigration record: Eliasz Gitman, sailing from Antwerp, mother Jetti Gutman, citizenship in 1927 as Elias Sanders</ref> at the age of seventeen.<ref name="jtaancestraltown"/><ref name=Chana>{{cite news |last1=Chana |first1=Jas |title=Straight Outta Brooklyn, by Way of Vermont: The Bernie Sanders Story |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/192931/bernie-sanders-story |accessdate=January 20, 2016 |work=[[Tablet (magazine)]] |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> His mother, Dorothy Sanders ({{née|Glassberg}}), was born in New York City on October 2, 1912,<ref name=gaudiano>{{cite web |last=Gaudiano |first=Nicole |date=April 28, 2015 |title=OnPolitics: 6 things to know about Bernie Sanders |work=USA Today |url=http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/04/28/6-things-to-know-about-bernie-sanders/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name=NYTSocSen>{{cite news |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Leibovich |date=January 21, 2007 |title=The Socialist Senator |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?pagewanted=all |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> to [[Polish Jews|Jewish immigrant parents from Poland]] and [[Russian Jews|Russia]].<ref name="Geni.com4">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Bessie-Glassberg/6000000003916154223 |title=Bessie Glassberg (Goldberg) |publisher=[[Geni.com]] |accessdate=January 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Geni.com3">{{cite web |url=http://www.geni.com/people/Benjamin/6000000027757230396 |title=Benjamin Glassberg |publisher=[[Geni.com]] |accessdate=January 27, 2016 |quote=Birthplace: [[Radzyn Podlaski]], [[Radzyń Podlaski County]], [[Lublin Voivodeship]], Poland}}</ref> Many of Eli's relatives who remained in Poland were killed in [[the Holocaust]].<ref name=kelly2015/><ref name=Chana/><ref name=NYTSocSen/><ref name=stone_p483>{{cite book |last=Stone |first=Kurt |date=2010 |title=The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members |publisher=Scarecrow Press |page=483}}</ref>

Sanders attended elementary school at [[P.S. 197]], where he won a borough championship on the basketball team.<ref name=untold>{{cite web |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=January 29, 2016 |title=The untold story of Bernie Sanders, high school track star |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/01/29/the-untold-story-of-bernie-sanders-high-school-track-star/ |accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Felsenthal |first=Carol |date=May 4, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Found Socialism at the University of Chicago |work=Chicago magazine |quote=He graduated from Brooklyn's P.S. 197 and James Madison High School where he was captain of his high school track team. |url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/Felsenthal-Files/May-2015/Bernie-Sanders-University-of-Chicago/ |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> He attended [[Hebrew school]] in the afternoons, and celebrated his [[bar mitzvah]] in 1954. Sanders attended [[James Madison High School (Brooklyn)|James Madison High School]], where he was captain of the track team and finished in third place in the New York City indoor one-mile race.<ref name=untold/> While at Madison, Sanders lost his first election, finishing last out of three candidates for the student body presidency. Sanders's mother died in June 1959 at the age of 46, shortly after Sanders graduated from high school.<ref name=stone_p483/> Sanders's father later died on August 4, 1962, a month short of his 58th birthday.<ref name="Geni.com"/>

{{anchor|Civil Rights Movement}}Sanders studied at [[Brooklyn College]] for a year in 1959–60<ref name=cnnfastfacts1>{{cite news |title=Bernie Sanders Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/bernie-sanders-fast-facts/index.html |accessdate=October 13, 2015 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=August 20, 2015}}</ref> before transferring to the [[University of Chicago]] and graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in [[political science]] in 1964.<ref name=cnnfastfacts1/>

Sanders' older brother, Larry, has recalled that during Bernie's childhood, the family never lacked for food or clothing, but major purchases, "like curtains or a rug," were difficult to afford.<ref name="Smith">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Nicola |title=Bernie ropes in British brother for showdown with Clinton |url=http://search.proquest.com/news/docview/1757568267/fulltext/9A72304BC0D7442APQ/3?accountid=10226 |accessdate=January 22, 2016 |publisher=Sunday Times (London) |date=January 17, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders has said that he became interested in politics at an early age: "A guy named [[Adolf Hitler]] won an election in 1932. He won an election, and 50 million people died as a result of that election in World War II, including 6 million Jews. So what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important".<ref name="Sathish2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/107170-bernie-sanders-quote-about-hitler-winning-an-election-is-powerful-its-also-misleading |title=Bernie Sanders’ Quote About Hitler Winning An Election Is Powerful. It’s Also Misleading |work=Bustle |date=August 28, 2015 |archive-url=http://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/20160121053327/www.bustle.com/articles/107170-bernie-sanders-quote-about-hitler-winning-an-election-is-powerful-its-also-misleading |archive-date=January 21, 2016 |dead-url=no |first=Madhuri |last=Sathish}}</ref><ref name=feldman2015>{{cite web |last=Feldmann |first=Linda |date=June 11, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: 'I’m Proud to be Jewish' |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |quote='I'm proud to be Jewish,' the Independent from Vermont – and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination – responded Thursday at a press breakfast hosted by the Monitor. Though, he added, 'I'm not particularly religious.' As a child, Sanders said, being Jewish taught him 'in a very deep way what politics is about. A guy named Adolf Hitler won an election in 1932,' the senator said. 'He won an election, and 50 million people died as a result of that election in World War II, including 6 million Jews. So what I learned as a little kid is that politics is, in fact, very important.' |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2015/0611/Bernie-Sanders-I-m-proud-to-be-Jewish |accessdate=June 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/2015/11/02/454051697/sanders-could-be-the-first-jewish-president-but-doesnt-like-to-talk-about-it |title=Sanders Could Be The First Jewish President, But He Doesn't Like To Talk About It |date=November 2, 2015 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>

==Early political career==
{{Main|Electoral history of Bernie Sanders}}

===Early political activism===
While at the University of Chicago, Sanders joined the [[Young People's Socialist League (1907)|Young People's Socialist League]],<ref name=Politico>{{cite news |last=Kruse |first=Michael |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Has a Secret: Vermont, his son and the hungry early years that made him the surging socialist he is today |newspaper=[[Politico]] |quote=After he graduated from James Madison High School in 1959, he went to Brooklyn College for a year before transferring to the University of Chicago, where he joined the Congress of Racial Equality, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the Student Peace Union and the Young People's Socialist League. |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-vermont-119927_full.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> the youth affiliate of the [[Socialist Party of America]], and was active in the [[African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)|Civil Rights Movement]] as a student organizer for the [[Congress of Racial Equality]] and the [[Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee]].<ref name=kelly2015/><ref name="Nichols"/> In January 1962, Sanders led a rally at the University of Chicago administration building to protest university president [[George Wells Beadle]]'s [[Housing segregation in the United States|segregated campus housing policy]]. "We feel it is an intolerable situation when Negro and white students of the university cannot live together in university-owned apartments," Sanders said at the protest. Sanders and 32 other students then entered the building and camped outside the president's office, performing the [[University of Chicago sit-ins|first civil rights sit-in in Chicago history]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Frizell |first=Sam |date=May 26, 2015 |title=The Radical Education of Bernie Sanders |work=Time |url=http://time.com/3896500/bernie-sanders-vermont-campaign-radical/ |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Perlstein |first=Rick |date=January 2015 |title=A political education |publisher=The University of Chicago Magazine |url=http://mag.uchicago.edu/law-policy-society/political-education |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref> After weeks of sit-ins, Beadle and the university formed a commission to investigate discrimination.<ref name="Craven2015">{{cite news |last=Craven |first=Jasper |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Can Sanders’ civil rights experience at U. of C. translate on campaign trail? |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-met-20150826-story.html |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108182818id_/www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-met-20150826-story.html |dead-url=no |issn=1085-6706}}</ref> He once spent a day putting up fliers protesting against [[police brutality]], only to eventually notice that a [[Chicago police]] car was shadowing him and taking them all down.<ref name=Frizell/>

Sanders attended the 1963 [[March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom]], where [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] gave his "[[I Have a Dream]]" speech.<ref name=kelly2015/><ref name =Frizell>Frizell, Sam. [http://time.com/3896500/bernie-sanders-vermont-campaign-radical/ "The Radical Education of Bernie Sanders"], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (May 26, 2015).</ref><ref name=release>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |title=News August 25 |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/082513 |accessdate=June 17, 2015}}</ref> That summer, he was convicted of resisting arrest during a demonstration against [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregation]] in Chicago's public schools and was fined $25.<ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Tim |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Read 21-Year-Old Bernie Sanders' Manifesto on Sexual Freedom |work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/bernie-sanders-university-of-chicago-free-love |accessdate=September 10, 2015}}</ref>

In addition to his civil rights activism during the 1960s and 1970s, Sanders was active in several [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|peace and antiwar movements]]. He was a member of the [[Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee]] and the [[Student Peace Union]] while attending the University of Chicago. Sanders applied for [[conscientious objector]] status during the [[Vietnam War]]; his application was eventually turned down, by which point he was too old to be [[Conscription in the United States|drafted]]. Although he opposed the war, Sanders never placed any blame on those who fought and has been a strong supporter of [[veterans' benefits]].<ref name="Washington Post Veterans">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-on-frontline-for-veterans/2013/04/14/d97c9830-9e04-11e2-a941-a19bce7af755_story.html |title=Bernie Sanders on frontline for veterans |work=The Washington Post |date=April 14, 2013 |accessdate=September 30, 2015 |author=Vogel, Steve}}</ref><ref name="ABC News">{{cite web |last=Parks |first=Mary Alice |date=August 31, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Applied for 'Conscientious Objector' Status During Vietnam, Campaign Confirms |publisher=ABC News |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-applied-conscientious-objector-status-vietnam-campaign/story?id=33434041 |accessdate=September 30, 2015}}</ref>

===Liberty Union campaigns===

Sanders began his political career in 1971 as a member of the [[Liberty Union Party]], which originated in the [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|anti-war]] movement and the [[People's Party (United States, 1971)|People's Party]]. He ran as the Liberty Union candidate for governor of Vermont in 1972 and 1976 and as a candidate for [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]] in 1972 and 1974.<ref>[http://media.cq.com/members/509?rc=1 Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.)] RollCall.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> In the 1974 Senatorial race, Sanders finished third (5,901 votes; 4.1%) behind the victor, 33-year-old [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden County]] State's Attorney [[Patrick Leahy]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], VI; 70,629 votes; 49.4%), and two-term incumbent U.S. Representative [[Dick Mallary]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]; 66,223 votes; 46.3%).<ref>[https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/election-results/election-results-search.aspx?primaryFilterId=12449&secondaryFolderName=1974+Election+Results&q= "Election Results Search: 1974 Election Results"], ''sec.state.vt.us''; further: pdf for "1974GEUSSen.xls". Citation for votes (total for Leahy and percentages calculated from spreadsheet). Retrieved May 2, 2015.</ref><ref>Nelson, Garrison, [http://vtdigger.org/2014/09/14/garrison-nelson-jim-jeffords-reluctant-rebel-appreciation/ "Jim Jeffords: Reluctant Rebel" Section: "1974: Changing the Congressional Guard"], vtdigger.org, September 14, 2014. Citation for other candidate's full names and brief bios. Retrieved May 2, 2015.</ref>

The 1976 campaign proved to be the zenith of Liberty Union's influence, with Sanders collecting 11,000 votes for Governor and the party forcing the races for Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State to be decided by the state legislature when its vote total prevented either the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] or [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidates for those offices from garnering a majority of votes.<ref>Greg Guma, ''The People's Republic: Vermont and the Sanders Revolution.'' Shelburne, VT: New England Press, 1989; pp. 18-19.</ref> The campaign drained the finances and energy of the Liberty Union, however, and in October 1977 — less than a year after the conclusion of the 1976 campaign — Sanders and the Liberty Union candidate for Attorney General, Nancy Kaufman, announced their retirement from the party.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 19.</ref>

Following his resignation from Liberty Union, Sanders worked as a writer and the director of the nonprofit American People's Historical Society (APHS).<ref>[http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/sen_bernie_sanders.html Arena Profile: Sen. Bernie Sanders]. ''Politico''. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> While with the APHS, he made a 30-minute documentary about American Socialist leader and presidential candidate [[Eugene V. Debs]].<ref name=Politico/><ref>Bernard Sanders (1979). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka7qoXPliwQ Eugene V. Debs: Trade Unionist, Socialist, Revolutionary, 1855-1926 - Introduction] on YouTube. Retrieved July 13, 2015.</ref>

===Mayor of Burlington===
[[File:City Hall Burlington Vermont from southeast on Main Street.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Burlington City Hall, constructed in 1928.]]

In 1980, at the suggestion of his close friend and political confidante [[Richard Sugarman]], a professor of religion at the [[University of Vermont]], Sanders ran for mayor of [[Burlington, Vermont]]. The 39-year-old Sanders ran against incumbent Democratic mayor Gordon "Gordie" Paquette, a 5-term mayor who had served as a member of the Burlington City Council for 13 years before that, building extensive community ties and a willingness to cooperate with Republican leaders in controlling appointments to various commissions.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pp. 31, 36.</ref> Indeed, the Republicans had found Paquette so unobjectionable that they had failed to even field a candidate in the March 1981 race against him, leaving Sanders as the principal opponent to the long-entrenched mayor.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 33.</ref>

Sanders' effort was further aided by the decision of the candidate of the [[Citizens Party (United States)|Citizens Party]], Greg Guma, to exit the race so as not to split the progressive vote in the mayoral race.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 38.</ref> Two other candidates in the race, independents Richard Bove and Joe McGrath, proved to be essentially non-factors in the campaign, with the battle coming down to a battle between Paquette and Sanders.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 40.</ref>

Sanders castigated the pro-development incumbent as an ally of prominent shopping center developer Antonio Pomerleau, while Mayor Paquette promised ruin for Burlington if Sanders was elected.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pp. 40-41.</ref> The Sanders campaign was bolstered by a wave of optimistic volunteers as well as by a series of endorsements from university professors, social welfare agencies, and the police union.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 41.</ref> The final result came as a shock to the local political establishment, with the maverick Sanders winning election by a final margin of just 10 votes.<ref>Guma, ''The People's Republic,'' pg. 42.</ref>

Sanders would ultimately be reelected three times, defeating both Democratic and Republican candidates. He received 53% of the vote in 1983 and 55% in 1985.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Hillinger |title=Two Politicians Who Broke Mold in Vermont |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1985-04-28/news/vw-21595_1_vermonters |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 28, 1985 |accessdate=November 2, 2015}}</ref> In his final run for mayor in 1987, Sanders defeated Paul Lafayette, a Democrat endorsed by both major parties.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 4, 1987 |title=Re-election easy for Socialist mayor |newspaper=[[Spokane Chronicle]] |location=Burlington, Vermont |page=A6 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PAwTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=efoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4864,620344&dq=paul+lafayette+burlington&hl=en}}</ref>

During his years as mayor, Sanders called himself a [[socialist]] and was so described in the press.<ref name="Banks">{{cite news |last=Banks |first=Russell |authorlink=Russell Banks |date=October 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders, the Socialist Mayor |work=[[The Atlantic]] |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-mayor/407413/ |accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name="SelfStyledSocialist">{{cite news |date=April 7, 1981 |title=Self-Styled Socialist Takes Oath as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont |agency=Associated Press |work=[[Boston Globe]]}}</ref> During his first term, his supporters, including the first [[Citizens Party (United States)|Citizens Party]] City Councilor [[Terry Bouricius]], formed the Progressive Coalition, the forerunner of the [[Vermont Progressive Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Senator Bernie Sanders |work=Vermont Progressive Party |url=http://www.progressiveparty.org/senator-bernie-sanders |accessdate=June 8, 2015}}</ref> The Progressives never held more than six seats on the 13-member city council, but they had enough votes to keep the council from overriding Sanders's vetoes. Under Sanders, Burlington became the first city in the country to fund [[community land trust|community-trust housing]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dreier |first1=Peter |last2=Clavel |first2=Pierre |title=Bernie's Burlington: What Kind of Mayor Was Bernie Sanders? |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=June 4, 2015 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernies-burlington-what-k_b_7510704.html |accessdate=August 6, 2015}}</ref>

During the 1980s, Sanders was a staunch [[Foreign policy of the United States#Criticism|critic of U.S. foreign policy]] in [[Latin America]].<ref>Zaid Jilani (May 18, 2015). [http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/bernie-sanders-has-been-against-cias-role-destroying-democracy-his-early-days Bernie Sanders Has Been Against CIA's Role in Destroying Democracy Since His Early Days in Politics (Video)]. ''AlterNet''. Retrieved August 29, 2015.</ref> In 1985, Burlington City Hall hosted a foreign policy speech by [[Noam Chomsky]]. In his introduction, Sanders praised Chomsky as "a very vocal and important voice in the wilderness of intellectual life in America" and said he was "delighted to welcome a person who I think we're all very proud of."<ref>Bethania Palma Markus (August 11, 2015). [http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/the-bernie-effect-noam-chomsky-says-sanders-will-push-the-entire-democratic-party-to-the-left/ The Bernie effect: Noam Chomsky says Sanders will push the Democratic Party to the left]. ''[[The Raw Story]].'' Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chomsky Speech at Burlington City Hall - 1985 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvZRsdHgxgA |accessdate=August 21, 2015}}</ref>

Sanders's administration balanced the city budget and drew a [[minor league baseball]] team, the [[Vermont Reds]], then the Double-A affiliate of the [[Cincinnati Reds]], to Burlington.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> Under Sanders's leadership, Burlington sued the local television cable franchise, winning reduced rates for customers.<ref name=NYTSocSen/>

As mayor, Sanders led extensive [[urban renewal|downtown revitalization]] projects. One of his signature achievements was the improvement of Burlington's [[Lake Champlain]] waterfront.<ref name=NYTSocSen/> In 1981, Sanders campaigned against the unpopular plans by Burlington developer Tony Pomerleau to convert the then-industrial<ref name="Gram2015b">{{cite news |url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/politics-government/article22907835.html |title=Bernie Sanders kicks off 2016 bid from Clinton’s left |work=The Bellingham Herald |date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=http://webcitation.org/query?date=2015-12-09&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bellinghamherald.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics-government%2Farticle22907835.html |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |dead-url=no |last1=Gram |first1=Dave |last2=Thomas |first2=Ken |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> waterfront property owned by the [[Central Vermont Railway]] into expensive condominiums, hotels, and offices.<ref name="Reynolds">{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=David |date=1997 |title=Democracy Unbound: Progressive Challenges to the Two Party System |publisher=South End Press |page=162 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fx1XBsYc8BwC |isbn=9780896085633}}</ref> Sanders ran under the slogan "Burlington is not for sale" and successfully supported a plan that redeveloped the waterfront area into a [[mixed-use]] district featuring housing, parks, and public space.<ref name="Reynolds"/> Today, the waterfront area includes many parks and miles of public beach and bike paths, a boathouse, and a science center.<ref name="Reynolds"/>

In 1986, Sanders unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Governor [[Madeleine Kunin]] (D) in her run for reelection. Running as an Independent, Sanders finished in 3rd place with 14.4% of the vote. Kunin won with 47%, followed by Lt. Governor [[Peter P. Smith]] (R) with 38%.

In 1987, [[U.S. News & World Report|U.S. News]] ranked Sanders as one of America's best mayors<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwwwn9zHT-8 |title=Real Change |date=November 1, 2015 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and Burlington is today regarded as one of the most livable cities in the nation.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Great Places to Live, 2013 |publisher=kiplinger.com |url=http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/real-estate/T006-S003-10-great-places-to-live-2013/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=August 20, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: The 'Uncola' of American politics |work=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/20/bernie-sanders-is-the-uncola-of-american-politics/}}</ref>

After serving four two-year terms, Sanders chose not to seek reelection in 1989. He briefly taught political science at [[Harvard University]]'s [[Kennedy School of Government]] that year and at [[Hamilton College (New York)|Hamilton College]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |title=WSJ Sanders Profile |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/bernie-sanders--VT-S |accessdate=January 18, 2013}}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==
{{See also|Electoral history of Bernie Sanders}}

Sanders' 1990 victory was heralded by the ''[[Washington Post]]'' and others as the "First Socialist Elected" to the [[United States House of Representatives]] in decades.<ref name=Daly>{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Christopher B. |date=November 11, 1990 |title=For Vermont's Sanders, Victory Followed Long Path; First Socialist Elected to House in Decades Gets Attention With Frank Talk of Class Conflict |work=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1158059.html |subscription=yes |accessdate=January 21, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Pertman/> Sanders served in the House from 1991 until he became a senator in 2007.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

===Elections===
In 1988, incumbent Republican Congressman [[Jim Jeffords]] decided to run for the U.S. Senate, vacating the House seat representing [[Vermont's at-large congressional district]]. Former [[Lieutenant Governor of Vermont|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Peter P. Smith]] (R) won the House election with a plurality, securing 41% of the vote. Sanders, who ran as an independent, placed second with 38% of the vote, while Democratic State Representative Paul N. Poirier placed third with 19% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=VT At-Large Race, November 8, 1988 |publisher=ourcampaigns.com |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37984 |accessdate=February 17, 2013}}</ref> Two years later, Sanders ran for the seat again and defeated the incumbent Smith by a margin of 56% to 40%.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

Sanders was the first independent elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] since [[Frazier Reams]]' election to represent [[Ohio]] 40 years earlier.<ref name=Pertman>{{cite news |last=Pertman |first=Adam |date=November 11, 1990 |title='The Times Caught Up' To Vermont Socialist |work=[[Boston Globe]] |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61683884.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11%2C+1990&author=Adam+Pertman%2C+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=%27THE+TIMES+CAUGHT+UP%27+TO+VERMONT+SOCIALIST&pqatl=google}}</ref> He served as a Representative for 16 years, winning reelection by large margins except during the 1994 [[Republican Revolution]], when he won by 3.3%, with 49.8% of the vote.<ref name="Carle1995">{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994/94Stat.htm#45 |title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 8, 1994 |date=May 12, 1995 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114171645/clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1994/94Stat.htm#45 |archive-date=November 14, 2015 |dead-url=no |editor-last=Carle |editor-first=Robin H.}}</ref>

===Tenure===
[[File:Bernie Sanders 1991.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Sanders in 1991]]
During his first year in the House, Sanders often alienated allies and colleagues with his criticism of both political parties as [[Corporatocracy|working primarily on behalf of the wealthy]]. In 1991, Sanders co-founded the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]], a group of mostly [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] Democrats that Sanders chaired for its first eight years.<ref name=NYTSocSen/>

In 1993, Sanders voted against the [[Brady Bill]], which mandated federal background checks and imposed a waiting period on firearm purchasers in the United States; the bill passed by a vote of 238–187.<ref name="Tampa Bay Times ">{{cite web |last=Qiu |first=Linda |date=July 10, 2015 |title=Did Bernie Sanders vote against background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases? |work=Tampa Bay Times |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/jul/10/generation-forward-pac/did-bernie-sanders-vote-against-background-checks-/ |accessdate=August 31, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 614 |website=US House of Representatives |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1993/roll614.xml |accessdate=November 17, 2014}}</ref> In 2005, he voted for the [[Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 534 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll534.xml |accessdate=July 18, 2007}}</ref> The act's purpose was to prevent firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable for negligence when crimes have been committed with their products. In 2015, Sanders defended his vote, saying: "If somebody has a gun and it falls into the hands of a murderer and the murderer kills somebody with a gun, do you hold the gun manufacturer responsible? Not any more than you would hold a hammer company responsible if somebody beats somebody over the head with a hammer."<ref name="CNN">{{cite web |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=July 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders wants to 'bring us to the middle' on guns |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/05/politics/bernie-sanders-gun-control/ |accessdate=July 6, 2015}}</ref>

Sanders voted against the [[Iraq Resolution|resolutions]] authorizing the use of force against Iraq in 1991 and 2002, and opposed the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. He voted for the 2001 [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 342 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll342.xml |accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> that has been cited as the legal justification for controversial military actions since the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnsen |first=Gregory D. |date=January 16, 2014 |title=60 Words And A War Without End: The Untold Story Of The Most Dangerous Sentence In U.S. History |publisher=Buzzfeed |url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/gregorydjohnsen/60-words-and-a-war-without-end-the-untold-story-of-the-most |accessdate=October 13, 2014}}</ref> Sanders voted for a [[non-binding resolution]] expressing support for troops at the outset of the invasion of Iraq, but gave a floor speech criticizing the partisan nature of the vote and the [[George W. Bush]] administration's actions in the run-up to the war. Regarding the investigation of what turned out to be a leak of CIA agent [[Valerie Plame]]'s identity by a State Department official, Sanders stated: "The revelation that the President authorized the release of classified information in order to discredit an Iraq war critic should tell every member of Congress that the time is now for a serious investigation of how we got into the war in Iraq and why Congress can no longer act as a rubber stamp for the President".<ref name="Yost2006">{{cite news |last=Yost |first=Pete |date=April 7, 2006 |title=Libby: Bush, Cheney OK’d leak campaign |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_3683110 |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209220920/www.benningtonbanner.com/headlines/ci_3683110 |work=Bennington Banner |dead-url=no}}</ref>

Sanders was a consistent critic of the [[Patriot Act]]. As a member of Congress, he voted against the original Patriot Act legislation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 398 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll398.xml |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref> After its 357-to-66 passage in the House, Sanders sponsored and voted for several subsequent amendments and acts attempting to curtail its effects,<ref>{{cite web |last=Hudson |first=David L., Jr. |date=May 25, 2004 |title=Patriot Act |work=Libraries and First Amendment |publisher=First Amendment Center |url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/patriot-act |accessdate=May 19, 2015}}</ref> and voted against each reauthorization.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: It's Time To End Orwellian Surveillance of Every American |work=Time |url=http://time.com/3850839/bernie-sanders-usa-patriot-act/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> In June 2005, Sanders proposed an amendment to limit Patriot Act provisions that allow the government to obtain individuals' library and book-buying records. The amendment passed the House by a bipartisan majority but was removed on November 4 of that year in House-Senate negotiations and never became law.<ref>{{cite journal |date=November 4, 2005 |title=Sanders' Freedom to Read Language Dropped from Spending Bill |journal=[[American Library Association]] Washington Office Newsline |volume=14 |number=107 |url=http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washnews/2005ab/107nov04.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060604000337/http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washnews/2005ab/107nov04.htm |archivedate=June 4, 2006}}</ref>

In March 2006, after a series of resolutions passed in various Vermont towns calling for him to bring [[articles of impeachment]] against George W. Bush, Sanders stated that it would be "impractical to talk about [[Impeachment in the United States|impeachment]]" with Republicans in control of the House and Senate.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=March 8, 2006 |title=Vermont Town Votes to Impeach President |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/08/nation/na-impeach8 |accessdate=July 19, 2015 |quote=Sanders said in a statement that although the Bush administration 'has been a disaster for our country, and a number of actions that he has taken may very well not have been legal,' given the reality that the Republicans control the House and the Senate, 'it would be impractical to talk about impeachment.'}}</ref> Still, Sanders made no secret of his opposition to the [[George W. Bush administration|Bush Administration]], which he regularly criticized for its cuts to social programs.<ref>{{cite web |author=Office of Bernie Sanders |date=May 20, 2004 |title=Sanders Blasts Bush's Housing Secretary on Housing Cuts in Vermont |publisher=US House of Representatives |url=http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20040520150051.asp |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926074517/http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20040520150051.asp |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |title=Have They No Shame? |publisher=TPMCafe.com |date=June 24, 2005 |url=http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/24/155932/073 |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114164102/http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/6/24/155932/073 |archivedate=November 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 20, 2006 |title=(VIDEO) Bernie Speaks Out Against The President's Attempt to Eliminate Critical Program Providing Food to Low-Income Seniors |publisher=Internet Archive: Wayback Machine |url=http://bernie.house.gov/multimedia/video.asp?video='4791' |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926083930/http://bernie.house.gov/multimedia/video.asp?video='4791' |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref>

Sanders was a vocal critic of [[Chair of the Federal Reserve|Federal Reserve Chair]] [[Alan Greenspan]]; in June 2003, during a question-and-answer discussion with the then-[[Chairman of the Federal Reserve|Chairman]], Sanders told Greenspan that he was concerned that Greenspan was "way out of touch" and "that you see your major function in your position as the need to represent the wealthy and large corporations".<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of Congressman Sanders on 7/16/2003 regarding: Congressman Sanders' Questioning of Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan |via=Web.archive.org |url=http://bernie.house.gov/statements/20030716135257.asp |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926023514/http://bernie.house.gov/statements/20030716135257.asp |archivedate=September 26, 2006}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGt60lxpMvE Bernie Sanders vs. Alan Greenspan (Best Video Quality)]. C-SPAN video on YouTube. Retrieved June 20, 2015.</ref> In October 2008, after Sanders had been elected to the Senate, [[Greenspan]] admitted to Congress that his economic ideology was flawed.<ref>Edmund Andrews for the New York Times. October 23, 2008 [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/business/economy/24panel.html Greenspan Concedes Error on Regulation]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96070766 |title=Greenspan Admits Free Market Ideology Flawed |publisher=NPR |date=October 24, 2008 |accessdate=January 18, 2016 |author=Naylor, Brian}}</ref> In 1998, Sanders voted and advocated against rolling back the [[Glass–Steagall Legislation]] provisions that kept [[investment banks]] and commercial banks separate entities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_10535992 |title=Who should pay? |work=Brattleboro Reformer |date=September 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529131100/www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_10535992 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |dead-url=no}}</ref>

On November 2, 2005, Sanders voted against the Online Freedom of Speech Act, which would have exempted the Internet from the [[campaign finance in the United States|campaign finance]] restrictions of the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act|McCain–Feingold Bill]].<ref>{{cite web |date=November 2, 2005 |title=H.R.1606 - Online Freedom of Speech Act: Final Vote Results For Roll Call 559 |publisher=Congress.gov |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll559.xml}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==

===Elections===
{{Main|United States Senate election in Vermont, 2006|United States Senate election in Vermont, 2012}}
[[File:Sanders swearing-in3.jpg|thumb|right|Bernie Sanders being sworn in as a [[List of current United States Senators|U.S. Senator]] by then Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] in the [[Old Senate Chamber]]. January 2007.]]
Sanders entered the race for the U.S. Senate on April 21, 2005, after Senator Jim Jeffords announced that he would not seek a fourth term. [[Chuck Schumer]], Chairman of the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]], endorsed Sanders, a critical move as it meant that no Democrat running against Sanders could expect to receive financial help from the party. Sanders was also endorsed by [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Leader]] [[Harry Reid]] of [[Nevada]] and [[Democratic National Committee]] Chairman and former Vermont Governor [[Howard Dean]]. Dean said in May 2005 that he considered Sanders an ally who "votes with the Democrats 98% of the time".<ref>{{cite web |date=May 22, 2005 |title=Meet the Press: Transcript |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7924139 |accessdate=August 1, 2011}}</ref> Then-Senator [[Barack Obama]] also campaigned for Sanders in Vermont in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krieg |first=Gregory |date=July 9, 2015 |title=Watch Young Senator Barack Obama Campaign for Bernie Sanders in 2006 |publisher=mic.com |quote=Back in March 2006, the future president traveled to Vermont to headline a rally and fundraiser for then-Rep. Bernie Sanders, an independent running for Senate, and Pete Welch, a Democrat seeking election to Sanders' House seat. |url=http://mic.com/articles/122011/watch-young-senator-barack-obama-campaign-for-bernie-sanders-in-2006 |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref> Sanders entered into an agreement with the Democratic Party, much as he had as a congressman, to be listed in their primary but to decline the nomination should he win, which he did.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Jessica |date=June 24, 2015 |title=This Quirky New Hampshire Law Might Keep Bernie Sanders Off The Ballot |publisher=NPR |quote=He did appear on the Democratic primary ballot in Vermont for the Senate in both 2006 and 2012, winning their primary, but he declined the nomination both times so he could run as an independent. |url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/24/416929786/this-quirky-new-hampshire-law-might-keep-sanders-off-the-ballot |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=May 26, 2015 |title='Don't Underestimate Me': Bernie Sanders Knows a Thing or Two About Winning |work=The Nation |quote=When Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords, a Republican who turned independent in his last term, announced that he was stepping down in 2006, Sanders jumped into a race that a number of Democrats would have liked to run. He won the Democratic primary and then declined the nomination, mounting an audacious independent run that was not supposed to be easy. |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/why-bernie-sanders-says-dont-underestimate-me/ |accessdate=July 20, 2015}}</ref>

In the most expensive political campaign in Vermont's history,<ref name="BGlobe-110706">{{cite news |last=Ring |first=Wilson |date=November 7, 2006 |title=Sanders, Welch are winners in Vermont |work=[[Boston Globe]] |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/VT/2006-11-08-us-congress_x.htm |accessdate=January 25, 2007}}</ref> Sanders defeated businessman [[Rich Tarrant]] by an approximately 2-to-1 margin. Many national media outlets projected Sanders as the winner just after the polls closed, before any returns came in. He was reelected in 2012 with 71% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vermont Election Results |work=Decision 2012 |publisher=NBC News |url=http://elections.nbcnews.com/ns/politics/2012/vermont/ |accessdate=April 21, 2013}}</ref>

Sanders was only the third senator from Vermont to caucus with the Democrats, after Jeffords and Leahy. His caucusing with the Democrats gave them a 51–49 majority in the Senate during the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]] in 2007–08. The Democrats needed 51 seats to control the Senate because [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] would have broken any [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by Vice Presidents of the United States|tie]] in favor of the Republicans.<ref name=Jones>Jones, Van and Conrad, Ariane. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=XZ2T0YR33isC&pg=PA27 Rebuild the Dream]'', p. 27 (Nation Books 2012).</ref> When he officially announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for president, Sanders set himself on a path to become only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the Senate, the other being Leahy.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

===Tenure===
Polling conducted in August 2011 by [[Public Policy Polling]] found that Sanders's approval rating was 67% and his disapproval rating 28%, making him then the third-most popular senator in the country.<ref>{{cite web |last=Easley |first=Jason |date=August 2, 2011 |title=Americans Love Socialism: Bernie Sanders Is The 3rd Most Popular US Senator |website=Politics USA |url=http://www.politicususa.com/socialism-bernie-sanders.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> Both the [[NAACP]] and the [[National Hispanic Leadership Agenda|NHLA]] have given Sanders 100% voting scores during his tenure in the Senate.<ref name="Ackerman2015">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/sanders-race-primary-president-civil-rights/ |title=Give the People What They Want: Bernie Sanders’ signature issues aren’t ‘white’ issues |work=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]] |date=June 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721162037/www.jacobinmag.com/2015/06/sanders-race-primary-president-civil-rights/ |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |dead-url=no |last=Ackerman |first=Seth |issn=2158-2602}}</ref> In 2015 Sanders was named one of the Top 5 of ''[[The Forward]]'' 50.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 11, 2015 |url=http://forward.com/series/forward-50/2015/ |title=Forward 50 2015 |publisher=Forward.com |accessdate=November 11, 2015}}</ref> In a November 2015 Morning Consult poll, Sanders had an approval rating of 83% among his constituents, making him the most popular senator in the country.<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-most-popular-senator-397853 Bernie Sanders Is America's Most Popular Senator, New Survey Says]. ''Newsweek''. November 24, 2015.</ref>

As an independent, Sanders worked out a deal with the Senate Democratic leadership in which he agrees to vote with the Democrats on all procedural matters except with permission from Democratic whip [[Dick Durbin]] (a request that is almost never made or granted). In return, he is allowed to keep his seniority and received the committee seats that would have been available to him as a Democrat; in 2013-14 he was Chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs]] (during the [[Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014|Veterans Health Administration scandal]]).<ref name=vet>[http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/10/15/bernie-sanders-veterans-affairs-griffin-dnt-ac.cnn "Bernie Sanders criticized for leadership in VA committee"], [[CNN]] (October 15, 2015).</ref> Sanders is free to vote as he pleases on policy matters, but has almost always voted with the Democrats.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

====Budget====
On September 24, 2008, Sanders posted an open letter to Treasury Secretary [[Henry Paulson]] decrying the initial [[financial crisis of 2007–08|bank bailout]] proposal; it drew more than 8,000 citizen cosigners in 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 24, 2008 |title=(Video) Bailout Petition Statement |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=303544 |accessdate=August 29, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014003612/http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=303544 |archivedate=October 14, 2008}}</ref> On January 26, 2009, Sanders and Democrats [[Robert Byrd]], [[Russ Feingold]], and [[Tom Harkin]] were the sole majority members to vote against confirming [[Timothy Geithner]] as [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]].<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records: Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00015 |accessdate=August 29, 2010}}</ref>

{{anchor|2010 filibuster}}{{anchor|2010 Filibuster}}{{anchor|filibuster}} On December 10, 2010, Sanders delivered an 8½-hour speech against the [[Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010]], the proposed extension of the [[Bush-era tax rates]] that eventually became law, saying "Enough is enough! ... How many homes can you own?"<ref>{{cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=October 25, 2011 |title=Bernie Sanders' war on the banks |website=Salon |url=http://www.salon.com/2011/10/25/bernie_sanders_war_on_the_banks/ |accessdate=July 19, 2015}} A long speech such as this is commonly known as a [[filibuster]], but because it didn't block action, it was not technically a filibuster under Senate rules.</ref><ref name="Los Angeles Times"/> In response to the speech, hundreds of people signed online petitions urging Sanders to run in the 2012 presidential election, and pollsters began measuring his support in key [[political primary|primary]] states.<ref name="Prez" /> [[Contemporary progressivism|Progressive]] activists such as Rabbi [[Michael Lerner (rabbi)|Michael Lerner]] and economist [[David Korten]] publicly voiced their support for a prospective Sanders run against President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="Prez">{{cite news |last=Nichols |first=John |authorlink=John Nichols (journalist) |date=December 29, 2010 |title=That 'Sanders for President' Talk is Real Enough, But Bernie's Not Going There |work=[[The Nation]] |url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/157346/sanders-president-talk-real-enough-bernies-not-going-there}}</ref>

Sanders's speech was published in February 2011 by [[Nation Books]] as ''The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class'', with authorial proceeds going to Vermont nonprofit charitable organizations.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 20, 2011 |title=Sen. Bernie Sanders' 8 1/2-hour Speech to be Sold in Book Form |newspaper=[[Burlington Free Press]] |url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110120/NEWS03/101200323/Sen.-Bernie-Sanders-8-1-2-hour-speech-to-be-sold-in-book-form |accessdate=January 20, 2011}}</ref>

====Senate Budget Committee====
In January 2015, Sanders became the [[Ranking member|ranking minority member]] of the [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Senate Budget Committee]].<ref name=hillcommittee /> He appointed economics professor [[Stephanie Kelton]], a [[modern monetary theory]] scholar and self-described "deficit owl", as the chief economic advisor for the committee's Democratic minority<ref>{{cite web |last=Lawler |first=Joseph |date=December 26, 2014 |title=Sanders names 'deficit owl' his chief economist |work=[[Washington Examiner]] |url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sanders-names-deficit-owl-his-chief-economist/article/2557903 |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> and presented a report aimed at helping "rebuild the disappearing middle class", which included proposals to raise the [[minimum wage]], boost [[Infrastructure-based development|infrastructure spending]], and increase [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] payments.<ref>{{cite web |last=Resnikoff |first=Ned |date=February 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders, mulling presidential run, adopts novel stance on deficit |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/2/19/bernie-sanders-mulling-2016-bid-adopts-a-novel-stance-on-the-deficit.html |accessdate=March 25, 2015}}</ref>

====Committee assignments====
[[File:Bernie Sanders 2014.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Senator Sanders listening to testimony by then acting [[United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs|U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] Sloan D. Gibson, in 2014.]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]''' (Ranking Member)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]'''
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy|Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Committee on Energy and Natural Resources]]'''
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Energy|Subcommittee on Energy]]
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on National Parks|Subcommittee on National Parks]]
** [[United States Senate Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power|Subcommittee on Water and Power]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions]]'''
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Children and Families|Subcommittee on Children and Families]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging|Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging]] (Ranking Member)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]'''

==2016 presidential campaign==
{{main|Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016}}
[[File:Bernie Sanders in Littleton, NH, on August 24, 2015 (20703289249).jpg|thumb|left|alt=|Sanders at a campaign event in [[Littleton, New Hampshire]], August 2015]]
Sanders announced his intention to seek the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s nomination for [[President of the United States|president]] on April 30, 2015, in an address on the [[United States Capitol|Capitol]] lawn.<ref name="kane2015">{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Paul |last2=Rucker |first2=Philip |date=April 30, 2015 |title=An unlikely contender, Sanders takes on 'billionaire class' in 2016 bid |work=[[The Washington Post]] |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-takes-on-billionaire-class-in-launching-2016-bid-against-clinton/2015/04/30/4849fe32-ef3a-11e4-a55f-38924fca94f9_story.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20150429">{{cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Announces He Is Running for President |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/30/us/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-for-president.html |accessdate=April 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Cogan">{{cite web |last=Cogan |first=Marin |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Daily Intelligencer: Bernie Sanders Is Officially Running for President – That Doesn't Mean You Can Ask Him About Hillary Clinton |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/04/sanders-is-running-just-dont-say-hillary.html |access-date=July 18, 2015}}</ref> [[Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016|His campaign]] was officially launched on May 26, 2015, in [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]].<ref name="NYT-20150429" />

In his announcement, Sanders said, "I don't believe that the men and women who defended American democracy fought to create a situation where billionaires own the political process," and made this a central idea throughout his campaign.<ref name=kane2015/><ref name="NYT-20150429" /> Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] welcomed Sanders' entry into the race, saying, "I'm glad to see him get out there and give his version of what leadership in this country should be." On June 19, 2015, the "Ready For Warren" organization (Warren resisted calls to become a candidate herself) endorsed Sanders and rebranded itself "Ready to Fight".<ref>{{cite news |last=Pointdujour |first=Prisca |date=May 2, 2015 |title=Elizabeth Warren praises Bernie Sanders prez bid |work=[[Boston Herald]] |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/us_politics/2015/05/elizabeth_warren_praises_bernie_sanders_prez_bid |accessdate=May 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kamisar |first=Ben |date=June 19, 2015 |title=Ready for Warren Endorses Sanders |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/245541-ready-for-warren-endorses-sanders |accessdate=August 24, 2015}}</ref>

Sanders stated that he would not pursue funding through a "[[Super PAC]]", instead focusing on small individual donations.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Sanders doesn't want billionaires' backing |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/30/politics/bernie-sanders-presidential-run-first-interview/ |accessdate=May 4, 2015}}</ref> His presidential campaign raised $1.5 million within 24 hours of his official announcement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Ken |date=May 1, 2015 |title=Sanders raises $1.5M after announcing presidential bid |agency=[[Associated Press]] |website=Yahoo News |url=http://news.yahoo.com/sanders-raises-1-5m-announcing-presidential-bid-194439911--election.html |accessdate=July 19, 2015}}</ref> At year's end the campaign had raised a total of $73 million from more than one million people making 2.5 million donations, with an average donation of $27.16.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 2, 2016 |title=Sanders raises $33M in final quarter, $73M total for 2015 |work=Politico |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/sanders-fundraising-final-quarter-2015-217288?cmpid=sf |accessdate=January 2, 2016}}</ref> The campaign reached 3.25 million donations by the end of January 2016, raising $20 million in that month alone.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-fundraising_us_56ae4f7ee4b0010e80ea7bdb Bernie Sanders' Small Donor Fundraising Continues To Set Records]. ''The Huffington Post.'' January 31, 2015.</ref>

Sanders has used social media to help his campaign gain momentum.<ref>{{cite news |last=Corasaniti |first=Nick |date=May 18, 2015 |title=Seeking the Presidency, Bernie Sanders Becomes Facebook Royalty Through Quirky Sharing |work=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/19/us/politics/bernie-sanders-wants-to-be-president-but-hes-already-facebook-royalty.html |accessdate=May 21, 2015}}</ref> He posts content to online platforms such as [[Twitter]] and [[Facebook]], and has answered questions on [[Reddit]]. Sanders has also gained a large grassroots organizational following online. A July 29 meetup organized online brought 100,000 supporters to more than 3,500 simultaneous events nationwide.<ref>Lisa Lerer (July 30, 2015). [http://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-sanders-draws-more-than-100000-2015-7 More than 100,000 people participated in a mega-grassroots Bernie Sanders event]. ''Business Insider''. Retrieved August 19, 2015.</ref> Sanders has received over one million individual online donations. He has credited this to his "organic" approach to social media, and to writing his campaign's online postings himself.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bernie Sanders Social Media Movement |url=http://growingsocialmedia.com/bernie-sanders-social-media-movement/ |website=Growing Social Media |accessdate=November 5, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Bernie Sanders before a crowd in Conway, NH, on August 24, 2015 (20876809366).jpg|thumb|right|Sanders before a crowd in [[Conway, New Hampshire]], August 2015]]

Sanders' campaign events in June 2015 drew overflow crowds around the country, to his surprise.<ref name=":1">Sofia Tesfaye (June 16, 2015). [http://www.salon.com/2015/06/16/america_is_feeling_the_bern_bernie_sanders_draws_overflow_crowds_and_surges_in_the_polls/ America is feeling the Bern: Bernie Sanders draws overflow crowds – and surges in the polls]. ''Salon''. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref><ref>John Wagner (June 15, 2015). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/06/15/meet-the-people-coming-to-see-bernie-sanders-in-iowa/ Meet the people coming to see Bernie Sanders in Iowa]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref><ref name="Keith">Tamara Keith (June 15, 2015). [http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/15/414689799/bernie-sanders-stunned-by-large-crowds-showing-up-for-him Bernie Sanders 'Stunned' By Large Crowds Showing Up For Him]. NPR. Retrieved June 16, 2015.</ref> When Clinton and Sanders made public appearances within days of each other in Des Moines, Iowa, Sanders drew larger crowds, even though he had already made numerous stops around the state and Clinton's visit was her first in 2015.<ref name=GuardianSandersVsClinton>{{cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Ben |date=June 25, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders closes on Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire Democrats poll |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/25/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-new-hampshire-democrats-poll |work=The Guardian |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref> On July 1, 2015, Sanders' campaign stop in Madison, Wisconsin, drew the largest crowd of any 2016 presidential candidate to that date, with an estimated turnout of 10,000.<ref name="MSNBCMadisonBiggestCrowd">{{cite web |last=Seitz-Wald |first=Alex |date=July 1, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws biggest crowd of any 2016 candidate yet |publisher=MSNBC |url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bernie-sanders-draws-biggest-crowd-any-2016-candidate-yet |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="HuffPo10K">{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=Mollie |title=Bernie Sanders Draws His Biggest Crowd Yet In Progressive Stronghold |website=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/01/bernie-sanders-madison_n_7709966.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067 |accessdate=July 2, 2015}}</ref> Over the following weeks he gained even larger crowds of 11,000 in Arizona,<ref name="Washington Post AZ crowd">{{cite web |last=Wagner |first=John |date=July 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws his biggest crowd yet – in Arizona of all places |work=The Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/07/19/bernie-sanders-draws-his-biggest-crowd-yet-in-arizona-of-all-places/ |accessdate=July 21, 2015}}</ref> 15,000 in Seattle,<ref>{{cite web |last=Connelly |first=Joel |date=August 8, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders draws 15,000 people at UW, state's biggest political crowd since 2010 Obama visit |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/08/08/bernie-sanders-draws-15000-people-at-uw-states-biggest-political-crowd-since-2010-obama-visit/ |accessdate=August 9, 2015}}</ref> and 28,000 in Portland.<ref>Chris Cillizza (August 10, 2015). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/10/this-bernie-sanders-crowd-shot-should-make-hillary-clinton-a-little-jittery/ This Bernie Sanders crowd shot should make Hillary Clinton a little jittery]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved August 10, 2015.</ref>

On December 4, 2015, Sanders won [[Time (magazine)|Time]]'s 2015 [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]] readers' poll with 10.2% of the vote<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/bernie-sanders-time-person-of-the-year-poll-216481?cmpid=sf/ |title=Bernie Sanders wins Time's Person of the Year readers' poll |publisher=[[Politico]] |accessdate=December 7, 2015 |date=December 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://time.com/4137173/bernie-sanders-time-person-of-the-year-poll-win/ |title=Bernie Sanders Wins Readers’ Poll for TIME Person of the Year |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |accessdate=December 7, 2015}}</ref> but did not receive the editorial board's award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usuncut.com/politics/time-magazine-snubs-bernie-sanders-person-of-the-year/ |title=TIME Snubs Bernie Sanders for Person of the Year After He Crushes Readers' Poll |publisher=U.S.Uncut |accessdate=December 7, 2015}}</ref>

In December 2015, the [[Democratic National Committee]] suspended the campaign's access to its voter data after a campaign staffer viewed data from Hillary Clinton's campaign during a firewall failure. The staffer denied accessing the data but the DNC confirmed it and Sanders apologized.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/politics/sanders-dnc-data-breach-josh-uretsky/ |title=Fired Sanders aide: I wasn't peeking at Clinton data files |first=Dan |last=Merica |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The Sanders campaign criticized the DNC's reaction as excessive and threatened possible legal action unless the Committee restored its access.<ref name="databreach">{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/politics/bernie-sanders-campaign-dnc-suspension/ |title=Sanders campaign threatens legal action against DNC |first=Catherine |last=Treyz |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The campaign claimed it had warned the DNC about glitches in the voter file program months before.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/263730-report-sanders-campaign-told-dnc-of-data-issue-months-ago |title=Report: Sanders campaign told DNC of data issue months ago |first=Ben |last=Kamisar |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a40610/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-data/ |title=Why Did the DNC Let the Bernie-Hillary Tech Story Leak? |first=Charlie |last=Pierce |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=Esquire}}</ref> On December 18, 2015, the campaign filed a lawsuit, stating the Committee had unfairly suspended its access.<ref name="datalawsuit">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-threatens-to-sue-dnc-if-access-to-voter-list-isnt-restored/2015/12/18/fa8d6df8-a5a2-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html |title=Sanders sues the DNC over suspended access to critical voter list |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=The Washington Post |author=John Wagner, Abby Phillip and Rosalind S. Helderman}}</ref> Former Obama adviser [[David Axelrod]] contended on Twitter that the DNC was "putting a finger on the scale" for Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/263792-ex-obama-adviser-on-sanders-scandal-dnc-putting-finger-on |title=Ex-Obama adviser: DNC 'putting finger on scale' for Hillary |first=Caitlin |last=Yilek |date=December 18, 2015 |accessdate=December 18, 2015 |publisher=The Hill}}</ref> The DNC and the Sanders campaign struck a deal the same day that restored the campaign's access to voter data.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/bernie-sanders-campaign-dnc-reach-voter-data-deal-n483031 |title=Bernie Sanders Campaign, DNC Reach Voter Data Deal |first=Alex |last=Seitz-Wald |date=December 19, 2015 |accessdate=December 19, 2015 |publisher=NBC News}}</ref>

===Polling===
[[File:Bernie Sanders in Des Moines (21145177954).jpg|thumb|right|Sanders speaks with young adults in [[Des Moines]], September 2015]]
Since the campaign began in May, polls have shown a tightening race against Hillary Clinton. The ''[[Huffington Post]]''<nowiki/>'s survey of polls as of January 28, 2016, showed him trailing Clinton by 14.5 percentage points nationally,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-national-democratic-primary |title=2016 National Democratic Primary |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> with a 0.9 point disadvantage in Iowa<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-iowa-presidential-democratic-caucus |title=2016 Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref> and a 13.9 point advantage in New Hampshire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-new-hampshire-presidential-democratic-primary |title=2016 New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary |work=The Huffington Post}}</ref>

On December 3, 2015, a [[Quinnipiac University]] poll found Sanders to be the most electable presidential candidate in either major party, and more electable than Hillary Clinton against top Republican candidates.<ref name="Budowsky2015">{{cite web |url=http://observer.com/2015/12/shock-poll-bernie-sanders-is-the-most-electable-candidate-in-either-party/ |title=Bernie Sanders is the Most Electable Candidate in Either Party |first=Brent |last=Budowsky |date=December 3, 2015 |work=Observer}}</ref>

===Democratic Party presidential debates===
{{main|Democratic Party presidential debates, 2016}}

The 2016 Democratic Party presidential debates occur among candidates in the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2016|campaign for]] the Democratic Party's nomination for the President of the United States in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]]. The DNC announced on May 5, 2015, that there would be six debates, much fewer than the 26 debates and forums during the 2008 Democratic primary.<ref name="debatesix">{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/05/politics/2016-democratic-debates-hillary-clinton/ |title=First on CNN: Clinton, Democratic presidential opponents to debate six times |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=May 5, 2015 |author=Preston, Mark}}</ref> Critics, including the Sanders campaign, have alleged that the debate schedule is part of the DNC's deliberate attempt to protect the front-runner, Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/Politics-Voices/2015/1222/How-Saturday-debates-protect-Hillary-Clinton |title=How Saturday debates protect Hillary Clinton |first=Doug |last=Mataconis |date=December 22, 2015 |accessdate=December 23, 2015 |work=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/2015/12/bernie_sanders_dems_tipping_scales_in_hillary_clintons_favor |title=Bernie Sanders: Dems tipping scales in Hillary Clinton's favor |first=Chris |last=Cassidy |date=December 19, 2015 |accessdate=December 23, 2015 |work=Boston Herald}}</ref> Clinton has expressed willingness to hold more debates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/254118-hillary-willing-to-do-more-debates |title=Hillary willing to do more debates |work=TheHill}}</ref>

===Party affiliation since 2015===
In November 2015, Sanders announced that he would be a Democrat from then on, and will run in any future elections as a Democrat.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/11/05/sanders-declares-democrat-nh-primary/75242938/ |first=Kathleen |last=Ronayne |newspaper=''[[Burlington Free Press]]'' |title=Sanders declares as Democrat in NH primary |date=November 5, 2015 |quote=Sanders says he’ll run as a Democrat in future elections. He says, 'I am running as a Democrat obviously, I am a Democrat now.'}}</ref><ref>Blomquist, Dan and Way, Robert. [https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/11/05/sanders-declares-democrat-new-hampshire-primary/jxK9D2LQAAKYdUW9CyjjdM/story.html "Bernie Sanders files for Democratic ballot in N.H. primary"], ''[[Boston Globe]]'' (November 5, 2015): "When a reporter asked Sanders his party allegiance after he filed, Sanders responded, 'I’m a Democrat.' He then called on Buckley, the Democratic chairman, who confirmed the senator’s party allegiance. Sanders added that he would run as a Democrat in any future elections."</ref><ref>Seitz-Wald, Alex and Koenig, Kailani. [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-files-new-hampshire-state-ballot-without-incident-n458271 "Sanders Files for New Hampshire State Ballot Without Incident"], ''[[NBC News]]'' (November 5, 2015): "Sanders declared himself a Democrat Thursday, and said he will run as a Democrat in future elections, and that was good enough for Gardner."</ref> In 2016, many additional sources, such as ''[[PBS]]'',<ref>Bykowisz, Julie. [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/sanders-ad-burst-coincides-with-upward-movement-in-polls/ "Sanders ad burst coincides with upward movement in polls"], [[PBS]] (January 13, 2016): "Democratic presidential candidate and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., speaks at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 2015."</ref> ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'',<ref>Harder, Amy and Mayer, Kris. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-panel-summons-officials-to-testify-on-flint-water-crisis-1454523291 "Federal Lawmakers Ramp Up Response to Flint Water Crisis"], ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' (February 3, 2016): "The Democratic Party also said its two presidential hopefuls, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D., Vt.), would hold a debate in Flint on March 6 as a way to draw attention to the contaminated-water issue."</ref> and ''[[CBS]]''<ref>Perry, Tim. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-in-the-news-donald-trump-and-bernie-sanders-gain-momentum-heading-into-iowa/ "Face in the News: Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders gain momentum heading into Iowa"], [[CBS News]] (January 25, 2016): "Sen Bernie Sanders (D-VT) responded to criticisms that his campaign was too 'idealistic,' and showed optimism about his chances in South Carolina."</ref> described Sanders as a Democrat.

The United States Senate website includes pages that refer to Sanders as an Independent<ref>See [http://www.senate.gov/general/search/search_cfm.cfm?q=+%22Sanders+%28I-VT%29%22&x=16&y=10&site=default_collection&num=10&filter=0 search results for "Sanders (I-VT)" at www.senate.gov].</ref> as well as pages that refer to him as a Democrat. Some of the pages calling him a Democrat are dated before 2015, possibly in error or in reference to his caucusing with the Democrats, not his later-declared affiliation.<ref>See [http://www.senate.gov/general/search/search_cfm.cfm?q=%22Sanders+%28D-VT%29%22&x=0&y=0&site=default_collection&num=10&filter=0 all search results for "Sanders (D-VT)" at www.senate.gov]. Also see [http://www.senate.gov/general/search/search_cfm.cfm?q=%22Sanders+%28D-VT%29%22+and+2015&x=0&y=0&site=default_collection&num=10&filter=0 search results for "Sanders (D-VT) and 2015"].</ref> In January 2016, his official Senate website still referred to him as an Independent,<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-places-hold-on-fda-nominee "Sanders Places Hold on FDA Nominee"], www.sanders.senate.gov (January 26, 2016).</ref> but in February 2016 a press release omitted party affiliation.<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-legislation-expanding-social-security-would-extend-solvency-40-years-according-to-new-analysis "Sanders’ Legislation Expanding Social Security Would Extend Solvency 40 Years, According to New Analysis"], www.sanders.senate.gov (February 4, 2016).</ref>

==Political positions==
{{Main|Political positions of Bernie Sanders}}

Sanders is a self-described [[Socialism|socialist]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/04/29/bernie-sanders-is-an-avowed-socialist-and-democrats-are-actually-pretty-ok-with-that/ |title=Bernie Sanders is an avowed socialist. 52 percent of Democrats are OK with that. |last=Bump |first=Philip |date=April 29, 2015 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=November 19, 2015 |quote=I am a socialist and everyone knows that}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/sanders-socialist-successes |title=Sanders Socialist Successes |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=April 22, 2009 |access-date=December 6, 2015 |quote=Representative Spencer Bachus is one of the only people I know from Alabama. I bet I'm the only socialist he knows.}}</ref> [[Democratic socialism|democratic socialist]],{{refn|<ref name=sanders_confirms>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=April 30, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders confirms presidential run and damns America's inequities |work=[[The Guardian]] |quote=The self-described 'democratic socialist' enters the race as a robust liberal alternative... |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/30/bernie-sanders-confirms-presidential-run-and-damns-americas-inequities |accessdate=June 19, 2015}}</ref><ref name="socialism">{{cite news |last=Dreier |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter Dreier |date=May 5, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' Socialism Is as American as Apple Pie |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |quote=...because the 73‑year{{bracket|‑}}old U.S. senator from Vermont describes himself as a 'democratic socialist.' |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/bernie-sanders-socialism-_b_7210120.html |accessdate=May 5, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="politicosocialist">{{cite web |last=Lerer |first=Lisa |date=July 16, 2009 |title=Where's the outrage over AIG bonuses? |work=[[The Politico]] |quote=Only a handful of members, including self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), criticized... |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25000.html |accessdate=April 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name="postsocialist">{{cite news |last=Powell |first=Michael |date=November 6, 2006 |title=Exceedingly Social But Doesn't Like Parties |work=The Washington Post |quote=He knows what the corporate media might do with his answer, but whatever... 'Yeah. I wouldn't deny it. Not for one second. I'm a democratic socialist.' |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/04/AR2006110401124.html |accessdate=November 26, 2012}}</ref>}} and progressive who admires the [[Nordic model]] of [[social democracy]] and is a proponent of [[workplace democracy]].<ref name="Scandinavia"/><ref name ="socialism"/><ref>Ben Schreckinger and Jonathan topaz (July 6, 2015). [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-socialist-surge-119785.html The socialist surge]. ''[[Politico]].'' Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.salon.com/2015/10/08/bernie_sanders_is_ayn_rands_worst_nightmare_hes_changing_how_we_view_socialism_and_exposing_free_market_parasites/ Bernie Sanders is Ayn Rand's worst nightmare: He's changing how we view socialism – and exposing free market parasites]. ''Salon'' October 8, 2015.</ref> In November 2015, Sanders gave a speech at [[Georgetown University]] about his view of democratic socialism, including its place in the policies of presidents [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]].<ref name=atlanticsocialism>{{cite web |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/bernie-sanders-makes-his-pitch-for-socialism/416913/ |title=How Bernie Sanders Explains Democratic Socialism |first=Clare |last=Foran |work=The Atlantic}}</ref><ref>[https://berniesanders.com/democratic-socialism-in-the-united-states/ Senator Bernie Sanders on Democratic Socialism in the United States]. BernieSanders.com, November 19, 2015.</ref> In defining what democratic socialism means to him, Sanders said: "I don’t believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a decent standard of living and that their incomes should go up, not down. I do believe in private companies that thrive and invest and grow in America, companies that create jobs here, rather than companies that are shutting down in America and increasing their profits by exploiting low-wage labor abroad."<ref name="atlanticsocialism" />

Many commentators have noted the consistency of Sanders' views throughout his political career.<ref name="Gram2015a">{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/bernie-sanders-has-had-consistent-message-for-4-decades/ |title=Bernie Sanders has had consistent message for 4 decades |date=May 11, 2015 |work=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151111064629/www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/bernie-sanders-has-had-consistent-message-for-4-decades/ |archive-date=November 11, 2015 |dead-url=yes |issn=0745-9696}}</ref><ref name="maddow1">{{cite news |last1=Maddow |first1=Rachel |title=Bernie Sanders' track record distinguished by consistency |url=http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/sanders-record-distinguished-by-consistency-504479811515 |accessdate=October 13, 2015 |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=August 13, 2015}}</ref> Calling international trade agreements a "disaster for the American worker", Sanders voted against and has spoken for years against [[NAFTA]], [[CAFTA]], and [[PNTR]] with China, saying that they have resulted in American corporations moving abroad. He also strongly opposes the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]], which he says was "written by corporate America and the pharmaceutical industry and Wall Street."<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 21, 2015 |title=The TPP Must Be Defeated |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/the-tpp-must-be-defeated_b_7352166.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref name="On the Issues">{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Bernie_Sanders_Free_Trade.htm |title=Bernie Sanders on Free Trade |publisher=On the Issues |accessdate=January 20, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders focuses on economic issues such as [[Income inequality in the United States|income]] and [[Wealth inequality in the United States|wealth inequality]],<ref name="sanders_confirms" /><ref>{{cite web |title=On the Issues: Income and Wealth Inequality |url=https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/ |publisher=BernieSanders.com |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> raising the [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]],<ref>Samantha Lachman (July 22, 2015). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-minimum-wage-bill_55afbbd1e4b0a9b9485332eb Bernie Sanders Introduces $15 Minimum Wage Bill As Federal Contract Workers Strike]. ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref> [[universal healthcare]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Jaffe |first=Sarah |date=July 14, 2009 |title=Sanders Schools McCain on Public Healthcare |work=[[The Nation]] |quote=Senator Bernie Sanders is one of the Senate's fiercest advocates for real healthcare reform that puts Americans, not private insurance companies, first. Recently, Sanders told The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel, '[I]f you are serious about real healthcare reform, the only way to go is [[single-payer]].' |url=http://www.thenation.com/video/sanders-schools-mccain-public-healthcare |accessdate=October 16, 2013}}</ref> reducing the burden of [[student debt]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Dash |first=Stephen |date=April 22, 2015 |title=What Is Bernie Sanders' Endgame for College Affordability and Student Loans? |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-dash/what-is-bernie-sanders-en_b_7119602.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> making public colleges and universities tuition-free [[Robin Hood tax|by taxing financial transactions]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Resnikoff |first=Ned |date=May 19, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders unveils plan for tuition-free public colleges |publisher=[[Al Jazeera]] |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/19/bernie-sanders-unveils-plan-for-tuition-free-public-colleges.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> and expanding [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] benefits by eliminating the cap on the payroll tax on all incomes above $250,000.<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-on-congress-to-strengthen-and-expand-social-security Sanders Files Bill to Strengthen, Expand Social Security]. Senate.gov. March 12, 2015.</ref><ref>Nicole Woo, Janelle Jones and John Schmitt (September 2011). [http://www.cepr.net/publications/reports/whos-above-the-social-security-payroll-tax-cap Who's Above the Social Security Payroll Tax Cap?] [[Center for Economic and Policy Research]]. Retrieved September 7, 2015.</ref> He has become a prominent supporter of laws requiring companies to give their workers [[parental leave]], [[sick leave]], and [[List of statutory minimum employment leave by country|vacation time]], noting that such laws have been adopted by nearly all other developed countries.<ref name="agenda">{{cite web |title=Family values agenda: paid family leave, paid sick leave, paid vacation |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/061115-familyvaluesagendafactsheet?inline=file |format=PDF |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> He also supports legislation that would make it easier for workers to join or form a [[Labor unions in the United States|union]].<ref name="Economic Agenda">Bernie Sanders (December 1, 2014). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/an-economic-agenda-for-am_b_6249022.html An Economic Agenda for America: 12 Steps Forward]. ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved June 27, 2015.</ref><ref>Ned Resnikoff (October 6, 2015). [http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/10/6/bernie-sanders-proposes-labor-law-reforms.html Bernie Sanders proposes sweeping labor law reforms]. Al Jazeera. Retrieved October 6, 2015.</ref>

Sanders has advocated for greater democratic participation by citizens, [[campaign finance reform]], and the overturn of ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legislation: Campaign Finance |website=Bernie Sanders: U.S. Senator for Vermont |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/legislation/issue/?id=a22c4c55-2c79-4d6b-895b-704230412415 |accessdate=February 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=March 22, 2015 |title=If We Don't Overturn Citizens United, The Congress Will Become Paid Employees of the Billionaire Class |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/sanders-to-senate-if-we-dont-overturn-citizens-united-the-congress-will-become-paid-employees-of-the-billionaire-class_b_6918468.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref> He also advocates comprehensive financial reforms,<ref>{{cite web |title=Text of Bernie Sanders’ Wall Street and economy speech |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/text-of-bernie-sanders-wall-street-and-economy-speech-2016-01-05 |work=MarketWatch |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref> such as breaking up [[too big to fail|"too big to fail]]" financial institutions, restoring [[Glass–Steagall legislation]], reforming the [[Federal Reserve Bank]] and allowing the Post Office to offer basic financial services in economically marginalized communities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Break Up Big Banks |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/break-up-big-banks_b_7233284.html |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |title=Bernie Sanders backs big bank breakups, in contrast with Hillary Clinton |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-big-ban-break-ups-glass-steagall-120287.html |website=Politico |publisher=Politico |accessdate=August 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanders |first1=Bernie |title=Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/23/opinion/bernie-sanders-to-rein-in-wall-street-fix-the-fed.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=December 23, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pinsker |first1=Joe |title=Bernie Sanders's Highly Sensible Plan to Turn Post Offices Into Banks |url=http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-lets-turn-post-offices-into-banks/411589/ |work=The Atlantic |accessdate=January 6, 2016}}</ref> Sanders strongly opposed the [[U.S. invasion of Iraq]] and has criticized a number of policies instituted during the [[War on Terror]], particularly [[Mass surveillance in the United States|mass surveillance]] and the [[Patriot Act|USA PATRIOT Act]].<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/video/flashback-rep-bernie-sanders-opposes-iraq-war Flashback: Rep. Bernie Sanders Opposes Iraq War] Official Senate Site</ref><ref>Krieg, Gregory (May 7, 2015). [http://mic.com/articles/117738/bernie-sanders-rips-nsa-spying-and-pushes-for-end-to-mass-surveillance Bernie Sanders Rips NSA Spying and Pushes for End to Mass Surveillance]. Mic.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref>

Sanders has liberal stances on social issues, having advocated for [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]] and against the [[Defense of Marriage Act]]. He is also [[pro-choice]] regarding abortion, and opposes the defunding of [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lyons |first=Kim |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' Views on Gay Marriage Show He's Been a Supporter for a Long Time |url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/79951-bernie-sanders-views-on-gay-marriage-show-hes-been-a-supporter-for-a-long-time |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lavender |first=Paige |date=July 29, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders: GOP Efforts To Defund Planned Parenthood 'An Attack On Women's Health' |website=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-planned-parenthood_55b8f386e4b0074ba5a6fe60 |accessdate=October 5, 2015}}</ref> He has denounced [[institutional racism]] and called for criminal justice reform to reduce the [[incarceration in the United States|number of people in prison]], advocates a crackdown on [[Police brutality in the United States|police brutality]], and supports abolishing [[Private prison#In the United States|private, for-profit prisons]]<ref>[https://berniesanders.com/issues/racial-justice/ Issues: Racial Justice]. BernieSanders.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.salon.com/2015/09/17/bernie_sanders_declares_war_on_the_prison_industrial_complex_with_major_new_bill/ Bernie Sanders declares war on the prison-industrial complex with major new bill]. ''Salon''. September 17, 2015.</ref><ref>Bernie Sanders (September 22, 2015). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernie-sanders/we-must-end-for-profit-pr_b_8180124.html We Must End For-Profit Prisons]. ''The Huffington Post''. Retrieved September 23, 2015.</ref> and the [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]].<ref>[http://www.vice.com/read/bernie-sanders-wants-to-abolish-the-death-penalty-vgtrn-1030 Bernie Sanders Wants to Abolish the Death Penalty]. ''Vice''. October 30, 2015.</ref> Sanders supports legalizing marijuana at the federal level.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/bernie-sanders-supports-ending-federal-marijuana-ban-20151028 Bernie Sanders Supports Ending Federal Marijuana Ban]. ''Rolling Stone''. October 28, 2015.</ref> On November 15, 2015, in response to [[ISIS]]'s attacks in Paris, Sanders cautioned against "Islamophobia" and said, "We gotta be tough, not stupid," in the war against ISIS, and said the U.S. should continue to welcome Syrian refugees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/politics/bernie-sanders-cleveland-isis/index.html |title=Bernie Sanders on ISIS: U.S. needs to be "tough" not "stupid" |author=Tom LoBianco, CNN |date=November 17, 2015 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>

Sanders advocates bold action to reverse [[global warming]] and substantial investment in [[infrastructure]], with "energy efficiency and [[sustainability]]" and [[job creation]] as prominent goals.<ref>[http://www.democracynow.org/2014/9/22/bernie_sanders_at_peoples_climate_march Bernie Sanders at People's Climate March: To Stop Global Warming, Get Dirty Money Out of Politics]. ''[[Democracy now!]]'' September 22, 2014.</ref><ref>Ashley Halsey III (January 27, 2015).[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/01/27/bernie-sanders-wants-to-spend-1-trillion-on-infrastruture/ Bernie Sanders wants to spend $1 trillion on infrastruture]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved August 18, 2015.</ref> Sanders considers [[Climate change and national security|climate change as the greatest threat]] to national security.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/260184-sanders-climate-change-still-greatest-threat-to-national-security |title=Sanders: Climate change still greatest threat to national security |publisher=The Hill |year=2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Bernie and Jane Sanders by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Sanders with his wife [[Jane O'Meara Sanders|Jane O'Meara]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa]], January 2016]]
Sanders married Deborah Shiling in 1964 and they bought a summer home in Vermont; they had no children and divorced in 1966. Over the next few years, he took various jobs in New York and Vermont and spent several months on an Israeli [[kibbutz]] [[Sha'ar HaAmakim]].<ref name=Politico/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Aderet |first1=Ofer |title=Mystery Solved? Haaretz Archive Reveals Which Kibbutz Bernie Sanders Volunteered On |url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.701513 |website=Haaretz |accessdate=5 February 2016 |date=4 February 2016}}</ref><ref name="Leibovich2007">{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Leibovich |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |title=The Socialist Senator |date=January 21, 2007 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21Sanders.t.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=January 26, 2015}}</ref> His son, Levi Sanders, was born in 1969 to girlfriend Susan Campbell Mott.<ref>Talbot, Margaret. [http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/12/the-populist-prophet "The Populist Prophet"], ''[[The New Yorker]]'' (October 12, 2015).</ref> In 1988, Sanders married [[Jane O’Meara Driscoll]] ({{née|Mary Jane O'Meara}}), who later became president of [[Burlington College]], in Burlington, Vermont.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenhouse |first=Emily |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Getting to Know Jane Sanders, Wife of Bernie |publisher=Bloomberg |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-12/getting-to-know-jane-sanders-wife-of-bernie |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> With her he has three stepchildren—Dave Driscoll, Carina Driscoll, and Heather Titus (née Driscoll)—whom he considers to be his own children.<ref name=Politico/><ref>{{cite web |publisher=CNN |date=May 27, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders Fast Facts |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/27/us/bernie-sanders-fast-facts/ |accessdate=August 19, 2015}}</ref> He also has seven grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/article/bernie-sanders-fun-grandpa |title=Bernie Sanders Is 'Fun Grandpa': 5 Things We Learned at His Home : People.com |work=PEOPLE.com}}</ref>

In December 1987, during his tenure as mayor, Sanders recorded a folk album titled ''[[We Shall Overcome (Bernie Sanders album)|We Shall Overcome]]'' with 30 Vermont musicians. As Sanders was not skilled at singing, he performed his vocals in a [[talking blues]] style.<ref name="nprbehindthemusic">{{cite news |title=Behind The Music: Bernie Sanders |url=http://www.npr.org/2016/01/30/464736315/behind-the-music-bernie-sanders |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |work=NPR |date=January 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-untold-story-of-bernie-sanders-1987-folk-album-20151202 |work=Rolling Stone |title=The Untold Story of Bernie Sanders' 1987 Folk Album |date=December 2, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |author=Tessa Stuart}}</ref> Sanders appeared in a cameo role in the 1988 comedy-drama film ''[[Sweet Hearts Dance]]'', playing a man who distributes candy to young trick-or-treaters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/who-knew-bernie-sanders-had-career-low-budget-rom--231777 |title=Bernie Sanders has appeared in not one, but two low-budget rom-coms |publisher=A.V. Club.com |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |date=February 5, 2016 |author=Joe Blevis}}</ref> In 1999, he acted in the film ''My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception'', playing the role of Rabbi Manny Shevitz. In this role he mourned the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] moving to Los Angeles, reflecting Sanders' own upbringing in Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/bernie-sanders-played-rabbi-1999-romantic-comedy-article-1.2519921 |work=New York Daily News |title=Bernie Sanders plays rabbi Manny Shevitz in 1999 romantic comedy, goes on long-winded Brooklyn Dodgers rant |date=February 4, 2016 |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |author=Meg Wagner}}</ref> On February 6, 2016, Sanders was a guest-star on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' alongside [[Larry David]].<ref name="SNL">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2016/02/07/465892623/with-a-little-help-from-larry-david-bernie-sanders-does-snl|title=With A Little Help From Larry David, Bernie Sanders Does SNL|publisher=NPR.org|accessdate=February 7, 2016|date=February 7, 2016}}</ref> He played a Polish immigrant on a [[steamboat]] that was sinking near the [[Statue of Liberty]].<ref name="SNL"/>

Sanders's elder brother, [[Larry Sanders (Green Party)|Larry Sanders]], lives in [[England]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sanders brothers: A tale of two underdogs |publisher=BBC News |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33254500}}</ref> He was a [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] [[county councillor]] representing the East Oxford [[Electoral division (UK)|division]] on [[Oxfordshire County Council]], until he retired from the Council in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=June 4, 2009 |title=Election results for East Oxford |publisher=Oxfordshire County Council |url=http://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/%28S%2833rhih553gpijinuki3kvf55%29%29/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=27 |accessdate=May 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= |date=June 8, 2013 |title=Green County Councillor Retires |publisher=Oxfordshire Green Party |url=http://www.greenoxfordshire.com/news/green-county-councillor-retires.html |accessdate=July 18, 2015}}</ref> Larry Sanders ran as a Green Party candidate for [[Oxford West and Abingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Oxford West and Abingdon]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2015|2015 British general election]] and came in fifth.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Lauren |date=May 8, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' brother lost his longshot bid for British Parliament |work=The Week |url=http://theweek.com/speedreads/554052/bernie-sanders-brother-lost-longshot-bid-british-parliament |accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Collinson>{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Bernie Sanders' brotherly love |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/07/politics/bernie-sanders-brother-larry-sanders-uk/index.html |accessdate=May 8, 2015}}</ref> Bernie told CNN, "I owe my brother an enormous amount. It was my brother who actually introduced me to a lot of my ideas."<ref name=Collinson/>

===Religion===
Sanders had a Jewish upbringing, attended [[Hebrew school]], and had a [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah|bar mitzvah]] ceremony.<ref name=Sellers /> In 1963, in cooperation with the [[Labor Zionism|Labor Zionist]] youth movement [[Hashomer Hatzair]], he and his first wife volunteered at [[Sha’ar HaAmakim]], a kibbutz in northern Israel.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zeveloff |first=Naomi |date=February 4, 2016 |title=Bernie Sanders Kibbutz Revealed at Last |url=http://forward.com/news/israel/332946/bernie-sanders-kibbutz-revealed-at-last/ |newspaper=Forward |location=|access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref><ref name="jtamysterysolved">{{cite news |title=Mystery solved: Sanders volunteered at Kibbutz Shaar HaEmekim |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/05/news-opinion/politics/sanders-in-1990-named-the-kibbutz-were-he-stayed-in-the-early-1960s?utm_source=Newsletter+subscribers&utm_campaign=c0288f7c11-Daily_Briefing_2_5_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2dce5bc6f8-c0288f7c11-28459777 |accessdate=February 5, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Frances Stead Sellers |title=The kibbutz Bernie Sanders stayed in may have been revealed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/05/the-kibbutz-bernie-sanders-stayed-in-may-have-been-revealed/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 5, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders is a [[Jewish secularism|secular Jew]],<ref>Bruinius, Harry. [http://m.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2016/0129/Rise-of-Trump-and-Sanders-Does-religion-still-matter-in-politics "Rise of Trump and Sanders: Does religion still matter in politics?"], [[Christian Science Monitor]] (January 29, 2016).</ref><ref>Henneberger, Melinda. [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-09-14/how-the-presidential-campaign-got-religion "How the presidential campaign got religion"], [[Bloomberg News]] (September 15, 2015).</ref> He has rarely talked about religion and has downplayed questions of religion.<ref name=Sellers /> Sanders has said he is "proud to be Jewish" but is "not particularly religious",<ref name=feldman2015/><ref name=Sellers>Sellers, Frances and Wagner, John. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-finally-answers-the-god-question/2016/01/26/83429390-bfb0-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html "Why Bernie Sanders doesn’t participate in organized religion"], ''[[Washington Post]]'' (January 27, 2016).</ref> saying he believes in God but is "not actively involved" with [[organized religion]].<ref name=Sellers /><ref>Winston, Kimberly. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/bernie-sanders-disappoints-some-atheists-with-very-strong-religious-feelings/2016/02/04/433a07f8-cb89-11e5-b9ab-26591104bb19_story.html "Bernie Sanders disappoints some atheists with ‘very strong religious’ feelings"], [[Washington Post]] (February 4, 2016).</ref> A press package issued by his office states, without elaboration, "Religion: Jewish".<ref>[http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/press-package?download=1 "Press Package"], www.sanders.senate.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2015.</ref>

His brother, Larry, has described him as "quite substantially not religious".<ref name=Sellers /> In October 2015, on the [[late-night talk show]] ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', Bernie Sanders said:<ref>Friedman, Gabe. [http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.682069 "WATCH: Bernie Sanders talks spirituality, Larry David and marijuana on 'Jimmy Kimmel'"], ''[[Haaretz]]'' (October 24, 2015).</ref>
<blockquote>I am who I am, and what I believe in and what my spirituality is about is that we’re all in this together. That I think it is not a good thing to believe as human beings we can turn our backs on the suffering of other people ... and this is not Judaism, this is what Pope Francis is talking about, that we can’t just worship billionaires and the making of more and more money. Life is more than that.</blockquote> In 2016 he stated he had "very strong religious and spiritual feelings" and explained, "My spirituality is that we are all in this together and that when children go hungry, when veterans sleep out on the street, it impacts me".<ref name="jtasandersdiscussesfaith">{{cite news |title=Sanders discusses faith, Clinton grapples with rabbinical question on humility |url=http://www.jta.org/2016/02/04/news-opinion/politics/sanders-discusses-faith-clinton-grapples-with-rabbinical-question-on-humility |accessdate=February 4, 2016 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=February 4, 2016}}</ref>

Sanders's wife is [[Roman Catholic]], and he has frequently expressed admiration for [[Pope Francis]], saying that "the leader of the [[Catholic Church]] is raising profound issues. It is important that we listen to what he has said." Sanders has said he feels "very close" to Francis's economic teachings, describing him as "incredibly smart and brave".<ref name=gaudiano/><ref name="Pope Francis">{{cite web |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=February 15, 2015 |title=Pope Francis |publisher=Senate.gov |url=http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/pope-francis |accessdate=June 13, 2015}}</ref><ref>Heilman, Uriel. [http://www.timesofisrael.com/nh-jewish-vote-all-over-the-map-ahead-of-first-presidential-primary/ "New Hampshire Jews all over the map ahead of presidential primary"], ''[[The Times of Israel]]'' (February 2, 2016).</ref>

==See also==
* [[American Left]]
* [[Democratic Party presidential candidates, 2016]]
* [[History of the socialist movement in the United States]]
* [[Senate Democratic Caucus]]
* [[Third party officeholders in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last=Rice |first=Tom W. |year=1985 |title=Who Votes for a Socialist Mayor?: The Case of Burlington, Vermont |journal=Polity |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan Journals |doi=10.2307/3234575 |issn=0032-3497 |jstor=3234575 |oclc=5546248357 |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=795–806 |subscription=yes}}
* {{cite book |last=Rosenfeld |first=Steven |date=1992 |title=Making History in Vermont: The Election of a Socialist to Congress |publisher=Hollowbrook Publishing |location=Wakefield, New Hampshire |isbn=978-0-89341-698-0 |lccn=91034055 |oclc=24468446 |ol=1553980M}}
* {{cite book |last=Sanders |first=Bernie |date=2011 |title=The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Wn_AgAAQBAJ |publisher=Nation Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1-56858-684-7 |lccn=2011920256 |oclc=697261221 |ol=25090387M}}
* {{cite book |last1=Sanders |first1=Bernie |last2=Gutman |first2=Huck |date=1998 |orig-year=1st <abbr title="published">pub</abbr>. 1997 |title=Outsider in the House |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_2YjBm2_JGUC |publisher=Verso |location=London |isbn=978-1-85984-177-8 |lccn=97024753 |oclc=477165857}}
* {{cite book |last=Soifer |first=Steven |date=1991 |title=The Socialist Mayor: Bernard Sanders in Burlington, Vermont |publisher=Praeger |location=Westport, Connecticut |isbn=978-0-89789-219-3 |lccn=90048954 |oclc=22491683 |ol=1887682M}}

==External links==
{{wikisource-author}} {{wikiquote}} {{Commons category|Bernie Sanders}}
* [http://www.sanders.senate.gov Official U.S. Senate Site]
* [https://berniesanders.com/ Official Presidential Campaign Site]
* [http://feelthebern.org/ FeelTheBern.org] - detailed position descriptions compiled by volunteers
* {{CongLinks |congbio=s000033 |ballot=Bernie_Sanders |nndb=304/000040184 |votesmart=27110 |govtrack=400357 |natjournal=439 |opencong=400357 |rollcall=509 |politifact=bernie-s |fec=S4VT00033 |opensecrets=N00000528 |assets=bernard-sanders |legistorm=460/Sen_Bernard_Sanders.html |followthemoney= |ontheissues=Senate/Bernie_Sanders.htm |congress=bernard-sanders/1010 |worldcat=lccn-n79-136413 |cspan=994 |rose= |imdb=0761471 |bloomberg=bernie-sanders |nyt=s/bernard_sanders |washpo=gIQABiDjMP}}
* {{C-SPAN|Bernie Sanders}}
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Ted Cruz

2016-02-08T15:26:33Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Early life and family */ tweak for accuracy

{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|expiry=15 March 2016|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Ted Cruz
|image = Ted Cruz, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Texas]]
|alongside = [[John Cornyn]]
|term_start = January 3, 2013
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]
|successor =
|office1 = Solicitor General of Texas
|governor1 = [[Rick Perry]]
|term_start1 = January 9, 2003
|term_end1 = May 12, 2008
|predecessor1 = Julie Parsley
|successor1 = James C. Ho<ref>{{cite news |last1=Livingston |first1=Abby |last2=Svitek |first2=Patrick |date=March 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Will Seek the Presidency |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/22/cruz-announces-presidential-run/ |newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>
|birth_name = Rafael Edward Cruz
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|22}}
|birth_place = [[Calgary]], Canada
|citizenship = [[United States nationality law|United States]] [[Canadian nationality law|Canada]] (1970–2014)
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]]|2001|}}
|children = 2
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|alma_mater = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]], 1992) [[Harvard Law School]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]], 1995)
|religion = Christianity ([[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]])
|website = [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ Senate website] [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Campaign website]
}}
'''Rafael Edward''' "'''Ted'''" '''Cruz''' (born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Texas]]. He is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016|candidate for President of the United States]] in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]].

Cruz attended elementary and high school in and around [[Houston]], graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1992, and then from [[Harvard Law School]] in 1995. Between 1999 and 2003, Cruz was the director of the Office of Policy Planning at the [[Federal Trade Commission]], an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] at the [[United States Department of Justice]], and domestic policy advisor to [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush]] on the 2000 [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]]. He served as [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas from 2003 to 2008, appointed by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]]. He was the first Hispanic, and the longest-serving solicitor general in Texas history. Cruz was also an [[adjunct professor]] of law from 2004 to 2009 at the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], where he taught U.S. Supreme Court litigation.

Cruz ran for the Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]], and in July 2012 defeated [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Lieutenant Governor]] [[David Dewhurst]] during the Republican [[primary election|primary]] [[runoff election|runoff]], 57%–43%. Cruz then defeated former state Representative [[Paul Sadler]] in the November 2012 general election, winning 56%–41%. He is the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve as a U.S. senator representing Texas, and is one of three Senators of Cuban descent. Cruz chairs the [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]], and is also the chairman of the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness]]. In November 2012, he was appointed vice-chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]].

Cruz began campaigning for the [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016|Republican presidential nomination]] in March 2015. During the primary campaign, his base of support has been mainly among [[social conservative]]s, though he has had crossover appeal to other factions within his party.<ref name="ZitnerWSJ01042016">{{cite news |last=Zitner |first=Aaron |date=January 4, 2016 |title=Poll Points to Upside for Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio in GOP Race |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/poll-points-to-upside-for-ted-cruz-marco-rubio-in-gop-race-1451956770 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |location=[[New York]] |access-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref> His victory in the February 1, 2016 [[United States presidential election in Iowa, 2016#Republican caucus|Iowa caucuses]] marked the first time a Hispanic won a presidential caucus.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016>[http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/02/01/iowans-to-choose-trump-aggressiveness-cruz-conservatism-or-rubio-moderation/ Ted Cruz makes history, becomes first Hispanic to win Iowa caucus], ''[[Fox News Channel|FOX News Latino]]'', February 1, 2016.</ref><ref name="CNN02012016">{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=February 2, 2016 |title=Iowa caucus results: Ted Cruz wins, Hillary Clinton declares victory |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/politics/iowa-caucuses-2016-highlights/index.html |newspaper=[[CNN]] |location=[[Atlanta, Georgia]] |access-date=February 6, 2016|quote=Cruz's victory sets him up as a formidable force in delegate-rich, Southern states to come and offers movement conservatives hope that one of their own can become the Republican nominee for the first time since Ronald Reagan.}}</ref>

==Early life and family==
Ted Cruz was born on December 22, 1970,<ref name="CongressionalBio">{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001098|title=CRUZ, Rafael Edward (Ted) – Biographical Information|publisher=Bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="AustinAmStCruz">[http://www.statesman.com/s/news/politics/ted-cruz/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz], ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''</ref> at [[Foothills Medical Centre|Foothills General Hospital]]<ref name="Macleans">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: Made in Canada|last1=Abel|first1=Allen|last2=Markusoff|first2=Jason|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/washington/ted-cruz-made-in-canada|newspaper=[[Maclean's Magazine]]|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Panetta|first=Alexander|date=May 9, 2015|title=Birthplace of President Ted Cruz? Calgary homeowner hopes it never happens|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/birthplace-of-president-ted-cruz-calgary-homeowner-hopes-it-never-happens|newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]]|agency=[[Canadian Press]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015|quote=Steward is pretty sure the American conservative began life at the Foothills Medical Centre — a government-run, Canadian socialist hospital.}}</ref> in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]], to parents Eleanor Elizabeth (Darragh) Wilson and [[Rafael Bienvenido Cruz]].<ref name=Texplainer08132012>{{cite news|title=Texplainer: Could Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Be President?|first=John Wayne|last=Ferguson|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/08/13/texplainer-could-canadian-born-ted-cruz-be-preside/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|quote=Bottom line: Despite being born in Canada, Cruz can be considered a U.S. citizen because his mother was a U.S. citizen who lived in the United States long enough, according to constitutional experts.|date=August 13, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name=GilmanDallasNews08182013>{{cite news|title=Canada-born Ted Cruz became a citizen of that country as well as U.S.|author=Gillman, Todd J.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130818-born-in-canada-ted-cruz-became-a-citizen-of-that-country-as-well-as-u.s..ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=August 18, 2013|accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref> At the time of his birth, Cruz's parents had lived in Calgary for three years and were working in the oil business as owners of a [[Reflection seismology|seismic-data processing]] firm for oil [[Well drilling|drilling]].<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name="FOXNewsLatino04082013">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz's Father Talks About Latinos, Conservatives and the American Dream|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/04/08/ted-cruz-father-and-inspiration-talks-about-latinos-conservatives-and-american/|newspaper=[[Fox Latin America|FOX News Latino]]|quote=Cruz, the father, and his wife, Eleanor Darragh, left the United States for a few years, living in Canada to take advantage of the oil boom.|date=April 8, 2012|accessdate=October 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes11182011>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/ted-cruz-is-a-test-for-the-tea-party-in-texas-race.html|title=A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race|author=Zernike, Kate|date=November 18, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name=newvos1>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|first=Terence|last=Jeffrey|url=http://cwww.creators.com/opinion/terence-jeffrey/ted-cruz-new-voice-for-the-american-dream.html|newspaper=[[Creators Syndicate]]|year=2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013>{{cite news|title=Senate candidate Ted Cruz aims to pick up mantle of Reagan|author=Garrett, Robert T.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120428-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-aims-to-pick-up-mantle-of-reagan.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=April 28, 2013|accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has said, “I’m the son of two mathematicians/computer programmers.”<ref name=Mervis>{{cite news |last=Mervis |first=Jeffrey |date=December 9, 2015 |title=From a bully pulpit, Ted Cruz offers his take on climate change |url=http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2015/12/bully-pulpit-ted-cruz-offers-his-take-climate-change |newspaper=[[Science (journal)|ScienceInsider]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref> In 1974, his father left the family and moved to Texas.<ref>Larson, Leslie. [http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ted-cruz-plans-renounce-canadian-citizenship-article-1.1561380 "Ted Cruz plans to renounce Canadian citizenship"], ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York'' (December 30, 2013).</ref> Later that same year, his father became a [[Born again (Christianity)|"born again" Evangelical Christian]] and his parents reconciled. The family relocated to Houston.<ref name="Macleans"/>

Cruz's father was born in [[Cuba]], and his grandfather was from the [[Canary Islands]] in [[Spain]]. His mother was born in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], and is three quarters of Irish descent and one quarter of Italian descent.<ref>https://infotomb.com/4ffm4.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=It+was+to+this+fledgling+nation+that+my+great+grandparents+arrived+in+1902+from+the+Canary+Islands.+Agustin+and+Maria+Cruz+boarded+a+ship+with+their+infant+son,+Rafael,+bound+for+the+New+World../|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His father left Cuba in 1957 to attend the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and obtained political asylum in the United States after his four-year student visa expired.<ref name=Welna20June>{{cite news|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/06/20/193585553/how-ted-cruzs-father-shaped-his-views-on-immigration|title=How Ted Cruz's Father Shaped His Views On Immigration|date=June 20, 2013|accessdate=December 14, 2015|first=David|last=Welna|publisher=NPR}}</ref> Rafael Cruz earned Canadian citizenship in 1973<ref name="Macleans"/> and ultimately became a [[Naturalization|naturalized]] U.S. citizen in 2005.<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013>{{cite news|title=The Rise of Rafael Cruz|author=Costa, Robert|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/356934/rise-rafael-cruz-robert-costa|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=August 28, 2013|quote=Born in Matanzas, Cuba, he grew up in the Cuban middle class in the 1950s, as the son of an RCA salesman and an elementary-school teacher. As a teenager, he grew to detest the regime of [[Fulgencio Batista]]. He and some of his schoolmates frequently clashed with Batista’s officials. Eventually, he linked up with Castro’s guerrilla groups and supported their attempts to overthrow Batista. It’s a decision he still regrets. His move toward Castro, he explains, was mostly due to his anger with Batista’s government, which at one point imprisoned him and tortured him for his work with the revolutionaries. He says he never shared Castro’s Communism, but at the time, it was the best way to fight Batista’s oppression. By age 18, in 1957, he knew he needed to get out, and a friend essentially bribed an official to secure him an exit permit.|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012>{{cite news|title=Cruz's life defies simplification|author=Olsen, Lise|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Cruz-s-life-defies-simplification-3946523.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 13, 2012|quote=The ex-revolutionary pastor regularly stumps for his son, whom he's compared to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah – a relentless advocate with "fire in his bones." Ted, he says, is "not going to Washington to compromise."|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Swartz |first=Mimi |date=March 31, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz and the New Politics of Texas |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/opinion/ted-cruz-and-the-new-politics-of-texas.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=Her+parents+were+Irish+and+Italian.+In+the+late+1800s%2C+my+grandmother%27s+father%2C+Dominic+Ciccini%2C+came+to+America+from+Naples%2C+Italy%2C+as+a+teenager.+|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His mother earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from [[Rice University]] in the 1950s.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/> Eleanor and Rafael Cruz divorced in 1997.<ref name=Recio1Apr>{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24782596.html|title=Ted Cruz’s family story: Poignant but incomplete|first=Maria|last=Recio|work=McClatchy|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=December 14, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz had two older half-sisters from his father's previous marriage, Miriam Ceferina Cruz and Roxana Lourdes Cruz. Miriam died in 2011.<ref name=Recio1Apr/><ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/2015/06/26/ted-cruzs-secret-weapon-win-right Ted Cruz’s Secret Weapon to Win the Right], ''[[National Journal]]'', Andy Kroll, June 25, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.</ref><ref name="TimeTruthCruz">{{cite book|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America|pages=28–44, 101–103|publisher=Broadside|year=2015|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>

==Education==
Cruz attended two private high schools: [[Faith West Academy]] in [[Katy, Texas]]<ref name="eriksen">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.chron.com/insidekaty/archives/2005/08/supreme_court_l.html |title=Solicitor general carries "supreme" weight with Katy roots |last=Eriksen |first=Helen |date=August 11, 2005 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> and [[Second Baptist School|Second Baptist High School]] in [[Houston]], from which he graduated as [[valedictorian]] in 1988.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/><ref>{{cite web|title=Distinguished Alumni|url=http://www.secondbaptistschool.org/distinguishedalumni|publisher=Second Baptist School|accessdate=April 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mackey |first=Maureen |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Him |url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/03/23/Ted-Cruz-20-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Him |newspaper=Fiscal Times |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=7: He graduated from Houston’s Second Baptist High School in 1988 and was valedictorian of his class.}} {{cite news |last=Dunham |first=Richard |date=October 15, 2012 |title=Profile: A man of many contrasts, Ted Cruz defies easy stereotypes |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/10/profile-a-man-of-many-contrasts-ted-cruz-defies-easy-stereotypes/ |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=Cruz was one of only two Hispanics when he transferred to Houston’s Second Baptist School his junior year. He graduated valedictorian in 1988.}} {{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jake |date=March 19, 2015 |title=Will grassroots support be enough for Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016? |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-grassroots-support-be-enough-for-sen-ted-cruz-in-2016/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=He graduated valedictorian of his high school in 1988, attended Princeton University for his undergraduate studies, and received his law degree from Harvard University.}} {{cite news |last=Barbash |first=Fred |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Why Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., is the perfect launchpad for Ted Cruz |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/23/why-liberty-university-in-lynchburg-va-is-the-perfect-launchpad-for-ted-cruz/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The last time he spoke there, Cruz made no mention of his Ivy League degrees but recalled fondly his memories of Second Baptist High School in Houston, where he was valedictorian, and how his wife was the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries.}} {{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/ted-cruz |title=Ted Cruz |author= |year=2015 |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The valedictorian of his class at Houston's Second Baptist High School, Cruz went on to Princeton University.}}</ref> During high school, Cruz participated in a Houston-based group known at the time as [[Center for the American Idea|the Free Market Education Foundation]], a program that taught high school students the philosophies of economists such as [[Milton Friedman]] and [[Frédéric Bastiat]].<ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013/><ref name=Lizza>{{Cite journal |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |authorlink=Ryan Lizza |date=November 19, 2012 |title=The Party Next Time |journal=[[The New Yorker]] |pages=50–57|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/11/19/121119fa_fact_lizza |accessdate=July 20, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz graduated ''[[cum laude]]'' from [[Princeton University]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Public Policy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135705/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz's Biography |location=Philipsburg, Montana |work=Project Vote Smart |accessdate=February 8, 2016}}</ref> from the [[Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs]] in 1992.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz 92 Sworn-in as U.S. Senator from Texas|author=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs|url=http://wws.princeton.edu/node/11519|newspaper=[[Princeton University|Princeton University Bulletin]]|date=January 3, 2013|location=[[Princeton, New Jersey]]|accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> While at Princeton, he competed for the [[American Whig-Cliosophic Society]]'s [[Princeton Debate Panel|Debate Panel]] and won the top speaker award at both the 1992 U.S. National Debating Championship and the 1992 [[North American Debating Championship]].<ref name="debate.princeton.edu">{{cite news|title=Hall of Fame |author=Princeton Debate Panel|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/results/hall-of-fame/|newspaper=[[Princeton Debate Panel|Princeton University Debate Panel]]|accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> In 1992, he was named U.S. National Speaker of the Year, and with his debate partner David Panton won Team of the Year.<ref name="debate.princeton.edu"/> Cruz and Panton would later represent Harvard Law School at the 1995 World Debating Championship, losing in the semi-finals to a team from Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-01-10/news/25715479_1_death-penalty-princeton-university-war-criminals|title=Australians Win Debate At Princeton A Singapore Woman Won The Award For Best Speaker. English Is Not Her Native Language|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=April 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Showed Eloquence, and Limits, as Debater at Princeton |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-honed-political-skills-in-princeton-debate-club.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |quote=By the time he was a senior at Princeton University in 1992, Ted Cruz had developed an arsenal of rhetorical skills and theatrical gestures that made him one of the most polished performers on the college debate circuit.}}</ref><ref name="PrinceDebateNamed"/> Princeton's debate team named their annual novice championship after Cruz.<ref name="PrinceDebateNamed">{{cite web|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/our-tournaments/cruz-novice-championship/|title=Cruz Novice Championship|accessdate=January 11, 2014|author=Princeton Debate Panel|authorlink=Princeton Debate Panel}}</ref>

Cruz's senior thesis at Princeton investigated the separation of powers; its title, ''Clipping the Wings of Angels'', draws its inspiration from a passage attributed to US President [[James Madison]]: "If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Cruz argued that the drafters of the Constitution intended to protect the rights of their constituents, and that the last two items in the [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]] offer an explicit stop against an all-powerful state.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012">{{cite news|last=Eckholm|first=Erik|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/us/politics/republican-senate-candidate-in-texas-is-known-as-an-intellectual-force.html|title=A Republican Voice With Tea Party Mantle and Intellectual Heft|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=MotherJones02021992>{{cite web|last=Cruz|first=Ted|url=http://www.motherjones.com/documents/480888-cruz-thesis|title=Ted Cruz's 1992 "Clipping the Wings of Angels"|publisher=[[Princeton University]]|date=April 2, 1992|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>

After graduating from Princeton, Cruz attended [[Harvard Law School]], graduating ''[[magna cum laude]]'' in 1995 with a [[Juris Doctor]] degree.<ref name="CongressionalBio" /><ref name="BegalaBeast08012012">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Texas’s Tea Party Revolution|author=Begala, Paul|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/01/paul-begala-ted-cruz-and-texas-s-tea-party-revolution.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> While at Harvard Law, he was a primary editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]'', and executive editor of the ''[[Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy]]'', and a founding editor of the ''[[Harvard Latino Law Review]]''.<ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum/> Referring to Cruz's time as a student at Harvard Law, Professor [[Alan Dershowitz]] said, "Cruz was off-the-charts brilliant".<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz>{{cite news|title=Who is Ted Cruz?|author=Weiner, Rachel|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/who-is-ted-cruz/2012/08/01/gJQAqql8OX_blog.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, wacko like a fox|author=McManus, Doyle|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/31/opinion/la-oe-mcmanus-column-ted-cruz-20130731|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Defusing the H-Bomb: In politics, Harvard alums frame diplomas strategically|author=Clarida, Matthew Q.|author2=Lucky, Jared T.|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/30/harvard-degree-politics-alumni/|newspaper=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|date=May 30, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Yes, Ted Cruz for Texas|author=Editors|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312576/yes-ted-cruz-texas-editors|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=July 30, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> At Harvard Law, Cruz was a [[John M. Olin Foundation|John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics]].<ref name=MorganLew03292011/>

Cruz currently serves on the Board of Advisors of the ''[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]]''.<ref name=TXRevLawPol>{{cite news |title=Board of Advisors |publisher=[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]] |url=http://trolp.org/about/board-of-advisors/ |accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Legal career==

===Clerkships===
[[File:US Senator of Texas Ted Cruz at FITN in Nashua, NH 02.jpg|upright|thumb|Ted Cruz speaking in [[Nashua, New Hampshire]]]]
Cruz served as a [[law clerk]] to [[J. Michael Luttig]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit]] in 1995<ref name=MorganLew03292011>{{cite web|url=http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|title=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz, Attorney Biography|website=[[Wayback Machine]]|publisher=Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP|location=Houston, Texas|date=March 29, 2011|accessdate=December 30, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|archivedate=May 21, 2010|quote=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice and leads the firm's U.S. Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Practice.}}</ref><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew>{{cite news|title=Rising Star: Morgan Lewis' R. Ted Cruz|first=Hilary|last=Russ|url=https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/Cruz_Law360RisingStar_05apr10.pdf|newspaper=Law360|date=April 5, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and [[William Rehnquist]], [[Chief Justice of the United States]] in 1996.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/> Cruz was the first Hispanic to clerk for a Chief Justice of the United States.<ref name=Townhall05252011>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|author=Jeffery, Terry|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/terryjeffrey/2011/05/25/ted_cruz_new_voice_for_the_american_dream/page/full/|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|date=May 25, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Private practice===
After Cruz finished his clerkships, he took a position with Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal, now known as [[Charles J. Cooper|Cooper & Kirk, LLC]], from 1997 to 1998.<ref name=TXTribProfile>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz|author=Tribpedia|url=http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/ted-cruz/about/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> While with the firm, Cruz worked on matters relating to the [[National Rifle Association]], and helped prepare testimony for the [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment proceedings]] against [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]].<ref name="JToobin">{{cite news|last1=Toobin|first1=Jeffrey|title=Ted Cruz, The Absolutist|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/06/30/140630fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all|accessdate=June 25, 2014|work=The New Yorker|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> Cruz also served as private counsel for Congressman [[John Boehner]] during Boehner's lawsuit against Congressman [[Jim McDermott]] for releasing a tape recording of a Boehner telephone conversation.<ref name=GrimaldiSeaTimes06021998>{{cite news|author=Grimaldi, James V.|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980602&slug=2754000|title=Campaign Money to Fight McDermott|date=June 2, 1998|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|page=B1}}</ref>

===Bush administration===
Cruz joined the [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]] in 1999 as a domestic policy adviser, advising then-Governor [[George W. Bush]] on a wide range of policy and legal matters, including civil justice, criminal justice, constitutional law, immigration, and government reform.<ref name=TXTribProfile/>

Cruz assisted in assembling the Bush legal team, devising strategy, and drafting [[pleading]]s for filing with the [[Supreme Court of Florida]] and [[U.S. Supreme Court]], in the case [[Bush v. Gore]], during the [[Florida election recount|2000 Florida presidential recounts]], leading to two wins for the Bush team.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz>{{cite news|title=The Reinvention of Ted Cruz|author=Cottle, Michelle|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/12/the-reinvention-of-ted-cruz.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=March 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz recruited future [[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court|Chief Justice]] [[John Roberts]] and noted attorney Mike Carvin to the Bush legal team.<ref name=JToobin/>

After President Bush took office, Cruz served as an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] in the [[U.S. Justice Department]]<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and as the director of policy planning at the [[U.S. Federal Trade Commission]].<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/>

===Texas Solicitor General===
Appointed to the office of [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]],<ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008"/> Cruz served in that position from 2003 to 2008.<ref name=Lizza/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> The office had been established in 1999 to handle appeals involving the state, but Abbott hired Cruz with the idea that Cruz would take a "leadership role in the United States in articulating a vision of strict construction." As Solicitor General, Cruz argued before the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] nine times, winning five cases and losing four.<ref name=JToobin/>

Cruz has authored 70 [[United States Supreme Court]] briefs and presented 43 oral arguments, including nine before the United States Supreme Court.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012>{{cite web|first=David McKay|last=Wilson|title=Carrying the Tea Party Banner: U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz calls for a 'return to the framers’ vision of a constitutionally limited government.'|work=Harvard Law School Bulletin|date=Fall 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013|url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/bulletin/2012/fall/feature_4.php}}</ref> Cruz's record of having argued before the Supreme Court nine times is more than any practicing lawyer in Texas or any current member of Congress.<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012>{{cite news|title=For Cruz, Supreme Court Work at Heart of Campaign|author=Batheja, Aman|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/cruz-supreme-court-work-heart-campaign/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|date=July 23, 2012|quote=We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights.|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has commented on his nine cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court: "We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights."<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012/>

In 2003, while Cruz was Texas Solicitor General, the Texas Attorney General's office declined to defend Texas' sodomy law in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'', where the U.S. Supreme Court decided that state laws banning homosexual sex as illegal sodomy were unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/ted-cruz-anti-gay-marriage-crusader-not-always |title= Ted Cruz: Anti-Gay Marriage Crusader? Not Always |last1=Przybyl |first1=Heidi |date=April 29, 2015 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |accessdate=May 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the landmark case of ''[[District of Columbia v. Heller]]'', Cruz drafted the [[Amicus curiae|amicus]] brief signed by the attorneys general of 31 states, which said that the [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] handgun ban should be struck down as infringing upon the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] [[right to keep and bear arms]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=BlockNPR03142008>{{cite news|last=Block|first=Melissa|title=D.C. Gun Ban Critic: Court Must Clarify Constitution|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=88251874|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=March 14, 2008}}</ref> Cruz also presented oral argument for the amici states in the companion case to ''Heller'' before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=WSJ03142007>{{cite news|title=Second Amendment Showdown|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117384168237936437.html|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=March 14, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>
[[File:Ted cruz 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Cruz at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC., 2011]]

In addition to his success in ''Heller'', Cruz successfully defended the constitutionality of the [[Ten Commandments]] monument on the [[Texas State Capitol]] grounds before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit|Fifth Circuit]] and the U.S. Supreme Court, winning 5–4 in ''[[Van Orden v. Perry]]''.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/>

In 2004, Cruz was involved in the high-profile case, ''[[Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow]]'',<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> in which he wrote a [[Brief (law)|brief]] on behalf of all 50 states which argued that the plaintiff did not have standing to file suit on behalf of his daughter.<ref>{{cite court |litigants=ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DAVID W. GORDON, SUPERINTENDENT vs. MICHAEL A. NEWDOW, ET AL. |vol= |reporter= |opinion=No. 02-1624 |pinpoint=AMICI CURIAE Brief |court=Supreme Court of the United States |date=December 2003 |url=http://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/NewdowAmicus.pdf |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |quote=Because of Their "History and Ubiquity," Acknowledgments of Religion in Patriotic or Historical Contexts Are Entirely Consistent with the Establishment Clause.}}</ref> The Supreme Court upheld the position of Cruz’s brief.

Cruz served as lead counsel for the state and successfully defended the multiple litigation challenges to the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting plan in state and federal district courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court, which was decided 5–4 in his favor in ''[[League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry]]''.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=ReinertHousChron06282006>{{cite news|last=Reinert|first=Patty|title=Most of Texas' redistricting map upheld |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4009070.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 28, 2006|accessdate=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz also successfully defended, in ''[[Medellin v. Texas]]'', the State of Texas against an attempt to re-open the cases of 51 Mexican nationals, all of whom were convicted of murder in the United States and were on death row.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/> With the support of the [[George W. Bush Administration]], the petitioners argued that the United States had violated the [[Vienna Convention on Consular Relations]] by failing to notify the convicted nationals of their opportunity to receive legal aid from the Mexican consulate.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case">Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008) (No. 06-984).</ref> They based their case on a decision of the [[International Court of Justice]] in the [[Avena case]] which ruled that by failing to allow access to the Mexican consulate, the US had breached its obligations under the Convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.N. court rules U.S. execution violated treaty|publisher=CNN|first=Bill|last=Mears|date=January 19, 2009|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/19/mexican.execution.violation/|accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> Texas won the case in a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court holding that ICJ decisions were not binding in domestic law and that the President had no power to enforce them.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case"/>

Cruz has been named by ''[[The American Lawyer|American Lawyer]]'' magazine as one of the 50 Best Litigators under 45 in America,<ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008">{{cite news|title=Attorney General Abbott Appoints New Solicitor General: Longtime Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz returns to private practice; Deputy Solicitor General Sean Jordan to serve on leadership team|author=Office of Attorney General Greg Abbott|url=https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=2406|newspaper=State of Texas|date=April 9, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmLawMed01012007>{{cite news|title=The Young Litigators Fab Fifty|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=900005470251&slreturn=20130221194544|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=January 1, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> by ''[[The National Law Journal]]'' as one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America,<ref name=AmLawMed05262008>{{cite news |title=The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America |work=[[The National Law Journal]] |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202421621086&The_50_Most_Influential_Minority_Lawyers_in_America |agency=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=May 26, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmbrogiAmLawMed05282008>{{cite news |title=Legal Blog Watch |author=Ambrogi, Robert J. |url= http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2008/05/the-most-influe.html|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|publisher=Law.com|date=May 27, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and by ''Texas Lawyer'' as one of the 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century.<ref name=AmLawMed06282010>{{cite news|title=The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202463008691&The_25_Greatest_Texas_Lawyers_of_the_Past_QuarterCentury|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=June 28, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="TexasLawyer">{{cite news|title=Luncheon Honors 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|author=Tex Parte Blog, ''[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]''|url=http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/10/25-greatest-lawyers-of-the-past-quarter-century-honored.html|newspaper=Texas Lawyer|date=October 6, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Return to private practice===
After leaving the Solicitor General position in 2008, Cruz worked in a private law firm in Houston, [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP]], often representing corporate clients, until he was sworn in as U.S. Senator from Texas in 2013.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008>{{cite web|first=Gina|last=Passarella|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421154053|title=Morgan Lewis Adds Texas Solicitor General|publisher=Law.com|date=May 6, 2008|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> At Morgan Lewis, he led the firm’s U.S. Supreme Court and national appellate litigation practice.<ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008 /> In 2009 and 2010, he formed and then abandoned a bid for state attorney general when the incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott, who hired Cruz as Solicitor General, decided to run for re-election.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/>

While at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius, Cruz represented [[Pfizer]] in a lawsuit brought by a group of public hospitals and community health centers who accused the drug manufacturer of overcharging. The Supreme Court eventually threw the case out.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ted Cruz has always had a master plan. Now it could win him the White House.|url = https://www.yahoo.com/politics/ted-cruz-has-been-plotting-1305876417003574.html|publisher = Yahoo!|accessdate = January 1, 2016}}</ref> Shandong Linglong Rubber Company was found guilty of marketing versions of tires that were based on blueprints stolen by a former employee of a Florida businessman and ordered to pay $26 million to the Floridian. Cruz worked on the Chinese company's appellant brief. The appeals court denied the appeal and affirmed the jury's award.<ref name=MotherJones>{{cite news |last=Corn |first=David |date=April 9, 2015 |title=As a private lawyer, Ted Cruz defended companies found guilty of wrongdoing |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/03/ted-cruz-lawyer-braun-medical-shandong-linglong |newspaper=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |location=[[San Francisco]] |access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref> Cruz represented drug manufacturer [[B. Braun Medical Inc.]] in front of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit]] after the company was found guilty of wrongfully discharging a former employee. Cruz asserted that she had failed to prove that B. Braun had directed her to violate the law and that she had not presented sufficient evidence that her refusal to violate the law was why she had been fired. The appeals court rejected Cruz's argument and affirmed the $880,000 award.<ref name=MotherJones/> Cruz represented [[Toyota]] in an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court in an [[statute of limitations]] case, where a judge wanted to investigate Toyota for [[contempt]] after a former Toyota in-house lawyer accused Toyota of unlawfully withholding documents in a [[product liability]] case.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindell |first=Chuck |date=August 27, 2010 |title=Court gets OK for Toyota contempt hearing |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/court-gets-ok-for-toyota-contempt-hearing/nRxMH/ |newspaper=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=Under Texas law, the trial court lost all jurisdiction in the case 30 days after Green's lawsuit was dismissed, Toyota's appellate lawyer, Ted Cruz of Houston, told the Supreme Court in briefs.}}</ref> Cruz unsuccessfully argued the judge's jurisdiction expired thirty days after the case was dismissed following an out-of-court settlement, but later won on a second appeal using the same argument.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=1b2345e5-2604-4746-9fc6-75ba569e6edd&coa=cossup&DT=OTHER&MediaID=4e371e0b-190e-445a-b849-3d1af22168f3|title = Court of Appeals November 6, 2011 Opinion|website = Texas Judicial Branch|publisher = State of Texas|pages = 72–77}}</ref>

Cruz defended two record-setting $54 million personal injury awards in New Mexico at the appellate level, including one which had been thrown out by a lower court.<ref name=Corn11Feb>{{cite news|url= http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/ted-cruz-tort-reform-2016|title=As a Lawyer, Ted Cruz Defended Huge Jury Awards. As a Politician, He Opposed Them.|work=Mother Jones|first=David|last=Corn|date=February 11, 2015|accessdate=January 22, 2016}}</ref> Cruz defended a mentally disabled man who was allegedly raped by an employee of the facility where he lived. And in the other case Cruz defended the family of a 78-year-old resident of an Albuquerque nursing home who died of internal bleeding.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/opinion/two-sides-of-ted-cruz-tort-reformer-and-personal-injury-lawyer.html|title=Two Sides of Ted Cruz: Tort Reformer and Personal Injury Lawyer|date=January 20, 2016|accessdate=January 22, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Williamson}}</ref> The settlements were sealed in both cases.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan/>

==U.S. Senate==

===2012 election===
{{Main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg|right|thumb|Cruz speaking to the Values Voters Summit in October 2011]]
Cruz's victory in the Republican primary was described by the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' as "the biggest upset of 2012 ... a true grassroots victory against very long odds."<ref name="WashPostFix11282012">{{cite news|title=The biggest upset of 2012|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/28/the-biggest-upset-of-2012/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 28, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref> On January 19, 2011, after U.S. Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] said she would not seek reelection, Cruz announced his candidacy via a blogger conference call.<ref name="hogan">{{cite web|url=http://www.redstate.com/hogan/2011/01/19/ted-cruz-makes-it-a-new-game-for-us-senate-in-texas/|title=Ted Cruz Makes it a New Game for U.S. Senate in Texas|date=January 19, 2011|publisher=[[RedState]]|accessdate=January 29, 2015}}</ref> In the Republican senatorial primary, Cruz ran against sitting Lieutenant Governor [[David Dewhurst]]. Cruz was endorsed first by former Alaska Governor [[Sarah Palin]]<ref name=LevyYahoo0510212>{{cite news|author=Edwards-Levy, Ann|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/sarah-palin-endorses-ted-cruz-senate-texas_n_1507213.html|title=Sarah Palin Endorses Ted Cruz For U.S. Senate In Texas|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> and then by the [[Club for Growth]], a fiscally conservative political action committee;<ref>{{cite news|last=Toeplitz|first=Shira|title=Club for Growth Picks Texas Senate Favorite|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/Club-for-Growth-Picks-Texas-Senate-Favorite-206144-1.html|newspaper=[[Roll Call]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> [[Erick Erickson]], former editor of prominent conservative blog [[RedState]];<ref name=RedStateEndorse>{{cite news|last=Erickson|first=Erick|title=Ted Cruz for Senate|url=http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/06/02/ted-cruz-for-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=[[RedState]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> the [[FreedomWorks]] for America [[super PAC]];<ref>{{cite news|title=FreedomWorks PAC Likes Ted Cruz|first=Jim|last=Geraghty|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/268649/freedomworks-pac-likes-ted-cruz|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=June 2, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> nationally syndicated radio host [[Mark Levin]];<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Levin endorses Ted Cruz for US Senate in Texas|first=Mark|last=Levin|url=http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-endorses-ted-cruz-for-us-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=The Right Scoop|date=June 4, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> former Attorney General [[Edwin Meese]];<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> [[Tea Party Express]];<ref name=ShapiroWacoTrib01252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Express endorses Ted Cruz for Senate in Waco|first=Michael W.|last=Shapiro|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/waco_politics_report/tea-party-express-endorses-ted-cruz-for-senate-in-waco/article_522b2244-d22f-5aed-bb4d-587c900c92c9.html|newspaper=[[Waco Tribune-Herald]]|date=January 25, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> [[Young Conservatives of Texas]];<ref name=ScharrerSAExpNews01052012>{{cite news|title=Young conservatives choose Cruz|first=Gary|last=Scharrer|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2012/01/young-conservatives-choose-cruz/|newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=January 5, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and U.S. Senators [[Tom Coburn]],<ref name=KlukowskiBreitbart05252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Wave Could Carry Texas Senate Seat for Ted Cruz|author=Klukowski, Ken|url=http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/25/Tea-Party-Wave-Could-Carry-Texas-Senate-Seat-for-Ted-Cruz|newspaper=[[Breitbart]]|date=May 25, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> [[Jim DeMint]],<ref name=SullivanHotline11282011>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Sean|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/for-demint-a-fe.php|title=For DeMint, A Few Well-Timed Endorsements|work=National Journal|date=November 28, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]],<ref name=CatanesePolitico03072011>{{cite web|last=Catanese|first=David|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0311/Sen_Lee_backs_Ted_Cruz_in_Texas.html?showall|title=Sen. Lee backs Ted Cruz in Texas|publisher=[[Politico]] |date=March 7, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Rand Paul]]<ref name=GravoisFWStar07262011>{{cite news|title=Tea Party stalwart Rand Paul backs Cruz over Dewhurst in Texas' U.S. Senate race|first=John|last=Gravois|url=http://blogs.star-telegram.com/politex/2011/07/tea-party-stalwart-rand-paul-backs-cruz-over-dewhurst-in-senate-race.html|newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=July 26, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and [[Pat Toomey]].<ref name=McKinleyHouChron08012011>{{cite news|title=Sen. Pat Toomey Endorses Ted Cruz for The Texas Senate Race|author=McKinley, Kathleen|url=http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/08/sen-pat-toomey-endorses-ted-cruz-for-the-texas-senate-race/|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 1, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> He was also endorsed by former Texas Congressman [[Ron Paul]],<ref name=WhittingtonYahoo05072012>{{cite web|author=Whittington, Mark|url=http://news.yahoo.com/ron-rand-paul-endorse-ted-cruz-texas-senate-213900341.html|title=Ron, Rand Paul Endorse Ted Cruz for Texas Senate Seat|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 7, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> [[George P. Bush]],<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania [[Rick Santorum]].<ref name=WeissertAP05242012>{{cite news|title=Santorum endorses Ted Cruz in Texas Senate race|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/may/24/santorum-endorses-cruz-in-texas-us-senate-race/?print=1|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 24, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz won the runoff for the Republican nomination with a 14-point margin over Dewhurst.<ref name=WeissertHuffPost07312012>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Defeats David Dewhurst In Texas Senate Runoff|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/31/ted-cruz-texas-runoff_n_1726411.html|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz defeated Dewhurst despite being outspent by Dewhurst who held a statewide elected office.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012>{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz Wins In Texas GOP Senate Runoff |author=Hartfield, Elizabeth |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/ted-cruz-wins-in-texas-gop-senate-runoff/ |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=July 31, 2012 |accessdate=March 25, 2015|quote=Dewhurst enjoyed a huge financial advantage over Cruz. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Dewhurst poured $11 million of his own personal fortune—he founded a successful energy company called Falcon Seaboard—into his campaign, spending a total of $19 million, as compared to Cruz’s $7 million spent.}}</ref> Dewhurst spent $19 million and Cruz only spent $7 million.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012/> Dewhurst raised over $30 million and outspent Cruz at a ratio of nearly 3-to-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/07/27/10321/texas-senate-race-attracts-13-million-super-pac-spending|title=Texas Senate race attracts $13 million in super PAC spending|author=Alexandra Duszak|work=Center for Public Integrity}}</ref>

In the November 6 general election, Cruz faced Democrat [[Paul Sadler]], an attorney and a former state representative from [[Henderson, Texas|Henderson]], in east Texas. Cruz won with 4.5 million votes (56.4%) to Sadler's 3.2 million (40.6%). Two minor candidates garnered the remaining 3% of the vote.<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes">{{cite news|title=Election Results|author=State of Texas|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> According to a poll by Cruz's pollster Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, Cruz received 40% of the Hispanic vote, vs. 60% for Sadler, outperforming Republican Presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] with the Hispanic vote in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz and the Hispanic Vote|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/ted-cruz-and-hispanic-vote|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>Drucker, David M. [http://washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-poll-dems-have-edge-over-gop-among-hispanics-in-texas/article/2533470 Ted Cruz poll: Dems have edge over GOP among Hispanics in Texas], ''[[Washington Examiner]]'', July 25, 2013.</ref>

After ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine reported on a potential violation of ethics rules by failing to publicly disclose his financial relationship with Caribbean Equity Partners Investment Holdings during the 2012 campaign, Cruz called his failure to disclose these connections an inadvertent omission.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/18/ted-cruz-failed-to-disclose-ties-to-jamaican-holding-company/|title=Ted Cruz Failed To Disclose Ties To Caribbean Holding Company|last=Calabresi|first=Massimo|date=October 18, 2013|website=Time|accessdate=October 30, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, the ''New York Times'' reported that Cruz and his wife had taken out low-interest loans from Goldman Sachs (where she worked) and Citibank, and failed to report the nearly $1 million in loans on [[Federal Election Commission]] disclosure statements as required by law.<ref name=McIntire13Jan>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/us/politics/ted-cruz-wall-street-loan-senate-bid-2012.html|title=Cruz Didn’t Disclose Loan From Goldman Sachs for His First Senate Campaign|work=The New York Times|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 14, 2016|first=Mike|last=McIntire}}</ref> Cruz disclosed the loans on his Senate financial disclosure forms in July 2012, but not on the Federal Election Commission form.<ref name=Mullins>Mullins, Brody. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/ted-cruz-didnt-adequately-disclose-2012-loans-for-senate-campaign-1452750887 "Ted Cruz Didn’t Adequately Disclose 2012 Loans for Senate Campaign"], [[Wall Street Journal]] (January 14, 2016).</ref> There is no indication that Cruz's wife had any role in providing any of the loans, or that the banks did anything wrong.<ref name=Mullins /> The loans were largely repaid by later campaign fundraising. A spokesperson for Cruz said his failure to report the loans to the FEC was "inadvertent" and said he would be filing supplementary paperwork.<ref name=McIntire13Jan/>

===Legislation===
[[File:Ted Cruz at Montgomery County Republican Party meeting, Conroe, Texas, August 19, 2013.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz giving a speech to the Montgomery County Republican Party meeting held in [[Conroe, Texas]], on August 19, 2013]]
Cruz has sponsored 25 bills of his own, including:<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Cruz's Legislation|url=http://www.congress.gov/member/ted-cruz/2175?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Ted+Cruz%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref>
* S.177, a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health-care related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, introduced January 29, 2013
* S.505, a bill to prohibit the use of [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drones]] to kill citizens of the United States within the United States, introduced March 7, 2013
* S.729 and S. 730, bills to investigate and prosecute felons and fugitives who illegally purchase firearms, and to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through straw purchases and trafficking, introduced March 15, 2013
* S.1336, a bill to permit States to require proof of citizenship for registering to vote in federal elections, introduced July 17, 2013
* S.2170, a bill to increase coal, natural gas, and crude oil exports, to approve the construction of the [[Keystone XL Pipeline]], to expand oil drilling offshore, onshore, in the [[National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska]], and in Indian reservations, to give states the sole power of regulating [[hydraulic fracturing]], to repeal the [[Renewable Fuel Standard]], to prohibit the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) from regulating [[greenhouse gas]]es, to require the EPA to assess how new regulations will affect employment, and to earmark natural resource revenue to paying off the federal government's debt, introduced March 27, 2014
* S.2415, a bill to amend the [[Federal Election Campaign Act|Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971]] to eliminate all limits on direct campaign contributions to candidates for public office, introduced June 3, 2014

====Senate bill 2195====
{{main|Public Law 113-100}}
On April 1, 2014, Cruz introduced Senate bill 2195, a bill that would allow the [[President of the United States]] to deny [[Visa (document)|visas]] to any ambassador to the [[United Nations]] who has been found to have been engaged in [[espionage]] activities or a [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.<ref name=2195sum>{{cite web|title=S. 2195 – Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2195|publisher=United States Congress|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref> The bill was written in response to [[Iran]]'s choice of [[Hamid Aboutalebi]] as their ambassador.<ref name=Congressapproves>{{cite news|last=Marcos|first=Cristina|title=Congress approves bill banning Iran diplomat|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/203202-house-votes-to-ban-irans-un-ambassador|accessdate=April 11, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 10, 2014}}</ref> Aboutalebi was involved in the [[Iran hostage crisis]], in which of a number of American diplomats from the US embassy in Tehran were held captive in 1979.<ref name="Congressapproves"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=April 2, 2014|title=U.S. Troubled By Iran's Choice Of 1979 Hostage-Taker For U.N. Post|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/02/298412119/u-s-troubled-by-irans-choice-of-1979-hostage-taker-for-u-n-post|publisher=NPR|accessdate=November 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/irans-reformers-include-more-than-one-former-hostage-taker/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|work=The New York Times|first=Robert|last=Mackey|title=Iran's Reformers Include More Than One Former Hostage-Taker|date=April 4, 2014|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref>

Under the headline "A bipartisan message to Iran", Cruz thanked President [[Barack Obama]] for signing S 2195 into law. The letter, published in the magazine ''[[Politico]]'' on April 18, 2014, starts with "Thanks to President Obama for joining a unanimous Congress and signing S 2195 into law". Cruz also thanked senators from both political parties for "swiftly passing this legislation and sending it to the White House."<ref>{{cite web|title=A bipartisan message to Iran|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/a-bipartisan-message-to-iran-105837.html#.U1RTecfAJu_|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz thanks Obama for denying visas to terrorists|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/20/ted-cruz-thanks-obama-denying-visas-terrorists/|work=The Washington Times|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Writes Thank You Letter To Obama In Politico|url=http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/04/20/ted-cruz-writes-thank-you-letter-obama-politico|publisher=Fox News Channel|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref>

====Committee assignments====
According to transcripts as reported by ''Politico'', in his first two years in the Senate, Cruz attended 17 of 50 public Armed Services Committee hearings, 3 of 25 Commerce Committee hearings, 4 of the 12 Judiciary Committee hearings, and missed 21 of 135 roll call votes during the first three months of 2015.<ref name=POLITICO.tedcruz>{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Austin|title=Ted Cruz the senator: Heard but not seen|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 22, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422160320/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html?hp=t2_r|archivedate=April 22, 2015}}</ref>
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]'''
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities|Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]'''
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights|Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities|Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]] (Chairman)
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security|Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]]'''
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]] (Chairman)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]]'''

===Comments on President Obama===

In a November 2014 Senate speech, Cruz accused the president of being "openly desirous to destroy the Constitution and this Republic."<ref name="JesseWeiner">Jesse Weiner, [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/ted-cruz-confused-about-cicero/383066/ Ted Cruz: Confused About Cicero: What the Texas Republican misrepresents about treason and politics in the Roman Republic], ''The Atlantic'' (November 21, 2014).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz invoked the speeches of the ancient [[Roman Senate|Roman senator]] [[Cicero]] [[Catiline Orations|against Catiline]] to denounce Obama's planned executive actions on immigration reform.<ref name="JesseWeiner"/> Classics professor Jesse Weiner, writing in ''[[The Atlantic]]'', said that Cruz's analogy was "deeply disquieting" because "in casting Obama in the role of Catiline, Cruz unsubtly suggests that the sitting president was not lawfully elected and is the perpetrator of a violent [[insurrection]] to overthrow the government...In effect, he accuses the president of [[high treason]]. Regardless of one’s views on immigration reform and the Obama administration at large, this is dangerous [[rhetoric]]."<ref name="JesseWeiner"/>

Cruz has repeatedly said that the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran "will make the Obama administration the world's leading financier of radical Islamic terrorism."<ref name="Collins">Eliza Collins, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-calls-barack-obama-sponsor-terrorism-iran-nuclear-deal-120780 Cruz stands by calling Obama a sponsor of terrorism], ''Politico'' (July 29, 2015).</ref> In response, Obama called Cruz's statements an example of "outrageous attacks" from Republican critics that crossed the line of responsible discourse: "We've had a sitting senator, who also happens to be running for president, suggest that I'm the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines, but it's not the kind of leadership that is needed for America right now."<ref name="Collins"/> Former Republican presidential nominee [[Mitt Romney]] also criticized Cruz for his remarks, writing that although he, too, was opposed to the Iran agreement, Cruz's statement connecting Obama to terrorism was "way over the line" and "hurts the cause."<ref>David Jackson, [http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/07/30/romney-hits-cruz-over-obamaterrorism-claim/ Romney hits Cruz over Obama/terrorism claim], ''USA Today'' (July 30, 2015).</ref><ref>Alex Griswold, [http://www.mediaite.com/online/mitt-romney-ted-cruz-way-over-the-line-calling-obama-terror-sponsor/ Mitt Romney: Ted Cruz 'Way Over the Line' Calling Obama Terror Sponsor], Mediaite (July 30, 2015).</ref>

===Relationship with Republican members of Congress===
Cruz has used harsh rhetoric against fellow Republican politicians, and his relationships with various Republican members of Congress have been strained.<ref name="RachelWeiner">Rachel Weiner, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/07/31/ted-cruz-shies-away-from-some-harsh-rhetoric/ Ted Cruz shies away from some harsh rhetoric], ''The Washington Post'' (July 31, 2013).</ref><ref name="John">Arit John, [http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-republican-critics/69901/ All of Ted Cruz's Republican Critics], ''The Atlantic'' (September 26, 2013).</ref> In 2013, Cruz referred to Republicans who he thought were insufficiently resistant to the proposals of President Obama as a "surrender caucus."<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz also called fellow Republicans out as "squishes" on gun-control issues during a Tea Party rally.<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz's role in the [[United States federal government shutdown of 2013]] in particular attracted criticism from a number of Republican colleagues.<ref name="John"/> Republican Senator [[John McCain]] is reported to particularly dislike Cruz; in a Senate floor speech in 2013, McCain denounced Cruz's [[Reductio ad Hitlerum|reference to Nazis]] when discussing the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref name="John"/> In March 2013, McCain also called Cruz and others "wacko birds" whose beliefs are not "reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans."<ref name="John"/>

In a heated Senate floor speech in July 2015, Cruz accused Senate Republican Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] of telling "a flat-out lie" over his intentions to reauthorize the [[Export-Import Bank of the United States]], which Cruz opposes. "What we just saw today was an absolute demonstration that not only what he told every Republican senator, but what he told the press over and over and over again was a simple lie," Cruz said of Senate Republican Leader McConnell.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan">David Morgan & Richard Cowan, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/24/us-usa-election-cruz-idUSKCN0PY29P20150724 Republican White House hopeful Cruz calls McConnell a liar], Reuters (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz's "incendiary outburst" was "unusual in the cordial atmosphere of the Senate", according to ''[[Reuters]]''.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan"/><ref name="Raju">Manu Raju, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-says-mitch-mcconnell-lies-export-import-bank-120583 Cruz accuses Mitch McConnell of telling a 'flat-out lie'], ''Politico'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz assailed the "Republican majority in both houses of Congresses" for what Cruz termed an insufficiently conservative record.<ref name="Raju"/> Cruz's speech, and especially his accusation against McConnell, was condemned by various senior Republican senators, with John McCain saying that the speech was "outside the realm of Senate behavior" and "a very wrong thing to do."<ref>Ted Barrett, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/26/politics/cruz-senate-mcconnell-lied/ Republicans rebuke Cruz over his charge McConnell lied], CNN (July 27, 2015).</ref> [[Orrin Hatch]] expressed a similar opinion: “I don’t condone the use of that kind of language against another senator unless they can show definitive proof that there was a lie....And I know the leader didn’t lie.”<ref>Rogers, Alex. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71388/cruz-mcconnell-told-flat-out-lie-conservatives?mref=scroll "Cruz: McConnell Told ‘Flat-Out Lie’ to Conservatives"], ''[[National Journal]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz had alleged that McConnell scheduled a vote on the Ex-Im Bank as part of a deal to persuade Democrats like [[Maria Cantwell]] to stop blocking a trade bill, whereas McConnell denied there was any "deal", and that denial is what Cruz termed a "lie"; Senator Hatch says McConnell did pledge to help Cantwell get a vote on the Ex-Im Bank.<ref>DeBonis, Mike. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ted-cruz-to-gop-leader-you-lied/2015/07/24/6a967690-3225-11e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7_story.html "Ted Cruz to GOP leader: You lied"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref>

Among Cruz's few close allies in the Senate is [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] of Utah.<ref>Jonathan Capehart, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/07/29/how-mitch-mcconnell-went-gangsta-on-ted-cruz-and-mike-lee/ How Mitch McConnell went gangsta on Ted Cruz and Mike Lee], ''The Washington Post'' (July 29, 2015).</ref><ref>Manu Raju & Burgess Everett, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/senate-obamacare-repeal-ted-cruz-mike-lee-120637 Senate smackdown: Cruz, Lee efforts squelched: The rift between Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz widens], ''Politico'' (July 27, 2015).</ref> Cruz has expressed pride in his reputation for having few allies, saying in June 2015 that he has been vilified for fighting "the Washington cartel."<ref>Todd J. Gillman, [http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20150624-cruz-says-hes-vilified-for-fighting-the-washington-cartel.ece Cruz says he's vilified for fighting the 'Washington cartel'], ''Dallas Morning News'' (June 24, 2015).</ref>

When Boehner announced in September 2015 that he would step down and resign from the House, Cruz expressed his concern that before resigning Boehner may have "cut a deal with Nancy Pelosi to fund the Obama administration for the rest of its tenure".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zurcher|first1=Anthony|title=John Boehner resigns and Ted Cruz gloats|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34355043|accessdate=October 17, 2015|publisher=BBC|date=September 25, 2015|ref=boehner_resigns}}</ref> The following month, the budget agreement passed in the House by a vote of 266 to 187, with unanimous support from Democrats and from Boehner, lifting the debt ceiling through March 2017, and Cruz called the agreement “complete and utter surrender”.<ref>Arkin, James. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/10/29/house_passes_budget_debt_ceiling_agreement_128586.html "House Passes Budget, Debt Ceiling Agreement"], [[Real Clear Politics]] (October 29, 2015).</ref>

==Presidential campaign==
{{main|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016}}
{{Further|United States presidential election, 2016}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|right|thumb|Senator Cruz speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland]]
As early as 2013, Cruz was widely expected to run for the presidency in 2016.<ref name="contender">{{cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=September 13, 2013|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dont-underestimate-rand-paul-as-a-2016-presidential-contender/2013/09/15/1c2925c6-1e1c-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|title=Rand Paul, 2016 Republican front-runner|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=September 25, 2013|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|title=Ted Cruz's First 2016 Campaign Ad Is Over 21 Hours Long|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Wire]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Metzler|first=Rebekah|date=September 27, 2013|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/27/poll-ted-cruz-leads-2016-gop-field |title=Poll: Ted Cruz Leads 2016 GOP Field|newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref> On March 14, 2013, he gave the keynote speech at the annual [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in Washington DC.<ref name=RomanoPolitico03142013>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/2016-rubio-paul-et-al-court-cpac-crowd-88884.html|title=CPAC 2013: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul fight for the future of the GOP|last==Romano|first=Lois| newspaper=[[Politico]]|date=March 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He tied for 7th place in the 2013 CPAC straw poll on March 16, winning 4% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll; Rubio close second|last=Montanaro|first= Domenico|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/16/17341131-rand-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll-rubio-close-second?lite|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 16, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, Cruz won the Values Voter Summit Presidential straw poll with 42% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Dominates Republican Straw Poll|author=Rayman, Noah|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/13/ted-cruz-dominates-republican-straw-poll/|magazine=[[TIME]]|date=October 13, 2013|accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref> Cruz finished first in two Presidential straw polls conducted in 2014 with 30.33% of the vote at the Republican Leadership Conference<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins presidential straw poll at Republican Leadership Conference |last=Finnegan|first=Conor|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 31, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref> and 43% of the vote at the Republican Party of Texas state convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins Texas GOP’s presidential straw poll, Rick Perry finishes distant fourth|last=Jeffers|first=Gromer|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|newspaper=[[Dallas Morning News]]|date=June 7, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref>

Cruz did speaking events in mid-2013 across Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, early [[United States presidential primary|primary states]], leading to speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a run for [[United States presidential election, 2016|President in 2016]].<ref name=KilloughCNN07212013>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|title=Cruz tries to sidestep 2016 question|author=Ashley Killough|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=July 21, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> Legal analyst [[Jeffrey Toobin]] describes Cruz as the first potential Presidential candidate to emphasize [[originalism]] as a major national issue.<ref name=JToobin/>

On April 12, 2014, Cruz spoke at the Freedom Summit, an event organized by [[Americans for Prosperity]], and [[Citizens United (organization)|Citizens United]].<ref name="FreedomSummit">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are the big draws at the Freedom Summit|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/12/cruz-and-paul-greeted-by-cheers-at-tea-partys-2016-warm-up/|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref> The event was attended by several potential presidential candidates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Freedom Summit draws GOP hopefuls to N.H.|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedom-summit-draws-gop-hopefuls-to-nh/2014/04/12/8a5225f8-c262-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014|first=Jaime|last=Fuller|date=April 12, 2014}}</ref> In his speech, Cruz mentioned that Latinos, young people and single mothers are the people most affected by the recession, and that the Republican Party should make outreach efforts to these constituents. He also said that the words, "growth and opportunity" should be tattooed on the hands of every Republican politician.<ref name="FreedomSummit"/>

On March 23, 2015, Cruz announced on his Twitter page: "I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!"<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Announces Presidential Bid|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ted-cruz-announce-presidential-bid-monday-n328051|accessdate=March 23, 2015|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref> He was the first announced major Republican presidential candidate for the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 campaign]].<ref name="HousChronSchleifer032120152">{{cite news |last = Schleifer|first = Theodore|date = March 21, 2015|title = Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday|url = http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/us/article/Ted-Cruz-to-announce-presidential-bid-Monday-6150894.php?t=ec04aca79d29c86149&cmpid=twitter-premium|newspaper = [[Houston Chronicle]]|location = [[Houston, Texas]]|access-date = March 22, 2015|quote = Cruz will launch a presidential bid outright rather than form an exploratory committee, said senior advisers with direct knowledge of his plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made yet. They say he is done exploring and is now ready to become the first Republican presidential candidate.}}</ref><ref name="CorasanitiNYT03232015">{{cite news |last1=Corasaniti |first1=Nick |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Becomes First Major Candidate to Announce Presidential Bid for 2016 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-2016-presidential-race.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, New York |access-date=March 23, 2015 }}</ref>

[[HarperCollins]] published Cruz's book ''A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America'' on June 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Time-Truth-Reigniting-Promise-America/dp/0062365614|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America: Ted Cruz: 9780062365613: Amazon.com: Books|publisher=Amazon.com}}</ref> The book reached the bestseller list of several organizations in its first week of release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/amazon-no-evidence-of-bulk-sales-for-ted-cruz-book-210374.html|title=Amazon: 'No evidence' of bulk sales for Cruz book|author=Dylan Byers|date=July 13, 2015|work=POLITICO}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-13/new-york-times-defends-ban-of-ted-cruz-s-book-from-bestseller-list|title=NYT Defends Exclusion of Ted Cruz's Book: 'We Are Confident'|date=July 13, 2015|work=Bloomberg.com/politics|first=Elizabeth|last=Titus}}</ref>

On February 1, 2016, Cruz won the [[Iowa caucuses]].<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> He is the first Hispanic to win either a presidential primary election or the Iowa caucuses.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> Cruz received 28% of the vote.<ref name="CNN02012016"/>

===Citizenship===
{{Main|Natural born citizen}}
{{Further|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016#Eligibility}}
Cruz has stated that when he was a child, his mother told him that she would have to make an affirmative act to claim [[Canadian nationality law|Canadian citizenship]] for him, so his family assumed that he did not hold Canadian citizenship.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014"/> In August 2013, after the ''Dallas Morning News'' pointed out that Cruz had [[dual citizenship|dual Canadian-American citizenship]],<ref name="GillmasDallasMN12282013">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=December 28, 2013|title=Ted Cruz says he’s hired lawyers to renounce Canadian citizenship|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20131228-ted-cruz-says-hes-hired-lawyers-to-renounce-canadian-citizenship.ece|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=December 30, 2013|quote=But the strong legal consensus is that with even one American parent—a circumstance shared by Obama and Cruz—a child born anywhere qualifies as a "natural born American," entitled to citizenship at birth and therefore eligible to serve as president.}}</ref><ref name=LeeWaPo>{{cite news|last1=Michelle Ye Hee|first1=Lee|title=Cruz says it’s ‘clear and straightforward’ that he’s a natural-born U.S. citizen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/10/cruz-says-its-clear-and-straightforward-that-hes-a-natural-born-u-s-citizen/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_cruz-1115am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory|accessdate=January 10, 2016|work=The Washington Post|date=January 10, 2015}}</ref> he applied to formally renounce his Canadian citizenship and ceased being a citizen of Canada on May 14, 2014.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=June 10, 2014|title=No, Canada: Sen. Ted Cruz has formally shed his dual citizenship|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/ |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News|Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=June 10, 2014|quote=Alberta-born Sen. Ted Cruz has given up his Canadian dual citizenship. The renunciation became official on May 14, roughly 9 months after he learned he wasn’t only an American.}}</ref><ref name=AaronWashPost08192013>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/19/cruz-will-renounce-canadian-citizenship/?wprss=rss_homepage|title=Cruz Will Renounce Canadian Citizenship|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=August 19, 2013|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, suit was brought seeking a judicial determination as to whether Cruz should be disqualified as a presidential candidate on the grounds of not being a [[natural born US citizen]].<ref name=BirtherSuit>{{cite news |last1=Calkins |first1=Laurel Brubaker |last2=Cirilli |first2=Kevin |date=January 14, 2016 |title=Cruz’s ‘Natural-Born Citizen’ Status Tested in Birther Suit |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-15/cruz-s-natural-born-citizen-status-challenged-in-birther-suit |newspaper=Bloomberg Business |location=New York |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> After [[Donald Trump]] repeatedly questioned whether Cruz met the qualifications of being a natural born citizen, Houston attorney Newton B. Schwartz Sr. filed suit in Texas, claiming that “This 229-year question has never been pled, presented to or finally decided by or resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court... Only the U.S. Supreme Court can finally decide, determine judicially and settle this issue now.”<ref name=BirtherSuit/>

==Political positions==
{{main|Political positions of Ted Cruz}}

===Domestic affairs===
On abortion, Cruz is "strongly [[pro-life]]" and "would allow the procedure only when a pregnancy endangers the mother's life."<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnhart |first=Melissa |date=June 27, 2013 |title=Pro-Life Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to Speak at National Right to Life Convention in Dallas |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-sen-ted-cruz-of-texas-to-speak-at-national-right-to-life-convention-in-dallas-98910/ |newspaper=[[The Christian Post]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name="fikac">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/fikac/article/Fikac-Senate-hopeful-Cruz-casts-himself-as-3381330.php|title=Senate hopeful Cruz casts himself as conservative warrior|author=Peggy Fikac|work=Houston Chronicle|date=March 4, 2012|accessdate=October 9, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz opposes both [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]] and [[civil union]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/2016RepublicanFacts/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz: Not a Fan of Pride Parades|work=Human Rights Campaign}}</ref> He believes that marriage should be legally defined as only "between one man and one woman,"<ref>Miller, Jake. November 9, 2013. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-talks-guns-same-sex-marriage-obamacare-with-jay-leno/ Ted Cruz talks guns, same-sex marriage, Obamacare with Jay Leno]. CBS News. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> but believes that the legality of same-sex marriage should be [[States' rights|left to each state to decide]].<ref name=TonightShowLeno>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/senator-ted-cruz-on-gay-marriage/n43013|title=Senator Ted Cruz on Same Sex Marriage|newspaper=[[The Tonight Show]]|publisher=[[NBC]]|accessdate=December 9, 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, Cruz voted in favor of the [[USA Freedom Act]], which reauthorized the [[USA Patriot Act]] but reformed some of its provisions.<ref name="MorningConsult">Eitan Arom, [http://morningconsult.com/2015/06/voter-views-on-usa-freedom-act-bode-well-for-graham-and-rubio-not-cruz-and-paul/ Voter Views on USA Freedom Act Bode Well for Graham and Rubio, Not Cruz and Paul], Morning Consult (June 10, 2015).</ref><ref name="KilloughNSA">Ashley Killough, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/politics/election-2016-ted-cruz-rand-paul-nsa-vote/ Ted Cruz knocks Rand Paul on NSA vote], CNN (April 2, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a proponent of [[school choice]]<ref>{{cite news |last=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-second-amendment-gun-rights-117133.html |first=Keli |date=January 30, 2015 |title=The Issue Bringing Ted Cruz and Black Democrats Together |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-issue-bringing-ted-cruz-and-black-democrats-together.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=April 23, 2015 }}</ref> and opposes the [[Common Core State Standards Initiative]].<ref>Weigel, David, [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-19/what-ted-cruz-talks-about-when-he-talks-about-common-core What Ted Cruz Talks About When He Talks About Common Core], Bloomberg. (March 19, 2015).</ref> Cruz is a strong critic of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (the ACA or "Obamacare"). He has sponsored legislation that would repeal the health care reform law and its amendments in the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].

Cruz is a [[Right to keep and bear arms|gun-rights]] supporter.<ref name=HotAir04292013>{{cite news|title= Ted Cruz: My GOP Senate colleagues yelled at me for wanting to filibuster gun control|url= http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/29/ted-cruz-my-gop-senate-colleagues-yelled-at-me-for-wanting-to-filibuster-gun-control/|newspaper=[[Hot Air (news site)|Hot Air]]|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has adopted a "hard-line stance" on immigration issues during the [[2014 American immigration crisis|2014 border crisis]]<ref name="Sarlin">Benjy Sarlin, [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ted-cruz-immigration-swing-2016 Ted Cruz's hard-line stance renders border crisis key 2016 issue], MSNBC (August 5, 2014).</ref> and is an opponent of comprehensive immigration reform.<ref name="JToobin"/><ref name="Sarlin"/> Cruz advocates for an increase from 65,000 to 325,000 annually in skilled foreign workers entering the United States using H-1B visas.<ref name=Increase_H1B_Visas>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%|author=Patrick Thibodeau|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2900126/ted-cruz-the-presidential-candidate-who-wants-to-increase-the-h-1b-cap-by-500.html|newspaper=Computerworld|date=May 23, 2015|accessdate=November 10, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz opposes the [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction|legalization of marijuana]], but believes it should be decided at the state level.<ref>Sullum, Jacob. March 5, 2015. [http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2015/03/05/by-supporting-marijuana-federalism-republican-candidates-can-be-principled-and-popular/ Ted Cruz's Cannabis Conversion Reflects The Political Prudence Of Marijuana Federalism]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved March 22, 2015.</ref>

Cruz opposes [[net neutrality]] arguing that the Internet economy has flourished in the United States simply because it has remained largely free from government regulation.<ref name="DotSankin05162014">{{cite news|last=Sankin|first=Aaron|date=May 16, 2014|title=The conservative case against net neutrality|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/net-neutrality-ted-cruz-fcc/|newspaper=The Daily Dot|accessdate=November 13, 2014}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
Cruz favors the [[death penalty]]. In his 2012 Senate campaign, Cruz frequently mentioned his role as counsel for the State of Texas in ''[[Medellín v. Texas]]'', a 2008 case in which the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] found that Texas has the legal right to ignore [[Avena case|an order]] from the [[International Court of Justice]] directing the U.S. to review the convictions and sentences of dozens of Mexican nationals on death row.<ref name="Bathe">Aman Bathe, [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/politics/a-history-for-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-and-supreme-court.html?_r=0 Senate Candidate and Supreme Court Have a History], ''Texas Tribune'' (July 22, 2012).</ref> Cruz has referred to ''Medellín'' as the most important case of his tenure as Texas solicitor general.<ref name="Bathe"/>

In an interview with radio host [[Hugh Hewitt]] discussing the attack that killed three people at a [[Planned Parenthood]] clinic in Colorado Springs, Cruz said that "the simple and undeniable fact is the overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats", and that the reason Democrats are soft on crime, is that convicted felons tend to vote Democrat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-democrats-crime-216288|publisher=Politico|accessdate=December 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the wake of the ambush death of a Texas police officer, who was gunned down while filling up at a gas station, Cruz said that police are "feeling the assault from the president, from the top on down, as we see — whether it’s in Ferguson or Baltimore, the response from senior officials, the president or the attorney general, is to vilify law enforcement. That’s wrong. It’s fundamentally wrong. It’s endangering all of our safety and security."<ref>Matt Levin, [http://www.chron.com/news/politics/tedcruz/article/Ted-Cruz-blames-Obama-for-death-of-Harris-County-6476309.php Ted Cruz blames Obama for death of Harris County sheriff's deputy], ''Houston Chronicle'' (August 31, 2015).</ref>

===Economy===
Cruz has been described by the [[Cato Institute]]'s Center for Trade Policy Studies as a "free trader"<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/research/trade-immigration/congress?senator=192|title=Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> and as a "free-trade advocate" by the ''Wall Street Journal''.<ref name="Hook">Janet Hook, [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/23/ted-cruz-flips-on-trade-bill-on-eve-of-key-senate-vote/ Ted Cruz Flips on Trade Bill on Eve of Key Senate Vote], ''The Wall Street Journal'' (June 23, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz proposed the abolition of the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] and the implementation of a [[flat tax]] "where the average American can fill out taxes on a postcard."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Rachel|title=Ted Cruz: 'Abolish the IRS'|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/03/ted-cruz-abolish-the-irs/|work=The Washington Post|date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> Cruz is "adamantly opposed to a higher [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]]."<ref name="HarrisonTaxes">J.D. Harrison, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2015/03/23/what-a-ted-cruz-white-house-could-mean-for-businesses/ What a Ted Cruz White House could mean for businesses], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015).</ref>

===Environment===
Cruz is a supporter of [[TransCanada Corporation|TransCanada]]'s [[Keystone Pipeline System|Keystone XL Pipeline]],<ref name="Cornwell">Susan Cornwell, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/us-usa-republicans-cruz-idUSBREA1921720140210 U.S. Senator Cruz urges broad Republican focus on energy], Reuters (February 10, 2014).</ref> and along with every other Republican senator was a cosponsor of legislation in support of the pipeline.<ref>Marianna Sotomayor & Alison Thoet, [http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/229632-whip-list-senate-keystone-vote Whip List: How senators will vote on Keystone XL pipeline], ''The Hill'' (January 29, 2015).</ref>

Cruz disagrees with [[scientific opinion on climate change]].<ref>Josh Hicks, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/01/21/climate-change-skeptics-cruz-and-rubio-now-help-oversee-nations-climate-science/ Climate-change skeptics Cruz and Rubio now help oversee nation’s climate science], ''Washington Post'' (January 21, 2015).</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref> He has said that "the scientific evidence doesn't support [[global warming]]."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015">{{cite interview |last=Cruz |first=Ted |subject-link= |interviewer=Steve Inskeep |title=Scientific Evidence Doesn't Support Global Warming, Sen. Ted Cruz Says |url=http://www.npr.org/2015/12/09/459026242/scientific-evidence-doesn-t-support-global-warming-sen-ted-cruz-says |call-sign=[[NPR|NPR, Inc.]] |city=[[Washington, DC]] |date=December 11, 2015 |program=[[Morning Edition]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=The scientific evidence doesn't support global warming. For the last 18 years, the satellite data - we have satellites that monitor the atmosphere. The satellites that actually measure the temperature showed no significant warming whatsoever.}}</ref> He has stated: "They call anyone who questions the science who even points to the satellite data – they call you a, quote, "denier." Denier is not the language of science. Denier is the language of religion. It is heretic. You are a blasphemer. It's treated as a theology. But it's about power and money. At the end of the day, it's not complicated. This is liberal politicians who want government power."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/> In March 2015, he said that some people are "global warming alarmists" and, citing [[satellite temperature measurements]], said that there had been no significant warming in 18 years.<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/><ref>Philip Bump, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/03/25/ted-cruz-compares-climate-change-activists-to-flat-earthers-where-to-begin Ted Cruz compares climate change activists to ‘flat-Earthers.’ Where to begin?], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015)</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''The Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref>

Cruz voted against the [[Water Resources Development Act]] of 2013, that would have created the National Endowment for the Oceans and authorized more than $26 billion in projects to be built by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]], at least $16 billion of which would have come from federal taxpayers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Ryan |date=May 21, 2014 |title=Infrastructure Bills to Nowhere |url=http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/05/21/highway-and-water-resources-bills-are-a-bad-bet-for-taxpayers |newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm |title=Ted Cruz on Environment |publisher=Ontheissues.org |accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> Cruz voted against the bill because it neglected "to reduce a substantial backlog of projects, to the detriment of projects with national implications, such as the Sabine-Neches Waterway".<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Cornyn, Cruz Vote to Fix Water Resource and Development Act |url=http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=134 |newspaper=cruz.senate.gov |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref> Cruz stated that the Corps' responsibilities were expanded without providing adequate measures for state participation.<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013"/> Proponents of the bill argued that it would provide steady funding to support research and restoration projects, funded primarily by dedicating 12.5% of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, through offshore lease sales and production based royalty payments, distributed through a competitive grant program.<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm 5]</ref>

===Foreign affairs===
Cruz has been an adamant opponent of the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], a 2015 international nuclear agreement with [[Iran]] negotiated by [[P5+1|the U.S. and other world powers]], calling it "catastrophic" and "disastrous."<ref name="Hattem">Julian Hattem & Kristina Wong, [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/252134-trump-cruz-to-hold-joint-anti-iran-rally-on-capitol-hill Trump, Cruz to hold joint anti-Iran rally on Capitol Hill], ''The Hill'' (August 27, 2015).</ref><ref name="GrimSchulberg">Ryan Grim & Jessica Schulberg, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/ted-cruz-iran-war_n_7216698.html Ted Cruz On Iran Nuclear Negotiations: 'This Deal Makes War a Certainty'], ''The Huffington Post'' (May 5, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a critic of the [[Cuban Thaw|rapprochement between Cuba and the United States]], saying on [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] in December 2014 that the thaw in relations was a "manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy" that "will be remembered as a tragic mistake."<ref>Brendan Bordelon, [http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/410295/ted-cruz-cuba-relations-thaw-tragic-mistake-brendan-bordelon Ted Cruz: Cuba Relations Thaw 'a Tragic Mistake'], ''National Review'' (December 14, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz stated that America had no "dog in the fight" during the [[Syrian Civil War]] and stated that America's armed forces should not serve as "[[al-Qaeda]]'s air force".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21585011-president-makes-case-pulling-trigger-bomb-or-not-bomb|title=America and Syria: To bomb, or not to bomb?|work=The Economist|date=September 7, 2013|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Cruz criticized the Obama administration: "The president's foreign policy team utterly missed the threat of ISIS, indeed, was working to arm Syrian rebels that were fighting side by side with ISIS", calling ISIS "the face of evil".<ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/09/Ted-Cruz-ISIS-is-the-Face-Of-Evil Ted Cruz: ISIS is the Face of Evil]". [[Breitbart.com]]. August 9, 2014.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:HeidiTedCruzVers2Houston31MARCH2015 - Copy.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz with his wife Heidi at a rally in [[Houston]], March 2015]]
Cruz married [[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/26/us/ted-cruz-fast-facts/|title=Ted Cruz Fast Facts|publisher=CNN|date=March 26, 2015}}</ref> The couple have two daughters:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/25/ted-cruz-daughter-2-i-want-work-daddy/|title=Ted Cruz’s daughter, 2: ‘I want to work with daddy’|work=The Washingtion Times}}</ref> Caroline (born 2008) and Catherine (born 2011). Cruz met his wife while working on the [[George W. Bush]] [[United States presidential election, 2000|presidential campaign of 2000]]. She is currently taking leave from her position as head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of [[Goldman, Sachs & Co.]] and previously worked in the [[White House]] for [[Condoleezza Rice]] and in New York as an [[investment banker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houston.org/about/board-staff.html#board/212727|title=Board Member Bios: Heidi Cruz|publisher=Greater Houston Partnership|accessdate=August 16, 2013}} {{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-23/cruz-s-wife-heidi-said-to-take-unpaid-leave-from-goldman|title=Cruz’s Wife Heidi to Take Unpaid Leave From Goldman|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=March 23, 2015|first=Michael J|last=Moore|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz has said, "I'm Cuban, Irish, and Italian, and yet somehow I ended up Southern Baptist."<ref name="DMNCruzCuban">{{cite news|date=December 20, 2012|title=Editorial: Texan of the Year finalist Ted Cruz|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20121220-editorial-texan-of-the-year-finalist-ted-cruz.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Accolades==
Rick Manning of [[Americans for Limited Government]] named Cruz "2013 Person of the Year" in an op-ed in ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'', citing the unsuccessful efforts of Cruz and fellow Republican freshman senator [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] to defund the Affordable Care Act.<ref name="ManningTheHill12272013">{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Rick|date=December 27, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: 2013 Person of the Year|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/194072-ted-cruz-2013-person-of-the-year|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|location=Washington, DC|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp|accessdate=December 28, 2013|quote=No politician had a greater impact on the past year than freshman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz came from the Lone Star State not owing the D.C. political establishment anything, after he beat the chosen replacement for Kay Bailey Hutchison in an underfunded, grassroots driven Republican primary election.}}</ref>

Cruz was also named "2013 Man of the Year" by conservative publications [[TheBlaze]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Mantyla|first=Kyle|date=December 11, 2014|title=Glenn Beck Declares Ted Cruz 'Blaze Man Of The Year'|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/glenn-beck-declares-ted-cruz-blaze-man-year|newspaper=Right Wing Watch|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|publisher=[[People for the American Way]]|accessdate=April 21, 2013}}</ref> ''[[FrontPage Magazine]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenfield|first=Daniel|date=December 30, 2013|title=Frontpage’s 2013 Man of the Year: Ted Cruz|url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/frontpages-2013-man-of-the-year-ted-cruz/|newspaper=[[FrontPage Magazine]]|location=Sherman Oaks, California|publisher=[[David Horowitz Freedom Center]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[The American Spectator]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lord|first=Jeffery|date=December 19, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: Man of the Year|url=http://spectator.org/articles/57187/ted-cruz-man-year|newspaper=[[The American Spectator]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|publisher=The American Spectator Foundation|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> He was named "2013 Conservative of the Year" by [[Townhall.com]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Hawkins|first=John|date=December 31, 2014|title=Top 10 Conservatives of 2013|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2013/12/31/top-10-conservatives-of-2013-n1770176/page/full|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and "2013 Statesman of the Year" by the Republican Party of [[Sarasota County, Florida]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Leary|first=Alex|date=January 7, 2014|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Ted Cruz to be honored as 'Statesman of the Year'|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/sarasota-gop-to-honor-ted-cruz-to-be-honored-as-statesman-of-the-year/2159965|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|location=Tampa Bay Metro Area|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintpetersblog.com/sarasota-gop-to-honor-sen-ted-cruz-as-its-statesman-of-the-year|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Sen. Ted Cruz as its ‘Statesman of the Year’|last1=Ammann|first1=Phil|date=January 7, 2014|publisher=saintpetersblog.com|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> He was a finalist for "2013 Texan of the Year" by ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''<ref>{{cite news|date=December 27, 2013|title=TEXAN OF THE YEAR 2013: TODAY’S FINALIST: TED CRUZ|url=http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2013_December/texan-of-the-year/cruz/|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and a finalist for [[Time Person of the Year|''Time'' magazine's "Person of the Year"]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Edelman|first=Adam|date=December 9, 2013|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/time-magazine-releases-finalists-2013-person-year-award-article-1.1542204|title=TIME magazine releases finalists for 2013 ‘Person of the Year’ award|location=New York |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}

;2012 Republican primary
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results, May 29, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes" />
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[David Dewhurst]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 624,170
| percentage = 44.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 479,079
| percentage = 34.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Tom Leppert]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 186,675
| percentage = 13.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Craig James (American football)|Craig James]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 50,211
| percentage = 3.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Glenn Addison
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 22,888
| percentage = 1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lela Pittenger
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 18,028
| percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ben Gambini
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7,193
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Curt Cleaver
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,649
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joe Argis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,558
| percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,399,451
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 Republican primary runoff
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican runoff results, July 31, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 631,316
| percentage = 56.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Dewhurst
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 480,165
| percentage = 43.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,111,481
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 general election
{{Election box begin no change
| title = General election, November 6, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,469,843
| percentage = 56.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Paul Sadler]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 3,194,927
| percentage = 40.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Jay Myers
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 162,354
| percentage = 2.06
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Collins
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 67,404
| percentage = 0.85
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 7,864,822
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas|Politics|Conservatism}}
* [[List of foreign-born United States politicians]]
* [[Legal challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]''
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikisource-author}}
* [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz] – official website
* [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Ted Cruz for President] – campaign website
* {{YouTube|user=SenTedCruz|title=Senator Ted Cruz}}
* {{Ballotpedia|Ted_Cruz}}
* {{C-SPAN|rcruz}}
* [http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/ Ted Cruz] collected news and commentary at ''[[The Texas Tribune]]''
* {{NYT topic|people/c/ted_cruz}}
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz R. (Ted) Edward Cruz] – profile at [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius]] LLP (archived)
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Texas/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Ted_Cruz_%5BR%5D}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio = C001098 | ballot = Ted_Cruz | votesmart = 135705 | govtrack = 412573 | natjournal = 3549 | opencong = 412573 | rollcall = 44748 | politifact = ted-cruz | fec = S2TX00312 | opensecrets = N00033085 | followthemoney = | #ntheissues = senate/Ted_Cruz.htm | congress = ted-cruz/2175 | worldcat = | c-span = rcruz | rose = | imdb = 5563034 | bloomberg = ted-cruz | nyt = c/ted_cruz | wsj = | washpo = b8d4a00a-4bbb-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from Texas ([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])|years=[[United States Senate election in Texas, 2012|2012]]}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Texas|U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Texas]]|years=2013–present|alongside=[[John Cornyn]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tim Kaine]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States Senate|United States Senators by seniority]]|years=82nd}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elizabeth Warren]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States presidential election, 2016}}
{{Current Texas statewide political officials}}
{{TX-FedRep}}
{{USSenTX}}
{{Texas State Solicitors General}}
{{Current U.S. Senators}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Ted}}
[[Category:Ted Cruz| ]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Canarian descent]]
[[Category:American politicians of Cuban descent]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Cuban-American Republicans]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress]]
[[Category:Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States]]
[[Category:People from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Houston, Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians from Calgary]]
[[Category:Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States Senators]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Texas Republicans]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2016]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Texas]]

Ted Cruz

2016-02-08T15:05:01Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Early life and family */ add per source

{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|expiry=15 March 2016|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Ted Cruz
|image = Ted Cruz, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Texas]]
|alongside = [[John Cornyn]]
|term_start = January 3, 2013
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]
|successor =
|office1 = Solicitor General of Texas
|governor1 = [[Rick Perry]]
|term_start1 = January 9, 2003
|term_end1 = May 12, 2008
|predecessor1 = Julie Parsley
|successor1 = James C. Ho<ref>{{cite news |last1=Livingston |first1=Abby |last2=Svitek |first2=Patrick |date=March 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Will Seek the Presidency |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/22/cruz-announces-presidential-run/ |newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>
|birth_name = Rafael Edward Cruz
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|22}}
|birth_place = [[Calgary]], Canada
|citizenship = [[United States nationality law|United States]] [[Canadian nationality law|Canada]] (1970–2014)
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]]|2001|}}
|children = 2
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|alma_mater = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]], 1992) [[Harvard Law School]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]], 1995)
|religion = Christianity ([[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]])
|website = [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ Senate website] [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Campaign website]
}}
'''Rafael Edward''' "'''Ted'''" '''Cruz''' (born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Texas]]. He is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016|candidate for President of the United States]] in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]].

Cruz attended elementary and high school in and around [[Houston]], graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1992, and then from [[Harvard Law School]] in 1995. Between 1999 and 2003, Cruz was the director of the Office of Policy Planning at the [[Federal Trade Commission]], an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] at the [[United States Department of Justice]], and domestic policy advisor to [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush]] on the 2000 [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]]. He served as [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas from 2003 to 2008, appointed by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]]. He was the first Hispanic, and the longest-serving solicitor general in Texas history. Cruz was also an [[adjunct professor]] of law from 2004 to 2009 at the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], where he taught U.S. Supreme Court litigation.

Cruz ran for the Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]], and in July 2012 defeated [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Lieutenant Governor]] [[David Dewhurst]] during the Republican [[primary election|primary]] [[runoff election|runoff]], 57%–43%. Cruz then defeated former state Representative [[Paul Sadler]] in the November 2012 general election, winning 56%–41%. He is the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve as a U.S. senator representing Texas, and is one of three Senators of Cuban descent. Cruz chairs the [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]], and is also the chairman of the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness]]. In November 2012, he was appointed vice-chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]].

Cruz began campaigning for the [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016|Republican presidential nomination]] in March 2015. During the primary campaign, his base of support has been mainly among [[social conservative]]s, though he has had crossover appeal to other factions within his party.<ref name="ZitnerWSJ01042016">{{cite news |last=Zitner |first=Aaron |date=January 4, 2016 |title=Poll Points to Upside for Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio in GOP Race |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/poll-points-to-upside-for-ted-cruz-marco-rubio-in-gop-race-1451956770 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |location=[[New York]] |access-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref> His victory in the February 1, 2016 [[United States presidential election in Iowa, 2016#Republican caucus|Iowa caucuses]] marked the first time a Hispanic won a presidential caucus.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016>[http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/02/01/iowans-to-choose-trump-aggressiveness-cruz-conservatism-or-rubio-moderation/ Ted Cruz makes history, becomes first Hispanic to win Iowa caucus], ''[[Fox News Channel|FOX News Latino]]'', February 1, 2016.</ref><ref name="CNN02012016">{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=February 2, 2016 |title=Iowa caucus results: Ted Cruz wins, Hillary Clinton declares victory |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/politics/iowa-caucuses-2016-highlights/index.html |newspaper=[[CNN]] |location=[[Atlanta, Georgia]] |access-date=February 6, 2016|quote=Cruz's victory sets him up as a formidable force in delegate-rich, Southern states to come and offers movement conservatives hope that one of their own can become the Republican nominee for the first time since Ronald Reagan.}}</ref>

==Early life and family==
Ted Cruz was born on December 22, 1970,<ref name="CongressionalBio">{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001098|title=CRUZ, Rafael Edward (Ted) – Biographical Information|publisher=Bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="AustinAmStCruz">[http://www.statesman.com/s/news/politics/ted-cruz/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz], ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''</ref> at [[Foothills Medical Centre|Foothills General Hospital]]<ref name="Macleans">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: Made in Canada|last1=Abel|first1=Allen|last2=Markusoff|first2=Jason|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/washington/ted-cruz-made-in-canada|newspaper=[[Maclean's Magazine]]|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Panetta|first=Alexander|date=May 9, 2015|title=Birthplace of President Ted Cruz? Calgary homeowner hopes it never happens|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/birthplace-of-president-ted-cruz-calgary-homeowner-hopes-it-never-happens|newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]]|agency=[[Canadian Press]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015|quote=Steward is pretty sure the American conservative began life at the Foothills Medical Centre — a government-run, Canadian socialist hospital.}}</ref> in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]], to parents Eleanor Elizabeth (Darragh) Wilson and [[Rafael Bienvenido Cruz]].<ref name=Texplainer08132012>{{cite news|title=Texplainer: Could Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Be President?|first=John Wayne|last=Ferguson|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/08/13/texplainer-could-canadian-born-ted-cruz-be-preside/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|quote=Bottom line: Despite being born in Canada, Cruz can be considered a U.S. citizen because his mother was a U.S. citizen who lived in the United States long enough, according to constitutional experts.|date=August 13, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name=GilmanDallasNews08182013>{{cite news|title=Canada-born Ted Cruz became a citizen of that country as well as U.S.|author=Gillman, Todd J.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130818-born-in-canada-ted-cruz-became-a-citizen-of-that-country-as-well-as-u.s..ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=August 18, 2013|accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref> At the time of his birth, Cruz's parents had lived in Calgary for three years and were working in the oil business as owners of a [[Reflection seismology|seismic-data processing]] firm for oil [[Well drilling|drilling]].<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name="FOXNewsLatino04082013">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz's Father Talks About Latinos, Conservatives and the American Dream|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/04/08/ted-cruz-father-and-inspiration-talks-about-latinos-conservatives-and-american/|newspaper=[[Fox Latin America|FOX News Latino]]|quote=Cruz, the father, and his wife, Eleanor Darragh, left the United States for a few years, living in Canada to take advantage of the oil boom.|date=April 8, 2012|accessdate=October 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes11182011>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/ted-cruz-is-a-test-for-the-tea-party-in-texas-race.html|title=A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race|author=Zernike, Kate|date=November 18, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name=newvos1>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|first=Terence|last=Jeffrey|url=http://cwww.creators.com/opinion/terence-jeffrey/ted-cruz-new-voice-for-the-american-dream.html|newspaper=[[Creators Syndicate]]|year=2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013>{{cite news|title=Senate candidate Ted Cruz aims to pick up mantle of Reagan|author=Garrett, Robert T.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120428-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-aims-to-pick-up-mantle-of-reagan.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=April 28, 2013|accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has said, “I’m the son of two mathematicians/computer programmers.”<ref name=Mervis>{{cite news |last=Mervis |first=Jeffrey |date=December 9, 2015 |title=From a bully pulpit, Ted Cruz offers his take on climate change |url=http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2015/12/bully-pulpit-ted-cruz-offers-his-take-climate-change |newspaper=[[Science (journal)|ScienceInsider]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref> In 1974, his father left the family and moved to Texas.<ref>Larson, Leslie. [http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ted-cruz-plans-renounce-canadian-citizenship-article-1.1561380 "Ted Cruz plans to renounce Canadian citizenship"], ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York'' (December 30, 2013).</ref> Later that same year, his father became a [[Southern Baptist]] and his parents reconciled. The family relocated to Houston.<ref name="Macleans"/>

Cruz's father was born in [[Cuba]], and his grandfather was from the [[Canary Islands]] in [[Spain]]. His mother was born in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], and is three quarters of Irish descent and one quarter of Italian descent.<ref>https://infotomb.com/4ffm4.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=It+was+to+this+fledgling+nation+that+my+great+grandparents+arrived+in+1902+from+the+Canary+Islands.+Agustin+and+Maria+Cruz+boarded+a+ship+with+their+infant+son,+Rafael,+bound+for+the+New+World../|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His father left Cuba in 1957 to attend the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and obtained political asylum in the United States after his four-year student visa expired.<ref name=Welna20June>{{cite news|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/06/20/193585553/how-ted-cruzs-father-shaped-his-views-on-immigration|title=How Ted Cruz's Father Shaped His Views On Immigration|date=June 20, 2013|accessdate=December 14, 2015|first=David|last=Welna|publisher=NPR}}</ref> Rafael Cruz earned Canadian citizenship in 1973<ref name="Macleans"/> and ultimately became a [[Naturalization|naturalized]] U.S. citizen in 2005.<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013>{{cite news|title=The Rise of Rafael Cruz|author=Costa, Robert|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/356934/rise-rafael-cruz-robert-costa|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=August 28, 2013|quote=Born in Matanzas, Cuba, he grew up in the Cuban middle class in the 1950s, as the son of an RCA salesman and an elementary-school teacher. As a teenager, he grew to detest the regime of [[Fulgencio Batista]]. He and some of his schoolmates frequently clashed with Batista’s officials. Eventually, he linked up with Castro’s guerrilla groups and supported their attempts to overthrow Batista. It’s a decision he still regrets. His move toward Castro, he explains, was mostly due to his anger with Batista’s government, which at one point imprisoned him and tortured him for his work with the revolutionaries. He says he never shared Castro’s Communism, but at the time, it was the best way to fight Batista’s oppression. By age 18, in 1957, he knew he needed to get out, and a friend essentially bribed an official to secure him an exit permit.|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012>{{cite news|title=Cruz's life defies simplification|author=Olsen, Lise|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Cruz-s-life-defies-simplification-3946523.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 13, 2012|quote=The ex-revolutionary pastor regularly stumps for his son, whom he's compared to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah – a relentless advocate with "fire in his bones." Ted, he says, is "not going to Washington to compromise."|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Swartz |first=Mimi |date=March 31, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz and the New Politics of Texas |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/opinion/ted-cruz-and-the-new-politics-of-texas.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=Her+parents+were+Irish+and+Italian.+In+the+late+1800s%2C+my+grandmother%27s+father%2C+Dominic+Ciccini%2C+came+to+America+from+Naples%2C+Italy%2C+as+a+teenager.+|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His mother earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from [[Rice University]] in the 1950s.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/> Eleanor and Rafael Cruz divorced in 1997.<ref name=Recio1Apr>{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24782596.html|title=Ted Cruz’s family story: Poignant but incomplete|first=Maria|last=Recio|work=McClatchy|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=December 14, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz had two older half-sisters from his father's previous marriage, Miriam Ceferina Cruz and Roxana Lourdes Cruz. Miriam died in 2011.<ref name=Recio1Apr/><ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/2015/06/26/ted-cruzs-secret-weapon-win-right Ted Cruz’s Secret Weapon to Win the Right], ''[[National Journal]]'', Andy Kroll, June 25, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.</ref><ref name="TimeTruthCruz">{{cite book|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America|pages=28–44, 101–103|publisher=Broadside|year=2015|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>

==Education==
Cruz attended two private high schools: [[Faith West Academy]] in [[Katy, Texas]]<ref name="eriksen">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.chron.com/insidekaty/archives/2005/08/supreme_court_l.html |title=Solicitor general carries "supreme" weight with Katy roots |last=Eriksen |first=Helen |date=August 11, 2005 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> and [[Second Baptist School|Second Baptist High School]] in [[Houston]], from which he graduated as [[valedictorian]] in 1988.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/><ref>{{cite web|title=Distinguished Alumni|url=http://www.secondbaptistschool.org/distinguishedalumni|publisher=Second Baptist School|accessdate=April 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mackey |first=Maureen |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Him |url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/03/23/Ted-Cruz-20-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Him |newspaper=Fiscal Times |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=7: He graduated from Houston’s Second Baptist High School in 1988 and was valedictorian of his class.}} {{cite news |last=Dunham |first=Richard |date=October 15, 2012 |title=Profile: A man of many contrasts, Ted Cruz defies easy stereotypes |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/10/profile-a-man-of-many-contrasts-ted-cruz-defies-easy-stereotypes/ |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=Cruz was one of only two Hispanics when he transferred to Houston’s Second Baptist School his junior year. He graduated valedictorian in 1988.}} {{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jake |date=March 19, 2015 |title=Will grassroots support be enough for Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016? |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-grassroots-support-be-enough-for-sen-ted-cruz-in-2016/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=He graduated valedictorian of his high school in 1988, attended Princeton University for his undergraduate studies, and received his law degree from Harvard University.}} {{cite news |last=Barbash |first=Fred |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Why Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., is the perfect launchpad for Ted Cruz |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/23/why-liberty-university-in-lynchburg-va-is-the-perfect-launchpad-for-ted-cruz/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The last time he spoke there, Cruz made no mention of his Ivy League degrees but recalled fondly his memories of Second Baptist High School in Houston, where he was valedictorian, and how his wife was the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries.}} {{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/ted-cruz |title=Ted Cruz |author= |year=2015 |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The valedictorian of his class at Houston's Second Baptist High School, Cruz went on to Princeton University.}}</ref> During high school, Cruz participated in a Houston-based group known at the time as [[Center for the American Idea|the Free Market Education Foundation]], a program that taught high school students the philosophies of economists such as [[Milton Friedman]] and [[Frédéric Bastiat]].<ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013/><ref name=Lizza>{{Cite journal |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |authorlink=Ryan Lizza |date=November 19, 2012 |title=The Party Next Time |journal=[[The New Yorker]] |pages=50–57|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/11/19/121119fa_fact_lizza |accessdate=July 20, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz graduated ''[[cum laude]]'' from [[Princeton University]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Public Policy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135705/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz's Biography |location=Philipsburg, Montana |work=Project Vote Smart |accessdate=February 8, 2016}}</ref> from the [[Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs]] in 1992.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz 92 Sworn-in as U.S. Senator from Texas|author=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs|url=http://wws.princeton.edu/node/11519|newspaper=[[Princeton University|Princeton University Bulletin]]|date=January 3, 2013|location=[[Princeton, New Jersey]]|accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> While at Princeton, he competed for the [[American Whig-Cliosophic Society]]'s [[Princeton Debate Panel|Debate Panel]] and won the top speaker award at both the 1992 U.S. National Debating Championship and the 1992 [[North American Debating Championship]].<ref name="debate.princeton.edu">{{cite news|title=Hall of Fame |author=Princeton Debate Panel|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/results/hall-of-fame/|newspaper=[[Princeton Debate Panel|Princeton University Debate Panel]]|accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> In 1992, he was named U.S. National Speaker of the Year, and with his debate partner David Panton won Team of the Year.<ref name="debate.princeton.edu"/> Cruz and Panton would later represent Harvard Law School at the 1995 World Debating Championship, losing in the semi-finals to a team from Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-01-10/news/25715479_1_death-penalty-princeton-university-war-criminals|title=Australians Win Debate At Princeton A Singapore Woman Won The Award For Best Speaker. English Is Not Her Native Language|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=April 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Showed Eloquence, and Limits, as Debater at Princeton |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-honed-political-skills-in-princeton-debate-club.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |quote=By the time he was a senior at Princeton University in 1992, Ted Cruz had developed an arsenal of rhetorical skills and theatrical gestures that made him one of the most polished performers on the college debate circuit.}}</ref><ref name="PrinceDebateNamed"/> Princeton's debate team named their annual novice championship after Cruz.<ref name="PrinceDebateNamed">{{cite web|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/our-tournaments/cruz-novice-championship/|title=Cruz Novice Championship|accessdate=January 11, 2014|author=Princeton Debate Panel|authorlink=Princeton Debate Panel}}</ref>

Cruz's senior thesis at Princeton investigated the separation of powers; its title, ''Clipping the Wings of Angels'', draws its inspiration from a passage attributed to US President [[James Madison]]: "If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Cruz argued that the drafters of the Constitution intended to protect the rights of their constituents, and that the last two items in the [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]] offer an explicit stop against an all-powerful state.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012">{{cite news|last=Eckholm|first=Erik|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/us/politics/republican-senate-candidate-in-texas-is-known-as-an-intellectual-force.html|title=A Republican Voice With Tea Party Mantle and Intellectual Heft|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=MotherJones02021992>{{cite web|last=Cruz|first=Ted|url=http://www.motherjones.com/documents/480888-cruz-thesis|title=Ted Cruz's 1992 "Clipping the Wings of Angels"|publisher=[[Princeton University]]|date=April 2, 1992|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>

After graduating from Princeton, Cruz attended [[Harvard Law School]], graduating ''[[magna cum laude]]'' in 1995 with a [[Juris Doctor]] degree.<ref name="CongressionalBio" /><ref name="BegalaBeast08012012">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Texas’s Tea Party Revolution|author=Begala, Paul|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/01/paul-begala-ted-cruz-and-texas-s-tea-party-revolution.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> While at Harvard Law, he was a primary editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]'', and executive editor of the ''[[Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy]]'', and a founding editor of the ''[[Harvard Latino Law Review]]''.<ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum/> Referring to Cruz's time as a student at Harvard Law, Professor [[Alan Dershowitz]] said, "Cruz was off-the-charts brilliant".<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz>{{cite news|title=Who is Ted Cruz?|author=Weiner, Rachel|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/who-is-ted-cruz/2012/08/01/gJQAqql8OX_blog.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, wacko like a fox|author=McManus, Doyle|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/31/opinion/la-oe-mcmanus-column-ted-cruz-20130731|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Defusing the H-Bomb: In politics, Harvard alums frame diplomas strategically|author=Clarida, Matthew Q.|author2=Lucky, Jared T.|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/30/harvard-degree-politics-alumni/|newspaper=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|date=May 30, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Yes, Ted Cruz for Texas|author=Editors|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312576/yes-ted-cruz-texas-editors|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=July 30, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> At Harvard Law, Cruz was a [[John M. Olin Foundation|John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics]].<ref name=MorganLew03292011/>

Cruz currently serves on the Board of Advisors of the ''[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]]''.<ref name=TXRevLawPol>{{cite news |title=Board of Advisors |publisher=[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]] |url=http://trolp.org/about/board-of-advisors/ |accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Legal career==

===Clerkships===
[[File:US Senator of Texas Ted Cruz at FITN in Nashua, NH 02.jpg|upright|thumb|Ted Cruz speaking in [[Nashua, New Hampshire]]]]
Cruz served as a [[law clerk]] to [[J. Michael Luttig]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit]] in 1995<ref name=MorganLew03292011>{{cite web|url=http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|title=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz, Attorney Biography|website=[[Wayback Machine]]|publisher=Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP|location=Houston, Texas|date=March 29, 2011|accessdate=December 30, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|archivedate=May 21, 2010|quote=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice and leads the firm's U.S. Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Practice.}}</ref><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew>{{cite news|title=Rising Star: Morgan Lewis' R. Ted Cruz|first=Hilary|last=Russ|url=https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/Cruz_Law360RisingStar_05apr10.pdf|newspaper=Law360|date=April 5, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and [[William Rehnquist]], [[Chief Justice of the United States]] in 1996.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/> Cruz was the first Hispanic to clerk for a Chief Justice of the United States.<ref name=Townhall05252011>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|author=Jeffery, Terry|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/terryjeffrey/2011/05/25/ted_cruz_new_voice_for_the_american_dream/page/full/|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|date=May 25, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Private practice===
After Cruz finished his clerkships, he took a position with Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal, now known as [[Charles J. Cooper|Cooper & Kirk, LLC]], from 1997 to 1998.<ref name=TXTribProfile>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz|author=Tribpedia|url=http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/ted-cruz/about/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> While with the firm, Cruz worked on matters relating to the [[National Rifle Association]], and helped prepare testimony for the [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment proceedings]] against [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]].<ref name="JToobin">{{cite news|last1=Toobin|first1=Jeffrey|title=Ted Cruz, The Absolutist|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/06/30/140630fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all|accessdate=June 25, 2014|work=The New Yorker|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> Cruz also served as private counsel for Congressman [[John Boehner]] during Boehner's lawsuit against Congressman [[Jim McDermott]] for releasing a tape recording of a Boehner telephone conversation.<ref name=GrimaldiSeaTimes06021998>{{cite news|author=Grimaldi, James V.|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980602&slug=2754000|title=Campaign Money to Fight McDermott|date=June 2, 1998|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|page=B1}}</ref>

===Bush administration===
Cruz joined the [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]] in 1999 as a domestic policy adviser, advising then-Governor [[George W. Bush]] on a wide range of policy and legal matters, including civil justice, criminal justice, constitutional law, immigration, and government reform.<ref name=TXTribProfile/>

Cruz assisted in assembling the Bush legal team, devising strategy, and drafting [[pleading]]s for filing with the [[Supreme Court of Florida]] and [[U.S. Supreme Court]], in the case [[Bush v. Gore]], during the [[Florida election recount|2000 Florida presidential recounts]], leading to two wins for the Bush team.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz>{{cite news|title=The Reinvention of Ted Cruz|author=Cottle, Michelle|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/12/the-reinvention-of-ted-cruz.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=March 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz recruited future [[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court|Chief Justice]] [[John Roberts]] and noted attorney Mike Carvin to the Bush legal team.<ref name=JToobin/>

After President Bush took office, Cruz served as an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] in the [[U.S. Justice Department]]<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and as the director of policy planning at the [[U.S. Federal Trade Commission]].<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/>

===Texas Solicitor General===
Appointed to the office of [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]],<ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008"/> Cruz served in that position from 2003 to 2008.<ref name=Lizza/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> The office had been established in 1999 to handle appeals involving the state, but Abbott hired Cruz with the idea that Cruz would take a "leadership role in the United States in articulating a vision of strict construction." As Solicitor General, Cruz argued before the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] nine times, winning five cases and losing four.<ref name=JToobin/>

Cruz has authored 70 [[United States Supreme Court]] briefs and presented 43 oral arguments, including nine before the United States Supreme Court.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012>{{cite web|first=David McKay|last=Wilson|title=Carrying the Tea Party Banner: U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz calls for a 'return to the framers’ vision of a constitutionally limited government.'|work=Harvard Law School Bulletin|date=Fall 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013|url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/bulletin/2012/fall/feature_4.php}}</ref> Cruz's record of having argued before the Supreme Court nine times is more than any practicing lawyer in Texas or any current member of Congress.<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012>{{cite news|title=For Cruz, Supreme Court Work at Heart of Campaign|author=Batheja, Aman|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/cruz-supreme-court-work-heart-campaign/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|date=July 23, 2012|quote=We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights.|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has commented on his nine cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court: "We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights."<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012/>

In 2003, while Cruz was Texas Solicitor General, the Texas Attorney General's office declined to defend Texas' sodomy law in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'', where the U.S. Supreme Court decided that state laws banning homosexual sex as illegal sodomy were unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/ted-cruz-anti-gay-marriage-crusader-not-always |title= Ted Cruz: Anti-Gay Marriage Crusader? Not Always |last1=Przybyl |first1=Heidi |date=April 29, 2015 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |accessdate=May 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the landmark case of ''[[District of Columbia v. Heller]]'', Cruz drafted the [[Amicus curiae|amicus]] brief signed by the attorneys general of 31 states, which said that the [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] handgun ban should be struck down as infringing upon the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] [[right to keep and bear arms]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=BlockNPR03142008>{{cite news|last=Block|first=Melissa|title=D.C. Gun Ban Critic: Court Must Clarify Constitution|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=88251874|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=March 14, 2008}}</ref> Cruz also presented oral argument for the amici states in the companion case to ''Heller'' before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=WSJ03142007>{{cite news|title=Second Amendment Showdown|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117384168237936437.html|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=March 14, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>
[[File:Ted cruz 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Cruz at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC., 2011]]

In addition to his success in ''Heller'', Cruz successfully defended the constitutionality of the [[Ten Commandments]] monument on the [[Texas State Capitol]] grounds before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit|Fifth Circuit]] and the U.S. Supreme Court, winning 5–4 in ''[[Van Orden v. Perry]]''.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/>

In 2004, Cruz was involved in the high-profile case, ''[[Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow]]'',<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> in which he wrote a [[Brief (law)|brief]] on behalf of all 50 states which argued that the plaintiff did not have standing to file suit on behalf of his daughter.<ref>{{cite court |litigants=ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DAVID W. GORDON, SUPERINTENDENT vs. MICHAEL A. NEWDOW, ET AL. |vol= |reporter= |opinion=No. 02-1624 |pinpoint=AMICI CURIAE Brief |court=Supreme Court of the United States |date=December 2003 |url=http://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/NewdowAmicus.pdf |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |quote=Because of Their "History and Ubiquity," Acknowledgments of Religion in Patriotic or Historical Contexts Are Entirely Consistent with the Establishment Clause.}}</ref> The Supreme Court upheld the position of Cruz’s brief.

Cruz served as lead counsel for the state and successfully defended the multiple litigation challenges to the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting plan in state and federal district courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court, which was decided 5–4 in his favor in ''[[League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry]]''.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=ReinertHousChron06282006>{{cite news|last=Reinert|first=Patty|title=Most of Texas' redistricting map upheld |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4009070.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 28, 2006|accessdate=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz also successfully defended, in ''[[Medellin v. Texas]]'', the State of Texas against an attempt to re-open the cases of 51 Mexican nationals, all of whom were convicted of murder in the United States and were on death row.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/> With the support of the [[George W. Bush Administration]], the petitioners argued that the United States had violated the [[Vienna Convention on Consular Relations]] by failing to notify the convicted nationals of their opportunity to receive legal aid from the Mexican consulate.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case">Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008) (No. 06-984).</ref> They based their case on a decision of the [[International Court of Justice]] in the [[Avena case]] which ruled that by failing to allow access to the Mexican consulate, the US had breached its obligations under the Convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.N. court rules U.S. execution violated treaty|publisher=CNN|first=Bill|last=Mears|date=January 19, 2009|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/19/mexican.execution.violation/|accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> Texas won the case in a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court holding that ICJ decisions were not binding in domestic law and that the President had no power to enforce them.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case"/>

Cruz has been named by ''[[The American Lawyer|American Lawyer]]'' magazine as one of the 50 Best Litigators under 45 in America,<ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008">{{cite news|title=Attorney General Abbott Appoints New Solicitor General: Longtime Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz returns to private practice; Deputy Solicitor General Sean Jordan to serve on leadership team|author=Office of Attorney General Greg Abbott|url=https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=2406|newspaper=State of Texas|date=April 9, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmLawMed01012007>{{cite news|title=The Young Litigators Fab Fifty|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=900005470251&slreturn=20130221194544|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=January 1, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> by ''[[The National Law Journal]]'' as one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America,<ref name=AmLawMed05262008>{{cite news |title=The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America |work=[[The National Law Journal]] |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202421621086&The_50_Most_Influential_Minority_Lawyers_in_America |agency=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=May 26, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmbrogiAmLawMed05282008>{{cite news |title=Legal Blog Watch |author=Ambrogi, Robert J. |url= http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2008/05/the-most-influe.html|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|publisher=Law.com|date=May 27, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and by ''Texas Lawyer'' as one of the 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century.<ref name=AmLawMed06282010>{{cite news|title=The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202463008691&The_25_Greatest_Texas_Lawyers_of_the_Past_QuarterCentury|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=June 28, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="TexasLawyer">{{cite news|title=Luncheon Honors 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|author=Tex Parte Blog, ''[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]''|url=http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/10/25-greatest-lawyers-of-the-past-quarter-century-honored.html|newspaper=Texas Lawyer|date=October 6, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Return to private practice===
After leaving the Solicitor General position in 2008, Cruz worked in a private law firm in Houston, [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP]], often representing corporate clients, until he was sworn in as U.S. Senator from Texas in 2013.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008>{{cite web|first=Gina|last=Passarella|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421154053|title=Morgan Lewis Adds Texas Solicitor General|publisher=Law.com|date=May 6, 2008|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> At Morgan Lewis, he led the firm’s U.S. Supreme Court and national appellate litigation practice.<ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008 /> In 2009 and 2010, he formed and then abandoned a bid for state attorney general when the incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott, who hired Cruz as Solicitor General, decided to run for re-election.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/>

While at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius, Cruz represented [[Pfizer]] in a lawsuit brought by a group of public hospitals and community health centers who accused the drug manufacturer of overcharging. The Supreme Court eventually threw the case out.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ted Cruz has always had a master plan. Now it could win him the White House.|url = https://www.yahoo.com/politics/ted-cruz-has-been-plotting-1305876417003574.html|publisher = Yahoo!|accessdate = January 1, 2016}}</ref> Shandong Linglong Rubber Company was found guilty of marketing versions of tires that were based on blueprints stolen by a former employee of a Florida businessman and ordered to pay $26 million to the Floridian. Cruz worked on the Chinese company's appellant brief. The appeals court denied the appeal and affirmed the jury's award.<ref name=MotherJones>{{cite news |last=Corn |first=David |date=April 9, 2015 |title=As a private lawyer, Ted Cruz defended companies found guilty of wrongdoing |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/03/ted-cruz-lawyer-braun-medical-shandong-linglong |newspaper=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |location=[[San Francisco]] |access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref> Cruz represented drug manufacturer [[B. Braun Medical Inc.]] in front of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit]] after the company was found guilty of wrongfully discharging a former employee. Cruz asserted that she had failed to prove that B. Braun had directed her to violate the law and that she had not presented sufficient evidence that her refusal to violate the law was why she had been fired. The appeals court rejected Cruz's argument and affirmed the $880,000 award.<ref name=MotherJones/> Cruz represented [[Toyota]] in an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court in an [[statute of limitations]] case, where a judge wanted to investigate Toyota for [[contempt]] after a former Toyota in-house lawyer accused Toyota of unlawfully withholding documents in a [[product liability]] case.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindell |first=Chuck |date=August 27, 2010 |title=Court gets OK for Toyota contempt hearing |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/court-gets-ok-for-toyota-contempt-hearing/nRxMH/ |newspaper=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=Under Texas law, the trial court lost all jurisdiction in the case 30 days after Green's lawsuit was dismissed, Toyota's appellate lawyer, Ted Cruz of Houston, told the Supreme Court in briefs.}}</ref> Cruz unsuccessfully argued the judge's jurisdiction expired thirty days after the case was dismissed following an out-of-court settlement, but later won on a second appeal using the same argument.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=1b2345e5-2604-4746-9fc6-75ba569e6edd&coa=cossup&DT=OTHER&MediaID=4e371e0b-190e-445a-b849-3d1af22168f3|title = Court of Appeals November 6, 2011 Opinion|website = Texas Judicial Branch|publisher = State of Texas|pages = 72–77}}</ref>

Cruz defended two record-setting $54 million personal injury awards in New Mexico at the appellate level, including one which had been thrown out by a lower court.<ref name=Corn11Feb>{{cite news|url= http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/ted-cruz-tort-reform-2016|title=As a Lawyer, Ted Cruz Defended Huge Jury Awards. As a Politician, He Opposed Them.|work=Mother Jones|first=David|last=Corn|date=February 11, 2015|accessdate=January 22, 2016}}</ref> Cruz defended a mentally disabled man who was allegedly raped by an employee of the facility where he lived. And in the other case Cruz defended the family of a 78-year-old resident of an Albuquerque nursing home who died of internal bleeding.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/opinion/two-sides-of-ted-cruz-tort-reformer-and-personal-injury-lawyer.html|title=Two Sides of Ted Cruz: Tort Reformer and Personal Injury Lawyer|date=January 20, 2016|accessdate=January 22, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Williamson}}</ref> The settlements were sealed in both cases.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan/>

==U.S. Senate==

===2012 election===
{{Main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg|right|thumb|Cruz speaking to the Values Voters Summit in October 2011]]
Cruz's victory in the Republican primary was described by the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' as "the biggest upset of 2012 ... a true grassroots victory against very long odds."<ref name="WashPostFix11282012">{{cite news|title=The biggest upset of 2012|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/28/the-biggest-upset-of-2012/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 28, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref> On January 19, 2011, after U.S. Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] said she would not seek reelection, Cruz announced his candidacy via a blogger conference call.<ref name="hogan">{{cite web|url=http://www.redstate.com/hogan/2011/01/19/ted-cruz-makes-it-a-new-game-for-us-senate-in-texas/|title=Ted Cruz Makes it a New Game for U.S. Senate in Texas|date=January 19, 2011|publisher=[[RedState]]|accessdate=January 29, 2015}}</ref> In the Republican senatorial primary, Cruz ran against sitting Lieutenant Governor [[David Dewhurst]]. Cruz was endorsed first by former Alaska Governor [[Sarah Palin]]<ref name=LevyYahoo0510212>{{cite news|author=Edwards-Levy, Ann|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/sarah-palin-endorses-ted-cruz-senate-texas_n_1507213.html|title=Sarah Palin Endorses Ted Cruz For U.S. Senate In Texas|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> and then by the [[Club for Growth]], a fiscally conservative political action committee;<ref>{{cite news|last=Toeplitz|first=Shira|title=Club for Growth Picks Texas Senate Favorite|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/Club-for-Growth-Picks-Texas-Senate-Favorite-206144-1.html|newspaper=[[Roll Call]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> [[Erick Erickson]], former editor of prominent conservative blog [[RedState]];<ref name=RedStateEndorse>{{cite news|last=Erickson|first=Erick|title=Ted Cruz for Senate|url=http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/06/02/ted-cruz-for-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=[[RedState]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> the [[FreedomWorks]] for America [[super PAC]];<ref>{{cite news|title=FreedomWorks PAC Likes Ted Cruz|first=Jim|last=Geraghty|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/268649/freedomworks-pac-likes-ted-cruz|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=June 2, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> nationally syndicated radio host [[Mark Levin]];<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Levin endorses Ted Cruz for US Senate in Texas|first=Mark|last=Levin|url=http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-endorses-ted-cruz-for-us-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=The Right Scoop|date=June 4, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> former Attorney General [[Edwin Meese]];<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> [[Tea Party Express]];<ref name=ShapiroWacoTrib01252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Express endorses Ted Cruz for Senate in Waco|first=Michael W.|last=Shapiro|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/waco_politics_report/tea-party-express-endorses-ted-cruz-for-senate-in-waco/article_522b2244-d22f-5aed-bb4d-587c900c92c9.html|newspaper=[[Waco Tribune-Herald]]|date=January 25, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> [[Young Conservatives of Texas]];<ref name=ScharrerSAExpNews01052012>{{cite news|title=Young conservatives choose Cruz|first=Gary|last=Scharrer|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2012/01/young-conservatives-choose-cruz/|newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=January 5, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and U.S. Senators [[Tom Coburn]],<ref name=KlukowskiBreitbart05252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Wave Could Carry Texas Senate Seat for Ted Cruz|author=Klukowski, Ken|url=http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/25/Tea-Party-Wave-Could-Carry-Texas-Senate-Seat-for-Ted-Cruz|newspaper=[[Breitbart]]|date=May 25, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> [[Jim DeMint]],<ref name=SullivanHotline11282011>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Sean|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/for-demint-a-fe.php|title=For DeMint, A Few Well-Timed Endorsements|work=National Journal|date=November 28, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]],<ref name=CatanesePolitico03072011>{{cite web|last=Catanese|first=David|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0311/Sen_Lee_backs_Ted_Cruz_in_Texas.html?showall|title=Sen. Lee backs Ted Cruz in Texas|publisher=[[Politico]] |date=March 7, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Rand Paul]]<ref name=GravoisFWStar07262011>{{cite news|title=Tea Party stalwart Rand Paul backs Cruz over Dewhurst in Texas' U.S. Senate race|first=John|last=Gravois|url=http://blogs.star-telegram.com/politex/2011/07/tea-party-stalwart-rand-paul-backs-cruz-over-dewhurst-in-senate-race.html|newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=July 26, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and [[Pat Toomey]].<ref name=McKinleyHouChron08012011>{{cite news|title=Sen. Pat Toomey Endorses Ted Cruz for The Texas Senate Race|author=McKinley, Kathleen|url=http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/08/sen-pat-toomey-endorses-ted-cruz-for-the-texas-senate-race/|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 1, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> He was also endorsed by former Texas Congressman [[Ron Paul]],<ref name=WhittingtonYahoo05072012>{{cite web|author=Whittington, Mark|url=http://news.yahoo.com/ron-rand-paul-endorse-ted-cruz-texas-senate-213900341.html|title=Ron, Rand Paul Endorse Ted Cruz for Texas Senate Seat|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 7, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> [[George P. Bush]],<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania [[Rick Santorum]].<ref name=WeissertAP05242012>{{cite news|title=Santorum endorses Ted Cruz in Texas Senate race|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/may/24/santorum-endorses-cruz-in-texas-us-senate-race/?print=1|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 24, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz won the runoff for the Republican nomination with a 14-point margin over Dewhurst.<ref name=WeissertHuffPost07312012>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Defeats David Dewhurst In Texas Senate Runoff|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/31/ted-cruz-texas-runoff_n_1726411.html|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz defeated Dewhurst despite being outspent by Dewhurst who held a statewide elected office.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012>{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz Wins In Texas GOP Senate Runoff |author=Hartfield, Elizabeth |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/ted-cruz-wins-in-texas-gop-senate-runoff/ |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=July 31, 2012 |accessdate=March 25, 2015|quote=Dewhurst enjoyed a huge financial advantage over Cruz. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Dewhurst poured $11 million of his own personal fortune—he founded a successful energy company called Falcon Seaboard—into his campaign, spending a total of $19 million, as compared to Cruz’s $7 million spent.}}</ref> Dewhurst spent $19 million and Cruz only spent $7 million.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012/> Dewhurst raised over $30 million and outspent Cruz at a ratio of nearly 3-to-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/07/27/10321/texas-senate-race-attracts-13-million-super-pac-spending|title=Texas Senate race attracts $13 million in super PAC spending|author=Alexandra Duszak|work=Center for Public Integrity}}</ref>

In the November 6 general election, Cruz faced Democrat [[Paul Sadler]], an attorney and a former state representative from [[Henderson, Texas|Henderson]], in east Texas. Cruz won with 4.5 million votes (56.4%) to Sadler's 3.2 million (40.6%). Two minor candidates garnered the remaining 3% of the vote.<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes">{{cite news|title=Election Results|author=State of Texas|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> According to a poll by Cruz's pollster Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, Cruz received 40% of the Hispanic vote, vs. 60% for Sadler, outperforming Republican Presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] with the Hispanic vote in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz and the Hispanic Vote|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/ted-cruz-and-hispanic-vote|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>Drucker, David M. [http://washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-poll-dems-have-edge-over-gop-among-hispanics-in-texas/article/2533470 Ted Cruz poll: Dems have edge over GOP among Hispanics in Texas], ''[[Washington Examiner]]'', July 25, 2013.</ref>

After ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine reported on a potential violation of ethics rules by failing to publicly disclose his financial relationship with Caribbean Equity Partners Investment Holdings during the 2012 campaign, Cruz called his failure to disclose these connections an inadvertent omission.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/18/ted-cruz-failed-to-disclose-ties-to-jamaican-holding-company/|title=Ted Cruz Failed To Disclose Ties To Caribbean Holding Company|last=Calabresi|first=Massimo|date=October 18, 2013|website=Time|accessdate=October 30, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, the ''New York Times'' reported that Cruz and his wife had taken out low-interest loans from Goldman Sachs (where she worked) and Citibank, and failed to report the nearly $1 million in loans on [[Federal Election Commission]] disclosure statements as required by law.<ref name=McIntire13Jan>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/us/politics/ted-cruz-wall-street-loan-senate-bid-2012.html|title=Cruz Didn’t Disclose Loan From Goldman Sachs for His First Senate Campaign|work=The New York Times|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 14, 2016|first=Mike|last=McIntire}}</ref> Cruz disclosed the loans on his Senate financial disclosure forms in July 2012, but not on the Federal Election Commission form.<ref name=Mullins>Mullins, Brody. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/ted-cruz-didnt-adequately-disclose-2012-loans-for-senate-campaign-1452750887 "Ted Cruz Didn’t Adequately Disclose 2012 Loans for Senate Campaign"], [[Wall Street Journal]] (January 14, 2016).</ref> There is no indication that Cruz's wife had any role in providing any of the loans, or that the banks did anything wrong.<ref name=Mullins /> The loans were largely repaid by later campaign fundraising. A spokesperson for Cruz said his failure to report the loans to the FEC was "inadvertent" and said he would be filing supplementary paperwork.<ref name=McIntire13Jan/>

===Legislation===
[[File:Ted Cruz at Montgomery County Republican Party meeting, Conroe, Texas, August 19, 2013.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz giving a speech to the Montgomery County Republican Party meeting held in [[Conroe, Texas]], on August 19, 2013]]
Cruz has sponsored 25 bills of his own, including:<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Cruz's Legislation|url=http://www.congress.gov/member/ted-cruz/2175?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Ted+Cruz%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref>
* S.177, a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health-care related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, introduced January 29, 2013
* S.505, a bill to prohibit the use of [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drones]] to kill citizens of the United States within the United States, introduced March 7, 2013
* S.729 and S. 730, bills to investigate and prosecute felons and fugitives who illegally purchase firearms, and to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through straw purchases and trafficking, introduced March 15, 2013
* S.1336, a bill to permit States to require proof of citizenship for registering to vote in federal elections, introduced July 17, 2013
* S.2170, a bill to increase coal, natural gas, and crude oil exports, to approve the construction of the [[Keystone XL Pipeline]], to expand oil drilling offshore, onshore, in the [[National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska]], and in Indian reservations, to give states the sole power of regulating [[hydraulic fracturing]], to repeal the [[Renewable Fuel Standard]], to prohibit the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) from regulating [[greenhouse gas]]es, to require the EPA to assess how new regulations will affect employment, and to earmark natural resource revenue to paying off the federal government's debt, introduced March 27, 2014
* S.2415, a bill to amend the [[Federal Election Campaign Act|Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971]] to eliminate all limits on direct campaign contributions to candidates for public office, introduced June 3, 2014

====Senate bill 2195====
{{main|Public Law 113-100}}
On April 1, 2014, Cruz introduced Senate bill 2195, a bill that would allow the [[President of the United States]] to deny [[Visa (document)|visas]] to any ambassador to the [[United Nations]] who has been found to have been engaged in [[espionage]] activities or a [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.<ref name=2195sum>{{cite web|title=S. 2195 – Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2195|publisher=United States Congress|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref> The bill was written in response to [[Iran]]'s choice of [[Hamid Aboutalebi]] as their ambassador.<ref name=Congressapproves>{{cite news|last=Marcos|first=Cristina|title=Congress approves bill banning Iran diplomat|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/203202-house-votes-to-ban-irans-un-ambassador|accessdate=April 11, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 10, 2014}}</ref> Aboutalebi was involved in the [[Iran hostage crisis]], in which of a number of American diplomats from the US embassy in Tehran were held captive in 1979.<ref name="Congressapproves"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=April 2, 2014|title=U.S. Troubled By Iran's Choice Of 1979 Hostage-Taker For U.N. Post|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/02/298412119/u-s-troubled-by-irans-choice-of-1979-hostage-taker-for-u-n-post|publisher=NPR|accessdate=November 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/irans-reformers-include-more-than-one-former-hostage-taker/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|work=The New York Times|first=Robert|last=Mackey|title=Iran's Reformers Include More Than One Former Hostage-Taker|date=April 4, 2014|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref>

Under the headline "A bipartisan message to Iran", Cruz thanked President [[Barack Obama]] for signing S 2195 into law. The letter, published in the magazine ''[[Politico]]'' on April 18, 2014, starts with "Thanks to President Obama for joining a unanimous Congress and signing S 2195 into law". Cruz also thanked senators from both political parties for "swiftly passing this legislation and sending it to the White House."<ref>{{cite web|title=A bipartisan message to Iran|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/a-bipartisan-message-to-iran-105837.html#.U1RTecfAJu_|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz thanks Obama for denying visas to terrorists|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/20/ted-cruz-thanks-obama-denying-visas-terrorists/|work=The Washington Times|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Writes Thank You Letter To Obama In Politico|url=http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/04/20/ted-cruz-writes-thank-you-letter-obama-politico|publisher=Fox News Channel|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref>

====Committee assignments====
According to transcripts as reported by ''Politico'', in his first two years in the Senate, Cruz attended 17 of 50 public Armed Services Committee hearings, 3 of 25 Commerce Committee hearings, 4 of the 12 Judiciary Committee hearings, and missed 21 of 135 roll call votes during the first three months of 2015.<ref name=POLITICO.tedcruz>{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Austin|title=Ted Cruz the senator: Heard but not seen|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 22, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422160320/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html?hp=t2_r|archivedate=April 22, 2015}}</ref>
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]'''
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities|Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]'''
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights|Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities|Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]] (Chairman)
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security|Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]]'''
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]] (Chairman)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]]'''

===Comments on President Obama===

In a November 2014 Senate speech, Cruz accused the president of being "openly desirous to destroy the Constitution and this Republic."<ref name="JesseWeiner">Jesse Weiner, [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/ted-cruz-confused-about-cicero/383066/ Ted Cruz: Confused About Cicero: What the Texas Republican misrepresents about treason and politics in the Roman Republic], ''The Atlantic'' (November 21, 2014).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz invoked the speeches of the ancient [[Roman Senate|Roman senator]] [[Cicero]] [[Catiline Orations|against Catiline]] to denounce Obama's planned executive actions on immigration reform.<ref name="JesseWeiner"/> Classics professor Jesse Weiner, writing in ''[[The Atlantic]]'', said that Cruz's analogy was "deeply disquieting" because "in casting Obama in the role of Catiline, Cruz unsubtly suggests that the sitting president was not lawfully elected and is the perpetrator of a violent [[insurrection]] to overthrow the government...In effect, he accuses the president of [[high treason]]. Regardless of one’s views on immigration reform and the Obama administration at large, this is dangerous [[rhetoric]]."<ref name="JesseWeiner"/>

Cruz has repeatedly said that the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran "will make the Obama administration the world's leading financier of radical Islamic terrorism."<ref name="Collins">Eliza Collins, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-calls-barack-obama-sponsor-terrorism-iran-nuclear-deal-120780 Cruz stands by calling Obama a sponsor of terrorism], ''Politico'' (July 29, 2015).</ref> In response, Obama called Cruz's statements an example of "outrageous attacks" from Republican critics that crossed the line of responsible discourse: "We've had a sitting senator, who also happens to be running for president, suggest that I'm the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines, but it's not the kind of leadership that is needed for America right now."<ref name="Collins"/> Former Republican presidential nominee [[Mitt Romney]] also criticized Cruz for his remarks, writing that although he, too, was opposed to the Iran agreement, Cruz's statement connecting Obama to terrorism was "way over the line" and "hurts the cause."<ref>David Jackson, [http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/07/30/romney-hits-cruz-over-obamaterrorism-claim/ Romney hits Cruz over Obama/terrorism claim], ''USA Today'' (July 30, 2015).</ref><ref>Alex Griswold, [http://www.mediaite.com/online/mitt-romney-ted-cruz-way-over-the-line-calling-obama-terror-sponsor/ Mitt Romney: Ted Cruz 'Way Over the Line' Calling Obama Terror Sponsor], Mediaite (July 30, 2015).</ref>

===Relationship with Republican members of Congress===
Cruz has used harsh rhetoric against fellow Republican politicians, and his relationships with various Republican members of Congress have been strained.<ref name="RachelWeiner">Rachel Weiner, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/07/31/ted-cruz-shies-away-from-some-harsh-rhetoric/ Ted Cruz shies away from some harsh rhetoric], ''The Washington Post'' (July 31, 2013).</ref><ref name="John">Arit John, [http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-republican-critics/69901/ All of Ted Cruz's Republican Critics], ''The Atlantic'' (September 26, 2013).</ref> In 2013, Cruz referred to Republicans who he thought were insufficiently resistant to the proposals of President Obama as a "surrender caucus."<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz also called fellow Republicans out as "squishes" on gun-control issues during a Tea Party rally.<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz's role in the [[United States federal government shutdown of 2013]] in particular attracted criticism from a number of Republican colleagues.<ref name="John"/> Republican Senator [[John McCain]] is reported to particularly dislike Cruz; in a Senate floor speech in 2013, McCain denounced Cruz's [[Reductio ad Hitlerum|reference to Nazis]] when discussing the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref name="John"/> In March 2013, McCain also called Cruz and others "wacko birds" whose beliefs are not "reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans."<ref name="John"/>

In a heated Senate floor speech in July 2015, Cruz accused Senate Republican Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] of telling "a flat-out lie" over his intentions to reauthorize the [[Export-Import Bank of the United States]], which Cruz opposes. "What we just saw today was an absolute demonstration that not only what he told every Republican senator, but what he told the press over and over and over again was a simple lie," Cruz said of Senate Republican Leader McConnell.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan">David Morgan & Richard Cowan, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/24/us-usa-election-cruz-idUSKCN0PY29P20150724 Republican White House hopeful Cruz calls McConnell a liar], Reuters (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz's "incendiary outburst" was "unusual in the cordial atmosphere of the Senate", according to ''[[Reuters]]''.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan"/><ref name="Raju">Manu Raju, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-says-mitch-mcconnell-lies-export-import-bank-120583 Cruz accuses Mitch McConnell of telling a 'flat-out lie'], ''Politico'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz assailed the "Republican majority in both houses of Congresses" for what Cruz termed an insufficiently conservative record.<ref name="Raju"/> Cruz's speech, and especially his accusation against McConnell, was condemned by various senior Republican senators, with John McCain saying that the speech was "outside the realm of Senate behavior" and "a very wrong thing to do."<ref>Ted Barrett, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/26/politics/cruz-senate-mcconnell-lied/ Republicans rebuke Cruz over his charge McConnell lied], CNN (July 27, 2015).</ref> [[Orrin Hatch]] expressed a similar opinion: “I don’t condone the use of that kind of language against another senator unless they can show definitive proof that there was a lie....And I know the leader didn’t lie.”<ref>Rogers, Alex. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71388/cruz-mcconnell-told-flat-out-lie-conservatives?mref=scroll "Cruz: McConnell Told ‘Flat-Out Lie’ to Conservatives"], ''[[National Journal]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz had alleged that McConnell scheduled a vote on the Ex-Im Bank as part of a deal to persuade Democrats like [[Maria Cantwell]] to stop blocking a trade bill, whereas McConnell denied there was any "deal", and that denial is what Cruz termed a "lie"; Senator Hatch says McConnell did pledge to help Cantwell get a vote on the Ex-Im Bank.<ref>DeBonis, Mike. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ted-cruz-to-gop-leader-you-lied/2015/07/24/6a967690-3225-11e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7_story.html "Ted Cruz to GOP leader: You lied"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref>

Among Cruz's few close allies in the Senate is [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] of Utah.<ref>Jonathan Capehart, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/07/29/how-mitch-mcconnell-went-gangsta-on-ted-cruz-and-mike-lee/ How Mitch McConnell went gangsta on Ted Cruz and Mike Lee], ''The Washington Post'' (July 29, 2015).</ref><ref>Manu Raju & Burgess Everett, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/senate-obamacare-repeal-ted-cruz-mike-lee-120637 Senate smackdown: Cruz, Lee efforts squelched: The rift between Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz widens], ''Politico'' (July 27, 2015).</ref> Cruz has expressed pride in his reputation for having few allies, saying in June 2015 that he has been vilified for fighting "the Washington cartel."<ref>Todd J. Gillman, [http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20150624-cruz-says-hes-vilified-for-fighting-the-washington-cartel.ece Cruz says he's vilified for fighting the 'Washington cartel'], ''Dallas Morning News'' (June 24, 2015).</ref>

When Boehner announced in September 2015 that he would step down and resign from the House, Cruz expressed his concern that before resigning Boehner may have "cut a deal with Nancy Pelosi to fund the Obama administration for the rest of its tenure".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zurcher|first1=Anthony|title=John Boehner resigns and Ted Cruz gloats|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34355043|accessdate=October 17, 2015|publisher=BBC|date=September 25, 2015|ref=boehner_resigns}}</ref> The following month, the budget agreement passed in the House by a vote of 266 to 187, with unanimous support from Democrats and from Boehner, lifting the debt ceiling through March 2017, and Cruz called the agreement “complete and utter surrender”.<ref>Arkin, James. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/10/29/house_passes_budget_debt_ceiling_agreement_128586.html "House Passes Budget, Debt Ceiling Agreement"], [[Real Clear Politics]] (October 29, 2015).</ref>

==Presidential campaign==
{{main|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016}}
{{Further|United States presidential election, 2016}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|right|thumb|Senator Cruz speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland]]
As early as 2013, Cruz was widely expected to run for the presidency in 2016.<ref name="contender">{{cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=September 13, 2013|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dont-underestimate-rand-paul-as-a-2016-presidential-contender/2013/09/15/1c2925c6-1e1c-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|title=Rand Paul, 2016 Republican front-runner|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=September 25, 2013|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|title=Ted Cruz's First 2016 Campaign Ad Is Over 21 Hours Long|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Wire]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Metzler|first=Rebekah|date=September 27, 2013|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/27/poll-ted-cruz-leads-2016-gop-field |title=Poll: Ted Cruz Leads 2016 GOP Field|newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref> On March 14, 2013, he gave the keynote speech at the annual [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in Washington DC.<ref name=RomanoPolitico03142013>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/2016-rubio-paul-et-al-court-cpac-crowd-88884.html|title=CPAC 2013: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul fight for the future of the GOP|last==Romano|first=Lois| newspaper=[[Politico]]|date=March 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He tied for 7th place in the 2013 CPAC straw poll on March 16, winning 4% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll; Rubio close second|last=Montanaro|first= Domenico|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/16/17341131-rand-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll-rubio-close-second?lite|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 16, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, Cruz won the Values Voter Summit Presidential straw poll with 42% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Dominates Republican Straw Poll|author=Rayman, Noah|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/13/ted-cruz-dominates-republican-straw-poll/|magazine=[[TIME]]|date=October 13, 2013|accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref> Cruz finished first in two Presidential straw polls conducted in 2014 with 30.33% of the vote at the Republican Leadership Conference<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins presidential straw poll at Republican Leadership Conference |last=Finnegan|first=Conor|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 31, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref> and 43% of the vote at the Republican Party of Texas state convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins Texas GOP’s presidential straw poll, Rick Perry finishes distant fourth|last=Jeffers|first=Gromer|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|newspaper=[[Dallas Morning News]]|date=June 7, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref>

Cruz did speaking events in mid-2013 across Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, early [[United States presidential primary|primary states]], leading to speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a run for [[United States presidential election, 2016|President in 2016]].<ref name=KilloughCNN07212013>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|title=Cruz tries to sidestep 2016 question|author=Ashley Killough|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=July 21, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> Legal analyst [[Jeffrey Toobin]] describes Cruz as the first potential Presidential candidate to emphasize [[originalism]] as a major national issue.<ref name=JToobin/>

On April 12, 2014, Cruz spoke at the Freedom Summit, an event organized by [[Americans for Prosperity]], and [[Citizens United (organization)|Citizens United]].<ref name="FreedomSummit">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are the big draws at the Freedom Summit|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/12/cruz-and-paul-greeted-by-cheers-at-tea-partys-2016-warm-up/|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref> The event was attended by several potential presidential candidates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Freedom Summit draws GOP hopefuls to N.H.|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedom-summit-draws-gop-hopefuls-to-nh/2014/04/12/8a5225f8-c262-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014|first=Jaime|last=Fuller|date=April 12, 2014}}</ref> In his speech, Cruz mentioned that Latinos, young people and single mothers are the people most affected by the recession, and that the Republican Party should make outreach efforts to these constituents. He also said that the words, "growth and opportunity" should be tattooed on the hands of every Republican politician.<ref name="FreedomSummit"/>

On March 23, 2015, Cruz announced on his Twitter page: "I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!"<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Announces Presidential Bid|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ted-cruz-announce-presidential-bid-monday-n328051|accessdate=March 23, 2015|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref> He was the first announced major Republican presidential candidate for the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 campaign]].<ref name="HousChronSchleifer032120152">{{cite news |last = Schleifer|first = Theodore|date = March 21, 2015|title = Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday|url = http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/us/article/Ted-Cruz-to-announce-presidential-bid-Monday-6150894.php?t=ec04aca79d29c86149&cmpid=twitter-premium|newspaper = [[Houston Chronicle]]|location = [[Houston, Texas]]|access-date = March 22, 2015|quote = Cruz will launch a presidential bid outright rather than form an exploratory committee, said senior advisers with direct knowledge of his plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made yet. They say he is done exploring and is now ready to become the first Republican presidential candidate.}}</ref><ref name="CorasanitiNYT03232015">{{cite news |last1=Corasaniti |first1=Nick |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Becomes First Major Candidate to Announce Presidential Bid for 2016 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-2016-presidential-race.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, New York |access-date=March 23, 2015 }}</ref>

[[HarperCollins]] published Cruz's book ''A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America'' on June 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Time-Truth-Reigniting-Promise-America/dp/0062365614|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America: Ted Cruz: 9780062365613: Amazon.com: Books|publisher=Amazon.com}}</ref> The book reached the bestseller list of several organizations in its first week of release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/amazon-no-evidence-of-bulk-sales-for-ted-cruz-book-210374.html|title=Amazon: 'No evidence' of bulk sales for Cruz book|author=Dylan Byers|date=July 13, 2015|work=POLITICO}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-13/new-york-times-defends-ban-of-ted-cruz-s-book-from-bestseller-list|title=NYT Defends Exclusion of Ted Cruz's Book: 'We Are Confident'|date=July 13, 2015|work=Bloomberg.com/politics|first=Elizabeth|last=Titus}}</ref>

On February 1, 2016, Cruz won the [[Iowa caucuses]].<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> He is the first Hispanic to win either a presidential primary election or the Iowa caucuses.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> Cruz received 28% of the vote.<ref name="CNN02012016"/>

===Citizenship===
{{Main|Natural born citizen}}
{{Further|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016#Eligibility}}
Cruz has stated that when he was a child, his mother told him that she would have to make an affirmative act to claim [[Canadian nationality law|Canadian citizenship]] for him, so his family assumed that he did not hold Canadian citizenship.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014"/> In August 2013, after the ''Dallas Morning News'' pointed out that Cruz had [[dual citizenship|dual Canadian-American citizenship]],<ref name="GillmasDallasMN12282013">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=December 28, 2013|title=Ted Cruz says he’s hired lawyers to renounce Canadian citizenship|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20131228-ted-cruz-says-hes-hired-lawyers-to-renounce-canadian-citizenship.ece|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=December 30, 2013|quote=But the strong legal consensus is that with even one American parent—a circumstance shared by Obama and Cruz—a child born anywhere qualifies as a "natural born American," entitled to citizenship at birth and therefore eligible to serve as president.}}</ref><ref name=LeeWaPo>{{cite news|last1=Michelle Ye Hee|first1=Lee|title=Cruz says it’s ‘clear and straightforward’ that he’s a natural-born U.S. citizen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/10/cruz-says-its-clear-and-straightforward-that-hes-a-natural-born-u-s-citizen/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_cruz-1115am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory|accessdate=January 10, 2016|work=The Washington Post|date=January 10, 2015}}</ref> he applied to formally renounce his Canadian citizenship and ceased being a citizen of Canada on May 14, 2014.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=June 10, 2014|title=No, Canada: Sen. Ted Cruz has formally shed his dual citizenship|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/ |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News|Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=June 10, 2014|quote=Alberta-born Sen. Ted Cruz has given up his Canadian dual citizenship. The renunciation became official on May 14, roughly 9 months after he learned he wasn’t only an American.}}</ref><ref name=AaronWashPost08192013>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/19/cruz-will-renounce-canadian-citizenship/?wprss=rss_homepage|title=Cruz Will Renounce Canadian Citizenship|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=August 19, 2013|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, suit was brought seeking a judicial determination as to whether Cruz should be disqualified as a presidential candidate on the grounds of not being a [[natural born US citizen]].<ref name=BirtherSuit>{{cite news |last1=Calkins |first1=Laurel Brubaker |last2=Cirilli |first2=Kevin |date=January 14, 2016 |title=Cruz’s ‘Natural-Born Citizen’ Status Tested in Birther Suit |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-15/cruz-s-natural-born-citizen-status-challenged-in-birther-suit |newspaper=Bloomberg Business |location=New York |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> After [[Donald Trump]] repeatedly questioned whether Cruz met the qualifications of being a natural born citizen, Houston attorney Newton B. Schwartz Sr. filed suit in Texas, claiming that “This 229-year question has never been pled, presented to or finally decided by or resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court... Only the U.S. Supreme Court can finally decide, determine judicially and settle this issue now.”<ref name=BirtherSuit/>

==Political positions==
{{main|Political positions of Ted Cruz}}

===Domestic affairs===
On abortion, Cruz is "strongly [[pro-life]]" and "would allow the procedure only when a pregnancy endangers the mother's life."<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnhart |first=Melissa |date=June 27, 2013 |title=Pro-Life Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to Speak at National Right to Life Convention in Dallas |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-sen-ted-cruz-of-texas-to-speak-at-national-right-to-life-convention-in-dallas-98910/ |newspaper=[[The Christian Post]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name="fikac">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/fikac/article/Fikac-Senate-hopeful-Cruz-casts-himself-as-3381330.php|title=Senate hopeful Cruz casts himself as conservative warrior|author=Peggy Fikac|work=Houston Chronicle|date=March 4, 2012|accessdate=October 9, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz opposes both [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]] and [[civil union]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/2016RepublicanFacts/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz: Not a Fan of Pride Parades|work=Human Rights Campaign}}</ref> He believes that marriage should be legally defined as only "between one man and one woman,"<ref>Miller, Jake. November 9, 2013. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-talks-guns-same-sex-marriage-obamacare-with-jay-leno/ Ted Cruz talks guns, same-sex marriage, Obamacare with Jay Leno]. CBS News. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> but believes that the legality of same-sex marriage should be [[States' rights|left to each state to decide]].<ref name=TonightShowLeno>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/senator-ted-cruz-on-gay-marriage/n43013|title=Senator Ted Cruz on Same Sex Marriage|newspaper=[[The Tonight Show]]|publisher=[[NBC]]|accessdate=December 9, 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, Cruz voted in favor of the [[USA Freedom Act]], which reauthorized the [[USA Patriot Act]] but reformed some of its provisions.<ref name="MorningConsult">Eitan Arom, [http://morningconsult.com/2015/06/voter-views-on-usa-freedom-act-bode-well-for-graham-and-rubio-not-cruz-and-paul/ Voter Views on USA Freedom Act Bode Well for Graham and Rubio, Not Cruz and Paul], Morning Consult (June 10, 2015).</ref><ref name="KilloughNSA">Ashley Killough, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/politics/election-2016-ted-cruz-rand-paul-nsa-vote/ Ted Cruz knocks Rand Paul on NSA vote], CNN (April 2, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a proponent of [[school choice]]<ref>{{cite news |last=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-second-amendment-gun-rights-117133.html |first=Keli |date=January 30, 2015 |title=The Issue Bringing Ted Cruz and Black Democrats Together |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-issue-bringing-ted-cruz-and-black-democrats-together.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=April 23, 2015 }}</ref> and opposes the [[Common Core State Standards Initiative]].<ref>Weigel, David, [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-19/what-ted-cruz-talks-about-when-he-talks-about-common-core What Ted Cruz Talks About When He Talks About Common Core], Bloomberg. (March 19, 2015).</ref> Cruz is a strong critic of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (the ACA or "Obamacare"). He has sponsored legislation that would repeal the health care reform law and its amendments in the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].

Cruz is a [[Right to keep and bear arms|gun-rights]] supporter.<ref name=HotAir04292013>{{cite news|title= Ted Cruz: My GOP Senate colleagues yelled at me for wanting to filibuster gun control|url= http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/29/ted-cruz-my-gop-senate-colleagues-yelled-at-me-for-wanting-to-filibuster-gun-control/|newspaper=[[Hot Air (news site)|Hot Air]]|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has adopted a "hard-line stance" on immigration issues during the [[2014 American immigration crisis|2014 border crisis]]<ref name="Sarlin">Benjy Sarlin, [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ted-cruz-immigration-swing-2016 Ted Cruz's hard-line stance renders border crisis key 2016 issue], MSNBC (August 5, 2014).</ref> and is an opponent of comprehensive immigration reform.<ref name="JToobin"/><ref name="Sarlin"/> Cruz advocates for an increase from 65,000 to 325,000 annually in skilled foreign workers entering the United States using H-1B visas.<ref name=Increase_H1B_Visas>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%|author=Patrick Thibodeau|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2900126/ted-cruz-the-presidential-candidate-who-wants-to-increase-the-h-1b-cap-by-500.html|newspaper=Computerworld|date=May 23, 2015|accessdate=November 10, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz opposes the [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction|legalization of marijuana]], but believes it should be decided at the state level.<ref>Sullum, Jacob. March 5, 2015. [http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2015/03/05/by-supporting-marijuana-federalism-republican-candidates-can-be-principled-and-popular/ Ted Cruz's Cannabis Conversion Reflects The Political Prudence Of Marijuana Federalism]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved March 22, 2015.</ref>

Cruz opposes [[net neutrality]] arguing that the Internet economy has flourished in the United States simply because it has remained largely free from government regulation.<ref name="DotSankin05162014">{{cite news|last=Sankin|first=Aaron|date=May 16, 2014|title=The conservative case against net neutrality|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/net-neutrality-ted-cruz-fcc/|newspaper=The Daily Dot|accessdate=November 13, 2014}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
Cruz favors the [[death penalty]]. In his 2012 Senate campaign, Cruz frequently mentioned his role as counsel for the State of Texas in ''[[Medellín v. Texas]]'', a 2008 case in which the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] found that Texas has the legal right to ignore [[Avena case|an order]] from the [[International Court of Justice]] directing the U.S. to review the convictions and sentences of dozens of Mexican nationals on death row.<ref name="Bathe">Aman Bathe, [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/politics/a-history-for-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-and-supreme-court.html?_r=0 Senate Candidate and Supreme Court Have a History], ''Texas Tribune'' (July 22, 2012).</ref> Cruz has referred to ''Medellín'' as the most important case of his tenure as Texas solicitor general.<ref name="Bathe"/>

In an interview with radio host [[Hugh Hewitt]] discussing the attack that killed three people at a [[Planned Parenthood]] clinic in Colorado Springs, Cruz said that "the simple and undeniable fact is the overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats", and that the reason Democrats are soft on crime, is that convicted felons tend to vote Democrat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-democrats-crime-216288|publisher=Politico|accessdate=December 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the wake of the ambush death of a Texas police officer, who was gunned down while filling up at a gas station, Cruz said that police are "feeling the assault from the president, from the top on down, as we see — whether it’s in Ferguson or Baltimore, the response from senior officials, the president or the attorney general, is to vilify law enforcement. That’s wrong. It’s fundamentally wrong. It’s endangering all of our safety and security."<ref>Matt Levin, [http://www.chron.com/news/politics/tedcruz/article/Ted-Cruz-blames-Obama-for-death-of-Harris-County-6476309.php Ted Cruz blames Obama for death of Harris County sheriff's deputy], ''Houston Chronicle'' (August 31, 2015).</ref>

===Economy===
Cruz has been described by the [[Cato Institute]]'s Center for Trade Policy Studies as a "free trader"<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/research/trade-immigration/congress?senator=192|title=Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> and as a "free-trade advocate" by the ''Wall Street Journal''.<ref name="Hook">Janet Hook, [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/23/ted-cruz-flips-on-trade-bill-on-eve-of-key-senate-vote/ Ted Cruz Flips on Trade Bill on Eve of Key Senate Vote], ''The Wall Street Journal'' (June 23, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz proposed the abolition of the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] and the implementation of a [[flat tax]] "where the average American can fill out taxes on a postcard."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Rachel|title=Ted Cruz: 'Abolish the IRS'|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/03/ted-cruz-abolish-the-irs/|work=The Washington Post|date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> Cruz is "adamantly opposed to a higher [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]]."<ref name="HarrisonTaxes">J.D. Harrison, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2015/03/23/what-a-ted-cruz-white-house-could-mean-for-businesses/ What a Ted Cruz White House could mean for businesses], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015).</ref>

===Environment===
Cruz is a supporter of [[TransCanada Corporation|TransCanada]]'s [[Keystone Pipeline System|Keystone XL Pipeline]],<ref name="Cornwell">Susan Cornwell, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/us-usa-republicans-cruz-idUSBREA1921720140210 U.S. Senator Cruz urges broad Republican focus on energy], Reuters (February 10, 2014).</ref> and along with every other Republican senator was a cosponsor of legislation in support of the pipeline.<ref>Marianna Sotomayor & Alison Thoet, [http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/229632-whip-list-senate-keystone-vote Whip List: How senators will vote on Keystone XL pipeline], ''The Hill'' (January 29, 2015).</ref>

Cruz disagrees with [[scientific opinion on climate change]].<ref>Josh Hicks, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/01/21/climate-change-skeptics-cruz-and-rubio-now-help-oversee-nations-climate-science/ Climate-change skeptics Cruz and Rubio now help oversee nation’s climate science], ''Washington Post'' (January 21, 2015).</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref> He has said that "the scientific evidence doesn't support [[global warming]]."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015">{{cite interview |last=Cruz |first=Ted |subject-link= |interviewer=Steve Inskeep |title=Scientific Evidence Doesn't Support Global Warming, Sen. Ted Cruz Says |url=http://www.npr.org/2015/12/09/459026242/scientific-evidence-doesn-t-support-global-warming-sen-ted-cruz-says |call-sign=[[NPR|NPR, Inc.]] |city=[[Washington, DC]] |date=December 11, 2015 |program=[[Morning Edition]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=The scientific evidence doesn't support global warming. For the last 18 years, the satellite data - we have satellites that monitor the atmosphere. The satellites that actually measure the temperature showed no significant warming whatsoever.}}</ref> He has stated: "They call anyone who questions the science who even points to the satellite data – they call you a, quote, "denier." Denier is not the language of science. Denier is the language of religion. It is heretic. You are a blasphemer. It's treated as a theology. But it's about power and money. At the end of the day, it's not complicated. This is liberal politicians who want government power."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/> In March 2015, he said that some people are "global warming alarmists" and, citing [[satellite temperature measurements]], said that there had been no significant warming in 18 years.<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/><ref>Philip Bump, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/03/25/ted-cruz-compares-climate-change-activists-to-flat-earthers-where-to-begin Ted Cruz compares climate change activists to ‘flat-Earthers.’ Where to begin?], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015)</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''The Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref>

Cruz voted against the [[Water Resources Development Act]] of 2013, that would have created the National Endowment for the Oceans and authorized more than $26 billion in projects to be built by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]], at least $16 billion of which would have come from federal taxpayers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Ryan |date=May 21, 2014 |title=Infrastructure Bills to Nowhere |url=http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/05/21/highway-and-water-resources-bills-are-a-bad-bet-for-taxpayers |newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm |title=Ted Cruz on Environment |publisher=Ontheissues.org |accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> Cruz voted against the bill because it neglected "to reduce a substantial backlog of projects, to the detriment of projects with national implications, such as the Sabine-Neches Waterway".<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Cornyn, Cruz Vote to Fix Water Resource and Development Act |url=http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=134 |newspaper=cruz.senate.gov |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref> Cruz stated that the Corps' responsibilities were expanded without providing adequate measures for state participation.<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013"/> Proponents of the bill argued that it would provide steady funding to support research and restoration projects, funded primarily by dedicating 12.5% of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, through offshore lease sales and production based royalty payments, distributed through a competitive grant program.<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm 5]</ref>

===Foreign affairs===
Cruz has been an adamant opponent of the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], a 2015 international nuclear agreement with [[Iran]] negotiated by [[P5+1|the U.S. and other world powers]], calling it "catastrophic" and "disastrous."<ref name="Hattem">Julian Hattem & Kristina Wong, [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/252134-trump-cruz-to-hold-joint-anti-iran-rally-on-capitol-hill Trump, Cruz to hold joint anti-Iran rally on Capitol Hill], ''The Hill'' (August 27, 2015).</ref><ref name="GrimSchulberg">Ryan Grim & Jessica Schulberg, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/ted-cruz-iran-war_n_7216698.html Ted Cruz On Iran Nuclear Negotiations: 'This Deal Makes War a Certainty'], ''The Huffington Post'' (May 5, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a critic of the [[Cuban Thaw|rapprochement between Cuba and the United States]], saying on [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] in December 2014 that the thaw in relations was a "manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy" that "will be remembered as a tragic mistake."<ref>Brendan Bordelon, [http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/410295/ted-cruz-cuba-relations-thaw-tragic-mistake-brendan-bordelon Ted Cruz: Cuba Relations Thaw 'a Tragic Mistake'], ''National Review'' (December 14, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz stated that America had no "dog in the fight" during the [[Syrian Civil War]] and stated that America's armed forces should not serve as "[[al-Qaeda]]'s air force".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21585011-president-makes-case-pulling-trigger-bomb-or-not-bomb|title=America and Syria: To bomb, or not to bomb?|work=The Economist|date=September 7, 2013|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Cruz criticized the Obama administration: "The president's foreign policy team utterly missed the threat of ISIS, indeed, was working to arm Syrian rebels that were fighting side by side with ISIS", calling ISIS "the face of evil".<ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/09/Ted-Cruz-ISIS-is-the-Face-Of-Evil Ted Cruz: ISIS is the Face of Evil]". [[Breitbart.com]]. August 9, 2014.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:HeidiTedCruzVers2Houston31MARCH2015 - Copy.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz with his wife Heidi at a rally in [[Houston]], March 2015]]
Cruz married [[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/26/us/ted-cruz-fast-facts/|title=Ted Cruz Fast Facts|publisher=CNN|date=March 26, 2015}}</ref> The couple have two daughters:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/25/ted-cruz-daughter-2-i-want-work-daddy/|title=Ted Cruz’s daughter, 2: ‘I want to work with daddy’|work=The Washingtion Times}}</ref> Caroline (born 2008) and Catherine (born 2011). Cruz met his wife while working on the [[George W. Bush]] [[United States presidential election, 2000|presidential campaign of 2000]]. She is currently taking leave from her position as head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of [[Goldman, Sachs & Co.]] and previously worked in the [[White House]] for [[Condoleezza Rice]] and in New York as an [[investment banker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houston.org/about/board-staff.html#board/212727|title=Board Member Bios: Heidi Cruz|publisher=Greater Houston Partnership|accessdate=August 16, 2013}} {{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-23/cruz-s-wife-heidi-said-to-take-unpaid-leave-from-goldman|title=Cruz’s Wife Heidi to Take Unpaid Leave From Goldman|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=March 23, 2015|first=Michael J|last=Moore|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz has said, "I'm Cuban, Irish, and Italian, and yet somehow I ended up Southern Baptist."<ref name="DMNCruzCuban">{{cite news|date=December 20, 2012|title=Editorial: Texan of the Year finalist Ted Cruz|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20121220-editorial-texan-of-the-year-finalist-ted-cruz.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Accolades==
Rick Manning of [[Americans for Limited Government]] named Cruz "2013 Person of the Year" in an op-ed in ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'', citing the unsuccessful efforts of Cruz and fellow Republican freshman senator [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] to defund the Affordable Care Act.<ref name="ManningTheHill12272013">{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Rick|date=December 27, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: 2013 Person of the Year|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/194072-ted-cruz-2013-person-of-the-year|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|location=Washington, DC|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp|accessdate=December 28, 2013|quote=No politician had a greater impact on the past year than freshman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz came from the Lone Star State not owing the D.C. political establishment anything, after he beat the chosen replacement for Kay Bailey Hutchison in an underfunded, grassroots driven Republican primary election.}}</ref>

Cruz was also named "2013 Man of the Year" by conservative publications [[TheBlaze]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Mantyla|first=Kyle|date=December 11, 2014|title=Glenn Beck Declares Ted Cruz 'Blaze Man Of The Year'|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/glenn-beck-declares-ted-cruz-blaze-man-year|newspaper=Right Wing Watch|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|publisher=[[People for the American Way]]|accessdate=April 21, 2013}}</ref> ''[[FrontPage Magazine]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenfield|first=Daniel|date=December 30, 2013|title=Frontpage’s 2013 Man of the Year: Ted Cruz|url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/frontpages-2013-man-of-the-year-ted-cruz/|newspaper=[[FrontPage Magazine]]|location=Sherman Oaks, California|publisher=[[David Horowitz Freedom Center]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[The American Spectator]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lord|first=Jeffery|date=December 19, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: Man of the Year|url=http://spectator.org/articles/57187/ted-cruz-man-year|newspaper=[[The American Spectator]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|publisher=The American Spectator Foundation|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> He was named "2013 Conservative of the Year" by [[Townhall.com]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Hawkins|first=John|date=December 31, 2014|title=Top 10 Conservatives of 2013|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2013/12/31/top-10-conservatives-of-2013-n1770176/page/full|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and "2013 Statesman of the Year" by the Republican Party of [[Sarasota County, Florida]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Leary|first=Alex|date=January 7, 2014|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Ted Cruz to be honored as 'Statesman of the Year'|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/sarasota-gop-to-honor-ted-cruz-to-be-honored-as-statesman-of-the-year/2159965|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|location=Tampa Bay Metro Area|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintpetersblog.com/sarasota-gop-to-honor-sen-ted-cruz-as-its-statesman-of-the-year|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Sen. Ted Cruz as its ‘Statesman of the Year’|last1=Ammann|first1=Phil|date=January 7, 2014|publisher=saintpetersblog.com|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> He was a finalist for "2013 Texan of the Year" by ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''<ref>{{cite news|date=December 27, 2013|title=TEXAN OF THE YEAR 2013: TODAY’S FINALIST: TED CRUZ|url=http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2013_December/texan-of-the-year/cruz/|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and a finalist for [[Time Person of the Year|''Time'' magazine's "Person of the Year"]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Edelman|first=Adam|date=December 9, 2013|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/time-magazine-releases-finalists-2013-person-year-award-article-1.1542204|title=TIME magazine releases finalists for 2013 ‘Person of the Year’ award|location=New York |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}

;2012 Republican primary
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results, May 29, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes" />
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[David Dewhurst]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 624,170
| percentage = 44.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 479,079
| percentage = 34.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Tom Leppert]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 186,675
| percentage = 13.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Craig James (American football)|Craig James]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 50,211
| percentage = 3.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Glenn Addison
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 22,888
| percentage = 1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lela Pittenger
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 18,028
| percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ben Gambini
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7,193
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Curt Cleaver
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,649
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joe Argis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,558
| percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,399,451
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 Republican primary runoff
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican runoff results, July 31, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 631,316
| percentage = 56.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Dewhurst
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 480,165
| percentage = 43.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,111,481
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 general election
{{Election box begin no change
| title = General election, November 6, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,469,843
| percentage = 56.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Paul Sadler]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 3,194,927
| percentage = 40.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Jay Myers
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 162,354
| percentage = 2.06
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Collins
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 67,404
| percentage = 0.85
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 7,864,822
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas|Politics|Conservatism}}
* [[List of foreign-born United States politicians]]
* [[Legal challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]''
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikisource-author}}
* [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz] – official website
* [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Ted Cruz for President] – campaign website
* {{YouTube|user=SenTedCruz|title=Senator Ted Cruz}}
* {{Ballotpedia|Ted_Cruz}}
* {{C-SPAN|rcruz}}
* [http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/ Ted Cruz] collected news and commentary at ''[[The Texas Tribune]]''
* {{NYT topic|people/c/ted_cruz}}
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz R. (Ted) Edward Cruz] – profile at [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius]] LLP (archived)
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Texas/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Ted_Cruz_%5BR%5D}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio = C001098 | ballot = Ted_Cruz | votesmart = 135705 | govtrack = 412573 | natjournal = 3549 | opencong = 412573 | rollcall = 44748 | politifact = ted-cruz | fec = S2TX00312 | opensecrets = N00033085 | followthemoney = | #ntheissues = senate/Ted_Cruz.htm | congress = ted-cruz/2175 | worldcat = | c-span = rcruz | rose = | imdb = 5563034 | bloomberg = ted-cruz | nyt = c/ted_cruz | wsj = | washpo = b8d4a00a-4bbb-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921 }}

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{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tim Kaine]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States Senate|United States Senators by seniority]]|years=82nd}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elizabeth Warren]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States presidential election, 2016}}
{{Current Texas statewide political officials}}
{{TX-FedRep}}
{{USSenTX}}
{{Texas State Solicitors General}}
{{Current U.S. Senators}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Ted}}
[[Category:Ted Cruz| ]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Canarian descent]]
[[Category:American politicians of Cuban descent]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Cuban-American Republicans]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress]]
[[Category:Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States]]
[[Category:People from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Houston, Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians from Calgary]]
[[Category:Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States Senators]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Texas Republicans]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2016]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Texas]]

Ted Cruz

2016-02-08T14:48:35Z

BoboMeowCat: remove unneeded "the"

{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|expiry=15 March 2016|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Ted Cruz
|image = Ted Cruz, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Texas]]
|alongside = [[John Cornyn]]
|term_start = January 3, 2013
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]
|successor =
|office1 = Solicitor General of Texas
|governor1 = [[Rick Perry]]
|term_start1 = January 9, 2003
|term_end1 = May 12, 2008
|predecessor1 = Julie Parsley
|successor1 = James C. Ho<ref>{{cite news |last1=Livingston |first1=Abby |last2=Svitek |first2=Patrick |date=March 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Will Seek the Presidency |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/22/cruz-announces-presidential-run/ |newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>
|birth_name = Rafael Edward Cruz
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|22}}
|birth_place = [[Calgary]], Canada
|citizenship = [[United States nationality law|United States]] [[Canadian nationality law|Canada]] (1970–2014)
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]]|2001|}}
|children = 2
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|alma_mater = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]], 1992) [[Harvard Law School]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]], 1995)
|religion = Christianity ([[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]])
|website = [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ Senate website] [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Campaign website]
}}
'''Rafael Edward''' "'''Ted'''" '''Cruz''' (born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Texas]]. He is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016|candidate for President of the United States]] in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]].

Cruz attended elementary and high school in and around [[Houston]], graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1992, and then from [[Harvard Law School]] in 1995. Between 1999 and 2003, Cruz was the director of the Office of Policy Planning at the [[Federal Trade Commission]], an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] at the [[United States Department of Justice]], and domestic policy advisor to [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush]] on the 2000 [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]]. He served as [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas from 2003 to 2008, appointed by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]]. He was the first Hispanic, and the longest-serving solicitor general in Texas history. Cruz was also an [[adjunct professor]] of law from 2004 to 2009 at the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], where he taught U.S. Supreme Court litigation.

Cruz ran for the Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]], and in July 2012 defeated [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Lieutenant Governor]] [[David Dewhurst]] during the Republican [[primary election|primary]] [[runoff election|runoff]], 57%–43%. Cruz then defeated former state Representative [[Paul Sadler]] in the November 2012 general election, winning 56%–41%. He is the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve as a U.S. senator representing Texas, and is one of three Senators of Cuban descent. Cruz chairs the [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]], and is also the chairman of the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness]]. In November 2012, he was appointed vice-chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]].

Cruz began campaigning for the [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016|Republican presidential nomination]] in March 2015. During the primary campaign, his base of support has been mainly among [[social conservative]]s, though he has had crossover appeal to other factions within his party.<ref name="ZitnerWSJ01042016">{{cite news |last=Zitner |first=Aaron |date=January 4, 2016 |title=Poll Points to Upside for Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio in GOP Race |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/poll-points-to-upside-for-ted-cruz-marco-rubio-in-gop-race-1451956770 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |location=[[New York]] |access-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref> His victory in the February 1, 2016 [[United States presidential election in Iowa, 2016#Republican caucus|Iowa caucuses]] marked the first time a Hispanic won a presidential caucus.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016>[http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/02/01/iowans-to-choose-trump-aggressiveness-cruz-conservatism-or-rubio-moderation/ Ted Cruz makes history, becomes first Hispanic to win Iowa caucus], ''[[Fox News Channel|FOX News Latino]]'', February 1, 2016.</ref><ref name="CNN02012016">{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=February 2, 2016 |title=Iowa caucus results: Ted Cruz wins, Hillary Clinton declares victory |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/politics/iowa-caucuses-2016-highlights/index.html |newspaper=[[CNN]] |location=[[Atlanta, Georgia]] |access-date=February 6, 2016|quote=Cruz's victory sets him up as a formidable force in delegate-rich, Southern states to come and offers movement conservatives hope that one of their own can become the Republican nominee for the first time since Ronald Reagan.}}</ref>

==Early life and family==
Ted Cruz was born on December 22, 1970,<ref name="CongressionalBio">{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001098|title=CRUZ, Rafael Edward (Ted) – Biographical Information|publisher=Bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="AustinAmStCruz">[http://www.statesman.com/s/news/politics/ted-cruz/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz], ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''</ref> at [[Foothills Medical Centre|Foothills General Hospital]]<ref name="Macleans">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: Made in Canada|last1=Abel|first1=Allen|last2=Markusoff|first2=Jason|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/washington/ted-cruz-made-in-canada|newspaper=[[Maclean's Magazine]]|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Panetta|first=Alexander|date=May 9, 2015|title=Birthplace of President Ted Cruz? Calgary homeowner hopes it never happens|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/birthplace-of-president-ted-cruz-calgary-homeowner-hopes-it-never-happens|newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]]|agency=[[Canadian Press]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015|quote=Steward is pretty sure the American conservative began life at the Foothills Medical Centre — a government-run, Canadian socialist hospital.}}</ref> in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]], to parents Eleanor Elizabeth (Darragh) Wilson and [[Rafael Bienvenido Cruz]].<ref name=Texplainer08132012>{{cite news|title=Texplainer: Could Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Be President?|first=John Wayne|last=Ferguson|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/08/13/texplainer-could-canadian-born-ted-cruz-be-preside/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|quote=Bottom line: Despite being born in Canada, Cruz can be considered a U.S. citizen because his mother was a U.S. citizen who lived in the United States long enough, according to constitutional experts.|date=August 13, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name=GilmanDallasNews08182013>{{cite news|title=Canada-born Ted Cruz became a citizen of that country as well as U.S.|author=Gillman, Todd J.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130818-born-in-canada-ted-cruz-became-a-citizen-of-that-country-as-well-as-u.s..ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=August 18, 2013|accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref> At the time of his birth, Cruz's parents had lived in Calgary for three years and were working in the oil business as owners of a [[Reflection seismology|seismic-data processing]] firm for oil [[Well drilling|drilling]].<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name="FOXNewsLatino04082013">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz's Father Talks About Latinos, Conservatives and the American Dream|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/04/08/ted-cruz-father-and-inspiration-talks-about-latinos-conservatives-and-american/|newspaper=[[Fox Latin America|FOX News Latino]]|quote=Cruz, the father, and his wife, Eleanor Darragh, left the United States for a few years, living in Canada to take advantage of the oil boom.|date=April 8, 2012|accessdate=October 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes11182011>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/ted-cruz-is-a-test-for-the-tea-party-in-texas-race.html|title=A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race|author=Zernike, Kate|date=November 18, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name=newvos1>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|first=Terence|last=Jeffrey|url=http://cwww.creators.com/opinion/terence-jeffrey/ted-cruz-new-voice-for-the-american-dream.html|newspaper=[[Creators Syndicate]]|year=2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013>{{cite news|title=Senate candidate Ted Cruz aims to pick up mantle of Reagan|author=Garrett, Robert T.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120428-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-aims-to-pick-up-mantle-of-reagan.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=April 28, 2013|accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has said, “I’m the son of two mathematicians/computer programmers.”<ref name=Mervis>{{cite news |last=Mervis |first=Jeffrey |date=December 9, 2015 |title=From a bully pulpit, Ted Cruz offers his take on climate change |url=http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2015/12/bully-pulpit-ted-cruz-offers-his-take-climate-change |newspaper=[[Science (journal)|ScienceInsider]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref> In 1974, his father left the family and moved to Texas.<ref>Larson, Leslie. [http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ted-cruz-plans-renounce-canadian-citizenship-article-1.1561380 "Ted Cruz plans to renounce Canadian citizenship"], ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York'' (December 30, 2013).</ref> Later that same year, his parents reconciled and relocated to Houston.<ref name="Macleans"/>

Cruz's father was born in [[Cuba]], and his grandfather was from the [[Canary Islands]] in [[Spain]]. His mother was born in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], and is three quarters of Irish descent and one quarter of Italian descent.<ref>https://infotomb.com/4ffm4.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=It+was+to+this+fledgling+nation+that+my+great+grandparents+arrived+in+1902+from+the+Canary+Islands.+Agustin+and+Maria+Cruz+boarded+a+ship+with+their+infant+son,+Rafael,+bound+for+the+New+World../|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His father left Cuba in 1957 to attend the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and obtained political asylum in the United States after his four-year student visa expired.<ref name=Welna20June>{{cite news|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/06/20/193585553/how-ted-cruzs-father-shaped-his-views-on-immigration|title=How Ted Cruz's Father Shaped His Views On Immigration|date=June 20, 2013|accessdate=December 14, 2015|first=David|last=Welna|publisher=NPR}}</ref> Rafael Cruz earned Canadian citizenship in 1973<ref name="Macleans"/> and ultimately became a [[Naturalization|naturalized]] U.S. citizen in 2005.<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013>{{cite news|title=The Rise of Rafael Cruz|author=Costa, Robert|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/356934/rise-rafael-cruz-robert-costa|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=August 28, 2013|quote=Born in Matanzas, Cuba, he grew up in the Cuban middle class in the 1950s, as the son of an RCA salesman and an elementary-school teacher. As a teenager, he grew to detest the regime of [[Fulgencio Batista]]. He and some of his schoolmates frequently clashed with Batista’s officials. Eventually, he linked up with Castro’s guerrilla groups and supported their attempts to overthrow Batista. It’s a decision he still regrets. His move toward Castro, he explains, was mostly due to his anger with Batista’s government, which at one point imprisoned him and tortured him for his work with the revolutionaries. He says he never shared Castro’s Communism, but at the time, it was the best way to fight Batista’s oppression. By age 18, in 1957, he knew he needed to get out, and a friend essentially bribed an official to secure him an exit permit.|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012>{{cite news|title=Cruz's life defies simplification|author=Olsen, Lise|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Cruz-s-life-defies-simplification-3946523.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 13, 2012|quote=The ex-revolutionary pastor regularly stumps for his son, whom he's compared to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah – a relentless advocate with "fire in his bones." Ted, he says, is "not going to Washington to compromise."|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Swartz |first=Mimi |date=March 31, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz and the New Politics of Texas |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/opinion/ted-cruz-and-the-new-politics-of-texas.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=Her+parents+were+Irish+and+Italian.+In+the+late+1800s%2C+my+grandmother%27s+father%2C+Dominic+Ciccini%2C+came+to+America+from+Naples%2C+Italy%2C+as+a+teenager.+|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His mother earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from [[Rice University]] in the 1950s.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/> Eleanor and Rafael Cruz divorced in 1997.<ref name=Recio1Apr>{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24782596.html|title=Ted Cruz’s family story: Poignant but incomplete|first=Maria|last=Recio|work=McClatchy|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=December 14, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz had two older half-sisters from his father's previous marriage, Miriam Ceferina Cruz and Roxana Lourdes Cruz. Miriam died in 2011.<ref name=Recio1Apr/><ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/2015/06/26/ted-cruzs-secret-weapon-win-right Ted Cruz’s Secret Weapon to Win the Right], ''[[National Journal]]'', Andy Kroll, June 25, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.</ref><ref name="TimeTruthCruz">{{cite book|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America|pages=28–44, 101–103|publisher=Broadside|year=2015|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>

==Education==
Cruz attended two private high schools: [[Faith West Academy]] in [[Katy, Texas]]<ref name="eriksen">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.chron.com/insidekaty/archives/2005/08/supreme_court_l.html |title=Solicitor general carries "supreme" weight with Katy roots |last=Eriksen |first=Helen |date=August 11, 2005 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> and [[Second Baptist School|Second Baptist High School]] in [[Houston]], from which he graduated as [[valedictorian]] in 1988.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/><ref>{{cite web|title=Distinguished Alumni|url=http://www.secondbaptistschool.org/distinguishedalumni|publisher=Second Baptist School|accessdate=April 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mackey |first=Maureen |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Him |url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/03/23/Ted-Cruz-20-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Him |newspaper=Fiscal Times |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=7: He graduated from Houston’s Second Baptist High School in 1988 and was valedictorian of his class.}} {{cite news |last=Dunham |first=Richard |date=October 15, 2012 |title=Profile: A man of many contrasts, Ted Cruz defies easy stereotypes |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/10/profile-a-man-of-many-contrasts-ted-cruz-defies-easy-stereotypes/ |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=Cruz was one of only two Hispanics when he transferred to Houston’s Second Baptist School his junior year. He graduated valedictorian in 1988.}} {{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jake |date=March 19, 2015 |title=Will grassroots support be enough for Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016? |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-grassroots-support-be-enough-for-sen-ted-cruz-in-2016/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=He graduated valedictorian of his high school in 1988, attended Princeton University for his undergraduate studies, and received his law degree from Harvard University.}} {{cite news |last=Barbash |first=Fred |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Why Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., is the perfect launchpad for Ted Cruz |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/23/why-liberty-university-in-lynchburg-va-is-the-perfect-launchpad-for-ted-cruz/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The last time he spoke there, Cruz made no mention of his Ivy League degrees but recalled fondly his memories of Second Baptist High School in Houston, where he was valedictorian, and how his wife was the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries.}} {{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/ted-cruz |title=Ted Cruz |author= |year=2015 |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The valedictorian of his class at Houston's Second Baptist High School, Cruz went on to Princeton University.}}</ref> During high school, Cruz participated in a Houston-based group known at the time as [[Center for the American Idea|the Free Market Education Foundation]], a program that taught high school students the philosophies of economists such as [[Milton Friedman]] and [[Frédéric Bastiat]].<ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013/><ref name=Lizza>{{Cite journal |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |authorlink=Ryan Lizza |date=November 19, 2012 |title=The Party Next Time |journal=[[The New Yorker]] |pages=50–57|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/11/19/121119fa_fact_lizza |accessdate=July 20, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz graduated ''[[cum laude]]'' from [[Princeton University]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Public Policy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135705/ted-cruz|title=Project Vote Smart – The Voter's Self Defense System|work=Project Vote Smart}}</ref> from the [[Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs]] in 1992.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz 92 Sworn-in as U.S. Senator from Texas|author=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs|url=http://wws.princeton.edu/node/11519|newspaper=[[Princeton University|Princeton University Bulletin]]|date=January 3, 2013|accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> While at Princeton, he competed for the [[American Whig-Cliosophic Society]]'s [[Princeton Debate Panel|Debate Panel]] and won the top speaker award at both the 1992 U.S. National Debating Championship and the 1992 [[North American Debating Championship]].<ref name="debate.princeton.edu">{{cite news|title=Hall of Fame |author=Princeton Debate Panel|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/results/hall-of-fame/|newspaper=[[Princeton Debate Panel|Princeton University Debate Panel]]|accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> In 1992, he was named U.S. National Speaker of the Year, and with his debate partner David Panton won Team of the Year.<ref name="debate.princeton.edu"/> Cruz and Panton would later represent Harvard Law School at the 1995 World Debating Championship, losing in the semi-finals to a team from Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-01-10/news/25715479_1_death-penalty-princeton-university-war-criminals|title=Australians Win Debate At Princeton A Singapore Woman Won The Award For Best Speaker. English Is Not Her Native Language|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=April 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Showed Eloquence, and Limits, as Debater at Princeton |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-honed-political-skills-in-princeton-debate-club.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |quote=By the time he was a senior at Princeton University in 1992, Ted Cruz had developed an arsenal of rhetorical skills and theatrical gestures that made him one of the most polished performers on the college debate circuit.}}</ref><ref name="PrinceDebateNamed"/> Princeton's debate team named their annual novice championship after Cruz.<ref name="PrinceDebateNamed">{{cite web|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/our-tournaments/cruz-novice-championship/|title=Cruz Novice Championship|accessdate=January 11, 2014|author=Princeton Debate Panel|authorlink=Princeton Debate Panel}}</ref>

Cruz's senior thesis at Princeton investigated the separation of powers; its title, ''Clipping the Wings of Angels'', draws its inspiration from a passage attributed to US President [[James Madison]]: "If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Cruz argued that the drafters of the Constitution intended to protect the rights of their constituents, and that the last two items in the [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]] offer an explicit stop against an all-powerful state.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012">{{cite news|last=Eckholm|first=Erik|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/us/politics/republican-senate-candidate-in-texas-is-known-as-an-intellectual-force.html|title=A Republican Voice With Tea Party Mantle and Intellectual Heft|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=MotherJones02021992>{{cite web|last=Cruz|first=Ted|url=http://www.motherjones.com/documents/480888-cruz-thesis|title=Ted Cruz's 1992 "Clipping the Wings of Angels"|publisher=[[Princeton University]]|date=April 2, 1992|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>

After graduating from Princeton, Cruz attended [[Harvard Law School]], graduating ''[[magna cum laude]]'' in 1995 with a [[Juris Doctor]] degree.<ref name="CongressionalBio" /><ref name="BegalaBeast08012012">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Texas’s Tea Party Revolution|author=Begala, Paul|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/01/paul-begala-ted-cruz-and-texas-s-tea-party-revolution.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> While at Harvard Law, he was a primary editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]'', and executive editor of the ''[[Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy]]'', and a founding editor of the ''[[Harvard Latino Law Review]]''.<ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum/> Referring to Cruz's time as a student at Harvard Law, Professor [[Alan Dershowitz]] said, "Cruz was off-the-charts brilliant".<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz>{{cite news|title=Who is Ted Cruz?|author=Weiner, Rachel|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/who-is-ted-cruz/2012/08/01/gJQAqql8OX_blog.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, wacko like a fox|author=McManus, Doyle|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/31/opinion/la-oe-mcmanus-column-ted-cruz-20130731|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Defusing the H-Bomb: In politics, Harvard alums frame diplomas strategically|author=Clarida, Matthew Q.|author2=Lucky, Jared T.|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/30/harvard-degree-politics-alumni/|newspaper=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|date=May 30, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Yes, Ted Cruz for Texas|author=Editors|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312576/yes-ted-cruz-texas-editors|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=July 30, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> At Harvard Law, Cruz was a [[John M. Olin Foundation|John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics]].<ref name=MorganLew03292011/>

Cruz currently serves on the Board of Advisors of the ''[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]]''.<ref name=TXRevLawPol>{{cite news |title=Board of Advisors |publisher=[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]] |url=http://trolp.org/about/board-of-advisors/ |accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Legal career==

===Clerkships===
[[File:US Senator of Texas Ted Cruz at FITN in Nashua, NH 02.jpg|upright|thumb|Ted Cruz speaking in [[Nashua, New Hampshire]]]]
Cruz served as a [[law clerk]] to [[J. Michael Luttig]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit]] in 1995<ref name=MorganLew03292011>{{cite web|url=http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|title=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz, Attorney Biography|website=[[Wayback Machine]]|publisher=Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP|location=Houston, Texas|date=March 29, 2011|accessdate=December 30, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|archivedate=May 21, 2010|quote=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice and leads the firm's U.S. Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Practice.}}</ref><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew>{{cite news|title=Rising Star: Morgan Lewis' R. Ted Cruz|first=Hilary|last=Russ|url=https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/Cruz_Law360RisingStar_05apr10.pdf|newspaper=Law360|date=April 5, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and [[William Rehnquist]], [[Chief Justice of the United States]] in 1996.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/> Cruz was the first Hispanic to clerk for a Chief Justice of the United States.<ref name=Townhall05252011>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|author=Jeffery, Terry|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/terryjeffrey/2011/05/25/ted_cruz_new_voice_for_the_american_dream/page/full/|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|date=May 25, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Private practice===
After Cruz finished his clerkships, he took a position with Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal, now known as [[Charles J. Cooper|Cooper & Kirk, LLC]], from 1997 to 1998.<ref name=TXTribProfile>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz|author=Tribpedia|url=http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/ted-cruz/about/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> While with the firm, Cruz worked on matters relating to the [[National Rifle Association]], and helped prepare testimony for the [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment proceedings]] against [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]].<ref name="JToobin">{{cite news|last1=Toobin|first1=Jeffrey|title=Ted Cruz, The Absolutist|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/06/30/140630fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all|accessdate=June 25, 2014|work=The New Yorker|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> Cruz also served as private counsel for Congressman [[John Boehner]] during Boehner's lawsuit against Congressman [[Jim McDermott]] for releasing a tape recording of a Boehner telephone conversation.<ref name=GrimaldiSeaTimes06021998>{{cite news|author=Grimaldi, James V.|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980602&slug=2754000|title=Campaign Money to Fight McDermott|date=June 2, 1998|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|page=B1}}</ref>

===Bush administration===
Cruz joined the [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]] in 1999 as a domestic policy adviser, advising then-Governor [[George W. Bush]] on a wide range of policy and legal matters, including civil justice, criminal justice, constitutional law, immigration, and government reform.<ref name=TXTribProfile/>

Cruz assisted in assembling the Bush legal team, devising strategy, and drafting [[pleading]]s for filing with the [[Supreme Court of Florida]] and [[U.S. Supreme Court]], in the case [[Bush v. Gore]], during the [[Florida election recount|2000 Florida presidential recounts]], leading to two wins for the Bush team.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz>{{cite news|title=The Reinvention of Ted Cruz|author=Cottle, Michelle|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/12/the-reinvention-of-ted-cruz.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=March 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz recruited future [[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court|Chief Justice]] [[John Roberts]] and noted attorney Mike Carvin to the Bush legal team.<ref name=JToobin/>

After President Bush took office, Cruz served as an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] in the [[U.S. Justice Department]]<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and as the director of policy planning at the [[U.S. Federal Trade Commission]].<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/>

===Texas Solicitor General===
Appointed to the office of [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]],<ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008"/> Cruz served in that position from 2003 to 2008.<ref name=Lizza/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> The office had been established in 1999 to handle appeals involving the state, but Abbott hired Cruz with the idea that Cruz would take a "leadership role in the United States in articulating a vision of strict construction." As Solicitor General, Cruz argued before the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] nine times, winning five cases and losing four.<ref name=JToobin/>

Cruz has authored 70 [[United States Supreme Court]] briefs and presented 43 oral arguments, including nine before the United States Supreme Court.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012>{{cite web|first=David McKay|last=Wilson|title=Carrying the Tea Party Banner: U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz calls for a 'return to the framers’ vision of a constitutionally limited government.'|work=Harvard Law School Bulletin|date=Fall 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013|url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/bulletin/2012/fall/feature_4.php}}</ref> Cruz's record of having argued before the Supreme Court nine times is more than any practicing lawyer in Texas or any current member of Congress.<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012>{{cite news|title=For Cruz, Supreme Court Work at Heart of Campaign|author=Batheja, Aman|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/cruz-supreme-court-work-heart-campaign/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|date=July 23, 2012|quote=We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights.|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has commented on his nine cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court: "We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights."<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012/>

In 2003, while Cruz was Texas Solicitor General, the Texas Attorney General's office declined to defend Texas' sodomy law in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'', where the U.S. Supreme Court decided that state laws banning homosexual sex as illegal sodomy were unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/ted-cruz-anti-gay-marriage-crusader-not-always |title= Ted Cruz: Anti-Gay Marriage Crusader? Not Always |last1=Przybyl |first1=Heidi |date=April 29, 2015 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |accessdate=May 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the landmark case of ''[[District of Columbia v. Heller]]'', Cruz drafted the [[Amicus curiae|amicus]] brief signed by the attorneys general of 31 states, which said that the [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] handgun ban should be struck down as infringing upon the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] [[right to keep and bear arms]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=BlockNPR03142008>{{cite news|last=Block|first=Melissa|title=D.C. Gun Ban Critic: Court Must Clarify Constitution|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=88251874|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=March 14, 2008}}</ref> Cruz also presented oral argument for the amici states in the companion case to ''Heller'' before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=WSJ03142007>{{cite news|title=Second Amendment Showdown|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117384168237936437.html|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=March 14, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>
[[File:Ted cruz 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Cruz at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC., 2011]]

In addition to his success in ''Heller'', Cruz successfully defended the constitutionality of the [[Ten Commandments]] monument on the [[Texas State Capitol]] grounds before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit|Fifth Circuit]] and the U.S. Supreme Court, winning 5–4 in ''[[Van Orden v. Perry]]''.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/>

In 2004, Cruz was involved in the high-profile case, ''[[Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow]]'',<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> in which he wrote a [[Brief (law)|brief]] on behalf of all 50 states which argued that the plaintiff did not have standing to file suit on behalf of his daughter.<ref>{{cite court |litigants=ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DAVID W. GORDON, SUPERINTENDENT vs. MICHAEL A. NEWDOW, ET AL. |vol= |reporter= |opinion=No. 02-1624 |pinpoint=AMICI CURIAE Brief |court=Supreme Court of the United States |date=December 2003 |url=http://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/NewdowAmicus.pdf |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |quote=Because of Their "History and Ubiquity," Acknowledgments of Religion in Patriotic or Historical Contexts Are Entirely Consistent with the Establishment Clause.}}</ref> The Supreme Court upheld the position of Cruz’s brief.

Cruz served as lead counsel for the state and successfully defended the multiple litigation challenges to the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting plan in state and federal district courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court, which was decided 5–4 in his favor in ''[[League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry]]''.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=ReinertHousChron06282006>{{cite news|last=Reinert|first=Patty|title=Most of Texas' redistricting map upheld |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4009070.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 28, 2006|accessdate=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz also successfully defended, in ''[[Medellin v. Texas]]'', the State of Texas against an attempt to re-open the cases of 51 Mexican nationals, all of whom were convicted of murder in the United States and were on death row.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/> With the support of the [[George W. Bush Administration]], the petitioners argued that the United States had violated the [[Vienna Convention on Consular Relations]] by failing to notify the convicted nationals of their opportunity to receive legal aid from the Mexican consulate.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case">Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008) (No. 06-984).</ref> They based their case on a decision of the [[International Court of Justice]] in the [[Avena case]] which ruled that by failing to allow access to the Mexican consulate, the US had breached its obligations under the Convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.N. court rules U.S. execution violated treaty|publisher=CNN|first=Bill|last=Mears|date=January 19, 2009|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/19/mexican.execution.violation/|accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> Texas won the case in a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court holding that ICJ decisions were not binding in domestic law and that the President had no power to enforce them.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case"/>

Cruz has been named by ''[[The American Lawyer|American Lawyer]]'' magazine as one of the 50 Best Litigators under 45 in America,<ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008">{{cite news|title=Attorney General Abbott Appoints New Solicitor General: Longtime Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz returns to private practice; Deputy Solicitor General Sean Jordan to serve on leadership team|author=Office of Attorney General Greg Abbott|url=https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=2406|newspaper=State of Texas|date=April 9, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmLawMed01012007>{{cite news|title=The Young Litigators Fab Fifty|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=900005470251&slreturn=20130221194544|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=January 1, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> by ''[[The National Law Journal]]'' as one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America,<ref name=AmLawMed05262008>{{cite news |title=The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America |work=[[The National Law Journal]] |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202421621086&The_50_Most_Influential_Minority_Lawyers_in_America |agency=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=May 26, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmbrogiAmLawMed05282008>{{cite news |title=Legal Blog Watch |author=Ambrogi, Robert J. |url= http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2008/05/the-most-influe.html|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|publisher=Law.com|date=May 27, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and by ''Texas Lawyer'' as one of the 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century.<ref name=AmLawMed06282010>{{cite news|title=The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202463008691&The_25_Greatest_Texas_Lawyers_of_the_Past_QuarterCentury|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=June 28, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="TexasLawyer">{{cite news|title=Luncheon Honors 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|author=Tex Parte Blog, ''[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]''|url=http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/10/25-greatest-lawyers-of-the-past-quarter-century-honored.html|newspaper=Texas Lawyer|date=October 6, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Return to private practice===
After leaving the Solicitor General position in 2008, Cruz worked in a private law firm in Houston, [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP]], often representing corporate clients, until he was sworn in as U.S. Senator from Texas in 2013.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008>{{cite web|first=Gina|last=Passarella|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421154053|title=Morgan Lewis Adds Texas Solicitor General|publisher=Law.com|date=May 6, 2008|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> At Morgan Lewis, he led the firm’s U.S. Supreme Court and national appellate litigation practice.<ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008 /> In 2009 and 2010, he formed and then abandoned a bid for state attorney general when the incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott, who hired Cruz as Solicitor General, decided to run for re-election.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/>

While at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius, Cruz represented [[Pfizer]] in a lawsuit brought by a group of public hospitals and community health centers who accused the drug manufacturer of overcharging. The Supreme Court eventually threw the case out.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ted Cruz has always had a master plan. Now it could win him the White House.|url = https://www.yahoo.com/politics/ted-cruz-has-been-plotting-1305876417003574.html|publisher = Yahoo!|accessdate = January 1, 2016}}</ref> Shandong Linglong Rubber Company was found guilty of marketing versions of tires that were based on blueprints stolen by a former employee of a Florida businessman and ordered to pay $26 million to the Floridian. Cruz worked on the Chinese company's appellant brief. The appeals court denied the appeal and affirmed the jury's award.<ref name=MotherJones>{{cite news |last=Corn |first=David |date=April 9, 2015 |title=As a private lawyer, Ted Cruz defended companies found guilty of wrongdoing |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/03/ted-cruz-lawyer-braun-medical-shandong-linglong |newspaper=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |location=[[San Francisco]] |access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref> Cruz represented drug manufacturer [[B. Braun Medical Inc.]] in front of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit]] after the company was found guilty of wrongfully discharging a former employee. Cruz asserted that she had failed to prove that B. Braun had directed her to violate the law and that she had not presented sufficient evidence that her refusal to violate the law was why she had been fired. The appeals court rejected Cruz's argument and affirmed the $880,000 award.<ref name=MotherJones/> Cruz represented [[Toyota]] in an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court in an [[statute of limitations]] case, where a judge wanted to investigate Toyota for [[contempt]] after a former Toyota in-house lawyer accused Toyota of unlawfully withholding documents in a [[product liability]] case.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindell |first=Chuck |date=August 27, 2010 |title=Court gets OK for Toyota contempt hearing |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/court-gets-ok-for-toyota-contempt-hearing/nRxMH/ |newspaper=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=Under Texas law, the trial court lost all jurisdiction in the case 30 days after Green's lawsuit was dismissed, Toyota's appellate lawyer, Ted Cruz of Houston, told the Supreme Court in briefs.}}</ref> Cruz unsuccessfully argued the judge's jurisdiction expired thirty days after the case was dismissed following an out-of-court settlement, but later won on a second appeal using the same argument.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=1b2345e5-2604-4746-9fc6-75ba569e6edd&coa=cossup&DT=OTHER&MediaID=4e371e0b-190e-445a-b849-3d1af22168f3|title = Court of Appeals November 6, 2011 Opinion|website = Texas Judicial Branch|publisher = State of Texas|pages = 72–77}}</ref>

Cruz defended two record-setting $54 million personal injury awards in New Mexico at the appellate level, including one which had been thrown out by a lower court.<ref name=Corn11Feb>{{cite news|url= http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/ted-cruz-tort-reform-2016|title=As a Lawyer, Ted Cruz Defended Huge Jury Awards. As a Politician, He Opposed Them.|work=Mother Jones|first=David|last=Corn|date=February 11, 2015|accessdate=January 22, 2016}}</ref> Cruz defended a mentally disabled man who was allegedly raped by an employee of the facility where he lived. And in the other case Cruz defended the family of a 78-year-old resident of an Albuquerque nursing home who died of internal bleeding.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/opinion/two-sides-of-ted-cruz-tort-reformer-and-personal-injury-lawyer.html|title=Two Sides of Ted Cruz: Tort Reformer and Personal Injury Lawyer|date=January 20, 2016|accessdate=January 22, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Williamson}}</ref> The settlements were sealed in both cases.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan/>

==U.S. Senate==

===2012 election===
{{Main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg|right|thumb|Cruz speaking to the Values Voters Summit in October 2011]]
Cruz's victory in the Republican primary was described by the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' as "the biggest upset of 2012 ... a true grassroots victory against very long odds."<ref name="WashPostFix11282012">{{cite news|title=The biggest upset of 2012|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/28/the-biggest-upset-of-2012/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 28, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref> On January 19, 2011, after U.S. Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] said she would not seek reelection, Cruz announced his candidacy via a blogger conference call.<ref name="hogan">{{cite web|url=http://www.redstate.com/hogan/2011/01/19/ted-cruz-makes-it-a-new-game-for-us-senate-in-texas/|title=Ted Cruz Makes it a New Game for U.S. Senate in Texas|date=January 19, 2011|publisher=[[RedState]]|accessdate=January 29, 2015}}</ref> In the Republican senatorial primary, Cruz ran against sitting Lieutenant Governor [[David Dewhurst]]. Cruz was endorsed first by former Alaska Governor [[Sarah Palin]]<ref name=LevyYahoo0510212>{{cite news|author=Edwards-Levy, Ann|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/sarah-palin-endorses-ted-cruz-senate-texas_n_1507213.html|title=Sarah Palin Endorses Ted Cruz For U.S. Senate In Texas|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> and then by the [[Club for Growth]], a fiscally conservative political action committee;<ref>{{cite news|last=Toeplitz|first=Shira|title=Club for Growth Picks Texas Senate Favorite|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/Club-for-Growth-Picks-Texas-Senate-Favorite-206144-1.html|newspaper=[[Roll Call]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> [[Erick Erickson]], former editor of prominent conservative blog [[RedState]];<ref name=RedStateEndorse>{{cite news|last=Erickson|first=Erick|title=Ted Cruz for Senate|url=http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/06/02/ted-cruz-for-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=[[RedState]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> the [[FreedomWorks]] for America [[super PAC]];<ref>{{cite news|title=FreedomWorks PAC Likes Ted Cruz|first=Jim|last=Geraghty|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/268649/freedomworks-pac-likes-ted-cruz|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=June 2, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> nationally syndicated radio host [[Mark Levin]];<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Levin endorses Ted Cruz for US Senate in Texas|first=Mark|last=Levin|url=http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-endorses-ted-cruz-for-us-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=The Right Scoop|date=June 4, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> former Attorney General [[Edwin Meese]];<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> [[Tea Party Express]];<ref name=ShapiroWacoTrib01252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Express endorses Ted Cruz for Senate in Waco|first=Michael W.|last=Shapiro|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/waco_politics_report/tea-party-express-endorses-ted-cruz-for-senate-in-waco/article_522b2244-d22f-5aed-bb4d-587c900c92c9.html|newspaper=[[Waco Tribune-Herald]]|date=January 25, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> [[Young Conservatives of Texas]];<ref name=ScharrerSAExpNews01052012>{{cite news|title=Young conservatives choose Cruz|first=Gary|last=Scharrer|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2012/01/young-conservatives-choose-cruz/|newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=January 5, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and U.S. Senators [[Tom Coburn]],<ref name=KlukowskiBreitbart05252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Wave Could Carry Texas Senate Seat for Ted Cruz|author=Klukowski, Ken|url=http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/25/Tea-Party-Wave-Could-Carry-Texas-Senate-Seat-for-Ted-Cruz|newspaper=[[Breitbart]]|date=May 25, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> [[Jim DeMint]],<ref name=SullivanHotline11282011>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Sean|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/for-demint-a-fe.php|title=For DeMint, A Few Well-Timed Endorsements|work=National Journal|date=November 28, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]],<ref name=CatanesePolitico03072011>{{cite web|last=Catanese|first=David|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0311/Sen_Lee_backs_Ted_Cruz_in_Texas.html?showall|title=Sen. Lee backs Ted Cruz in Texas|publisher=[[Politico]] |date=March 7, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Rand Paul]]<ref name=GravoisFWStar07262011>{{cite news|title=Tea Party stalwart Rand Paul backs Cruz over Dewhurst in Texas' U.S. Senate race|first=John|last=Gravois|url=http://blogs.star-telegram.com/politex/2011/07/tea-party-stalwart-rand-paul-backs-cruz-over-dewhurst-in-senate-race.html|newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=July 26, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and [[Pat Toomey]].<ref name=McKinleyHouChron08012011>{{cite news|title=Sen. Pat Toomey Endorses Ted Cruz for The Texas Senate Race|author=McKinley, Kathleen|url=http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/08/sen-pat-toomey-endorses-ted-cruz-for-the-texas-senate-race/|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 1, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> He was also endorsed by former Texas Congressman [[Ron Paul]],<ref name=WhittingtonYahoo05072012>{{cite web|author=Whittington, Mark|url=http://news.yahoo.com/ron-rand-paul-endorse-ted-cruz-texas-senate-213900341.html|title=Ron, Rand Paul Endorse Ted Cruz for Texas Senate Seat|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 7, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> [[George P. Bush]],<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania [[Rick Santorum]].<ref name=WeissertAP05242012>{{cite news|title=Santorum endorses Ted Cruz in Texas Senate race|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/may/24/santorum-endorses-cruz-in-texas-us-senate-race/?print=1|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 24, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz won the runoff for the Republican nomination with a 14-point margin over Dewhurst.<ref name=WeissertHuffPost07312012>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Defeats David Dewhurst In Texas Senate Runoff|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/31/ted-cruz-texas-runoff_n_1726411.html|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz defeated Dewhurst despite being outspent by Dewhurst who held a statewide elected office.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012>{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz Wins In Texas GOP Senate Runoff |author=Hartfield, Elizabeth |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/ted-cruz-wins-in-texas-gop-senate-runoff/ |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=July 31, 2012 |accessdate=March 25, 2015|quote=Dewhurst enjoyed a huge financial advantage over Cruz. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Dewhurst poured $11 million of his own personal fortune—he founded a successful energy company called Falcon Seaboard—into his campaign, spending a total of $19 million, as compared to Cruz’s $7 million spent.}}</ref> Dewhurst spent $19 million and Cruz only spent $7 million.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012/> Dewhurst raised over $30 million and outspent Cruz at a ratio of nearly 3-to-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/07/27/10321/texas-senate-race-attracts-13-million-super-pac-spending|title=Texas Senate race attracts $13 million in super PAC spending|author=Alexandra Duszak|work=Center for Public Integrity}}</ref>

In the November 6 general election, Cruz faced Democrat [[Paul Sadler]], an attorney and a former state representative from [[Henderson, Texas|Henderson]], in east Texas. Cruz won with 4.5 million votes (56.4%) to Sadler's 3.2 million (40.6%). Two minor candidates garnered the remaining 3% of the vote.<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes">{{cite news|title=Election Results|author=State of Texas|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> According to a poll by Cruz's pollster Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, Cruz received 40% of the Hispanic vote, vs. 60% for Sadler, outperforming Republican Presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] with the Hispanic vote in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz and the Hispanic Vote|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/ted-cruz-and-hispanic-vote|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>Drucker, David M. [http://washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-poll-dems-have-edge-over-gop-among-hispanics-in-texas/article/2533470 Ted Cruz poll: Dems have edge over GOP among Hispanics in Texas], ''[[Washington Examiner]]'', July 25, 2013.</ref>

After ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine reported on a potential violation of ethics rules by failing to publicly disclose his financial relationship with Caribbean Equity Partners Investment Holdings during the 2012 campaign, Cruz called his failure to disclose these connections an inadvertent omission.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/18/ted-cruz-failed-to-disclose-ties-to-jamaican-holding-company/|title=Ted Cruz Failed To Disclose Ties To Caribbean Holding Company|last=Calabresi|first=Massimo|date=October 18, 2013|website=Time|accessdate=October 30, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, the ''New York Times'' reported that Cruz and his wife had taken out low-interest loans from Goldman Sachs (where she worked) and Citibank, and failed to report the nearly $1 million in loans on [[Federal Election Commission]] disclosure statements as required by law.<ref name=McIntire13Jan>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/us/politics/ted-cruz-wall-street-loan-senate-bid-2012.html|title=Cruz Didn’t Disclose Loan From Goldman Sachs for His First Senate Campaign|work=The New York Times|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 14, 2016|first=Mike|last=McIntire}}</ref> Cruz disclosed the loans on his Senate financial disclosure forms in July 2012, but not on the Federal Election Commission form.<ref name=Mullins>Mullins, Brody. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/ted-cruz-didnt-adequately-disclose-2012-loans-for-senate-campaign-1452750887 "Ted Cruz Didn’t Adequately Disclose 2012 Loans for Senate Campaign"], [[Wall Street Journal]] (January 14, 2016).</ref> There is no indication that Cruz's wife had any role in providing any of the loans, or that the banks did anything wrong.<ref name=Mullins /> The loans were largely repaid by later campaign fundraising. A spokesperson for Cruz said his failure to report the loans to the FEC was "inadvertent" and said he would be filing supplementary paperwork.<ref name=McIntire13Jan/>

===Legislation===
[[File:Ted Cruz at Montgomery County Republican Party meeting, Conroe, Texas, August 19, 2013.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz giving a speech to the Montgomery County Republican Party meeting held in [[Conroe, Texas]], on August 19, 2013]]
Cruz has sponsored 25 bills of his own, including:<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Cruz's Legislation|url=http://www.congress.gov/member/ted-cruz/2175?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Ted+Cruz%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref>
* S.177, a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health-care related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, introduced January 29, 2013
* S.505, a bill to prohibit the use of [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drones]] to kill citizens of the United States within the United States, introduced March 7, 2013
* S.729 and S. 730, bills to investigate and prosecute felons and fugitives who illegally purchase firearms, and to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through straw purchases and trafficking, introduced March 15, 2013
* S.1336, a bill to permit States to require proof of citizenship for registering to vote in federal elections, introduced July 17, 2013
* S.2170, a bill to increase coal, natural gas, and crude oil exports, to approve the construction of the [[Keystone XL Pipeline]], to expand oil drilling offshore, onshore, in the [[National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska]], and in Indian reservations, to give states the sole power of regulating [[hydraulic fracturing]], to repeal the [[Renewable Fuel Standard]], to prohibit the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) from regulating [[greenhouse gas]]es, to require the EPA to assess how new regulations will affect employment, and to earmark natural resource revenue to paying off the federal government's debt, introduced March 27, 2014
* S.2415, a bill to amend the [[Federal Election Campaign Act|Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971]] to eliminate all limits on direct campaign contributions to candidates for public office, introduced June 3, 2014

====Senate bill 2195====
{{main|Public Law 113-100}}
On April 1, 2014, Cruz introduced Senate bill 2195, a bill that would allow the [[President of the United States]] to deny [[Visa (document)|visas]] to any ambassador to the [[United Nations]] who has been found to have been engaged in [[espionage]] activities or a [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.<ref name=2195sum>{{cite web|title=S. 2195 – Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2195|publisher=United States Congress|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref> The bill was written in response to [[Iran]]'s choice of [[Hamid Aboutalebi]] as their ambassador.<ref name=Congressapproves>{{cite news|last=Marcos|first=Cristina|title=Congress approves bill banning Iran diplomat|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/203202-house-votes-to-ban-irans-un-ambassador|accessdate=April 11, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 10, 2014}}</ref> Aboutalebi was involved in the [[Iran hostage crisis]], in which of a number of American diplomats from the US embassy in Tehran were held captive in 1979.<ref name="Congressapproves"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=April 2, 2014|title=U.S. Troubled By Iran's Choice Of 1979 Hostage-Taker For U.N. Post|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/02/298412119/u-s-troubled-by-irans-choice-of-1979-hostage-taker-for-u-n-post|publisher=NPR|accessdate=November 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/irans-reformers-include-more-than-one-former-hostage-taker/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|work=The New York Times|first=Robert|last=Mackey|title=Iran's Reformers Include More Than One Former Hostage-Taker|date=April 4, 2014|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref>

Under the headline "A bipartisan message to Iran", Cruz thanked President [[Barack Obama]] for signing S 2195 into law. The letter, published in the magazine ''[[Politico]]'' on April 18, 2014, starts with "Thanks to President Obama for joining a unanimous Congress and signing S 2195 into law". Cruz also thanked senators from both political parties for "swiftly passing this legislation and sending it to the White House."<ref>{{cite web|title=A bipartisan message to Iran|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/a-bipartisan-message-to-iran-105837.html#.U1RTecfAJu_|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz thanks Obama for denying visas to terrorists|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/20/ted-cruz-thanks-obama-denying-visas-terrorists/|work=The Washington Times|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Writes Thank You Letter To Obama In Politico|url=http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/04/20/ted-cruz-writes-thank-you-letter-obama-politico|publisher=Fox News Channel|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref>

====Committee assignments====
According to transcripts as reported by ''Politico'', in his first two years in the Senate, Cruz attended 17 of 50 public Armed Services Committee hearings, 3 of 25 Commerce Committee hearings, 4 of the 12 Judiciary Committee hearings, and missed 21 of 135 roll call votes during the first three months of 2015.<ref name=POLITICO.tedcruz>{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Austin|title=Ted Cruz the senator: Heard but not seen|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 22, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422160320/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html?hp=t2_r|archivedate=April 22, 2015}}</ref>
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]'''
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities|Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]'''
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights|Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities|Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]] (Chairman)
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security|Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]]'''
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]] (Chairman)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]]'''

===Comments on President Obama===

In a November 2014 Senate speech, Cruz accused the president of being "openly desirous to destroy the Constitution and this Republic."<ref name="JesseWeiner">Jesse Weiner, [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/ted-cruz-confused-about-cicero/383066/ Ted Cruz: Confused About Cicero: What the Texas Republican misrepresents about treason and politics in the Roman Republic], ''The Atlantic'' (November 21, 2014).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz invoked the speeches of the ancient [[Roman Senate|Roman senator]] [[Cicero]] [[Catiline Orations|against Catiline]] to denounce Obama's planned executive actions on immigration reform.<ref name="JesseWeiner"/> Classics professor Jesse Weiner, writing in ''[[The Atlantic]]'', said that Cruz's analogy was "deeply disquieting" because "in casting Obama in the role of Catiline, Cruz unsubtly suggests that the sitting president was not lawfully elected and is the perpetrator of a violent [[insurrection]] to overthrow the government...In effect, he accuses the president of [[high treason]]. Regardless of one’s views on immigration reform and the Obama administration at large, this is dangerous [[rhetoric]]."<ref name="JesseWeiner"/>

Cruz has repeatedly said that the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran "will make the Obama administration the world's leading financier of radical Islamic terrorism."<ref name="Collins">Eliza Collins, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-calls-barack-obama-sponsor-terrorism-iran-nuclear-deal-120780 Cruz stands by calling Obama a sponsor of terrorism], ''Politico'' (July 29, 2015).</ref> In response, Obama called Cruz's statements an example of "outrageous attacks" from Republican critics that crossed the line of responsible discourse: "We've had a sitting senator, who also happens to be running for president, suggest that I'm the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines, but it's not the kind of leadership that is needed for America right now."<ref name="Collins"/> Former Republican presidential nominee [[Mitt Romney]] also criticized Cruz for his remarks, writing that although he, too, was opposed to the Iran agreement, Cruz's statement connecting Obama to terrorism was "way over the line" and "hurts the cause."<ref>David Jackson, [http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/07/30/romney-hits-cruz-over-obamaterrorism-claim/ Romney hits Cruz over Obama/terrorism claim], ''USA Today'' (July 30, 2015).</ref><ref>Alex Griswold, [http://www.mediaite.com/online/mitt-romney-ted-cruz-way-over-the-line-calling-obama-terror-sponsor/ Mitt Romney: Ted Cruz 'Way Over the Line' Calling Obama Terror Sponsor], Mediaite (July 30, 2015).</ref>

===Relationship with Republican members of Congress===
Cruz has used harsh rhetoric against fellow Republican politicians, and his relationships with various Republican members of Congress have been strained.<ref name="RachelWeiner">Rachel Weiner, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/07/31/ted-cruz-shies-away-from-some-harsh-rhetoric/ Ted Cruz shies away from some harsh rhetoric], ''The Washington Post'' (July 31, 2013).</ref><ref name="John">Arit John, [http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-republican-critics/69901/ All of Ted Cruz's Republican Critics], ''The Atlantic'' (September 26, 2013).</ref> In 2013, Cruz referred to Republicans who he thought were insufficiently resistant to the proposals of President Obama as a "surrender caucus."<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz also called fellow Republicans out as "squishes" on gun-control issues during a Tea Party rally.<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz's role in the [[United States federal government shutdown of 2013]] in particular attracted criticism from a number of Republican colleagues.<ref name="John"/> Republican Senator [[John McCain]] is reported to particularly dislike Cruz; in a Senate floor speech in 2013, McCain denounced Cruz's [[Reductio ad Hitlerum|reference to Nazis]] when discussing the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref name="John"/> In March 2013, McCain also called Cruz and others "wacko birds" whose beliefs are not "reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans."<ref name="John"/>

In a heated Senate floor speech in July 2015, Cruz accused Senate Republican Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] of telling "a flat-out lie" over his intentions to reauthorize the [[Export-Import Bank of the United States]], which Cruz opposes. "What we just saw today was an absolute demonstration that not only what he told every Republican senator, but what he told the press over and over and over again was a simple lie," Cruz said of Senate Republican Leader McConnell.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan">David Morgan & Richard Cowan, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/24/us-usa-election-cruz-idUSKCN0PY29P20150724 Republican White House hopeful Cruz calls McConnell a liar], Reuters (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz's "incendiary outburst" was "unusual in the cordial atmosphere of the Senate", according to ''[[Reuters]]''.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan"/><ref name="Raju">Manu Raju, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-says-mitch-mcconnell-lies-export-import-bank-120583 Cruz accuses Mitch McConnell of telling a 'flat-out lie'], ''Politico'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz assailed the "Republican majority in both houses of Congresses" for what Cruz termed an insufficiently conservative record.<ref name="Raju"/> Cruz's speech, and especially his accusation against McConnell, was condemned by various senior Republican senators, with John McCain saying that the speech was "outside the realm of Senate behavior" and "a very wrong thing to do."<ref>Ted Barrett, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/26/politics/cruz-senate-mcconnell-lied/ Republicans rebuke Cruz over his charge McConnell lied], CNN (July 27, 2015).</ref> [[Orrin Hatch]] expressed a similar opinion: “I don’t condone the use of that kind of language against another senator unless they can show definitive proof that there was a lie....And I know the leader didn’t lie.”<ref>Rogers, Alex. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71388/cruz-mcconnell-told-flat-out-lie-conservatives?mref=scroll "Cruz: McConnell Told ‘Flat-Out Lie’ to Conservatives"], ''[[National Journal]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz had alleged that McConnell scheduled a vote on the Ex-Im Bank as part of a deal to persuade Democrats like [[Maria Cantwell]] to stop blocking a trade bill, whereas McConnell denied there was any "deal", and that denial is what Cruz termed a "lie"; Senator Hatch says McConnell did pledge to help Cantwell get a vote on the Ex-Im Bank.<ref>DeBonis, Mike. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ted-cruz-to-gop-leader-you-lied/2015/07/24/6a967690-3225-11e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7_story.html "Ted Cruz to GOP leader: You lied"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref>

Among Cruz's few close allies in the Senate is [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] of Utah.<ref>Jonathan Capehart, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/07/29/how-mitch-mcconnell-went-gangsta-on-ted-cruz-and-mike-lee/ How Mitch McConnell went gangsta on Ted Cruz and Mike Lee], ''The Washington Post'' (July 29, 2015).</ref><ref>Manu Raju & Burgess Everett, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/senate-obamacare-repeal-ted-cruz-mike-lee-120637 Senate smackdown: Cruz, Lee efforts squelched: The rift between Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz widens], ''Politico'' (July 27, 2015).</ref> Cruz has expressed pride in his reputation for having few allies, saying in June 2015 that he has been vilified for fighting "the Washington cartel."<ref>Todd J. Gillman, [http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20150624-cruz-says-hes-vilified-for-fighting-the-washington-cartel.ece Cruz says he's vilified for fighting the 'Washington cartel'], ''Dallas Morning News'' (June 24, 2015).</ref>

When Boehner announced in September 2015 that he would step down and resign from the House, Cruz expressed his concern that before resigning Boehner may have "cut a deal with Nancy Pelosi to fund the Obama administration for the rest of its tenure".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zurcher|first1=Anthony|title=John Boehner resigns and Ted Cruz gloats|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34355043|accessdate=October 17, 2015|publisher=BBC|date=September 25, 2015|ref=boehner_resigns}}</ref> The following month, the budget agreement passed in the House by a vote of 266 to 187, with unanimous support from Democrats and from Boehner, lifting the debt ceiling through March 2017, and Cruz called the agreement “complete and utter surrender”.<ref>Arkin, James. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/10/29/house_passes_budget_debt_ceiling_agreement_128586.html "House Passes Budget, Debt Ceiling Agreement"], [[Real Clear Politics]] (October 29, 2015).</ref>

==Presidential campaign==
{{main|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016}}
{{Further|United States presidential election, 2016}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|right|thumb|Senator Cruz speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland]]
As early as 2013, Cruz was widely expected to run for the presidency in 2016.<ref name="contender">{{cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=September 13, 2013|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dont-underestimate-rand-paul-as-a-2016-presidential-contender/2013/09/15/1c2925c6-1e1c-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|title=Rand Paul, 2016 Republican front-runner|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=September 25, 2013|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|title=Ted Cruz's First 2016 Campaign Ad Is Over 21 Hours Long|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Wire]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Metzler|first=Rebekah|date=September 27, 2013|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/27/poll-ted-cruz-leads-2016-gop-field |title=Poll: Ted Cruz Leads 2016 GOP Field|newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref> On March 14, 2013, he gave the keynote speech at the annual [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in Washington DC.<ref name=RomanoPolitico03142013>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/2016-rubio-paul-et-al-court-cpac-crowd-88884.html|title=CPAC 2013: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul fight for the future of the GOP|last==Romano|first=Lois| newspaper=[[Politico]]|date=March 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He tied for 7th place in the 2013 CPAC straw poll on March 16, winning 4% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll; Rubio close second|last=Montanaro|first= Domenico|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/16/17341131-rand-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll-rubio-close-second?lite|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 16, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, Cruz won the Values Voter Summit Presidential straw poll with 42% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Dominates Republican Straw Poll|author=Rayman, Noah|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/13/ted-cruz-dominates-republican-straw-poll/|magazine=[[TIME]]|date=October 13, 2013|accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref> Cruz finished first in two Presidential straw polls conducted in 2014 with 30.33% of the vote at the Republican Leadership Conference<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins presidential straw poll at Republican Leadership Conference |last=Finnegan|first=Conor|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 31, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref> and 43% of the vote at the Republican Party of Texas state convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins Texas GOP’s presidential straw poll, Rick Perry finishes distant fourth|last=Jeffers|first=Gromer|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|newspaper=[[Dallas Morning News]]|date=June 7, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref>

Cruz did speaking events in mid-2013 across Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, early [[United States presidential primary|primary states]], leading to speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a run for [[United States presidential election, 2016|President in 2016]].<ref name=KilloughCNN07212013>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|title=Cruz tries to sidestep 2016 question|author=Ashley Killough|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=July 21, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> Legal analyst [[Jeffrey Toobin]] describes Cruz as the first potential Presidential candidate to emphasize [[originalism]] as a major national issue.<ref name=JToobin/>

On April 12, 2014, Cruz spoke at the Freedom Summit, an event organized by [[Americans for Prosperity]], and [[Citizens United (organization)|Citizens United]].<ref name="FreedomSummit">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are the big draws at the Freedom Summit|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/12/cruz-and-paul-greeted-by-cheers-at-tea-partys-2016-warm-up/|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref> The event was attended by several potential presidential candidates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Freedom Summit draws GOP hopefuls to N.H.|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedom-summit-draws-gop-hopefuls-to-nh/2014/04/12/8a5225f8-c262-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014|first=Jaime|last=Fuller|date=April 12, 2014}}</ref> In his speech, Cruz mentioned that Latinos, young people and single mothers are the people most affected by the recession, and that the Republican Party should make outreach efforts to these constituents. He also said that the words, "growth and opportunity" should be tattooed on the hands of every Republican politician.<ref name="FreedomSummit"/>

On March 23, 2015, Cruz announced on his Twitter page: "I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!"<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Announces Presidential Bid|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ted-cruz-announce-presidential-bid-monday-n328051|accessdate=March 23, 2015|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref> He was the first announced major Republican presidential candidate for the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 campaign]].<ref name="HousChronSchleifer032120152">{{cite news |last = Schleifer|first = Theodore|date = March 21, 2015|title = Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday|url = http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/us/article/Ted-Cruz-to-announce-presidential-bid-Monday-6150894.php?t=ec04aca79d29c86149&cmpid=twitter-premium|newspaper = [[Houston Chronicle]]|location = [[Houston, Texas]]|access-date = March 22, 2015|quote = Cruz will launch a presidential bid outright rather than form an exploratory committee, said senior advisers with direct knowledge of his plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made yet. They say he is done exploring and is now ready to become the first Republican presidential candidate.}}</ref><ref name="CorasanitiNYT03232015">{{cite news |last1=Corasaniti |first1=Nick |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Becomes First Major Candidate to Announce Presidential Bid for 2016 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-2016-presidential-race.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, New York |access-date=March 23, 2015 }}</ref>

[[HarperCollins]] published Cruz's book ''A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America'' on June 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Time-Truth-Reigniting-Promise-America/dp/0062365614|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America: Ted Cruz: 9780062365613: Amazon.com: Books|publisher=Amazon.com}}</ref> The book reached the bestseller list of several organizations in its first week of release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/amazon-no-evidence-of-bulk-sales-for-ted-cruz-book-210374.html|title=Amazon: 'No evidence' of bulk sales for Cruz book|author=Dylan Byers|date=July 13, 2015|work=POLITICO}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-13/new-york-times-defends-ban-of-ted-cruz-s-book-from-bestseller-list|title=NYT Defends Exclusion of Ted Cruz's Book: 'We Are Confident'|date=July 13, 2015|work=Bloomberg.com/politics|first=Elizabeth|last=Titus}}</ref>

On February 1, 2016, Cruz won the [[Iowa caucuses]].<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> He is the first Hispanic to win either a presidential primary election or the Iowa caucuses.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> Cruz received 28% of the vote.<ref name="CNN02012016"/>

===Citizenship===
{{Main|Natural born citizen}}
{{Further|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016#Eligibility}}
Cruz has stated that when he was a child, his mother told him that she would have to make an affirmative act to claim [[Canadian nationality law|Canadian citizenship]] for him, so his family assumed that he did not hold Canadian citizenship.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014"/> In August 2013, after the ''Dallas Morning News'' pointed out that Cruz had [[dual citizenship|dual Canadian-American citizenship]],<ref name="GillmasDallasMN12282013">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=December 28, 2013|title=Ted Cruz says he’s hired lawyers to renounce Canadian citizenship|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20131228-ted-cruz-says-hes-hired-lawyers-to-renounce-canadian-citizenship.ece|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=December 30, 2013|quote=But the strong legal consensus is that with even one American parent—a circumstance shared by Obama and Cruz—a child born anywhere qualifies as a "natural born American," entitled to citizenship at birth and therefore eligible to serve as president.}}</ref><ref name=LeeWaPo>{{cite news|last1=Michelle Ye Hee|first1=Lee|title=Cruz says it’s ‘clear and straightforward’ that he’s a natural-born U.S. citizen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/10/cruz-says-its-clear-and-straightforward-that-hes-a-natural-born-u-s-citizen/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_cruz-1115am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory|accessdate=January 10, 2016|work=The Washington Post|date=January 10, 2015}}</ref> he applied to formally renounce his Canadian citizenship and ceased being a citizen of Canada on May 14, 2014.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=June 10, 2014|title=No, Canada: Sen. Ted Cruz has formally shed his dual citizenship|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/ |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News|Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=June 10, 2014|quote=Alberta-born Sen. Ted Cruz has given up his Canadian dual citizenship. The renunciation became official on May 14, roughly 9 months after he learned he wasn’t only an American.}}</ref><ref name=AaronWashPost08192013>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/19/cruz-will-renounce-canadian-citizenship/?wprss=rss_homepage|title=Cruz Will Renounce Canadian Citizenship|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=August 19, 2013|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, suit was brought seeking a judicial determination as to whether Cruz should be disqualified as a presidential candidate on the grounds of not being a [[natural born US citizen]].<ref name=BirtherSuit>{{cite news |last1=Calkins |first1=Laurel Brubaker |last2=Cirilli |first2=Kevin |date=January 14, 2016 |title=Cruz’s ‘Natural-Born Citizen’ Status Tested in Birther Suit |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-15/cruz-s-natural-born-citizen-status-challenged-in-birther-suit |newspaper=Bloomberg Business |location=New York |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> After [[Donald Trump]] repeatedly questioned whether Cruz met the qualifications of being a natural born citizen, Houston attorney Newton B. Schwartz Sr. filed suit in Texas, claiming that “This 229-year question has never been pled, presented to or finally decided by or resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court... Only the U.S. Supreme Court can finally decide, determine judicially and settle this issue now.”<ref name=BirtherSuit/>

==Political positions==
{{main|Political positions of Ted Cruz}}

===Domestic affairs===
On abortion, Cruz is "strongly [[pro-life]]" and "would allow the procedure only when a pregnancy endangers the mother's life."<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnhart |first=Melissa |date=June 27, 2013 |title=Pro-Life Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to Speak at National Right to Life Convention in Dallas |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-sen-ted-cruz-of-texas-to-speak-at-national-right-to-life-convention-in-dallas-98910/ |newspaper=[[The Christian Post]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name="fikac">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/fikac/article/Fikac-Senate-hopeful-Cruz-casts-himself-as-3381330.php|title=Senate hopeful Cruz casts himself as conservative warrior|author=Peggy Fikac|work=Houston Chronicle|date=March 4, 2012|accessdate=October 9, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz opposes both [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]] and [[civil union]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/2016RepublicanFacts/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz: Not a Fan of Pride Parades|work=Human Rights Campaign}}</ref> He believes that marriage should be legally defined as only "between one man and one woman,"<ref>Miller, Jake. November 9, 2013. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-talks-guns-same-sex-marriage-obamacare-with-jay-leno/ Ted Cruz talks guns, same-sex marriage, Obamacare with Jay Leno]. CBS News. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> but believes that the legality of same-sex marriage should be [[States' rights|left to each state to decide]].<ref name=TonightShowLeno>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/senator-ted-cruz-on-gay-marriage/n43013|title=Senator Ted Cruz on Same Sex Marriage|newspaper=[[The Tonight Show]]|publisher=[[NBC]]|accessdate=December 9, 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, Cruz voted in favor of the [[USA Freedom Act]], which reauthorized the [[USA Patriot Act]] but reformed some of its provisions.<ref name="MorningConsult">Eitan Arom, [http://morningconsult.com/2015/06/voter-views-on-usa-freedom-act-bode-well-for-graham-and-rubio-not-cruz-and-paul/ Voter Views on USA Freedom Act Bode Well for Graham and Rubio, Not Cruz and Paul], Morning Consult (June 10, 2015).</ref><ref name="KilloughNSA">Ashley Killough, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/politics/election-2016-ted-cruz-rand-paul-nsa-vote/ Ted Cruz knocks Rand Paul on NSA vote], CNN (April 2, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a proponent of [[school choice]]<ref>{{cite news |last=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-second-amendment-gun-rights-117133.html |first=Keli |date=January 30, 2015 |title=The Issue Bringing Ted Cruz and Black Democrats Together |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-issue-bringing-ted-cruz-and-black-democrats-together.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=April 23, 2015 }}</ref> and opposes the [[Common Core State Standards Initiative]].<ref>Weigel, David, [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-19/what-ted-cruz-talks-about-when-he-talks-about-common-core What Ted Cruz Talks About When He Talks About Common Core], Bloomberg. (March 19, 2015).</ref> Cruz is a strong critic of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (the ACA or "Obamacare"). He has sponsored legislation that would repeal the health care reform law and its amendments in the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].

Cruz is a [[Right to keep and bear arms|gun-rights]] supporter.<ref name=HotAir04292013>{{cite news|title= Ted Cruz: My GOP Senate colleagues yelled at me for wanting to filibuster gun control|url= http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/29/ted-cruz-my-gop-senate-colleagues-yelled-at-me-for-wanting-to-filibuster-gun-control/|newspaper=[[Hot Air (news site)|Hot Air]]|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has adopted a "hard-line stance" on immigration issues during the [[2014 American immigration crisis|2014 border crisis]]<ref name="Sarlin">Benjy Sarlin, [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ted-cruz-immigration-swing-2016 Ted Cruz's hard-line stance renders border crisis key 2016 issue], MSNBC (August 5, 2014).</ref> and is an opponent of comprehensive immigration reform.<ref name="JToobin"/><ref name="Sarlin"/> Cruz advocates for an increase from 65,000 to 325,000 annually in skilled foreign workers entering the United States using H-1B visas.<ref name=Increase_H1B_Visas>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%|author=Patrick Thibodeau|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2900126/ted-cruz-the-presidential-candidate-who-wants-to-increase-the-h-1b-cap-by-500.html|newspaper=Computerworld|date=May 23, 2015|accessdate=November 10, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz opposes the [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction|legalization of marijuana]], but believes it should be decided at the state level.<ref>Sullum, Jacob. March 5, 2015. [http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2015/03/05/by-supporting-marijuana-federalism-republican-candidates-can-be-principled-and-popular/ Ted Cruz's Cannabis Conversion Reflects The Political Prudence Of Marijuana Federalism]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved March 22, 2015.</ref>

Cruz opposes [[net neutrality]] arguing that the Internet economy has flourished in the United States simply because it has remained largely free from government regulation.<ref name="DotSankin05162014">{{cite news|last=Sankin|first=Aaron|date=May 16, 2014|title=The conservative case against net neutrality|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/net-neutrality-ted-cruz-fcc/|newspaper=The Daily Dot|accessdate=November 13, 2014}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
Cruz favors the [[death penalty]]. In his 2012 Senate campaign, Cruz frequently mentioned his role as counsel for the State of Texas in ''[[Medellín v. Texas]]'', a 2008 case in which the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] found that Texas has the legal right to ignore [[Avena case|an order]] from the [[International Court of Justice]] directing the U.S. to review the convictions and sentences of dozens of Mexican nationals on death row.<ref name="Bathe">Aman Bathe, [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/politics/a-history-for-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-and-supreme-court.html?_r=0 Senate Candidate and Supreme Court Have a History], ''Texas Tribune'' (July 22, 2012).</ref> Cruz has referred to ''Medellín'' as the most important case of his tenure as Texas solicitor general.<ref name="Bathe"/>

In an interview with radio host [[Hugh Hewitt]] discussing the attack that killed three people at a [[Planned Parenthood]] clinic in Colorado Springs, Cruz said that "the simple and undeniable fact is the overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats", and that the reason Democrats are soft on crime, is that convicted felons tend to vote Democrat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-democrats-crime-216288|publisher=Politico|accessdate=December 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the wake of the ambush death of a Texas police officer, who was gunned down while filling up at a gas station, Cruz said that police are "feeling the assault from the president, from the top on down, as we see — whether it’s in Ferguson or Baltimore, the response from senior officials, the president or the attorney general, is to vilify law enforcement. That’s wrong. It’s fundamentally wrong. It’s endangering all of our safety and security."<ref>Matt Levin, [http://www.chron.com/news/politics/tedcruz/article/Ted-Cruz-blames-Obama-for-death-of-Harris-County-6476309.php Ted Cruz blames Obama for death of Harris County sheriff's deputy], ''Houston Chronicle'' (August 31, 2015).</ref>

===Economy===
Cruz has been described by the [[Cato Institute]]'s Center for Trade Policy Studies as a "free trader"<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/research/trade-immigration/congress?senator=192|title=Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> and as a "free-trade advocate" by the ''Wall Street Journal''.<ref name="Hook">Janet Hook, [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/23/ted-cruz-flips-on-trade-bill-on-eve-of-key-senate-vote/ Ted Cruz Flips on Trade Bill on Eve of Key Senate Vote], ''The Wall Street Journal'' (June 23, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz proposed the abolition of the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] and the implementation of a [[flat tax]] "where the average American can fill out taxes on a postcard."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Rachel|title=Ted Cruz: 'Abolish the IRS'|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/03/ted-cruz-abolish-the-irs/|work=The Washington Post|date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> Cruz is "adamantly opposed to a higher [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]]."<ref name="HarrisonTaxes">J.D. Harrison, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2015/03/23/what-a-ted-cruz-white-house-could-mean-for-businesses/ What a Ted Cruz White House could mean for businesses], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015).</ref>

===Environment===
Cruz is a supporter of [[TransCanada Corporation|TransCanada]]'s [[Keystone Pipeline System|Keystone XL Pipeline]],<ref name="Cornwell">Susan Cornwell, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/us-usa-republicans-cruz-idUSBREA1921720140210 U.S. Senator Cruz urges broad Republican focus on energy], Reuters (February 10, 2014).</ref> and along with every other Republican senator was a cosponsor of legislation in support of the pipeline.<ref>Marianna Sotomayor & Alison Thoet, [http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/229632-whip-list-senate-keystone-vote Whip List: How senators will vote on Keystone XL pipeline], ''The Hill'' (January 29, 2015).</ref>

Cruz disagrees with [[scientific opinion on climate change]].<ref>Josh Hicks, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/01/21/climate-change-skeptics-cruz-and-rubio-now-help-oversee-nations-climate-science/ Climate-change skeptics Cruz and Rubio now help oversee nation’s climate science], ''Washington Post'' (January 21, 2015).</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref> He has said that "the scientific evidence doesn't support [[global warming]]."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015">{{cite interview |last=Cruz |first=Ted |subject-link= |interviewer=Steve Inskeep |title=Scientific Evidence Doesn't Support Global Warming, Sen. Ted Cruz Says |url=http://www.npr.org/2015/12/09/459026242/scientific-evidence-doesn-t-support-global-warming-sen-ted-cruz-says |call-sign=[[NPR|NPR, Inc.]] |city=[[Washington, DC]] |date=December 11, 2015 |program=[[Morning Edition]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=The scientific evidence doesn't support global warming. For the last 18 years, the satellite data - we have satellites that monitor the atmosphere. The satellites that actually measure the temperature showed no significant warming whatsoever.}}</ref> He has stated: "They call anyone who questions the science who even points to the satellite data – they call you a, quote, "denier." Denier is not the language of science. Denier is the language of religion. It is heretic. You are a blasphemer. It's treated as a theology. But it's about power and money. At the end of the day, it's not complicated. This is liberal politicians who want government power."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/> In March 2015, he said that some people are "global warming alarmists" and, citing [[satellite temperature measurements]], said that there had been no significant warming in 18 years.<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/><ref>Philip Bump, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/03/25/ted-cruz-compares-climate-change-activists-to-flat-earthers-where-to-begin Ted Cruz compares climate change activists to ‘flat-Earthers.’ Where to begin?], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015)</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''The Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref>

Cruz voted against the [[Water Resources Development Act]] of 2013, that would have created the National Endowment for the Oceans and authorized more than $26 billion in projects to be built by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]], at least $16 billion of which would have come from federal taxpayers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Ryan |date=May 21, 2014 |title=Infrastructure Bills to Nowhere |url=http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/05/21/highway-and-water-resources-bills-are-a-bad-bet-for-taxpayers |newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm |title=Ted Cruz on Environment |publisher=Ontheissues.org |accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> Cruz voted against the bill because it neglected "to reduce a substantial backlog of projects, to the detriment of projects with national implications, such as the Sabine-Neches Waterway".<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Cornyn, Cruz Vote to Fix Water Resource and Development Act |url=http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=134 |newspaper=cruz.senate.gov |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref> Cruz stated that the Corps' responsibilities were expanded without providing adequate measures for state participation.<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013"/> Proponents of the bill argued that it would provide steady funding to support research and restoration projects, funded primarily by dedicating 12.5% of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, through offshore lease sales and production based royalty payments, distributed through a competitive grant program.<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm 5]</ref>

===Foreign affairs===
Cruz has been an adamant opponent of the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], a 2015 international nuclear agreement with [[Iran]] negotiated by [[P5+1|the U.S. and other world powers]], calling it "catastrophic" and "disastrous."<ref name="Hattem">Julian Hattem & Kristina Wong, [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/252134-trump-cruz-to-hold-joint-anti-iran-rally-on-capitol-hill Trump, Cruz to hold joint anti-Iran rally on Capitol Hill], ''The Hill'' (August 27, 2015).</ref><ref name="GrimSchulberg">Ryan Grim & Jessica Schulberg, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/ted-cruz-iran-war_n_7216698.html Ted Cruz On Iran Nuclear Negotiations: 'This Deal Makes War a Certainty'], ''The Huffington Post'' (May 5, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a critic of the [[Cuban Thaw|rapprochement between Cuba and the United States]], saying on [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] in December 2014 that the thaw in relations was a "manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy" that "will be remembered as a tragic mistake."<ref>Brendan Bordelon, [http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/410295/ted-cruz-cuba-relations-thaw-tragic-mistake-brendan-bordelon Ted Cruz: Cuba Relations Thaw 'a Tragic Mistake'], ''National Review'' (December 14, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz stated that America had no "dog in the fight" during the [[Syrian Civil War]] and stated that America's armed forces should not serve as "[[al-Qaeda]]'s air force".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21585011-president-makes-case-pulling-trigger-bomb-or-not-bomb|title=America and Syria: To bomb, or not to bomb?|work=The Economist|date=September 7, 2013|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Cruz criticized the Obama administration: "The president's foreign policy team utterly missed the threat of ISIS, indeed, was working to arm Syrian rebels that were fighting side by side with ISIS", calling ISIS "the face of evil".<ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/09/Ted-Cruz-ISIS-is-the-Face-Of-Evil Ted Cruz: ISIS is the Face of Evil]". [[Breitbart.com]]. August 9, 2014.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:HeidiTedCruzVers2Houston31MARCH2015 - Copy.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz with his wife Heidi at a rally in [[Houston]], March 2015]]
Cruz married [[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/26/us/ted-cruz-fast-facts/|title=Ted Cruz Fast Facts|publisher=CNN|date=March 26, 2015}}</ref> The couple have two daughters:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/25/ted-cruz-daughter-2-i-want-work-daddy/|title=Ted Cruz’s daughter, 2: ‘I want to work with daddy’|work=The Washingtion Times}}</ref> Caroline (born 2008) and Catherine (born 2011). Cruz met his wife while working on the [[George W. Bush]] [[United States presidential election, 2000|presidential campaign of 2000]]. She is currently taking leave from her position as head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of [[Goldman, Sachs & Co.]] and previously worked in the [[White House]] for [[Condoleezza Rice]] and in New York as an [[investment banker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houston.org/about/board-staff.html#board/212727|title=Board Member Bios: Heidi Cruz|publisher=Greater Houston Partnership|accessdate=August 16, 2013}} {{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-23/cruz-s-wife-heidi-said-to-take-unpaid-leave-from-goldman|title=Cruz’s Wife Heidi to Take Unpaid Leave From Goldman|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=March 23, 2015|first=Michael J|last=Moore|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz has said, "I'm Cuban, Irish, and Italian, and yet somehow I ended up Southern Baptist."<ref name="DMNCruzCuban">{{cite news|date=December 20, 2012|title=Editorial: Texan of the Year finalist Ted Cruz|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20121220-editorial-texan-of-the-year-finalist-ted-cruz.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Accolades==
Rick Manning of [[Americans for Limited Government]] named Cruz "2013 Person of the Year" in an op-ed in ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'', citing the unsuccessful efforts of Cruz and fellow Republican freshman senator [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] to defund the Affordable Care Act.<ref name="ManningTheHill12272013">{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Rick|date=December 27, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: 2013 Person of the Year|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/194072-ted-cruz-2013-person-of-the-year|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|location=Washington, DC|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp|accessdate=December 28, 2013|quote=No politician had a greater impact on the past year than freshman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz came from the Lone Star State not owing the D.C. political establishment anything, after he beat the chosen replacement for Kay Bailey Hutchison in an underfunded, grassroots driven Republican primary election.}}</ref>

Cruz was also named "2013 Man of the Year" by conservative publications [[TheBlaze]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Mantyla|first=Kyle|date=December 11, 2014|title=Glenn Beck Declares Ted Cruz 'Blaze Man Of The Year'|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/glenn-beck-declares-ted-cruz-blaze-man-year|newspaper=Right Wing Watch|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|publisher=[[People for the American Way]]|accessdate=April 21, 2013}}</ref> ''[[FrontPage Magazine]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenfield|first=Daniel|date=December 30, 2013|title=Frontpage’s 2013 Man of the Year: Ted Cruz|url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/frontpages-2013-man-of-the-year-ted-cruz/|newspaper=[[FrontPage Magazine]]|location=Sherman Oaks, California|publisher=[[David Horowitz Freedom Center]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[The American Spectator]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lord|first=Jeffery|date=December 19, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: Man of the Year|url=http://spectator.org/articles/57187/ted-cruz-man-year|newspaper=[[The American Spectator]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|publisher=The American Spectator Foundation|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> He was named "2013 Conservative of the Year" by [[Townhall.com]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Hawkins|first=John|date=December 31, 2014|title=Top 10 Conservatives of 2013|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2013/12/31/top-10-conservatives-of-2013-n1770176/page/full|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and "2013 Statesman of the Year" by the Republican Party of [[Sarasota County, Florida]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Leary|first=Alex|date=January 7, 2014|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Ted Cruz to be honored as 'Statesman of the Year'|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/sarasota-gop-to-honor-ted-cruz-to-be-honored-as-statesman-of-the-year/2159965|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|location=Tampa Bay Metro Area|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintpetersblog.com/sarasota-gop-to-honor-sen-ted-cruz-as-its-statesman-of-the-year|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Sen. Ted Cruz as its ‘Statesman of the Year’|last1=Ammann|first1=Phil|date=January 7, 2014|publisher=saintpetersblog.com|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> He was a finalist for "2013 Texan of the Year" by ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''<ref>{{cite news|date=December 27, 2013|title=TEXAN OF THE YEAR 2013: TODAY’S FINALIST: TED CRUZ|url=http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2013_December/texan-of-the-year/cruz/|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and a finalist for [[Time Person of the Year|''Time'' magazine's "Person of the Year"]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Edelman|first=Adam|date=December 9, 2013|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/time-magazine-releases-finalists-2013-person-year-award-article-1.1542204|title=TIME magazine releases finalists for 2013 ‘Person of the Year’ award|location=New York |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}

;2012 Republican primary
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results, May 29, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes" />
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[David Dewhurst]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 624,170
| percentage = 44.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 479,079
| percentage = 34.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Tom Leppert]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 186,675
| percentage = 13.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Craig James (American football)|Craig James]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 50,211
| percentage = 3.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Glenn Addison
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 22,888
| percentage = 1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lela Pittenger
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 18,028
| percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ben Gambini
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7,193
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Curt Cleaver
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,649
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joe Argis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,558
| percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,399,451
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 Republican primary runoff
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican runoff results, July 31, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 631,316
| percentage = 56.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Dewhurst
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 480,165
| percentage = 43.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,111,481
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 general election
{{Election box begin no change
| title = General election, November 6, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,469,843
| percentage = 56.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Paul Sadler]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 3,194,927
| percentage = 40.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Jay Myers
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 162,354
| percentage = 2.06
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Collins
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 67,404
| percentage = 0.85
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 7,864,822
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas|Politics|Conservatism}}
* [[List of foreign-born United States politicians]]
* [[Legal challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]''
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikisource-author}}
* [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz] – official website
* [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Ted Cruz for President] – campaign website
* {{YouTube|user=SenTedCruz|title=Senator Ted Cruz}}
* {{Ballotpedia|Ted_Cruz}}
* {{C-SPAN|rcruz}}
* [http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/ Ted Cruz] collected news and commentary at ''[[The Texas Tribune]]''
* {{NYT topic|people/c/ted_cruz}}
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz R. (Ted) Edward Cruz] – profile at [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius]] LLP (archived)
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Texas/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Ted_Cruz_%5BR%5D}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio = C001098 | ballot = Ted_Cruz | votesmart = 135705 | govtrack = 412573 | natjournal = 3549 | opencong = 412573 | rollcall = 44748 | politifact = ted-cruz | fec = S2TX00312 | opensecrets = N00033085 | followthemoney = | #ntheissues = senate/Ted_Cruz.htm | congress = ted-cruz/2175 | worldcat = | c-span = rcruz | rose = | imdb = 5563034 | bloomberg = ted-cruz | nyt = c/ted_cruz | wsj = | washpo = b8d4a00a-4bbb-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from Texas ([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])|years=[[United States Senate election in Texas, 2012|2012]]}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Texas|U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Texas]]|years=2013–present|alongside=[[John Cornyn]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tim Kaine]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States Senate|United States Senators by seniority]]|years=82nd}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elizabeth Warren]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States presidential election, 2016}}
{{Current Texas statewide political officials}}
{{TX-FedRep}}
{{USSenTX}}
{{Texas State Solicitors General}}
{{Current U.S. Senators}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Ted}}
[[Category:Ted Cruz| ]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Canarian descent]]
[[Category:American politicians of Cuban descent]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Cuban-American Republicans]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress]]
[[Category:Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States]]
[[Category:People from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Houston, Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians from Calgary]]
[[Category:Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States Senators]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Texas Republicans]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2016]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Texas]]

Ted Cruz

2016-02-08T14:45:47Z

BoboMeowCat: this is not standard enough terminology to be included in the opening sentence of lead and the lead is supposed to represent body and this terminology is not in body of article

{{pp-protected|reason=Persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing|disruptive editing]]|expiry=15 March 2016|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Ted Cruz
|image = Ted Cruz, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Texas]]
|alongside = [[John Cornyn]]
|term_start = January 3, 2013
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]
|successor =
|office1 = Solicitor General of Texas
|governor1 = [[Rick Perry]]
|term_start1 = January 9, 2003
|term_end1 = May 12, 2008
|predecessor1 = Julie Parsley
|successor1 = James C. Ho<ref>{{cite news |last1=Livingston |first1=Abby |last2=Svitek |first2=Patrick |date=March 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Will Seek the Presidency |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/22/cruz-announces-presidential-run/ |newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>
|birth_name = Rafael Edward Cruz
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|22}}
|birth_place = [[Calgary]], Canada
|citizenship = [[United States nationality law|United States]] [[Canadian nationality law|Canada]] (1970–2014)
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]]|2001|}}
|children = 2
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|alma_mater = [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]], 1992) [[Harvard Law School]] ([[Juris Doctor|J.D.]], 1995)
|religion = Christianity ([[Southern Baptist Convention|Southern Baptist]])
|website = [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ Senate website] [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Campaign website]
}}
'''Rafael Edward''' "'''Ted'''" '''Cruz''' (born December 22, 1970) is an American politician and the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from [[Texas]]. He is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016|candidate for President of the United States]] in the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]].

Cruz attended elementary and high school in and around [[Houston]], graduated from [[Princeton University]] in 1992, and then from [[Harvard Law School]] in 1995. Between 1999 and 2003, Cruz was the director of the Office of Policy Planning at the [[Federal Trade Commission]], an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] at the [[United States Department of Justice]], and domestic policy advisor to [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush]] on the 2000 [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]]. He served as [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas from 2003 to 2008, appointed by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]]. He was the first Hispanic, and the longest-serving solicitor general in Texas history. Cruz was also an [[adjunct professor]] of law from 2004 to 2009 at the [[University of Texas School of Law]] in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], where he taught U.S. Supreme Court litigation.

Cruz ran for the Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]], and in July 2012 defeated [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|Lieutenant Governor]] [[David Dewhurst]] during the Republican [[primary election|primary]] [[runoff election|runoff]], 57%–43%. Cruz then defeated former state Representative [[Paul Sadler]] in the November 2012 general election, winning 56%–41%. He is the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic American]] to serve as a U.S. senator representing Texas, and is one of three Senators of Cuban descent. Cruz chairs the [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]], and is also the chairman of the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness]]. In November 2012, he was appointed vice-chairman of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]].

Cruz began campaigning for the [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016|Republican presidential nomination]] in March 2015. During the primary campaign, his base of support has been mainly among [[social conservative]]s, though he has had crossover appeal to other factions within his party.<ref name="ZitnerWSJ01042016">{{cite news |last=Zitner |first=Aaron |date=January 4, 2016 |title=Poll Points to Upside for Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio in GOP Race |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/poll-points-to-upside-for-ted-cruz-marco-rubio-in-gop-race-1451956770 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |location=[[New York]] |access-date=February 5, 2016}}</ref> His victory in the February 1, 2016 [[United States presidential election in Iowa, 2016#Republican caucus|Iowa caucuses]] marked the first time a Hispanic won a presidential caucus.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016>[http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/02/01/iowans-to-choose-trump-aggressiveness-cruz-conservatism-or-rubio-moderation/ Ted Cruz makes history, becomes first Hispanic to win Iowa caucus], ''[[Fox News Channel|FOX News Latino]]'', February 1, 2016.</ref><ref name="CNN02012016">{{cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=February 2, 2016 |title=Iowa caucus results: Ted Cruz wins, Hillary Clinton declares victory |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/01/politics/iowa-caucuses-2016-highlights/index.html |newspaper=[[CNN]] |location=[[Atlanta, Georgia]] |access-date=February 6, 2016|quote=Cruz's victory sets him up as a formidable force in delegate-rich, Southern states to come and offers movement conservatives hope that one of their own can become the Republican nominee for the first time since Ronald Reagan.}}</ref>

==Early life and family==
Ted Cruz was born on December 22, 1970,<ref name="CongressionalBio">{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C001098|title=CRUZ, Rafael Edward (Ted) – Biographical Information|publisher=Bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="AustinAmStCruz">[http://www.statesman.com/s/news/politics/ted-cruz/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz], ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''</ref> at [[Foothills Medical Centre|Foothills General Hospital]]<ref name="Macleans">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: Made in Canada|last1=Abel|first1=Allen|last2=Markusoff|first2=Jason|url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/washington/ted-cruz-made-in-canada|newspaper=[[Maclean's Magazine]]|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Panetta|first=Alexander|date=May 9, 2015|title=Birthplace of President Ted Cruz? Calgary homeowner hopes it never happens|url=http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/birthplace-of-president-ted-cruz-calgary-homeowner-hopes-it-never-happens|newspaper=[[Calgary Herald]]|agency=[[Canadian Press]]|accessdate=January 15, 2015|quote=Steward is pretty sure the American conservative began life at the Foothills Medical Centre — a government-run, Canadian socialist hospital.}}</ref> in [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]], to parents Eleanor Elizabeth (Darragh) Wilson and [[Rafael Bienvenido Cruz]].<ref name=Texplainer08132012>{{cite news|title=Texplainer: Could Canadian-Born Ted Cruz Be President?|first=John Wayne|last=Ferguson|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/08/13/texplainer-could-canadian-born-ted-cruz-be-preside/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|quote=Bottom line: Despite being born in Canada, Cruz can be considered a U.S. citizen because his mother was a U.S. citizen who lived in the United States long enough, according to constitutional experts.|date=August 13, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name=GilmanDallasNews08182013>{{cite news|title=Canada-born Ted Cruz became a citizen of that country as well as U.S.|author=Gillman, Todd J.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20130818-born-in-canada-ted-cruz-became-a-citizen-of-that-country-as-well-as-u.s..ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=August 18, 2013|accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref> At the time of his birth, Cruz's parents had lived in Calgary for three years and were working in the oil business as owners of a [[Reflection seismology|seismic-data processing]] firm for oil [[Well drilling|drilling]].<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013/><ref name="FOXNewsLatino04082013">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz's Father Talks About Latinos, Conservatives and the American Dream|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2013/04/08/ted-cruz-father-and-inspiration-talks-about-latinos-conservatives-and-american/|newspaper=[[Fox Latin America|FOX News Latino]]|quote=Cruz, the father, and his wife, Eleanor Darragh, left the United States for a few years, living in Canada to take advantage of the oil boom.|date=April 8, 2012|accessdate=October 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NYTimes11182011>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/ted-cruz-is-a-test-for-the-tea-party-in-texas-race.html|title=A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race|author=Zernike, Kate|date=November 18, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=November 18, 2011}}</ref><ref name=newvos1>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|first=Terence|last=Jeffrey|url=http://cwww.creators.com/opinion/terence-jeffrey/ted-cruz-new-voice-for-the-american-dream.html|newspaper=[[Creators Syndicate]]|year=2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013>{{cite news|title=Senate candidate Ted Cruz aims to pick up mantle of Reagan|author=Garrett, Robert T.|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20120428-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-aims-to-pick-up-mantle-of-reagan.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=April 28, 2013|accessdate=August 22, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has said, “I’m the son of two mathematicians/computer programmers.”<ref name=Mervis>{{cite news |last=Mervis |first=Jeffrey |date=December 9, 2015 |title=From a bully pulpit, Ted Cruz offers his take on climate change |url=http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2015/12/bully-pulpit-ted-cruz-offers-his-take-climate-change |newspaper=[[Science (journal)|ScienceInsider]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref> In 1974, his father left the family and moved to Texas.<ref>Larson, Leslie. [http://m.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ted-cruz-plans-renounce-canadian-citizenship-article-1.1561380 "Ted Cruz plans to renounce Canadian citizenship"], ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York'' (December 30, 2013).</ref> Later that same year, his parents reconciled and relocated to Houston.<ref name="Macleans"/>

Cruz's father was born in [[Cuba]], and his grandfather was from the [[Canary Islands]] in [[Spain]]. His mother was born in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], and is three quarters of Irish descent and one quarter of Italian descent.<ref>https://infotomb.com/4ffm4.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=It+was+to+this+fledgling+nation+that+my+great+grandparents+arrived+in+1902+from+the+Canary+Islands.+Agustin+and+Maria+Cruz+boarded+a+ship+with+their+infant+son,+Rafael,+bound+for+the+New+World../|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His father left Cuba in 1957 to attend the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and obtained political asylum in the United States after his four-year student visa expired.<ref name=Welna20June>{{cite news|url=http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2013/06/20/193585553/how-ted-cruzs-father-shaped-his-views-on-immigration|title=How Ted Cruz's Father Shaped His Views On Immigration|date=June 20, 2013|accessdate=December 14, 2015|first=David|last=Welna|publisher=NPR}}</ref> Rafael Cruz earned Canadian citizenship in 1973<ref name="Macleans"/> and ultimately became a [[Naturalization|naturalized]] U.S. citizen in 2005.<ref name=CostaNatlRev08282013>{{cite news|title=The Rise of Rafael Cruz|author=Costa, Robert|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/356934/rise-rafael-cruz-robert-costa|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=August 28, 2013|quote=Born in Matanzas, Cuba, he grew up in the Cuban middle class in the 1950s, as the son of an RCA salesman and an elementary-school teacher. As a teenager, he grew to detest the regime of [[Fulgencio Batista]]. He and some of his schoolmates frequently clashed with Batista’s officials. Eventually, he linked up with Castro’s guerrilla groups and supported their attempts to overthrow Batista. It’s a decision he still regrets. His move toward Castro, he explains, was mostly due to his anger with Batista’s government, which at one point imprisoned him and tortured him for his work with the revolutionaries. He says he never shared Castro’s Communism, but at the time, it was the best way to fight Batista’s oppression. By age 18, in 1957, he knew he needed to get out, and a friend essentially bribed an official to secure him an exit permit.|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012>{{cite news|title=Cruz's life defies simplification|author=Olsen, Lise|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/Cruz-s-life-defies-simplification-3946523.php|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=October 13, 2012|quote=The ex-revolutionary pastor regularly stumps for his son, whom he's compared to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah – a relentless advocate with "fire in his bones." Ted, he says, is "not going to Washington to compromise."|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Swartz |first=Mimi |date=March 31, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz and the New Politics of Texas |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/opinion/ted-cruz-and-the-new-politics-of-texas.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York |access-date=April 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#tbm=bks&q=Her+parents+were+Irish+and+Italian.+In+the+late+1800s%2C+my+grandmother%27s+father%2C+Dominic+Ciccini%2C+came+to+America+from+Naples%2C+Italy%2C+as+a+teenager.+|title=Google|publisher=}}</ref> His mother earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from [[Rice University]] in the 1950s.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/> Eleanor and Rafael Cruz divorced in 1997.<ref name=Recio1Apr>{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24782596.html|title=Ted Cruz’s family story: Poignant but incomplete|first=Maria|last=Recio|work=McClatchy|date=April 1, 2015|accessdate=December 14, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz had two older half-sisters from his father's previous marriage, Miriam Ceferina Cruz and Roxana Lourdes Cruz. Miriam died in 2011.<ref name=Recio1Apr/><ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/2015/06/26/ted-cruzs-secret-weapon-win-right Ted Cruz’s Secret Weapon to Win the Right], ''[[National Journal]]'', Andy Kroll, June 25, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.</ref><ref name="TimeTruthCruz">{{cite book|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America|pages=28–44, 101–103|publisher=Broadside|year=2015|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>

==Education==
Cruz attended two private high schools: [[Faith West Academy]] in [[Katy, Texas]]<ref name="eriksen">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.chron.com/insidekaty/archives/2005/08/supreme_court_l.html |title=Solicitor general carries "supreme" weight with Katy roots |last=Eriksen |first=Helen |date=August 11, 2005 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> and [[Second Baptist School|Second Baptist High School]] in [[Houston]], from which he graduated as [[valedictorian]] in 1988.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/><ref>{{cite web|title=Distinguished Alumni|url=http://www.secondbaptistschool.org/distinguishedalumni|publisher=Second Baptits School|accessdate=April 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Mackey |first=Maureen |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Him |url=http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/03/23/Ted-Cruz-20-Things-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Him |newspaper=Fiscal Times |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=7: He graduated from Houston’s Second Baptist High School in 1988 and was valedictorian of his class.}} {{cite news |last=Dunham |first=Richard |date=October 15, 2012 |title=Profile: A man of many contrasts, Ted Cruz defies easy stereotypes |url=http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2012/10/profile-a-man-of-many-contrasts-ted-cruz-defies-easy-stereotypes/ |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=Cruz was one of only two Hispanics when he transferred to Houston’s Second Baptist School his junior year. He graduated valedictorian in 1988.}} {{cite news |last=Miller |first=Jake |date=March 19, 2015 |title=Will grassroots support be enough for Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016? |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-grassroots-support-be-enough-for-sen-ted-cruz-in-2016/ |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=He graduated valedictorian of his high school in 1988, attended Princeton University for his undergraduate studies, and received his law degree from Harvard University.}} {{cite news |last=Barbash |first=Fred |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Why Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., is the perfect launchpad for Ted Cruz |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/03/23/why-liberty-university-in-lynchburg-va-is-the-perfect-launchpad-for-ted-cruz/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The last time he spoke there, Cruz made no mention of his Ivy League degrees but recalled fondly his memories of Second Baptist High School in Houston, where he was valedictorian, and how his wife was the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries.}} {{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/ted-cruz |title=Ted Cruz |author= |year=2015 |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=April 23, 2015 |quote=The valedictorian of his class at Houston's Second Baptist High School, Cruz went on to Princeton University.}}</ref> During high school, Cruz participated in a Houston-based group known at the time as [[Center for the American Idea|the Free Market Education Foundation]], a program that taught high school students the philosophies of economists such as [[Milton Friedman]] and [[Frédéric Bastiat]].<ref name=GarrettDallasNews04282013/><ref name=Lizza>{{Cite journal |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |authorlink=Ryan Lizza |date=November 19, 2012 |title=The Party Next Time |journal=[[The New Yorker]] |pages=50–57|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/11/19/121119fa_fact_lizza |accessdate=July 20, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz graduated ''[[cum laude]]'' from [[Princeton University]] with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Public Policy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/135705/ted-cruz|title=Project Vote Smart – The Voter's Self Defense System|work=Project Vote Smart}}</ref> from the [[Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs]] in 1992.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz 92 Sworn-in as U.S. Senator from Texas|author=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs|url=http://wws.princeton.edu/node/11519|newspaper=[[Princeton University|Princeton University Bulletin]]|date=January 3, 2013|accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> While at Princeton, he competed for the [[American Whig-Cliosophic Society]]'s [[Princeton Debate Panel|Debate Panel]] and won the top speaker award at both the 1992 U.S. National Debating Championship and the 1992 [[North American Debating Championship]].<ref name="debate.princeton.edu">{{cite news|title=Hall of Fame |author=Princeton Debate Panel|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/results/hall-of-fame/|newspaper=[[Princeton Debate Panel|Princeton University Debate Panel]]|accessdate=October 2, 2013}}</ref> In 1992, he was named U.S. National Speaker of the Year, and with his debate partner David Panton won Team of the Year.<ref name="debate.princeton.edu"/> Cruz and Panton would later represent Harvard Law School at the 1995 World Debating Championship, losing in the semi-finals to a team from Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-01-10/news/25715479_1_death-penalty-princeton-university-war-criminals|title=Australians Win Debate At Princeton A Singapore Woman Won The Award For Best Speaker. English Is Not Her Native Language|newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |date=April 22, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Showed Eloquence, and Limits, as Debater at Princeton |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/us/politics/ted-cruz-honed-political-skills-in-princeton-debate-club.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=April 25, 2015 |quote=By the time he was a senior at Princeton University in 1992, Ted Cruz had developed an arsenal of rhetorical skills and theatrical gestures that made him one of the most polished performers on the college debate circuit.}}</ref><ref name="PrinceDebateNamed"/> Princeton's debate team named their annual novice championship after Cruz.<ref name="PrinceDebateNamed">{{cite web|url=http://debate.princeton.edu/our-tournaments/cruz-novice-championship/|title=Cruz Novice Championship|accessdate=January 11, 2014|author=Princeton Debate Panel|authorlink=Princeton Debate Panel}}</ref>

Cruz's senior thesis at Princeton investigated the separation of powers; its title, ''Clipping the Wings of Angels'', draws its inspiration from a passage attributed to US President [[James Madison]]: "If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary." Cruz argued that the drafters of the Constitution intended to protect the rights of their constituents, and that the last two items in the [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]] offer an explicit stop against an all-powerful state.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012">{{cite news|last=Eckholm|first=Erik|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/us/politics/republican-senate-candidate-in-texas-is-known-as-an-intellectual-force.html|title=A Republican Voice With Tea Party Mantle and Intellectual Heft|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name=MotherJones02021992>{{cite web|last=Cruz|first=Ted|url=http://www.motherjones.com/documents/480888-cruz-thesis|title=Ted Cruz's 1992 "Clipping the Wings of Angels"|publisher=[[Princeton University]]|date=April 2, 1992|accessdate=February 28, 2013}}</ref>

After graduating from Princeton, Cruz attended [[Harvard Law School]], graduating ''[[magna cum laude]]'' in 1995 with a [[Juris Doctor]] degree.<ref name="CongressionalBio" /><ref name="BegalaBeast08012012">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Texas’s Tea Party Revolution|author=Begala, Paul|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/01/paul-begala-ted-cruz-and-texas-s-tea-party-revolution.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> While at Harvard Law, he was a primary editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]'', and executive editor of the ''[[Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy]]'', and a founding editor of the ''[[Harvard Latino Law Review]]''.<ref name=PrincetonUCruzAlum/> Referring to Cruz's time as a student at Harvard Law, Professor [[Alan Dershowitz]] said, "Cruz was off-the-charts brilliant".<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz>{{cite news|title=Who is Ted Cruz?|author=Weiner, Rachel|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/who-is-ted-cruz/2012/08/01/gJQAqql8OX_blog.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, wacko like a fox|author=McManus, Doyle|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/31/opinion/la-oe-mcmanus-column-ted-cruz-20130731|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Defusing the H-Bomb: In politics, Harvard alums frame diplomas strategically|author=Clarida, Matthew Q.|author2=Lucky, Jared T.|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/30/harvard-degree-politics-alumni/|newspaper=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|date=May 30, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Yes, Ted Cruz for Texas|author=Editors|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/312576/yes-ted-cruz-texas-editors|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=July 30, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> At Harvard Law, Cruz was a [[John M. Olin Foundation|John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics]].<ref name=MorganLew03292011/>

Cruz currently serves on the Board of Advisors of the ''[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]]''.<ref name=TXRevLawPol>{{cite news |title=Board of Advisors |publisher=[[Texas Review of Law and Politics]] |url=http://trolp.org/about/board-of-advisors/ |accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Legal career==

===Clerkships===
[[File:US Senator of Texas Ted Cruz at FITN in Nashua, NH 02.jpg|upright|thumb|Ted Cruz speaking in [[Nashua, New Hampshire]]]]
Cruz served as a [[law clerk]] to [[J. Michael Luttig]] of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit]] in 1995<ref name=MorganLew03292011>{{cite web|url=http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|title=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz, Attorney Biography|website=[[Wayback Machine]]|publisher=Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP|location=Houston, Texas|date=March 29, 2011|accessdate=December 30, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz|archivedate=May 21, 2010|quote=R. (Ted) Edward Cruz is a partner in Morgan Lewis's Litigation Practice and leads the firm's U.S. Supreme Court and Appellate Litigation Practice.}}</ref><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew>{{cite news|title=Rising Star: Morgan Lewis' R. Ted Cruz|first=Hilary|last=Russ|url=https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/Cruz_Law360RisingStar_05apr10.pdf|newspaper=Law360|date=April 5, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and [[William Rehnquist]], [[Chief Justice of the United States]] in 1996.<ref name="CongressionalBio"/> Cruz was the first Hispanic to clerk for a Chief Justice of the United States.<ref name=Townhall05252011>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz: New Voice for the American Dream|author=Jeffery, Terry|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/terryjeffrey/2011/05/25/ted_cruz_new_voice_for_the_american_dream/page/full/|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|date=May 25, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Private practice===
After Cruz finished his clerkships, he took a position with Cooper, Carvin & Rosenthal, now known as [[Charles J. Cooper|Cooper & Kirk, LLC]], from 1997 to 1998.<ref name=TXTribProfile>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz|author=Tribpedia|url=http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/ted-cruz/about/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> While with the firm, Cruz worked on matters relating to the [[National Rifle Association]], and helped prepare testimony for the [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment proceedings]] against [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]].<ref name="JToobin">{{cite news|last1=Toobin|first1=Jeffrey|title=Ted Cruz, The Absolutist|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/06/30/140630fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=all|accessdate=June 25, 2014|work=The New Yorker|date=June 30, 2014}}</ref> Cruz also served as private counsel for Congressman [[John Boehner]] during Boehner's lawsuit against Congressman [[Jim McDermott]] for releasing a tape recording of a Boehner telephone conversation.<ref name=GrimaldiSeaTimes06021998>{{cite news|author=Grimaldi, James V.|url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980602&slug=2754000|title=Campaign Money to Fight McDermott|date=June 2, 1998|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|page=B1}}</ref>

===Bush administration===
Cruz joined the [[George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000|George W. Bush presidential campaign]] in 1999 as a domestic policy adviser, advising then-Governor [[George W. Bush]] on a wide range of policy and legal matters, including civil justice, criminal justice, constitutional law, immigration, and government reform.<ref name=TXTribProfile/>

Cruz assisted in assembling the Bush legal team, devising strategy, and drafting [[pleading]]s for filing with the [[Supreme Court of Florida]] and [[U.S. Supreme Court]], in the case [[Bush v. Gore]], during the [[Florida election recount|2000 Florida presidential recounts]], leading to two wins for the Bush team.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz>{{cite news|title=The Reinvention of Ted Cruz|author=Cottle, Michelle|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/12/the-reinvention-of-ted-cruz.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=March 12, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz recruited future [[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court|Chief Justice]] [[John Roberts]] and noted attorney Mike Carvin to the Bush legal team.<ref name=JToobin/>

After President Bush took office, Cruz served as an [[United States Deputy Attorney General|associate deputy attorney general]] in the [[U.S. Justice Department]]<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and as the director of policy planning at the [[U.S. Federal Trade Commission]].<ref name="CongressionalBio"/><ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/>

===Texas Solicitor General===
Appointed to the office of [[Solicitor#United States|Solicitor General]] of Texas by [[Texas Attorney General]] [[Greg Abbott]],<ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008"/> Cruz served in that position from 2003 to 2008.<ref name=Lizza/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> The office had been established in 1999 to handle appeals involving the state, but Abbott hired Cruz with the idea that Cruz would take a "leadership role in the United States in articulating a vision of strict construction." As Solicitor General, Cruz argued before the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] nine times, winning five cases and losing four.<ref name=JToobin/>

Cruz has authored 70 [[United States Supreme Court]] briefs and presented 43 oral arguments, including nine before the United States Supreme Court.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012>{{cite web|first=David McKay|last=Wilson|title=Carrying the Tea Party Banner: U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz calls for a 'return to the framers’ vision of a constitutionally limited government.'|work=Harvard Law School Bulletin|date=Fall 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013|url=http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/bulletin/2012/fall/feature_4.php}}</ref> Cruz's record of having argued before the Supreme Court nine times is more than any practicing lawyer in Texas or any current member of Congress.<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012>{{cite news|title=For Cruz, Supreme Court Work at Heart of Campaign|author=Batheja, Aman|url=http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/cruz-supreme-court-work-heart-campaign/|newspaper=[[Texas Tribune]]|date=July 23, 2012|quote=We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights.|accessdate=August 21, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has commented on his nine cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court: "We ended up year after year arguing some of the biggest cases in the country. There was a degree of serendipity in that, but there was also a concerted effort to seek out and lead conservative fights."<ref name=BathejaTXTrib07232012/>

In 2003, while Cruz was Texas Solicitor General, the Texas Attorney General's office declined to defend Texas' sodomy law in ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'', where the U.S. Supreme Court decided that state laws banning homosexual sex as illegal sodomy were unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-29/ted-cruz-anti-gay-marriage-crusader-not-always |title= Ted Cruz: Anti-Gay Marriage Crusader? Not Always |last1=Przybyl |first1=Heidi |date=April 29, 2015 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |accessdate=May 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the landmark case of ''[[District of Columbia v. Heller]]'', Cruz drafted the [[Amicus curiae|amicus]] brief signed by the attorneys general of 31 states, which said that the [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] handgun ban should be struck down as infringing upon the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]] [[right to keep and bear arms]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=BlockNPR03142008>{{cite news|last=Block|first=Melissa|title=D.C. Gun Ban Critic: Court Must Clarify Constitution|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=88251874|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=March 14, 2008}}</ref> Cruz also presented oral argument for the amici states in the companion case to ''Heller'' before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]].<ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/><ref name=WSJ03142007>{{cite news|title=Second Amendment Showdown|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117384168237936437.html|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=March 14, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013|first=Ted|last=Cruz}}</ref>
[[File:Ted cruz 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Cruz at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC., 2011]]

In addition to his success in ''Heller'', Cruz successfully defended the constitutionality of the [[Ten Commandments]] monument on the [[Texas State Capitol]] grounds before the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit|Fifth Circuit]] and the U.S. Supreme Court, winning 5–4 in ''[[Van Orden v. Perry]]''.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/>

In 2004, Cruz was involved in the high-profile case, ''[[Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow]]'',<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/> in which he wrote a [[Brief (law)|brief]] on behalf of all 50 states which argued that the plaintiff did not have standing to file suit on behalf of his daughter.<ref>{{cite court |litigants=ELK GROVE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DAVID W. GORDON, SUPERINTENDENT vs. MICHAEL A. NEWDOW, ET AL. |vol= |reporter= |opinion=No. 02-1624 |pinpoint=AMICI CURIAE Brief |court=Supreme Court of the United States |date=December 2003 |url=http://www.tedcruz.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/NewdowAmicus.pdf |accessdate=March 20, 2015 |quote=Because of Their "History and Ubiquity," Acknowledgments of Religion in Patriotic or Historical Contexts Are Entirely Consistent with the Establishment Clause.}}</ref> The Supreme Court upheld the position of Cruz’s brief.

Cruz served as lead counsel for the state and successfully defended the multiple litigation challenges to the 2003 Texas congressional redistricting plan in state and federal district courts and before the U.S. Supreme Court, which was decided 5–4 in his favor in ''[[League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry]]''.<ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=ReinertHousChron06282006>{{cite news|last=Reinert|first=Patty|title=Most of Texas' redistricting map upheld |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4009070.html|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=June 28, 2006|accessdate=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz also successfully defended, in ''[[Medellin v. Texas]]'', the State of Texas against an attempt to re-open the cases of 51 Mexican nationals, all of whom were convicted of murder in the United States and were on death row.<ref name=WashPostWeinerDershowitz/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=RussLaw360MorganLew/><ref name=HarvLawBulWilsonFall2012/> With the support of the [[George W. Bush Administration]], the petitioners argued that the United States had violated the [[Vienna Convention on Consular Relations]] by failing to notify the convicted nationals of their opportunity to receive legal aid from the Mexican consulate.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case">Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491 (2008) (No. 06-984).</ref> They based their case on a decision of the [[International Court of Justice]] in the [[Avena case]] which ruled that by failing to allow access to the Mexican consulate, the US had breached its obligations under the Convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=U.N. court rules U.S. execution violated treaty|publisher=CNN|first=Bill|last=Mears|date=January 19, 2009|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/19/mexican.execution.violation/|accessdate=March 23, 2015}}</ref> Texas won the case in a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court holding that ICJ decisions were not binding in domestic law and that the President had no power to enforce them.<ref name=JToobin/><ref name="Medellín case"/>

Cruz has been named by ''[[The American Lawyer|American Lawyer]]'' magazine as one of the 50 Best Litigators under 45 in America,<ref name="TXAGAbbott04092008">{{cite news|title=Attorney General Abbott Appoints New Solicitor General: Longtime Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz returns to private practice; Deputy Solicitor General Sean Jordan to serve on leadership team|author=Office of Attorney General Greg Abbott|url=https://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=2406|newspaper=State of Texas|date=April 9, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmLawMed01012007>{{cite news|title=The Young Litigators Fab Fifty|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=900005470251&slreturn=20130221194544|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=January 1, 2007|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> by ''[[The National Law Journal]]'' as one of the 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America,<ref name=AmLawMed05262008>{{cite news |title=The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America |work=[[The National Law Journal]] |url=http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202421621086&The_50_Most_Influential_Minority_Lawyers_in_America |agency=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=May 26, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AmbrogiAmLawMed05282008>{{cite news |title=Legal Blog Watch |author=Ambrogi, Robert J. |url= http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2008/05/the-most-influe.html|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|publisher=Law.com|date=May 27, 2008|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> and by ''Texas Lawyer'' as one of the 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter Century.<ref name=AmLawMed06282010>{{cite news|title=The 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/tx/PubArticleTX.jsp?id=1202463008691&The_25_Greatest_Texas_Lawyers_of_the_Past_QuarterCentury|newspaper=[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]|date=June 28, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref><ref name="TexasLawyer">{{cite news|title=Luncheon Honors 25 Greatest Texas Lawyers of the Past Quarter-Century|author=Tex Parte Blog, ''[[ALM (company)|American Lawyer Media]]''|url=http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2010/10/25-greatest-lawyers-of-the-past-quarter-century-honored.html|newspaper=Texas Lawyer|date=October 6, 2010|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

===Return to private practice===
After leaving the Solicitor General position in 2008, Cruz worked in a private law firm in Houston, [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP]], often representing corporate clients, until he was sworn in as U.S. Senator from Texas in 2013.<ref name="NYTimesEckholm08012012"/><ref name=MorganLew03292011/><ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008>{{cite web|first=Gina|last=Passarella|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202421154053|title=Morgan Lewis Adds Texas Solicitor General|publisher=Law.com|date=May 6, 2008|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> At Morgan Lewis, he led the firm’s U.S. Supreme Court and national appellate litigation practice.<ref name=PassarellaLaw05062008 /> In 2009 and 2010, he formed and then abandoned a bid for state attorney general when the incumbent Attorney General Greg Abbott, who hired Cruz as Solicitor General, decided to run for re-election.<ref name=OlsenHousChron10132012/>

While at Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius, Cruz represented [[Pfizer]] in a lawsuit brought by a group of public hospitals and community health centers who accused the drug manufacturer of overcharging. The Supreme Court eventually threw the case out.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ted Cruz has always had a master plan. Now it could win him the White House.|url = https://www.yahoo.com/politics/ted-cruz-has-been-plotting-1305876417003574.html|publisher = Yahoo!|accessdate = January 1, 2016}}</ref> Shandong Linglong Rubber Company was found guilty of marketing versions of tires that were based on blueprints stolen by a former employee of a Florida businessman and ordered to pay $26 million to the Floridian. Cruz worked on the Chinese company's appellant brief. The appeals court denied the appeal and affirmed the jury's award.<ref name=MotherJones>{{cite news |last=Corn |first=David |date=April 9, 2015 |title=As a private lawyer, Ted Cruz defended companies found guilty of wrongdoing |url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/03/ted-cruz-lawyer-braun-medical-shandong-linglong |newspaper=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |location=[[San Francisco]] |access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref> Cruz represented drug manufacturer [[B. Braun Medical Inc.]] in front of the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit|U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit]] after the company was found guilty of wrongfully discharging a former employee. Cruz asserted that she had failed to prove that B. Braun had directed her to violate the law and that she had not presented sufficient evidence that her refusal to violate the law was why she had been fired. The appeals court rejected Cruz's argument and affirmed the $880,000 award.<ref name=MotherJones/> Cruz represented [[Toyota]] in an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court in an [[statute of limitations]] case, where a judge wanted to investigate Toyota for [[contempt]] after a former Toyota in-house lawyer accused Toyota of unlawfully withholding documents in a [[product liability]] case.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lindell |first=Chuck |date=August 27, 2010 |title=Court gets OK for Toyota contempt hearing |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/court-gets-ok-for-toyota-contempt-hearing/nRxMH/ |newspaper=[[Austin American-Statesman]] |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=Under Texas law, the trial court lost all jurisdiction in the case 30 days after Green's lawsuit was dismissed, Toyota's appellate lawyer, Ted Cruz of Houston, told the Supreme Court in briefs.}}</ref> Cruz unsuccessfully argued the judge's jurisdiction expired thirty days after the case was dismissed following an out-of-court settlement, but later won on a second appeal using the same argument.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=1b2345e5-2604-4746-9fc6-75ba569e6edd&coa=cossup&DT=OTHER&MediaID=4e371e0b-190e-445a-b849-3d1af22168f3|title = Court of Appeals November 6, 2011 Opinion|website = Texas Judicial Branch|publisher = State of Texas|pages = 72–77}}</ref>

Cruz defended two record-setting $54 million personal injury awards in New Mexico at the appellate level, including one which had been thrown out by a lower court.<ref name=Corn11Feb>{{cite news|url= http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/02/ted-cruz-tort-reform-2016|title=As a Lawyer, Ted Cruz Defended Huge Jury Awards. As a Politician, He Opposed Them.|work=Mother Jones|first=David|last=Corn|date=February 11, 2015|accessdate=January 22, 2016}}</ref> Cruz defended a mentally disabled man who was allegedly raped by an employee of the facility where he lived. And in the other case Cruz defended the family of a 78-year-old resident of an Albuquerque nursing home who died of internal bleeding.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan>{{cite news|work=The New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/opinion/two-sides-of-ted-cruz-tort-reformer-and-personal-injury-lawyer.html|title=Two Sides of Ted Cruz: Tort Reformer and Personal Injury Lawyer|date=January 20, 2016|accessdate=January 22, 2016|first=Elizabeth|last=Williamson}}</ref> The settlements were sealed in both cases.<ref name=Corn11Feb/><ref name=Williamson20Jan/>

==U.S. Senate==

===2012 election===
{{Main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg|right|thumb|Cruz speaking to the Values Voters Summit in October 2011]]
Cruz's victory in the Republican primary was described by the ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' as "the biggest upset of 2012 ... a true grassroots victory against very long odds."<ref name="WashPostFix11282012">{{cite news|title=The biggest upset of 2012|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/28/the-biggest-upset-of-2012/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 28, 2012|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref> On January 19, 2011, after U.S. Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] said she would not seek reelection, Cruz announced his candidacy via a blogger conference call.<ref name="hogan">{{cite web|url=http://www.redstate.com/hogan/2011/01/19/ted-cruz-makes-it-a-new-game-for-us-senate-in-texas/|title=Ted Cruz Makes it a New Game for U.S. Senate in Texas|date=January 19, 2011|publisher=[[RedState]]|accessdate=January 29, 2015}}</ref> In the Republican senatorial primary, Cruz ran against sitting Lieutenant Governor [[David Dewhurst]]. Cruz was endorsed first by former Alaska Governor [[Sarah Palin]]<ref name=LevyYahoo0510212>{{cite news|author=Edwards-Levy, Ann|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/sarah-palin-endorses-ted-cruz-senate-texas_n_1507213.html|title=Sarah Palin Endorses Ted Cruz For U.S. Senate In Texas|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 10, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> and then by the [[Club for Growth]], a fiscally conservative political action committee;<ref>{{cite news|last=Toeplitz|first=Shira|title=Club for Growth Picks Texas Senate Favorite|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/Club-for-Growth-Picks-Texas-Senate-Favorite-206144-1.html|newspaper=[[Roll Call]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> [[Erick Erickson]], former editor of prominent conservative blog [[RedState]];<ref name=RedStateEndorse>{{cite news|last=Erickson|first=Erick|title=Ted Cruz for Senate|url=http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/06/02/ted-cruz-for-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=[[RedState]]|date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> the [[FreedomWorks]] for America [[super PAC]];<ref>{{cite news|title=FreedomWorks PAC Likes Ted Cruz|first=Jim|last=Geraghty|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/268649/freedomworks-pac-likes-ted-cruz|newspaper=[[National Review]]|date=June 2, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> nationally syndicated radio host [[Mark Levin]];<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Levin endorses Ted Cruz for US Senate in Texas|first=Mark|last=Levin|url=http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-endorses-ted-cruz-for-us-senate-in-texas/|newspaper=The Right Scoop|date=June 4, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> former Attorney General [[Edwin Meese]];<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> [[Tea Party Express]];<ref name=ShapiroWacoTrib01252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Express endorses Ted Cruz for Senate in Waco|first=Michael W.|last=Shapiro|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/waco_politics_report/tea-party-express-endorses-ted-cruz-for-senate-in-waco/article_522b2244-d22f-5aed-bb4d-587c900c92c9.html|newspaper=[[Waco Tribune-Herald]]|date=January 25, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> [[Young Conservatives of Texas]];<ref name=ScharrerSAExpNews01052012>{{cite news|title=Young conservatives choose Cruz|first=Gary|last=Scharrer|url=http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/2012/01/young-conservatives-choose-cruz/|newspaper=[[San Antonio Express-News]]|date=January 5, 2012|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and U.S. Senators [[Tom Coburn]],<ref name=KlukowskiBreitbart05252012>{{cite news|title=Tea Party Wave Could Carry Texas Senate Seat for Ted Cruz|author=Klukowski, Ken|url=http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/25/Tea-Party-Wave-Could-Carry-Texas-Senate-Seat-for-Ted-Cruz|newspaper=[[Breitbart]]|date=May 25, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> [[Jim DeMint]],<ref name=SullivanHotline11282011>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Sean|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/for-demint-a-fe.php|title=For DeMint, A Few Well-Timed Endorsements|work=National Journal|date=November 28, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]],<ref name=CatanesePolitico03072011>{{cite web|last=Catanese|first=David|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0311/Sen_Lee_backs_Ted_Cruz_in_Texas.html?showall|title=Sen. Lee backs Ted Cruz in Texas|publisher=[[Politico]] |date=March 7, 2011|accessdate=March 30, 2012}}</ref> [[Rand Paul]]<ref name=GravoisFWStar07262011>{{cite news|title=Tea Party stalwart Rand Paul backs Cruz over Dewhurst in Texas' U.S. Senate race|first=John|last=Gravois|url=http://blogs.star-telegram.com/politex/2011/07/tea-party-stalwart-rand-paul-backs-cruz-over-dewhurst-in-senate-race.html|newspaper=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|date=July 26, 2011|accessdate=February 18, 2013}}</ref> and [[Pat Toomey]].<ref name=McKinleyHouChron08012011>{{cite news|title=Sen. Pat Toomey Endorses Ted Cruz for The Texas Senate Race|author=McKinley, Kathleen|url=http://blog.chron.com/texassparkle/2011/08/sen-pat-toomey-endorses-ted-cruz-for-the-texas-senate-race/|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=August 1, 2011|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> He was also endorsed by former Texas Congressman [[Ron Paul]],<ref name=WhittingtonYahoo05072012>{{cite web|author=Whittington, Mark|url=http://news.yahoo.com/ron-rand-paul-endorse-ted-cruz-texas-senate-213900341.html|title=Ron, Rand Paul Endorse Ted Cruz for Texas Senate Seat|accessdate=August 4, 2013|date=May 7, 2012|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref> [[George P. Bush]],<ref name=DayBeastReinventCruz/> and former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania [[Rick Santorum]].<ref name=WeissertAP05242012>{{cite news|title=Santorum endorses Ted Cruz in Texas Senate race|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/may/24/santorum-endorses-cruz-in-texas-us-senate-race/?print=1|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=May 24, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz won the runoff for the Republican nomination with a 14-point margin over Dewhurst.<ref name=WeissertHuffPost07312012>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Defeats David Dewhurst In Texas Senate Runoff|author=Weissert, Will|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/31/ted-cruz-texas-runoff_n_1726411.html|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz defeated Dewhurst despite being outspent by Dewhurst who held a statewide elected office.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012>{{cite news |title=Ted Cruz Wins In Texas GOP Senate Runoff |author=Hartfield, Elizabeth |url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/ted-cruz-wins-in-texas-gop-senate-runoff/ |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=July 31, 2012 |accessdate=March 25, 2015|quote=Dewhurst enjoyed a huge financial advantage over Cruz. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Dewhurst poured $11 million of his own personal fortune—he founded a successful energy company called Falcon Seaboard—into his campaign, spending a total of $19 million, as compared to Cruz’s $7 million spent.}}</ref> Dewhurst spent $19 million and Cruz only spent $7 million.<ref name=HartfieldABC07312012/> Dewhurst raised over $30 million and outspent Cruz at a ratio of nearly 3-to-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/07/27/10321/texas-senate-race-attracts-13-million-super-pac-spending|title=Texas Senate race attracts $13 million in super PAC spending|author=Alexandra Duszak|work=Center for Public Integrity}}</ref>

In the November 6 general election, Cruz faced Democrat [[Paul Sadler]], an attorney and a former state representative from [[Henderson, Texas|Henderson]], in east Texas. Cruz won with 4.5 million votes (56.4%) to Sadler's 3.2 million (40.6%). Two minor candidates garnered the remaining 3% of the vote.<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes">{{cite news|title=Election Results|author=State of Texas|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe|newspaper=Office of the Secretary of State|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> According to a poll by Cruz's pollster Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, Cruz received 40% of the Hispanic vote, vs. 60% for Sadler, outperforming Republican Presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] with the Hispanic vote in Texas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz and the Hispanic Vote|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/burka-blog/ted-cruz-and-hispanic-vote|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>Drucker, David M. [http://washingtonexaminer.com/ted-cruz-poll-dems-have-edge-over-gop-among-hispanics-in-texas/article/2533470 Ted Cruz poll: Dems have edge over GOP among Hispanics in Texas], ''[[Washington Examiner]]'', July 25, 2013.</ref>

After ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine reported on a potential violation of ethics rules by failing to publicly disclose his financial relationship with Caribbean Equity Partners Investment Holdings during the 2012 campaign, Cruz called his failure to disclose these connections an inadvertent omission.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/18/ted-cruz-failed-to-disclose-ties-to-jamaican-holding-company/|title=Ted Cruz Failed To Disclose Ties To Caribbean Holding Company|last=Calabresi|first=Massimo|date=October 18, 2013|website=Time|accessdate=October 30, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, the ''New York Times'' reported that Cruz and his wife had taken out low-interest loans from Goldman Sachs (where she worked) and Citibank, and failed to report the nearly $1 million in loans on [[Federal Election Commission]] disclosure statements as required by law.<ref name=McIntire13Jan>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/14/us/politics/ted-cruz-wall-street-loan-senate-bid-2012.html|title=Cruz Didn’t Disclose Loan From Goldman Sachs for His First Senate Campaign|work=The New York Times|date=January 13, 2016|accessdate=January 14, 2016|first=Mike|last=McIntire}}</ref> Cruz disclosed the loans on his Senate financial disclosure forms in July 2012, but not on the Federal Election Commission form.<ref name=Mullins>Mullins, Brody. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/ted-cruz-didnt-adequately-disclose-2012-loans-for-senate-campaign-1452750887 "Ted Cruz Didn’t Adequately Disclose 2012 Loans for Senate Campaign"], [[Wall Street Journal]] (January 14, 2016).</ref> There is no indication that Cruz's wife had any role in providing any of the loans, or that the banks did anything wrong.<ref name=Mullins /> The loans were largely repaid by later campaign fundraising. A spokesperson for Cruz said his failure to report the loans to the FEC was "inadvertent" and said he would be filing supplementary paperwork.<ref name=McIntire13Jan/>

===Legislation===
[[File:Ted Cruz at Montgomery County Republican Party meeting, Conroe, Texas, August 19, 2013.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz giving a speech to the Montgomery County Republican Party meeting held in [[Conroe, Texas]], on August 19, 2013]]
Cruz has sponsored 25 bills of his own, including:<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Cruz's Legislation|url=http://www.congress.gov/member/ted-cruz/2175?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Ted+Cruz%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref>
* S.177, a bill to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health-care related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, introduced January 29, 2013
* S.505, a bill to prohibit the use of [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drones]] to kill citizens of the United States within the United States, introduced March 7, 2013
* S.729 and S. 730, bills to investigate and prosecute felons and fugitives who illegally purchase firearms, and to prevent criminals from obtaining firearms through straw purchases and trafficking, introduced March 15, 2013
* S.1336, a bill to permit States to require proof of citizenship for registering to vote in federal elections, introduced July 17, 2013
* S.2170, a bill to increase coal, natural gas, and crude oil exports, to approve the construction of the [[Keystone XL Pipeline]], to expand oil drilling offshore, onshore, in the [[National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska]], and in Indian reservations, to give states the sole power of regulating [[hydraulic fracturing]], to repeal the [[Renewable Fuel Standard]], to prohibit the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) from regulating [[greenhouse gas]]es, to require the EPA to assess how new regulations will affect employment, and to earmark natural resource revenue to paying off the federal government's debt, introduced March 27, 2014
* S.2415, a bill to amend the [[Federal Election Campaign Act|Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971]] to eliminate all limits on direct campaign contributions to candidates for public office, introduced June 3, 2014

====Senate bill 2195====
{{main|Public Law 113-100}}
On April 1, 2014, Cruz introduced Senate bill 2195, a bill that would allow the [[President of the United States]] to deny [[Visa (document)|visas]] to any ambassador to the [[United Nations]] who has been found to have been engaged in [[espionage]] activities or a [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity against the United States or its allies and may pose a threat to U.S. national security interests.<ref name=2195sum>{{cite web|title=S. 2195 – Summary|url=http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/2195|publisher=United States Congress|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref> The bill was written in response to [[Iran]]'s choice of [[Hamid Aboutalebi]] as their ambassador.<ref name=Congressapproves>{{cite news|last=Marcos|first=Cristina|title=Congress approves bill banning Iran diplomat|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/203202-house-votes-to-ban-irans-un-ambassador|accessdate=April 11, 2014|newspaper=The Hill|date=April 10, 2014}}</ref> Aboutalebi was involved in the [[Iran hostage crisis]], in which of a number of American diplomats from the US embassy in Tehran were held captive in 1979.<ref name="Congressapproves"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Neuman|first=Scott|date=April 2, 2014|title=U.S. Troubled By Iran's Choice Of 1979 Hostage-Taker For U.N. Post|url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/02/298412119/u-s-troubled-by-irans-choice-of-1979-hostage-taker-for-u-n-post|publisher=NPR|accessdate=November 11, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/04/irans-reformers-include-more-than-one-former-hostage-taker/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|work=The New York Times|first=Robert|last=Mackey|title=Iran's Reformers Include More Than One Former Hostage-Taker|date=April 4, 2014|accessdate=April 11, 2014}}</ref>

Under the headline "A bipartisan message to Iran", Cruz thanked President [[Barack Obama]] for signing S 2195 into law. The letter, published in the magazine ''[[Politico]]'' on April 18, 2014, starts with "Thanks to President Obama for joining a unanimous Congress and signing S 2195 into law". Cruz also thanked senators from both political parties for "swiftly passing this legislation and sending it to the White House."<ref>{{cite web|title=A bipartisan message to Iran|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/04/a-bipartisan-message-to-iran-105837.html#.U1RTecfAJu_|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Cruz thanks Obama for denying visas to terrorists|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/20/ted-cruz-thanks-obama-denying-visas-terrorists/|work=The Washington Times|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Writes Thank You Letter To Obama In Politico|url=http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/04/20/ted-cruz-writes-thank-you-letter-obama-politico|publisher=Fox News Channel|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref>

====Committee assignments====
According to transcripts as reported by ''Politico'', in his first two years in the Senate, Cruz attended 17 of 50 public Armed Services Committee hearings, 3 of 25 Commerce Committee hearings, 4 of the 12 Judiciary Committee hearings, and missed 21 of 135 roll call votes during the first three months of 2015.<ref name=POLITICO.tedcruz>{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Austin|title=Ted Cruz the senator: Heard but not seen|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html|work=Politico Magazine|accessdate=April 22, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422160320/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-senate-vote-record-117201.html?hp=t2_r|archivedate=April 22, 2015}}</ref>
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]'''
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities|Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
** [[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]'''
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights|Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities|Subcommittee on Oversight, Federal Rights and Agency Activities]] (Chairman)
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security|Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation]]'''
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]] (Chairman)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration|Committee on Rules and Administration]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Special Committee on Aging]]'''

===Comments on President Obama===

In a November 2014 Senate speech, Cruz accused the president of being "openly desirous to destroy the Constitution and this Republic."<ref name="JesseWeiner">Jesse Weiner, [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/ted-cruz-confused-about-cicero/383066/ Ted Cruz: Confused About Cicero: What the Texas Republican misrepresents about treason and politics in the Roman Republic], ''The Atlantic'' (November 21, 2014).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz invoked the speeches of the ancient [[Roman Senate|Roman senator]] [[Cicero]] [[Catiline Orations|against Catiline]] to denounce Obama's planned executive actions on immigration reform.<ref name="JesseWeiner"/> Classics professor Jesse Weiner, writing in ''[[The Atlantic]]'', said that Cruz's analogy was "deeply disquieting" because "in casting Obama in the role of Catiline, Cruz unsubtly suggests that the sitting president was not lawfully elected and is the perpetrator of a violent [[insurrection]] to overthrow the government...In effect, he accuses the president of [[high treason]]. Regardless of one’s views on immigration reform and the Obama administration at large, this is dangerous [[rhetoric]]."<ref name="JesseWeiner"/>

Cruz has repeatedly said that the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran "will make the Obama administration the world's leading financier of radical Islamic terrorism."<ref name="Collins">Eliza Collins, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-calls-barack-obama-sponsor-terrorism-iran-nuclear-deal-120780 Cruz stands by calling Obama a sponsor of terrorism], ''Politico'' (July 29, 2015).</ref> In response, Obama called Cruz's statements an example of "outrageous attacks" from Republican critics that crossed the line of responsible discourse: "We've had a sitting senator, who also happens to be running for president, suggest that I'm the leading state sponsor of terrorism. Maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines, but it's not the kind of leadership that is needed for America right now."<ref name="Collins"/> Former Republican presidential nominee [[Mitt Romney]] also criticized Cruz for his remarks, writing that although he, too, was opposed to the Iran agreement, Cruz's statement connecting Obama to terrorism was "way over the line" and "hurts the cause."<ref>David Jackson, [http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2015/07/30/romney-hits-cruz-over-obamaterrorism-claim/ Romney hits Cruz over Obama/terrorism claim], ''USA Today'' (July 30, 2015).</ref><ref>Alex Griswold, [http://www.mediaite.com/online/mitt-romney-ted-cruz-way-over-the-line-calling-obama-terror-sponsor/ Mitt Romney: Ted Cruz 'Way Over the Line' Calling Obama Terror Sponsor], Mediaite (July 30, 2015).</ref>

===Relationship with Republican members of Congress===
Cruz has used harsh rhetoric against fellow Republican politicians, and his relationships with various Republican members of Congress have been strained.<ref name="RachelWeiner">Rachel Weiner, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/07/31/ted-cruz-shies-away-from-some-harsh-rhetoric/ Ted Cruz shies away from some harsh rhetoric], ''The Washington Post'' (July 31, 2013).</ref><ref name="John">Arit John, [http://www.thewire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-republican-critics/69901/ All of Ted Cruz's Republican Critics], ''The Atlantic'' (September 26, 2013).</ref> In 2013, Cruz referred to Republicans who he thought were insufficiently resistant to the proposals of President Obama as a "surrender caucus."<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz also called fellow Republicans out as "squishes" on gun-control issues during a Tea Party rally.<ref name="RachelWeiner"/> Cruz's role in the [[United States federal government shutdown of 2013]] in particular attracted criticism from a number of Republican colleagues.<ref name="John"/> Republican Senator [[John McCain]] is reported to particularly dislike Cruz; in a Senate floor speech in 2013, McCain denounced Cruz's [[Reductio ad Hitlerum|reference to Nazis]] when discussing the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref name="John"/> In March 2013, McCain also called Cruz and others "wacko birds" whose beliefs are not "reflective of the views of the majority of Republicans."<ref name="John"/>

In a heated Senate floor speech in July 2015, Cruz accused Senate Republican Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] of telling "a flat-out lie" over his intentions to reauthorize the [[Export-Import Bank of the United States]], which Cruz opposes. "What we just saw today was an absolute demonstration that not only what he told every Republican senator, but what he told the press over and over and over again was a simple lie," Cruz said of Senate Republican Leader McConnell.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan">David Morgan & Richard Cowan, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/24/us-usa-election-cruz-idUSKCN0PY29P20150724 Republican White House hopeful Cruz calls McConnell a liar], Reuters (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz's "incendiary outburst" was "unusual in the cordial atmosphere of the Senate", according to ''[[Reuters]]''.<ref name="Morgan&Cowan"/><ref name="Raju">Manu Raju, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/ted-cruz-says-mitch-mcconnell-lies-export-import-bank-120583 Cruz accuses Mitch McConnell of telling a 'flat-out lie'], ''Politico'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> In the same speech, Cruz assailed the "Republican majority in both houses of Congresses" for what Cruz termed an insufficiently conservative record.<ref name="Raju"/> Cruz's speech, and especially his accusation against McConnell, was condemned by various senior Republican senators, with John McCain saying that the speech was "outside the realm of Senate behavior" and "a very wrong thing to do."<ref>Ted Barrett, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/26/politics/cruz-senate-mcconnell-lied/ Republicans rebuke Cruz over his charge McConnell lied], CNN (July 27, 2015).</ref> [[Orrin Hatch]] expressed a similar opinion: “I don’t condone the use of that kind of language against another senator unless they can show definitive proof that there was a lie....And I know the leader didn’t lie.”<ref>Rogers, Alex. [http://www.nationaljournal.com/s/71388/cruz-mcconnell-told-flat-out-lie-conservatives?mref=scroll "Cruz: McConnell Told ‘Flat-Out Lie’ to Conservatives"], ''[[National Journal]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref> Cruz had alleged that McConnell scheduled a vote on the Ex-Im Bank as part of a deal to persuade Democrats like [[Maria Cantwell]] to stop blocking a trade bill, whereas McConnell denied there was any "deal", and that denial is what Cruz termed a "lie"; Senator Hatch says McConnell did pledge to help Cantwell get a vote on the Ex-Im Bank.<ref>DeBonis, Mike. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ted-cruz-to-gop-leader-you-lied/2015/07/24/6a967690-3225-11e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7_story.html "Ted Cruz to GOP leader: You lied"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (July 24, 2015).</ref>

Among Cruz's few close allies in the Senate is [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] of Utah.<ref>Jonathan Capehart, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/07/29/how-mitch-mcconnell-went-gangsta-on-ted-cruz-and-mike-lee/ How Mitch McConnell went gangsta on Ted Cruz and Mike Lee], ''The Washington Post'' (July 29, 2015).</ref><ref>Manu Raju & Burgess Everett, [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/senate-obamacare-repeal-ted-cruz-mike-lee-120637 Senate smackdown: Cruz, Lee efforts squelched: The rift between Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz widens], ''Politico'' (July 27, 2015).</ref> Cruz has expressed pride in his reputation for having few allies, saying in June 2015 that he has been vilified for fighting "the Washington cartel."<ref>Todd J. Gillman, [http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/national-politics/20150624-cruz-says-hes-vilified-for-fighting-the-washington-cartel.ece Cruz says he's vilified for fighting the 'Washington cartel'], ''Dallas Morning News'' (June 24, 2015).</ref>

When Boehner announced in September 2015 that he would step down and resign from the House, Cruz expressed his concern that before resigning Boehner may have "cut a deal with Nancy Pelosi to fund the Obama administration for the rest of its tenure".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zurcher|first1=Anthony|title=John Boehner resigns and Ted Cruz gloats|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34355043|accessdate=October 17, 2015|publisher=BBC|date=September 25, 2015|ref=boehner_resigns}}</ref> The following month, the budget agreement passed in the House by a vote of 266 to 187, with unanimous support from Democrats and from Boehner, lifting the debt ceiling through March 2017, and Cruz called the agreement “complete and utter surrender”.<ref>Arkin, James. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/10/29/house_passes_budget_debt_ceiling_agreement_128586.html "House Passes Budget, Debt Ceiling Agreement"], [[Real Clear Politics]] (October 29, 2015).</ref>

==Presidential campaign==
{{main|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016}}
{{Further|United States presidential election, 2016}}
[[File:Ted Cruz by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|right|thumb|Senator Cruz speaking at the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland]]
As early as 2013, Cruz was widely expected to run for the presidency in 2016.<ref name="contender">{{cite news|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=September 13, 2013|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dont-underestimate-rand-paul-as-a-2016-presidential-contender/2013/09/15/1c2925c6-1e1c-11e3-94a2-6c66b668ea55_story.html|title=Rand Paul, 2016 Republican front-runner|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=September 25, 2013|url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/ted-cruzs-first-2016-campaign-ad-almost-20-hours-long/69837/|title=Ted Cruz's First 2016 Campaign Ad Is Over 21 Hours Long|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Wire]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Metzler|first=Rebekah|date=September 27, 2013|url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/27/poll-ted-cruz-leads-2016-gop-field |title=Poll: Ted Cruz Leads 2016 GOP Field|newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|accessdate=September 28, 2013}}</ref> On March 14, 2013, he gave the keynote speech at the annual [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) in Washington DC.<ref name=RomanoPolitico03142013>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/2016-rubio-paul-et-al-court-cpac-crowd-88884.html|title=CPAC 2013: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul fight for the future of the GOP|last==Romano|first=Lois| newspaper=[[Politico]]|date=March 14, 2013|accessdate=March 14, 2013}}</ref> He tied for 7th place in the 2013 CPAC straw poll on March 16, winning 4% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll; Rubio close second|last=Montanaro|first= Domenico|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/16/17341131-rand-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll-rubio-close-second?lite|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 16, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> In October 2013, Cruz won the Values Voter Summit Presidential straw poll with 42% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Dominates Republican Straw Poll|author=Rayman, Noah|url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/10/13/ted-cruz-dominates-republican-straw-poll/|magazine=[[TIME]]|date=October 13, 2013|accessdate=January 23, 2014}}</ref> Cruz finished first in two Presidential straw polls conducted in 2014 with 30.33% of the vote at the Republican Leadership Conference<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins presidential straw poll at Republican Leadership Conference |last=Finnegan|first=Conor|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/05/31/cruz-convinced-gop-to-retake-congress-this-fall/|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=May 31, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref> and 43% of the vote at the Republican Party of Texas state convention.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz wins Texas GOP’s presidential straw poll, Rick Perry finishes distant fourth|last=Jeffers|first=Gromer|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-gops-presidential-straw-poll-votes-being-tallied.html/|newspaper=[[Dallas Morning News]]|date=June 7, 2014|accessdate=July 1, 2014}}</ref>

Cruz did speaking events in mid-2013 across Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, early [[United States presidential primary|primary states]], leading to speculation that he was laying the groundwork for a run for [[United States presidential election, 2016|President in 2016]].<ref name=KilloughCNN07212013>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/21/cruz-tries-to-sidestep-2016-question/|title=Cruz tries to sidestep 2016 question|author=Ashley Killough|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=July 21, 2013|accessdate=July 21, 2013}}</ref> Legal analyst [[Jeffrey Toobin]] describes Cruz as the first potential Presidential candidate to emphasize [[originalism]] as a major national issue.<ref name=JToobin/>

On April 12, 2014, Cruz spoke at the Freedom Summit, an event organized by [[Americans for Prosperity]], and [[Citizens United (organization)|Citizens United]].<ref name="FreedomSummit">{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are the big draws at the Freedom Summit|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/04/12/cruz-and-paul-greeted-by-cheers-at-tea-partys-2016-warm-up/|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014}}</ref> The event was attended by several potential presidential candidates.<ref>{{cite news|title=Freedom Summit draws GOP hopefuls to N.H.|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/freedom-summit-draws-gop-hopefuls-to-nh/2014/04/12/8a5225f8-c262-11e3-bcec-b71ee10e9bc3_story.html|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=April 16, 2014|first=Jaime|last=Fuller|date=April 12, 2014}}</ref> In his speech, Cruz mentioned that Latinos, young people and single mothers are the people most affected by the recession, and that the Republican Party should make outreach efforts to these constituents. He also said that the words, "growth and opportunity" should be tattooed on the hands of every Republican politician.<ref name="FreedomSummit"/>

On March 23, 2015, Cruz announced on his Twitter page: "I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support!"<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Announces Presidential Bid|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/ted-cruz-announce-presidential-bid-monday-n328051|accessdate=March 23, 2015|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref> He was the first announced major Republican presidential candidate for the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 campaign]].<ref name="HousChronSchleifer032120152">{{cite news |last = Schleifer|first = Theodore|date = March 21, 2015|title = Ted Cruz to announce presidential bid Monday|url = http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/us/article/Ted-Cruz-to-announce-presidential-bid-Monday-6150894.php?t=ec04aca79d29c86149&cmpid=twitter-premium|newspaper = [[Houston Chronicle]]|location = [[Houston, Texas]]|access-date = March 22, 2015|quote = Cruz will launch a presidential bid outright rather than form an exploratory committee, said senior advisers with direct knowledge of his plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made yet. They say he is done exploring and is now ready to become the first Republican presidential candidate.}}</ref><ref name="CorasanitiNYT03232015">{{cite news |last1=Corasaniti |first1=Nick |last2=Healy |first2=Patrick |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Ted Cruz Becomes First Major Candidate to Announce Presidential Bid for 2016 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/ted-cruz-2016-presidential-race.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, New York |access-date=March 23, 2015 }}</ref>

[[HarperCollins]] published Cruz's book ''A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America'' on June 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Time-Truth-Reigniting-Promise-America/dp/0062365614|title=A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America: Ted Cruz: 9780062365613: Amazon.com: Books|publisher=Amazon.com}}</ref> The book reached the bestseller list of several organizations in its first week of release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/07/amazon-no-evidence-of-bulk-sales-for-ted-cruz-book-210374.html|title=Amazon: 'No evidence' of bulk sales for Cruz book|author=Dylan Byers|date=July 13, 2015|work=POLITICO}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-13/new-york-times-defends-ban-of-ted-cruz-s-book-from-bestseller-list|title=NYT Defends Exclusion of Ted Cruz's Book: 'We Are Confident'|date=July 13, 2015|work=Bloomberg.com/politics|first=Elizabeth|last=Titus}}</ref>

On February 1, 2016, Cruz won the [[Iowa caucuses]].<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> He is the first Hispanic to win either a presidential primary election or the Iowa caucuses.<ref name=FOXLatino02012016/> Cruz received 28% of the vote.<ref name="CNN02012016"/>

===Citizenship===
{{Main|Natural born citizen}}
{{Further|Ted Cruz presidential campaign, 2016#Eligibility}}
Cruz has stated that when he was a child, his mother told him that she would have to make an affirmative act to claim [[Canadian nationality law|Canadian citizenship]] for him, so his family assumed that he did not hold Canadian citizenship.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014"/> In August 2013, after the ''Dallas Morning News'' pointed out that Cruz had [[dual citizenship|dual Canadian-American citizenship]],<ref name="GillmasDallasMN12282013">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=December 28, 2013|title=Ted Cruz says he’s hired lawyers to renounce Canadian citizenship|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20131228-ted-cruz-says-hes-hired-lawyers-to-renounce-canadian-citizenship.ece|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=December 30, 2013|quote=But the strong legal consensus is that with even one American parent—a circumstance shared by Obama and Cruz—a child born anywhere qualifies as a "natural born American," entitled to citizenship at birth and therefore eligible to serve as president.}}</ref><ref name=LeeWaPo>{{cite news|last1=Michelle Ye Hee|first1=Lee|title=Cruz says it’s ‘clear and straightforward’ that he’s a natural-born U.S. citizen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/10/cruz-says-its-clear-and-straightforward-that-hes-a-natural-born-u-s-citizen/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_cruz-1115am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory|accessdate=January 10, 2016|work=The Washington Post|date=January 10, 2015}}</ref> he applied to formally renounce his Canadian citizenship and ceased being a citizen of Canada on May 14, 2014.<ref name="DMNGillman06102014">{{cite news|last=Gillman|first=Todd|date=June 10, 2014|title=No, Canada: Sen. Ted Cruz has formally shed his dual citizenship|url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/no-canada-sen-ted-cruz-has-formally-shed-his-dual-citizenship.html/ |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News|Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=June 10, 2014|quote=Alberta-born Sen. Ted Cruz has given up his Canadian dual citizenship. The renunciation became official on May 14, roughly 9 months after he learned he wasn’t only an American.}}</ref><ref name=AaronWashPost08192013>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/19/cruz-will-renounce-canadian-citizenship/?wprss=rss_homepage|title=Cruz Will Renounce Canadian Citizenship|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=August 19, 2013|work=[[The Washington Post]]|accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2016, suit was brought seeking a judicial determination as to whether Cruz should be disqualified as a presidential candidate on the grounds of not being a [[natural born US citizen]].<ref name=BirtherSuit>{{cite news |last1=Calkins |first1=Laurel Brubaker |last2=Cirilli |first2=Kevin |date=January 14, 2016 |title=Cruz’s ‘Natural-Born Citizen’ Status Tested in Birther Suit |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-15/cruz-s-natural-born-citizen-status-challenged-in-birther-suit |newspaper=Bloomberg Business |location=New York |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref> After [[Donald Trump]] repeatedly questioned whether Cruz met the qualifications of being a natural born citizen, Houston attorney Newton B. Schwartz Sr. filed suit in Texas, claiming that “This 229-year question has never been pled, presented to or finally decided by or resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court... Only the U.S. Supreme Court can finally decide, determine judicially and settle this issue now.”<ref name=BirtherSuit/>

==Political positions==
{{main|Political positions of Ted Cruz}}

===Domestic affairs===
On abortion, Cruz is "strongly [[pro-life]]" and "would allow the procedure only when a pregnancy endangers the mother's life."<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnhart |first=Melissa |date=June 27, 2013 |title=Pro-Life Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to Speak at National Right to Life Convention in Dallas |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/pro-life-sen-ted-cruz-of-texas-to-speak-at-national-right-to-life-convention-in-dallas-98910/ |newspaper=[[The Christian Post]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=August 5, 2015}}</ref><ref name="fikac">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/news/fikac/article/Fikac-Senate-hopeful-Cruz-casts-himself-as-3381330.php|title=Senate hopeful Cruz casts himself as conservative warrior|author=Peggy Fikac|work=Houston Chronicle|date=March 4, 2012|accessdate=October 9, 2013}}</ref>

Cruz opposes both [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]] and [[civil union]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/2016RepublicanFacts/ted-cruz|title=Ted Cruz: Not a Fan of Pride Parades|work=Human Rights Campaign}}</ref> He believes that marriage should be legally defined as only "between one man and one woman,"<ref>Miller, Jake. November 9, 2013. [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-cruz-talks-guns-same-sex-marriage-obamacare-with-jay-leno/ Ted Cruz talks guns, same-sex marriage, Obamacare with Jay Leno]. CBS News. Retrieved December 11, 2013.</ref> but believes that the legality of same-sex marriage should be [[States' rights|left to each state to decide]].<ref name=TonightShowLeno>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/senator-ted-cruz-on-gay-marriage/n43013|title=Senator Ted Cruz on Same Sex Marriage|newspaper=[[The Tonight Show]]|publisher=[[NBC]]|accessdate=December 9, 2013}}</ref>

In 2015, Cruz voted in favor of the [[USA Freedom Act]], which reauthorized the [[USA Patriot Act]] but reformed some of its provisions.<ref name="MorningConsult">Eitan Arom, [http://morningconsult.com/2015/06/voter-views-on-usa-freedom-act-bode-well-for-graham-and-rubio-not-cruz-and-paul/ Voter Views on USA Freedom Act Bode Well for Graham and Rubio, Not Cruz and Paul], Morning Consult (June 10, 2015).</ref><ref name="KilloughNSA">Ashley Killough, [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/politics/election-2016-ted-cruz-rand-paul-nsa-vote/ Ted Cruz knocks Rand Paul on NSA vote], CNN (April 2, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a proponent of [[school choice]]<ref>{{cite news |last=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ted-cruz-2016-second-amendment-gun-rights-117133.html |first=Keli |date=January 30, 2015 |title=The Issue Bringing Ted Cruz and Black Democrats Together |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/30/the-issue-bringing-ted-cruz-and-black-democrats-together.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=April 23, 2015 }}</ref> and opposes the [[Common Core State Standards Initiative]].<ref>Weigel, David, [http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-03-19/what-ted-cruz-talks-about-when-he-talks-about-common-core What Ted Cruz Talks About When He Talks About Common Core], Bloomberg. (March 19, 2015).</ref> Cruz is a strong critic of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (the ACA or "Obamacare"). He has sponsored legislation that would repeal the health care reform law and its amendments in the [[Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010]].

Cruz is a [[Right to keep and bear arms|gun-rights]] supporter.<ref name=HotAir04292013>{{cite news|title= Ted Cruz: My GOP Senate colleagues yelled at me for wanting to filibuster gun control|url= http://hotair.com/archives/2013/04/29/ted-cruz-my-gop-senate-colleagues-yelled-at-me-for-wanting-to-filibuster-gun-control/|newspaper=[[Hot Air (news site)|Hot Air]]|date=April 29, 2013|accessdate=August 17, 2013}}</ref> Cruz has adopted a "hard-line stance" on immigration issues during the [[2014 American immigration crisis|2014 border crisis]]<ref name="Sarlin">Benjy Sarlin, [http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/ted-cruz-immigration-swing-2016 Ted Cruz's hard-line stance renders border crisis key 2016 issue], MSNBC (August 5, 2014).</ref> and is an opponent of comprehensive immigration reform.<ref name="JToobin"/><ref name="Sarlin"/> Cruz advocates for an increase from 65,000 to 325,000 annually in skilled foreign workers entering the United States using H-1B visas.<ref name=Increase_H1B_Visas>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz, the presidential candidate who wants to increase the H-1B cap by 500%|author=Patrick Thibodeau|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2900126/ted-cruz-the-presidential-candidate-who-wants-to-increase-the-h-1b-cap-by-500.html|newspaper=Computerworld|date=May 23, 2015|accessdate=November 10, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz opposes the [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction|legalization of marijuana]], but believes it should be decided at the state level.<ref>Sullum, Jacob. March 5, 2015. [http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2015/03/05/by-supporting-marijuana-federalism-republican-candidates-can-be-principled-and-popular/ Ted Cruz's Cannabis Conversion Reflects The Political Prudence Of Marijuana Federalism]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved March 22, 2015.</ref>

Cruz opposes [[net neutrality]] arguing that the Internet economy has flourished in the United States simply because it has remained largely free from government regulation.<ref name="DotSankin05162014">{{cite news|last=Sankin|first=Aaron|date=May 16, 2014|title=The conservative case against net neutrality|url=http://www.dailydot.com/politics/net-neutrality-ted-cruz-fcc/|newspaper=The Daily Dot|accessdate=November 13, 2014}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
Cruz favors the [[death penalty]]. In his 2012 Senate campaign, Cruz frequently mentioned his role as counsel for the State of Texas in ''[[Medellín v. Texas]]'', a 2008 case in which the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]] found that Texas has the legal right to ignore [[Avena case|an order]] from the [[International Court of Justice]] directing the U.S. to review the convictions and sentences of dozens of Mexican nationals on death row.<ref name="Bathe">Aman Bathe, [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/us/politics/a-history-for-senate-candidate-ted-cruz-and-supreme-court.html?_r=0 Senate Candidate and Supreme Court Have a History], ''Texas Tribune'' (July 22, 2012).</ref> Cruz has referred to ''Medellín'' as the most important case of his tenure as Texas solicitor general.<ref name="Bathe"/>

In an interview with radio host [[Hugh Hewitt]] discussing the attack that killed three people at a [[Planned Parenthood]] clinic in Colorado Springs, Cruz said that "the simple and undeniable fact is the overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats", and that the reason Democrats are soft on crime, is that convicted felons tend to vote Democrat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-democrats-crime-216288|publisher=Politico|accessdate=December 1, 2015}}</ref>

In the wake of the ambush death of a Texas police officer, who was gunned down while filling up at a gas station, Cruz said that police are "feeling the assault from the president, from the top on down, as we see — whether it’s in Ferguson or Baltimore, the response from senior officials, the president or the attorney general, is to vilify law enforcement. That’s wrong. It’s fundamentally wrong. It’s endangering all of our safety and security."<ref>Matt Levin, [http://www.chron.com/news/politics/tedcruz/article/Ted-Cruz-blames-Obama-for-death-of-Harris-County-6476309.php Ted Cruz blames Obama for death of Harris County sheriff's deputy], ''Houston Chronicle'' (August 31, 2015).</ref>

===Economy===
Cruz has been described by the [[Cato Institute]]'s Center for Trade Policy Studies as a "free trader"<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Cato Institute]]|url=http://www.cato.org/research/trade-immigration/congress?senator=192|title=Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress|accessdate=September 7, 2015}}</ref> and as a "free-trade advocate" by the ''Wall Street Journal''.<ref name="Hook">Janet Hook, [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/23/ted-cruz-flips-on-trade-bill-on-eve-of-key-senate-vote/ Ted Cruz Flips on Trade Bill on Eve of Key Senate Vote], ''The Wall Street Journal'' (June 23, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz proposed the abolition of the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] and the implementation of a [[flat tax]] "where the average American can fill out taxes on a postcard."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Weiner|first1=Rachel|title=Ted Cruz: 'Abolish the IRS'|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/06/03/ted-cruz-abolish-the-irs/|work=The Washington Post|date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> Cruz is "adamantly opposed to a higher [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]]."<ref name="HarrisonTaxes">J.D. Harrison, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2015/03/23/what-a-ted-cruz-white-house-could-mean-for-businesses/ What a Ted Cruz White House could mean for businesses], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015).</ref>

===Environment===
Cruz is a supporter of [[TransCanada Corporation|TransCanada]]'s [[Keystone Pipeline System|Keystone XL Pipeline]],<ref name="Cornwell">Susan Cornwell, [http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/10/us-usa-republicans-cruz-idUSBREA1921720140210 U.S. Senator Cruz urges broad Republican focus on energy], Reuters (February 10, 2014).</ref> and along with every other Republican senator was a cosponsor of legislation in support of the pipeline.<ref>Marianna Sotomayor & Alison Thoet, [http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/229632-whip-list-senate-keystone-vote Whip List: How senators will vote on Keystone XL pipeline], ''The Hill'' (January 29, 2015).</ref>

Cruz disagrees with [[scientific opinion on climate change]].<ref>Josh Hicks, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/01/21/climate-change-skeptics-cruz-and-rubio-now-help-oversee-nations-climate-science/ Climate-change skeptics Cruz and Rubio now help oversee nation’s climate science], ''Washington Post'' (January 21, 2015).</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref> He has said that "the scientific evidence doesn't support [[global warming]]."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015">{{cite interview |last=Cruz |first=Ted |subject-link= |interviewer=Steve Inskeep |title=Scientific Evidence Doesn't Support Global Warming, Sen. Ted Cruz Says |url=http://www.npr.org/2015/12/09/459026242/scientific-evidence-doesn-t-support-global-warming-sen-ted-cruz-says |call-sign=[[NPR|NPR, Inc.]] |city=[[Washington, DC]] |date=December 11, 2015 |program=[[Morning Edition]] |access-date=January 27, 2016|quote=The scientific evidence doesn't support global warming. For the last 18 years, the satellite data - we have satellites that monitor the atmosphere. The satellites that actually measure the temperature showed no significant warming whatsoever.}}</ref> He has stated: "They call anyone who questions the science who even points to the satellite data – they call you a, quote, "denier." Denier is not the language of science. Denier is the language of religion. It is heretic. You are a blasphemer. It's treated as a theology. But it's about power and money. At the end of the day, it's not complicated. This is liberal politicians who want government power."<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/> In March 2015, he said that some people are "global warming alarmists" and, citing [[satellite temperature measurements]], said that there had been no significant warming in 18 years.<ref name="MornEdNPR12112015"/><ref>Philip Bump, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/03/25/ted-cruz-compares-climate-change-activists-to-flat-earthers-where-to-begin Ted Cruz compares climate change activists to ‘flat-Earthers.’ Where to begin?], ''The Washington Post'' (March 23, 2015)</ref><ref>Sabrina Siddiqui, [http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/27/ted-cruz-climate-change-republicans-2016 Ted Cruz embodies Republican climate change dilemma], ''The Guardian'' (March 27, 2015)</ref>

Cruz voted against the [[Water Resources Development Act]] of 2013, that would have created the National Endowment for the Oceans and authorized more than $26 billion in projects to be built by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]], at least $16 billion of which would have come from federal taxpayers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alexander |first=Ryan |date=May 21, 2014 |title=Infrastructure Bills to Nowhere |url=http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/05/21/highway-and-water-resources-bills-are-a-bad-bet-for-taxpayers |newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]] |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm |title=Ted Cruz on Environment |publisher=Ontheissues.org |accessdate=July 17, 2015}}</ref> Cruz voted against the bill because it neglected "to reduce a substantial backlog of projects, to the detriment of projects with national implications, such as the Sabine-Neches Waterway".<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Cornyn, Cruz Vote to Fix Water Resource and Development Act |url=http://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=134 |newspaper=cruz.senate.gov |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=April 1, 2015 }}</ref> Cruz stated that the Corps' responsibilities were expanded without providing adequate measures for state participation.<ref name="PRCruzWRDA05152013"/> Proponents of the bill argued that it would provide steady funding to support research and restoration projects, funded primarily by dedicating 12.5% of revenues from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, through offshore lease sales and production based royalty payments, distributed through a competitive grant program.<ref>[http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Ted_Cruz_Environment.htm 5]</ref>

===Foreign affairs===
Cruz has been an adamant opponent of the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], a 2015 international nuclear agreement with [[Iran]] negotiated by [[P5+1|the U.S. and other world powers]], calling it "catastrophic" and "disastrous."<ref name="Hattem">Julian Hattem & Kristina Wong, [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/252134-trump-cruz-to-hold-joint-anti-iran-rally-on-capitol-hill Trump, Cruz to hold joint anti-Iran rally on Capitol Hill], ''The Hill'' (August 27, 2015).</ref><ref name="GrimSchulberg">Ryan Grim & Jessica Schulberg, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/ted-cruz-iran-war_n_7216698.html Ted Cruz On Iran Nuclear Negotiations: 'This Deal Makes War a Certainty'], ''The Huffington Post'' (May 5, 2015).</ref>

Cruz is a critic of the [[Cuban Thaw|rapprochement between Cuba and the United States]], saying on [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] in December 2014 that the thaw in relations was a "manifestation of the failures of the Obama-Clinton-Kerry foreign policy" that "will be remembered as a tragic mistake."<ref>Brendan Bordelon, [http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/410295/ted-cruz-cuba-relations-thaw-tragic-mistake-brendan-bordelon Ted Cruz: Cuba Relations Thaw 'a Tragic Mistake'], ''National Review'' (December 14, 2015).</ref>

In 2013, Cruz stated that America had no "dog in the fight" during the [[Syrian Civil War]] and stated that America's armed forces should not serve as "[[al-Qaeda]]'s air force".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21585011-president-makes-case-pulling-trigger-bomb-or-not-bomb|title=America and Syria: To bomb, or not to bomb?|work=The Economist|date=September 7, 2013|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Cruz criticized the Obama administration: "The president's foreign policy team utterly missed the threat of ISIS, indeed, was working to arm Syrian rebels that were fighting side by side with ISIS", calling ISIS "the face of evil".<ref>"[http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/08/09/Ted-Cruz-ISIS-is-the-Face-Of-Evil Ted Cruz: ISIS is the Face of Evil]". [[Breitbart.com]]. August 9, 2014.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:HeidiTedCruzVers2Houston31MARCH2015 - Copy.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruz with his wife Heidi at a rally in [[Houston]], March 2015]]
Cruz married [[Heidi Cruz|Heidi Nelson]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/26/us/ted-cruz-fast-facts/|title=Ted Cruz Fast Facts|publisher=CNN|date=March 26, 2015}}</ref> The couple have two daughters:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/25/ted-cruz-daughter-2-i-want-work-daddy/|title=Ted Cruz’s daughter, 2: ‘I want to work with daddy’|work=The Washingtion Times}}</ref> Caroline (born 2008) and Catherine (born 2011). Cruz met his wife while working on the [[George W. Bush]] [[United States presidential election, 2000|presidential campaign of 2000]]. She is currently taking leave from her position as head of the Southwest Region in the Investment Management Division of [[Goldman, Sachs & Co.]] and previously worked in the [[White House]] for [[Condoleezza Rice]] and in New York as an [[investment banker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houston.org/about/board-staff.html#board/212727|title=Board Member Bios: Heidi Cruz|publisher=Greater Houston Partnership|accessdate=August 16, 2013}} {{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-23/cruz-s-wife-heidi-said-to-take-unpaid-leave-from-goldman|title=Cruz’s Wife Heidi to Take Unpaid Leave From Goldman|publisher=Bloomberg|accessdate=March 23, 2015|first=Michael J|last=Moore|date=March 23, 2015}}</ref>

Cruz has said, "I'm Cuban, Irish, and Italian, and yet somehow I ended up Southern Baptist."<ref name="DMNCruzCuban">{{cite news|date=December 20, 2012|title=Editorial: Texan of the Year finalist Ted Cruz|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20121220-editorial-texan-of-the-year-finalist-ted-cruz.ece|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Accolades==
Rick Manning of [[Americans for Limited Government]] named Cruz "2013 Person of the Year" in an op-ed in ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'', citing the unsuccessful efforts of Cruz and fellow Republican freshman senator [[Mike Lee (U.S. politician)|Mike Lee]] to defund the Affordable Care Act.<ref name="ManningTheHill12272013">{{cite news|last=Manning|first=Rick|date=December 27, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: 2013 Person of the Year|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/lawmaker-news/194072-ted-cruz-2013-person-of-the-year|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|location=Washington, DC|publisher=Capitol Hill Publishing Corp|accessdate=December 28, 2013|quote=No politician had a greater impact on the past year than freshman U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Cruz came from the Lone Star State not owing the D.C. political establishment anything, after he beat the chosen replacement for Kay Bailey Hutchison in an underfunded, grassroots driven Republican primary election.}}</ref>

Cruz was also named "2013 Man of the Year" by conservative publications [[TheBlaze]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Mantyla|first=Kyle|date=December 11, 2014|title=Glenn Beck Declares Ted Cruz 'Blaze Man Of The Year'|url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/glenn-beck-declares-ted-cruz-blaze-man-year|newspaper=Right Wing Watch|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|publisher=[[People for the American Way]]|accessdate=April 21, 2013}}</ref> ''[[FrontPage Magazine]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenfield|first=Daniel|date=December 30, 2013|title=Frontpage’s 2013 Man of the Year: Ted Cruz|url=http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/frontpages-2013-man-of-the-year-ted-cruz/|newspaper=[[FrontPage Magazine]]|location=Sherman Oaks, California|publisher=[[David Horowitz Freedom Center]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and ''[[The American Spectator]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lord|first=Jeffery|date=December 19, 2013|title=Ted Cruz: Man of the Year|url=http://spectator.org/articles/57187/ted-cruz-man-year|newspaper=[[The American Spectator]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|publisher=The American Spectator Foundation|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> He was named "2013 Conservative of the Year" by [[Townhall.com]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Hawkins|first=John|date=December 31, 2014|title=Top 10 Conservatives of 2013|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2013/12/31/top-10-conservatives-of-2013-n1770176/page/full|publisher=[[Townhall.com]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and "2013 Statesman of the Year" by the Republican Party of [[Sarasota County, Florida]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Leary|first=Alex|date=January 7, 2014|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Ted Cruz to be honored as 'Statesman of the Year'|url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/sarasota-gop-to-honor-ted-cruz-to-be-honored-as-statesman-of-the-year/2159965|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|location=Tampa Bay Metro Area|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintpetersblog.com/sarasota-gop-to-honor-sen-ted-cruz-as-its-statesman-of-the-year|title=Sarasota GOP to honor Sen. Ted Cruz as its ‘Statesman of the Year’|last1=Ammann|first1=Phil|date=January 7, 2014|publisher=saintpetersblog.com|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> He was a finalist for "2013 Texan of the Year" by ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''<ref>{{cite news|date=December 27, 2013|title=TEXAN OF THE YEAR 2013: TODAY’S FINALIST: TED CRUZ|url=http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/2013_December/texan-of-the-year/cruz/|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|location=Dallas, Texas|publisher=[[A. H. Belo]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> and a finalist for [[Time Person of the Year|''Time'' magazine's "Person of the Year"]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Edelman|first=Adam|date=December 9, 2013|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/time-magazine-releases-finalists-2013-person-year-award-article-1.1542204|title=TIME magazine releases finalists for 2013 ‘Person of the Year’ award|location=New York |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{main|United States Senate election in Texas, 2012}}

;2012 Republican primary
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results, May 29, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes" />
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[David Dewhurst]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 624,170
| percentage = 44.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 479,079
| percentage = 34.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Tom Leppert]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 186,675
| percentage = 13.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Craig James (American football)|Craig James]]
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 50,211
| percentage = 3.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Glenn Addison
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 22,888
| percentage = 1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lela Pittenger
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 18,028
| percentage = 1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ben Gambini
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7,193
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Curt Cleaver
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 6,649
| percentage = 0.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joe Argis
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,558
| percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,399,451
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 Republican primary runoff
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican runoff results, July 31, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 631,316
| percentage = 56.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Dewhurst
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 480,165
| percentage = 43.2
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 1,111,481
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

;2012 general election
{{Election box begin no change
| title = General election, November 6, 2012<ref name="TXSecOfStateHistRes"/>
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ted Cruz
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,469,843
| percentage = 56.45
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Paul Sadler]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 3,194,927
| percentage = 40.62
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Jay Myers
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 162,354
| percentage = 2.06
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Collins
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 67,404
| percentage = 0.85
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 7,864,822
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas|Politics|Conservatism}}
* [[List of foreign-born United States politicians]]
* [[Legal challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]''
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikisource-author}}
* [http://www.cruz.senate.gov/ U.S. Senator Ted Cruz] – official website
* [http://www.tedcruz.org/ Ted Cruz for President] – campaign website
* {{YouTube|user=SenTedCruz|title=Senator Ted Cruz}}
* {{Ballotpedia|Ted_Cruz}}
* {{C-SPAN|rcruz}}
* [http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/ted-cruz/ Ted Cruz] collected news and commentary at ''[[The Texas Tribune]]''
* {{NYT topic|people/c/ted_cruz}}
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20100521123956/http://www.morganlewis.com/bios/tcruz R. (Ted) Edward Cruz] – profile at [[Morgan, Lewis & Bockius]] LLP (archived)
* {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Texas/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Ted_Cruz_%5BR%5D}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio = C001098 | ballot = Ted_Cruz | votesmart = 135705 | govtrack = 412573 | natjournal = 3549 | opencong = 412573 | rollcall = 44748 | politifact = ted-cruz | fec = S2TX00312 | opensecrets = N00033085 | followthemoney = | #ntheissues = senate/Ted_Cruz.htm | congress = ted-cruz/2175 | worldcat = | c-span = rcruz | rose = | imdb = 5563034 | bloomberg = ted-cruz | nyt = c/ted_cruz | wsj = | washpo = b8d4a00a-4bbb-11e2-8758-b64a2997a921 }}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from Texas ([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])|years=[[United States Senate election in Texas, 2012|2012]]}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Kay Bailey Hutchison]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Texas|U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Texas]]|years=2013–present|alongside=[[John Cornyn]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tim Kaine]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States Senate|United States Senators by seniority]]|years=82nd}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elizabeth Warren]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{United States presidential election, 2016}}
{{Current Texas statewide political officials}}
{{TX-FedRep}}
{{USSenTX}}
{{Texas State Solicitors General}}
{{Current U.S. Senators}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Ted}}
[[Category:Ted Cruz| ]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Canarian descent]]
[[Category:American politicians of Cuban descent]]
[[Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Cuban-American Republicans]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress]]
[[Category:Law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States]]
[[Category:People from Austin, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Houston, Texas]]
[[Category:Politicians from Calgary]]
[[Category:Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States Senators]]
[[Category:Southern Baptists]]
[[Category:Tea Party movement activists]]
[[Category:Texas lawyers]]
[[Category:Texas Republicans]]
[[Category:United States presidential candidates, 2016]]
[[Category:United States Senators from Texas]]

Butterfly McQueen

2016-02-06T02:44:22Z

BoboMeowCat: fix infobox

{{Infobox person
| name = Butterfly McQueen
| image = Butterfly McQueen in Affectionately Yours trailer.jpg
| caption = McQueen in ''[[Affectionately Yours]]'' (1941)
| birth_name = Thelma McQueen
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1911|1|7}}
| birth_place = [[Tampa, Florida]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|12|22|1911|3|26}}
| death_place = [[Augusta, Georgia]]
| death_cause = Burns sustained from a heater,which turned into a fire
| nationality = American
| alma_mater = [[City College of New York]]
| occupation = [[Actress]]
| years_active = 1939–1989
| signature = Signature of Butterfly McQueen (1980).png
| signature_size = 185px
}}
'''Thelma''' "'''Butterfly'''" '''McQueen''' (January 7, 1911{{spaced ndash}}December 22, 1995) was an American actress. Originally a dancer, McQueen first appeared in film in 1939 as Prissy, [[Scarlett O'Hara]]'s maid, in the film ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]''. She was unable to attend the movie's premiere because it was held at a whites-only theater.<ref name=jet/>
McQueen also had a role on the controversial ''[[Beulah (series)|Beulah]]'' radio show.<ref name=new>[https://books.google.com/books?id=fsZ26vQxJKMC&pg=PA532&dq=%22harlem+theater%22+tampa&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wtsxVcnFFonasASC1oDYAQ&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22harlem%20theater%22%20tampa&f=false The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief] by Tom Flynn, Richard Dawkins page 532</ref> Often typecast as a maid, she said: "I didn't mind playing a maid the first time, because I thought that was how you got into the business. But after I did the same thing over and over, I resented it. I didn't mind being funny, but I didn't like being stupid."<ref name=jet/>

She continued as an actress in film in the 1940s then moved to television acting in the 1950s.

==Early life and education==
Born Thelma McQueen in [[Tampa, Florida]], on January 7, 1911, she planned to become a nurse until a high school teacher suggested that she try acting. McQueen initially studied with Janet Collins and went on to dance with the Venezuela Jones Negro Youth Group. Around this time she acquired the nickname "Butterfly" – a tribute to her constantly moving hands – for her performance of the Butterfly Ballet in a production of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''. (She had always hated her birth name, and later legally changed her name to Butterfly McQueen.) She performed with the dance troupe of [[Katherine Dunham]] before making her professional debut in [[George Abbott]]'s ''[[Brown Sugar]]''.<ref>JM Appel234. Butterfly McQueen. ''St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture''. Jan. 1 2000.</ref> She received a bachelor's degree in political science from New York City College in 1975 (she was 64).

==Career==
McQueen's first role would become her most identifiable – Prissy, the young maid in ''Gone with the Wind''. She uttered the famous words: "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies!" Her distinctive, high-pitched voice was noted by a critic who described it as "the itsy-little voice fading over the far horizon of comprehension".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F4VGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VS8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=929,5318150&dq=butterfly+mcqueen&hl=en|title=Butterfly McQueen Has New Role|last=Hunter|first=Charlayne|date=1970-07-30|work=The Palm Beach Post|page=B5|accessdate=6 February 2015}}</ref> While the role is well known to audiences, McQueen did not enjoy playing the part and felt it was demeaning to African-Americans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uQAtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ac4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=774,201079&dq=butterfly+mcqueen&hl=en|title=Butterfly McQueen's a Character|last=Hubbard Burns|first=Diane|date=1980-02-08|work=The Palm Beach Post|page=B1|accessdate=23 November 2012}}</ref>

She also played an uncredited bit part as a sales assistant in ''[[The Women (1939 film)|The Women]]'' (1939), filmed after ''Gone with the Wind'' but released before it. She also played Butterfly, Rochester's niece and [[Mary Livingstone]]'s maid in the [[Jack Benny]] radio program for a time during [[World War II]]. She appeared in an uncredited role in ''[[Mildred Pierce (film)|Mildred Pierce]]'' (1945) (where she had a good amount of screen time) and played a supporting role in ''[[Duel in the Sun (film)|Duel in the Sun]]'' (1946). By 1947, she had grown tired of the ethnic stereotypes she was required to play and ended her film career.

During World War II, McQueen frequently appeared as a comedienne on the [[American Forces Network|Armed Forces Radio Service]] broadcast ''Jubilee''. Many of these broadcasts are available on the Internet Archive.

From 1950 until 1952 she played Oriole, another racially stereotyped role, on the television series ''[[Beulah (show)|Beulah]]''. In a lighter moment, she appeared in a 1969 episode of ''[[The Dating Game]]''.

Offers for acting roles began to dry up around this time, and she devoted herself to other pursuits including political study. She received a Bachelor's degree in [[political science]] from [[City College of New York]] in 1975.<ref name=jet>{{cite journal|date=1996-01-15|title=Butterfly McQueen, 84, 'Gone With the Wind' Actress, Dies From Burns|journal=Jet|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=89|issue=9|pages=60|issn=0021-5996}}</ref> McQueen played the character of Aunt Thelma, a fairy godmother, in the ''[[ABC Weekend Special]]'' episode "The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody" (1978) and the ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]'' episode "Seven Wishes of a Rich Kid" (1979); her performance in the latter earned her a [[Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming|Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming]]. She had one more role of substance in the 1986 film ''[[The Mosquito Coast]]''.

McQueen was in the original version of the stage musical ''[[The Wiz]]'' when it debuted in [[Baltimore]] in 1974. She played the Queen of the Field Mice, a character from the original [[L. Frank Baum]] novel ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''. However, when the show was revised prior to going to Broadway, McQueen's role was cut by incoming director [[Geoffrey Holder]]. McQueen did replace [[Clarice Taylor]] later in the play's Broadway run in the role of Addaperle.

==Personal life==
McQueen never married or had any children. She lived in New York in the summer months and in [[Augusta, Georgia]] during the winter.<ref>{{cite book |last1=James |first1=Edward T. |last2=Sicherman |first2=Barbara |last3=Wilson James |first3=Janet |last4=Boyer |first4=Paul S. |editor1-last=Ware |editor1-first=Susan |editor2-last=Braukman |editor2-first=Stacy |date=2004 |title=Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary, Completing the Twentieth Century |volume=5 |series=Notable American Women |isbn=0-674-01488-X |publisher=Harvard University Press |page=438}}</ref>

In July 1983, a jury awarded McQueen $60,000 in a judgment stemming from a lawsuit she filed against two bus terminal security guards. McQueen sued for harassment after she claimed the security guards accused her of being a pickpocket and a vagrant while she was at a bus terminal in April 1979.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a6gcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E2IEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6808,5085236&dq=butterfly+mcqueen&hl=en|title=Butterfly McQueen Wins $60,000|last=Place|first=John|date=1983-07-13|work=The Pittsburgh Press|page=A2|accessdate=23 November 2012}}</ref>

==Atheism==
In 1989, the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] honored her with its Freethought Heroine Award. "I'm an atheist," she had declared, "and Christianity appears to me to be the most absurd imposture of all the religions, and I'm puzzled that so many people can't see through a religion that encourages irresponsibility and bigotry." She told a reporter<ref>Atlanta Journal-Constitution (8 October 1989)</ref> "As my ancestors are free from slavery, I am free from the slavery of religion." This quote was used by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in advertisements inside [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], [[Wisconsin]], buses in 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/41131567.html#|title=Atheists, church face off in Madison bus advertising |date=2009-03-11|publisher=jsonline.com}}</ref> and in an Atlanta market in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/billboards-shun-religion-promote-608792.html|title=Billboards shun religion, promote separation of church and state|date=2010-09-10|publisher=ajc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Wayback |date=20091205024517 |url=http://ffrf.org/news/2009/madison_buscampaign.php |title=Freedom From Religion Foundation }}</ref>

She lamented that, had humans put the energy on earth and on people that had been put on mythology and on [[Jesus Christ]], there would be less hunger and homelessness. "They say the streets are going to be beautiful in Heaven. Well, I’m trying to make the streets beautiful here ... When it’s clean and beautiful, I think America is heaven. And some people are hell."<ref>Celebrities in Hell, Warren Allen Smith (schelCpress, 2002), Page 76</ref>

==Later life and death==
McQueen died at age 84 on December 22, 1995 at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, from burns sustained when a [[kerosene heater]] she attempted to light malfunctioned and burst into flames.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502E4DD1539F930A15751C1A963958260|title=Butterfly McQueen Dies at 84; Played Scarlett O'Hara's Maid|last=Alvarez|first=Lizette|date=1995-12-23|publisher=''The New York Times''|accessdate=2009-03-14}}</ref>

McQueen donated her body to medical science<ref name=jet/> and remembered the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] in her will.

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1939
| ''[[The Women (1939 film)|The Women]]''
| Lulu - Cosmetics Counter Maid
| Uncredited
|-
| 1939
| ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]''
| Prissy
|
|-
| 1941
| ''[[Affectionately Yours]]''
| Butterfly
|
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Cabin in the Sky (film)|Cabin in the Sky]]''
| Lily
|
|-
| 1943
| ''[[I Dood It]]''
| Annette
| Alternative title: ''By Hook or by Crook''
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Flame of Barbary Coast]]''
| Beulah – Flaxen's Maid
| Alternative title: ''Flame of the Barbary Coast''
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Mildred Pierce (film)|Mildred Pierce]]''
| Lottie – Mildred's Maid
| Uncredited
|-
| 1946
| ''[[Duel in the Sun (film)|Duel in the Sun]]''
| Vashti
| Alternative title: ''King Vidor's Duel in the Sun''
|-
| 1948
| ''[[Killer Diller (1948 film)|Killer Diller]]''
| Butterfly
|
|-
| 1950
| ''[[Studio One (anthology series)|Studio One]]''
|
| Episode: "Give Us Our Dream"
|-
| 1950 to 1953
| ''[[Beulah (series)|Beulah]]''
| Oriole
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1951
| ''[[Lux Video Theatre]]''
| Mary
| Episode: "Weather for Today"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Hallmark Hall of Fame]]''
|
| Episode: "The Green Pastures"
|-
| 1970
| ''[[The Phynx]]''
| Herself
|
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Amazing Grace (1974 film)|Amazing Grace]]''
| Clarine
|
|-
| 1978
| ''[[ABC Weekend Special]]''
| Aunt Thelma
| Episode: "The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody"
|-
| 1979
| ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]''
| Aunt Thelma
| Episode: "Seven Wishes of a Rich Kid"
|-
| 1981
| ''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn''
|
| Television movie
|-
| 1985
| ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn''
| Blind Negress
| Television movie
|-
| 1986
| ''[[The Mosquito Coast]]''
| Ma Kennywick
|
|-
| 1988
| ''[[The Making of a Legend: Gone With The Wind]]''
| Herself (Interview)
| Television documentary
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Polly (1989 film)|Polly]]''
| Miss Priss
| Television movie
|}

==Further reading==
[https://books.google.com/books?isbn=081086018X Butterfly McQueen Remembered] by Stephen Bourne 2008

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{IBDB name|68298}}
* {{iobdb|Butterfly|McQueen}}
* {{IMDb name|0574335}}
* {{Find a Grave|5816373|accessdate=August 10, 2010}}
* [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0193-10959_ITM Butterfly McQueen]
* [http://www.californiahistoricalradio.com/et-project/dinah-shore-39x/ Hear Butterfly McQueen perform on a broadcast of Dinah Shore's radio show]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McQueen, Butterfly}}
[[Category:Accidental deaths in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American humanists]]
[[Category:American radio actresses]]
[[Category:City College of New York alumni]]
[[Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Deaths from fire in the United States]]
[[Category:Actresses from Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:Actors from Augusta, Georgia]]
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:African-American female dancers]]
[[Category:American female dancers]]
[[Category:African-American atheists]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:African-American actresses]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:Women atheists]]

Shayne Pospisil

2016-01-31T05:36:09Z

BoboMeowCat: added Unencyclopedic tone template

{{Unencyclopedic tone}}
{{BLP self-published|date=January 2016}}

{{Infobox person
|name=Shayne Pospisil
|birth_name=
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1985|5|15}}
|birth_place=[[Manasquan, New Jersey]]
|resting_place=
|resting_place_coordinates=
|residence=
|nationality=American
|other_names=
|known_for=Professional [[snowboarder]], [[surfer]] and [[skateboarder]]
|education=
|alma_mater=
|employer=
|occupation=
|home_town=
|title=
|salary=
|networth=
|height= {{height|ft=5|in=8.5}}
|weight=
|term=
|predecessor=
|successor=
|party=
|boards=
|religion=
|spouse=
|partner=
|children=
|parents=
|relations=
|signature=
|website= [http://www.shaynepospisil.com Shayne Pospisil Personal Website]
|footnotes=
}}

'''Shayne Pospisil''', or "Pizzle" <ref>[http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/rideshop/2008/07/11/snowboarder-of-the-week-shayne-pospisil blogs.zappos.com], Shayne "Pizzle" Pospisil</ref> as known among friends, (born May 15, 1985) is an American all-around boarder. While he has shown his ability to [[surfing|surf]] and skate, it is his success on the snow that put him on the map.

==Early years==

Pospisil impressing onlookers while training with the [[Okemo Mountain]] School,<ref>[http://www.okemo.com/okemosummer/, Okemo Mountain]</ref> known in the boarding world as Snowboard Academy. While his snowboarding roots developed on the East Coast, Pospisil has trained on many different terrains across the United States.

==Snowboarding career==

Pospisil has competing against (and taking out) some of the biggest names in snowboarding including [[Travis Rice]], Bjorn Leines, and [[Shaun White]]. His biggest accomplishment at the,<ref>[http://redbullsnowboarding.com/snowscrapers/ 2009 Red Bull Snowscapers, Red Bull Snowscrapers 2009]</ref> arguably the biggest urban snowboard event in [[North America]]. He beat the competition, laying out a frontside 900, a backside 900, and a combination finale to capture the top prize in front of 20,000 people in [[New York City]]'s [[East River Park]].<ref>[http://www.redbullsnowboarding.com/news/2009/02/shayne-pospisil-wins-red-bull.php, Shayne Pospisil wins 2009 Red Bull Snowscrapers]</ref>

He admires extreme athletes like [[Kelly Slater]], [[Danny Kass]] and [[Tony Hawk]], who have helped put their respective sports on the map, and he credits most of his success to the dedication of his family. While Shayne can thank snowboarding for his recent success and notoriety, he is quick to mention that his first love lies with surfing.<ref>[http://www.axiomsport.com, Axiom Sports and Entertainment]</ref> He was a competitive surfer before he began competing in snowboarding.<ref>[http://www.yobeat.com/2009/07/hump-day-goes-jersey-with-shayne-posposil/ Hump Day Goes Jersey with Shayne Pospisil]</ref>

==Awards and Championships==
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! width="50px" bgcolor=silver| Year
! width="300px" bgcolor=silver| Competition
! width="200px" bgcolor=silver| Championship/Medal
|- align="center"
|2005 || Junior Worlds- Big Air || 2nd Place
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2007 || [http://www.ttrworldtour.com/events/0708-season/four4star/garnier-fructis-australian-open.html Garnier Fructis Australian Open] || 9th Place
|- align="center"
|2007 || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/Paul-Mitchell-Progression-Session-2007.html Paul Mitchell Progression Session] || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/Paul-Mitchell-Progression-Session-Results.html Champion]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2008 || [http://www.stylewars.com.au/ Stylewars by Oakley] || [http://snowboarding.transworld.net/2008/09/02/the-oakley-stylewars-final-day/ 4th Place]
|- align="center"
|2008 || [http://www.t-a-c.no/ Oakley Arctic Challenge] || [http://www.thearcticchallenge.com/web/tac/final 2nd Overall]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2008 || King of Quarters || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/Shayne-Pospisil-Wins-The-King-of-Quarters-Quarterpipe-Contest.html Champion]
|- align="center"
|2008 || World Quarterpipe Championships || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/2008-World-Quarter-Pipe-Championships:-Results.html 2nd Place]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2009 || Billabong Air and Style || 6th Place
|- align="center"
|2009 || [http://www.ultimateboarder.com/ Ultimate Boarder- Overall] || [http://www.ultimateboarder.com/viewsoloresults.php 4th Place]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2009 || [http://www.ultimateboarder.com/ Ultimate Boarder- Snowboarding] ||
[http://www.ultimateboarder.com/viewsoloresults.php 2nd Place]
|- align="center"
|2009 || [http://www.t-a-c.no/ Oakley Arctic Challenge- Highest Air] || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/2009-Oakley-Arctic-Challenge-_-Highest-Air-Results.html Champion]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2009 || [http://redbullsnowboarding.com/snowscrapers/ Red Bull Snowscrapers] || [http://www.redbullsnowboarding.com/news/2009/02/shayne-pospisil-wins-red-bull.php Champion]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.yobeat.com/2009/07/hump-day-goes-jersey-with-shayne-posposil/ YoBeat Hump Day Goes Jersey With Shayne Pospisil]

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Pospisil, Shayne
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American all-around boarder
| DATE OF BIRTH = May 15, 1985
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Manasquan, New Jersey]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pospisil, Shayne}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American snowboarders]]
[[Category:American skateboarders]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from New Jersey]]
[[Category:American surfers]]
[[Category:People from Manasquan, New Jersey]]

Shayne Pospisil

2016-01-31T04:52:06Z

BoboMeowCat: added sources template - current article is exclusively referenced by blogs or dead links

{{BLP self-published}}

{{Infobox person
|name=Shayne Pospisil
|birth_name=
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1985|5|15}}
|birth_place=[[Manasquan, New Jersey]]
|resting_place=
|resting_place_coordinates=
|residence=
|nationality=American
|other_names=
|known_for=Professional [[snowboarder]], [[surfer]] and [[skateboarder]]
|education=
|alma_mater=
|employer=
|occupation=
|home_town=
|title=
|salary=
|networth=
|height= {{height|ft=5|in=8.5}}
|weight=
|term=
|predecessor=
|successor=
|party=
|boards=
|religion=
|spouse=
|partner=
|children=
|parents=
|relations=
|signature=
|website= [http://www.shaynepospisil.com Shayne Pospisil Personal Website]
|footnotes=
}}

'''Shayne Pospisil''', or "Pizzle" <ref>[http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/rideshop/2008/07/11/snowboarder-of-the-week-shayne-pospisil blogs.zappos.com], Shayne "Pizzle" Pospisil</ref> as known among friends, (born May 15, 1985) is an American all-around boarder. While he has shown his ability to [[surfing|surf]] and skate, it is his success on the snow that put him on the map.

==Early years==

Pospisil impressing onlookers while training with the [[Okemo Mountain]] School,<ref>[http://www.okemo.com/okemosummer/, Okemo Mountain]</ref> known in the boarding world as Snowboard Academy. While his snowboarding roots developed on the East Coast, Pospisil has trained on many different terrains across the United States.

==Snowboarding career==

Pospisil has competing against (and taking out) some of the biggest names in snowboarding including [[Travis Rice]], Bjorn Leines, and [[Shaun White]]. His biggest accomplishment at the,<ref>[http://redbullsnowboarding.com/snowscrapers/ 2009 Red Bull Snowscapers, Red Bull Snowscrapers 2009]</ref> arguably the biggest urban snowboard event in [[North America]]. He beat the competition, laying out a frontside 900, a backside 900, and a combination finale to capture the top prize in front of 20,000 people in [[New York City]]'s [[East River Park]].<ref>[http://www.redbullsnowboarding.com/news/2009/02/shayne-pospisil-wins-red-bull.php, Shayne Pospisil wins 2009 Red Bull Snowscrapers]</ref>

He admires extreme athletes like [[Kelly Slater]], [[Danny Kass]] and [[Tony Hawk]], who have helped put their respective sports on the map, and he credits most of his success to the dedication of his family. While Shayne can thank snowboarding for his recent success and notoriety, he is quick to mention that his first love lies with surfing.<ref>[http://www.axiomsport.com, Axiom Sports and Entertainment]</ref> He was a competitive surfer before he began competing in snowboarding.<ref>[http://www.yobeat.com/2009/07/hump-day-goes-jersey-with-shayne-posposil/ Hump Day Goes Jersey with Shayne Pospisil]</ref>

==Awards and Championships==
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! width="50px" bgcolor=silver| Year
! width="300px" bgcolor=silver| Competition
! width="200px" bgcolor=silver| Championship/Medal
|- align="center"
|2005 || Junior Worlds- Big Air || 2nd Place
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2007 || [http://www.ttrworldtour.com/events/0708-season/four4star/garnier-fructis-australian-open.html Garnier Fructis Australian Open] || 9th Place
|- align="center"
|2007 || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/Paul-Mitchell-Progression-Session-2007.html Paul Mitchell Progression Session] || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/Paul-Mitchell-Progression-Session-Results.html Champion]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2008 || [http://www.stylewars.com.au/ Stylewars by Oakley] || [http://snowboarding.transworld.net/2008/09/02/the-oakley-stylewars-final-day/ 4th Place]
|- align="center"
|2008 || [http://www.t-a-c.no/ Oakley Arctic Challenge] || [http://www.thearcticchallenge.com/web/tac/final 2nd Overall]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2008 || King of Quarters || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/Shayne-Pospisil-Wins-The-King-of-Quarters-Quarterpipe-Contest.html Champion]
|- align="center"
|2008 || World Quarterpipe Championships || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/2008-World-Quarter-Pipe-Championships:-Results.html 2nd Place]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2009 || Billabong Air and Style || 6th Place
|- align="center"
|2009 || [http://www.ultimateboarder.com/ Ultimate Boarder- Overall] || [http://www.ultimateboarder.com/viewsoloresults.php 4th Place]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2009 || [http://www.ultimateboarder.com/ Ultimate Boarder- Snowboarding] ||
[http://www.ultimateboarder.com/viewsoloresults.php 2nd Place]
|- align="center"
|2009 || [http://www.t-a-c.no/ Oakley Arctic Challenge- Highest Air] || [http://www.snowboard-revolution.com/news/2009-Oakley-Arctic-Challenge-_-Highest-Air-Results.html Champion]
|- align="center" bgcolor=#eeeeee
|2009 || [http://redbullsnowboarding.com/snowscrapers/ Red Bull Snowscrapers] || [http://www.redbullsnowboarding.com/news/2009/02/shayne-pospisil-wins-red-bull.php Champion]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.yobeat.com/2009/07/hump-day-goes-jersey-with-shayne-posposil/ YoBeat Hump Day Goes Jersey With Shayne Pospisil]

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Pospisil, Shayne
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American all-around boarder
| DATE OF BIRTH = May 15, 1985
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Manasquan, New Jersey]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pospisil, Shayne}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American snowboarders]]
[[Category:American skateboarders]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from New Jersey]]
[[Category:American surfers]]
[[Category:People from Manasquan, New Jersey]]

Thora Birch

2016-01-31T04:25:40Z

BoboMeowCat: /* 2002–2012 */ quote about Brittany Murphey twirling her hair is undue in this BLP

{{Infobox person
| name = Thora Birch
| image = Thora Birch.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = Birch on ''[[Tom Green's House Tonight]]'' in 2006
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1982|3|11}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1988–present
| parents = [[Carol Connors (actress)|Carol Connors]] Jack Birch
|}}
'''Thora Birch''' (born March 11, 1982)<ref>{{cite web|author=TV.com |url=http://www.tv.com/people/thora-birch |title=Thora Birch |publisher=TV.com |date=2012-11-14 |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref> is an American actress. She made her early roles in the short-lived sitcom ''[[Day by Day (TV series)|Day by Day]]'' and in ''[[Purple People Eater (film)|Purple People Eater]]'' (1988), in which she won a [[Young Artist Award]] for "Best Young Actress Under Nine Years of Age". She also starred in other films, such as ''[[All I Want for Christmas (film)|All I Want for Christmas]]'' (1991), ''[[Patriot Games (film)|Patriot Games]]'' (1992), ''[[Hocus Pocus (1993 film)|Hocus Pocus]]'' (1993), ''[[Monkey Trouble]]'' (1994), ''[[Now and Then (film)|Now and Then]]'' (1995) and ''[[Alaska (1996 film)|Alaska]]'' (1996).

Her breakthrough role came in 1999 with the [[Academy Award]] winning film, ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''. Her performance was well received by both critics and audiences and brought Birch to international recognition. She later played the lead role in ''[[Ghost World (film)|Ghost World]]'' (2001) for which she received a [[Golden Globe Award]] nomination for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy|Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy]]. She appeared in independent films, such as ''[[Dark Corners]]'' (2006), ''[[Train (2008 film)|Train]]'' (2008) and ''[[Winter of Frozen Dreams]]'' (2009). Birch is cast as software engineer Morgan in Carlton Cuse's 2016 television series ''Colony''.<ref name="deadline1">{{cite web|last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=http://deadline.com/2015/09/thora-birch-cast-colony-recurring-carlton-cuse-1201534486/ |title=Thora Birch Joins USA’s Alien Drama Series ‘Colony’ |publisher=Deadline |date= |accessdate=2015-09-18}}</ref><ref name="variety1">{{cite web|author=Whitney Friedlander |url=http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/thora-birch-colony-carlton-cuse-josh-holloway-1201596905/ |title=Thora Birch Joins ‘Colony’ From Carlton Cuse Starring Josh Holloway |publisher=Variety |date= |accessdate=2015-09-18}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Birch was born in [[Los Angeles]], the eldest child of Jack Birch and [[Carol Connors (actress)|Carol Connors]]. Her parents, who have been her business managers throughout her acting career, are former [[pornographic actor|adult film actors]]; both appeared in the film ''[[Deep Throat (film)|Deep Throat]]''.<ref name=NewYorkTimes>{{cite news |url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/actress-thora-birch-fired-from-dracula/|title=Actress Thora Birch fired from "Dracula" |first=Patrick|last=Healey |date=December 14, 2010|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>O'Neal, Sean (December 14, 2010). [http://www.avclub.com/articles/thora-birchs-creepy-exporn-star-dad-gets-her-fired,49037/ "Thora Birch's creepy ex-porn star dad gets her fired"]. [[The A.V. Club]].</ref><ref name=NewYorkPost>Johsnon, Richard; Froelich, Paula; Hoffmann, Bill; Steindler, Corynne (27 March 2007). [http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/item_uxiN6yxJySFmU6C9gNO0JM "Dad Crashes Star's Sex Shoot"]. ''[[New York Post]]''. Retrieved 25 January 2013.</ref><ref name=Gong>Sharbutt, Jay (February 13, 1978). [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19780213&id=CLFPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7135,3674037 "Young Gong Show Introducer Carol Connors Rings Bell"]. ''[[Ocala Star-Banner]]''. Archived at [[Google News]]. Retrieved July 5, 2013.</ref> Birch is of [[History of the Jews in Germany|German Jewish]], [[Nordic countries|Scandinavian]], and [[Italians|Italian]] ancestry.<ref name=paper02/> The family's original surname was Biersch.<ref name=paper02>{{cite news | url = http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2002/03/17/arts/ane09.asp | title = Getting her own thing going| publisher = [[The Sunday Times (South Africa)]] | date = 2002-03-17 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20020526030557/http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2002/03/17/arts/ane09.asp |archivedate = 2002-05-26}}</ref> Her name Thora is derived from the name of the [[Norse God]] of Thunder and Lightning, [[Thor]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/thora-birch-9542486 |title=Thora Birch Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story |publisher=Biography.com |date= |accessdate=2014-03-25}}</ref> she has a younger brother named Bolt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/234/000027153 |title=Thora Birch |publisher=Nndb.com |date= |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref> Because of their own experience with the [[entertainment industry]], Birch's parents were reluctant to encourage her; but they were persuaded to show her photograph to agents by a babysitter who noticed her imitating commercials.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} She had several parts in the late '80s, such as advertisements for [[Burger King]], [[California Raisins]], [[Quaker Oats Company|Quaker Oats]] and [[Vlasic Pickles]].{{dead link|date=July 2013}}<ref>[http://www.thorabirch.org "Thora Birch Profile"] Thora.org. Retrieved on May 9, 2011.</ref>

== Career ==

=== 1988–1995 ===
At the age of six, Birch played Molly in the short-lived television series ''[[Day by Day (TV series)|Day By Day]]''. She was billed simply as "Thora". That same year, she won a part in ''[[Purple People Eater (film)|Purple People Eater]]'' alongside [[Ned Beatty]] and [[Neil Patrick Harris]], and her performance won her a Youth In Film Award.<ref>{{IMDb name|301|section=awards}}</ref> Birch played '[[tomboy]]' Billie Pike in the movie ''[[Paradise (1991 film)|Paradise]]'', which starred [[Don Johnson]], [[Melanie Griffith]] and [[Elijah Wood]]. Her parts during the period 1991–95 included the role of Dani in ''[[Hocus Pocus (1993 film)|Hocus Pocus]]'' (1993), as well as ''[[All I Want for Christmas (film)|All I Want for Christmas]]'' (1991) and ''[[Monkey Trouble]]'' (1994). She appeared in two [[Harrison Ford]] films, ''[[Patriot Games (film)|Patriot Games]]'' (1992) and its sequel, ''[[Clear and Present Danger (film)|Clear and Present Danger]]'' (1994), where she played Sally Ryan, the daughter of Ford's character Jack Ryan. Birch starred in the 1995 film ''[[Now and Then (film)|Now and Then]]'' with [[Gaby Hoffmann]], [[Christina Ricci]], [[Demi Moore]], [[Rosie O'Donnell]] and Melanie Griffith.

===1996–2001===
In 1996, she landed a leading role in the adventure film, ''[[Alaska (1996 film)|Alaska]]'' (1996). After guest-starring appearances in ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'', ''[[Promised Land (TV series)|Promised Land]]'' and ''[[Touched by an Angel]]'', Birch took a break from acting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superiorpics.com/thora_birch/ |title=The Thora Birch Picture Pages |publisher=Superiorpics.com |date= |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref>

In 1999, she returned in the [[Television film|made-for-TV film]] ''Night Ride Home'' and also took a small uncredited role in the [[Natalie Portman]] film ''[[Anywhere but Here (film)|Anywhere but Here]]''. Later, Birch won critical praise playing the role of Jane Burnham in ''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]'' and was nominated for a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] award. The film itself went on to win the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. As Birch was 16 at the time she made the film, and thus classified as a [[Minor (law)|minor]] in the United States, her parents had to approve her brief topless scene in the film. They and child labor representatives were on the set for the shooting of the scene.<ref name=EbertAnswerMan>{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=Movie Answer Man|url=http://www.rogerebert.com/answer-man/movie-answer-man-10101999|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=3 February 2012|quote=It is not illegal. to have people under 18 nude or partially nude on film. The California Child Labor Board approved the scene, and its representative was on the set when it was filmed, as were Thora's parents.}}</ref><ref>''There's a reason for R rating'', [[Deseret News]], March 2, 2007.</ref> After supporting roles in ''[[The Smokers (film)|The Smokers]]'' (2000; where Birch was called "a scene-stealer" by ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'')<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0185908/|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Film review: 'Smokers'|date=20 March 2000}}</ref> and ''[[Dungeons & Dragons (film)|Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (2000), she landed the lead role alongside [[Keira Knightley]] in the horror movie ''[[The Hole (2001 film)|The Hole]]'' (2001). The film was released in the cinema in the UK, and went [[direct-to-video]] in the US almost two years later and gained divided reviews. ''[[BBC.co.uk]]'' wrote: "Given that she has a much leaner role than the one she enjoyed in "''American Beauty''", the qualities which made her flourish in that multi-Oscar-winner are still abundantly clear".<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael |last=Thomson |date=12 April 2001 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2001/04/12/the_hole_2001_review.shtml |title=Films – review – "The Hole" |publisher=BBC |date=2001-04-12 |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref>

Birch landed the leading role in ''[[Ghost World (film)|Ghost World]]'' (2001), with [[Scarlett Johansson]], [[Steve Buscemi]] and [[Brad Renfro]]. Her performances gained positive response from film critics and she was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for her performance.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-02-10/news/0202100096_1_afi-nominations-golden-globe |title=The contenders |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=2002-02-10 |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref> In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', A. O. Scott praised her: "Thora Birch, whose performance as Lester Burnham's alienated daughter was the best thing about ''American Beauty'', plays a similar character here, with even more intelligence and restraint".<ref>{{cite news|last=Scott | first=A.O. | title=Teenagers' Sad World In a Comic Dimension | work=[[The New York Times]] | publisher= | date=July 20, 2001 | url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?_r=1&res=9B04E6DE143AF933A15754C0A9679C8B63&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes | accessdate=2012-10-24 }}</ref> In his ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' review, [[Jonathan Rosenbaum]] wrote, "Birch makes the character an uncanny encapsulation of adolescent agonies without ever romanticizing or sentimentalizing her attitudes, and Clowes and Zwigoff never allow us to patronize her".<ref>{{cite news | last=Rosenbaum | first=Jonathan | title=Women of Substance | work=[[Chicago Reader]] | publisher= | date=August 10, 2001 | url= https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/Archive/abridged2.bat?path=2001/010810/UNDER&search=%22Ghost%20WOrld%22 | accessdate=2012-10-24 }}</ref> However, in his review for ''[[The New York Observer]]'', [[Andrew Sarris]] disliked Birch's character of Enid and remarked: "I found Enid smug, complacent, cruel, deceitful, thoughtless, malicious and disloyal".<ref>{{cite news | last=Sarris | first=Andrew | title=So You Wanna Be a Country-and-Western Star | work=[[The New York Observer]] | publisher= | date=August 5, 2001 | url=http://www.observer.com/node/44812 | accessdate=2012-10-24 }}</ref>

=== 2002–2012 ===
Birch played [[Liz Murray]] in the [[television movie|made-for-TV movie]] ''[[Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story]]'' (2003), for which she received an Emmy nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/thora-birch |title=Thora Birch Emmy Nominated |publisher=Emmys.com |date= |accessdate=2014-03-25}}</ref> The next year, she appeared as Karen in ''[[Silver City (2004 film)|Silver City]]'' (2004), written and directed by [[John Sayles]], which after premiering at that year's [[Cannes Film Festival]], received a mixed reception.<ref>[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/silver_city/ ''Silver City''] at [[Rotten Tomatoes]]. Accessed October 24, 2012.</ref><ref name="Had" />

In 2006, Birch starred in the low-budget horror movie ''[[Dark Corners]]'', a film in which she plays a troubled young woman who wakes up one day as a different person—someone who is stalked by creatures.<ref>{{IMDb title|485376|Dark Corners}}</ref> Tony Sullivan, for ''Eyeforfilm.co.uk'', found Birch "convincing as the two halves of this split personality".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/dark-corners-film-review-by-tony-sullivan |title=Dark Corners (2006) Movie Review |publisher=Eye for Film |date=2007-05-22 |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref> She also had the leading role in the 2008 slasher ''[[Train (2008 film)|Train]]''.

She starred alongside [[Brittany Murphy]] in the psychological thriller ''[[Deadline (2009 film)|Deadline]]''. The film first premiered directly-to-video in October 2009 in the U.K. before being released in December in the U.S. In 2009. She starred in the mystery film ''[[Winter of Frozen Dreams]]''. A controversy during filming involving Birch's father and his forced presence during Birch's taping of a sex scene for the film made tabloid headlines.<ref name=NewYorkPost/> In January 2010, Birch played Sidney Bloom in the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] movie ''The Pregnancy Pact''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/23/2010-01-23_lifetimes_pregnancy_pact_treats_surge_in_teen_pregnancy_with_kid_gloves.html|title=Lifetime's 'Pregnancy Pact' treats surge in teen pregnancy with kid gloves |first=David |last=Hinckley |date=January 23, 2010 |work=New York Daily News}}</ref>

Birch was cast and scheduled to make her American stage debut in the [[off Broadway]] revival of ''[[Dracula (1924 play)|Dracula]]'', but was fired for the behavior of her father, her manager at the time, who physically threatened one of the show's cast members.<ref name=NewYorkTimes/> Reflecting on the incident in January 2014, Birch revealed that not only was she in a "state of shock," but later accepted that she had upset a lot of people and those around her wanted her to "be not fine."<ref name="Had">{{cite news|title=Thora Birch: how Hollywood's darling disappeared|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/23/thora-birch-hollywood-darling-disappeared?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2|accessdate=24 January 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=23 January 2014|author=Hadley Freeman}}</ref>

In 2012, she appeared as the lead character in ''[[Petunia (film)|Petunia]]'', in which she also produced and one that received a limited release.<ref name="Had" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Wilted Spirits in an Abstemious Family|first=Neil |last=Genzingler|newspaper=New York Times|date= 28 June 2013|page=C8}}</ref> About the film, Birch said: "I think it's just something that's a little bit different from your standard summer fare. It's a little bit more intimate. It's also a very modern tale. I think it's actually honest."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.starcam.com/post/thora-birch-petunia-premiere.aspx |title=Thora Birch Explains How "Petunia" is Different from Standard Summer Fare |publisher=Blog.starcam.com |date=2012-07-26 |accessdate=2013-07-03}}</ref>

=== 2015–present ===
On September 18, 2015, it was announced that Birch will portray [[software engineer]] Morgan in the upcoming [[Carlton Cuse]] series ''[[Colony (TV series)|Colony]]''.<ref name="deadline1">{{cite web|last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=http://deadline.com/2015/09/thora-birch-cast-colony-recurring-carlton-cuse-1201534486/ |title=Thora Birch Joins USA’s Alien Drama Series ‘Colony’ |publisher=Deadline |date= |accessdate=2015-09-18}}</ref><ref name="variety1">{{cite web|author=Whitney Friedlander |url=http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/thora-birch-colony-carlton-cuse-josh-holloway-1201596905/ |title=Thora Birch Joins ‘Colony’ From Carlton Cuse Starring Josh Holloway |publisher=Variety |date= |accessdate=2015-09-18}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1988
|''[[Purple People Eater (film)|Purple People Eater]]''
|Molly Johnson
|
|-
|1991
|''[[Paradise (1991 film)|Paradise]]''
|Billie Pike
|
|-
|1991
|''[[All I Want for Christmas (film)|All I Want for Christmas]]''
|Hallie O'Fallon
|
|-
|1992
|''[[Patriot Games (film)|Patriot Games]]''
|Sally Ryan
|
|-
|1992
|''[[Itsy Bitsy Spider (film)|Itsy Bitsy Spider]]''
|Leslie McGroarty (voice)
|[[Short film|Short]]
|-
|1993
|''[[Hocus Pocus (1993 film)|Hocus Pocus]]''
|Dani Dennison
|
|-
|1994
|''[[Monkey Trouble]]''
|Eva Gregory
|
|-
|1994
|''[[Clear and Present Danger (film)|Clear and Present Danger]]''
|Sally Ryan
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Now and Then (film)|Now and Then]]''
|Tina "Teeny" Tercell
|
|-
|1996
|''[[Alaska (1996 film)|Alaska]]''
|Jessie Barnes
|
|-
|1999
|''[[American Beauty (1999 film)|American Beauty]]''
|Jane Burnham
|
|-
|1999
|''[[Anywhere but Here (film)|Anywhere but Here]]''
|Mary
|
|-
|2000
|''[[The Smokers (film)|The Smokers]]''
|Lincoln Roth
|
|-
|2000
|''[[Dungeons & Dragons (film)|Dungeons & Dragons]]''
|Empress Savina
|
|-
|2001
|''[[The Hole (2001 film)|The Hole]]''
|Elizabeth "Liz" Dunn
|
|-
|2001
|''[[Ghost World (film)|Ghost World]]''
|[[Ghost World#Enid Coleslaw|Enid]]
|
|-
|2004
|''[[Silver City (2004 film)|Silver City]]''
|Karen Cross
|
|-
|2004
|''The Dot''
|Narrator (voice)
|Short
|-
|2005
|''[[Slingshot (film)|Slingshot]]''
|April
|
|-
|2006
|''[[Dark Corners]]''
|Susan Hamilton / Karen Clarke
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Train (film)|Train]]''
|Alexandra "Alex" Roper
|
|-
|2009
|''[[Winter of Frozen Dreams]]''
|Barbara Hoffman
|
|-
|2009
|''[[Deadline (2009 film)|Deadline]]''
|Lucy Woods
|
|-
|2012
|''[[Petunia (film)|Petunia]]''
|Vivian Petunia
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1988–89
|''[[Day by Day (TV series)|Day by Day]]''
|Molly
|Recurring role (21 episodes)
|-
|1989
|''[[Doogie Howser, M.D.]]''
|Megan
|Episode: "Vinnie Video Vici"
|-
|1990
|''Dark Avenger''
|Susie Donovan
|Movie
|-
|1990
|''[[Married People]]''
|Emily
|Episode: "To Live and Drive in New York"
|-
|1990–91
|''[[Parenthood (1990 TV series)|Parenthood]]''
|Taylor Buckman
|Main role (12 episodes)
|-
|1991
|''[[Amen (TV series)|Amen]]''
|Brittany
|Episode: "Nothing Says Lovin'..."
|-
|1994
|''[[Monty (TV series)|Monty]]''
|Ann Sherman
|Episode: "Here Comes the Son"
|-
|1995
|''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]''
|Aggie Travers
|Episode: "[[The Choice (The Outer Limits)|The Choice]]"
|-
|1997
|''[[Promised Land (TV series)|Promised Land]]''
|Allison Rhodes
|Episode: "Running Scared"
|-
|1997
|''[[Touched by an Angel]]''
|Erin
|Episode: "The Pact"
|-
|1999
|''Night Ride Home''
|Clea Mahler
|Movie
|-
|2002
|''[[Night Visions (TV series)|Night Visions]]''
|Susan Thornhill
|Episode: "The Maze"
|-
|2003
|''[[Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story]]''
|[[Liz Murray|Elizabeth "Liz" Murray]]
|Movie
|-
|2005
|''[[My Life as a Teenage Robot]]''
|Vega (voice)
|Episode: "[[Escape from Cluster Prime]]"
|-
|2010
|''[[The Pregnancy Pact]]''
|Sidney Bloom
|Movie
|-
|2016
|''[[Colony (TV series)|Colony]]''<ref name="deadline1"/><ref name="variety1"/>
|Morgan
|Recurring role
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
|rowspan=2| 1989
|rowspan=10| [[Young Artist Award]]
|Best Young Actor/Actress Ensemble in a Television Comedy, Drama Series or Special
|''Day by Day''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Young Actress Under Nine Years of Age
|''Purple People Eater''
|{{won}}
|-
|1990
|Outstanding Performance by an Actress Under Nine Years of Age
|''Day by Day''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1991
|Best Young Actress Supporting or Re-Occurring Role for a TV Series
|''Parenthood''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1992
|Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture
|''Paradise''
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=2| 1993
|Best Young Actress Under Ten in a Motion Picture
|''Patriot Games''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture
|''All I Want for Christmas''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1994
|Best Youth Actress Leading Role in a Motion Picture Comedy
|''Hocus Pocus''
|{{won}}
|-
|1996
|Best Performances by a Young Ensemble – Feature Film or Video
|''Now and Then''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1997
|Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress
|''Alaska''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1999
|[[SDFCS Award]]
|Best Supporting Actress
| rowspan="9"| ''American Beauty''
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=8| 2000
|[[BAFTA Film Award]]
|Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
|{{nom}}
|-
|OFCS Award
|Best Supporting Actress
|{{nom}}
|-
|OFCS Award
|Best Ensemble Cast Performance
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Blockbuster Entertainment Award]]
|Favorite Supporting Actress – Drama
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Screen Actors Guild Award]]
|Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture
|{{won}}
|-
|Young Hollywood Award
|Best On-Screen Chemistry (shared with [[Wes Bentley]])
|{{won}}
|-
|Young Artist Award
|Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress
|{{won}}
|-
|[[YoungStar Award]]
|Best Young Actress/Performance in a Motion Picture Drama
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=5| 2001
|Young Artist Award
|Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress
|''Dungeons & Dragons''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Space Needle Award]]
|Best Actress
| rowspan=6| ''Ghost World''
|{{won}}
|-
|TFCA Award
|Best Performance, Female
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Deauville Film Festival]]
|Best Female Performance
|{{won}}
|-
|[[SDFCS Award]]
|Best Actress
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan=9| 2002
|[[Golden Globe Awards]]
|Best Actress Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[VFCC Award]]
|Best Actress
|{{nom}}
|-
|Young Hollywood Award
|Talent for Charity
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award
|Female
|''Dungeons & Dragons'' and ''Ghost World''
|{{nom}}
|-
|OFCS Award
|Best Actress
|rowspan=5| ''Ghost World''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[CFCA Award]]
|Best Actress
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[MTV Movie Awards]]
|Best Line
|{{nom}}
|-
|MTV Movie Award
|Best Dressed
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Satellite Award]]
|Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=3| 2003
|Young Hollywood Award
|
|
|{{won}}
|-
|[[DVD Premiere Award]]
|Best Supporting Actress
|''The Smokers''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Primetime Emmy]]
|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie
|''Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story''
|{{nom}}
|-
|2007
|Nellie Tayloe Ross Award
|
|
|{{won}}
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist
| colwidth = 30em
| refs =
}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Thora Birch}}
* {{Official website|http://www.thora.org}}
* {{IMDb name|0000301}}
* {{AllRovi name|6271}}
* [http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/thora-birch Thora Birch at Emmys.com]

{{ScreenActorsGuildAward CastMotionPicture 1995–2000}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, Thora}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Los Angeles, California]]
[[Category:Actresses of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American child actresses]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scandinavian descent]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]

Talk:Campus sexual assault

2016-01-31T04:17:46Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Undue weight for criticism section */

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== RFC regarding AAU subsection. ==

{{rfc|pol||rfcid=C8D3756}}
There's an ongoing dispute over how to deal with an editorial argument in the subsection on the recent AAU report. Specifically, the section presents a statistic that most people who experienced a sexual assault who did not report the incident said that they did so because they "did not believe it was serious enough to report". It then presents this argument from an editorial by Stuart Taylor jr.: "Stuart Taylor, writing for the Washington Post, remarked "This most plausible explanation is that most of those classified by the survey as “victims” of sexual assault or rape did not really think that they had been sexually assaulted."" The question is over where/whether to include Taylor's comment, and over whether or not it is appropriate to note, in that section, statements from past research that challenge arguments similar to the one made by Taylor regarding the AAU study. A few solutions that have been proposed are:

*1. Leave the entry as is, or use a similar argument from a different editorial such as [http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/09/aau_campus_sexual_assault_survey_why_such_surveys_don_t_paint_an_accurate.2.html this one] by Emily Yoffe.

*2. Move the quote and statistic to a separate subsection that addresses the causes of non-reporting, while also discussing past research on non-reporting, and the "not serious enough to report" response, and the criticisms voiced by people like Taylor.

*3. Leave Taylor's argument where it is, but also cite past research that disputes Taylor's argument within the AAU section.

Please use the section below for comments. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:43, 12 January 2016 (UTC)
:Nblund did not include what I had proposed several times, that the AAU section has what reliable sources say about the responses, and she can create an seperate of what some others say (per Nblund's sources) about these surveys in general. As written, this RFC forces an either/or dichotomy, which was is not a compromise or reflective of what multiple sources say in 2015, rather than opinions from 2003. This would be a 4th option.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:30, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
::I'm not sure I follow what you're saying closely enough that I feel comfortable summarizing it above, but you're welcome to add it as a fourth option in the portion above if you just sign it. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:31, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
===Comments===
'''Option 2''' Taylor is a columnist with no relevant research background presenting a viewpoint that has been explicitly rejected by experts. It seems to violate NPOV to grant article space to a minority opinion while leaving out the views of scholars. The argument is probably notable enough to warrant some mention somewhere, but it should also be made clear to readers that it's a view generally held by non-expert critics of these studies, and that experts view these results very differently from Taylor. Since Taylor's argument is one that has been made with respect to other studies discussed in the subsection (including the 2007 Campus Sexual Assault study and the National College Women's Sexual Violence Study), it's probably better to place the discussion in it's own subsection. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:13, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Option 2''' (though Option 3 would also be reasonable). I agree with Nblund's comment. As I said above, this approach "provides greater context by explaining different interpretations of the finding. It does so in an even-handed manner, presenting the perspectives of both sides. I am mystified by the suggestion that it includes a fringe POV - how can a substantial body of academic sources (which are recognised as top-quality sources by policy) can be regarded as fringe?"[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=696679818] [[User:Neljack|Neljack]] ([[User talk:Neljack|talk]]) 19:54, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Comment''' FYI: because of the low participation, I went ahead and posted a notice about this RfC on the NPOV and OR noticeboards, if needed, we might also post in the Wikiprojects for sociology or criminology/law. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:49, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Option 1 or a 4th option'''. There are ample secondary sources referring to the AAU study in 2015: [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-college-rape-survey-edit-0924-20150923-story.html],[http://www.nj.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2015/09/survey_1_in_4_college_women_report_unwanted_sexual.html], [http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/health/campus-sexual-assault-new-large-survey/index.html],[http://www.dailytoreador.com/news/aau-releases-survey-on-sexual-assault-sexual-misconduct/article_7ad3391a-626a-11e5-bd1e-af92da7c42f1.html],[http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/article/aau_releases_sexual_assault_survey],[http://myfox8.com/2015/09/23/23-of-women-report-sexual-assault-in-college-study-finds/], [http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28852585/nearly-1-4-umn-students-victim-sexual-assault], [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sexual-assault-survey_56000600e4b08820d9193f54], [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/survey-more-than-1-in-5-female-undergrads-at-top-schools-suffer-sexual-attacks/2015/09/19/c6c80be2-5e29-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html]. The survey was also different from any past efforts in that included questions around affirmative consent. There are no secondary sources that refer to this. Rather, there's a 2003 opinion that Nblund wants to apply to this survey. At most, we can discuss the opinions on this matter separately given the lack of specificity to the AAU survey. I had several times proposed we keep the AAU section as is, and Nblund can create a separate section on these topics in general. This is a pretty basic WP:RS issue. I will add that one of the sources Nblund has cited dwells on Feminist opinions about the matter, and presents their views as hypotheticals. Per Fisher, "For feminists, however, such a response may merely indicate a false consciousness expressed by women acculturated to see their victimization as somehow acceptable." Fisher is not referring mainstream research here, but Feminist opinions. Finally, Fisher herself sees the survey as breaking new ground. Per a Washington Post Article on this, "The dominant reason for why students who didn’t tell authorities: They said it wasn’t serious enough. “That will stimulate a lot of discussion,” said Bonnie Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati and a Westat consultant. “We as researchers don’t know a lot about this — it hasn’t been measured in the past.” [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/survey-more-than-1-in-5-female-undergrads-at-top-schools-suffer-sexual-attacks/2015/09/19/c6c80be2-5e29-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html] Nblund has argued that Fisher, as originally quoted didn't mean what she said, but no matter how you slice it, the AAU study is different from past according to Nblund's preferred expert.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:30, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Option 1 or Option 3'''. You haven't linked the source in question, but I assume it's [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/09/23/the-latest-big-sexual-assault-survey-is-like-others-more-hype-than-science/ this?] Taylor's qualifications are listed in that source, "Stuart Taylor Jr., an author, journalist and Brookings Institution nonresident senior fellow, is writing a book with KC Johnson about the alarm over campus sexual assault." I don't see in what way this would possibly make him unqualified to discuss campus sexual assault. This is a controversial subject and there are going to be opinions on both sides, as there have been throughout the article. Using a lack of opposing viewpoints as a reason to justify not including an opposing viewpoint would be manufacturing consensus by way of censorship. Taylor's views are in no way fringe or unqualified, so as long as they are presented and attributed as his opinion, they are as subject to additional support or criticism as any other statement in the article. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:42, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
:[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]], option 2 suggests moving Taylor's critique. None of the proposed options include removing Taylor's criticism, or treating them as fringe views. The question is whether we can also cite the views of people who research sexual assault who have previously disputed Taylor's argument. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:36, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::I apologize if I was unclear in my position or misunderstood the intention of option 2. My response was partially meant to address the concern that this is a non-expert opinion when I see no reason to treat it as such, based on the qualifications listed. To elaborate, based on the fact that it appears to be qualified commentary, I am '''generally opposed''' to moving the comment to a new subsection unless this subsection is for all second-party commentary on the survey data. The statement itself doesn't appear to be a direct interpretation of the survey results, so it doesn't necessary belong with other direct interpretations. However, given the qualifications, the brevity of the statement, and that fact that it seems to relate only to this survey (as opposed to such surveys in general) I believe a new paragraph would be sufficient in this case. Absolutely it should include relevant dispute to Taylor's views. If we're talking a substantial discussion, I '''could support option 2''', but the majority of this article manages to discuss opposing views (even flip-flopping oppositions to the opposition) within the body of the particular section and I would think this comment could do the same. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 05:17, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:::We could do a "criticism" subsection, but my idea was to make a subsection specifically about reasons for not-reporting sexual assaults. That section would cite academic research on non-reporting, and then cite Taylor's critique alongside other authors who have made this criticism regarding previous studies. Taylor is specifically discussing the AAU, but the finding he is citing is consistent with past research, and the argument he is making is an old one that has been applied to other research discussed in that section of the entry. For example, Cathy Young makes this same point about the 2000 NCWSV study [http://www.mindingthecampus.org/2014/01/criminal-law-and-the-moral-panic-on-campus-rape/ here], while Asche Schow makes this criticism about the Michigan study cited in the AAU section [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/surveyors-baffled-when-students-dont-see-themselves-as-sex-assault-victims/article/2576570 here]. Citing it only in the AAU section can give the misleading impression that the AAU is unique in this regard, when it really isn't. We could cite those arguments, and cite the response from academics. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:28, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Gotcha. I'm not sure I'll know exactly how strongly I can support option 2 until I see it, but I'm not opposed. It does appear to me that Taylor is not only providing commentary on reasons for non-reporting, but also criticism of these survey's results. For the former reasons, and because there are plenty of other such comments, I could '''conditionally support option 2''' and see the value of that subsection. However, in the context of the quote as a criticism of the survey, I also feel that it belongs alongside other commentary related to the AAU survey, so I support including it there. Were the decision solely up to me, I would consider '''another option''' of including Taylor's commentary in both areas, though to avoid redundancy, I would suggest finding a different suitable quote from Taylor's article as it pertains to commentary on the AAU results. That's up to the editor. I hope that helps. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:59, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
'''Comment.''' I see some serious problems with this section, which likely render this RfC irrelevant, and I recommend it be closed.
:My first instinct on reading this was to say that, since Taylor's is an opinion piece, it probably doesn't deserve a place in criticizing a scientific study. However, on careful reading I found that most of the section is based on even lower-quality commentary from newspapers. Per [[WP:NEWSORG]], caution should be exercised when using such sources, and I don't think that has been done here. Consider the following claim:<blockquote>The AAU’s findings are roughly consistent with a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation national poll, published in June 2015, that found that 1 in 5 young women who attended a residential college during a four-year span said they were sexually assaulted.</blockquote>
:This is based on newspaper reporting making this connection. However, the AAU report itself explicitly cautions against making this claim. (Page v of the executive summary.) This is an example of shoddy reporting. I think you ought to take anything written in newspapers by non-experts with a grain of salt.
:Another thing which raised my eyebrow was the way the primary source was cited. Particularly this claim:<blockquote>The AAU surveys also found that, 3.2% of undergraduates were victims unwanted anal, vaginal or oral sex that occurred because they were forced, threatened with violence or incapacitated and unable to consent (commonly known as rape) in the past year.</blockquote>

:Because this was cited without a page number, I had to search through the document for over an hour in order to figure out where this came from. My best guess is that it is derived from Table 3-21 on page 82. However, the data there don't quite support the claim above, which has multiple inaccuracies and [[WP:OR]] issues.

::(1) "''Unwanted''". The actual wording, as you can see at the top of page A5-23, is "nonconsensual or unwanted". (Moreover, in an issue Taylor might criticize, neither term appeared in the actual questions asked.)

::(2) "''Anal, vaginal or oral sex''". This appears to be original research. The actual definition includes e.g. penetration with fingers or an object, and does not make reference to these specific terms.

::(3) "''Commonly known as rape''". This is the most egregious of the problems, and also the most subtle: the report never says this. This notion likely derives from the description on page 11, section 2, which asserts that violations made possible through physical force or incapacitation as operationally defined in the study ''generally'' meet the legal definition of rape. That's not at all the same as being synonymous with the legal definition of rape, and there is no claim to the effect that all of the "yes" responses represent a rape as legally defined. (As Emily Yoffe's analysis points out, there couldn't possibly be.) Moreover, this datum in the table also includes attempted but not completed forcible penetration, which I think is legally "attempted rape."

:The final thing which I found very strange about this section was the way Stuart Taylor's criticism was cited. He is referenced only for a relatively mild criticism of the report's conclusions, when in fact both he and Emily Yoffe are essentially saying that the whole report is straight-up pseudoscientific bunk. If you are going to cite these people's opinions, you might as well faithfully represent the main point of what they actually said. In Taylor's words the study "was itself deliberately designed to exaggerate the number of sexual assaults on campus" and is "grossly misleading" in multiple respects. He points out multiple serious methodological flaws and notes that, if the number of persons who said that they ''reported'' a rape were extrapolated, the result would overestimate the total number of actual sexual assault reports (not just rape) by a factor of ''nine''. Emily Yoffe echoes this and other criticisms of his. These are much stronger statements than the one which this RfC concerns.

:Taylor is writing a book on the subject and it might be best to wait for his book to be published and see how it is received. For now, I can see two ways to go.

::'''A'''. Dramatically cut down the section, removing claims cited to newspapers, and be very careful to ensure that citations to the study conform to [[WP:PRIMARY]] by refraining from any original interpretation of the study. Do not present this non-peer-reviewed study as though it had equal weight with the much better-established NCVS.

::'''B'''. Present the whole controversy, with full discussion of the harsh criticisms of this study's validity, and place it in context of the political turmoil surrounding the campus rape issue. This means restructuring the article in a way that places primary emphasis on, for example, the Dear Colleague Letter, the campus anti-rape social movement, and the cultural significance of the "1 in 5" statistic (regardless of its validity).

:Obviously '''B''' would make the better and more informative article, if done right, but it would depend on editors with deep ideological differences trusting each other enough to ensure that this doesn't remain the [[WP:BATTLEGROUND]] that it seems to currently be. I have no opinion as to which of these is a better course of action, and I personally don't intend to be involved in this article. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 00:24, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::TL;DR: Because of the fourth and fifth bullet points in [[WP:SCHOLARSHIP]] and the second bullet point in [[WP:NEWSORG]], most of the contents of this section should be cut. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 03:32, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::What you've noted are changes made by Nblund that have distorted the text so it no longer resembles the sources. For instance, the AAU survey explicitly does not use the term "rape" or "sexual assault" in its questions: per this Slate article, "The report deliberately does not use the word rape, Cantor told me. This was at the universities’ request, because the schools are addressing conduct violations, not criminal matters." [http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/09/aau_campus_sexual_assault_survey_why_such_surveys_don_t_paint_an_accurate.html]. So [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&type=revision&diff=692639128&oldid=692544068 here Nblund inserts "rape"] despite the term not being in any of the sources. When I objected, on the grounds it was not in the sources, [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=next&oldid=693725242 Nblund just rephrased it]. It's pure POV pushing frankly. Nblund wants to equate the criminal definition with broader and far looser definition relating to conduct even though the definitions are different, as are the terms used by the sources.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:00, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::For context, in case anyone else wants to follow this discussion, the claims I specifically discussed above were subsequently removed in [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=700629833 this diff]. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 18:19, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Comment''' Sorry, forgot to add the edit summary on those removals. [[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]], I think you raised a good point, and I went ahead and removed the portions tagged as dubious. I agree that the best option would be a rewrite of the section that avoided deep dive in to specific studies in favor of a substantially reduced version that laid out the relevant debates regarding measurement in brief and that placed the views of non-expert skeptics in a single subsection. I have an incomplete draft version on my [[User:Nblund/sandbox#Prevalence_and_incidence_of_rape_and_sexual_assault|sandbox]], if anyone thinks this is a good alternative option, I'm down for it.

Yoffe's claim about the over-estimation of assaults is rooted in a misunderstanding of how [http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/campus-crime-statistics-undercount-sexual-assaults Clery Act reporting works]. I don't think that it really matters which specific argument from these op-eds that we use, because they all have the same basic problem. Yoffe and Taylor are generally skeptical of this entire line of research, not just the AAU, and I think it's a little silly to pretend that these completely untrained columnists are just motivated by a concern about sampling biases or survey methodology on any one particular study. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:28, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
'''Edit:''' I think I should note: the question about measuring rape and sexual assault is actually a scientific question, so making a major shift toward discussing the cultural importance of the stat regardless of it's validity seems a little like it strikes a false balance. It's really a debate between experts who generally favor the method used in the AAU study, and columnists who believe that the discipline is wrongheaded. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:36, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:Your comment about Yoffe is completely wrong. In the article where she comments on the AAU study, she does not mention the Clery Act reports, but refers to the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics findings which uses criminal definitions of sexual assault, "This is illustrated dramatically by the release last December of a special report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics...The report found that among women aged 18 to 24, those not in college were 1.2 times more likely to be victims of sexual violence than those in college. The good news was that incidence for both groups was far lower than anything approaching 1 in 5: 0.76 percent for nonstudents and 0.61 percent for students." [http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/09/aau_campus_sexual_assault_survey_why_such_surveys_don_t_paint_an_accurate.html]. You're pretty brazen with this misrepresentation given how easy it is to check; The Mother Jones article you linked to doesn't even mention Yoffe or the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The BJS report is based on an annually recurring, random phone survey which gathers the responses of victims - not what schools disclose under the Clery Act. Yoffe then goes on to comment on what the AAU survey stated - again not what the Clery Act reports disclose. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 20:45, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::Correction: Taylor, not Yoffe, is the one making an argument rooted in a misunderstanding of how the Clery Act works. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:19, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Ah! That does take a big bite out of Taylor and Yoffe's criticism. There was nothing to correct. {{ping|Mattnad}} Look further down in Yoffe's article to where she writes " in a semi-annual report" - the link is to Clery Act data, and her subsequent argument is based on this. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 21:35, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Not really. The fundamental gist of Yoffe's observation is based on BJS data vs. AAU which demonstrates a chasm between what federal government finds using the criminal definition, and what the AAU study reported using very a very broad and subjective funnel. I'll add that the survey the BJS used for their finding found only 10.6% of women who didn't report their experience, did so because they didn't think it was serious enough. That's very different from the 60% to 75% in the AAU study. Yoffe's comments relating to Clery Data is just another data set but it doesn't go to the reason why women don't report. For that, she cites the AAU study. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 22:00, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I'd like to add that the AAU itself did not qualify the dominant reason [https://www.aau.edu/Climate-Survey.aspx?id=16525 in its highlight summary]. All they say is "More than 50 percent of the victims of even the most serious incidents (e.g., forced penetration) say they do not report the event because they do not consider it “serious enough.” If the AAU didn't think it was important enough to qualify it the way that Nblund would like us to, why should we?[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 13:58, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Option 2''', plus include additional sources as #1 said (I dunno about that exact source in particular). Opinion editorials/columns are [[WP:PSTS|primary sources]] even when published by newspapers. The idea that a newspaper is always a secondary source is patently false; primary/secondary/tertiary as defined on WP are contextual relationships between the exact piece of the source being used and the exact piece of WP content citing it in support. We don't trust primary sources for statistics or for other potentially controversial facts, but they're reliable for the fact that a view exists and has been published and who said it and exactly what they said (and for this we attribute them and often quote them directly). If the stats are real, quote the actual source of the stats, not someone trying to use them to make a point they fervently believe in, because we all know that people with that goal will mis-cite stats very, very frequently. Part of WP's job is to "teach the controversy", and the best way to do that, when it's not covered in great detail in lots of secondary sources is to present and attribute the subjective views controverting each other, and when possible use secondary sources that address those views and say what their strengths and weaknesses are (WP certainly can't do that in our own voice). If it's an outlying view that contradicts real-world consensus, or even way more reliable sources that don't have an off-WP consensus yet, we don't need to report on the primary-sourced view it at all. — [[User:SMcCandlish|'''SMcCandlish''' ☺]] [[User talk:SMcCandlish|☏]] [[Special:Contributions/SMcCandlish|¢]] ≽ʌⱷ҅ᴥⱷʌ≼ 14:53, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Option 2''' - We shouldn't be mixing research and personal opinion. Opinions and commentary, if they are presented at all, should be clearly separated from facts and statistics, not used to muddy the water, as is the case here. IMO, an individual person's opinion about a single report doesn't have enough [[WP:WEIGHT|weight]] to even be mentioned in this article. If the article were devoted to the report, yes, but we have a lot of ground to cover here. Stuart Taylor's opinion about a particular aspect of the AAU report is not particularly helpful for people who want to get an overview of the topic of campus sexual assault. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 23:36, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

== "The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement." ==
{{rfc|soc|pol|media|rfcid=F29EB0F}}
I've gone ahead and expanded this discussion to [[WP:RfC]] input. For those viewing this from the WP:RfC page, my and others' arguments are below on the talk page. The RfC concerns whether or not to add [[WP:In-text attribution]] to the "majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement" aspect of the article and/or additional information for further context. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)

_____

[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] took issue with the following sentence: "The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement." He added an "according to whom?" tag. I [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699875760&oldid=699875545 reverted], stating, "Read [[Template:According to whom]]. Also, we don't add in-text attribution in a way that can mislead; see [[WP:In-text attribution]]. [...] The source is right there at the end. Adding 'so an[d] so stated this' can make it seem like some sole person's opinion." I tweaked the text and duplicated the references via [[WP:REFNAME]] so that the material was left in [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699877956&oldid=699877568 this state]. As [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699880729&oldid=699880182 this link] shows, Scoundr3l then added "some" in place of "majority," stating, "That is precisely that point, I'm afraid. Since it's impossible to know how many of a thing are unknown, to say it is a majority is an opinion and I would recommend an in-text attribution in lieu of this much softer wording. Who said it was a majority?", and I replied. "We go by the [[WP:Reliable sources]], not personal opinion. And, per [[WP:Due weight]], we don't need to stack many sources to validate it." I [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699881786&oldid=699880729 then compromised] by adding, "The literature indicates that" in front of "the majority." This also was not enough for Scoundr3l, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699882087&oldid=699881786 he added] [[Template:Specify]] to "the literature indicates" part, stating, "We've come full circle. There is no reason this statement can not or should not be attributed directly to its source This is standard practice throughout this and similar articles and conforms to all your linked policies, as I'm sure you know."

Scoundr3l is wrong; we do not directly attribute something (meaning with in-text attribution) that is widely supported by the literature to one or a few people; WP:In-text attribution is very clear about that. And that most rapes go unreported is [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Most+rapes+go+unreported+ widely supported by the literature.] That most sexual assaults go unreported is [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Most+sexual+assaults+are+unreported widely supported by the literature.] There is no need to specify what is meant by "the literature"; anyone with common sense should know that we mean "the rape and other sexual assault literature." I just saw that [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] also [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699885588&oldid=699882087 reverted] Scoundr3l, stating, "This is consistent across several decades of research, attributing it to a specific group seems unnecessary, because it's a consensus that isn't really questioned. We can discuss in talk." [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 01:12, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
:Yeah. Scoundr3l, to answer the question about how these figures are derived: these estimates are derived from surveys that ask people about criminal and other victimization, and that ask victims whether they reported the crime to the police. Surveys have a margin of error, of course, and there are reasonable disagreements about things like wording and survey context, but the finding that most sexual assaults are not reported is something that is consistent across -- quite literally -- every single data source discussed in the entry, and really every data source I'm aware of. I don't know of any experts who seriously question this finding. Where there's a consensus in a field, it's really not necessary (or possible) include attribution to any particular individual. Indeed, it can give the false impression of a disagreement where none exists (see [[WP:INTEXT]]). [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 01:27, 15 January 2016‎ (UTC)
::Indeed surveys have a margin of error. They also do not fact-check, which is precisely why survey results are never presented as facts, but as survey results. Even the worst journalists know better than to present survey results without attributing them in-text because no amount of gallop polls will make "Most people's favorite color is blue" a fact. If I had access to the primary source, I'm sure even it would agree with me: it's a statistic, not an objective conclusion. "According to polls, 68% of people say their favorite color is blue", on the other hand, would be considered a fact (assuming there was a source to verify) and as an objective fact, it could be presented in Wikipedia's voice. If we can't rely on common sense, I'll instead point out [[Wikipedia:When_to_cite]] specifically suggests "Opinions, data and statistics, and statements based on someone's scientific work should be cited and attributed to their authors in the text." and you'll find this practice throughout every survey result in this article and other articles that rely heavily on conflicting surveys. If I'm not mistaken, though, Flyer22's motivation for reverting my request for attribution was not based on his assertion that it's an objective conclusion, but that he did not want it presented as a minority or sole opinion, which I don't disagree with. But I disagree with presenting second-party survey comments as facts in Wikipedia's voice. I don't even dispute the truth of it, only the wording. I know of several surveys that show numbers between 68% and 90% unreported, all we need to do is attribute them. Again, I don't have access to the original source, so I don't know what survey or surveys it's citing, hence the tag. If anyone has that information, or would like to provide other sources, perhaps we can agree on something like this "According to a numerous surveys, such as the National Department of Justice and the Bureau of Crime Statistics, most rapes go unreported", as an example. Or "between x% and y%" if we're going for accuracy. [[Special:Contributions/2001:57A:400B:101:3409:7F75:9DFC:8974|2001:57A:400B:101:3409:7F75:9DFC:8974]] ([[User talk:2001:57A:400B:101:3409:7F75:9DFC:8974|talk]]) 17:32, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::preceding IP is me, btw. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 17:33, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Here's the wording from Unsafe in the Ivory Tower (the first cited source): ''Despite the prevalence of sexual offenses committed against college women, the majority of women who are victimized do not report the incident to the police'' (Fisher, Daigle, Cullen, & Turner, 2003a). There's parenthetical attribution, but it's stated as a fact in the text. The book goes on to cite seven other studies with this finding, and that's not an exhaustive list. Citing seven surveys, in-text, seems excessive, and it's probably not necessary.
:::Peer reviewed surveys generally do involve fact checking, critique, and replication, and I don't think you're correct that Wikipedia articles always provide in-text attribution for statistics. The entries for diseases, [[HIV/AIDS|for instance]], usually provide an estimate of the prevalence of a disease without in-text attribution, because these numbers are basically uncontroversial.
:::I think the "When to Cite" guideline is referencing cases where a specific statistic is attributable to a particular author -- for instance -- we attribute the finding about repeat offenders to David Lisak, because that is a finding that is unique to his work. In this case, however, we're citing a tertiary source that makes a general statement about findings of multiple authors.
:::I think that sentence is un-problematic, but I would be open to including subsequent sentences that bolstered the statement by pointing to specific sources for this finding. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:02, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Thank you for isolating the primary source. Here are the end conclusions as taken directly from that source "Acknowledging sexual victimization as rape: Results from a national-level study." Fisher, Daigle, Cullen, & Turner (2003) Justice Quarterly:
::::: *'Our findings, though not definitive, have clear implications for this debate. By building on the best measurement strategies available-in essence, synthesizing the work of researchers like Kilpa [...] we have attempted to develop a measure of rape that is less susceptible to the criticism that we are counting as rape acts that really do not qualify under this legal category'
::::: *'Thus, using a different measurement approach, our findings lend support to the proposition of Koss and other researchers that the acknowledgment of rape is a real problem, not a methodological artifact. We found that only about half the rapes were acknowledged by the victims. Our estimate, as noted previously, is about twice as high as that reported by Koss'
::::: *'In any event, our study suggests that over half the women in the sample who were raped did not acknowledge this event as a rape'
:::: Implications, supports, estimates, and suggestions. The writers of the report at least acknowledge the difference between a datum and an objective truth. You'll find the same thing in any reliable study, I'm sure. Survey results are not facts and second parties who draw conclusions from the data should be attributed as it is their opinion and often not the conclusion present in the primary source. I hope the proposed compromise helps establish that this is a majority finding across all major studies (at least as far as we've seen), but still attributable to those studies and not Wikipedia. That should hopefully make everybody happy. Hopefully. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 19:55, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
{{outdent}}The entry cites Fisher's 2009 book, which itself cites Fisher et. al 2003. The quotes you're providing are actually a different 2003 publication by Fisher et al. from the one cited in the source, and those statements don't reference findings about non-reporting to the police. [http://cjb.sagepub.com/content/30/1/6.short Here's] the referenced article. Here's the relevant quote from that source.
{{Collapsed
| title= Quote
|Despite the prevalence of sexual offenses, a large proportion of victims did not report their sexual victimization to the police or to other authorities (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Results from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) have consistently shown that rape and sexual assault have been the most widely underreported violent crimes. In fact, the 1999 NCVS results revealed that only 28.3% of these crimes were reported to the police (Rennison, 1999). Notably, other research has provided even lower estimates of reporting (Bachman, 1998; Finkelson & Oswalt, 1995; Gartner & Macmillan, 1995; Kilpatrick, Edmunds, & Seymour, 1992; Kilpatrick, Saunders, Veronen, Best, & Von, 1987; Koss, 1985; Russell, 1983; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Similarly, sexual victimizations of college women have gone largely unreported. To illustrate, Koss et al. (1987) found that only 5% of college student rape victims reported their experience to the police. In a national study of college students, Sloan, Fisher, and Cullen (1997) found that only 22% of rapes and 17% of sexual assaults were disclosed to local police, county sheriff, campus police, campus security, or other authorities}}

This formulation is similar to what I proposed: it begins with a general conclusion about the prevalence of non-reporting, then cites specific supporting evidence. This seems like a reasonable way to address your concern. If your proposed standards were applied, it seems like virtually every bit of statistical information would require in-text attribution. This clearly isn't the case: the entries for [[unemployment in the U.S.]], [[voter turnout]], the [[Epidemiology of parkinson's disease|epidemiology of Parkinson's disease]] are all rely on statistical estimates, and -- in every entry -- statistics are cited without in-text attribution. Are these problematic as well? [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:25, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
:Well, once again, I do not have access to the source, which is why I requested attribution. With only the citation to work with, I had to assume what quotes are being referenced. As for the new quote, I hope you've noticed that every claim in this quote attributes it either directly to the source or to "other surveys" which it then cites. Only the vague claims like "a large proportion" are not directly supported in-text. I would be fine with changing the text in this article to "a large proportion", as an example, but I'd rather reflect a more accurate number and where the information came from. As with your previous example, the obvious difference is that HIV epidemiology, voter turnout, etc are objectively measurable. You don't survey people and ask if they have HIV or if they voted, you measure quantifiable data. That is not the case with these surveys, so their conclusions are not "x amount of people were affected by z" it's "x amount of people reported being affected by z". And since we're not here to call them liars, or debate onus probandi, what we have to do instead is accurately report the information as it was received. I'd be interested in seeing an example of your proposition because I don't think we're disagreeing as much as it may seem like we are. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:11, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
::Totally understandable, the first quote is from the source cited in the entry. The second quote is from the source cited ''by the'' source cited in the entry. Both quotes provide citations, but they also both make general statements of fact about the prevalence of unreported rape without providing in-text attribution. The first citation uses "a majority" without in-text attribution, so it seems like this is a perfectly reasonable way to do it in the entry. We could bolster that argument by citing specific studies in subsequent sentences.
:: BLS unemployment data come from a [http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#where monthly household survey]. HIV/AIDS data comes from asking health departments how many people they diagnosed. Those numbers don't necessarily count all diagnoses, and are usually adjusted to account for under-reporting. I'm not sure I follow the distinction you're drawing between self-report surveys and other kinds of data, but it seems like other entries attribute widely accepted survey data any differently from any other scientific fact. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 00:52, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Which part of the distinction did you not follow, exactly? A self-reported survey is an unsupported claim, while other forms of data are objectively verifiable. If a conclusion is not based on objective data, it's not a fact, it's a proposition or an estimate. Additionally rape is a crime and all crimes, at least in my country, are subject to due process. The accused are innocent until proven guilty in court of law, so any unreported crime is inherently an unverified claim. I can't imagine any of that's what confused you, so are you disputing that it's based on an estimate or merely that estimates don't require attribution? If we're using examples from other articles, I'd be happy to find 8 examples of attributed estimates for every unattributed example, but perhaps we can save time if you'd just explain why this statement should not be clarified. Aside from 'I don't think it's necessary', have you got any reason to dispute me clarifying where this information came from, assuming of course that it's objective and balanced? I have plenty of sources I can use if you aren't willing to use your's, I just need to know if and why good information will be reverted.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 06:44, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Scoundr3l, I disagree with you per what I stated above. You stated, "''Flyer22's motivation for reverting my request for attribution was not based on his assertion that it's an objective conclusion, but that he did not want it presented as a minority or sole opinion, which I don't disagree with. But I disagree with presenting second-party survey comments as facts in Wikipedia's voice.''" Well, just to get this out of the way: I'm female. As for your points, not only do I not want the "most rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" data presented as a minority or sole opinion, which is indeed what your in-text requests would have resulted in, I do not want it to seem like it's something that is less supported in the literature than it is. I repeat: '''It is widely supported. It is consensus.''' There is absolutely no reason at all to alter the text to name a few researchers or a few organizations, when many researchers and organizations state the same thing. Above, I pointed you to [[Google Books]] sources stating the same thing. Many [[WP:Secondary sources]] state the matter as fact. And so should Wikipedia. Other than that first compromise I gave you, I will not compromise on this. We can take it to a [[WP:RfC]], but I won't be changing my mind. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:45, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::On a more personal note: There is the fact that I've know many teenage girls and women throughout my life who were sexually assaulted in public in broad daylight and never reported it; by this, I mean a breast grab, a slap to the butt, and so on. And I don't mean by boyfriends. I mainly mean that this was done by male acquaintances who were not at all romantic with the girls or women, or was done by male strangers. I can't say how many times I've seen this happen with my own eyes. The girl or woman usually just hits the guy with a "jerk!" type of face, calls him a name, or laughs it off. I have no doubt that many other women have seen the same. So not only do I believe the data that most sexual assaults go unreported, I have personally seen it in life. One fault with the data is that it mainly focuses on female victims, but that's because girls and women are documented as the majority of victims of rape and other sexual assaults. For [[machismo]] and other cultural reasons, it also seems that males are less likely than females to report being victims of sexual assault or rape. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:39, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::Do what you need to do. My requested changes do not have any effect on how well supported the statement is, it merely attributes the statement to its source rather than presenting it in Wikipedia's voice. Wikipedia isn't the one drawing that conclusion, the source is drawing it from survey data, so it's the source's conclusion. Your change to "the literature" was a step in the right direction, but unfortunately I find it too vague and unencyclopedic to be useful to the reader. Surely "the literature" doesn't all share this conclusion, and it's been demonstrated that it does not (Fisher, et al. does not present this conclusion). Instead, let's attribute it to what it is: survey results. We don't need to list every survey to do that, only where the conclusion is coming from. So why then would you not accept "multiple surveys", "numerous surveys", or even "general consensus" in lieu of "the literature"? Admittedly, we should source the consensus (per [[WP:RS/AC]]) but it's demonstrable and a step up from attributing it to divine providence. Also, I apologize for assuming you were a 'he'. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:42, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::I appreciate your honesty, but for obvious reasons, we should try to set our personal feelings aside for this issue. It's not my intention to diminish the validity of the statement, so let me know if you think of any way we can attribute it without doing so. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:46, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::We agree to disagree then. I would not accept "multiple surveys" because "multiple" is often interpreted as "three or more" or "a few." I also don't think we should state "surveys" unless that is directly supported by the sources. "Numerous surveys" is [[WP:Weasel wording]] and is unnecessary. I could accept "general consensus," but it's not needed.

:::::::And apology accepted. It's well known that Wikipedia is mostly made up of males; so I expect others to assume that I'm male unless otherwise stated.

:::::::As for personal feelings, I don't edit with my personal feelings (well, not unless I'm in some heated dispute where emotions tend to spill over); my user page and talk page are clear about how I edit. I was simply offering you a perspective that you likely have not witnessed, at least to the same degree as females. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:54, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::'Numerous surveys' was shorthand for the original demonstration above, which provided examples. This original example was more than enough to satisfy WP:WEASEL and any other slippery slopes of citation overkill.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 22:04, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::"Numerous studies," "many studies" and similar (yes, things like "numerous surveys" too) are sometimes needed, but I've also seen some Wikipedians argue (or seem to argue) that the wording is weasel wording or close to it; so I prefer to avoid it when I can (as you know, I believe this is one of those "can" cases). [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 23:37, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::Seeing as the technical name for weasel words is "unsupported attributions" and I'm the one in this discussion on the side of an in-text attribution, I don't think weasel words will be an issue on this end. Any of the above examples are simply more specific synonyms of literature. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 06:44, 16 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::"Numerous" has been argued as vague, just like "many" has been argued as vague, and "vague" is one of the primary things that the WP:Weasel word guideline addresses. But like I noted, such terms are sometimes needed; not in this case. I don't see how "multiple surveys" or "numerous surveys" are specific synonyms of the literature in this case. As made clear by Nblund and me above, the literature usually states this matter as fact; this is because it's rarely disputed. [[WP:Due weight]] allows us to simply state the matter as fact. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 17:47, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::I'm sure you'll remember that my original suggestion was a direct attribution, so factor into your calculations that anything vague or resembling weasel words is an attempt to comprise with your refusal to attribute the statement. In other words, unless you have an alternative suggestion, citing what constitutes a weasel word is both ironic and unnecessary. Additionally, by refusing to attribute the statement, you are interfering with the ability to provide the additional information you deem required to attribute the statement. I can not elaborate on a statement if I don't know what statement is being used. Due weight only comes into play if I were attempting to promote a minority viewpoint when in fact I am attempting to provide additional information on the cited majority viewpoint. Kindly assume good faith in that regard as I am assuming you are not attempting to hide the original source of information behind vague but verifiable claims. Aside from undue weight, what other objections might you have for providing this additional information? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 23:26, 16 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::::I'm not sure what you mean; the statement is already attributed, just not directly attributed to any one person or group of people. There is no need for a "direct" (meaning in-text) attribution. I've already made my case against in-text attribution above and against other suggestions you've made. So has Nblund. To state more would be repeating myself. WP:Due weight very much applies in this case. Nowhere have I stated anything about your lack of good faith. And my refusal to compromise further on something that does not need to be compromised on is not about any lack of good faith on my part; it's about what I've already stated on the matter. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 01:12, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::::The only reason you've provided so far is that in-text attribution would provide undue weight to the idea that this is a minority opinion. Nowhere does this policy allow you to prevent the addition of source information because that information might somehow lessen the strength of those claims. It's either supported as strongly as you claim or it's not. Providing evidence of the support couldn't unduly take weight away from the claim, unless of course the article text is inaccurate. Or unless you're assuming it'll be done unfairly, which you've no right to assume. If providing the source in any way weakens the statement, this is a failing of the source and not of Wikipedia in reporting on that source, nor is there any legitimate reason to prevent the addition of that source under due weight. IF your stance is that there is an academic consensus, by all means, find a source other than a Google search to support that there is a consensus. That'd be a welcome addition to the article because it would at least provide some measure of objectivity to the claim. What we can't do, however, it conceal where the information comes from in order to actively protect a viewpoint, majority or otherwise. Yes, there is a citation of the comment, but not to what it's referring. By concealing that information, you prevent the addition of other commentary and details from the source. The facts must support themselves and the readers and editors need to be provided with enough information to verify that. Any personal thoughts you have on whether the change is necessary are not under consideration, but just to be polite, I'll share one simple and valid reason I need the change: I want to know the exact figure. I can't do that with vague commentary. I also feel the sentence should be written in a way that is not subject to cultural bias or data rot. Did you know that the Fisher & Daigle report was US only? Because this article doesn't. I can't correct it until the text reflects what's being cited. By all means, don't repeat yourself, but if you have a reason I have not yet heard, please let me know; although we should probably break line as it's getting cramped over here. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 06:39, 17 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::With regard to your "IF your stance is that there is an academic consensus, by all means, find a source other than a Google search to support that there is a consensus.", statement, WP:Due weight is about what the preponderance of sources state; I linked to two Google Books links showing that "the majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" aspect is widely supported. That wide support is also why the lead of the [[Rape by gender]] article [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rape_by_gender&oldid=700024432 currently states], "Since only a small percentage of acts of [[sexual violence]] are brought to the attention of the authorities, it is difficult to compile accurate [[rape statistics]].", with two sources supporting it. Unless you can show that the preponderance of sources state otherwise on that, I've satisfied my WP:Due weight argument in that regard. And the "the majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" aspect is not at all limited to the United States. You stated, "I want to know the exact figure." There is no one figure, but the figure is generally that "the majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported." I know how WP:Due weight works and how WP:In-text attribution is supposed to work, and that's what I've been arguing above. I'll only accept additional information for further context if done right. You can assume my thought processes (such as the incorrect assumption of "concealing information"), but unless those thought processes are made perfectly clear, it's better not to assume. My discussion with you on this has pretty much ended. I've now turned it into a WP:RfC for further input. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)

{{outdent}}
You seem to be merging two of my points, so I apologize if I was unclear. I've made no argument that it's not a majority viewpoint. As such, your Google search results are not germane, nor admissible as evidence of a anything related to my position. 5 million search results is not the same thing as 5 million sources, as I'm sure you know, but it's irrelevant to the conversation. Above, you directly claimed there was a consensus (which I don't quite equate with a majority viewpoint) to which I assume you meant an academic consensus as defined by Wikipedia policy. You'll find your statement above and in bold. Since you seemed quite sure of it, I asked you to find a source since proof of a consensus would be a happy resolution for both of us. It seems by consensus you meant your Google results, which you may consider proof of consensus, but unfortunately Wikipedia does not. Otherwise, it appears you're not pursuing the consensus argument any more, so we'll table it. It was a secondary point, anyway. That leaves us with majority viewpoint, to which I've made no argument, nor do I have opinion, so I have no reason to pursue that counter argument. For this discussion, let's go ahead and agree that it's a majority viewpoint. So instead, when I'm asking is how my changes are promoting a minority viewpoint. My proposed changes are only to bring more information in from the existing citation, which supports this majority viewpoint. Since you are sticking with Due Weight, I invited you to explain how providing additional information from these sources promotes a minority viewpoint. You've not yet answered that question and it's the initial reason you've provided for contesting my changes. Due weight is not a license to prevent any changes you deem may be harmful to a position, so please explain what part of that policy warrants the prevention of an in-text attribution. As you've hopefully re-read WP:INTEXT during the course of this discussion, you'll remember that it takes no explicit stance on when you must or must not include an in-text attribution, so your opinion on how that policy is supposed to work is hearsay. And since you're the one who initially took issue with my edits, there is generally a greater onus on you to explain your reverts than I to explain my bold edits. You've linked policies which don't seem to support your revert and been challenged to support them. This is why we have talk pages. Your declarations that you're done with the conversation are understandable but not to be confused with a conclusion. Nobody can make you engage in this discussion, but neither are your insights necessary to finding a resolution. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:14, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

:My Google Books argument was germane, per what I initially stated at the beginning of this section. You added tags, then wording, to the sentence at hand in a way that was inappropriate; why they were inappropriate were noted above.

:Anyway, like I noted, unless I am discussing proposed wording with you below, I don't have anything more to state to you about this, especially since you keep assuming what I meant in instances when it's not what I meant. In my opinion, I can't be any clearer than I've been. You and I have different understandings of how Wikipedia works in this case. For example, your assertion that WP:INTEXT "takes no explicit stance on when you must or must not include an in-text attribution [and so my] opinion on how that policy is supposed to work is hearsay" is incorrect; that guideline (not policy) is very clear that the type of in-text attribution you were initially asking for would have been misleading. If anyone not familiar with the literature had answered your tag, it would have resulted in a clear-cut WP:INTEXT violation. You even added "some" in place of "majority," which clearly undermined the literature. You and I also have a different definition of [[WP:ONUS]]. The onus is on you to convince others why we should not report the "majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" aspect as the fact that it is. WP:ONUS states, "The onus to achieve consensus for inclusion is on those seeking to include disputed content." And if I were stating that this discussion is done because I am about done talking with you about this matter, I would not have started a WP:RfC. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 01:02, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
:::I was using the traditional, dictionary definition of onus, from Latin meaning "responsibility". As in, "its the responsibility of the reverter to show and prove the consensus in question" as taken from the [[WP:DRNC]] page, in the context of words as they may sometimes be used outside of Wikipedia articles. This onus would logically precede your above onus, despite both being irrelevant to a discussion on policy, not consensus. Still, while you were able to quote that article, what we really need are your quotes from WP:INTEXT or WP:Due weight which support your position to exclude this information. If we focused more on that, I think the discussion would have moved along a lot faster. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 05:42, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

{{strikethrough|*'''Please note''' We are current discussing the formatting of this template on Flyer22's talk page. You may wish to hold your comments until the resolution of that discussion.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:42, 18 January 2016 (UTC)}} Strike-through mine. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:50, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

I'll respond to the RfC as phrased about the line stated, but feel I should offer the view that the wording of the line creates an self-defeating impression of unsupported soapboxing or an internet-exaggeration, and the mentioned 'numerous studies' might at least have avoided that impression and the whole in-text RfC. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 16:27, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

===Don't use in-text attribution===
'''Note''': There is no obligation to !vote in each section. Feel free to only !vote where you feel it is needed. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 09:48, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

*'''Support''', per my and Nblund's comments above. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' per Flyer22 Reborn and Nblund. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:14, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' per Flyer22 Reborn and Nblund. [[User:Neljack|Neljack]] ([[User talk:Neljack|talk]]) 12:12, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' - why not disclose the sources in text? So the reader cannot as easily understand where it's coming from. That does a disservice to the reader. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:33, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Objection''' - The framing of this RtC is unusual. I don't see the need for two opposing areas of comment to answer one question. To prevent redundancy and over-complication, I will post my comment to the simplified question ''Should this statement include in-text attribution?'' only in the section immediately below. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:47, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
::I responded [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Flyer22_Reborn&oldid=700389386#Regarding_RfC on my talk page to Scoundr3l], noting that the framing is not unusual. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 00:23, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Unfortunately, the discussion was slow and fruitless, so I've noted my objections here in order to proceed. There is nothing ''usual'' about this framing of an RfC, hence it is unusual, and also wholly unnecessary. That you can find other examples of unusual framing do not explain why it was done this way or explain why this framing is necessary. The redundancy and over-complexity should be self-evident. Rather than a simple list of yays and nays, we now have a partial list of yays and nays to the affirmative and a partial list of yays and nays to the negative, some who've commented on both. If you would like further information on how to RfCs are usually framed, there are examples on that page. Since it's too late to be corrected, I only hope you'll consider this in your future attempts at framing RfC. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:32, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

::::I'm not going to debate this matter with you too. I was clear that I disagree with you and why. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:01, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

::::Note that I also considered redundancy, but felt that the setup would be fine. My voting twice doesn't mean others have to as well. I also considered voting once. I voted twice because it is common to do so in RfCs. From what I see, this RfC is largely fine, along with the "Proposed wording" and "Further commentary" sections developing in the way were designed to develop. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:10, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Your disagreement has been noted, but the collaborative efforts of Wikipedia do not rest for whether or not Flyer22 agrees with them. If you're not inclined to debate, perhaps you should take less stock in what you personally agree with and focus on things everybody can agree with. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:50, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::<Strike>And there you go again presuming what I think or don't think. On Wikipedia, despite its collaborative nature, no one is obligated to debate something they don't want to debate, just like they are not obligated to do so in real life. Even so, I indulged you on the heading matter. Then it was over because the matter is no big deal. It would be wise for you take your own advice when it comes to disagreement, since it is your disagreement with two editors who are clearly more familiar with the literature on rape and sexual assault than you are that led to all of this. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 03:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)<Strike>

::::::But since I don't want to keep arguing with you about this, I struck my "03:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)" post. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 04:19, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::I appreciate it. Presuming my level of knowledge with the literature and whether or not you're more qualified to discuss is not only absurd, it flies in the face of the yet unswayed consensus. I don't presume to know your thoughts, but speaking for myself: I'm not here to prove you or anyone else wrong, I'm here to improve the article. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:40, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::You noted on this talk page your lack of familiarity with the literature on this particular aspect we are debating. And when you make comments about me like "the collaborative efforts of Wikipedia do not rest for whether or not Flyer22 agrees with them," you are categorizing my mindset based on your own assumptions; stop it. Stop taking disagreement and/or an editor's right to not want to debate you on something, especially when that editor is trying to avoid arguing in circles, so personally. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 05:00, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::And when you make the kind of edits you made to the text in question, such as adding "some" in place of "majority," coming to the conclusion that you are not as familiar with the literature is understandable. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 05:08, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::I never said I was unfamiliar with the literature, I said that I don't have access to the source in order to find what it's quoting. Furthermore, knowledge of the subject has little to do with this discussion. Whether or not a statement is subjective enough to be attributed is a matter of ''a priori'' logic and my argument in this case is Socratic. Replacing "some" with "majority" was an attempt to compromise your refusal to attribute the claim. This was also based on simple logic: a less sensational claim requires less sensational support. If you equate this with unfamiliarity with the literature, that's your own bias. Likewise, that the discussion does not rest pending your agreement is simply an objective fact in response to your repeated declarations that you are done with a discussion. I'm not asking you to engage in the conversation or debate me, I'm simply informing you that a refusal to compromise will not be seen as an obstacle to resolving the issue.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 08:18, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::Knowledge of the literature has much to do with this discussion, and that is displayed in spades across this talk page. Replacing "some" with "majority" was undermining the literature, pure and simple. No one familiar with the literature would have added "some" in place of "majority." The claim was already attributed. You were asking for inappropriate in-text attribution with your [[Template:According to whom]] tag. I've been clear above that such tagging would have resulted in inappropriate in-text attribution had someone unfamiliar with the literature answered that tag's request. It would have made that sentence seem like the matter is only according to that person or group of people. I never stated that I was done with the discussion; I stated that I was about done discussing things with you. You know, to avoid the type of circular argument we are having right now (I easily recognize when a discussion with a certain editor is going to be circular; I'd rather not continue to discuss matters with those type of editors). I then expanded the discussion to a WP:RfC, which clearly was not me stating that the discussion is over. If I or someone else does not want to discuss things with you any further, you should learn to accept it instead of resorting to all sorts of "you aren't playing fair" or "you are being difficult" claims, or other misguided assumptions. You love to debate, everything apparently. You couldn't even drop this debate after I struck through my above comment; removing my comment probably would not have even stopped you. An editor does not have to compromise on something they feel needs no compromising on. I tried compromising with you; that is clear from the very beginning of this thread; that was not enough for you. And now we are here. Below, I was clear about the only compromise I will accept on this matter. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:24, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::That you continue to share your opinions on other matters, most of which are impertinent to the conversation, is the only reason we're still in discussion. I have every right to reply to your comments, especially when they've devolved into petty personal remarks, but the only person who can make you continue the discussion is you. Since you've not yet established a concrete case for exclusion, perhaps you've over-estimated your level of expertise on the matter or your ability to read other editors. It may be more constructive to contribute some additional rationale to the discussion, as merit alone has done little to impress support. Also, I think you may be quoting somebody else. I never made either of those claims. If you're still unwilling to further compromise, that's your choice, but ultimately the decision isn't up to you, so whether or not you're 'playing fair' or being difficult are not of concern to me. As for your refusal to compromise on the framing of an RfC, I've never seen that before, so I can only express bewilderment. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:33, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::Wrong about all of that, with the exception that you have the right to reply. Now we'll see if you will debate "Wrong about all of that." too. The petty, personal remarks initially came from you, which is why I made my "05:00, 21 January 2016 (UTC)" and "21:24, 21 January 2016 (UTC)" comments above. The "you aren't playing fair" or "you are being difficult" claims are the type of claims you've made in this discussion (and do spare me any "well, if you are seeing that, it must be true of your behavior" remarks), but nowhere did I state you made those exact comments. As for "little to impress support," that's your opinion. WP:RfCs commonly go slow these days, and the participation in this one is small so far. I'm not the one leaving notes in the WP:RfC in an attempt to influence it, and I'm not the one [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Markbassett&diff=prev&oldid=701060771 contacting an editor] to weigh in. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 18:49, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::I think you'll find that leaving notes in an RfC is, by definition, the purpose of an RfC. Of the two of us, only one of us has challenged another commentator's comment. You're also the only one who keeps bringing up right and wrong, when it's clearly a difference of perspective. Your personal editing style and definition of civility is your business, but as you are a clearly a non-expert in the field of ''my'' opinion, your attempts at interpreting and paraphrasing my claims are to be treated as hearsay at best and petty stone-throwing at worst. I have indeed contacted many users, including those who support your claims, in order to improve participation in this page. Nblund has as well. Kudos on the detective work. If you've got comments that are related to the discussion, though, perhaps we should focus on those. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:01, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::You stated, "I think you'll find that leaving notes in an RfC is, by definition, the purpose of an RfC." Not your kind of notes. And you've made more incorrect characterizations of me in your "20:01, 22 January 2016" post, as expected, I see. As for expertise, I've been quite clear about which of us is more familiar with the literature; my reputation on these topics (sexual topics, including sex offenses) speaks for itself; there is no need for me to justify myself to you. That you take my lack of interest in indulging you as a sign of lack of knowledge is silly, but it's clearly your right to think what you want. Yes, I saw that you contacted others; the others were contacted about the proposed wording section, and they are editors who already weighed in. They were contacted after you contacted that one editor to weigh in. You stated, "[my] attempts at interpreting and paraphrasing [your] claims are to be treated as hearsay at best and petty stone-throwing at worst." Yes, that is exactly how I feel about your claims toward me. Now if you are done with this particular debate, I will be [[WP:Hatting]] this bickering. Or is it that you want the [[WP:Last word]], as you clearly seem to always do? [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:46, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::It's Friday, both of our objections have been noted, and this thread has officially derailed. You misunderstood my comment about your expertise, I wasn't saying "in my opinion, you are not an expert" I meant "you are not an expert in matters relating to my opinion". But rather than continue to fight over semantics and baseless interpretations of character, can we agree to call it quits and work on the relevant discussion? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:50, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::Seems like we're in agreement, though in the interest of your 'last word' comment, I'll point out that we wrote our above comments semi-simultaneously. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:55, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::WP:Hatted. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:59, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::Because of [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701157218&oldid=701156996 this] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701157603&oldid=701157218 this], I have unhatted the discussion. I do not have the time or patience to debate every single thing with you. So fine; leave all the bickering on open display. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:12, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::::I understand your frustration, but not every issue has to be all or nothing. Middle ground is the key to compromise. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:21, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::::You just don't stop, do you? [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701159251&oldid=701158765 This mess] is another example. And you wonder why I don't want to discuss anything with you. I tried middle ground by compromising with you. I tried middle ground with the hatting; you acted like your reply to my rebuttal needed to be unhidden, as though editors can't click on my talk page and the template for further detail. This is exactly what I mean about you wanting to debate every little thing. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:28, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

*'''Oppose''' per my comment below. More information is better here. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 01:05, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:40, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' meaning 'show the cite(s)'. The RfC is asking about the line shown, which currently shows no reason to give it credence and for WP does not convey the factual phrase origin. '''Just follow the cites''', convey with fidelity what is out there and show where it is from. A desire to avoid citing because it is from a single source indicates to me a problem with being honest about that, and also that the phrasing '''is generally NOT said''' in a relevant community consensus statement nor common among reputable sources. What is shown also conveys the impression of soapboxing, so seems pointless anyway, as well as bing one view above due [[WP:WEIGHT]]. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 16:56, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' This is a well known, often demonstrated and generally accepted fact, in-text attribution would be misleading.[[User:Maunus|·maunus]] · [[User talk:Maunus|snunɐɯ·]] 22:55, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' Explicitly stating all the mainstream, expert, reliable authorities that hold this to be true would take up far too much space. However, if adding an extra ref and tag or two would put Scoundr3l et al.'s minds at ease, it should be done. Using sources that people with different attitudes find convincing makes the article stronger. I suggested some possible sources in my other post, and that was a very cursory search. [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 17:14, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' (a lack of use of in-text attribution; yeah, Flyer, while I support your position regarding the content here, this is an ''abysmally'' formatted discussion that will probably only muddy the waters and lead to further acrimony unnecesarily as a result of how this discussion has been approached). I absolutely agree that utilizing in-text attribution in this case would tend to minimize this statement. This is a profoundly pervasive trend with regard to sexual assault that is ''immensely'' well-documented by many thousands (indeed, probably hundreds of thousands) of sources originating from the psychological science, law-enforcement and other governmental agencies, policy groups and many other areas provided mountains and mountains of [[WP:RS]] sourcing for this statement. Trying to leverage in just one or two of these does a HUGE disservice to the impression of [[WP:WEIGHT]] that would be given to this statement as a result. We do not, as a general rule, include in-text attribution except as necessary to clarify highly controversial or nuanced claims, such as they don't mislead. This is about as clear a [[WP:SNOW]] content issue as I've seen in a good long while. This is a view broadly supported by virtually all legitimate authority in the area and policy clearly directs us to use normal reference citation in this instance, attached to a general statement. [[User:Snow Rise|'''''Snow''''']] [[User talk:Snow Rise|'''''let's rap''''']] 05:31, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

===Use in-text attribution===
'''Note''': There is no obligation to vote twice. Feel free to ignore voting in this section if you have already voted. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:52, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

*'''Oppose''', per my and Nblund's comments above. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' since it provides context to the reader.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:32, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Comment''' I would just like to clarify a few points on my position:
**This is not a position on whether or not the statement is true.
**This is not a position on whether or not the statement is cited and verifiable.
**This is not a position on whether in-text attribution is ''required''
**This is only a position that there is a strong case for in-text attribution and a weak case against. -[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' My reasons for supporting in-text attribution are as follows:
**''The current wording is prohibitive to further improvement of the article''
::The figure is being drawn from a specific source or sources of data. By not including the data source in the text, additional commentary related to those data sources is impossible. In this way, the quoted source is given artificial sanctity over any commentary related to the data source, when it is surely not the only source of commentary.
:*''The current wording is based on survey data''
::There are a number of conflicting estimates for this data, but they are all estimates. Uncertain facts should not be written in Wikipedia's voice.
:*''The current wording is time-sensitive''
::As time goes on and things change (in this case, the sooner the better), this statement may be found to be objectively false. An attributed statement would always be objectively true.
:*''The current wording is limited to the availability of data''
::If even one source emerges which contradicts this conclusion, the statement will be contentious. An attributed statement will never be a matter of contention.
:*''The current wording does not conform with the rest of the article text''
::The entire structure of this article is about providing a study and then balanced commentary on that study. In my opinion, this article is a monument to balanced commentary on a controversial subject. My by count, there are 82 statistical claims in this article's body text, of which 63 (76.8%) are directly attributed to their data source in the text. 13 (15.8%) are attributed generically to a "study" or "survey" which is then cited. 5 (6%) are not attributed but provide specific data. Only 1 other sentence in this article body is not attributed to a source, provides no specific data, and provides no further information (i.e. 'a study') as to where it came from. Perhaps coincidentally, that other sentence shares a source with this sentence.
:*''Attributing a statement can not unduly take weight away from the statement''
::The statement must stand on its own. The source of a statement is a verifiable fact. If revealing where the data comes from has any negative impact on the statement, it is solely the failing of the source and not undue reporting by Wikipedia. Contrarily, concealing the source of data can unduly lend weight to a statement that it may otherwise not have. The source is the source, for better or worse.

:Given those points, and the lack of good points for exclusion, I see no reason this statement should not be attributed to its data source. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support.''' Even thought the statement is indeed widely agreed-upon, it is helpful to the reader to have the context provided by the attribution, due to the wide divergence in operational definitions used in this subject. Better still would be a note showing that this statement is supported by multiple studies that used different operational definitions and methodology. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 01:03, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''', per Scoundr3l's reasons throughout. Stating survey results as fact is intentional misrepresentation and misleads readers. Statement should clearly be attributed to its source(s), and its origins and methodology discussed. This isn't scientific fact, as we're all aware human surveys elicit very specific behaviour responses, and cannot be treated as generalisations, no matter how many surveys are cited. [[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuS]] [[Special:Contributions/FoCuSandLeArN|contribs]]; [[User_talk:FoCuSandLeArN|talk to me!]] 16:42, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

::[[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuSandLeArN]] (FoCuS), how is it misleading the readers when the "majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement" aspect is widely supported in the literature and there is no indication whatsoever that it is false? '''How does it make sense to attribute that statement to one or more sources, as though it's only according to those sources''' that "the majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement", '''when it's actually supported throughout the literature, in scholarly books, legal documents, etc.?''' How is providing in-text attribution for this not a [[WP:INTEXT]] violation? [[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]]'s support vote above does not even seem to be support for in-text attribution, which would be misleading, but rather for more context. Appropriate context. We include the "most sexual assaults go unreported" or "most sexual violence is unreported" aspect in rape articles and related articles here at Wikipedia, including in the lead of the [[Rape by gender]] article. Are you suggesting that we give in-text attribution in all of these cases, or further context even in the lead, when the statement is not at all contentious in the literature or validly disputed in the literature? [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 18:24, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::I'm not judging the veracity of the literature, nor did I ever imply doing so. I'm saying it is undue to present it as a fact when in reality it's a poor statistic (exactly why surveys are rarely used as basis for policy), and as such it must be indicated. Surveys aren't scientific fact; they're sociological instruments subject to human behaviour and circumstance, reflecting opinion in response to often poorly-formulated questionnaires. I was summoned by the RfC bot, and provided my !vote after reading the above discussion. By the look of things, your attitude leaves much to wish for. Respect other people's views and let the RfC progress. Regards, [[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuS]] [[Special:Contributions/FoCuSandLeArN|contribs]]; [[User_talk:FoCuSandLeArN|talk to me!]] 19:28, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

::::[[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuSandLeArN]] (FoCuS), asking you to explain your rationale for your vote is not disrespecting your vote or you. Since you've been involved in a number of RfCs, you should know that. Needless to state, I disagree with your rationale, and have given ample reason why I do. As for attitudes, I feel the same regarding you judging by your "19:28, 19 January 2016 (UTC)" response. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 19:53, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I provided my rationale the first time around. Deal with it. Your reputation precedes you. Best, [[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuS]] [[Special:Contributions/FoCuSandLeArN|contribs]]; [[User_talk:FoCuSandLeArN|talk to me!]] 19:59, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::[[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuSandLeArN]] (FoCuS), indeed [[User:Flyer22 Reborn/Awards and gifts|it does]]. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:07, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::Let's try to stay focused, guys. So far, this has been pretty productive, but there is already a lengthy discussion above which addressed these questions and came to no resolution, hence the "per <user>" commentary. Beginning the discussion again is a step in the wrong direction. Obviously, there is disagreement over whether this statement stands on its own or needs additional information. All the talk-page evidence in the world has no effect on the body text, nor does it aid the reader, which is what we're here to discuss. Let's please keep our opinions of other editors and interpretation of their comments out of the discussion for now. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 05:53, 20 January 2016 (UTC) 

*'''Support''' -- weakly, because I think the line should show sources but the discussion is saying the bigger issue is it's a bad line. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 16:59, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' per above. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:20, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' per my comments above. [[User:Snow Rise|'''''Snow''''']] [[User talk:Snow Rise|'''''let's rap''''']] 06:22, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

===Provide additional information for further context===
'''Note''': There is no obligation to !vote in each section. Feel free to only !vote where you feel it is needed. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 09:47, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:[[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]], your note in this section is misplaced because voting "use in-text attribution" or "don't use in-text attribution" is not the same thing as supporting "additional information for further context," as is clear by editors' comments in this section. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 19:33, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::I disagree. There's never any requirement to !vote in any specific section in any RFC. Frankly as I said before, it shouldn't really be necessary to note it and if it is, it would be better at the beginning of the RFC. Except that wouldn't work here given the beginning in such a mess. But if you are going to note it, it's quite wrong to only note it one specific section as if one section only is unimportant. Editors are free to participate in whatever part of the RFC they wish to. The fact that for some reason it was felt better to list two mutually contradictory options rather than simply give a neutrally worded single option to choose between them doesn't change how we should handle stuff. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 10:20, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:::And I disagree. I never stated that there is any requirement to !vote in any specific section in any RFC. My "19:33, 23 January 2016 (UTC)" comment is clear. And, as you know, further reasoning was [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard/Incidents&diff=701491039&oldid=701490360#Talk:Campus_sexual_assault_RfC stated at WP:ANI]. And as for there being "two mutually contradictory options," that depends on how you look at it; I don't see two mutually contradictory options. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 22:05, 24 January 2016‎ (UTC) 
*'''Could support'''...if done right. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
:*'''Question''' Have you got any specific examples of alternatives you could support? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' This would no doubt be a happy compromise for all of us. I would like to at least see a range of figures. Such figures do exist, and the oft-quoted range is 68-90%, but this is from data compiled from several surveys. I am able to provide additional sources on figures if needed. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support.''' Due to the complexity and wide divergence in methodology of the different sources, claims such as this one (which, as far as I can tell, is 100% true) should be clarified in maximum detail. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 01:08, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Conditional Support''' I think the additional context is sort of provided by subsequent sections, and I think my own proposed edit is a little unwieldy because it introduces a survey-based measure of sexual assault before explaining why survey-based measures of sexual assault are necessary. Still, I think this is fine if we think it's a necessity to include more in-text information. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 22:19, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
* ''' Yes Yes YES !!!! ''' It seems that the text is from one source and showing that is not liked so consensus to work on the wording ('numerous studies' or whatever) to something that does not draw these concerns seems more indicated than talking about whether or not to continue with what presents an appearance of a bad-WP soapboxing exaggeration. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 17:03, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Could support''': The best solution to most edit wars is to cite something. Needed or not, [[WP:POPE]] or not, it probably will help. Won't de-escalate the trolls from trolling, but at least they will be more obviously exposed as trolls. [[User:Montanabw|Montanabw]][[User talk:Montanabw|(talk)]] 22:42, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Not necessary but wouldn't hurt''' What seems to be going on here is that Flyer and others think that in-text attribution is not necessary because an inline citation is already used and that it might make the fact cited look less mainstream and accepted than it really is and Scoundr3l and others think that the in-text citation is needed to prevent the text from looking more mainstream and accepted than it really is. The sources that are already there certainly look reliable, but adding one or two more (preferably from the most mainstream source possible), probably would disrupt the flow of the article less than adding extra words. Here are some that might suit (some of these are used elsewhere in the article): [http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/rape-sexual-violence/pages/rape-notification.aspx U.S. National Institute of Justice] [http://time.com/2905637/campus-rape-assault-prosecution/ Time Magazine] [http://www.umd.edu/ocrsm/files/Why-Is-Sexual-Assault-Under-Reported.pdf UMD] [http://globalnews.ca/news/1845136/why-dont-women-report-rape-because-most-get-no-justice-when-they-do/ A Canadian newspaper] [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 17:11, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

===Proposed wording===
The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement. From 1995 to 2013, 67% of the sexual attacks against non-students and 80% of the sexual attacks against college students reported in the National Crime Victimization surveys were not reported to police. (citing [http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsavcaf9513.pdf this], already in the refs) [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 22:16, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

:I would support that, Nblund. Thank you. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 22:24, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

*I like the second sentence and appreciate the attempt at compromise. However, my concern is that the cited survey is only related to college-aged females in the United States, specifically 18-24. This would be approximately 15 million people in a very specific cultural demographic represented by this survey data. I'm not trying to tear down the house before it's built, but it doesn't seem like a fair representation of the initial statement. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 07:49, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

Here is one possibility which borrows terminology from the citation (thank you, Nblund, for providing): ''"Research has consistently shown that the majority of sexual assault victims do not report their attack to law enforcement."''

This would then go on to cite specifics, as necessary. Notice it is not a direct attribution, so as not to immediately favor any of the 11 some-odd surveys which support the claim in the citation, but at least provides context as to where the data comes. It also plainly acknowledges the majority of the viewpoint. This is also quite open to modification, so feel free. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 08:48, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:I think "research has consistently shown" works, especially if subsequent statements bolster that point. Regarding the overall average: we could use the most recent NCVS available: 34% of rapes/sexual assaults reported on [http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv14.pdf the 2014 NCVS] were reported to police. Or we could use this report that aggregates over four years: [http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vnrp0610.pdf this source] "between 2006 and 2010, 65% of rapes or sexual assaults reported on the National Crime Victimization surveys were not reported to the police". I might add a couple of additional sources specific to college students after that. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:08, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

: [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] - rewording seems the right area but what the second line shows is only that there is disagreement among reports, not a support for the first line. I'm now twigging on '''the topic is supposed to be campus sexual assault''', so the whole first line and ensuing discussion about statistics accuracy seems a bit [[WP:OFFTOPIC]] or at least the context by title of this section "Campus sexual assault", "Prevalence and incidence of rape and other sexual assault" subsection would need to convey why is Prevalence all about how the statistics do not agree ? Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 17:26, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
::I'm not what you mean by disagreements. The second line in the wording I proposed says that there are differences between two different populations (college vs. non-college), but I don't think that really reflects a disagreement so much as an actual difference between the two populations. Can you clarify what you're saying here? [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:07, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::Like Nblund, I would prefer you clarify what you mean. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:53, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::I see no issue with Nblund's material, there is a statement, with two examples that are included. We can add more citations, we can add 20, 30, 50 studies. There is no disagreement that most attacks go unreported, it's as obvious as the nose on your face, the only question are specific numbers for specific populations; 8 in 10 is commonly cited, the range above probably represent the outliers. (this reminds me of the climate change disputes, where they decided, basically, who cares if it's 80% 90% or 97%, the point is that the consensus is overwhelming) [[User:Montanabw|Montanabw]][[User talk:Montanabw|(talk)]] 22:49, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Agree with Montanabw. There is no disagreement, just different levels of non-reporting. Scoundr3l's objection that the cited example is limited to college-age women in the U.S. doesn't make sense to me. College-age women in the U.S. are probably the ''most likely'' people in the world to actually report sexual assault. If anyone is aware of any study showing that most sexual assaults are reported (anywhere in the world), that would be a valid reason to object to the wording. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:26, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::The demographics of a study are specifically linked to its conclusions. If a study in the US concludes that 95% of households own a car, this is not indicative that "most people own a car", nor would a reliable source make that claim, nor can Wikipedia make that claim. The car study wasn't representative of all people and a worldwide study would find a number closer to 15%, making the conclusion likely false. Whether or not this is the case with unreported sexual assault is not our place to conjecture, our place is only to accurately report the information and where it's coming from. If there is a consensus, we should be able to find a source of that consensus. Otherwise, an absence of evidence to the contrary should not be treated as evidence of absence. Well supported information (which I know this is) should have no fear of attribution. What are your thoughts on the proposed "Research has consistently shown that the majority of sexual assault victims..."? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 03:55, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

::: [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] to respond with further explanation then: Your proposed words are not about the prevalence of Campus sexual assault, so they seem astray from the section title. The words proposed are to the topic of underreporting rather than the prevalence of assault, such as given in the end of the section: "The 2013 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) estimated that 0.43% of women were victims of some form of sexual assault, with attempted or completed rape at approximately 0.35%.[11] Other research estimates anywhere from 10%[1] to as many as 29%[12] of women have been victims of rape or attempted rape since starting college." But what you're talking is where the article has a mismatch to the section title. There would at least need to be some content to say why Prevalence is going into how statistics disagree and how things are not reported instead of talking just to the title how often assault happens.
::: And that led me to twig to the bigger problem that '''the article is supposed to be about campus sexual assault but it mostly isn't'''. The whole first part -- almost half of the article -- seems just about how incidence statistics argue. I'd think that due WEIGHT would have the article mostly for the prominent court cases and the prevention or enforcement programs and surveys a minor note. Surveys disagreeing seems more suited to a summary table of about 8 lines in a section title about range of studies outcomes or information unclear. Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 23:12, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:::: (p.s. If actual coverage of the topic is really 40% coverage in studies disagreements then OK, just follow the cites and convey the actual weight. My impression that isn't the case, but say what the body of works looks like, whatever that may be) [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 23:17, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I think the reason under-reporting is mentioned in the first sentence is so that readers understand why we usually rely on surveys to measure sexual assault to measure its prevalence. For most crimes, we would probably rely on police reports or statistics reported by universities themselves, but the problem of under-reporting means that these sources aren't very reliable.
:::::I think the issue you raise is probably beyond the scope of this RfC, but I do agree that the prevalence and incidence section is too long and too involved, and I think that it covers too many specific studies and overemphasizes criticisms and disagreements while downplaying the general consensus among experts. I would support shortening it as long as the general confines of the debate were still given due weight, but that would be a potentially contentious undertaking. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:37, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
'''Comment''': So I'm not actually clear on this: is anyone opposed the approach of stating "Research has consistently shown that the majority of sexual assaults are not reported to police; between 2006 and 2010, 65% of rapes or sexual assaults reported on the National Crime Victimization surveys were not reported [add more examples if needed]". [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:11, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
:I don't think it's controversial (to me anyway) to make that kind of a statement, particularly if we provide the intext attribution which was the genesis of this discussion.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 22:51, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
::I am, of course, in favor of this. If we need additional statistics, Darkfrog provided a great resource below: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/653101?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents which found, upon review of a number of studies, that as little as 14% are reported. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:12, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

===Further commentary===
I think there are valid concerns being expressed by both sides here, but I also think there are a couple of important points to keep in mind.
*1."It's not necessary" or "it's unhelpful for readers" is actually a perfectly valid reason to oppose including something in an entry. I think there are additional concerns that are more central here, but I don't think we should dismiss that consideration out of hand. The section on [[WP:INTEXT]] specifically discourages using in-text attribution when a footnote would suffice.
*2. Not including an in-text citation is not the same as not including a citation at all, and it doesn't prevent readers from checking facts or forming their own opinions. For the vast majority of cases, a footnote citation (like the one we use) is considered sufficient.
*3. Most importantly: survey research is science. There's no precedent for handling surveys any differently than any other form of scientific evidence on Wikipedia, and I think the argument "surveys can't be factual" would require us to rewrite vast sections of not only this entry, but of a vast swath of Wikipedia entries. Virtually every piece of demographic data cited in the entry for [[Demography of the United States]], for instance, comes from a survey, and most of those statements do not include in-text attribution. Even if you think this should be the standard, it clearly isn't the standard right now, and imposing it would require more than an RfC. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 22:52, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

I believe we have common ground on these points, but I have a few additional perspectives:
*1. Those comments ("it's not necessary", "it's unhelpful") are indeed valid considerations. Their weight must be carefully considered, however. To an article with a stable status quo, any change at all is generally more unnecessary than necessary. Yet, in the interest of collaboration, Wikipedia encourages bold edits and discourages reversion. Only in cases where an edit clearly makes the article worse should reversion be considered, so perhaps the better question is whether or not it's necessary to exclude the change.
*2. Indeed, there is no argument that the statement is cited. However, relating to my first bullet point above, the statement is commentary related to some sort of data. By not including the source of data in the text, it makes it all but impossible for other editors to include additional commentary on that data (which certainly exists) and thus inadvertently gives the sources sole authority over the conclusion. This does not seem to be in the best interest of the reader or the other editors.
*3. Agreed. Sociology (forgive me if this is not the accurate term for this type of survey) is a science and it follows a method. Like all sciences, this method is generally an ongoing process of examining previous data, drawing conclusions, adjusting methodologies, and further testing hypotheses. The cited survey in particular put a great deal of effort into ensuring the accuracy and objectivity of their data. I think it's important that we give the conclusions all the respect they deserve: they are not guesses, their methods are sound, and we have every reason to believe the conclusions are accurate. However, there are still a great many debates ongoing in this area of study, notably among sociologists themselves. Even if all surveys show a greater than 50% incidence of non-reporting, it is unlikely that there is consensus on the methodologies nor is it likely that others surveys will replicate the results, making the conclusion potentially contentious. At least uncertain enough that it should be written in the commentator's voice, not Wikipedia's, or at least attribute where the data is coming from. But I'm not asking you to take my word for it, I'm only asking that we improve the wording of this statement enough that additional commentary can be easily added. If the results of the US Demographics statistics were a matter of serious contention, I have no doubt Wikipedia would accurately report on that. This subject, as it stands, is a bit more controversial. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 07:19, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::You keep saying that the subject of under-reporting is controversial, but without offering any evidence. There are countless sources stating that most rape goes unreported.[https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=ZhZdlxufjQMC&pg=PA25&dq=%22actual+rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGx6Oa2L7KAhWCtoMKHaBIBDIQ6AEIGzAA#v=onepage&q=%22actual%20rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=d-wYRpkc9KUC&pg=PA59&dq=%22rape+goes+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22rape%20goes%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=XbAo8cDpxuwC&pg=PT195&dq=%22rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0t43a2L7KAhUls4MKHfZgAZAQ6AEIJjAC#v=onepage&q=%22rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=PGbg9el9KkAC&pg=PA410&dq=%22rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0t43a2L7KAhUls4MKHfZgAZAQ6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=%22rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=RSWAUyRXge8C&pg=PA434&dq=%22rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0t43a2L7KAhUls4MKHfZgAZAQ6AEIOTAF#v=onepage&q=%22rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false] Many sources cite estimates of 90% unreported. 2/3rds unreported is also a common estimate. If you have any sources stating that (1) most rape cases are reported, or (2) that the claim that most cases are unreported is controversial, please present them. Wikipedia does not allow [[WP:OR|original research]], however. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:44, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::In all fairness, the burden of proof is not on me, or any other source really, to provide evidence that a statement is uncertain. Rather the burden is on the statement to prove itself. Until the exact claim is attributed, it is not possible to provide such commentary on those claims. However, as this represents a perfect example of the problem, I'd be happy to indulge the exercise for the sake of this discussion. Let us bear in mind, however, that no additional sources or rationale worked out in this discussion are benefiting the article text or the readers. I do not have access to the reference section of any of these links, but if you can provide me with their primary source, I will attempt to provide evidence of controversy. Without the reference, as far as I can tell, it's possible that all 5 of these links are referencing the same survey. I don't think "Sexual Decisions: The Ultimate Teen Guide", for example, will show up in many professional commentaries, but its data source certainly will. This is exactly the same problem the article text has, at the moment, and the questions presented in this discussion are the questions the article should be answering for the readers. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:14, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

::::Scoundr3l, what kind of sources do you find convincing? Government? Professional scientific studies? Newspapers? Most of the books Kaldari supplied are reliable but they cover the matter of rape in passing. A book that is specifically about sexual violence, perhaps? I'm confident we could find something that would put your mind at ease regarding this matter. Whom do you consider a reliable authority? [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 17:19, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::::{{ping|Scoundr3l}}, there actually ''is'' a word for the thing you're talking about: "meta-analysis." That's when a group of scientists gather all the surveys and studies of a particular issue and evaluate them to identify overall trends. Here is one comparative analysis.[http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/653101?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents] Even in most regular studies, a single fact can be supported by multiple surveys. This one covers a single national sample [http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/26/4/807.abstract] [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 18:58, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I think the primary issue has more to do with the wording than the source, although it certainly doesn't help that the article's listed source may be poorly worded. As you say, many sources mention the statistic only in passing and so the phrasing is less important to their overall point. However, most academic sources (and, I hope we'll conclude, encyclopedias) prefer the more precise wording. So perhaps the issue is in replacing the source. The meta-analysis you've provided is a great resource and, if not included already, I hope it'll be added to the article. The wording I'm seeing in that source is "In the past 15 years in Australia, Canada, England and Wales, Scotland, and the United States, victimization surveys show that 14 percent of sexual violence victims report the offense to the police." To rephrase that statement as simply "The majority of rape goes unreported" would misrepresent the statement in terms of voice, conclusion, date range, and demographics. Granted the former statement would support the latter statement, if we assume the initial point, but it would be fallacy to do so. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:52, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

:: [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] - actually it's not hard to find mentions of dispute on the whole topic of 'under-reporting' as something out there. See [http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/01/20/new-study-once-again-debunks-right-wing-medias/208071 here] , [http://www.weeklystandard.com/more-college-rape-hype-this-time-from-the-washington-post/article/972536 here], [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419716/posts-new-poll-campus-sexual-assault-bogus-david-french], Dana Goldstein, “The Dueling Data on Campus Rape,” and so forth. I'm thinking more that the topic is supposed to be assault itself, and the issues of dueling statistics just isn't an actual sexual assault and just isn't due this amount of coverage. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 00:02, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
:::None of the 3 sources you cite say anything about under-reporting of rape or sexual assault to law enforcement. Those articles just argue that sexual assault rates are lower then what is commonly reported in the media or by surveys. Even if sexual assault rates are actually very low (as those articles argue), it's still possible (and very likely) that the majority of incidents are not reported to law enforcement. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 04:36, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

:::: User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] - There is controversy. It seemed silly to ask Scoundr3l for it "You keep saying that the subject of under-reporting is controversial, but without offering any evidence" when such was easily google findable, but I gave a few of the first ones I found to show there is some 'over-inflated' versus 'under-reported'. This is to show there is partisan dispute here, not that partisans use the term of their opponents or talk seriously and fairly about the alternate views. I additionally offer that this all seems a bit [[WP:OFFTOPIC]] and not proper for the article to lead with as it's focusing instead into whether partisans exist or that claims are hyped or understated and leaving assault prevalence down at the third para and things other than surveys in the bottom half of the article. If the article topic was 'Survey disputes about Sexual Assault' or 'Partisan sides in sexual assault topic' would be one thing but for 'Campus sexual assault' it looks to me as a poor match to the titles. So again: there is dispute, here are a few examples.
:::::* [http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/01/20/new-study-once-again-debunks-right-wing-medias/208071 here] Media matters slamming right-wing as having differing info 'New Study Once Again Debunks Right-Wing Media's Favorite Myths About Campus Sexual Assault Statistics ';
:::::* [http://www.weeklystandard.com/more-college-rape-hype-this-time-from-the-washington-post/article/972536 here] Weekly Standard flaming left-wing for wild definitions and false underreporting 'More College Rape Hype — This Time from the Washington Post';
:::::* [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419716/posts-new-poll-campus-sexual-assault-bogus-david-french here] National review article on also saying Washington Post made bogus claims;
:::::* [https://www.themarshallproject.org/2014/12/11/the-dueling-data-on-campus-rape#.7AIJ5IPGK here] Dana Goldstein, “The Dueling Data on Campus Rape"
::::Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 17:24, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::{{ping|Markbassett}} Only 2 of those 4 sources mention reporting rates (as opposed to assault rates) and they both support the statement that the majority of sexual assaults are unreported:
:::::* "Among female sexual assault victims, only 12.5 percent of rapes and 4.3 percent of sexual battery incidents were reported to any official."
:::::* "Virtually none of these students went to the police, nor did most report any incident to their colleges."
:::::I'm still not seeing any controversy about reporting rates. I firmly agree with you that there is controversy about sexual assault rates, but that's not the rate we are talking about here. We're talking about the reporting rate, not the assault rate. Specifically we're talking about the claim that "The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement." Do you have any sources that dispute that claim or even state that it is controversial? So far, I haven't seen any. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 23:56, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

== Wording Kentucky finding ==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&curid=30977727&diff=700799635&oldid=700794117 Regarding this].
I left out "attempted" but the wording should be something like: "A separate, mandatory, survey conducted by the University of Kentucky found that 5% of college undergraduates experienced completed or attempted oral, anal, or vaginal penetration while unable to consent due to drugs or alcohol, or by force".

The placement of the sentence and the emphasis on the higher response rate seem to imply that it was somehow methodologically superior to the AAU, but that's not necessarily true: low response rates don't necessarily indicate bias, and high response rates don't necessarily indicate a lack of bias. More importantly: simply saying they measured "sexual assault" is misleading. They only measure completed or attempted penetration in the last year. The 5% finding is actually higher than the most directly comparable finding from the [https://www.aau.edu/uploadedFiles/AAU_Publications/AAU_Reports/Sexual_Assault_Campus_Survey/Report%20on%20the%20AAU%20Campus%20Climate%20Survey%20on%20Sexual%20Assault%20and%20Sexual%20Misconduct.pdf AAU survey]: (table 3-21, page 117 of the pdf) an average of 3.1% of undergraduates experienced completed or attempted penetration using force or incapacitation in the past year. As it stands, i'm not really sure why this finding is important, or why it belongs in the AAU section. It's not very well-documented beyond the brochure, and it seems sort of irrelevant to the AAU survey itself.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=700771663 This edit] is essentially a [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=690919726 word-for-word] reproduction of the same as the material I have objected to in the past. Reasonable people can disagree, but it's tendentious and time-wasting to keep re-introducing disputed material without making an effort to resolve the issues. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:52, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:I think it's problematic that we lack access to the primary source and newspaper wording seems to have a bit of a willy-nilly attitude about conflating different terminology. The statistic appears to count attempted, but not completed assaults, as well as cases of intoxication which might not meet the legal definition of sexual assault. I would suggest not including it unless we can find the original study, or at least making sure our wording closely matches what's written in the brief summary that U Kentucky made public. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 21:20, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
{{outdent}}I tend to agree, but that approach may receive some pushback from others. The full report was supposed to come out in December, but it still hasn't been released as far as I can tell. Based on their public statements, it sounds like they used questions similar to the ones used to measure rape on the Campus Sexual Assault study. If that's the case, their questions about incapacitated rape would conform to the legal criteria for most states. Still, I think you're right that, without access to more information, there's a risk of mis-characterizing things. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:29, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::Here is what I am reading in the linked brochure: "[4.9% of UK students] reported unwanted sexual experiences (vaginal, oral, or anal sex) that occurred because: they were slipped drugs or alcohol and unable to consent; they were unable to consent due to voluntary drinking or taking drugs; they were threatened with physical harm; or they were physically forced. This percentage also includes individuals for whom someone attempted to force them to have sex, but they were able to escape." I agree with more specific wording, as opposed to "any sexual assault", as the more details provided the better the context for the reader. However, I would even suggest we change it to "unwanted sexual experience" so as to match the text and so there are no squabbles over the definition of sexual assault. Also, it doesn't seem necessary to round this number to 5% if I'm reading the relevant content, as often these numbers have already been rounded from a more specific decimal. The second sentence does indeed seem lax in its wording, but I think it's enough that we mention that this includes attempted. Given all that, my personal wording for this sentence would be "...encompassing 80% of students (24,300 respondents) found that 4.9% of that school's students in the past year were victims of unwanted sexual experiences, including completed or attempted oral, anal, or vaginal sex without their consent." I hope that helps. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 22:34, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::I just realized that "including" may be contentious phrasing, but I have no objection to "defined as". [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 22:37, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:::No, this is exactly the point. It should state clearly exactly what is being measured, and this is required by [[WP:PRIMARY]]. Your abbreviated wording, omitting e.g. "unable to consent due to intoxication", is original research. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 22:59, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::::I'm not sure I understand where your objection lies. My statement mentioned exactly what the text said was measured and mentions that it was without their consent. The various methods that may produce a lack of consent seem unnecessary to that point, but you're welcome to include intoxication if you like. Surely some amount of content can be reasonably omitted for the sake of [[WP:PARAPHRASE]], so I'm not sure what you qualified as OR, but otherwise we might as well make it a direct quote. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Because differences in operational definitions and standards of consent are key to this topic, it's critical to completely describe them. Otherwise meaning is lost. This would be a very bad use of [[WP:PARAPHRASE]] (which is an essay, not policy). The situation here is closer to the sort of thing [[WP:MEDRS]] was written to deal with. In medicine, epidemiology is a notoriously fickle subject, which is why MEDRS warns against using primary sources at all if it can be avoided. Although sexual assault poses serious dangers to physical and mental health, this is arguably not a topic where MEDRS applies; nevertheless, we are dealing with similar sourcing issues. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 00:31, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::Are you objecting to the source or only to the paraphrasing of the source? If the latter, what else would you include that would be an accurate representation of the source, in your opinion? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:55, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::If we are including this survey, I would prefer to be explicit about what was measured. My concern is that it looks like we're making a comparison between Kentucky's findings and the findings of the AAU, even though those results really aren't comparable because they measure different types of sexual violence. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::It should be a two way street then. Nblund wants to be explicit about the Kentucky Survey, but wants to minimize the detailed findings of other surveys that tout higher numbers, including how often the "victims" don't think it's serious enough. Here's the theme - report high level numbers (per the lede), with no attribution about what and how they are measuring it. Also, try to argue that surveys that have very high rates are just as good, no, better than surveys that indicate lower rates. See the theme?
Regarding Nblund's queries about the differences in methodology between the AAU and Kentucky studies, the AAU study used responses from non-random and voluntary sample with a low participation rate. This creates the risk of [[Sampling bias]]. Per the AAU study itself, "An analysis of the possibility the estimates were affected by non-response bias found that certain types of estimates may be too high because non-victims may have been less likely to participate." The Kentucky survey represents nearly the entire population, was not voluntary, which means it's more representative of the student body.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 13:54, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:Yeah, this is exactly what I think we should avoid trying to imply. A sample with a high response rate can potentially be less representative than a sample with a low response rate and vice versa. Whether or not a response bias exists is actually a pretty tricky empirical question: notice that the AAU report dedicates about 30 pages (appendix 4) to analyzing the sample for bias. The KU survey may be worse, or better, but they either didn't check for bias, or haven't released those results. It's really speculative to say that the survey is of better quality. It certainly isn't something that you could cite a reliable source to support. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::It's more than an implication. It's a basic fact about surveys and sampling and it's overtly stated by the AAU study designers themselves. I'm confident you know the difference, but let me explain to other editors. The closer the sample is to capturing the entire population the better. If you can poll everyone, then the results reflect the entire population. If you cannot capture the entire population, you then need to control for sample bias. One way this is done to is make sure the sample is '''random.''' Kentucky does a good job because it captured more than 90% of the population, and did not have any issue with self-selection bias because it was mandatory. AAU is closer to 15%, and was not random. So 85% of students did not respond to the survey, and of the 15% who chose to respond, the AAU itself states they may be more inclined because they had been assaulted. I don't think you really believe the two approaches are equivalent, but you want readers to think they are. You carefully avoid the Complete Sample, vs. Random Sample vs. Self-Selected Sample issues to make your argument, and that's just misleading. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]])
:::Yeah, it's not true that higher response rates are always better. There's actually quite a bit of [http://poq.oxfordjournals.org/content/70/5/646.short recent] [http://poq.oxfordjournals.org/content/64/4/413.abstract?ijkey=5e888a9b22673e0eb7434758958d689cf0637409&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha research] on this topic that suggests that bias can be the same or even higher in surveys with very high response rates. The AAU authors cite some of this literature in the report (footnote 1 on page vi of the introduction). The AAU does say that there is evidence of a response bias on their survey, and that is noted in the entry. However there are no indications of the quality of Kentucky's data, and the claim that one is superior to the other doesn't appear to be something that you can support with a reliable source. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 17:07, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Here's [http://wfpl.org/how-the-university-of-kentucky-tackled-underreporting-of-sexual-assault-on-campus/ a very specific source commenting on the KU survey] which I quote:
:::::"Until now, the school has had to rely on information that was volunteered. Follingstad explained that volunteered data is not always representative. “A survey that goes out to a campus is relying on whomever is willing to complete it,” she said. “There is always a concern that samples are skewed.” That’s why campus officials decided the survey should go out to entire student body."
::::Can we drop this now? AAU study was voluntary. Kentucky was not.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 17:58, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Where does it say that the data quality is superior to the findings from the AAU? Where does it say that they have empirical evidence of reduced response bias? That statement explains Kentucky's reasoning, but it doesn't say anything directly about the quality of the current data, and it certainly doesn't offer any support for making a comparison across data sources. This is a very complex statistical question, it's not really something that we can reasonably speculate about. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:32, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::Now you're just being difficult. The AAU designers say their study is skewed. The KU say theirs is not, with the same reasoning.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 18:57, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::I'm not trying to be difficult, but it seems like you're putting words in the mouths of these researchers. The AAU says they have ''some indications'' of a response bias. They draw this conclusion after running some fairly rigorous empirical tests. KU says that volunteered data isn't always representative, but they don't actually assert that their results are free of bias, and they absolutely don't make a comparison between data sources. Doing so would be pretty irresponsible, because they don't appear to have analyzed the data for response bias -- at least not yet. Again, this is a question that requires some fairly sophisticated statistical know-how and technical skills, it would be pretty clear-cut OR to assert something like this without a reliable source. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:35, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::Again quoting, "There is always a concern that samples are skewed.” That’s why campus officials decided the survey should go out to entire student body."" What part of that do you not understand? How about I add what KU and the AAU people say about their own studies then, with quotes? Or will you object to that?[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 20:06, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::It would depend on the wording and arrangement, if you arrange the quotes in a way that appears to be making a comparison between the two, I would say that still poses the same problem. Others are questioning whether this belongs here at all, so maybe you should propose something above and see what others think.
:::::::::The AAU is making a statement based on a fairly rigorous response analysis. Follingstad, on the other hand, is discussing how KU's novel approach ''might'' alleviate the issue, but it's not something that has empirical support, nor does it suggest anything about the AAU. I think this comparison is also a stretch, but KU [http://uknow.uky.edu/content/campus-safety-survey-reveals-student-perceptions-and-experiences does compare their results to the Campus Sexual Assault study]. Their findings actually indicate a higher rate of sexual violence than the CSA (5% in the last year vs. 3.4% since entering college). [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 20:51, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::The AAU study is clearly flawed due to the low response rate, while we just don't know enough about the U Kentucky study. There are problems with mandatory surveys too, such that some students may not read the questions and just try to get it over with. I don't think we can reasonably compare the results unless we know that the methodology was similar, and I'm bothered that we don't seem to have access to the original study, just the summary of results. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 21:52, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::Yeah, there's also the problem that the 80% completion rate appears to include students who completed the survey but selected "prefer not to answer" for certain questions. The number of valid responses for each item is probably lower than the total participation rate. Again, this is something that would probably be laid out in the full report.
::::::::::: Looking over the entry, I think the section on "prevention efforts" probably should contain some information on the strategy of using climate surveys, and I do think some info on the Kentucky, Michigan, and Yale approaches (as well as the AAU) might be useful there. Kentucky did get some press coverage for the idea of making this survey mandatory, and I think that approach is noteworthy even if we're unsure about how to deal with the results themselves. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:34, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::A whole lot of speculation going on. How about we use what's stated by the survey designers themselves as it relates to sample. There's this thing called [[WP:RS]] that Wikipedia is founded on.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 12:21, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::Do you have an RS where the survey designers say anything about the item-by-item response rates or state the number of students who gave valid responses to the sexual assault questions? [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:52, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::::Not required since we're not citing a source that makes any points to that level of detail. Simply put, we have the AAU (and others) stating there's selection bias in their survey, and we have Kentucky saying they decided to go with the entire student body to avoid that issue. It's sourced. Your speculative opinions on why this is not valid is not supported by any source you've offered. So I put it to you - do you have a sources that says the AAU study was more rigorous, or better executed than Kentucky? If so, how? Also, you previous asked me for a source regarding Kentucky, I provided it, and now you're shifting the goal line.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 17:06, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::I asked for a source that supported the argument that the KU survey was better than the AAU, and you haven't provided that. I really doubt you can. For my part: I don't know whether the AAU is more rigorous, and I would oppose suggesting that in the entry. My view is that we lack enough information to make a comparison and so we should avoid implying one. Like I said: maybe you should propose a wording above so we have something more concrete to work with. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:37, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::::::According to Diane Follingstad, director of the Center for Research on Violence Against Women at UK, who was quoted extensively in a reliable news source, KU made the survey mandatory to avoid problems of skewed responses. That's the comparison in the passage and according to her, the KU study is unique. Your opinion on the matter is irrelevant. We rely on reliable sources. Your POV is showing, and if you keep it up, this might have to go to ANI.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 17:21, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::::Yes, Mattnad, and I have explained at length why a comparison is still not really okay. You might not agree -- but there is not a consensus for inserting this material in the way you have worded it, and you're not really engaged in any effort to create consensus. You absolutely should take that accusation to ANI. It's uncivil and disruptive to keep making the accusation on talk pages. Either take it to ANI or stop saying it. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 17:32, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

== Minutiae ==

The UK study which is being pushed by [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] is a somewhat flimsy primary source that may not belong at all. But I'm also a bit perturbed by edits like [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701631860&oldid=701631693 this] by [[User:Nblund|Nblund]]. While the edit summary is accurate in a sense - this particular source doesn't make the specific claim that the BJS criteria were narrower - we also all know this claim to be true, and it can be sourced elsewhere. On both sides, there is an effort to control almost every word in this article, which is going to preclude it from being developed. I would suggest you stop arguing over these small issues and instead open a (hopefully friendlier) discussion about how to significantly restructure the article. It needs work one way or another. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 04:47, 27 January 2016 (UTC)
:As you previously noted, the AAU doesn't even purport to measure sexual assault at all, so the comparison seems a little problematic on its face, but I don't think that the claim is true at all. Different surveys use different definitions, and some surveys (NISVS, for instance) measure other types of sexual violence ''in addition to'' rape and sexual assault, but I don't see reliable sources that claim that they define sexual assault more or less "narrowly" from any other data source. [http://www.nap.edu/read/18605/chapter/6 The National Research Council Report] on the NCVS methodology actually conducts a pretty in-depth review of the definitions used by different studies. They do note that the NCVS definition needs improvement, and say that needs to explicitly include sexual assault by incapacitation, but they don't reach the conclusion that any particular definition is "narrower" overall.

:More importantly, the statement gives a misleading impression that isn't supported by reliable sources: definitions vary, but no scholarly source supports the notion that differences in definition are the ''primary'' reason for differences on the "not serious enough" response, or on any other measure. Indeed, the distinction generally portrayed as more important for differences across surveys in the scholarly literature is the wording of survey questions. Surveys that use behaviorally specific questions (like the CSA and AAU) generally find more sexual assaults than studies (like the NCVS) that ask respondents whether they were raped without defining explicitly what that term entails. This discrepancy holds true in controlled experiments, where the only difference between two studies is the wording of the survey questions themselves ([https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf see the results of the "quasi-experiment" here])

:I agree that there are problems here, and the best solution is to avoid a deep dive in to particular study, but I'm not just quibbling about minutiae here: statements like the one I removed mis-characterize the science in order to make arguments that aren't supportable by a reliable source. It's a [[Wikipedia:No_trojan_horses|Trojan Horse]] for introducing a bit of editorial, and it's a persistent problem. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 06:13, 27 January 2016 (UTC)

== Undue weight for criticism section ==

The "criticism" section seems disproportionately large and it includes a bullet style list of specific cases where the university apparently treated the accused male student unfairly. But there is no bullet style list of notable cases in general, just a bullet list for cases where the male student was apparently treated unfairly. It seems [[wp:undue]] to give this sort of detailed attention to only one specific type of campus sexual assault case. I don't think the answer is adding bullet lists of campus sexual assault cases in general, because that would quickly overwhelm the article, and such details aren't really appropriate in an overview article anyway. It seems the criticism section should be trimmed to just overview information. Another option seems that a break-away article could be created to cover this specific type of case in this sort of detail-[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 04:15, 31 January 2016 (UTC)

Talk:Campus sexual assault

2016-01-31T04:15:22Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Undue weight for criticism section */ new section

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== RFC regarding AAU subsection. ==

{{rfc|pol||rfcid=C8D3756}}
There's an ongoing dispute over how to deal with an editorial argument in the subsection on the recent AAU report. Specifically, the section presents a statistic that most people who experienced a sexual assault who did not report the incident said that they did so because they "did not believe it was serious enough to report". It then presents this argument from an editorial by Stuart Taylor jr.: "Stuart Taylor, writing for the Washington Post, remarked "This most plausible explanation is that most of those classified by the survey as “victims” of sexual assault or rape did not really think that they had been sexually assaulted."" The question is over where/whether to include Taylor's comment, and over whether or not it is appropriate to note, in that section, statements from past research that challenge arguments similar to the one made by Taylor regarding the AAU study. A few solutions that have been proposed are:

*1. Leave the entry as is, or use a similar argument from a different editorial such as [http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/09/aau_campus_sexual_assault_survey_why_such_surveys_don_t_paint_an_accurate.2.html this one] by Emily Yoffe.

*2. Move the quote and statistic to a separate subsection that addresses the causes of non-reporting, while also discussing past research on non-reporting, and the "not serious enough to report" response, and the criticisms voiced by people like Taylor.

*3. Leave Taylor's argument where it is, but also cite past research that disputes Taylor's argument within the AAU section.

Please use the section below for comments. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:43, 12 January 2016 (UTC)
:Nblund did not include what I had proposed several times, that the AAU section has what reliable sources say about the responses, and she can create an seperate of what some others say (per Nblund's sources) about these surveys in general. As written, this RFC forces an either/or dichotomy, which was is not a compromise or reflective of what multiple sources say in 2015, rather than opinions from 2003. This would be a 4th option.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:30, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
::I'm not sure I follow what you're saying closely enough that I feel comfortable summarizing it above, but you're welcome to add it as a fourth option in the portion above if you just sign it. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:31, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
===Comments===
'''Option 2''' Taylor is a columnist with no relevant research background presenting a viewpoint that has been explicitly rejected by experts. It seems to violate NPOV to grant article space to a minority opinion while leaving out the views of scholars. The argument is probably notable enough to warrant some mention somewhere, but it should also be made clear to readers that it's a view generally held by non-expert critics of these studies, and that experts view these results very differently from Taylor. Since Taylor's argument is one that has been made with respect to other studies discussed in the subsection (including the 2007 Campus Sexual Assault study and the National College Women's Sexual Violence Study), it's probably better to place the discussion in it's own subsection. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:13, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Option 2''' (though Option 3 would also be reasonable). I agree with Nblund's comment. As I said above, this approach "provides greater context by explaining different interpretations of the finding. It does so in an even-handed manner, presenting the perspectives of both sides. I am mystified by the suggestion that it includes a fringe POV - how can a substantial body of academic sources (which are recognised as top-quality sources by policy) can be regarded as fringe?"[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=696679818] [[User:Neljack|Neljack]] ([[User talk:Neljack|talk]]) 19:54, 12 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Comment''' FYI: because of the low participation, I went ahead and posted a notice about this RfC on the NPOV and OR noticeboards, if needed, we might also post in the Wikiprojects for sociology or criminology/law. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:49, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Option 1 or a 4th option'''. There are ample secondary sources referring to the AAU study in 2015: [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-college-rape-survey-edit-0924-20150923-story.html],[http://www.nj.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2015/09/survey_1_in_4_college_women_report_unwanted_sexual.html], [http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/health/campus-sexual-assault-new-large-survey/index.html],[http://www.dailytoreador.com/news/aau-releases-survey-on-sexual-assault-sexual-misconduct/article_7ad3391a-626a-11e5-bd1e-af92da7c42f1.html],[http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/article/aau_releases_sexual_assault_survey],[http://myfox8.com/2015/09/23/23-of-women-report-sexual-assault-in-college-study-finds/], [http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28852585/nearly-1-4-umn-students-victim-sexual-assault], [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sexual-assault-survey_56000600e4b08820d9193f54], [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/survey-more-than-1-in-5-female-undergrads-at-top-schools-suffer-sexual-attacks/2015/09/19/c6c80be2-5e29-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html]. The survey was also different from any past efforts in that included questions around affirmative consent. There are no secondary sources that refer to this. Rather, there's a 2003 opinion that Nblund wants to apply to this survey. At most, we can discuss the opinions on this matter separately given the lack of specificity to the AAU survey. I had several times proposed we keep the AAU section as is, and Nblund can create a separate section on these topics in general. This is a pretty basic WP:RS issue. I will add that one of the sources Nblund has cited dwells on Feminist opinions about the matter, and presents their views as hypotheticals. Per Fisher, "For feminists, however, such a response may merely indicate a false consciousness expressed by women acculturated to see their victimization as somehow acceptable." Fisher is not referring mainstream research here, but Feminist opinions. Finally, Fisher herself sees the survey as breaking new ground. Per a Washington Post Article on this, "The dominant reason for why students who didn’t tell authorities: They said it wasn’t serious enough. “That will stimulate a lot of discussion,” said Bonnie Fisher, a professor at the University of Cincinnati and a Westat consultant. “We as researchers don’t know a lot about this — it hasn’t been measured in the past.” [https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/survey-more-than-1-in-5-female-undergrads-at-top-schools-suffer-sexual-attacks/2015/09/19/c6c80be2-5e29-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html] Nblund has argued that Fisher, as originally quoted didn't mean what she said, but no matter how you slice it, the AAU study is different from past according to Nblund's preferred expert.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:30, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Option 1 or Option 3'''. You haven't linked the source in question, but I assume it's [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/09/23/the-latest-big-sexual-assault-survey-is-like-others-more-hype-than-science/ this?] Taylor's qualifications are listed in that source, "Stuart Taylor Jr., an author, journalist and Brookings Institution nonresident senior fellow, is writing a book with KC Johnson about the alarm over campus sexual assault." I don't see in what way this would possibly make him unqualified to discuss campus sexual assault. This is a controversial subject and there are going to be opinions on both sides, as there have been throughout the article. Using a lack of opposing viewpoints as a reason to justify not including an opposing viewpoint would be manufacturing consensus by way of censorship. Taylor's views are in no way fringe or unqualified, so as long as they are presented and attributed as his opinion, they are as subject to additional support or criticism as any other statement in the article. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:42, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
:[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]], option 2 suggests moving Taylor's critique. None of the proposed options include removing Taylor's criticism, or treating them as fringe views. The question is whether we can also cite the views of people who research sexual assault who have previously disputed Taylor's argument. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:36, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::I apologize if I was unclear in my position or misunderstood the intention of option 2. My response was partially meant to address the concern that this is a non-expert opinion when I see no reason to treat it as such, based on the qualifications listed. To elaborate, based on the fact that it appears to be qualified commentary, I am '''generally opposed''' to moving the comment to a new subsection unless this subsection is for all second-party commentary on the survey data. The statement itself doesn't appear to be a direct interpretation of the survey results, so it doesn't necessary belong with other direct interpretations. However, given the qualifications, the brevity of the statement, and that fact that it seems to relate only to this survey (as opposed to such surveys in general) I believe a new paragraph would be sufficient in this case. Absolutely it should include relevant dispute to Taylor's views. If we're talking a substantial discussion, I '''could support option 2''', but the majority of this article manages to discuss opposing views (even flip-flopping oppositions to the opposition) within the body of the particular section and I would think this comment could do the same. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 05:17, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:::We could do a "criticism" subsection, but my idea was to make a subsection specifically about reasons for not-reporting sexual assaults. That section would cite academic research on non-reporting, and then cite Taylor's critique alongside other authors who have made this criticism regarding previous studies. Taylor is specifically discussing the AAU, but the finding he is citing is consistent with past research, and the argument he is making is an old one that has been applied to other research discussed in that section of the entry. For example, Cathy Young makes this same point about the 2000 NCWSV study [http://www.mindingthecampus.org/2014/01/criminal-law-and-the-moral-panic-on-campus-rape/ here], while Asche Schow makes this criticism about the Michigan study cited in the AAU section [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/surveyors-baffled-when-students-dont-see-themselves-as-sex-assault-victims/article/2576570 here]. Citing it only in the AAU section can give the misleading impression that the AAU is unique in this regard, when it really isn't. We could cite those arguments, and cite the response from academics. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:28, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Gotcha. I'm not sure I'll know exactly how strongly I can support option 2 until I see it, but I'm not opposed. It does appear to me that Taylor is not only providing commentary on reasons for non-reporting, but also criticism of these survey's results. For the former reasons, and because there are plenty of other such comments, I could '''conditionally support option 2''' and see the value of that subsection. However, in the context of the quote as a criticism of the survey, I also feel that it belongs alongside other commentary related to the AAU survey, so I support including it there. Were the decision solely up to me, I would consider '''another option''' of including Taylor's commentary in both areas, though to avoid redundancy, I would suggest finding a different suitable quote from Taylor's article as it pertains to commentary on the AAU results. That's up to the editor. I hope that helps. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:59, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
'''Comment.''' I see some serious problems with this section, which likely render this RfC irrelevant, and I recommend it be closed.
:My first instinct on reading this was to say that, since Taylor's is an opinion piece, it probably doesn't deserve a place in criticizing a scientific study. However, on careful reading I found that most of the section is based on even lower-quality commentary from newspapers. Per [[WP:NEWSORG]], caution should be exercised when using such sources, and I don't think that has been done here. Consider the following claim:<blockquote>The AAU’s findings are roughly consistent with a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation national poll, published in June 2015, that found that 1 in 5 young women who attended a residential college during a four-year span said they were sexually assaulted.</blockquote>
:This is based on newspaper reporting making this connection. However, the AAU report itself explicitly cautions against making this claim. (Page v of the executive summary.) This is an example of shoddy reporting. I think you ought to take anything written in newspapers by non-experts with a grain of salt.
:Another thing which raised my eyebrow was the way the primary source was cited. Particularly this claim:<blockquote>The AAU surveys also found that, 3.2% of undergraduates were victims unwanted anal, vaginal or oral sex that occurred because they were forced, threatened with violence or incapacitated and unable to consent (commonly known as rape) in the past year.</blockquote>

:Because this was cited without a page number, I had to search through the document for over an hour in order to figure out where this came from. My best guess is that it is derived from Table 3-21 on page 82. However, the data there don't quite support the claim above, which has multiple inaccuracies and [[WP:OR]] issues.

::(1) "''Unwanted''". The actual wording, as you can see at the top of page A5-23, is "nonconsensual or unwanted". (Moreover, in an issue Taylor might criticize, neither term appeared in the actual questions asked.)

::(2) "''Anal, vaginal or oral sex''". This appears to be original research. The actual definition includes e.g. penetration with fingers or an object, and does not make reference to these specific terms.

::(3) "''Commonly known as rape''". This is the most egregious of the problems, and also the most subtle: the report never says this. This notion likely derives from the description on page 11, section 2, which asserts that violations made possible through physical force or incapacitation as operationally defined in the study ''generally'' meet the legal definition of rape. That's not at all the same as being synonymous with the legal definition of rape, and there is no claim to the effect that all of the "yes" responses represent a rape as legally defined. (As Emily Yoffe's analysis points out, there couldn't possibly be.) Moreover, this datum in the table also includes attempted but not completed forcible penetration, which I think is legally "attempted rape."

:The final thing which I found very strange about this section was the way Stuart Taylor's criticism was cited. He is referenced only for a relatively mild criticism of the report's conclusions, when in fact both he and Emily Yoffe are essentially saying that the whole report is straight-up pseudoscientific bunk. If you are going to cite these people's opinions, you might as well faithfully represent the main point of what they actually said. In Taylor's words the study "was itself deliberately designed to exaggerate the number of sexual assaults on campus" and is "grossly misleading" in multiple respects. He points out multiple serious methodological flaws and notes that, if the number of persons who said that they ''reported'' a rape were extrapolated, the result would overestimate the total number of actual sexual assault reports (not just rape) by a factor of ''nine''. Emily Yoffe echoes this and other criticisms of his. These are much stronger statements than the one which this RfC concerns.

:Taylor is writing a book on the subject and it might be best to wait for his book to be published and see how it is received. For now, I can see two ways to go.

::'''A'''. Dramatically cut down the section, removing claims cited to newspapers, and be very careful to ensure that citations to the study conform to [[WP:PRIMARY]] by refraining from any original interpretation of the study. Do not present this non-peer-reviewed study as though it had equal weight with the much better-established NCVS.

::'''B'''. Present the whole controversy, with full discussion of the harsh criticisms of this study's validity, and place it in context of the political turmoil surrounding the campus rape issue. This means restructuring the article in a way that places primary emphasis on, for example, the Dear Colleague Letter, the campus anti-rape social movement, and the cultural significance of the "1 in 5" statistic (regardless of its validity).

:Obviously '''B''' would make the better and more informative article, if done right, but it would depend on editors with deep ideological differences trusting each other enough to ensure that this doesn't remain the [[WP:BATTLEGROUND]] that it seems to currently be. I have no opinion as to which of these is a better course of action, and I personally don't intend to be involved in this article. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 00:24, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::TL;DR: Because of the fourth and fifth bullet points in [[WP:SCHOLARSHIP]] and the second bullet point in [[WP:NEWSORG]], most of the contents of this section should be cut. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 03:32, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::What you've noted are changes made by Nblund that have distorted the text so it no longer resembles the sources. For instance, the AAU survey explicitly does not use the term "rape" or "sexual assault" in its questions: per this Slate article, "The report deliberately does not use the word rape, Cantor told me. This was at the universities’ request, because the schools are addressing conduct violations, not criminal matters." [http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/09/aau_campus_sexual_assault_survey_why_such_surveys_don_t_paint_an_accurate.html]. So [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&type=revision&diff=692639128&oldid=692544068 here Nblund inserts "rape"] despite the term not being in any of the sources. When I objected, on the grounds it was not in the sources, [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=next&oldid=693725242 Nblund just rephrased it]. It's pure POV pushing frankly. Nblund wants to equate the criminal definition with broader and far looser definition relating to conduct even though the definitions are different, as are the terms used by the sources.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:00, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::For context, in case anyone else wants to follow this discussion, the claims I specifically discussed above were subsequently removed in [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=700629833 this diff]. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 18:19, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

'''Comment''' Sorry, forgot to add the edit summary on those removals. [[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]], I think you raised a good point, and I went ahead and removed the portions tagged as dubious. I agree that the best option would be a rewrite of the section that avoided deep dive in to specific studies in favor of a substantially reduced version that laid out the relevant debates regarding measurement in brief and that placed the views of non-expert skeptics in a single subsection. I have an incomplete draft version on my [[User:Nblund/sandbox#Prevalence_and_incidence_of_rape_and_sexual_assault|sandbox]], if anyone thinks this is a good alternative option, I'm down for it.

Yoffe's claim about the over-estimation of assaults is rooted in a misunderstanding of how [http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/campus-crime-statistics-undercount-sexual-assaults Clery Act reporting works]. I don't think that it really matters which specific argument from these op-eds that we use, because they all have the same basic problem. Yoffe and Taylor are generally skeptical of this entire line of research, not just the AAU, and I think it's a little silly to pretend that these completely untrained columnists are just motivated by a concern about sampling biases or survey methodology on any one particular study. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:28, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
'''Edit:''' I think I should note: the question about measuring rape and sexual assault is actually a scientific question, so making a major shift toward discussing the cultural importance of the stat regardless of it's validity seems a little like it strikes a false balance. It's really a debate between experts who generally favor the method used in the AAU study, and columnists who believe that the discipline is wrongheaded. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:36, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:Your comment about Yoffe is completely wrong. In the article where she comments on the AAU study, she does not mention the Clery Act reports, but refers to the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics findings which uses criminal definitions of sexual assault, "This is illustrated dramatically by the release last December of a special report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics...The report found that among women aged 18 to 24, those not in college were 1.2 times more likely to be victims of sexual violence than those in college. The good news was that incidence for both groups was far lower than anything approaching 1 in 5: 0.76 percent for nonstudents and 0.61 percent for students." [http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/09/aau_campus_sexual_assault_survey_why_such_surveys_don_t_paint_an_accurate.html]. You're pretty brazen with this misrepresentation given how easy it is to check; The Mother Jones article you linked to doesn't even mention Yoffe or the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The BJS report is based on an annually recurring, random phone survey which gathers the responses of victims - not what schools disclose under the Clery Act. Yoffe then goes on to comment on what the AAU survey stated - again not what the Clery Act reports disclose. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 20:45, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::Correction: Taylor, not Yoffe, is the one making an argument rooted in a misunderstanding of how the Clery Act works. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:19, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Ah! That does take a big bite out of Taylor and Yoffe's criticism. There was nothing to correct. {{ping|Mattnad}} Look further down in Yoffe's article to where she writes " in a semi-annual report" - the link is to Clery Act data, and her subsequent argument is based on this. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 21:35, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Not really. The fundamental gist of Yoffe's observation is based on BJS data vs. AAU which demonstrates a chasm between what federal government finds using the criminal definition, and what the AAU study reported using very a very broad and subjective funnel. I'll add that the survey the BJS used for their finding found only 10.6% of women who didn't report their experience, did so because they didn't think it was serious enough. That's very different from the 60% to 75% in the AAU study. Yoffe's comments relating to Clery Data is just another data set but it doesn't go to the reason why women don't report. For that, she cites the AAU study. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 22:00, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I'd like to add that the AAU itself did not qualify the dominant reason [https://www.aau.edu/Climate-Survey.aspx?id=16525 in its highlight summary]. All they say is "More than 50 percent of the victims of even the most serious incidents (e.g., forced penetration) say they do not report the event because they do not consider it “serious enough.” If the AAU didn't think it was important enough to qualify it the way that Nblund would like us to, why should we?[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 13:58, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Option 2''', plus include additional sources as #1 said (I dunno about that exact source in particular). Opinion editorials/columns are [[WP:PSTS|primary sources]] even when published by newspapers. The idea that a newspaper is always a secondary source is patently false; primary/secondary/tertiary as defined on WP are contextual relationships between the exact piece of the source being used and the exact piece of WP content citing it in support. We don't trust primary sources for statistics or for other potentially controversial facts, but they're reliable for the fact that a view exists and has been published and who said it and exactly what they said (and for this we attribute them and often quote them directly). If the stats are real, quote the actual source of the stats, not someone trying to use them to make a point they fervently believe in, because we all know that people with that goal will mis-cite stats very, very frequently. Part of WP's job is to "teach the controversy", and the best way to do that, when it's not covered in great detail in lots of secondary sources is to present and attribute the subjective views controverting each other, and when possible use secondary sources that address those views and say what their strengths and weaknesses are (WP certainly can't do that in our own voice). If it's an outlying view that contradicts real-world consensus, or even way more reliable sources that don't have an off-WP consensus yet, we don't need to report on the primary-sourced view it at all. — [[User:SMcCandlish|'''SMcCandlish''' ☺]] [[User talk:SMcCandlish|☏]] [[Special:Contributions/SMcCandlish|¢]] ≽ʌⱷ҅ᴥⱷʌ≼ 14:53, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Option 2''' - We shouldn't be mixing research and personal opinion. Opinions and commentary, if they are presented at all, should be clearly separated from facts and statistics, not used to muddy the water, as is the case here. IMO, an individual person's opinion about a single report doesn't have enough [[WP:WEIGHT|weight]] to even be mentioned in this article. If the article were devoted to the report, yes, but we have a lot of ground to cover here. Stuart Taylor's opinion about a particular aspect of the AAU report is not particularly helpful for people who want to get an overview of the topic of campus sexual assault. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 23:36, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

== "The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement." ==
{{rfc|soc|pol|media|rfcid=F29EB0F}}
I've gone ahead and expanded this discussion to [[WP:RfC]] input. For those viewing this from the WP:RfC page, my and others' arguments are below on the talk page. The RfC concerns whether or not to add [[WP:In-text attribution]] to the "majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement" aspect of the article and/or additional information for further context. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)

_____

[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] took issue with the following sentence: "The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement." He added an "according to whom?" tag. I [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699875760&oldid=699875545 reverted], stating, "Read [[Template:According to whom]]. Also, we don't add in-text attribution in a way that can mislead; see [[WP:In-text attribution]]. [...] The source is right there at the end. Adding 'so an[d] so stated this' can make it seem like some sole person's opinion." I tweaked the text and duplicated the references via [[WP:REFNAME]] so that the material was left in [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699877956&oldid=699877568 this state]. As [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699880729&oldid=699880182 this link] shows, Scoundr3l then added "some" in place of "majority," stating, "That is precisely that point, I'm afraid. Since it's impossible to know how many of a thing are unknown, to say it is a majority is an opinion and I would recommend an in-text attribution in lieu of this much softer wording. Who said it was a majority?", and I replied. "We go by the [[WP:Reliable sources]], not personal opinion. And, per [[WP:Due weight]], we don't need to stack many sources to validate it." I [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699881786&oldid=699880729 then compromised] by adding, "The literature indicates that" in front of "the majority." This also was not enough for Scoundr3l, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699882087&oldid=699881786 he added] [[Template:Specify]] to "the literature indicates" part, stating, "We've come full circle. There is no reason this statement can not or should not be attributed directly to its source This is standard practice throughout this and similar articles and conforms to all your linked policies, as I'm sure you know."

Scoundr3l is wrong; we do not directly attribute something (meaning with in-text attribution) that is widely supported by the literature to one or a few people; WP:In-text attribution is very clear about that. And that most rapes go unreported is [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Most+rapes+go+unreported+ widely supported by the literature.] That most sexual assaults go unreported is [https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Most+sexual+assaults+are+unreported widely supported by the literature.] There is no need to specify what is meant by "the literature"; anyone with common sense should know that we mean "the rape and other sexual assault literature." I just saw that [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] also [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=699885588&oldid=699882087 reverted] Scoundr3l, stating, "This is consistent across several decades of research, attributing it to a specific group seems unnecessary, because it's a consensus that isn't really questioned. We can discuss in talk." [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 01:12, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
:Yeah. Scoundr3l, to answer the question about how these figures are derived: these estimates are derived from surveys that ask people about criminal and other victimization, and that ask victims whether they reported the crime to the police. Surveys have a margin of error, of course, and there are reasonable disagreements about things like wording and survey context, but the finding that most sexual assaults are not reported is something that is consistent across -- quite literally -- every single data source discussed in the entry, and really every data source I'm aware of. I don't know of any experts who seriously question this finding. Where there's a consensus in a field, it's really not necessary (or possible) include attribution to any particular individual. Indeed, it can give the false impression of a disagreement where none exists (see [[WP:INTEXT]]). [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 01:27, 15 January 2016‎ (UTC)
::Indeed surveys have a margin of error. They also do not fact-check, which is precisely why survey results are never presented as facts, but as survey results. Even the worst journalists know better than to present survey results without attributing them in-text because no amount of gallop polls will make "Most people's favorite color is blue" a fact. If I had access to the primary source, I'm sure even it would agree with me: it's a statistic, not an objective conclusion. "According to polls, 68% of people say their favorite color is blue", on the other hand, would be considered a fact (assuming there was a source to verify) and as an objective fact, it could be presented in Wikipedia's voice. If we can't rely on common sense, I'll instead point out [[Wikipedia:When_to_cite]] specifically suggests "Opinions, data and statistics, and statements based on someone's scientific work should be cited and attributed to their authors in the text." and you'll find this practice throughout every survey result in this article and other articles that rely heavily on conflicting surveys. If I'm not mistaken, though, Flyer22's motivation for reverting my request for attribution was not based on his assertion that it's an objective conclusion, but that he did not want it presented as a minority or sole opinion, which I don't disagree with. But I disagree with presenting second-party survey comments as facts in Wikipedia's voice. I don't even dispute the truth of it, only the wording. I know of several surveys that show numbers between 68% and 90% unreported, all we need to do is attribute them. Again, I don't have access to the original source, so I don't know what survey or surveys it's citing, hence the tag. If anyone has that information, or would like to provide other sources, perhaps we can agree on something like this "According to a numerous surveys, such as the National Department of Justice and the Bureau of Crime Statistics, most rapes go unreported", as an example. Or "between x% and y%" if we're going for accuracy. [[Special:Contributions/2001:57A:400B:101:3409:7F75:9DFC:8974|2001:57A:400B:101:3409:7F75:9DFC:8974]] ([[User talk:2001:57A:400B:101:3409:7F75:9DFC:8974|talk]]) 17:32, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::preceding IP is me, btw. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 17:33, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Here's the wording from Unsafe in the Ivory Tower (the first cited source): ''Despite the prevalence of sexual offenses committed against college women, the majority of women who are victimized do not report the incident to the police'' (Fisher, Daigle, Cullen, & Turner, 2003a). There's parenthetical attribution, but it's stated as a fact in the text. The book goes on to cite seven other studies with this finding, and that's not an exhaustive list. Citing seven surveys, in-text, seems excessive, and it's probably not necessary.
:::Peer reviewed surveys generally do involve fact checking, critique, and replication, and I don't think you're correct that Wikipedia articles always provide in-text attribution for statistics. The entries for diseases, [[HIV/AIDS|for instance]], usually provide an estimate of the prevalence of a disease without in-text attribution, because these numbers are basically uncontroversial.
:::I think the "When to Cite" guideline is referencing cases where a specific statistic is attributable to a particular author -- for instance -- we attribute the finding about repeat offenders to David Lisak, because that is a finding that is unique to his work. In this case, however, we're citing a tertiary source that makes a general statement about findings of multiple authors.
:::I think that sentence is un-problematic, but I would be open to including subsequent sentences that bolstered the statement by pointing to specific sources for this finding. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:02, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Thank you for isolating the primary source. Here are the end conclusions as taken directly from that source "Acknowledging sexual victimization as rape: Results from a national-level study." Fisher, Daigle, Cullen, & Turner (2003) Justice Quarterly:
::::: *'Our findings, though not definitive, have clear implications for this debate. By building on the best measurement strategies available-in essence, synthesizing the work of researchers like Kilpa [...] we have attempted to develop a measure of rape that is less susceptible to the criticism that we are counting as rape acts that really do not qualify under this legal category'
::::: *'Thus, using a different measurement approach, our findings lend support to the proposition of Koss and other researchers that the acknowledgment of rape is a real problem, not a methodological artifact. We found that only about half the rapes were acknowledged by the victims. Our estimate, as noted previously, is about twice as high as that reported by Koss'
::::: *'In any event, our study suggests that over half the women in the sample who were raped did not acknowledge this event as a rape'
:::: Implications, supports, estimates, and suggestions. The writers of the report at least acknowledge the difference between a datum and an objective truth. You'll find the same thing in any reliable study, I'm sure. Survey results are not facts and second parties who draw conclusions from the data should be attributed as it is their opinion and often not the conclusion present in the primary source. I hope the proposed compromise helps establish that this is a majority finding across all major studies (at least as far as we've seen), but still attributable to those studies and not Wikipedia. That should hopefully make everybody happy. Hopefully. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 19:55, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
{{outdent}}The entry cites Fisher's 2009 book, which itself cites Fisher et. al 2003. The quotes you're providing are actually a different 2003 publication by Fisher et al. from the one cited in the source, and those statements don't reference findings about non-reporting to the police. [http://cjb.sagepub.com/content/30/1/6.short Here's] the referenced article. Here's the relevant quote from that source.
{{Collapsed
| title= Quote
|Despite the prevalence of sexual offenses, a large proportion of victims did not report their sexual victimization to the police or to other authorities (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Results from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) have consistently shown that rape and sexual assault have been the most widely underreported violent crimes. In fact, the 1999 NCVS results revealed that only 28.3% of these crimes were reported to the police (Rennison, 1999). Notably, other research has provided even lower estimates of reporting (Bachman, 1998; Finkelson & Oswalt, 1995; Gartner & Macmillan, 1995; Kilpatrick, Edmunds, & Seymour, 1992; Kilpatrick, Saunders, Veronen, Best, & Von, 1987; Koss, 1985; Russell, 1983; Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Similarly, sexual victimizations of college women have gone largely unreported. To illustrate, Koss et al. (1987) found that only 5% of college student rape victims reported their experience to the police. In a national study of college students, Sloan, Fisher, and Cullen (1997) found that only 22% of rapes and 17% of sexual assaults were disclosed to local police, county sheriff, campus police, campus security, or other authorities}}

This formulation is similar to what I proposed: it begins with a general conclusion about the prevalence of non-reporting, then cites specific supporting evidence. This seems like a reasonable way to address your concern. If your proposed standards were applied, it seems like virtually every bit of statistical information would require in-text attribution. This clearly isn't the case: the entries for [[unemployment in the U.S.]], [[voter turnout]], the [[Epidemiology of parkinson's disease|epidemiology of Parkinson's disease]] are all rely on statistical estimates, and -- in every entry -- statistics are cited without in-text attribution. Are these problematic as well? [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:25, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
:Well, once again, I do not have access to the source, which is why I requested attribution. With only the citation to work with, I had to assume what quotes are being referenced. As for the new quote, I hope you've noticed that every claim in this quote attributes it either directly to the source or to "other surveys" which it then cites. Only the vague claims like "a large proportion" are not directly supported in-text. I would be fine with changing the text in this article to "a large proportion", as an example, but I'd rather reflect a more accurate number and where the information came from. As with your previous example, the obvious difference is that HIV epidemiology, voter turnout, etc are objectively measurable. You don't survey people and ask if they have HIV or if they voted, you measure quantifiable data. That is not the case with these surveys, so their conclusions are not "x amount of people were affected by z" it's "x amount of people reported being affected by z". And since we're not here to call them liars, or debate onus probandi, what we have to do instead is accurately report the information as it was received. I'd be interested in seeing an example of your proposition because I don't think we're disagreeing as much as it may seem like we are. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:11, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
::Totally understandable, the first quote is from the source cited in the entry. The second quote is from the source cited ''by the'' source cited in the entry. Both quotes provide citations, but they also both make general statements of fact about the prevalence of unreported rape without providing in-text attribution. The first citation uses "a majority" without in-text attribution, so it seems like this is a perfectly reasonable way to do it in the entry. We could bolster that argument by citing specific studies in subsequent sentences.
:: BLS unemployment data come from a [http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm#where monthly household survey]. HIV/AIDS data comes from asking health departments how many people they diagnosed. Those numbers don't necessarily count all diagnoses, and are usually adjusted to account for under-reporting. I'm not sure I follow the distinction you're drawing between self-report surveys and other kinds of data, but it seems like other entries attribute widely accepted survey data any differently from any other scientific fact. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 00:52, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Which part of the distinction did you not follow, exactly? A self-reported survey is an unsupported claim, while other forms of data are objectively verifiable. If a conclusion is not based on objective data, it's not a fact, it's a proposition or an estimate. Additionally rape is a crime and all crimes, at least in my country, are subject to due process. The accused are innocent until proven guilty in court of law, so any unreported crime is inherently an unverified claim. I can't imagine any of that's what confused you, so are you disputing that it's based on an estimate or merely that estimates don't require attribution? If we're using examples from other articles, I'd be happy to find 8 examples of attributed estimates for every unattributed example, but perhaps we can save time if you'd just explain why this statement should not be clarified. Aside from 'I don't think it's necessary', have you got any reason to dispute me clarifying where this information came from, assuming of course that it's objective and balanced? I have plenty of sources I can use if you aren't willing to use your's, I just need to know if and why good information will be reverted.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 06:44, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Scoundr3l, I disagree with you per what I stated above. You stated, "''Flyer22's motivation for reverting my request for attribution was not based on his assertion that it's an objective conclusion, but that he did not want it presented as a minority or sole opinion, which I don't disagree with. But I disagree with presenting second-party survey comments as facts in Wikipedia's voice.''" Well, just to get this out of the way: I'm female. As for your points, not only do I not want the "most rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" data presented as a minority or sole opinion, which is indeed what your in-text requests would have resulted in, I do not want it to seem like it's something that is less supported in the literature than it is. I repeat: '''It is widely supported. It is consensus.''' There is absolutely no reason at all to alter the text to name a few researchers or a few organizations, when many researchers and organizations state the same thing. Above, I pointed you to [[Google Books]] sources stating the same thing. Many [[WP:Secondary sources]] state the matter as fact. And so should Wikipedia. Other than that first compromise I gave you, I will not compromise on this. We can take it to a [[WP:RfC]], but I won't be changing my mind. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:45, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::On a more personal note: There is the fact that I've know many teenage girls and women throughout my life who were sexually assaulted in public in broad daylight and never reported it; by this, I mean a breast grab, a slap to the butt, and so on. And I don't mean by boyfriends. I mainly mean that this was done by male acquaintances who were not at all romantic with the girls or women, or was done by male strangers. I can't say how many times I've seen this happen with my own eyes. The girl or woman usually just hits the guy with a "jerk!" type of face, calls him a name, or laughs it off. I have no doubt that many other women have seen the same. So not only do I believe the data that most sexual assaults go unreported, I have personally seen it in life. One fault with the data is that it mainly focuses on female victims, but that's because girls and women are documented as the majority of victims of rape and other sexual assaults. For [[machismo]] and other cultural reasons, it also seems that males are less likely than females to report being victims of sexual assault or rape. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:39, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::Do what you need to do. My requested changes do not have any effect on how well supported the statement is, it merely attributes the statement to its source rather than presenting it in Wikipedia's voice. Wikipedia isn't the one drawing that conclusion, the source is drawing it from survey data, so it's the source's conclusion. Your change to "the literature" was a step in the right direction, but unfortunately I find it too vague and unencyclopedic to be useful to the reader. Surely "the literature" doesn't all share this conclusion, and it's been demonstrated that it does not (Fisher, et al. does not present this conclusion). Instead, let's attribute it to what it is: survey results. We don't need to list every survey to do that, only where the conclusion is coming from. So why then would you not accept "multiple surveys", "numerous surveys", or even "general consensus" in lieu of "the literature"? Admittedly, we should source the consensus (per [[WP:RS/AC]]) but it's demonstrable and a step up from attributing it to divine providence. Also, I apologize for assuming you were a 'he'. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:42, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::I appreciate your honesty, but for obvious reasons, we should try to set our personal feelings aside for this issue. It's not my intention to diminish the validity of the statement, so let me know if you think of any way we can attribute it without doing so. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:46, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::We agree to disagree then. I would not accept "multiple surveys" because "multiple" is often interpreted as "three or more" or "a few." I also don't think we should state "surveys" unless that is directly supported by the sources. "Numerous surveys" is [[WP:Weasel wording]] and is unnecessary. I could accept "general consensus," but it's not needed.

:::::::And apology accepted. It's well known that Wikipedia is mostly made up of males; so I expect others to assume that I'm male unless otherwise stated.

:::::::As for personal feelings, I don't edit with my personal feelings (well, not unless I'm in some heated dispute where emotions tend to spill over); my user page and talk page are clear about how I edit. I was simply offering you a perspective that you likely have not witnessed, at least to the same degree as females. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:54, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::'Numerous surveys' was shorthand for the original demonstration above, which provided examples. This original example was more than enough to satisfy WP:WEASEL and any other slippery slopes of citation overkill.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 22:04, 15 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::"Numerous studies," "many studies" and similar (yes, things like "numerous surveys" too) are sometimes needed, but I've also seen some Wikipedians argue (or seem to argue) that the wording is weasel wording or close to it; so I prefer to avoid it when I can (as you know, I believe this is one of those "can" cases). [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 23:37, 15 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::Seeing as the technical name for weasel words is "unsupported attributions" and I'm the one in this discussion on the side of an in-text attribution, I don't think weasel words will be an issue on this end. Any of the above examples are simply more specific synonyms of literature. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 06:44, 16 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::"Numerous" has been argued as vague, just like "many" has been argued as vague, and "vague" is one of the primary things that the WP:Weasel word guideline addresses. But like I noted, such terms are sometimes needed; not in this case. I don't see how "multiple surveys" or "numerous surveys" are specific synonyms of the literature in this case. As made clear by Nblund and me above, the literature usually states this matter as fact; this is because it's rarely disputed. [[WP:Due weight]] allows us to simply state the matter as fact. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 17:47, 16 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::I'm sure you'll remember that my original suggestion was a direct attribution, so factor into your calculations that anything vague or resembling weasel words is an attempt to comprise with your refusal to attribute the statement. In other words, unless you have an alternative suggestion, citing what constitutes a weasel word is both ironic and unnecessary. Additionally, by refusing to attribute the statement, you are interfering with the ability to provide the additional information you deem required to attribute the statement. I can not elaborate on a statement if I don't know what statement is being used. Due weight only comes into play if I were attempting to promote a minority viewpoint when in fact I am attempting to provide additional information on the cited majority viewpoint. Kindly assume good faith in that regard as I am assuming you are not attempting to hide the original source of information behind vague but verifiable claims. Aside from undue weight, what other objections might you have for providing this additional information? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 23:26, 16 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::::I'm not sure what you mean; the statement is already attributed, just not directly attributed to any one person or group of people. There is no need for a "direct" (meaning in-text) attribution. I've already made my case against in-text attribution above and against other suggestions you've made. So has Nblund. To state more would be repeating myself. WP:Due weight very much applies in this case. Nowhere have I stated anything about your lack of good faith. And my refusal to compromise further on something that does not need to be compromised on is not about any lack of good faith on my part; it's about what I've already stated on the matter. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 01:12, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::::The only reason you've provided so far is that in-text attribution would provide undue weight to the idea that this is a minority opinion. Nowhere does this policy allow you to prevent the addition of source information because that information might somehow lessen the strength of those claims. It's either supported as strongly as you claim or it's not. Providing evidence of the support couldn't unduly take weight away from the claim, unless of course the article text is inaccurate. Or unless you're assuming it'll be done unfairly, which you've no right to assume. If providing the source in any way weakens the statement, this is a failing of the source and not of Wikipedia in reporting on that source, nor is there any legitimate reason to prevent the addition of that source under due weight. IF your stance is that there is an academic consensus, by all means, find a source other than a Google search to support that there is a consensus. That'd be a welcome addition to the article because it would at least provide some measure of objectivity to the claim. What we can't do, however, it conceal where the information comes from in order to actively protect a viewpoint, majority or otherwise. Yes, there is a citation of the comment, but not to what it's referring. By concealing that information, you prevent the addition of other commentary and details from the source. The facts must support themselves and the readers and editors need to be provided with enough information to verify that. Any personal thoughts you have on whether the change is necessary are not under consideration, but just to be polite, I'll share one simple and valid reason I need the change: I want to know the exact figure. I can't do that with vague commentary. I also feel the sentence should be written in a way that is not subject to cultural bias or data rot. Did you know that the Fisher & Daigle report was US only? Because this article doesn't. I can't correct it until the text reflects what's being cited. By all means, don't repeat yourself, but if you have a reason I have not yet heard, please let me know; although we should probably break line as it's getting cramped over here. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 06:39, 17 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::With regard to your "IF your stance is that there is an academic consensus, by all means, find a source other than a Google search to support that there is a consensus.", statement, WP:Due weight is about what the preponderance of sources state; I linked to two Google Books links showing that "the majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" aspect is widely supported. That wide support is also why the lead of the [[Rape by gender]] article [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rape_by_gender&oldid=700024432 currently states], "Since only a small percentage of acts of [[sexual violence]] are brought to the attention of the authorities, it is difficult to compile accurate [[rape statistics]].", with two sources supporting it. Unless you can show that the preponderance of sources state otherwise on that, I've satisfied my WP:Due weight argument in that regard. And the "the majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" aspect is not at all limited to the United States. You stated, "I want to know the exact figure." There is no one figure, but the figure is generally that "the majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported." I know how WP:Due weight works and how WP:In-text attribution is supposed to work, and that's what I've been arguing above. I'll only accept additional information for further context if done right. You can assume my thought processes (such as the incorrect assumption of "concealing information"), but unless those thought processes are made perfectly clear, it's better not to assume. My discussion with you on this has pretty much ended. I've now turned it into a WP:RfC for further input. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)

{{outdent}}
You seem to be merging two of my points, so I apologize if I was unclear. I've made no argument that it's not a majority viewpoint. As such, your Google search results are not germane, nor admissible as evidence of a anything related to my position. 5 million search results is not the same thing as 5 million sources, as I'm sure you know, but it's irrelevant to the conversation. Above, you directly claimed there was a consensus (which I don't quite equate with a majority viewpoint) to which I assume you meant an academic consensus as defined by Wikipedia policy. You'll find your statement above and in bold. Since you seemed quite sure of it, I asked you to find a source since proof of a consensus would be a happy resolution for both of us. It seems by consensus you meant your Google results, which you may consider proof of consensus, but unfortunately Wikipedia does not. Otherwise, it appears you're not pursuing the consensus argument any more, so we'll table it. It was a secondary point, anyway. That leaves us with majority viewpoint, to which I've made no argument, nor do I have opinion, so I have no reason to pursue that counter argument. For this discussion, let's go ahead and agree that it's a majority viewpoint. So instead, when I'm asking is how my changes are promoting a minority viewpoint. My proposed changes are only to bring more information in from the existing citation, which supports this majority viewpoint. Since you are sticking with Due Weight, I invited you to explain how providing additional information from these sources promotes a minority viewpoint. You've not yet answered that question and it's the initial reason you've provided for contesting my changes. Due weight is not a license to prevent any changes you deem may be harmful to a position, so please explain what part of that policy warrants the prevention of an in-text attribution. As you've hopefully re-read WP:INTEXT during the course of this discussion, you'll remember that it takes no explicit stance on when you must or must not include an in-text attribution, so your opinion on how that policy is supposed to work is hearsay. And since you're the one who initially took issue with my edits, there is generally a greater onus on you to explain your reverts than I to explain my bold edits. You've linked policies which don't seem to support your revert and been challenged to support them. This is why we have talk pages. Your declarations that you're done with the conversation are understandable but not to be confused with a conclusion. Nobody can make you engage in this discussion, but neither are your insights necessary to finding a resolution. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:14, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

:My Google Books argument was germane, per what I initially stated at the beginning of this section. You added tags, then wording, to the sentence at hand in a way that was inappropriate; why they were inappropriate were noted above.

:Anyway, like I noted, unless I am discussing proposed wording with you below, I don't have anything more to state to you about this, especially since you keep assuming what I meant in instances when it's not what I meant. In my opinion, I can't be any clearer than I've been. You and I have different understandings of how Wikipedia works in this case. For example, your assertion that WP:INTEXT "takes no explicit stance on when you must or must not include an in-text attribution [and so my] opinion on how that policy is supposed to work is hearsay" is incorrect; that guideline (not policy) is very clear that the type of in-text attribution you were initially asking for would have been misleading. If anyone not familiar with the literature had answered your tag, it would have resulted in a clear-cut WP:INTEXT violation. You even added "some" in place of "majority," which clearly undermined the literature. You and I also have a different definition of [[WP:ONUS]]. The onus is on you to convince others why we should not report the "majority of rapes and other sexual assaults go unreported" aspect as the fact that it is. WP:ONUS states, "The onus to achieve consensus for inclusion is on those seeking to include disputed content." And if I were stating that this discussion is done because I am about done talking with you about this matter, I would not have started a WP:RfC. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 01:02, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
:::I was using the traditional, dictionary definition of onus, from Latin meaning "responsibility". As in, "its the responsibility of the reverter to show and prove the consensus in question" as taken from the [[WP:DRNC]] page, in the context of words as they may sometimes be used outside of Wikipedia articles. This onus would logically precede your above onus, despite both being irrelevant to a discussion on policy, not consensus. Still, while you were able to quote that article, what we really need are your quotes from WP:INTEXT or WP:Due weight which support your position to exclude this information. If we focused more on that, I think the discussion would have moved along a lot faster. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 05:42, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

{{strikethrough|*'''Please note''' We are current discussing the formatting of this template on Flyer22's talk page. You may wish to hold your comments until the resolution of that discussion.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:42, 18 January 2016 (UTC)}} Strike-through mine. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:50, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

I'll respond to the RfC as phrased about the line stated, but feel I should offer the view that the wording of the line creates an self-defeating impression of unsupported soapboxing or an internet-exaggeration, and the mentioned 'numerous studies' might at least have avoided that impression and the whole in-text RfC. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 16:27, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

===Don't use in-text attribution===
'''Note''': There is no obligation to !vote in each section. Feel free to only !vote where you feel it is needed. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 09:48, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

*'''Support''', per my and Nblund's comments above. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' per Flyer22 Reborn and Nblund. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:14, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' per Flyer22 Reborn and Nblund. [[User:Neljack|Neljack]] ([[User talk:Neljack|talk]]) 12:12, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' - why not disclose the sources in text? So the reader cannot as easily understand where it's coming from. That does a disservice to the reader. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:33, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Objection''' - The framing of this RtC is unusual. I don't see the need for two opposing areas of comment to answer one question. To prevent redundancy and over-complication, I will post my comment to the simplified question ''Should this statement include in-text attribution?'' only in the section immediately below. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:47, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
::I responded [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Flyer22_Reborn&oldid=700389386#Regarding_RfC on my talk page to Scoundr3l], noting that the framing is not unusual. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 00:23, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::Unfortunately, the discussion was slow and fruitless, so I've noted my objections here in order to proceed. There is nothing ''usual'' about this framing of an RfC, hence it is unusual, and also wholly unnecessary. That you can find other examples of unusual framing do not explain why it was done this way or explain why this framing is necessary. The redundancy and over-complexity should be self-evident. Rather than a simple list of yays and nays, we now have a partial list of yays and nays to the affirmative and a partial list of yays and nays to the negative, some who've commented on both. If you would like further information on how to RfCs are usually framed, there are examples on that page. Since it's too late to be corrected, I only hope you'll consider this in your future attempts at framing RfC. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:32, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

::::I'm not going to debate this matter with you too. I was clear that I disagree with you and why. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:01, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

::::Note that I also considered redundancy, but felt that the setup would be fine. My voting twice doesn't mean others have to as well. I also considered voting once. I voted twice because it is common to do so in RfCs. From what I see, this RfC is largely fine, along with the "Proposed wording" and "Further commentary" sections developing in the way were designed to develop. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:10, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Your disagreement has been noted, but the collaborative efforts of Wikipedia do not rest for whether or not Flyer22 agrees with them. If you're not inclined to debate, perhaps you should take less stock in what you personally agree with and focus on things everybody can agree with. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:50, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::<Strike>And there you go again presuming what I think or don't think. On Wikipedia, despite its collaborative nature, no one is obligated to debate something they don't want to debate, just like they are not obligated to do so in real life. Even so, I indulged you on the heading matter. Then it was over because the matter is no big deal. It would be wise for you take your own advice when it comes to disagreement, since it is your disagreement with two editors who are clearly more familiar with the literature on rape and sexual assault than you are that led to all of this. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 03:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)<Strike>

::::::But since I don't want to keep arguing with you about this, I struck my "03:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)" post. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 04:19, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::I appreciate it. Presuming my level of knowledge with the literature and whether or not you're more qualified to discuss is not only absurd, it flies in the face of the yet unswayed consensus. I don't presume to know your thoughts, but speaking for myself: I'm not here to prove you or anyone else wrong, I'm here to improve the article. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:40, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::You noted on this talk page your lack of familiarity with the literature on this particular aspect we are debating. And when you make comments about me like "the collaborative efforts of Wikipedia do not rest for whether or not Flyer22 agrees with them," you are categorizing my mindset based on your own assumptions; stop it. Stop taking disagreement and/or an editor's right to not want to debate you on something, especially when that editor is trying to avoid arguing in circles, so personally. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 05:00, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::And when you make the kind of edits you made to the text in question, such as adding "some" in place of "majority," coming to the conclusion that you are not as familiar with the literature is understandable. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 05:08, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::I never said I was unfamiliar with the literature, I said that I don't have access to the source in order to find what it's quoting. Furthermore, knowledge of the subject has little to do with this discussion. Whether or not a statement is subjective enough to be attributed is a matter of ''a priori'' logic and my argument in this case is Socratic. Replacing "some" with "majority" was an attempt to compromise your refusal to attribute the claim. This was also based on simple logic: a less sensational claim requires less sensational support. If you equate this with unfamiliarity with the literature, that's your own bias. Likewise, that the discussion does not rest pending your agreement is simply an objective fact in response to your repeated declarations that you are done with a discussion. I'm not asking you to engage in the conversation or debate me, I'm simply informing you that a refusal to compromise will not be seen as an obstacle to resolving the issue.[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 08:18, 21 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::Knowledge of the literature has much to do with this discussion, and that is displayed in spades across this talk page. Replacing "some" with "majority" was undermining the literature, pure and simple. No one familiar with the literature would have added "some" in place of "majority." The claim was already attributed. You were asking for inappropriate in-text attribution with your [[Template:According to whom]] tag. I've been clear above that such tagging would have resulted in inappropriate in-text attribution had someone unfamiliar with the literature answered that tag's request. It would have made that sentence seem like the matter is only according to that person or group of people. I never stated that I was done with the discussion; I stated that I was about done discussing things with you. You know, to avoid the type of circular argument we are having right now (I easily recognize when a discussion with a certain editor is going to be circular; I'd rather not continue to discuss matters with those type of editors). I then expanded the discussion to a WP:RfC, which clearly was not me stating that the discussion is over. If I or someone else does not want to discuss things with you any further, you should learn to accept it instead of resorting to all sorts of "you aren't playing fair" or "you are being difficult" claims, or other misguided assumptions. You love to debate, everything apparently. You couldn't even drop this debate after I struck through my above comment; removing my comment probably would not have even stopped you. An editor does not have to compromise on something they feel needs no compromising on. I tried compromising with you; that is clear from the very beginning of this thread; that was not enough for you. And now we are here. Below, I was clear about the only compromise I will accept on this matter. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:24, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::That you continue to share your opinions on other matters, most of which are impertinent to the conversation, is the only reason we're still in discussion. I have every right to reply to your comments, especially when they've devolved into petty personal remarks, but the only person who can make you continue the discussion is you. Since you've not yet established a concrete case for exclusion, perhaps you've over-estimated your level of expertise on the matter or your ability to read other editors. It may be more constructive to contribute some additional rationale to the discussion, as merit alone has done little to impress support. Also, I think you may be quoting somebody else. I never made either of those claims. If you're still unwilling to further compromise, that's your choice, but ultimately the decision isn't up to you, so whether or not you're 'playing fair' or being difficult are not of concern to me. As for your refusal to compromise on the framing of an RfC, I've never seen that before, so I can only express bewilderment. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:33, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::Wrong about all of that, with the exception that you have the right to reply. Now we'll see if you will debate "Wrong about all of that." too. The petty, personal remarks initially came from you, which is why I made my "05:00, 21 January 2016 (UTC)" and "21:24, 21 January 2016 (UTC)" comments above. The "you aren't playing fair" or "you are being difficult" claims are the type of claims you've made in this discussion (and do spare me any "well, if you are seeing that, it must be true of your behavior" remarks), but nowhere did I state you made those exact comments. As for "little to impress support," that's your opinion. WP:RfCs commonly go slow these days, and the participation in this one is small so far. I'm not the one leaving notes in the WP:RfC in an attempt to influence it, and I'm not the one [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Markbassett&diff=prev&oldid=701060771 contacting an editor] to weigh in. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 18:49, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::I think you'll find that leaving notes in an RfC is, by definition, the purpose of an RfC. Of the two of us, only one of us has challenged another commentator's comment. You're also the only one who keeps bringing up right and wrong, when it's clearly a difference of perspective. Your personal editing style and definition of civility is your business, but as you are a clearly a non-expert in the field of ''my'' opinion, your attempts at interpreting and paraphrasing my claims are to be treated as hearsay at best and petty stone-throwing at worst. I have indeed contacted many users, including those who support your claims, in order to improve participation in this page. Nblund has as well. Kudos on the detective work. If you've got comments that are related to the discussion, though, perhaps we should focus on those. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:01, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::You stated, "I think you'll find that leaving notes in an RfC is, by definition, the purpose of an RfC." Not your kind of notes. And you've made more incorrect characterizations of me in your "20:01, 22 January 2016" post, as expected, I see. As for expertise, I've been quite clear about which of us is more familiar with the literature; my reputation on these topics (sexual topics, including sex offenses) speaks for itself; there is no need for me to justify myself to you. That you take my lack of interest in indulging you as a sign of lack of knowledge is silly, but it's clearly your right to think what you want. Yes, I saw that you contacted others; the others were contacted about the proposed wording section, and they are editors who already weighed in. They were contacted after you contacted that one editor to weigh in. You stated, "[my] attempts at interpreting and paraphrasing [your] claims are to be treated as hearsay at best and petty stone-throwing at worst." Yes, that is exactly how I feel about your claims toward me. Now if you are done with this particular debate, I will be [[WP:Hatting]] this bickering. Or is it that you want the [[WP:Last word]], as you clearly seem to always do? [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:46, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

:::::::::::::::It's Friday, both of our objections have been noted, and this thread has officially derailed. You misunderstood my comment about your expertise, I wasn't saying "in my opinion, you are not an expert" I meant "you are not an expert in matters relating to my opinion". But rather than continue to fight over semantics and baseless interpretations of character, can we agree to call it quits and work on the relevant discussion? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:50, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::Seems like we're in agreement, though in the interest of your 'last word' comment, I'll point out that we wrote our above comments semi-simultaneously. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:55, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::WP:Hatted. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:59, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::Because of [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701157218&oldid=701156996 this] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701157603&oldid=701157218 this], I have unhatted the discussion. I do not have the time or patience to debate every single thing with you. So fine; leave all the bickering on open display. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:12, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::::I understand your frustration, but not every issue has to be all or nothing. Middle ground is the key to compromise. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:21, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::::::::::::::You just don't stop, do you? [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701159251&oldid=701158765 This mess] is another example. And you wonder why I don't want to discuss anything with you. I tried middle ground by compromising with you. I tried middle ground with the hatting; you acted like your reply to my rebuttal needed to be unhidden, as though editors can't click on my talk page and the template for further detail. This is exactly what I mean about you wanting to debate every little thing. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:28, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

*'''Oppose''' per my comment below. More information is better here. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 01:05, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:40, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' meaning 'show the cite(s)'. The RfC is asking about the line shown, which currently shows no reason to give it credence and for WP does not convey the factual phrase origin. '''Just follow the cites''', convey with fidelity what is out there and show where it is from. A desire to avoid citing because it is from a single source indicates to me a problem with being honest about that, and also that the phrasing '''is generally NOT said''' in a relevant community consensus statement nor common among reputable sources. What is shown also conveys the impression of soapboxing, so seems pointless anyway, as well as bing one view above due [[WP:WEIGHT]]. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 16:56, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' This is a well known, often demonstrated and generally accepted fact, in-text attribution would be misleading.[[User:Maunus|·maunus]] · [[User talk:Maunus|snunɐɯ·]] 22:55, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' Explicitly stating all the mainstream, expert, reliable authorities that hold this to be true would take up far too much space. However, if adding an extra ref and tag or two would put Scoundr3l et al.'s minds at ease, it should be done. Using sources that people with different attitudes find convincing makes the article stronger. I suggested some possible sources in my other post, and that was a very cursory search. [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 17:14, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' (a lack of use of in-text attribution; yeah, Flyer, while I support your position regarding the content here, this is an ''abysmally'' formatted discussion that will probably only muddy the waters and lead to further acrimony unnecesarily as a result of how this discussion has been approached). I absolutely agree that utilizing in-text attribution in this case would tend to minimize this statement. This is a profoundly pervasive trend with regard to sexual assault that is ''immensely'' well-documented by many thousands (indeed, probably hundreds of thousands) of sources originating from the psychological science, law-enforcement and other governmental agencies, policy groups and many other areas provided mountains and mountains of [[WP:RS]] sourcing for this statement. Trying to leverage in just one or two of these does a HUGE disservice to the impression of [[WP:WEIGHT]] that would be given to this statement as a result. We do not, as a general rule, include in-text attribution except as necessary to clarify highly controversial or nuanced claims, such as they don't mislead. This is about as clear a [[WP:SNOW]] content issue as I've seen in a good long while. This is a view broadly supported by virtually all legitimate authority in the area and policy clearly directs us to use normal reference citation in this instance, attached to a general statement. [[User:Snow Rise|'''''Snow''''']] [[User talk:Snow Rise|'''''let's rap''''']] 05:31, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

===Use in-text attribution===
'''Note''': There is no obligation to vote twice. Feel free to ignore voting in this section if you have already voted. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:52, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

*'''Oppose''', per my and Nblund's comments above. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' since it provides context to the reader.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 14:32, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Comment''' I would just like to clarify a few points on my position:
**This is not a position on whether or not the statement is true.
**This is not a position on whether or not the statement is cited and verifiable.
**This is not a position on whether in-text attribution is ''required''
**This is only a position that there is a strong case for in-text attribution and a weak case against. -[[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' My reasons for supporting in-text attribution are as follows:
**''The current wording is prohibitive to further improvement of the article''
::The figure is being drawn from a specific source or sources of data. By not including the data source in the text, additional commentary related to those data sources is impossible. In this way, the quoted source is given artificial sanctity over any commentary related to the data source, when it is surely not the only source of commentary.
:*''The current wording is based on survey data''
::There are a number of conflicting estimates for this data, but they are all estimates. Uncertain facts should not be written in Wikipedia's voice.
:*''The current wording is time-sensitive''
::As time goes on and things change (in this case, the sooner the better), this statement may be found to be objectively false. An attributed statement would always be objectively true.
:*''The current wording is limited to the availability of data''
::If even one source emerges which contradicts this conclusion, the statement will be contentious. An attributed statement will never be a matter of contention.
:*''The current wording does not conform with the rest of the article text''
::The entire structure of this article is about providing a study and then balanced commentary on that study. In my opinion, this article is a monument to balanced commentary on a controversial subject. My by count, there are 82 statistical claims in this article's body text, of which 63 (76.8%) are directly attributed to their data source in the text. 13 (15.8%) are attributed generically to a "study" or "survey" which is then cited. 5 (6%) are not attributed but provide specific data. Only 1 other sentence in this article body is not attributed to a source, provides no specific data, and provides no further information (i.e. 'a study') as to where it came from. Perhaps coincidentally, that other sentence shares a source with this sentence.
:*''Attributing a statement can not unduly take weight away from the statement''
::The statement must stand on its own. The source of a statement is a verifiable fact. If revealing where the data comes from has any negative impact on the statement, it is solely the failing of the source and not undue reporting by Wikipedia. Contrarily, concealing the source of data can unduly lend weight to a statement that it may otherwise not have. The source is the source, for better or worse.

:Given those points, and the lack of good points for exclusion, I see no reason this statement should not be attributed to its data source. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support.''' Even thought the statement is indeed widely agreed-upon, it is helpful to the reader to have the context provided by the attribution, due to the wide divergence in operational definitions used in this subject. Better still would be a note showing that this statement is supported by multiple studies that used different operational definitions and methodology. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 01:03, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''', per Scoundr3l's reasons throughout. Stating survey results as fact is intentional misrepresentation and misleads readers. Statement should clearly be attributed to its source(s), and its origins and methodology discussed. This isn't scientific fact, as we're all aware human surveys elicit very specific behaviour responses, and cannot be treated as generalisations, no matter how many surveys are cited. [[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuS]] [[Special:Contributions/FoCuSandLeArN|contribs]]; [[User_talk:FoCuSandLeArN|talk to me!]] 16:42, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

::[[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuSandLeArN]] (FoCuS), how is it misleading the readers when the "majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement" aspect is widely supported in the literature and there is no indication whatsoever that it is false? '''How does it make sense to attribute that statement to one or more sources, as though it's only according to those sources''' that "the majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement", '''when it's actually supported throughout the literature, in scholarly books, legal documents, etc.?''' How is providing in-text attribution for this not a [[WP:INTEXT]] violation? [[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]]'s support vote above does not even seem to be support for in-text attribution, which would be misleading, but rather for more context. Appropriate context. We include the "most sexual assaults go unreported" or "most sexual violence is unreported" aspect in rape articles and related articles here at Wikipedia, including in the lead of the [[Rape by gender]] article. Are you suggesting that we give in-text attribution in all of these cases, or further context even in the lead, when the statement is not at all contentious in the literature or validly disputed in the literature? [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 18:24, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::I'm not judging the veracity of the literature, nor did I ever imply doing so. I'm saying it is undue to present it as a fact when in reality it's a poor statistic (exactly why surveys are rarely used as basis for policy), and as such it must be indicated. Surveys aren't scientific fact; they're sociological instruments subject to human behaviour and circumstance, reflecting opinion in response to often poorly-formulated questionnaires. I was summoned by the RfC bot, and provided my !vote after reading the above discussion. By the look of things, your attitude leaves much to wish for. Respect other people's views and let the RfC progress. Regards, [[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuS]] [[Special:Contributions/FoCuSandLeArN|contribs]]; [[User_talk:FoCuSandLeArN|talk to me!]] 19:28, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

::::[[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuSandLeArN]] (FoCuS), asking you to explain your rationale for your vote is not disrespecting your vote or you. Since you've been involved in a number of RfCs, you should know that. Needless to state, I disagree with your rationale, and have given ample reason why I do. As for attitudes, I feel the same regarding you judging by your "19:28, 19 January 2016 (UTC)" response. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 19:53, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I provided my rationale the first time around. Deal with it. Your reputation precedes you. Best, [[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuS]] [[Special:Contributions/FoCuSandLeArN|contribs]]; [[User_talk:FoCuSandLeArN|talk to me!]] 19:59, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

::::::[[User:FoCuSandLeArN|FoCuSandLeArN]] (FoCuS), indeed [[User:Flyer22 Reborn/Awards and gifts|it does]]. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 20:07, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::Let's try to stay focused, guys. So far, this has been pretty productive, but there is already a lengthy discussion above which addressed these questions and came to no resolution, hence the "per <user>" commentary. Beginning the discussion again is a step in the wrong direction. Obviously, there is disagreement over whether this statement stands on its own or needs additional information. All the talk-page evidence in the world has no effect on the body text, nor does it aid the reader, which is what we're here to discuss. Let's please keep our opinions of other editors and interpretation of their comments out of the discussion for now. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) —Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|undated]] comment added 05:53, 20 January 2016 (UTC) 

*'''Support''' -- weakly, because I think the line should show sources but the discussion is saying the bigger issue is it's a bad line. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 16:59, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' per above. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:20, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Oppose''' per my comments above. [[User:Snow Rise|'''''Snow''''']] [[User talk:Snow Rise|'''''let's rap''''']] 06:22, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

===Provide additional information for further context===
'''Note''': There is no obligation to !vote in each section. Feel free to only !vote where you feel it is needed. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 09:47, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:[[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]], your note in this section is misplaced because voting "use in-text attribution" or "don't use in-text attribution" is not the same thing as supporting "additional information for further context," as is clear by editors' comments in this section. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 19:33, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::I disagree. There's never any requirement to !vote in any specific section in any RFC. Frankly as I said before, it shouldn't really be necessary to note it and if it is, it would be better at the beginning of the RFC. Except that wouldn't work here given the beginning in such a mess. But if you are going to note it, it's quite wrong to only note it one specific section as if one section only is unimportant. Editors are free to participate in whatever part of the RFC they wish to. The fact that for some reason it was felt better to list two mutually contradictory options rather than simply give a neutrally worded single option to choose between them doesn't change how we should handle stuff. [[User:Nil Einne|Nil Einne]] ([[User talk:Nil Einne|talk]]) 10:20, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:::And I disagree. I never stated that there is any requirement to !vote in any specific section in any RFC. My "19:33, 23 January 2016 (UTC)" comment is clear. And, as you know, further reasoning was [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard/Incidents&diff=701491039&oldid=701490360#Talk:Campus_sexual_assault_RfC stated at WP:ANI]. And as for there being "two mutually contradictory options," that depends on how you look at it; I don't see two mutually contradictory options. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 22:05, 24 January 2016‎ (UTC) 
*'''Could support'''...if done right. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 15:44, 17 January 2016 (UTC)
:*'''Question''' Have you got any specific examples of alternatives you could support? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support''' This would no doubt be a happy compromise for all of us. I would like to at least see a range of figures. Such figures do exist, and the oft-quoted range is 68-90%, but this is from data compiled from several surveys. I am able to provide additional sources on figures if needed. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 21:37, 18 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Support.''' Due to the complexity and wide divergence in methodology of the different sources, claims such as this one (which, as far as I can tell, is 100% true) should be clarified in maximum detail. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 01:08, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Conditional Support''' I think the additional context is sort of provided by subsequent sections, and I think my own proposed edit is a little unwieldy because it introduces a survey-based measure of sexual assault before explaining why survey-based measures of sexual assault are necessary. Still, I think this is fine if we think it's a necessity to include more in-text information. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 22:19, 19 January 2016 (UTC)
* ''' Yes Yes YES !!!! ''' It seems that the text is from one source and showing that is not liked so consensus to work on the wording ('numerous studies' or whatever) to something that does not draw these concerns seems more indicated than talking about whether or not to continue with what presents an appearance of a bad-WP soapboxing exaggeration. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 17:03, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Could support''': The best solution to most edit wars is to cite something. Needed or not, [[WP:POPE]] or not, it probably will help. Won't de-escalate the trolls from trolling, but at least they will be more obviously exposed as trolls. [[User:Montanabw|Montanabw]][[User talk:Montanabw|(talk)]] 22:42, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
*'''Not necessary but wouldn't hurt''' What seems to be going on here is that Flyer and others think that in-text attribution is not necessary because an inline citation is already used and that it might make the fact cited look less mainstream and accepted than it really is and Scoundr3l and others think that the in-text citation is needed to prevent the text from looking more mainstream and accepted than it really is. The sources that are already there certainly look reliable, but adding one or two more (preferably from the most mainstream source possible), probably would disrupt the flow of the article less than adding extra words. Here are some that might suit (some of these are used elsewhere in the article): [http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/rape-sexual-violence/pages/rape-notification.aspx U.S. National Institute of Justice] [http://time.com/2905637/campus-rape-assault-prosecution/ Time Magazine] [http://www.umd.edu/ocrsm/files/Why-Is-Sexual-Assault-Under-Reported.pdf UMD] [http://globalnews.ca/news/1845136/why-dont-women-report-rape-because-most-get-no-justice-when-they-do/ A Canadian newspaper] [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 17:11, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

===Proposed wording===
The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement. From 1995 to 2013, 67% of the sexual attacks against non-students and 80% of the sexual attacks against college students reported in the National Crime Victimization surveys were not reported to police. (citing [http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rsavcaf9513.pdf this], already in the refs) [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 22:16, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

:I would support that, Nblund. Thank you. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 22:24, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

*I like the second sentence and appreciate the attempt at compromise. However, my concern is that the cited survey is only related to college-aged females in the United States, specifically 18-24. This would be approximately 15 million people in a very specific cultural demographic represented by this survey data. I'm not trying to tear down the house before it's built, but it doesn't seem like a fair representation of the initial statement. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 07:49, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

Here is one possibility which borrows terminology from the citation (thank you, Nblund, for providing): ''"Research has consistently shown that the majority of sexual assault victims do not report their attack to law enforcement."''

This would then go on to cite specifics, as necessary. Notice it is not a direct attribution, so as not to immediately favor any of the 11 some-odd surveys which support the claim in the citation, but at least provides context as to where the data comes. It also plainly acknowledges the majority of the viewpoint. This is also quite open to modification, so feel free. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 08:48, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:I think "research has consistently shown" works, especially if subsequent statements bolster that point. Regarding the overall average: we could use the most recent NCVS available: 34% of rapes/sexual assaults reported on [http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv14.pdf the 2014 NCVS] were reported to police. Or we could use this report that aggregates over four years: [http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vnrp0610.pdf this source] "between 2006 and 2010, 65% of rapes or sexual assaults reported on the National Crime Victimization surveys were not reported to the police". I might add a couple of additional sources specific to college students after that. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:08, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

: [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] - rewording seems the right area but what the second line shows is only that there is disagreement among reports, not a support for the first line. I'm now twigging on '''the topic is supposed to be campus sexual assault''', so the whole first line and ensuing discussion about statistics accuracy seems a bit [[WP:OFFTOPIC]] or at least the context by title of this section "Campus sexual assault", "Prevalence and incidence of rape and other sexual assault" subsection would need to convey why is Prevalence all about how the statistics do not agree ? Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 17:26, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
::I'm not what you mean by disagreements. The second line in the wording I proposed says that there are differences between two different populations (college vs. non-college), but I don't think that really reflects a disagreement so much as an actual difference between the two populations. Can you clarify what you're saying here? [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:07, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

::Like Nblund, I would prefer you clarify what you mean. [[User:Flyer22 Reborn|Flyer22 Reborn]] ([[User talk:Flyer22 Reborn|talk]]) 21:53, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:::I see no issue with Nblund's material, there is a statement, with two examples that are included. We can add more citations, we can add 20, 30, 50 studies. There is no disagreement that most attacks go unreported, it's as obvious as the nose on your face, the only question are specific numbers for specific populations; 8 in 10 is commonly cited, the range above probably represent the outliers. (this reminds me of the climate change disputes, where they decided, basically, who cares if it's 80% 90% or 97%, the point is that the consensus is overwhelming) [[User:Montanabw|Montanabw]][[User talk:Montanabw|(talk)]] 22:49, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Agree with Montanabw. There is no disagreement, just different levels of non-reporting. Scoundr3l's objection that the cited example is limited to college-age women in the U.S. doesn't make sense to me. College-age women in the U.S. are probably the ''most likely'' people in the world to actually report sexual assault. If anyone is aware of any study showing that most sexual assaults are reported (anywhere in the world), that would be a valid reason to object to the wording. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:26, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::The demographics of a study are specifically linked to its conclusions. If a study in the US concludes that 95% of households own a car, this is not indicative that "most people own a car", nor would a reliable source make that claim, nor can Wikipedia make that claim. The car study wasn't representative of all people and a worldwide study would find a number closer to 15%, making the conclusion likely false. Whether or not this is the case with unreported sexual assault is not our place to conjecture, our place is only to accurately report the information and where it's coming from. If there is a consensus, we should be able to find a source of that consensus. Otherwise, an absence of evidence to the contrary should not be treated as evidence of absence. Well supported information (which I know this is) should have no fear of attribution. What are your thoughts on the proposed "Research has consistently shown that the majority of sexual assault victims..."? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 03:55, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

::: [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] to respond with further explanation then: Your proposed words are not about the prevalence of Campus sexual assault, so they seem astray from the section title. The words proposed are to the topic of underreporting rather than the prevalence of assault, such as given in the end of the section: "The 2013 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) estimated that 0.43% of women were victims of some form of sexual assault, with attempted or completed rape at approximately 0.35%.[11] Other research estimates anywhere from 10%[1] to as many as 29%[12] of women have been victims of rape or attempted rape since starting college." But what you're talking is where the article has a mismatch to the section title. There would at least need to be some content to say why Prevalence is going into how statistics disagree and how things are not reported instead of talking just to the title how often assault happens.
::: And that led me to twig to the bigger problem that '''the article is supposed to be about campus sexual assault but it mostly isn't'''. The whole first part -- almost half of the article -- seems just about how incidence statistics argue. I'd think that due WEIGHT would have the article mostly for the prominent court cases and the prevention or enforcement programs and surveys a minor note. Surveys disagreeing seems more suited to a summary table of about 8 lines in a section title about range of studies outcomes or information unclear. Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 23:12, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:::: (p.s. If actual coverage of the topic is really 40% coverage in studies disagreements then OK, just follow the cites and convey the actual weight. My impression that isn't the case, but say what the body of works looks like, whatever that may be) [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 23:17, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I think the reason under-reporting is mentioned in the first sentence is so that readers understand why we usually rely on surveys to measure sexual assault to measure its prevalence. For most crimes, we would probably rely on police reports or statistics reported by universities themselves, but the problem of under-reporting means that these sources aren't very reliable.
:::::I think the issue you raise is probably beyond the scope of this RfC, but I do agree that the prevalence and incidence section is too long and too involved, and I think that it covers too many specific studies and overemphasizes criticisms and disagreements while downplaying the general consensus among experts. I would support shortening it as long as the general confines of the debate were still given due weight, but that would be a potentially contentious undertaking. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 23:37, 24 January 2016 (UTC)
'''Comment''': So I'm not actually clear on this: is anyone opposed the approach of stating "Research has consistently shown that the majority of sexual assaults are not reported to police; between 2006 and 2010, 65% of rapes or sexual assaults reported on the National Crime Victimization surveys were not reported [add more examples if needed]". [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 21:11, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
:I don't think it's controversial (to me anyway) to make that kind of a statement, particularly if we provide the intext attribution which was the genesis of this discussion.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 22:51, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
::I am, of course, in favor of this. If we need additional statistics, Darkfrog provided a great resource below: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/653101?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents which found, upon review of a number of studies, that as little as 14% are reported. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:12, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

===Further commentary===
I think there are valid concerns being expressed by both sides here, but I also think there are a couple of important points to keep in mind.
*1."It's not necessary" or "it's unhelpful for readers" is actually a perfectly valid reason to oppose including something in an entry. I think there are additional concerns that are more central here, but I don't think we should dismiss that consideration out of hand. The section on [[WP:INTEXT]] specifically discourages using in-text attribution when a footnote would suffice.
*2. Not including an in-text citation is not the same as not including a citation at all, and it doesn't prevent readers from checking facts or forming their own opinions. For the vast majority of cases, a footnote citation (like the one we use) is considered sufficient.
*3. Most importantly: survey research is science. There's no precedent for handling surveys any differently than any other form of scientific evidence on Wikipedia, and I think the argument "surveys can't be factual" would require us to rewrite vast sections of not only this entry, but of a vast swath of Wikipedia entries. Virtually every piece of demographic data cited in the entry for [[Demography of the United States]], for instance, comes from a survey, and most of those statements do not include in-text attribution. Even if you think this should be the standard, it clearly isn't the standard right now, and imposing it would require more than an RfC. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 22:52, 19 January 2016 (UTC)

I believe we have common ground on these points, but I have a few additional perspectives:
*1. Those comments ("it's not necessary", "it's unhelpful") are indeed valid considerations. Their weight must be carefully considered, however. To an article with a stable status quo, any change at all is generally more unnecessary than necessary. Yet, in the interest of collaboration, Wikipedia encourages bold edits and discourages reversion. Only in cases where an edit clearly makes the article worse should reversion be considered, so perhaps the better question is whether or not it's necessary to exclude the change.
*2. Indeed, there is no argument that the statement is cited. However, relating to my first bullet point above, the statement is commentary related to some sort of data. By not including the source of data in the text, it makes it all but impossible for other editors to include additional commentary on that data (which certainly exists) and thus inadvertently gives the sources sole authority over the conclusion. This does not seem to be in the best interest of the reader or the other editors.
*3. Agreed. Sociology (forgive me if this is not the accurate term for this type of survey) is a science and it follows a method. Like all sciences, this method is generally an ongoing process of examining previous data, drawing conclusions, adjusting methodologies, and further testing hypotheses. The cited survey in particular put a great deal of effort into ensuring the accuracy and objectivity of their data. I think it's important that we give the conclusions all the respect they deserve: they are not guesses, their methods are sound, and we have every reason to believe the conclusions are accurate. However, there are still a great many debates ongoing in this area of study, notably among sociologists themselves. Even if all surveys show a greater than 50% incidence of non-reporting, it is unlikely that there is consensus on the methodologies nor is it likely that others surveys will replicate the results, making the conclusion potentially contentious. At least uncertain enough that it should be written in the commentator's voice, not Wikipedia's, or at least attribute where the data is coming from. But I'm not asking you to take my word for it, I'm only asking that we improve the wording of this statement enough that additional commentary can be easily added. If the results of the US Demographics statistics were a matter of serious contention, I have no doubt Wikipedia would accurately report on that. This subject, as it stands, is a bit more controversial. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 07:19, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::You keep saying that the subject of under-reporting is controversial, but without offering any evidence. There are countless sources stating that most rape goes unreported.[https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=ZhZdlxufjQMC&pg=PA25&dq=%22actual+rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGx6Oa2L7KAhWCtoMKHaBIBDIQ6AEIGzAA#v=onepage&q=%22actual%20rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=d-wYRpkc9KUC&pg=PA59&dq=%22rape+goes+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22rape%20goes%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=XbAo8cDpxuwC&pg=PT195&dq=%22rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0t43a2L7KAhUls4MKHfZgAZAQ6AEIJjAC#v=onepage&q=%22rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=PGbg9el9KkAC&pg=PA410&dq=%22rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0t43a2L7KAhUls4MKHfZgAZAQ6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=%22rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false][https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=RSWAUyRXge8C&pg=PA434&dq=%22rapes+go+unreported%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0t43a2L7KAhUls4MKHfZgAZAQ6AEIOTAF#v=onepage&q=%22rapes%20go%20unreported%22&f=false] Many sources cite estimates of 90% unreported. 2/3rds unreported is also a common estimate. If you have any sources stating that (1) most rape cases are reported, or (2) that the claim that most cases are unreported is controversial, please present them. Wikipedia does not allow [[WP:OR|original research]], however. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 00:44, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::In all fairness, the burden of proof is not on me, or any other source really, to provide evidence that a statement is uncertain. Rather the burden is on the statement to prove itself. Until the exact claim is attributed, it is not possible to provide such commentary on those claims. However, as this represents a perfect example of the problem, I'd be happy to indulge the exercise for the sake of this discussion. Let us bear in mind, however, that no additional sources or rationale worked out in this discussion are benefiting the article text or the readers. I do not have access to the reference section of any of these links, but if you can provide me with their primary source, I will attempt to provide evidence of controversy. Without the reference, as far as I can tell, it's possible that all 5 of these links are referencing the same survey. I don't think "Sexual Decisions: The Ultimate Teen Guide", for example, will show up in many professional commentaries, but its data source certainly will. This is exactly the same problem the article text has, at the moment, and the questions presented in this discussion are the questions the article should be answering for the readers. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 04:14, 23 January 2016 (UTC)

::::Scoundr3l, what kind of sources do you find convincing? Government? Professional scientific studies? Newspapers? Most of the books Kaldari supplied are reliable but they cover the matter of rape in passing. A book that is specifically about sexual violence, perhaps? I'm confident we could find something that would put your mind at ease regarding this matter. Whom do you consider a reliable authority? [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 17:19, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::::{{ping|Scoundr3l}}, there actually ''is'' a word for the thing you're talking about: "meta-analysis." That's when a group of scientists gather all the surveys and studies of a particular issue and evaluate them to identify overall trends. Here is one comparative analysis.[http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/653101?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents] Even in most regular studies, a single fact can be supported by multiple surveys. This one covers a single national sample [http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/26/4/807.abstract] [[User:Darkfrog24|Darkfrog24]] ([[User talk:Darkfrog24|talk]]) 18:58, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::I think the primary issue has more to do with the wording than the source, although it certainly doesn't help that the article's listed source may be poorly worded. As you say, many sources mention the statistic only in passing and so the phrasing is less important to their overall point. However, most academic sources (and, I hope we'll conclude, encyclopedias) prefer the more precise wording. So perhaps the issue is in replacing the source. The meta-analysis you've provided is a great resource and, if not included already, I hope it'll be added to the article. The wording I'm seeing in that source is "In the past 15 years in Australia, Canada, England and Wales, Scotland, and the United States, victimization surveys show that 14 percent of sexual violence victims report the offense to the police." To rephrase that statement as simply "The majority of rape goes unreported" would misrepresent the statement in terms of voice, conclusion, date range, and demographics. Granted the former statement would support the latter statement, if we assume the initial point, but it would be fallacy to do so. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 20:52, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

:: [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] - actually it's not hard to find mentions of dispute on the whole topic of 'under-reporting' as something out there. See [http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/01/20/new-study-once-again-debunks-right-wing-medias/208071 here] , [http://www.weeklystandard.com/more-college-rape-hype-this-time-from-the-washington-post/article/972536 here], [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419716/posts-new-poll-campus-sexual-assault-bogus-david-french], Dana Goldstein, “The Dueling Data on Campus Rape,” and so forth. I'm thinking more that the topic is supposed to be assault itself, and the issues of dueling statistics just isn't an actual sexual assault and just isn't due this amount of coverage. [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 00:02, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
:::None of the 3 sources you cite say anything about under-reporting of rape or sexual assault to law enforcement. Those articles just argue that sexual assault rates are lower then what is commonly reported in the media or by surveys. Even if sexual assault rates are actually very low (as those articles argue), it's still possible (and very likely) that the majority of incidents are not reported to law enforcement. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 04:36, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

:::: User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] - There is controversy. It seemed silly to ask Scoundr3l for it "You keep saying that the subject of under-reporting is controversial, but without offering any evidence" when such was easily google findable, but I gave a few of the first ones I found to show there is some 'over-inflated' versus 'under-reported'. This is to show there is partisan dispute here, not that partisans use the term of their opponents or talk seriously and fairly about the alternate views. I additionally offer that this all seems a bit [[WP:OFFTOPIC]] and not proper for the article to lead with as it's focusing instead into whether partisans exist or that claims are hyped or understated and leaving assault prevalence down at the third para and things other than surveys in the bottom half of the article. If the article topic was 'Survey disputes about Sexual Assault' or 'Partisan sides in sexual assault topic' would be one thing but for 'Campus sexual assault' it looks to me as a poor match to the titles. So again: there is dispute, here are a few examples.
:::::* [http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/01/20/new-study-once-again-debunks-right-wing-medias/208071 here] Media matters slamming right-wing as having differing info 'New Study Once Again Debunks Right-Wing Media's Favorite Myths About Campus Sexual Assault Statistics ';
:::::* [http://www.weeklystandard.com/more-college-rape-hype-this-time-from-the-washington-post/article/972536 here] Weekly Standard flaming left-wing for wild definitions and false underreporting 'More College Rape Hype — This Time from the Washington Post';
:::::* [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/419716/posts-new-poll-campus-sexual-assault-bogus-david-french here] National review article on also saying Washington Post made bogus claims;
:::::* [https://www.themarshallproject.org/2014/12/11/the-dueling-data-on-campus-rape#.7AIJ5IPGK here] Dana Goldstein, “The Dueling Data on Campus Rape"
::::Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 17:24, 26 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::{{ping|Markbassett}} Only 2 of those 4 sources mention reporting rates (as opposed to assault rates) and they both support the statement that the majority of sexual assaults are unreported:
:::::* "Among female sexual assault victims, only 12.5 percent of rapes and 4.3 percent of sexual battery incidents were reported to any official."
:::::* "Virtually none of these students went to the police, nor did most report any incident to their colleges."
:::::I'm still not seeing any controversy about reporting rates. I firmly agree with you that there is controversy about sexual assault rates, but that's not the rate we are talking about here. We're talking about the reporting rate, not the assault rate. Specifically we're talking about the claim that "The majority of rape and other sexual assault victims do not report their attacks to law enforcement." Do you have any sources that dispute that claim or even state that it is controversial? So far, I haven't seen any. [[User:Kaldari|Kaldari]] ([[User talk:Kaldari|talk]]) 23:56, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

== Wording Kentucky finding ==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&curid=30977727&diff=700799635&oldid=700794117 Regarding this].
I left out "attempted" but the wording should be something like: "A separate, mandatory, survey conducted by the University of Kentucky found that 5% of college undergraduates experienced completed or attempted oral, anal, or vaginal penetration while unable to consent due to drugs or alcohol, or by force".

The placement of the sentence and the emphasis on the higher response rate seem to imply that it was somehow methodologically superior to the AAU, but that's not necessarily true: low response rates don't necessarily indicate bias, and high response rates don't necessarily indicate a lack of bias. More importantly: simply saying they measured "sexual assault" is misleading. They only measure completed or attempted penetration in the last year. The 5% finding is actually higher than the most directly comparable finding from the [https://www.aau.edu/uploadedFiles/AAU_Publications/AAU_Reports/Sexual_Assault_Campus_Survey/Report%20on%20the%20AAU%20Campus%20Climate%20Survey%20on%20Sexual%20Assault%20and%20Sexual%20Misconduct.pdf AAU survey]: (table 3-21, page 117 of the pdf) an average of 3.1% of undergraduates experienced completed or attempted penetration using force or incapacitation in the past year. As it stands, i'm not really sure why this finding is important, or why it belongs in the AAU section. It's not very well-documented beyond the brochure, and it seems sort of irrelevant to the AAU survey itself.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=700771663 This edit] is essentially a [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=prev&oldid=690919726 word-for-word] reproduction of the same as the material I have objected to in the past. Reasonable people can disagree, but it's tendentious and time-wasting to keep re-introducing disputed material without making an effort to resolve the issues. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:52, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:I think it's problematic that we lack access to the primary source and newspaper wording seems to have a bit of a willy-nilly attitude about conflating different terminology. The statistic appears to count attempted, but not completed assaults, as well as cases of intoxication which might not meet the legal definition of sexual assault. I would suggest not including it unless we can find the original study, or at least making sure our wording closely matches what's written in the brief summary that U Kentucky made public. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 21:20, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
{{outdent}}I tend to agree, but that approach may receive some pushback from others. The full report was supposed to come out in December, but it still hasn't been released as far as I can tell. Based on their public statements, it sounds like they used questions similar to the ones used to measure rape on the Campus Sexual Assault study. If that's the case, their questions about incapacitated rape would conform to the legal criteria for most states. Still, I think you're right that, without access to more information, there's a risk of mis-characterizing things. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:29, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::Here is what I am reading in the linked brochure: "[4.9% of UK students] reported unwanted sexual experiences (vaginal, oral, or anal sex) that occurred because: they were slipped drugs or alcohol and unable to consent; they were unable to consent due to voluntary drinking or taking drugs; they were threatened with physical harm; or they were physically forced. This percentage also includes individuals for whom someone attempted to force them to have sex, but they were able to escape." I agree with more specific wording, as opposed to "any sexual assault", as the more details provided the better the context for the reader. However, I would even suggest we change it to "unwanted sexual experience" so as to match the text and so there are no squabbles over the definition of sexual assault. Also, it doesn't seem necessary to round this number to 5% if I'm reading the relevant content, as often these numbers have already been rounded from a more specific decimal. The second sentence does indeed seem lax in its wording, but I think it's enough that we mention that this includes attempted. Given all that, my personal wording for this sentence would be "...encompassing 80% of students (24,300 respondents) found that 4.9% of that school's students in the past year were victims of unwanted sexual experiences, including completed or attempted oral, anal, or vaginal sex without their consent." I hope that helps. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 22:34, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::I just realized that "including" may be contentious phrasing, but I have no objection to "defined as". [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 22:37, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
:::No, this is exactly the point. It should state clearly exactly what is being measured, and this is required by [[WP:PRIMARY]]. Your abbreviated wording, omitting e.g. "unable to consent due to intoxication", is original research. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 22:59, 20 January 2016 (UTC)
::::I'm not sure I understand where your objection lies. My statement mentioned exactly what the text said was measured and mentions that it was without their consent. The various methods that may produce a lack of consent seem unnecessary to that point, but you're welcome to include intoxication if you like. Surely some amount of content can be reasonably omitted for the sake of [[WP:PARAPHRASE]], so I'm not sure what you qualified as OR, but otherwise we might as well make it a direct quote. [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Because differences in operational definitions and standards of consent are key to this topic, it's critical to completely describe them. Otherwise meaning is lost. This would be a very bad use of [[WP:PARAPHRASE]] (which is an essay, not policy). The situation here is closer to the sort of thing [[WP:MEDRS]] was written to deal with. In medicine, epidemiology is a notoriously fickle subject, which is why MEDRS warns against using primary sources at all if it can be avoided. Although sexual assault poses serious dangers to physical and mental health, this is arguably not a topic where MEDRS applies; nevertheless, we are dealing with similar sourcing issues. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 00:31, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::Are you objecting to the source or only to the paraphrasing of the source? If the latter, what else would you include that would be an accurate representation of the source, in your opinion? [[User:Scoundr3l|Scoundr3l]] ([[User talk:Scoundr3l|talk]]) 00:55, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::If we are including this survey, I would prefer to be explicit about what was measured. My concern is that it looks like we're making a comparison between Kentucky's findings and the findings of the AAU, even though those results really aren't comparable because they measure different types of sexual violence. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::It should be a two way street then. Nblund wants to be explicit about the Kentucky Survey, but wants to minimize the detailed findings of other surveys that tout higher numbers, including how often the "victims" don't think it's serious enough. Here's the theme - report high level numbers (per the lede), with no attribution about what and how they are measuring it. Also, try to argue that surveys that have very high rates are just as good, no, better than surveys that indicate lower rates. See the theme?
Regarding Nblund's queries about the differences in methodology between the AAU and Kentucky studies, the AAU study used responses from non-random and voluntary sample with a low participation rate. This creates the risk of [[Sampling bias]]. Per the AAU study itself, "An analysis of the possibility the estimates were affected by non-response bias found that certain types of estimates may be too high because non-victims may have been less likely to participate." The Kentucky survey represents nearly the entire population, was not voluntary, which means it's more representative of the student body.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 13:54, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:Yeah, this is exactly what I think we should avoid trying to imply. A sample with a high response rate can potentially be less representative than a sample with a low response rate and vice versa. Whether or not a response bias exists is actually a pretty tricky empirical question: notice that the AAU report dedicates about 30 pages (appendix 4) to analyzing the sample for bias. The KU survey may be worse, or better, but they either didn't check for bias, or haven't released those results. It's really speculative to say that the survey is of better quality. It certainly isn't something that you could cite a reliable source to support. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:22, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::It's more than an implication. It's a basic fact about surveys and sampling and it's overtly stated by the AAU study designers themselves. I'm confident you know the difference, but let me explain to other editors. The closer the sample is to capturing the entire population the better. If you can poll everyone, then the results reflect the entire population. If you cannot capture the entire population, you then need to control for sample bias. One way this is done to is make sure the sample is '''random.''' Kentucky does a good job because it captured more than 90% of the population, and did not have any issue with self-selection bias because it was mandatory. AAU is closer to 15%, and was not random. So 85% of students did not respond to the survey, and of the 15% who chose to respond, the AAU itself states they may be more inclined because they had been assaulted. I don't think you really believe the two approaches are equivalent, but you want readers to think they are. You carefully avoid the Complete Sample, vs. Random Sample vs. Self-Selected Sample issues to make your argument, and that's just misleading. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]])
:::Yeah, it's not true that higher response rates are always better. There's actually quite a bit of [http://poq.oxfordjournals.org/content/70/5/646.short recent] [http://poq.oxfordjournals.org/content/64/4/413.abstract?ijkey=5e888a9b22673e0eb7434758958d689cf0637409&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha research] on this topic that suggests that bias can be the same or even higher in surveys with very high response rates. The AAU authors cite some of this literature in the report (footnote 1 on page vi of the introduction). The AAU does say that there is evidence of a response bias on their survey, and that is noted in the entry. However there are no indications of the quality of Kentucky's data, and the claim that one is superior to the other doesn't appear to be something that you can support with a reliable source. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 17:07, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::Here's [http://wfpl.org/how-the-university-of-kentucky-tackled-underreporting-of-sexual-assault-on-campus/ a very specific source commenting on the KU survey] which I quote:
:::::"Until now, the school has had to rely on information that was volunteered. Follingstad explained that volunteered data is not always representative. “A survey that goes out to a campus is relying on whomever is willing to complete it,” she said. “There is always a concern that samples are skewed.” That’s why campus officials decided the survey should go out to entire student body."
::::Can we drop this now? AAU study was voluntary. Kentucky was not.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 17:58, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::Where does it say that the data quality is superior to the findings from the AAU? Where does it say that they have empirical evidence of reduced response bias? That statement explains Kentucky's reasoning, but it doesn't say anything directly about the quality of the current data, and it certainly doesn't offer any support for making a comparison across data sources. This is a very complex statistical question, it's not really something that we can reasonably speculate about. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:32, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::Now you're just being difficult. The AAU designers say their study is skewed. The KU say theirs is not, with the same reasoning.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 18:57, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::I'm not trying to be difficult, but it seems like you're putting words in the mouths of these researchers. The AAU says they have ''some indications'' of a response bias. They draw this conclusion after running some fairly rigorous empirical tests. KU says that volunteered data isn't always representative, but they don't actually assert that their results are free of bias, and they absolutely don't make a comparison between data sources. Doing so would be pretty irresponsible, because they don't appear to have analyzed the data for response bias -- at least not yet. Again, this is a question that requires some fairly sophisticated statistical know-how and technical skills, it would be pretty clear-cut OR to assert something like this without a reliable source. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 19:35, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::Again quoting, "There is always a concern that samples are skewed.” That’s why campus officials decided the survey should go out to entire student body."" What part of that do you not understand? How about I add what KU and the AAU people say about their own studies then, with quotes? Or will you object to that?[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 20:06, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::It would depend on the wording and arrangement, if you arrange the quotes in a way that appears to be making a comparison between the two, I would say that still poses the same problem. Others are questioning whether this belongs here at all, so maybe you should propose something above and see what others think.
:::::::::The AAU is making a statement based on a fairly rigorous response analysis. Follingstad, on the other hand, is discussing how KU's novel approach ''might'' alleviate the issue, but it's not something that has empirical support, nor does it suggest anything about the AAU. I think this comparison is also a stretch, but KU [http://uknow.uky.edu/content/campus-safety-survey-reveals-student-perceptions-and-experiences does compare their results to the Campus Sexual Assault study]. Their findings actually indicate a higher rate of sexual violence than the CSA (5% in the last year vs. 3.4% since entering college). [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 20:51, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::The AAU study is clearly flawed due to the low response rate, while we just don't know enough about the U Kentucky study. There are problems with mandatory surveys too, such that some students may not read the questions and just try to get it over with. I don't think we can reasonably compare the results unless we know that the methodology was similar, and I'm bothered that we don't seem to have access to the original study, just the summary of results. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 21:52, 21 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::Yeah, there's also the problem that the 80% completion rate appears to include students who completed the survey but selected "prefer not to answer" for certain questions. The number of valid responses for each item is probably lower than the total participation rate. Again, this is something that would probably be laid out in the full report.
::::::::::: Looking over the entry, I think the section on "prevention efforts" probably should contain some information on the strategy of using climate surveys, and I do think some info on the Kentucky, Michigan, and Yale approaches (as well as the AAU) might be useful there. Kentucky did get some press coverage for the idea of making this survey mandatory, and I think that approach is noteworthy even if we're unsure about how to deal with the results themselves. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:34, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::A whole lot of speculation going on. How about we use what's stated by the survey designers themselves as it relates to sample. There's this thing called [[WP:RS]] that Wikipedia is founded on.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 12:21, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::Do you have an RS where the survey designers say anything about the item-by-item response rates or state the number of students who gave valid responses to the sexual assault questions? [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 16:52, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::::Not required since we're not citing a source that makes any points to that level of detail. Simply put, we have the AAU (and others) stating there's selection bias in their survey, and we have Kentucky saying they decided to go with the entire student body to avoid that issue. It's sourced. Your speculative opinions on why this is not valid is not supported by any source you've offered. So I put it to you - do you have a sources that says the AAU study was more rigorous, or better executed than Kentucky? If so, how? Also, you previous asked me for a source regarding Kentucky, I provided it, and now you're shifting the goal line.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 17:06, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::I asked for a source that supported the argument that the KU survey was better than the AAU, and you haven't provided that. I really doubt you can. For my part: I don't know whether the AAU is more rigorous, and I would oppose suggesting that in the entry. My view is that we lack enough information to make a comparison and so we should avoid implying one. Like I said: maybe you should propose a wording above so we have something more concrete to work with. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 18:37, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::::::::::::::::According to Diane Follingstad, director of the Center for Research on Violence Against Women at UK, who was quoted extensively in a reliable news source, KU made the survey mandatory to avoid problems of skewed responses. That's the comparison in the passage and according to her, the KU study is unique. Your opinion on the matter is irrelevant. We rely on reliable sources. Your POV is showing, and if you keep it up, this might have to go to ANI.[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 17:21, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
:::::::::::::::::Yes, Mattnad, and I have explained at length why a comparison is still not really okay. You might not agree -- but there is not a consensus for inserting this material in the way you have worded it, and you're not really engaged in any effort to create consensus. You absolutely should take that accusation to ANI. It's uncivil and disruptive to keep making the accusation on talk pages. Either take it to ANI or stop saying it. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 17:32, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

== Minutiae ==

The UK study which is being pushed by [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] is a somewhat flimsy primary source that may not belong at all. But I'm also a bit perturbed by edits like [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Campus_sexual_assault&diff=701631860&oldid=701631693 this] by [[User:Nblund|Nblund]]. While the edit summary is accurate in a sense - this particular source doesn't make the specific claim that the BJS criteria were narrower - we also all know this claim to be true, and it can be sourced elsewhere. On both sides, there is an effort to control almost every word in this article, which is going to preclude it from being developed. I would suggest you stop arguing over these small issues and instead open a (hopefully friendlier) discussion about how to significantly restructure the article. It needs work one way or another. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 04:47, 27 January 2016 (UTC)
:As you previously noted, the AAU doesn't even purport to measure sexual assault at all, so the comparison seems a little problematic on its face, but I don't think that the claim is true at all. Different surveys use different definitions, and some surveys (NISVS, for instance) measure other types of sexual violence ''in addition to'' rape and sexual assault, but I don't see reliable sources that claim that they define sexual assault more or less "narrowly" from any other data source. [http://www.nap.edu/read/18605/chapter/6 The National Research Council Report] on the NCVS methodology actually conducts a pretty in-depth review of the definitions used by different studies. They do note that the NCVS definition needs improvement, and say that needs to explicitly include sexual assault by incapacitation, but they don't reach the conclusion that any particular definition is "narrower" overall.

:More importantly, the statement gives a misleading impression that isn't supported by reliable sources: definitions vary, but no scholarly source supports the notion that differences in definition are the ''primary'' reason for differences on the "not serious enough" response, or on any other measure. Indeed, the distinction generally portrayed as more important for differences across surveys in the scholarly literature is the wording of survey questions. Surveys that use behaviorally specific questions (like the CSA and AAU) generally find more sexual assaults than studies (like the NCVS) that ask respondents whether they were raped without defining explicitly what that term entails. This discrepancy holds true in controlled experiments, where the only difference between two studies is the wording of the survey questions themselves ([https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/182369.pdf see the results of the "quasi-experiment" here])

:I agree that there are problems here, and the best solution is to avoid a deep dive in to particular study, but I'm not just quibbling about minutiae here: statements like the one I removed mis-characterize the science in order to make arguments that aren't supportable by a reliable source. It's a [[Wikipedia:No_trojan_horses|Trojan Horse]] for introducing a bit of editorial, and it's a persistent problem. [[User:Nblund|Nblund]] ([[User talk:Nblund|talk]]) 06:13, 27 January 2016 (UTC)

== Undue weight for criticism section ==

The "criticism" section seems disproportionately large and it includes a bullet style list of specific cases where the university apparently treated the accused male student unfairly. But there is no bullet style list of notable cases in general, just a bullet list for cases where the male student was apparently treated unfairly. It seems undue to give this sort of detailed attention to only one specific type of campus sexual assault case. I don't think the answer is adding bullet lists of campus sexual assault cases in general, because that would quickly overwhelm the article, and such details aren't really appropriate in an overview article anyway. It seems the criticism section should be trimmed to just overview information. Another option seems that a break-away article could be created to cover this specific type of case in this sort of detail-[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 04:15, 31 January 2016 (UTC)

Jim Morris (bodybuilder)

2016-01-31T03:42:04Z

BoboMeowCat: Removed unsourced statement that he has died. To include this text it needs to be referenced and the reference needs to meet WP:RS

{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
'''Jim Morris''' (August 31, 1935 - January 29, 2016) is an American bodybuilder known for winning competitions over a thirty-year career. Among the titles Morris won are: Mr. USA (1972), [[AAU Mr. America]] (1973), [[Mr. International]] (1974), and [[Mr. Olympia]] Masters Over 60 (1996).<ref>[http://gymmorris.com/career.asp Gymmorris.com career highlights]</ref> At age 50, he became a [[vegetarian]] and over 15 years transitioned to [[Veganism|vegan]], a diet to which he credits much of his excellent health.<ref>Shane Roberts," [http://frugivoremag.com/2012/10/black-male-vegan-77-year-old-bodybuilder-jim-morris-proves-vegans-can-be-muscular-healthy/ Black Male Vegan: 77-Year-Old Bodybuilder Jim Morris Proves Vegans Can Be Muscular & Healthy]," Frugivoremag.com, 2 October 2012.</ref> He posed nude for a [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]] ad in support of the vegan lifestyle.<ref>"[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/01/08/vegan-male-bodybuilder_n_4560059.html 78-Year-Old Vegan Male Bodybuilder, Jim Morris, Will Make You Reconsider Your Diet]," Huffington Post UK, 8 January 2014.</ref>

Morris, who still trains regularly as of 2011,<ref>[http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5653210 ABC News: 72-Year-Old Former 'Mr. America' Still Going Strong]</ref> has been bodybuilding since September 1954. From 1974 to 1988 he was [[Elton John]]'s personal bodyguard.<ref>[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/645972182.html?dids=645972182:645972182&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Jan+27%2C+1977&author=BETH+ANN+KRIER&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=New+Career+for+a+Mr.+America&pqatl=google New Career for a Mr. America. Beth Ann Krier. Los Angeles Times. Jan 27, 1977. Section IV, pp. F1-2.]</ref>

He is openly gay.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/04/local/me-morris4 Mr. America has bulk - three decades after winning the title - Los Angeles Times]</ref><ref>http://www.advocate.com/Arts_and_Entertainment/People/70_Is_the_New_40/</ref>

In March 2011 a short documentary-film starring Jim Morris titled "Jim Morris: Lifelong Fitness" was released on [[Youtube|YouTube]]. The film focuses on his life long body building career, vegan lifestyle and Morris' yearning to break stereotypes attached to the elderly.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://gymmorris.com/ Website]
* http://www.theartofbodybuilding.com/
* http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/site/jim-morris-lt-interview/
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUvjXQHt6QQ
* http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5653210
* http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/04/local/me-morris4

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Morris, Jim
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American bodybuilder
| DATE OF BIRTH = August 31, 1935
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Jim}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American bodybuilders]]
[[Category:African-American bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Gay sportsmen]]
[[Category:LGBT sportspeople from the United States]]
[[Category:American sportsmen]]

{{US-sport-bio-stub}}
{{bodybuilding-bio-stub}}

United States anti-abortion movement

2016-01-31T03:26:54Z

BoboMeowCat: there is no exclusion criteria for only these two specific reasons - and what's relevant in lead is the opposition, not list of reasons

{{pp-move-indef}}
{| style="float:right; width:270px; border:#fff solid 1px;"
|-
|[[File:M4l2004.jpg|thumb|300px|Demonstrators at the 2004 [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]]]]
|}
The '''United States pro-life movement''' (also known as the '''United States anti-abortion movement''' or the '''United States right-to-life movement''') is a social and political movement in the [[United States]] opposing elective [[abortion]] and usually supporting its legal prohibition or restriction. Advocates generally argue that human life begins at [[Fertilisation|conception]] and that the human [[fetus]] (or [[embryo]] or [[zygote]]) is a [[person]] and therefore has a [[right to life]]. The pro-life movement includes a variety of organizations, with no single centralized decision-making body.<ref name="Encyclopedia of women in American politics"/> There are diverse arguments and rationales for the pro-life stance. Some anti-abortion activists concede arguments for permissible abortions in exceptional circumstances such as incest, rape, severe fetal defects or when the woman's health is at risk.

Before the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] 1973 decisions in ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' and ''[[Doe v. Bolton]]'', anti-abortion views predominated and found expression in [[U.S. state|state]] laws which prohibited or restricted abortions in a variety of ways. (See [[Abortion in the United States]].) The anti-abortion movement became politically active and dedicated to the reversal of the ''Roe v. Wade'' decision, which struck down most state laws restricting abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy.<ref name=Staggenborg>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3oRBOuEvz30C&pg=PA188 |page=188 |title=The Pro-Choice Movement: Organization and Activism in the Abortion Conflict |first=Suzanne |last=Staggenborg |publisher=Oxford University Press US |year=1994 |isbn=0-19-508925-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.brennancenter.org/blog/archives/Greenhouse_and_Reva_B._Siegel |page= |title=Before Roe v. Wade: Voices that Shaped the Abortion Debate Before the Supreme Court's Ruling |first=Linda|last=Greenhouse |publisher=Kaplan Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=1-60714-671-1}}</ref>
In the United States, the movement is associated with several Christian religious groups, especially the [[Catholic Church and abortion in the United States|Catholic Church]], and is frequently, but not exclusively, allied with the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc1bdEtBWRYC&pg=PA150 |page=150 |title=Understanding American Government |publisher=Cengage Learning |year=2009 |edition=12 |isbn=0-495-56839-2 |author=Susan Welch, John Gruhl, John Comer, Susan M. Rigdon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democratsforlife.org/ |title=Democrats for Life |publisher=Democrats for Life |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref> The movement is also supported by non-mainstream [[Pro-life feminism|pro-life feminist]]s.<ref name=NWSA>{{Cite journal|last=Oaks |first=Laury |date=Spring 2009 |title=What Are Pro-Life Feminists Doing on Campus? |journal=[[NWSA Journal]] |volume= 21|issue= 1|pages=178–203 |url= http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/nwsa_journal/v021/21.1.oaks.pdf|doi=|pmid= |pmc= |issn=1040-0656}}</ref> The movement seeks to reverse ''Roe v. Wade'' and to promote legislative changes or constitutional amendments, such as the [[Human Life Amendment]], that prohibit or at least broadly restrict abortion.<ref name="Encyclopedia of women in American politics"/>

On the other side of the [[Abortion in the United States|abortion debate in the United States]] is the [[United States pro-choice movement|pro-choice movement]], which argues that pregnant women retain the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.

==History==
In the late 1960s, a number of organizations were formed to mobilize opinion against the legalization of abortion. In the United States, the [[National Right to Life Committee]] was formed in 1968, while in Australia, the [[Cherish Life Queensland|National Right to Life]] formed in 1970.<ref>{{cite web|title=We need your help|url=http://www.cherishlife.org.au/about-us/help-needed|publisher=[[Cherish Life Queensland]]|accessdate=31 December 2011}}</ref>

The description "pro-life" was adopted by the [[Right to life|right-to-life]] (anti-abortion) movement in the United States following the Supreme Court 1973 decision ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'',<ref name="Encyclopedia of women in American politics">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LOzfQEP3H8AC&pg=PA195 |page=195 |title=Encyclopedia of women in American politics |first1= Jeffrey D. |last1=Schultz |first2=Laura A. |last2=Van Assendelft |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |year=1999 |isbn=1-57356-131-2 |series=The American political landscape |edition=1}}</ref> which held that a woman may terminate her pregnancy prior to the viability of the fetus outside of the womb and may also terminate her pregnancy "subsequent to viability ... for the preservation of the life or health of the mother."<ref name="Roe v Wade">[http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html ''Roe v. Wade'' (98–1856) 410 U.S. 113 (1973)]. Retrieved April 29, 2011.</ref> The term "pro-life" was adopted instead of "anti-abortion" to highlight their proponents' belief that abortion is the taking of a human life, rather than an issue concerning the restriction of women's [[reproductive rights]].<ref name="Encyclopedia of women in American politics"/> The first organized action was initiated by U.S. Catholic bishops who recommended in 1973 that the U.S. Constitution should be amended to ban abortion.<ref name="Encyclopedia of women in American politics"/>

''Roe v. Wade'' was considered a major setback by pro-life campaigners. The case and the overturning of most anti-abortion laws spurred the growth of a largely religious-based pro-life political and social movement, even as Americans were becoming, in the 1970s and 1980s, increasingly pro-choice. The first major pro-life success since ''Roe's case'' came in 1976 with the passing of the [[Hyde Amendment]] prohibiting the use of certain federal funds for abortions. In ''[[Harris v. McRae]]'', pro-life advocates won a 1980 challenge to the Hyde Amendment. That same year, the pro-life movement gained control of the Republican Party's [[Party platform|platform]] committee, adding pro-life planks to the Republican position, and calling for a Human Life Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, banning abortion.<ref name="Encyclopedia of women in American politics"/> Two pro-life U.S. Presidents – [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George H. W. Bush]] – were elected.

Some in the media have noted a revitalization of the pro-life movement in the 21st century. In 2011, [[Fred Barnes (journalist)|Fred Barnes]] of ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'' wrote:

{{blockquote|That the pro-life movement is bigger is a given. It's also younger, increasingly entrepreneurial, more strategic in its thinking, better organized, tougher in dealing with allies and enemies alike, almost wildly ambitious, and more relentless than ever. Pro-lifers have captured the high moral ground, chiefly thanks to advances in the quality of [[Medical ultrasonography|sonograms]]. Once fuzzy, sonograms now provide a high-resolution picture of the unborn child in the womb. Fetuses have become babies.<ref name="TWS"/>}}

Barnes also discussed the rise in opposition to abortion among the younger generations, especially the [[Generation Y|millennials]], the prevalence of crisis pregnancy centers, and the rejuvenation of old pro-life groups, such as [[Students for Life]], and the rise of new ones, such as [[40 Days for Life]] and [[Live Action (organization)|Live Action]].<ref name="TWS">{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/hidden-persuaders_604174.html?page=1 |title=Hidden Persuaders |publisher=Weeklystandard.com |date=2011-11-07 |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref> Lisa Miller of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote about the younger, more feminine face of the pro-life movement with the rise of leaders such as [[Lila Rose]] of Live Action, [[Marjorie Dannenfelser]] of the [[Susan B. Anthony List]], [[Charmaine Yoest]] of [[Americans United for Life]], Penny Nance of [[Concerned Women for America]], and Kristan Hawkins of [[Students for Life]], all "youngish Christian working mothers with children at home" who seek to combat the image of the anti-abortion movement as made up of "old white men" who cannot relate to the experience of pregnant women.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/a-feminine-face-for-the-anti-abortion-movement/2011/11/02/gIQAwd7kiM_story.html |title=A feminine face for the anti-abortion movement |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date=2011-10-24 |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref>

The pro-life movement has been successful in recent years in promoting new laws against abortion within the states. The [[Guttmacher Institute]] said eighty laws restricting abortion were passed in the first six months of 2011, "more than double the previous record of 34 abortion restrictions enacted in 2005—and more than triple the 23 enacted in 2010".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2011/07/13/index.html |title=States Enact Record Number of Abortion Restrictions in First Half of 2011 |publisher=Guttmacher.org |date=2011-07-13 |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref>

==Overview==
{{See also|Abortion debate|Ethical aspects of abortion|Emergency contraception}}
The pro-life movement includes a variety of organizations, with no single centralized decision-making body.<ref name="Encyclopedia of women in American politics"/> There are diverse arguments and rationales for the pro-life stance.

There are many socially conservative organizations in the U.S. that support the pro-life movement. Some groups focus solely on promoting the pro-life cause, such as the [[Susan B. Anthony List]], [[National Right to Life Committee]], [[Americans United for Life]], and [[Live Action (organization)|Live Action]], among many others. Other groups support not only the pro-life cause but the broader [[family values]] cause, such as [[Family Research Council]], [[Focus on the Family]], [[American Family Association]], and [[Concerned Women for America]], among many others.

Pro-life individuals generally believe that human life should be valued either from [[fertilization]] or [[implantation (human embryo)|implantation]] until natural death. The contemporary pro-life movement is typically, but not exclusively, influenced by [[Christian right|Conservative Christian]] beliefs, especially in the United States, and has influenced certain strains of bioethical utilitarianism.<ref>{{cite book|author=Holland, S. |year=2003 |title=Bioethics: a Philosophical Introduction |location=Cambridge |publisher=Polity Press }}</ref> From that viewpoint, any action which destroys an [[embryo]] or [[fetus]] kills a [[person]]. Any deliberate destruction of human life is considered ethically or morally wrong and is not considered to be mitigated by any benefits to others, as such benefits are coming at the expense of the life of what they believe to be a person. In some cases, this belief extends to opposing abortion of fetuses that would almost certainly expire within a short time after birth, such as [[anencephaly|anencephalic]] fetuses.

Some pro-life advocates also oppose certain forms of [[birth control]], particularly [[hormonal contraception]] such as [[emergency contraception]] (ECPs), and copper IUDs which prevent the [[implantation (human embryo)|implantation]] of an embryo. Because they believe that the term "[[Beginning of pregnancy controversy|pregnancy]]" should be defined so as to begin at fertilization, they refer to these [[contraceptive]]s as [[abortifacients]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Finn |first=J.T. |title="Birth Control" Pills cause early Abortions |work=Pro-Life America — Facts on Abortion |publisher=prolife.com |date=2005-04-23 |url=http://www.prolife.com/BIRTHCNT.html |accessdate=2009-01-02 }}</ref>{{primary source-inline|date=September 2011}} because they cause the embryo to starve. An embryo gets its nourishment off the uterine wall and "dies" if not attached. The Catholic Church endorses this view,<ref>{{cite web |title=Emergency 'Contraception' and Early Abortion |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops |date=1998-08-01 |url=http://www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/fact1098.shtml |accessdate=2009-01-02}}</ref>{{primary source-inline|date=September 2011}} but the possibility that hormonal contraception has post-fertilization effects is disputed within the scientific community, including some pro-life physicians.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Susan A. |last=Crockett |author2=Donna Harrison |author3=Joe DeCook |author4=Camilla Hersh |title=Hormone Contraceptives Controversies and Clarifications |publisher=American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists |date = April 1999|url=http://www.aaplog.org/position-and-papers/oral-contraceptive-controversy/hormone-contraceptives-controversies-and-clarifications/ |accessdate=2011-02-22 }}</ref>{{primary source-inline|date=September 2011}}

Attachment to a pro-life position is often but not exclusively connected to religious beliefs about the [[sanctity of life]] (see also [[culture of life]]). Exclusively [[secular humanism|secular-humanist]] positions against abortion tend to be a minority viewpoint among pro-life advocates; these groups (such as [[Secular Pro-Life]]) say that their position is based on human rights and biology, rather than religion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.godlessprolifers.org/home.html |title=Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League Homepage |accessdate=November 4, 2006 |last=Wallace |first=James Matthew}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://secularprolife.org/ |title=Secular ProLife |accessdate=2010-12-06}}</ref>{{primary source-inline|date=September 2011}}<ref>[http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/1909/atheist_secular_and_prolife.aspx]"Atheist, Secular, and Pro-life"</ref> Many holding the pro-life position also tend toward a [[complementarianism|complementarian]] view of [[gender roles]], though there is also a self-described [[feminism|feminist]] element inside the movement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Feminists for Life |url=http://www.feministsforlife.org/who/aboutus.htm}}</ref>{{primary source-inline|date=September 2011}}

==Views in opposition to abortion==
{{See also|Religion and abortion|Sanctity of life|Culture of life}}
The variety in opinion on the issue of abortion is reflected in the diverse views of religious groups. For example, the Catholic Church considers all procured abortions morally evil,<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a5.htm ''Catechism of the Catholic Church''] para.2271, "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law: 'You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish'". Vatican website. Accessed 2011-02-05.</ref> while traditional Jewish teaching sanctions abortion if necessary to safeguard the life and well-being of the pregnant woman.<ref name=PewForum>{{cite web|author=ANALYSIS September 30, 2008 |url=http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=351 |title=Pew Forums |publisher=Pewforum.org |date=2008-09-30 |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref>

===Christian groups===
{{See also|Christianity and abortion|History of early Christian thought on abortion}}
[[File:Monument to the Unborn.jpg|thumb|right|A monument to the unborn in Sainte Geneviève, Missouri.]]

The only coordinated opposition to abortion in the United States during the early 1970s before the ''Roe v. Wade'' decision was from the [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]] and its Family Life Bureau. Mobilization of a wide-scale pro-life movement began immediately after in 1973 with the creation of the [[National Right to Life Committee]] (NRLC).<ref name="Munson2008">{{cite book|last=Munson|first=Ziad W. |title=The making of pro-life activists: how social movement mobilization works|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFaCtYtIAjgC&pg=PA85|accessdate=31 December 2011|year=2008|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-55120-3|page=85}}</ref>

Before 1980, the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] officially advocated for loosening of abortion restrictions.<ref name=balmer2>[https://books.google.com/books?id=LSO5YDifWz8C&pg=PA209&vq=history+baptist+abortion&sig=KZgjPsS22v-Yl0bLPRrl6eu-Etk#PPA12,M1 ''They Kingdom Come''] pg. 12, a book by Randall Herbert Balmer, Professor of Religion and History at [[Columbia University]].</ref> During the 1971 and 1974 Southern Baptist Conventions, Southern Baptists were called upon "to work for legislation that will allow the possibility of abortion under such conditions as rape, incest, clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother."<ref name=balmer2 /> W. Barry Garrett wrote in the ''[[Baptist Press]]'', "Religious liberty, human equality and justice are advanced by the <nowiki>[Roe v. Wade]</nowiki> Supreme Court Decision.".<ref name=balmer2 /> By 1980, conservative Protestant leaders became vocal in their opposition to legalized abortion,<ref name=balmer>[https://books.google.com/books?id=LSO5YDifWz8C&pg=PA209&vq=history+baptist+abortion&sig=KZgjPsS22v-Yl0bLPRrl6eu-Etk#PPA12,M1 ''They Kingdom Come''] a book by Randall Herbert Balmer, Professor of Religion and History at [[Columbia University]].</ref> and by the early 1990s [[Pat Robertson]]'s [[Christian Coalition of America]] became a significant pro-life organization.<ref name=mckee>{{cite journal | last1 = McKeegan | first1 = M | year = 1993 | title = The politics of abortion: A historical perspective | url = | journal = Women's Health Issues | volume = 3 | issue = 3| pages = 127–131 | doi=10.1016/s1049-3867(05)80245-2}}</ref> In 2005, [[Richard Land]], president of the Southern Baptist Convention's [[Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission]], said that making abortion illegal is more important than any other issue.<ref>[http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=22064 Baptist Press]"Sparks fly in Land's appearance at black columnists' meeting"</ref>

Much of the pro-life movement in the United States and around the world finds support in the [[Catholicism and abortion|Roman Catholic Church]], the [[Christian right]], the [[Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod]] and the [[Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod]], the [[Church of England]], the [[Anglican Church in North America]], the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=R9UNAAAAQAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA509&dq=history+christian+opposition+to+abortion&ots=XQF-Jfvf1v&sig=n6wXPZmkutHUi5sqz2arM09Kw6w#v=onepage&q=religous&f=false|title=Mapping the Social Landscape|publisher=|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=info:sZdDDkTKT_EJ:scholar.google.com/&output=viewport&pg=1&hl=en Sex, Politics, and Religion: The Clash Between Poland and the European Union over Abortion] by Alicia Czerwinski in the ''Denver Journal of International Law and Policy'', 2003</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mospat.ru/index.php?mid=192 |title=Официальный сайт Русской Православной Церкви |publisher=Mospat.ru |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref><ref>[http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Curriculum/home%20and%20family.htm/true%20to%20the%20faith%20a%20gospel%20reference.htm/abortion.htm?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0$q=$x= True to the Faith (LDS) article on abortion]. Retrieved 2006-05-06.</ref> However, the pro-life teachings of these denominations vary considerably. The Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church consider abortion to be immoral in all cases, but may in some cases permit an act {{citation needed|date=June 2012}} which indirectly and without intent results in the death of the fetus in a case where the mother's life is threatened. In Pope John Paul II's Letter to Families he simply stated the Roman Catholic Church's view on abortion and [[euthanasia]]: "Laws which legitimize the direct killing of innocent human beings through abortion or euthanasia are in complete opposition to the inviolable right to life proper to every individual; they thus deny the equality of everyone before the law."

The [[National Association of Evangelicals]] and the LDS Church oppose abortion on demand. However, the NAE considers abortion permissible in cases with clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, dire threat to the life/physical health of the pregnant woman, or when a pregnancy results from rape or incest.<ref name=pew>[http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=351 "Religious Groups’ Official Positions on Abortion"] Pew Forum</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nae.net/government-affairs/policy-resolutions/59-abortion-1973 |title=Abortion 1973 |publisher=Nae.net |accessdate=2011-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nae.net/government-affairs/policy-resolutions/446-abortion-2010 |title=Abortion 2010 |publisher=Nae.net |date=2008-09-16 |accessdate=2011-09-19}}</ref> The [[Taskforce of United Methodists on Abortion and Sexuality]] (TUMAS) was formed in 1987 to further the pro-life ministry in [[The United Methodist Church]].<ref name="Thomas C. Oden">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pB6BrgQRjbQC&pg=PA143&dq=Taskforce+of+United+Methodists+on+Abortion+and+Sexuality&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Taskforce%20of%20United%20Methodists%20on%20Abortion%20and%20Sexuality&f=false| title = The rebirth of orthodoxy: signs of new life in Christianity|publisher = [[HarperCollins]]|accessdate = 2009-01-04|isbn = 978-0-06-009785-1|date = 2002-12-12}}</ref> The [[Southern Baptist Convention]] believes that abortion is allowable only in cases where there is a direct threat to the life of the woman.<ref name=pew/> Other [[Mainline Protestant]] denominations in the United States, such as the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal Church]], the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]], the [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]], and the [[United Church of Christ]], are pro-choice.<ref name=pew/>

===Consistent life ethic===
Supporters of the [[consistent life ethic]] also oppose abortions as one of the acts that end human life. In 1979, [[Juli Loesch]] linked anti-abortion and anti-nuclear weapons arguments to form the group Prolifers for Survival. In 1987 this group defined an ethic of the sanctity of all life, and formed the group Seamless Garment Network. This group was against abortion, euthanasia, [[capital punishment]], militarism, poverty and racism.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z5V9t5b79TwC&pg=PA216 |page=216 |title=Catholic Social Teaching and Movements |first=Marvin L. |last=Krier Mich |publisher=Twenty-Third Publications |year=1998 |isbn=9780896229365}}</ref> Beginning in 1983, American [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Catholic Cardinal]] [[Joseph Bernardin]] argued that abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and unjust war are all related, and all wrong. He said that "to be truly 'pro-life,' you have to take all of those issues into account."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wNjQaPGdlaMC&pg=PA148 |page=148 |title=The Edge of Life: Human Dignity and Contemporary Bioethics |first=Christopher Robert |last=Kaczor |publisher=Springer |year=2006 |isbn=9781402031564 |series=Philosophy and Medicine |volume=85}}</ref> Paul M. Perl studied 1996 voter statistics and found that the consistent life ethic is difficult for religious leaders to promote because it combines the generally conservative anti-abortion stance with a liberal social attitude.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QRy2vKbwBQsC&pg=PA221 |page=221 |title=The Ten Commandments: A Handbook of Religious, Legal, and Social Issues |first=Joseph P. |last=Hester |publisher=McFarland |year=2003 |isbn=9780786414192}}</ref>

==Legal and political aspects==
[[File:DFLA March.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Democrats for Life of America]] demonstrates at the 2006 [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]].]]
The United States [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] platform advocates a pro-life position,<ref>[http://www.gop.com/media/2004platform.pdf ''2004 Republican Party Platform: A Safer World and a More Hopeful America''] p. 84.</ref> though there are some pro-choice Republicans. The Republican group [[The Wish List (political organization)|The Wish List]] supports pro-choice Republican women just as [[EMILY's List]] supports pro-choice Democratic women. The [[Susan B. Anthony List]] (SBA List) is dedicated to "increasing the percentage of pro-life women in Congress and high public office,"<ref>''Its connected Candidate Fund increases the percentage of pro-life women in politics.'', http://www.suzyb.org/blog/Elections Retrieved 25 September 2008.</ref> and seeks to eliminate abortion in the U.S.<ref name="SBA List Mission Statement">{{cite web |url=http://www.sba-list.org/about-sba-list/our-mission |title=SBA List Mission: Advancing, Mobilizing and Representing Pro-Life Women |year=2008 |publisher=Susan B. Anthony List |accessdate=October 18, 2010 |quote=To accomplish our ultimate goal of ending abortion in this country...}}</ref> The [[Democrats for Life of America]] are a group of pro-life Democrats on the [[Left-wing politics|political left]] who advocate for a pro-life plank in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s platform and for pro-life Democratic candidates. Former vice-presidential candidate [[Sargent Shriver]], the late [[Robert P. Casey|Robert Casey]], a former two-term governor of [[Pennsylvania]], and former Rep. [[Bart Stupak]] (D-Mich), a former leader of the bipartisan pro-life caucus in the [[United States House of Representatives]], have been among the most well-known pro-life Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|author=PATRICK O'CONNOR |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34767.html |title=Historic win close after Bart Stupak deal |publisher=Politico.com |date=21 March 2010 |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref> However, following his vote in favor of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], Marjorie Dannenfelser of the SBA List reported that her organization was revoking a pro-life award it had been planning to give to Stupak,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/21/stupak-says-health-care-deal-looming-abortion-funding/ | work=Fox News | title=Choice, Life Groups Slam Obama Order on Abortion Funding | date=2010-03-21}}</ref> and pro-life organizations accused Stupak of having betrayed the pro-life movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/stupak-gop-pro-life/2010/03/22/id/353491 |title=Pro-Life Groups Help Stupak's GOP Opponents |publisher=Newsmax.com |date=2010-03-22 |accessdate=2011-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/marchweb-only/22-13.0.html |title=Stupak: From Prolife Groups' Hero to Villain 'In a Nanosecond' | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction |publisher=Christianity Today |date=2010-03-22 |accessdate=2011-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100410/pro-life-groups-offer-mixed-tribute-to-bart-stupak/ |title=Bart Stupak's Retirement Stirs Mixed Reactions, Christian News |publisher=Christianpost.com |accessdate=2011-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/23/AR2010032302841.html | work=The Washington Post | first=Kathleen | last=Parker | title=Stupak's fall from pro-life grace | date=2010-03-24}}</ref>

''[[The New York Times]]'' reported in 2011 that the pro-life movement in the United States has been undergoing a disagreement over tactics. Since ''Roe v. Wade'' was decided in 1973, the movement has usually focused on chipping away at ''Roe'' through incremental restrictions such as laws requiring parental consent or women to see sonograms, restricting late-term abortions, etc., with the goal of limiting abortions and changing "hearts and minds" until there is a majority on the Supreme Court to overturn ''Roe''. However, some activists are calling for "an all-out legal assault on ''Roe. v. Wade''", seeking the enactment of laws defining legal personhood as beginning at fertilization or prohibiting abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detectable at six to eight weeks in the hope that court challenges to such laws would lead the Supreme Court to overturn ''Roe v. Wade''. They believe that Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]], who nearly decided to overturn ''Roe'' in ''[[Planned Parenthood v. Casey]]'', is open to rethinking ''Roe''. Others fear that the Court would not only strike down the laws in question but other state laws as well, and take the opportunity to solidify the ruling in ''Roe''. Evangelical Christian groups tend to be in the former camp and Catholic groups in the latter.<ref>{{Cite news |work=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/health/policy/fetal-heartbeat-bill-splits-anti-abortion-forces.html |title=Anti-Abortion Groups Are Split on Legal Tactics |date=December 4, 2011 |first=Erik |last=Eckholm}}</ref>

==Demographics==
Studies indicate that activists within the American pro-life movement are predominantly white and educated, with a majority of pro-life activism constituted by women. Scholars continue to dispute the primary factors that cause individuals to become pro-life activists. While some have suggested that a particular moral stance or worldview leads to activism, others have suggested that activism leads individuals to develop particular moral positions and worldviews.

A 1981 survey of dues paying members of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) by sociologist Donald O. Granberg found that survey respondents held conservative views on sex, sex education, and contraception. Additionally, Granberg's survey provided basic demographic characteristics of his sample: 98% of survey respondents were white, 63% were female, 58% had a college degree, and 70% were Catholic. Granberg concluded that conservative personal morality was the primary mechanism for explaining an individual's involvement in the pro-life movement.<ref>{{Cite journal|jstor=2134620 | volume=13 | pages=157–163}}</ref>

A 2002 study by Carol J.C. Maxwell drawing on decades of survey and interview data of direct-action activists within the pro-life movement found that 99% of the sample was white, 60% was female, 51% had a college degree, and 29% were Catholic. Like Granberg's 1981 study, Maxwell concluded that pro-life and pro-choice activists held two different worldviews which in turn are formed by two different moral centers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Maxwell|first=Carol J.C.|title=Pro-life activists in America |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=2002 |isbn=0521660440}}</ref>

More recently, sociologist Ziad Munson studied the characteristics of both activists and non-activists who considered themselves pro-life. The pro-life activists of Munson's sample were 93% white, 57% female, 66% Catholic, and 71% had a college degree. Of non-activists who considered themselves pro-life, Munson found that 83% were white, 52% were female, 45% were Catholic, and 76% had a college degree. In Munson's analysis personal moralities and worldviews are formed as a consequence of participation in pro-life activism. Munson's analysis differs from previous scholarly work in its assertion that beliefs result from activism rather than causing activism. For Munson, life course factors make an individual more or less likely to become an activist.<ref>{{cite book |last=Munson|first=Ziad |title=The making of pro-life activists |publisher=University of Chicago Press |date=2008 |isbn=0226551202}}</ref>

== Controversies over terminology ==
Pro-life advocates tend to use terms such as "unborn baby", "unborn child", or "pre-born child",<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Chamberlain | first1 = Pam | last2 = Hardisty | first2 = Jean | year = 2007 | title = The Importance of the Political 'Framing' of Abortion | url = http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v14n1/ReproPatriarch-07.html | journal = The Public Eye Magazine | volume = 14 | issue = 1 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/weekinreview/05greenhouse.html?scp=1&sq=infanticide "The Roberts Court Takes on Abortion".] ''New York Times.'' November 5, 2006. Retrieved January 18, 2008.</ref> and see the medical terms "[[embryo]]", "[[zygote]]", and "[[fetus]]" as [[dehumanization|dehumanizing]].<ref>Brennan 'Dehumanizing the vulnerable' 2000</ref><ref>{{cite journal |journal=Princeton Progressive Review |date=February 1996 |url=http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/users/rauch/nvp/consistent/naomi_wolf.html |author1=Getek, Kathryn |author2=Cunningham, Mark |title=A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing – Language and the Abortion Debate}}</ref> Pro-life individuals may also prefer to refer to the pregnant woman as a "mother", while some pro-choice individuals consider this inappropriate.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

Both "pro-choice" and "pro-life" are examples of terms labeled as [[framing (social sciences)|political framing]]: they are terms which purposely try to define their philosophies in the best possible light, while by definition attempting to describe their opposition in the worst possible light. "Pro-choice" implies that the alternative viewpoint is "anti-choice", while "pro-life" implies the alternative viewpoint is "pro-death" or "anti-life".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnclife.org/reports/2009/spring/RNC-Spring09.pdf |title=Example of "anti-life" terminology |format=PDF |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref> Some right-to-lifers use the term "pro-abort" to refer to pro-choice organizations and individuals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/horror-mob-of-topless-pro-abort-feminists-attacks-rosary-praying-men-defend|title=Horror: Violent mob of topless pro-abort feminists attacks praying men defending cathedral (VIDEO)|work=LifeSiteNews|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref> See also [[Abortion debate#Terminology]].

The [[Associated Press]] encourages journalists to use the terms "abortion rights" and "anti-abortion".<ref>Goldstein, Norm, ed. The Associated Press Stylebook. Philadelphia: Basic Books, 2007.</ref> In a 2009 [[Gallup Poll]], a majority of U.S. adults (51%) called themselves "pro-life" on the issue of abortion—for the first time since Gallup began asking the question in 1995—while 42% identified themselves as "pro-choice",<ref>{{cite web|first=Lydia|last=Saad|title=More Americans "Pro-Life" Than "Pro-Choice" for First TimeAlso, fewer think abortion should be legal "under any circumstances"|date=May 15, 2009|publisher=Gallup, Inc|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/More-Americans-Pro-Life-Than-Pro-Choice-First-Time.aspx|accessdate=2011-02-26}}</ref> although pro-choice groups noted that acceptance of the "pro-life" label did not in all cases indicate opposition to legalized abortion, and that another recent poll had indicated that an equal number were pro-choice.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30771408/ns/us_news-life/ |agency=Associated Press |title=Majority of Americans now ‘pro-life,’ poll says |date=May 15, 2009}}</ref> A March 2011 [[Rasmussen Reports]] poll concluded that Americans are "closely divided between those who call themselves pro-life" and those who consider themselves as "pro-choice".<ref>{{cite web|title=Americans Think New State Laws Will Reduce Number of Abortions|date=March 10, 2011|publisher=Rasmussen Reports, LLC|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/abortion/americans_think_new_state_laws_will_reduce_number_of_abortions|accessdate=2011-03-15|quote=While the country remains closely divided between those who call themselves pro-life and those who view themselves as pro-choice, the majority of Likely U.S. Voters think abortion is morally wrong in most cases.}}</ref> In a February 2011 Rasmussen Reports poll of "Likely U.S. Voters", fifty percent view themselves as
"pro-choice" and forty percent "say they are pro-life".<ref>{{cite web|title=Half of U.S. Voters are Pro-Choice, But 53% Say Abortion's Usually Morally Wrong|date=February 17, 2011|publisher=Rasmussen Reports, LLC|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/abortion/half_of_u_s_voters_are_pro_choice_but_53_say_abortion_s_usually_morally_wrong|accessdate=2011-03-19}}</ref> In a July 2013 Rasmussen Reports poll of "Likely U.S. Voters", 46 percent view themselves as "pro-choice" and 43 percent "say they are pro-life".<ref>{{cite web|title=46% Are Pro-Choice, 43% Pro-Life|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/abortion/46_are_pro_choice_43_pro_life|accessdate=27 November 2013}}</ref>

==Abortion health risk claims==

Some right-to-life organizations and individuals disseminate false medical information and unsupported [[pseudoscientific]] claims about alleged [[Abortion#Safety|physical]] and [[Abortion and mental health|mental health risks]] of abortion.<ref name="misinfo">{{cite journal |author=Bryant AG, Levi EE |title=Abortion misinformation from crisis pregnancy centers in North Carolina |journal=Contraception |volume= 86|issue= 6|pages= 752–6|date=July 2012 |pmid=22770790 |doi=10.1016/j.contraception.2012.06.001 |url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0010-7824(12)00415-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-seven-most-common-lies-about-abortion-20140226|title=The Seven Most Common Lies About Abortion|work=Rolling Stone|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref> Many right-to-life organizations claim that abortion damages future fertility, or [[abortion breast cancer hypothesis|causes breast cancer]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/06/science-house-abortion-ban-fetal-pain|title=Fetuses Feel Pain at 20 Weeks, and 4 Other Anti-Abortion Myths|work=Mother Jones|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1251638/|title=Breast Cancer and the Politics of Abortion in the United States|work=PubMed Central (PMC)|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref> which is contradicted by the medical professional organizations.<ref name="WHO">{{cite web |url=https://apps.who.int/inf-fs/en/fact240.html |title=WHO – Induced abortion does not increase breast cancer risk |accessdate=11 January 2011 |work=who.int| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110113001029/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs240/en/index.html| archivedate= 13 January 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="who-safe">{{cite book | publisher = [[World Health Organization]] | url = http://extranet.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70914/1/9789241548434_eng.pdf | format = PDF | title = Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems | year = 2012 | edition = 2nd | isbn = 9789241548434 | quote = Sound epidemiological data show no increased risk of breast cancer for women following spontaneous or induced abortion. | page = 49}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/abortion-miscarriage| title=Abortion, Miscarriage, and Breast Cancer Risk| publisher=National Cancer Institute| accessdate=11 January 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101221084337/http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/abortion-miscarriage| archivedate= 21 December 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="oversight">{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104194534/http://oversight.house.gov/features/politics_and_science/example_breast_cancer.htm |title=Politics & Science – Investigating the State of Science Under the Bush Administration |accessdate=14 April 2008 |work=oversight.house.gov |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080327055020/http://oversight.house.gov/features/politics_and_science/example_breast_cancer.htm |archivedate = 27 March 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/MoreInformation/is-abortion-linked-to-breast-cancer| title=Is Abortion Linked to Breast Cancer?| publisher=American Cancer Society| accessdate=11 January 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110131054059/http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/MoreInformation/is-abortion-linked-to-breast-cancer| archivedate= 31 January 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="ACOG2009">{{cite journal | last1 = Committee On Gynecologic | first1 = Practice| title = ACOG Committee Opinion No. 434: induced abortion and breast cancer risk | journal = Obstetrics and Gynecology | volume = 113 | issue = 6 | pages = 1417–8 |date=June 2009 | pmid = 19461458 | doi = 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181ac067d | url = }}</ref> Some states, such as Alaska, Mississippi, West Virginia, Texas, and Kansas, have passed laws requiring abortion providers to warn patients of a link between abortion and breast cancer, and to issue other scientifically-unsupported warnings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2012/05/do_abortions_cause_breast_cancer_kansas_state_house_abortion_act_invokes_shaky_science_for_political_gain_.html|title=Do abortions cause breast cancer? Kansas State House Abortion Act invokes shaky science for political gain.|work=Slate Magazine|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref><ref>https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/gpr/09/4/gpr090406.html#t1</ref>

Some right-to-life advocacy groups allege a link between abortion and subsequent mental-health problems.<ref name="stotlandreview">{{cite journal |author=Stotland NL |title=Abortion and psychiatric practice |journal=J Psychiatr Pract |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=139–49 |year=2003 |pmid=15985924 |doi=10.1097/00131746-200303000-00005}} ''"Currently, there are active attempts to convince the public and women considering abortion that abortion frequently has negative psychiatric consequences. This assertion is not borne out by the literature: the vast majority of women tolerate abortion without psychiatric sequelae."''</ref> Some [[State legislature (United States)|U.S. state legislatures]] have mandated that patients be told that abortion increases their risk of depression and suicide, despite the fact that such risks are not supported by the bulk of the scientific literature,<ref name="stotlandreview"/><ref name="nejm-sd">{{cite journal |author=Lazzarini Z |title=South Dakota's Abortion Script – Threatening the Physician-Patient Relationship |journal=N. Engl. J. Med. |volume=359 |issue=21 |pages=2189–2191 |date=November 2008 |pmid=19020321 |doi=10.1056/NEJMp0806742 |url=http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/21/2189|quote=''The purported increased risks of psychological distress, depression, and suicide that physicians are required to warn women about are not supported by the bulk of the scientific literature. By requiring physicians to deliver such misinformation and discouraging them from providing alternative accurate information, the statute forces physicians to violate their obligation to solicit truly informed consent.''}}</ref><ref name="Bazelon">{{cite news | work= [[New York Times Magazine]] | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21abortion.t.html | title = Is There a Post-Abortion Syndrome? | last = Bazelon | first = Emily | authorlink = Emily Bazelon | date = 2007-01-21| accessdate = 2008-01-11| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080113140609/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21abortion.t.html| archivedate= 13 January 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="Mooney">{{cite news | url = http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0410.mooney.html |title = Research and Destroy: How the religious right promotes its own 'experts' to combat mainstream science | last = Mooney | first = Chris | authorlink = Chris Mooney (journalist) | work= [[Washington Monthly]]| date = October 2004}}</ref><ref name=stotland_1404747>{{cite journal |author=Stotland NL |title=The myth of the abortion trauma syndrome |journal=JAMA |volume=268 |issue=15 |pages=2078–9 |date=October 1992 |pmid=1404747 |doi= 10.1001/jama.268.15.2078|url=}}</ref> and are contradicted by mainstream organizations of mental-health professionals such as the [[American Psychological Association]].<ref>http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2008/08/single-abortion.aspx</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/mentalhealth/2011-01-26-mental-health-abortion_N.htm|title=Study: No higher mental health risk after abortion - USATODAY.com|publisher=|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110507322.html|title=The big lie about abortion and mental health|publisher=|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref>

==Types of advocacy==
{{Refimprove section|date=May 2007}}
'''Pro-life advocacy''' involves a variety of activities, from promoting the pro-life position to the public in general, lobbying public officials, or attempting to dissuade individual women to forgo abortions. Some efforts involve distributing literature, providing counseling services, conducting public demonstrations or protests and private or public prayer.

[[File:Prolife-DC.jpg|thumb|Pro-life protesters make a silent demonstration in front of the [[United States]] [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]]]

===Demonstrations and protests===
*'''Mass demonstrations''': every year, American pro-life advocates hold a [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]] in Washington, D.C., on 22 January, the anniversary date of the ''Roe v. Wade'' Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States. Similar events take place on a smaller scale in other U.S. cities, such as the [[Walk for Life West Coast|Walk for Life]] in [[San Francisco]], California. In Spain, over a million people took part in a demonstration on 17 October 2009 protesting the legalization of abortion.<ref>{{cite web|author=lefigaro.fr |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2009/10/17/01003-20091017ARTFIG00704-grande-manifestation-anti-avortement-a-madrid-.php |title=''Le Figaro'', 17 October 2009 |publisher=Lefigaro.fr |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref> On a lesser scale, the Paris [[March for Life (Paris)|March for Life]] gathers thousands of French pro-life marchers every year in January. Also, thousands of Pro Life supporters hold a march for life in Ottawa, Canada every May, the anniversary of R v. Morgertaller
*'''The [[Life Chain|life chain]]:''' The "Life Chain" is a public demonstration technique that involves standing in a row on sidewalks holding signs bearing pro-life messages. Messages include "Abortion Kills Children", "Abortion stops a beating heart" or "Abortion Hurts Women". Participants, as an official policy, do not yell or chant slogans and do not block pedestrians or roadways. Many [[Right to Life]] chapters hold Life Chain events yearly<ref>http://nationallifechain.org Retrieved 25 September 2008.</ref> and the annual worldwide [[40 Days For Life|40 Days for Life]] campaigns also use this technique.
*'''The rescue''': A "rescue operation" involves pro-life activists blocking the entrances to an [[abortion clinic]] in order to prevent anyone from entering. The stated goal of this practice is to force the clinic to shut down for the day. Often, the protesters are removed by law enforcement. Some clinics were protested so heavily in this fashion that they closed down permanently. "The rescue" was first attempted by [[Operation Save America|Operation Rescue]]. Ever since President [[Bill Clinton]] signed the [[Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act]] into law, the rescue has become prohibitively expensive, and has rarely been attempted.
*'''The truth display''': Involves publicly displaying large pictures of aborted fetuses. Some pro-life groups believe that showing the graphic results of abortion is an effective way to dissuade and prevent others from choosing abortion. The [[Pro-Life Action League]] has used this form of activism in its ''Face the Truth'' displays. Members of one group, [[Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust]], are known for setting up truth displays on [[university]] campuses. This group has faced legal battles over the use of such graphic imagery, and they have generated debate regarding the protection of such displays, by freedom of speech. "Truth displays" are a controversial, even within the pro-life movement.<ref>Pavone, Frank A.[http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/shouldweuse.htm "Should We Use Graphic Images?"] ''Priests for Life'' Retrieved September 7, 2007. Quote: "Even among those who oppose abortion, answers to this question [Should we use graphic images?] vary".</ref>
*'''[[Picketing (protest)|Picketing]]''': The majority of the facilities that perform abortions in the United States experience some form of protest from pro-life demonstrators every year, of which the most common form is picketing. In 2007, 11,113 instances of picketing were either reported to, or obtained by, the [[National Abortion Federation]].<ref name="naf">{{cite web |url=http://www.prochoice.org/pubs_research/publications/downloads/about_abortion/violence_statistics.pdf |title=NAF Violence and Disruption Statistics |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-07-28 |publisher=National Abortion Federation}}</ref>

===Counseling===
*'''[[Sidewalk counseling]]''': "Sidewalk counseling" is a form of pro-life advocacy which is conducted outside of [[abortion clinic]]s. Activists seek to communicate with those entering the building, or with passersby in general, in an effort to persuade them not to have an [[abortion]] or to reconsider their position on the [[abortion debate|morality of abortion]].<ref name="hillvcolorado">[http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/98-1856.ZO.html#FN2 Hill v. Colorado (98-1856) 530 U.S. 703 (2000)]. Retrieved December 13, 2006.</ref> They do so by trying to engage in conversation, displaying signs, distributing [[Pamphlet|literature]], or giving directions to a nearby [[crisis pregnancy center]].<ref name="hillvcolorado" />
**The "Chicago Method" is an approach to sidewalk counseling that involves giving those about to enter an abortion facility copies of [[lawsuit]]s filed against the facility or its [[physician]]s. The name comes from the fact that it was first used by [[Pro-Life Action League]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>[http://www.prolifeaction.org/news/2002v21n2/controversy.htm "Controversy in the Activist Movement", ''Pro-Life Action News'', August 2000].</ref> The intent of the Chicago Method is to turn the woman away from a facility that the protesters deem "unsafe", thus giving her time to reconsider her choice to abort.<ref>[http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/chicagomethod.html "The "Chicago Method": Sidewalk Counseling that appeals to the Mother's concerns for her own well-being," Priests for Life].</ref>{{primary source-inline|date=October 2012}}
*'''[[Crisis pregnancy center]]s:''' "Crisis pregnancy centers" are non-profit organizations, mainly in the United States, established to counsel pregnant women against having an [[abortion]].<ref>{{cite news | work=The New York Times | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21abortion.t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnl=0&adxnnlx=1190386628-YJ8YY6wRm1G3NshX/wMaAg | title = Is There a Post-Abortion Syndrome? | last = Bazelon | first = Emily | authorlink = Emily Bazelon | date = 2007-01-21| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080113140609/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/magazine/21abortion.t.html| archivedate= 13 January 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="Sonograms">{{cite news
|first=Michael Alison |last=Chandler |title=Antiabortion Centers Offer Sonograms to Further Cause |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/08/AR2006090801967_pf.html |work=[[Washington Post]] |publisher=Washington Post |page=html |date=2006-09-09 |accessdate=2008-02-24}}</ref> These centers are typically run by pro-life Christians according to a conservative Christian philosophy,<ref name="grassroots">{{Cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1590444,00.html |title=The Grass-Roots Abortion War |work=Time |date=February 15, 2007 |last=Gibbs |first=Nancy}}</ref> and often disseminate false medical information, usually but not exclusively about the supposed [[Abortion#Safety|health risks]] and [[Abortion and mental health|mental health risks]] of abortion.<ref name="star">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/844997 |work=Toronto Star |title=Deception used in counselling women against abortion |date=August 7, 2010 |last=Smith |first=Joanna}}</ref> The centers usually provide peer counseling against abortion, and sometimes also offer adoption referrals or baby supplies.<ref>{{Cite news |work=Washington Post |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42118-2002Feb20?language=printer |last=Cooperman |first=Alan |authorlink=Alan Cooperman |title=Abortion Battle: Prenatal Care or Pressure Tactics? |date=February 21, 2002}}</ref> Most are not licensed and do not provide medical services,<ref>{{cite conference |url=http://www.chsourcebook.com/articles/waxman2.pdf |title=False and Misleading Health Information Provided by Federally Funded Pregnancy Resource Centers |last1= Committee on Government Reform—Minority Staff Special Investigations Division |first1= |authorlink1=United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform |date=July 2006 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |booktitle= |pages= |location= |id= }}</ref> though some offer sonograms, claiming that women who see such sonograms decide not to have an abortion.<ref name="Sonograms"/> Legal and legislative action regarding CPCs has generally attempted to curb false or deceptive advertising undertaken in pursuit of the anti-abortion cause.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503E6D91331F931A15757C0A962958260&scp=9&sq=crisis%20pregnancy%20centers&st=cse |title=Anti-Abortion Center's Ads Ruled Misleading |work=The New York Times |last=Lewin |first=Tamar |date=April 22, 1994}}</ref> Several thousand CPCs exist in the United States,<ref name="grassroots"/> often operating in affiliation with one of three umbrella organizations ([[Care Net]], [[Heartbeat International (pro-life organization)|Heartbeat International]], and [[Birthright International]]), with hundreds in other countries. By 2006, U.S. CPCs had received more than $60 million of federal funding, including some funding earmarked for [[Abstinence-only sex education|abstinence-only programs]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Edsall |first=Thomas B. |date=2006-03-22 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/21/AR2006032101723_pf.html |title=Grants Flow To Bush Allies On Social Issues |work=[[Washington Post]] |pages=A01 |accessdate=2007-11-06}}</ref> as well as state funding from many states.<ref name="Sonograms"/>

===Specialty license plates===
In the United States, some states issue [[Vehicle registration plates of the United States#Vanity and specialty plates|specialty license plates]] that have a pro-life theme. [[Choose Life (organization)|Choose Life]], an advocacy group founded in 1997, was successful in securing a pro-life automobile tag in Florida. Subsequently, the organization has been actively helping groups in other states pursue "Choose Life" license plates.<ref>Burge, Kathleen: [http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/05/05/driving_force/ "Driving force"] Boston Globe, May 5, 2006</ref><ref>Madigan, Erin: [http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=15079 "Choose Life Car Tags Spark Debate"] Stateline.org, November 25, 2002</ref>

==Violence==
{{Main|Anti-abortion violence}}

Violent incidents directed against abortion providers have included [[arson]] and [[bomb]]ings of [[abortion clinic]]s, and [[murder]]s or [[attempted murder]]s of physicians and clinic staff, especially the doctors that provide abortions. Acts of violence against abortion providers and facilities in North America have largely subsided following a peak in the mid-1990s<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_viol.htm Violence at US Abortion Clinics].</ref> which included the murders of Drs. [[David Gunn (doctor)|David Gunn]], [[John Britton (doctor)|John Britton]], and [[Barnett Slepian]] and the attempted murder of Dr. [[George Tiller]]. Tiller was [[assassination of George Tiller|murdered]] in his church in 2009.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/us/26tiller.html?ref=georgertiller "An Abortion Battle, Fought to the Death" NYT 25 July 2009], New York Times 25 July 2009</ref>

Nearly all pro-life leaders condemn the use of violence in the movement, describing it as an aberration and saying that no one in their organizations was associated with acts of violence.<ref name=vio>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/abortviolence/stories/salvi3.htm |title=Clinic Killings Follow Years of Antiabortion Violence |publisher=Washingtonpost.com |date=1995-01-17 |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2009/may/pro-life-community-condemns-tiller-shooting/ |title= Pro-life Leaders Respond to Tiller Shooting |publisher=cbn.com |date= 2009-06-01 | accessdate=2014-10-13}}</ref> There is, however, a small extremist fringe element of the right-to-life movement in the USA, which supports, raises money for, and attempts to justify anti-abortion violence, including murders of abortion workers, which the fringe element calls "justifiable homicides".<ref>James Risen and Judy L. Thomas: ''Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War'', Basic Books, 1998.</ref><ref>http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/1998/summer/anti-abortion-violence/the-signers</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.academia.edu/1944874/Anti-Abortion_Extremism_and_Violence_in_the_United_States|title=Anti-Abortion Extremism and Violence in the United States|author=Aaron Winter|publisher=|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref>

Pro-life activists have been the targets of criminal intimidation and violence, which included the murder of [[Murder of Jim Pouillon|James Pouillon]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/us/17abortion.html?_r=0 Memorial Held for Slain Anti-Abortion Protester] Damien Cave; New York Times Sept 16, 2009 ''His killing is believed to be the first of someone protesting abortion''</ref>

==See also==
* [[Abortion debate]]
* [[Abortion law]]
* [[Anti-abortion movements]]
* [[March for Life (Washington, D.C.)|March for Life]]
* [[Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|pro-life}}
{{Commons category|Pro-life movement}}
*[http://www.nrlc.org/ National Right to Life Committee]
*[http://www.aul.org/ Americans United for Life]
*[http://www.all.org/ American Life League]
*[http://physiciansforlife.org/ Physicians for Life]
*[http://www.frc.org/ Family Research Council]

{{Abortion}}
{{American Social Conservatism}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States Pro-Life Movement}}
[[Category:Pro-life movement]]
[[Category:Abortion in the United States]]

[[cs:Hnutí pro-life]]
[[de:Lebensrechtsbewegung]]
[[es:Provida]]
[[fo:Pro Vita]]
[[fr:Mouvement pro-vie]]
[[hr:Pro-life pokret]]
[[it:Movimento pro-life]]
[[la:Pro-vita]]
[[nl:Pro-life]]
[[ja:プロライフ]]
[[pl:Pro-life]]
[[pt:Pró-vida]]
[[ru:Движение «В защиту жизни»]]
[[sah:Prolife]]
[[simple:Pro-life]]
[[sk:Pro-life hnutie]]
[[sh:Pro-life pokret]]
[[fi:Pro-life-liike]]

Talk:Zika virus

2016-01-31T03:02:22Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Causal link to microcephaly not yet conclusive */

{{talk header}}
{{ITN talk|24 January|2016}}
{{WikiProject Viruses|class=Start|importance=High}}
{{WikiProject Women's Health|class=start|importance=}}
{{WikiProject Medicine|class=start|importance=}}

== Merger proposal ==
{{archivetop|Closed as stale and per MEDMOS articles should be separate}}
I propose that [[Zika fever]] be merged into [[Zika virus]]. I think that the content in the Zika fever article can easily be explained in the context of Zika virus, and the Zika fever article is of a reasonable size in which the merging of Zika virus will not cause any problems as far as article size or undue weight is concerned.[[User:Alanl|Alanl]] ([[User talk:Alanl|talk]]) 06:28, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
:Seconded.[[User:FeatherPluma|FeatherPluma]] ([[User talk:FeatherPluma|talk]]) 13:57, 7 October 2011 (UTC)

::The proposal is reasonable. It does fly rather in the face of what is the normal practice on other medical infectious diseases where the organism gets a page and the disease itself get a page. For poorly studied diseases like Zika I myself dont have a problem with this suggestion but there others who will feel differently about this. For this reason it might be better if both pages were mainatined. [[User:DrMicro|DrMicro]] ([[User talk:DrMicro|talk]]) 17:18, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
:::The articles should be kept separate. There are numerous virus articles that are stubs such as [[Black Creek Canal virus]]. [[User:Malke 2010|Malke 2010]] ([[User talk:Malke 2010|talk]]) 04:28, 11 July 2013 (UTC)
{{archivebottom}}

== Re: Seeking Clarification ==

I'm seeking clarification on a statement made under the History section in the 3rd paragraph, 4th Sentence.

The statement

In 2015 there were 2,782 cases compared with 147 in 2014 and 167 in 2013.[7][8]

After searching the sources and reading the New York Times source, I further found an article at:
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2015/dezembro/15/COES-Microcefalias---Informe-Epidemiol--gico---SE-49---15dez2015---10h.pdf

After reading through the article on Google Translate and reading the tables it sounds more as if this statistic is referencing cases of microcephaly
If this is the case, maybe the statement should be edited and also if any one has a source for the number of actual confirmed cases of Zika in Brazil for each of the past 3 years, I would be very interested in it.

Also I have another source at:
http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/zika-virus-americas-association-with-microcephaly-rapid-risk-assessment.pdf

That provides a different number regarding the amount of Microcephaly cases, this source also lists number of possible cases of Zika, but I have had trouble translating the actual sources this page uses for referencing the extremely large number of possible Zika cases

My apologies if I am totally off with this question
— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Blakespo|Blakespo]] ([[User talk:Blakespo|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Blakespo|contribs]]) 20:53, 3 January 2016 ‎
: It is microcephaly. The sentence is referring to the sentence immediately preceding. I added case "of microcephaly" to make it clear. Those are numbers reported by NYT for the entire years. The other sources may be different time periods. Another good source of info and updates is http://www.promedmail.org/. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 01:33, 4 January 2016 (UTC)

== recent lede edits and sloppy sourcing ==

i've witnessed this recent frenzy of packing latest things and sources into the lede. WP isnt a sketchbook for jotting down notes.

The [[WP:lede]] is the extract, containing time-sifted [[WP:NOTNEWS]], most important globally correct "true" facts.
the lede shouldnt be changed every day because some newspaper or agency makes a piep !

Most importantly the lede reflects the body and thus requires no refs.

Furthermore the sources that have been added are poorly delineated with a generic link, title and accessdate. neither a publication date ( very important, much more important than teh fricking accessdate just one more click away on teh template, arrgh), the author, publisher, nor page are in it.
--[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 21:22, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

== IP vandalism ==

I consider [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zika_virus&diff=prev&oldid=700693595 this reversion] by IP 208.54.38.230 from [http://whois.domaintools.com/208.54.38.230 Hernon, VA] pushing an irrelevant url vandalism.

looks like someone is hounding me, as teh same happened on [[Talk:BIA 10-2474]] with IP from 66.27.122.63 (from Herndon,VA) whom I welcomed already from Bellevue, WA....--[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 05:47, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

==Link to [[Brazil Zika virus outbreak (2015 - present)]]==

Shouldn't there be a link to the page that is specifically on the outbreak? Seems to me a lot on this page is actually about the outbreak and should be moved there. During the Ebola outbreak, the page that was most often updated was the outbreak page, not the page on the Ebola virus. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 03:00, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:There's already a link from the lead. More links can easily be added at the start and the end if desired. Also, as mentioned int the Talk Page there, this article is currently an In The News candidate, which may or may not mean that gutting it is not such a good idea just now.[[User:Tlhslobus|Tlhslobus]] ([[User talk:Tlhslobus|talk]]) 13:58, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::Not planning to gut the Zika virus page, just move information on current outbreak to the outbreak page (to be renamed). I added the link in the lede. In the News should probably link to the new outbreak page, which I'll finish in another 12 hours. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 15:48, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::[[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] I agree with [[User:Tlhslobus|Tlhslobus]].
::*Re "copied to new outbreak page": without precisely saying which page, what kind of behavior do you want ? Us to look where you contribute? ( thats what I had to do) this is poor editing behavior.
::* Re the word "copying": No, you did not move nor copy, you cut = deleted
::* Re "not planning to gut ...": You deleted 5000 and I see you added only 500 to the [[Zika virus outbreak in Brazil (2015 - present)]] page (or whatever its latest name is after you changed it to Americas and someone else changed it yet again....) Deleting from this page esp such a big change UNILATERALLY without any consensus is a faux pas. I think you should revert yourself.
::*As someone who has cared about the Zika Virus page attending with lots of little edits cleaning up thoughtless, sloppy ones with incomplete refs, poor imprecise language, adding sources, and organizing logically (exactly the things missing on the new outbreak page you created) I am asking you to be more collaborative from now on. Discuss big changes, when in doubt ask. And stop marking edits as "minor changes" that could in any way be controversial. Thanks.--[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 18:43, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
Sorry to be disruptive. The story of the ongoing outbreak was primarily developing in the history section of the Zika virus page, while the page on the outbreak was out of date and apparently not being maintained. I posted a notice of my intentions on both the Zika virus and the Zika outbreak page with a link on the latter to a draft on a subpage of my user page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jtamad/draft_Zika_virus_outbreak_in_the_Americas_(2015_-_present) ), and left it for comment, but obviously not for long enough. The 3rd or 4th paragraph of the history section was nicely written and seemed like it would be better as the lead for the outbreak page, so I cut and pasted that to the outbreak page to create a new retitled page on the outbreak, deleting it from the virus page since there's no point in duplicating text verbatim (I don't understand your comment about not moving or copying, but cutting. Everything except possibly one sentence [inadvertently] I think was copied over to the new page). Seems to me the page on the outbreak should be updated regularly with new developments, which should then be summarized periodically in the appropriate sections of the Zika virus and Zika fever pages. Also, I think the title of the outbreak page should reflect that the page is about the pandemic spread of this clearly not benign virus in the Western hemisphere, which is the big news ([http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1600297 Zika Virus in the Americas — Yet Another Arbovirus Threat]). I'll try leaving a message about proposed major changes for a longer period in the future. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 05:17, 26 January 2016 (UTC)

== Recent edits to "History" section ==

Regarding '''{{diff|Zika virus|prev|701459736|this}}''' edit, the phrase that was removed, "advised women to postpone getting pregnant until more was known about the risks", is actually worded better than what was added: "recommended to avoid pregnancy for eight months". If this last phrase is preferred, it should be written, "recommended that women avoid pregnancy for eight months". The additional phrase, "until more is known about the risks" explains ''why'' a government or governmental official would advise women to postpone getting pregnant, so adds a bit of clarity, and now it's not there.

There's another problem that was introduced with this edit. Now you have the first half of the sentence being about a ''person'' recommending something and the second half of the sentence being about ''countries'' issuing warnings, so the sentence now lacks balance. [[User:Corinne|Corinne]] ([[User talk:Corinne|talk]]) 19:11, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

== Add a 'Protective Measures' section? ==

I'm not sure this type of information should be part of a Wikipedia article.

Extracted directly from the PAHO Statement of 24/1/16 (http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11605%3A2016-paho-statement-on-zika-transmission-prevention-&catid=8424%3Acontent&Itemid=0&lang=en):

″To prevent or slow the spread of Zika virus and reduce its impact, PAHO recommends the following:

Mosquito populations should be reduced and controlled by eliminating breeding sites. Containers that can hold even small amounts of water where mosquitoes can breed, such as buckets, flower pots or tires, should be emptied, cleaned or covered to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in them. This will also help to control dengue and chikungunya, which are also transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Other measures include using larvicide to treat standing waters.

All people living in or visiting areas with Aedes mosquitoes should protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-colored) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets, especially during the day when Aedes mosquitoes are most active.

Pregnant women should be especially careful to avoid mosquito bites. Although Zika typically causes only mild symptoms, outbreaks in Brazil have coincided with a marked increase in microcephaly—or unusually small head size—in newborns. Women planning to travel to areas where Zika is circulating should consult a healthcare provider before traveling and upon return. Women who believe they have been exposed to Zika virus should consult with their healthcare provider for close monitoring of their pregnancy. Any decision to defer pregnancy is an individual one between a woman, her partner and her healthcare provider.″

Of course, a synopsis of these recommendations needs to be prepared.
[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 19:17, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
:[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] I think this does not belong here in a big way. sure, vector control should be mentioned in the transmission section. but what you "extracted" above, protections against the disease caused by the virus, belongs on the corresponding clinical page. you should paste this question on the [[Zika fever]] page. --[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 20:14, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

Of course. That's exactly where it belongs. I'm going to take a look at the 'fever' page and see what I can do.
[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 21:04, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

== Dominican Republic is the fifth country to issue official recommendations regarding postponing pregnancy due to Zika ==

[http://acento.com.do/2016/actualidad/8317196-ministra-dominicana-de-salud-pide-posponer-embarazos-este-ano-por-riego-zika/]

This should also correct the info on WP's Main Page "In the news" section.

[[Special:Contributions/186.120.31.103|186.120.31.103]] ([[User talk:186.120.31.103|talk]]) 21:27, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

== Zika virus electron micrograph ==

There's a putative electron micrograph of Zika virus on this page - http://sao247.net/7-438392/ti-m-hie-u-loa-i-virus-zika-an-na-o-nguo-i-da-c-bie-t-nguy-hie-m.sao - for what it's worth. If someone wants follow up on rights etc., please do. I don't think it would add much to the article. BTW, I can't read Vietnamese but the page looks great.
[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 10:22, 27 January 2016 (UTC)
: Thank you , [[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] looks liek someone pasted it in. --[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 19:34, 29 January 2016 (UTC)
:: It turned out [[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]] that the Vietnamese image was a generic flavivirus pic. The one pasted in is from the CDC and is well documented. I hope that area of the page will now be stable. [[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 04:35, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

== Chikungunya a Flavivirus? ==
The statement below seems to suggest that Chikungunya virus is a flavivirus. It is infact an alphavirus.

''"Work has already begun towards developing a vaccine for Zika virus according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).[34] The researchers at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center have extensive experience from working with vaccines for '''other Flaviviruses such as West Nile virus, chikungunya virus and dengue fever.'''[34]"''

Please read [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7633/] for some medically important flaviviruses and alphaviruses.

I suggest that the sentence read;
''
"...The researchers at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center have extensive experience from working with vaccines for West Nile virus, Dengue virus and Chikungunya virus."''
[[Special:Contributions/197.176.16.48|197.176.16.48]] ([[User talk:197.176.16.48|talk]]) 19:08, 28 January 2016 (UTC)
::Yes, of course, it is not a flavivirus. I changed that sentence. [[User:Ruslik0|Ruslik]]_[[User Talk:Ruslik0|Zero]] 20:21, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

== New NEWS today, for future editing ==
“This outbreak in south and central America is unprecedented and has caught the world unprepared once again, with no vaccine, no drugs and limited anti-mosquito measures.”
Headline-1: '''Zika outbreak: British travellers told to put off trying for a baby for a month'''
* http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/12129072/Zika-outbreak-British-travellers-told-to-put-off-trying-for-a-baby-for-a-month.html
QUOTE: "Around half a million people are believed to have travelled to Zika infected countries in the last six months, according to the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The virus has already caused nearly 4,000 cases of malformed babies in the Americas and the World Health Organisation warned yesterday that the disease was spreading so quickly that four million people could be infected by the end of the year.
Although the virus is mainly transmitted through mosquitoes, PHE said sexual transmission had been recorded in a ‘limited number of cases.’" -- [[User:Charles Edwin Shipp|Charles Edwin Shipp]] ([[User talk:Charles Edwin Shipp|talk]]) 00:26, 30 January 2016 (UTC) -- PS: FYI for future editing.
: Thank you but sexual transmission is in the article already. and WP is [[WP:NOTNEWS]], esp not Daily Telegraph. --[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 04:39, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

== Different years. ==

Different years are cited as when the virus was first isolated from humans. They are quite different under "General" and "History" parts.

Cheers.

[[Special:Contributions/79.143.100.252|79.143.100.252]] ([[User talk:79.143.100.252|talk]]) 14:51, 30 January 2016 (UTC)
Vuk, 30.01.2015.

== Causal link to microcephaly not yet conclusive ==

According to [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-would-it-take-to-prove-the-zika-microcephaly-link1/?WT.mc_id=SA_BS_20160129 Scientific American] and the [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/health/what-is-zika-virus.html?_r=0 New York Times] within the last two days, a causal link has not been definitively established. The article should reflect this and not make it seem conclusive when it's not.
Therefore, i made [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zika_virus&diff=702468108&oldid=702418866 this edit] to include this in the section.

The ''New York Times'' source (29 January 2016) says:
{{talkquote|The possibility that the Zika virus causes microcephaly – unusually small heads and damaged brains – emerged only in October, when doctors in northern Brazil noticed a surge in babies with the condition.

It may be that other factors, such as simultaneous infection with other viruses, are contributing to the rise; investigators may even find that Zika virus is not the main cause, although right now circumstantial evidence suggests that it is.}}

The ''Scientific American'' source (28 January 2016) is titled ''What Would It Take to Prove the Zika–Microcephaly Link'', and is subtitled ''Public health officials are not yet ready to say the connection is causal'' and says:
{{talkquote|Zika virus has been grabbing headlines because of its links to an alarming birth defect called microcephaly. The data to provide evidence linking the relatively mild mosquito-borne disease and babies born with small heads and potential brain damage, however, are not yet conclusive. World Health Organization and U.S. government officials today discussed this data gap today in a series of public comments and press briefings.}}

Please discuss. [[User:SageRad|SageRad]] ([[User talk:SageRad|talk]]) 19:42, 30 January 2016 (UTC)
:We cannot use popular press sources to say Zika is causally linked to microcephaly or that it's not linked. There are no [[WP:MEDRS]] sources which go beyond saying a possible link has been suspected at this point. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 02:48, 31 January 2016 (UTC)

Talk:Zika virus

2016-01-31T02:49:17Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Causal link to microcephaly not yet conclusive */ non-MEDRES content and sources removed

{{talk header}}
{{ITN talk|24 January|2016}}
{{WikiProject Viruses|class=Start|importance=High}}
{{WikiProject Women's Health|class=start|importance=}}
{{WikiProject Medicine|class=start|importance=}}

== Merger proposal ==
{{archivetop|Closed as stale and per MEDMOS articles should be separate}}
I propose that [[Zika fever]] be merged into [[Zika virus]]. I think that the content in the Zika fever article can easily be explained in the context of Zika virus, and the Zika fever article is of a reasonable size in which the merging of Zika virus will not cause any problems as far as article size or undue weight is concerned.[[User:Alanl|Alanl]] ([[User talk:Alanl|talk]]) 06:28, 6 September 2011 (UTC)
:Seconded.[[User:FeatherPluma|FeatherPluma]] ([[User talk:FeatherPluma|talk]]) 13:57, 7 October 2011 (UTC)

::The proposal is reasonable. It does fly rather in the face of what is the normal practice on other medical infectious diseases where the organism gets a page and the disease itself get a page. For poorly studied diseases like Zika I myself dont have a problem with this suggestion but there others who will feel differently about this. For this reason it might be better if both pages were mainatined. [[User:DrMicro|DrMicro]] ([[User talk:DrMicro|talk]]) 17:18, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
:::The articles should be kept separate. There are numerous virus articles that are stubs such as [[Black Creek Canal virus]]. [[User:Malke 2010|Malke 2010]] ([[User talk:Malke 2010|talk]]) 04:28, 11 July 2013 (UTC)
{{archivebottom}}

== Re: Seeking Clarification ==

I'm seeking clarification on a statement made under the History section in the 3rd paragraph, 4th Sentence.

The statement

In 2015 there were 2,782 cases compared with 147 in 2014 and 167 in 2013.[7][8]

After searching the sources and reading the New York Times source, I further found an article at:
http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2015/dezembro/15/COES-Microcefalias---Informe-Epidemiol--gico---SE-49---15dez2015---10h.pdf

After reading through the article on Google Translate and reading the tables it sounds more as if this statistic is referencing cases of microcephaly
If this is the case, maybe the statement should be edited and also if any one has a source for the number of actual confirmed cases of Zika in Brazil for each of the past 3 years, I would be very interested in it.

Also I have another source at:
http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/zika-virus-americas-association-with-microcephaly-rapid-risk-assessment.pdf

That provides a different number regarding the amount of Microcephaly cases, this source also lists number of possible cases of Zika, but I have had trouble translating the actual sources this page uses for referencing the extremely large number of possible Zika cases

My apologies if I am totally off with this question
— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Blakespo|Blakespo]] ([[User talk:Blakespo|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Blakespo|contribs]]) 20:53, 3 January 2016 ‎
: It is microcephaly. The sentence is referring to the sentence immediately preceding. I added case "of microcephaly" to make it clear. Those are numbers reported by NYT for the entire years. The other sources may be different time periods. Another good source of info and updates is http://www.promedmail.org/. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 01:33, 4 January 2016 (UTC)

== recent lede edits and sloppy sourcing ==

i've witnessed this recent frenzy of packing latest things and sources into the lede. WP isnt a sketchbook for jotting down notes.

The [[WP:lede]] is the extract, containing time-sifted [[WP:NOTNEWS]], most important globally correct "true" facts.
the lede shouldnt be changed every day because some newspaper or agency makes a piep !

Most importantly the lede reflects the body and thus requires no refs.

Furthermore the sources that have been added are poorly delineated with a generic link, title and accessdate. neither a publication date ( very important, much more important than teh fricking accessdate just one more click away on teh template, arrgh), the author, publisher, nor page are in it.
--[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 21:22, 18 January 2016 (UTC)

== IP vandalism ==

I consider [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zika_virus&diff=prev&oldid=700693595 this reversion] by IP 208.54.38.230 from [http://whois.domaintools.com/208.54.38.230 Hernon, VA] pushing an irrelevant url vandalism.

looks like someone is hounding me, as teh same happened on [[Talk:BIA 10-2474]] with IP from 66.27.122.63 (from Herndon,VA) whom I welcomed already from Bellevue, WA....--[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 05:47, 20 January 2016 (UTC)

==Link to [[Brazil Zika virus outbreak (2015 - present)]]==

Shouldn't there be a link to the page that is specifically on the outbreak? Seems to me a lot on this page is actually about the outbreak and should be moved there. During the Ebola outbreak, the page that was most often updated was the outbreak page, not the page on the Ebola virus. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 03:00, 22 January 2016 (UTC)
:There's already a link from the lead. More links can easily be added at the start and the end if desired. Also, as mentioned int the Talk Page there, this article is currently an In The News candidate, which may or may not mean that gutting it is not such a good idea just now.[[User:Tlhslobus|Tlhslobus]] ([[User talk:Tlhslobus|talk]]) 13:58, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
::Not planning to gut the Zika virus page, just move information on current outbreak to the outbreak page (to be renamed). I added the link in the lede. In the News should probably link to the new outbreak page, which I'll finish in another 12 hours. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 15:48, 23 January 2016 (UTC)
:::[[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] I agree with [[User:Tlhslobus|Tlhslobus]].
::*Re "copied to new outbreak page": without precisely saying which page, what kind of behavior do you want ? Us to look where you contribute? ( thats what I had to do) this is poor editing behavior.
::* Re the word "copying": No, you did not move nor copy, you cut = deleted
::* Re "not planning to gut ...": You deleted 5000 and I see you added only 500 to the [[Zika virus outbreak in Brazil (2015 - present)]] page (or whatever its latest name is after you changed it to Americas and someone else changed it yet again....) Deleting from this page esp such a big change UNILATERALLY without any consensus is a faux pas. I think you should revert yourself.
::*As someone who has cared about the Zika Virus page attending with lots of little edits cleaning up thoughtless, sloppy ones with incomplete refs, poor imprecise language, adding sources, and organizing logically (exactly the things missing on the new outbreak page you created) I am asking you to be more collaborative from now on. Discuss big changes, when in doubt ask. And stop marking edits as "minor changes" that could in any way be controversial. Thanks.--[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 18:43, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
Sorry to be disruptive. The story of the ongoing outbreak was primarily developing in the history section of the Zika virus page, while the page on the outbreak was out of date and apparently not being maintained. I posted a notice of my intentions on both the Zika virus and the Zika outbreak page with a link on the latter to a draft on a subpage of my user page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jtamad/draft_Zika_virus_outbreak_in_the_Americas_(2015_-_present) ), and left it for comment, but obviously not for long enough. The 3rd or 4th paragraph of the history section was nicely written and seemed like it would be better as the lead for the outbreak page, so I cut and pasted that to the outbreak page to create a new retitled page on the outbreak, deleting it from the virus page since there's no point in duplicating text verbatim (I don't understand your comment about not moving or copying, but cutting. Everything except possibly one sentence [inadvertently] I think was copied over to the new page). Seems to me the page on the outbreak should be updated regularly with new developments, which should then be summarized periodically in the appropriate sections of the Zika virus and Zika fever pages. Also, I think the title of the outbreak page should reflect that the page is about the pandemic spread of this clearly not benign virus in the Western hemisphere, which is the big news ([http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1600297 Zika Virus in the Americas — Yet Another Arbovirus Threat]). I'll try leaving a message about proposed major changes for a longer period in the future. [[User:juanTamad|juanTamad]] ([[User talk:juanTamad|talk]]) 05:17, 26 January 2016 (UTC)

== Recent edits to "History" section ==

Regarding '''{{diff|Zika virus|prev|701459736|this}}''' edit, the phrase that was removed, "advised women to postpone getting pregnant until more was known about the risks", is actually worded better than what was added: "recommended to avoid pregnancy for eight months". If this last phrase is preferred, it should be written, "recommended that women avoid pregnancy for eight months". The additional phrase, "until more is known about the risks" explains ''why'' a government or governmental official would advise women to postpone getting pregnant, so adds a bit of clarity, and now it's not there.

There's another problem that was introduced with this edit. Now you have the first half of the sentence being about a ''person'' recommending something and the second half of the sentence being about ''countries'' issuing warnings, so the sentence now lacks balance. [[User:Corinne|Corinne]] ([[User talk:Corinne|talk]]) 19:11, 24 January 2016 (UTC)

== Add a 'Protective Measures' section? ==

I'm not sure this type of information should be part of a Wikipedia article.

Extracted directly from the PAHO Statement of 24/1/16 (http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11605%3A2016-paho-statement-on-zika-transmission-prevention-&catid=8424%3Acontent&Itemid=0&lang=en):

″To prevent or slow the spread of Zika virus and reduce its impact, PAHO recommends the following:

Mosquito populations should be reduced and controlled by eliminating breeding sites. Containers that can hold even small amounts of water where mosquitoes can breed, such as buckets, flower pots or tires, should be emptied, cleaned or covered to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in them. This will also help to control dengue and chikungunya, which are also transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Other measures include using larvicide to treat standing waters.

All people living in or visiting areas with Aedes mosquitoes should protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-colored) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets, especially during the day when Aedes mosquitoes are most active.

Pregnant women should be especially careful to avoid mosquito bites. Although Zika typically causes only mild symptoms, outbreaks in Brazil have coincided with a marked increase in microcephaly—or unusually small head size—in newborns. Women planning to travel to areas where Zika is circulating should consult a healthcare provider before traveling and upon return. Women who believe they have been exposed to Zika virus should consult with their healthcare provider for close monitoring of their pregnancy. Any decision to defer pregnancy is an individual one between a woman, her partner and her healthcare provider.″

Of course, a synopsis of these recommendations needs to be prepared.
[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 19:17, 25 January 2016 (UTC)
:[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] I think this does not belong here in a big way. sure, vector control should be mentioned in the transmission section. but what you "extracted" above, protections against the disease caused by the virus, belongs on the corresponding clinical page. you should paste this question on the [[Zika fever]] page. --[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 20:14, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

Of course. That's exactly where it belongs. I'm going to take a look at the 'fever' page and see what I can do.
[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 21:04, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

== Dominican Republic is the fifth country to issue official recommendations regarding postponing pregnancy due to Zika ==

[http://acento.com.do/2016/actualidad/8317196-ministra-dominicana-de-salud-pide-posponer-embarazos-este-ano-por-riego-zika/]

This should also correct the info on WP's Main Page "In the news" section.

[[Special:Contributions/186.120.31.103|186.120.31.103]] ([[User talk:186.120.31.103|talk]]) 21:27, 25 January 2016 (UTC)

== Zika virus electron micrograph ==

There's a putative electron micrograph of Zika virus on this page - http://sao247.net/7-438392/ti-m-hie-u-loa-i-virus-zika-an-na-o-nguo-i-da-c-bie-t-nguy-hie-m.sao - for what it's worth. If someone wants follow up on rights etc., please do. I don't think it would add much to the article. BTW, I can't read Vietnamese but the page looks great.
[[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 10:22, 27 January 2016 (UTC)
: Thank you , [[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] looks liek someone pasted it in. --[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 19:34, 29 January 2016 (UTC)
:: It turned out [[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]] that the Vietnamese image was a generic flavivirus pic. The one pasted in is from the CDC and is well documented. I hope that area of the page will now be stable. [[User:McortNGHH|McortNGHH]] ([[User talk:McortNGHH|talk]]) 04:35, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

== Chikungunya a Flavivirus? ==
The statement below seems to suggest that Chikungunya virus is a flavivirus. It is infact an alphavirus.

''"Work has already begun towards developing a vaccine for Zika virus according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).[34] The researchers at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center have extensive experience from working with vaccines for '''other Flaviviruses such as West Nile virus, chikungunya virus and dengue fever.'''[34]"''

Please read [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7633/] for some medically important flaviviruses and alphaviruses.

I suggest that the sentence read;
''
"...The researchers at the NIAID Vaccine Research Center have extensive experience from working with vaccines for West Nile virus, Dengue virus and Chikungunya virus."''
[[Special:Contributions/197.176.16.48|197.176.16.48]] ([[User talk:197.176.16.48|talk]]) 19:08, 28 January 2016 (UTC)
::Yes, of course, it is not a flavivirus. I changed that sentence. [[User:Ruslik0|Ruslik]]_[[User Talk:Ruslik0|Zero]] 20:21, 28 January 2016 (UTC)

== New NEWS today, for future editing ==
“This outbreak in south and central America is unprecedented and has caught the world unprepared once again, with no vaccine, no drugs and limited anti-mosquito measures.”
Headline-1: '''Zika outbreak: British travellers told to put off trying for a baby for a month'''
* http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/12129072/Zika-outbreak-British-travellers-told-to-put-off-trying-for-a-baby-for-a-month.html
QUOTE: "Around half a million people are believed to have travelled to Zika infected countries in the last six months, according to the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The virus has already caused nearly 4,000 cases of malformed babies in the Americas and the World Health Organisation warned yesterday that the disease was spreading so quickly that four million people could be infected by the end of the year.
Although the virus is mainly transmitted through mosquitoes, PHE said sexual transmission had been recorded in a ‘limited number of cases.’" -- [[User:Charles Edwin Shipp|Charles Edwin Shipp]] ([[User talk:Charles Edwin Shipp|talk]]) 00:26, 30 January 2016 (UTC) -- PS: FYI for future editing.
: Thank you but sexual transmission is in the article already. and WP is [[WP:NOTNEWS]], esp not Daily Telegraph. --[[User:Wuerzele|Wuerzele]] ([[User talk:Wuerzele|talk]]) 04:39, 30 January 2016 (UTC)

== Different years. ==

Different years are cited as when the virus was first isolated from humans. They are quite different under "General" and "History" parts.

Cheers.

[[Special:Contributions/79.143.100.252|79.143.100.252]] ([[User talk:79.143.100.252|talk]]) 14:51, 30 January 2016 (UTC)
Vuk, 30.01.2015.

== Causal link to microcephaly not yet conclusive ==

According to [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-would-it-take-to-prove-the-zika-microcephaly-link1/?WT.mc_id=SA_BS_20160129 Scientific American] and the [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/health/what-is-zika-virus.html?_r=0 New York Times] within the last two days, a causal link has not been definitively established. The article should reflect this and not make it seem conclusive when it's not.
Therefore, i made [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zika_virus&diff=702468108&oldid=702418866 this edit] to include this in the section.

The ''New York Times'' source (29 January 2016) says:
{{talkquote|The possibility that the Zika virus causes microcephaly – unusually small heads and damaged brains – emerged only in October, when doctors in northern Brazil noticed a surge in babies with the condition.

It may be that other factors, such as simultaneous infection with other viruses, are contributing to the rise; investigators may even find that Zika virus is not the main cause, although right now circumstantial evidence suggests that it is.}}

The ''Scientific American'' source (28 January 2016) is titled ''What Would It Take to Prove the Zika–Microcephaly Link'', and is subtitled ''Public health officials are not yet ready to say the connection is causal'' and says:
{{talkquote|Zika virus has been grabbing headlines because of its links to an alarming birth defect called microcephaly. The data to provide evidence linking the relatively mild mosquito-borne disease and babies born with small heads and potential brain damage, however, are not yet conclusive. World Health Organization and U.S. government officials today discussed this data gap today in a series of public comments and press briefings.}}

Please discuss. [[User:SageRad|SageRad]] ([[User talk:SageRad|talk]]) 19:42, 30 January 2016 (UTC)
:We cannot use popular press sources to say Zika is causally linked to microcephaly or that it's not linked. There are no [[WP:MEDRES]] sources which go beyond saying a possible link has been suspected at this point. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 02:48, 31 January 2016 (UTC)

Zika virus

2016-01-31T02:44:38Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Link to microcephaly */ per current peer reviewed medical research link is still speculative, not conclusive - remove sources which do not meet WP:MEDRES standards for medical content.

{{pp-vandalism|small=yes|expiry=February 5, 2016}}
{{For|the 2015-16 outbreak|Zika virus outbreak in the Americas (2015–present)}}
{{Taxobox
| color = violet
| name = Zika Virus
| image = Zika EM CDC 280116.tiff
| image_caption = Electron micrograph of Zika virus. Virus particles are 40 [[Nanometre|nm]] in diameter, with an outer envelope and a dense inner core. (source: CDC)
| virus_group = iv
| familia = ''[[Flaviviridae]]''
| genus = ''[[Flavivirus]]''
| species = ''Zika virus''
}}
{{Infobox disease
| Name = Zika fever
| Image =
| Caption =
| field = [[Infectious disease (medical specialty)|Infectious disease]] [[Zoonosis]]
| DiseasesDB =
| ICD10 = {{ICD10|A|92|8|a|90}}
| ICD9 =
| ICDO =
| OMIM =
| MedlinePlus =
| eMedicineSubj =
| eMedicineTopic =
| MeshID =
}}
'''Zika virus''' ('''ZIKV''') is a member of the ''[[Flaviviridae]]'' virus [[family (biology)|family]] and the ''[[Flavivirus]]'' [[genus]], [[Mosquito-borne disease|transmitted]] by daytime-active ''[[Aedes]]'' mosquitoes, such as ''[[Aedes aegypti|A. aegypti]]''.

In humans, the virus causes a mild illness known as [[Zika fever]], Zika, or Zika disease, which since the 1950s has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. In 2014, the virus spread eastward across the Pacific Ocean to [[French Polynesia]], then to [[Easter Island]] and in 2015 to Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, where the [[Zika virus outbreak in South America (2015–present)|Zika outbreak]] has reached [[pandemic]] levels.<ref>{{cite web | last=McKenna | first=Maryn | title=Zika Virus: A New Threat and a New Kind of Pandemic | work=Germination | url=http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/13/zika-2 | date=13 January 2016 | accessdate=18 January 2016}}</ref>

==General==
Zika virus is related to [[Dengue virus|dengue]], [[Yellow fever#Cause|yellow fever]], [[Japanese encephalitis]], and [[West Nile virus|West Nile]] viruses.<ref name="Infection"/> The illness it causes is similar to a mild form of [[dengue fever]],<ref name="Infection">{{cite web | title=Zika virus infection | url=http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/zika_virus_infection/Pages/index.aspx | website=ecdc.europa.eu | accessdate=18 January 2016}}</ref> is treated by rest,<ref name=CDC_Sympt>{{cite web | work=Zika Virus | title=Symptoms, Diagnosis, & Treatment | url=http://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms | publisher=DVBD, NCEZID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}}</ref> and cannot yet be prevented by drugs or vaccines.<ref name=CDC_Sympt/> There is a possible link between Zika fever and [[microcephaly]] in newborn babies by [[vertically transmitted infection|mother-to-child transmission]],<ref name="saude 21014"/><ref name=Oliveira16>{{Cite journal | title=Zika virus intrauterine infection causes fetal brain abnormality and microcephaly: tip of the iceberg? | journal=Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology | date=1 January 2016 | issn=1469-0705 | pages=6–7 | volume=47 | issue=1 | doi=10.1002/uog.15831 | first=A. S. | last=Oliveira Melo | first2=G. | last2=Malinger | first3=R. | last3=Ximenes | first4=P. O. | last4=Szejnfeld | first5=S. | last5=Alves Sampaio | first6=A. M. | last6=Bispo de Filippis}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Epidemiological update: Outbreaks of Zika virus and complications potentially linked to the Zika virus infection | url=http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/news/_layouts/forms/News_DispForm.aspx?ID=1342&List=8db7286c-fe2d-476c-9133-18ff4cb1b568&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fecdc%2Eeuropa%2Eeu%2Fen%2Fpress%2Fepidemiological_updates%2FPages%2Fepidemiological_updates%2Easpx | publisher=European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control | accessdate=18 January 2016}}</ref> as well as a stronger one with neurologic conditions in infected adults, including cases of the [[Guillain–Barré syndrome]].<ref name=nejm/>

In January 2016, the U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) issued travel guidance on affected countries, including the use of enhanced precautions, and guidelines for pregnant women including considering postponing travel.<ref>{{cite web | title=Zika Virus in the Caribbean | date=15 January 2016 | work=Travelers' Health: Travel Notices | publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | url=http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/zika-virus-caribbean}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | first=Emily E. | last=Petersen | first2=J. Erin | last2=Staples | first3=Dana | last3=Meaney-Delman | first4=Marc | last4=Fischer | first5=Sascha R. | last5=Ellington | first6=William M. | last6=Callaghan | first7=Denise J. | last7=Jamieson | title=Interim Guidelines for Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak – United States, 2016 | journal=Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report | volume=65 | issue=2 | pages=30–33 | url=http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6502e1.htm | doi=10.15585/mmwr.mm6502e1 | pmid=26796813 |year=2016 }}</ref> Other governments or health agencies soon issued similar travel warnings,<ref name=ITV-2016-01-22a>{{Cite web | url=http://www.itv.com/news/2016-01-22/zika-virus-advice-for-those-planning-to-travel-to-outbreak-area | title=Zika virus: Advice for those planning to travel to outbreak areas | publisher=[[ITV News]] | date=22 January 2016 | accessdate=24 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=RTE-2016-01-22a>{{Cite web | url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0122/762119-el-salvador-zika-virus | title=Pregnant Irish women warned over Zika virus in central and South America | publisher=[[RTE]] | date=22 January 2016 | accessdate=23 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=BBC-2016-01-24a/> while Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica advised women to postpone getting pregnant until more is known about the risks.<ref name=RTE-2016-01-22a/><ref name=BBC-2016-01-23a>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35388842 | title=Zika virus triggers pregnancy delay calls | publisher=BBC | date=23 January 2016 | accessdate=23 January 2016}}</ref>

Along with other viruses in this family, Zika virus is [[Viral envelope|enveloped]] and [[icosahedral]] and has a nonsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense [[RNA]] genome. It is most closely related to the [[Spondweni virus]] and is one of the two viruses in the Spondweni virus [[clade]].<ref name="Fields">{{cite book | first=David M. | last=Knipe | first2=Peter M. | last2=Howley | title=Fields' Virology | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5O0somr0w18C | year=2007 | publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | isbn=978-0-7817-6060-7 | edition=5th | pages=1156, 1199}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Faye | first1=Oumar | last2=Freire | first2=Caio C. M. | last3=Iamarino | first3=Atila | last4=Faye | first4=Ousmane | last5=de Oliveira | first5=Juliana Velasco C. | last6=Diallo | first6=Mawlouth | last7=Zanotto | first7=Paolo M. A. | last8=Sall | first8=Amadou Alpha | last9=Bird | first9=Brian | title=Molecular Evolution of Zika Virus during Its Emergence in the 20th Century | journal=PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases | date=9 January 2014 | volume=8 | issue=1 | pages=e2636 | doi=10.1371/journal.pntd.0002636 | pmid=24421913 | pmc=3888466 }}</ref>

The virus was first isolated in April 1947 from a [[rhesus macaque]] monkey that had been placed in a cage in the [[Zika Forest]] of [[Uganda]], near [[Lake Victoria]], by the scientists of the [[Uganda Virus Research Institute|Yellow Fever Research Institute]]. A second isolation from the mosquito ''[[Aedes africanus|A. africanus]]'' followed at the same site in January 1948.<ref>{{cite journal |first=A.D. |last=Haddow |last2=Schuh |first2=A.J. |last3=Yasuda |first3=C.Y. |last4=Kasper |first4=M.R. |last5=Heang |first5=V. |last6=Huy |first6=R. |last7=Weaver |first7=S.C. |title=Genetic Characterization of Zika Virus Strains: Geographic Expansion of the Asian Lineage |journal=PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=e1477 |year=2012 |pmid=22389730 |pmc=3289602 |doi=10.1371/journal.pntd.0001477 |url=}}</ref><ref name=Dick52/> When the monkey developed a fever, researchers isolated from its serum a transmissible agent that was first described as Zika virus in 1952. In 1968, it was isolated for the first time from humans in Nigeria.<ref name="EID">{{Cite journal | last1=Hayes | first1=E. B. | title=Zika Virus Outside Africa | doi=10.3201/eid1509.090442 | journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases | volume=15 | issue=9 | pages=1347–50 | year=2009 | pmid=19788800 | pmc=2819875 |url=http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/15/9/09-0442_article}}</ref> From 1951 through 1981, evidence of human infection was reported from other African countries such as the Central African Republic, Egypt, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as in parts of Asia including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.<ref name="EID"/>

There are two lineages of Zika virus, the African lineage and the Asian lineage.<ref name=Enfissi16>{{Cite journal |first=Antoine |last=Enfissi |first2=John |last2=Codrington |first3=Jimmy |last3=Roosblad |first4=Mirdad |last4=Kazanji |first5=Dominique |last5=Rousset |title = Zika virus genome from the Americas |journal=Lancet | url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)00003-9 |volume=387 |date=16 January 2016 |issue=10015 |pages=227–8 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00003-9}}</ref> Phylogenetic studies indicate that the virus spreading in the Americas is most closely related to French Polynesian strains.<ref name=Enfissi16/> Complete genome sequences of Zika viruses have been published.<ref>{{Cite journal | title=Full-length sequencing and genomic characterization of Bagaza, Kedougou, and Zika viruses |journal=Archives of Virology | date=1 January 2007 | pmid=17195954 |pages= 687–696 | volume=152 | issue=4 | doi=10.1007/s00705-006-0903-z | first=G. | last=Kuno | first2=G.-J. J. | last2= lChang}}</ref> Recent preliminary findings from sequences in the public domain uncovered a possible change in [[Viral nonstructural protein|nonstructural protein 1]] codon usage that may increase the viral replication rate in humans.<ref>{{Cite journal | title=Spread of the pandemic Zika virus lineage is associated with NS1 codon usage adaptation in humans | url=http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/11/25/032839 | journal=BioRxiv | date=25 November 2015 | pages=032839 |format=PDF |doi= 10.1101/032839 | first=Caio Cesar de Melo | last=Freire | first2=Atila | last2=Iamarino | first3=Daniel Ferreira de Lima | last3=Neto | first4=Amadou Alpha | last4=Sall | first5=Paolo Marinho de Andrade | last5=Zanotto}}</ref>

==Transmission==
[[File:Aedes aegypti141.jpg|alt=Aedes aegypti|thumb|''Aedes aegypti''—a mosquito vector of Zika virus]]

Zika virus is transmitted by daytime-active mosquitoes and has been isolated from a number of species in the genus ''[[Aedes]]'', such as ''[[Aedes aegypti|A. aegypti]]'', and [[arboreal]] mosquitoes such as ''A. africanus'', ''[[Aedes apicoargenteus|A. apicoargenteus]]'', ''[[Aedes furcifer|A. furcifer]]'', ''[[Aedes hensilli|A. hensilli]]'', ''[[Aedes luteocephalus|A. luteocephalus]]'', and ''[[Aedes vitattus|A. vitattus]]''. Studies show that the [[extrinsic incubation period]] in mosquitoes is about 10 days.<ref name="EID"/> Zika virus can migrate between humans through sexual contact and it can also cross the placenta, affecting an unborn fetus. A mother already infected with Zika virus near the time of delivery can pass on the virus to her newborn around the time of birth, but this is rare.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}}

The vertebrate hosts of the virus are primarily [[monkey]]s and humans. Before the current [[pandemic]], which began in 2007, Zika virus "rarely caused recognized 'spillover' infections in humans, even in highly [[enzootic]] areas".<ref name=nejm>{{cite journal | first=Anthony S. | last=Fauci | first2=David M. | last2=Morens | title=Zika Virus in the Americas – Yet Another Arbovirus Threat | journal=New England Journal of Medicine | volume=374 | issue=2 | pages=160113142101009 | date=14 January 2016 | doi=10.1056/NEJMp1600297 |pmid=26761185}}</ref>

[[File:Global Aedes aegypti distribution.gif|alt=Aedes aegypti predicted distribution|thumb|Global ''Aedes aegypti'' predicted distribution. The map depicts the probability of occurrence (blue=none, red=highest occurrence).]]

The potential societal risk of Zika virus can be delimited by the distribution of the mosquito species that transmit it (its [[Vector (epidemiology)|vectors]]<nowiki/>). The global distribution of the most cited carrier of Zika virus, ''A. aegypti'', is expanding due to global trade and travel.<ref>{{Cite journal | title=The global distribution of the arbovirus vectors ''Aedes aegypti'' and ''Ae. albopictus'' | url=http://elifesciences.org/content/4/e08347 | journal= ELife | date=7 July 2015 | pmc=4493616 | pmid=26126267 | pages=e08347 | volume=4 | doi=10.7554/eLife.08347 | first=Moritz UG | last=Kraemer | first2=Marianne E. | last2=Sinka | first3=Kirsten A. | last3=Duda | first4=Adrian QN | last4=Mylne | first5=Freya M. | last5=Shearer | first6=Christopher M. | last6=Barker | first7=Chester G. | last7=Moore | first8=Roberta G. | last8=Carvalho | first9=Giovanini E. | last9=Coelho}}</ref> ''A. aegypti'' distribution is now the most extensive ever recorded – across all continents including North America and even the European periphery.<ref>{{Cite web | title=''Aedes aegypti'' | url=http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/vectors/mosquitoes/Pages/aedes-aegypti.aspx | website=ecdc.europa.eu | access-date=25 January 2016}}</ref> A mosquito population capable of carrying the Zika virus has been found in a Capitol Hill neighborhood of [[Washington D. C.]], and genetic evidence suggests they survived at least the last four winters in the region. The study authors conclude that mosquitos are adapting for persistence in a northern climate.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.nd.edu/news/64004-mosquitos-capable-of-carrying-zika-virus-found-in-washington-dc | title=Mosquitoes capable of carrying Zika virus found in Washington, D.C. | year=2016 |publisher=University of Notre Dame}}</ref>

Recent news reports have drawn attention to the spread of Zika in Latin America and the Caribbean.<ref>{{Cite web | title=FACTBOX - Zika virus spreads rapidly through Latin America, Caribbean | url = http://news.trust.org/item/20160122152242-yxsmt/?source=reHeadlineStory | website=news.trust.org | access-date=26 January 2016 | first=Thomson Reuters | last=Foundation}}</ref> The countries and territories that have been identified by the [[Pan American Health Organisation]] (PAHO) as having experienced "local Zika virus transmission" are Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, and Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite web | title=As the Zika virus spreads, PAHO advises countries to monitor and report birth anomalies and other suspected complications of the virus | url=http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11574%253A2016-as-the-zika-virus-spreads-paho-advises-countries-to-monitor-and-report-birth-anomalies-suspected-complications-of-virus&Itemid=1926&lang=en | website=www.paho.org | access-date=25 January 2016 | first=Cristina | last=Mitchell}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=PAHO Statement on Zika Virus Transmission and Prevention | url=http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11605%253A2016-paho-statement-on-zika-transmission-prevention-&catid=8424%253Acontent&Itemid=0&lang=en | website=www.paho.org | access-date=25 January 2016 | first=Cristina | last=Mitchell}}</ref>

In 2009, Brian Foy, a biologist from the [[Colorado State University]], [[Sexually transmitted infection|sexually transmitted]] Zika virus to his wife. He visited Senegal to study mosquitoes and was bitten on a number of occasions. A few days after returning to the United States, he fell ill with Zika, but not before having had unprotected intercourse with his wife. She subsequently showed symptoms of Zika infection with extreme sensitivity to light. Foy is the first person known to have passed on an insect-borne virus to another human by sexual contact.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Foy | first1=B. D. | last2=Kobylinski | first2=K. C. | last3=Foy | first3=J. L. C. | last4=Blitvich | first4=B. J. | last5=Travassos Da Rosa | first5=A. | last6=Haddow | first6=A. D. | last7=Lanciotti | first7=R. S. | last8=Tesh | first8=R. B. | doi=10.3201/eid1705.101939 | title=Probable Non–Vector-borne Transmission of Zika Virus, Colorado, USA | journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases | volume=17 | issue=5 | pages=880–2 | year=2011 | pmid=21529401 | pmc=3321795 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Sex After a Field Trip Yields Scientific First | last=Enserink | first=M. | url=http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2011/04/sex-after-field-trip-yields-scientific-first | work=Science News | publisher=AAAS | date=6 April 2011}}</ref>

In 2015, Zika virus [[RNA]] was detected in the [[amniotic fluid]] of two fetuses, indicating that it had crossed the [[placenta]] and could cause a [[vertically transmitted disease|mother-to-child infection]].<ref>{{cite web | first=Gretchen | last=Vogel | title=Fast-spreading virus may cause severe birth defects | date=3 December 2015 | work=Science News | publisher=AAAS | url=http://news.sciencemag.org/health/2015/12/fast-spreading-virus-may-cause-severe-birth-defects | doi=10.1126/science.aad7527}}</ref>

==Clinical==
{{main|Zika fever}}
[[File:Zika.Virus.Rash.Arm.2014.jpg||thumb|right|upright|Rash on an arm due to Zika virus]]
Common symptoms of infection with the virus include mild headaches, [[maculopapular rash]], fever, malaise, [[conjunctivitis]], and [[arthralgia|joint pains]]. The first well-documented case of Zika virus was described in 1964; it began with a mild headache, and progressed to a maculopapular rash, fever, and back pain. Within two days, the rash started fading, and within three days, the fever resolved and only the rash remained. Thus far, Zika fever has been a relatively mild disease of limited scope, with only one in five persons developing symptoms, with no fatalities, but its true potential as a viral agent of disease is unknown.<ref name="EID"/>

{{As of| 2016}}, no vaccine or preventative drug is available. Symptoms can be treated with rest, fluids, and [[paracetamol]], while [[aspirin]] and other [[nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]]s should be used only when dengue has been ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding.<ref>{{cite web | title=For Health Care Providers: Clinical Evaluation & Disease | date=19 January 2016 | work=Zika Virus | publisher=DVBD, NCEZID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | url=http://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/clinicalevaluation.html}}</ref>

===Link to microcephaly===
[[File:Microcephaly-comparison-500px.jpg|thumb|Microcephaly illustrated]]

In December 2015, it was suspected that a transplacental infection of the fetus may lead to [[microcephaly]] and brain damage.<ref name=Oliveira16/><ref name=darlington>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/23/health/brazil-zika-pregnancy-warning | author=Darlington S | title=Brazil warns against pregnancy due to spreading virus | publisher=CNN | date=23 December 2015 | accessdate=23 December 2015}}</ref> In December 2015, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued a comprehensive update on the possible association of Zika virus with congenital microcephaly.<ref name=rrr>{{cite web | title=Rapid risk assessment: Zika virus epidemic in the Americas: potential association with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome | url=http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/zika-virus-americas-association-with-microcephaly-rapid-risk-assessment.pdf | publisher=European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. | accessdate=9 January 2016 | location=Stockholm | pages=14 | format=PDF | date=10 December 2015}}</ref>

===Other neurological complications===
In a French Polynesian epidemic, 73 cases of [[Guillain–Barré syndrome]] and other neurologic conditions occurred in a population of 270,000, which may be complications of Zika virus.<ref name=nejm/>

== Vaccine development ==
Effective vaccines exist for several Flaviviruses. Vaccines for [[Yellow fever vaccine|yellow fever virus]], [[Japanese encephalitis vaccine|Japanese encephalitis]], and [[Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine|tick-borne encephalitis]] were introduced in the 1930s, while the vaccine for dengue fever has just recently become available for use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.who.int/immunization/research/development/dengue_vaccines/en|title=WHO - Dengue vaccine research|work=World Health Organization}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | title=Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BseNCgAAQBAJ | publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences | date=2014 | isbn=9781455748013 | first=John E. | last=Bennett | first2=Raphael | last2=Dolin | first3=Martin J. | last3=Blaser | page=1881}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=First Dengue Fever Vaccine Gets Green Light in 3 Countries | url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/first-dengue-fever-vaccine-gets-green-light-in-3-countries | website=Scientific American | access-date=28 January 2016 | first=Dina Fine | last=Maron}}</ref>

Work has begun towards developing a vaccine for Zika virus, according to [[Anthony Fauci]], director of the [[National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web | title=Vaccine Efforts Underway as Zika Virus Spreads | url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-01-22/vaccine-efforts-underway-as-zika-virus-spreads | website=US News & World Report | date=22 January 2016 | access-date=28 January 2016 | first=Steve | last=Sternberg}}</ref> The researchers at the [[Vaccine Research Center]] have extensive experience from working with vaccines for other viruses such as West Nile virus, [[Chikungunya|chikungunya virus]], and dengue fever.<ref name=":1"/> [[Nikos Vasilakis]] of the [[Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases]] predicted that 10 to 12 years may be needed before an effective Zika virus vaccine is available for public use.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Zika virus: US scientists say vaccine '10 years away'—BBC News | url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35423288 | publisher=BBC News | author=James Cook | date=27 January 2016 | access-date=28 January 2016 }}</ref>

==History==
In 1947, scientists researching yellow fever placed a rhesus macaque in a cage in the [[Zika Forest]] (''zika'' meaning "overgrown" in the [[Luganda language]]), near the [[Uganda Virus Research Institute|East African Virus Research Institute]] in [[Entebbe]], Uganda. The monkey developed a fever, and researchers isolated from its serum a transmissible agent that was first described as Zika virus in 1952.<ref name=Dick52>{{Cite journal | title = Zika virus. I. Isolations and serological specificity | journal=Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | date=1952-09-01 | pmid=12995440 | pages=509–520 | volume=46 | issue=5 | first=G. W. A. | last=Dick | first2=S. F. | last2= Kitchen | first3=A. J. | last3=Haddow | doi=10.1016/0035-9203(52)90042-4 | url=http://trstmh.oxfordjournals.org/content/46/5/509.short}}</ref> It was subsequently isolated from a human in Nigeria in 1954. From its discovery until 2007, confirmed cases of Zika virus infection from Africa and Southeast Asia were rare.<ref name=eid14>{{cite journal | last=Various | date=June 2014 | title= Etymologia: Zika Virus | url= http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/6/et-2006_article | journal= Emerging Infectious Diseases | volume=20 | issue=6 | doi=10.3201/eid2006.ET2006 |page=1090 |pmid=24983096 |pmc=4036762}}</ref>

In April 2007, the first outbreak outside of Africa and Asia occurred on the island of [[Yap]] in the Federated States of Micronesia, characterized by rash, conjunctivitis, and arthralgia, which was initially thought to be dengue, [[Chikungunya]], or [[Ross River virus|Ross River disease]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Little-Known Virus Challenges a Far-Flung Health System | author=Altman, L.K. | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/health/03virus.html?_r=0 | newspaper=New York Times | date=3 July 2007}}</ref> However, serum samples from patients in the acute phase of illness contained RNA of Zika virus. There were 49 confirmed cases, 59 unconfirmed cases, no hospitalizations, and no deaths.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Duffy | first1=M.R. | last2=Chen | first2=T.H. | last3=Hancock | first3=W.T. | last4=Powers | first4=A.M. | last5=Kool | first5=J.L. | last6=Lanciotti | first6=R.S. | last7=Pretrick | first7=M. | last8=Marfel | first8= M. | last9=Holzbauer | first9=S. | last10=Dubray | first10=C. | last11=Guillaumot | first11=L. | last12=Griggs | first12=A. | last13=Bel | first13=M. | last14=Lambert | first14=A.J. | last15=Laven | first15=J. | last16=Kosoy | first16=O. | last17=Panella | first17=A. | last18=Biggerstaff | first18=B.J. | last19=Fischer | first19=M. | last20=Hayes | first20=E.B. | title=Zika Virus Outbreak on Yap Island, Federated States of Micronesia | journal=New England Journal of Medicine | volume=360 | issue=24 | pages=2536–43 | year=2009 | pmid=19516034 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa0805715 }}</ref> More recently, epidemics have occurred in Polynesia, Easter Island, the [[Cook Islands]], and [[New Caledonia]].<ref name=eid14/>

Since April 2015, a large, ongoing outbreak of Zika virus that began in Brazil has spread to much of [[Zika virus in the Americas (2015 - present)|South and Central America, and the Caribbean]]. In January 2016, the CDC issued a level 2 travel alert for people traveling to regions and certain countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.<ref>{{cite web | title=Zika Travel Health Notices | publisher=CDC | url=http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/travel-health-notices.html | website=www.cdc.gov | accessdate=24 January 2016}}</ref> The agency also suggested that women thinking about becoming pregnant should consult with their physicians before traveling.<ref name=lowes>{{cite web | url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/857389?nlid=97363_3901&src=wnl_newsalrt_160115_MSCPEDIT&uac=28013DZ&impID=957011&faf=1 | author=Lowes R | title=CDC Issues Zika Travel Alert | publisher=CDC | date=15 January 2016 | accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref> Governments or health agencies of the United Kingdom,<ref name=ITV-2016-01-22a/> Ireland,<ref name=RTE-2016-01-22a/> New Zealand,<ref name=3News-NZ-2016-01-22a>{{Cite web | url=http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/zika-virus-prompts-travel-warning-for-kiwis-2016012416 | title=Zika virus prompts travel warning for Kiwis | publisher=[[3News]], New Zealand | author=Nina Burton | date=24 January 2016 | accessdate=24 January 2016 | quote=The New Zealand Government has followed Britain's lead. Official advice recommends any women who are pregnant or plan to conceive in the near future to delay travel to countries affected with the Zika virus.}}</ref> Canada,<ref name=BBC-2016-01-24a>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35394297 | title=Zika: Olympics plans announced by Rio authorities | publisher=BBC | date=24 January 2016 | accessdate=24 January 2016 | quote=The Rio de Janeiro authorities have announced plans to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the Olympic Games later this year. ... The US, Canada and EU health agencies have issued warnings saying pregnant women should avoid travelling to Brazil and other countries in the Americas which have registered cases of Zika.}}</ref> and the [[European Union]]<ref name=BBC-2016-01-24a/> soon issued similar travel warnings. In Colombia, [[Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Colombia)|Minister of Health and Social Protection]] [[Alejandro Gaviria Uribe]] recommended to avoid pregnancy for eight months, while the countries of Ecuador, El Salvador, and Jamaica have issued similar warnings.<ref name=RTE-2016-01-22a/><ref name=BBC-2016-01-23a/>

Plans were announced by the authorities in [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, to try to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the [[2016 Summer Olympic Games]] in that city.<ref name=BBC-2016-01-24a/>

According to the CDC, Brazilian health authorities reported more than 3,500 microcephaly cases between October 2015 and January 2016. Some of the affected infants have had a severe type of microcephaly and some have died. The full spectrum of outcomes that might be associated with infection during pregnancy and the factors that might increase risk to the fetus are not yet fully understood. More studies are planned to learn more about the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.<ref>{{cite web | title=Microcephaly in Brazil potentially linked to the Zika virus epidemic, ECDC assesses the risk | url=http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/press/news/_layouts/forms/News_DispForm.aspx?ID=1329&List=8db7286c-fe2d-476c-9133-18ff4cb1b568&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fecdc.europa.eu%2Fen%2FPages%2Fhome.aspx | website=European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control | accessdate=18 January 2016}}</ref> In the worst affected region of Brazil, approximately 1 percent of newborns are suspected of being microcephalic.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35368401 | title=Brazil Zika outbreak: More babies born with birth defects | year=2016 | publisher=BBC}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Viruses}}
* [[2007 Yap Islands Zika virus outbreak]]
* [[Zika virus outbreak in the Americas (2015–present)]]

== References ==
''This article contains public domain text from the CDC as cited''
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{cite web |title=Zika Virus |date=19 January 2016 |work=Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (DVBD), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |url=http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html }}
* {{cite web |title=''Zika virus'' |work=NCBI Taxonomy Browser |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=64320 |id=64320}}
* {{cite book |editor-first=Samuel |editor-last=Baron |first=Alan L. |last=Schmaljohn |first2=David |last2=McClain |title=Medical Microbiology |edition=4th |chapterurl=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7633/ |chapter=54. Alphaviruses (Togaviridae) and Flaviviruses (Flaviviridae) |id=NBK7633 |isbn=0-9631172-1-1 |year=1996 |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7627/}}
* [http://www.vbrc.org/query.asp?web_taxonomy=Flaviviridae Flaviviridae Genomes] database search results from the [http://www.vbrc.org Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center]
* [http://www.expasy.org/viralzone/all_by_species/43.html '''Viralzone''': Flaviviridae]
* [http://www.viprbrc.org/brc/home.do?decorator=flavi Virus Pathogen Database and Analysis Resource (ViPR): Flaviviridae]
* [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/zika/en/ World Health Organization Zika Virus Fact Sheet]

{{Baltimore classification}}
{{Zoonotic viral diseases}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zika Virus}}
[[Category:Flaviviruses]]
[[Category:Insect-borne diseases]]
[[Category:Zika virus|*]]

Bill Clinton sexual assault and misconduct allegations

2016-01-13T06:26:16Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Juanita Broaddrick */ clarify this is an allegation

[[Bill Clinton]], the [[List of Presidents of the United States|42nd]] [[President of the United States]], has been accused by multiple women of [[sexual misconduct]]. Clinton has only admitted extramarital relationships with [[Monica Lewinsky]] and [[Gennifer Flowers]].

==Juanita Broaddrick==
Former Clinton volunteer [[Juanita Broaddrick]] alleged that in 1978, Bill Clinton raped her in her hotel room. According to Broaddrick, she agreed to meet with Clinton for coffee in the lobby of her hotel, but Clinton asked if they could go to her room to avoid a crowd of reporters. Once Clinton had isolated her in her hotel room, Broaddrick alleges Clinton sexually assaulted her. Broaddrick stated Clinton injured her lip by biting it during the assault.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/janedoe022099.htm</ref><ref name=CapitalHillBlueWebArchive1>Archive.org record from February 2006, of Capitol Hill Blue's original record;
[http://web.archive.org/web/20060216043650/http://www.capitolhillblue.com/Feb1999/022599/datelinetranscript022599.htm Full Transcript of NBC Dateline report on Juanita Broaddrick]; February 1999.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/broaddrick022599.htm|title=Clinton Accuser's Story Aired | work=The Washington Post | date=March 14, 1999 | accessdate=April 26, 2010}}</ref>

==Paula Jones==
According to Jones's account, on May 8, 1991, she was escorted to Clinton's hotel room in the Excelsior<ref name="Case_95-1853">{{cite court
|litigants=Clinton v. Jones
|vol=No. 95-1853
|reporter=U.S.
|opinion=
|pinpoint=
|court=
|date=1997-05-27
|url= http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/95-1853.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = Key Events in Paula Jones's '''Sex'''ual Harassment Case Against President Clinton
| url=http://www.gargaro.com/pjkeyevents.html
| accessdate = 2007-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = Top 8 Clinton Scandal Sites
| url=http://littlerock.about.com/cs/thingstodo/tp/tpclintonscand.htm
| accessdate = 2007-09-26}}</ref> (now Little Rock [[Marriott Hotels & Resorts|Marriott]]) Hotel in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], where he propositioned and exposed himself to her. She claimed she kept quiet about the incident until 1994, when a [[David Brock]] story in the ''[[American Spectator]]'' magazine printed an account.

Jones filed a sexual harassment suit against Clinton on May 6, 1994, two days prior to the three-year [[statute of limitations]], and sought $750,000 in damages.<ref name="cvjtime">{{cite news
| title=''Clinton v. Jones'' Timeline
| date=1997-07-04
| url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/timeline.htm
| work =The Washington Post
| accessdate = 2009-01-19}}</ref> Clinton argued that as a sitting president, he should not be vulnerable to a civil suit of this nature. The case landed in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that "Deferral of this litigation until petitioner's Presidency ends is not constitutionally required."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=95-1853 |title=Clinton v. Jones, No. 95-1853 |publisher=Caselaw.lp.findlaw.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-11}}</ref> However, a U.S. judge in Arkansas, [[Susan Webber Wright]], ruled that since Jones had not suffered any damages, the case should be dismissed.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/docs/order040198.htm | title = Judge Wright's Opinion | work=The Washington Post | date=April 1, 1998 | accessdate=April 26, 2010}}</ref> On April 2, 1998, Judge [[Susan Webber Wright]] dismissed Jones' lawsuit.<ref name="JO#$">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/02/clinton.jones.reax/ |title=Clinton Welcomes Jones Decision; Appeal Likely – April 2, 1998 |publisher=CNN |date= |accessdate=November 9, 2008}}</ref> On July 31, 1998, Jones appealed the dismissal to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/jonesappeal073198.htm |title=Text of Jones's Appeal |date = July 31, 1998 | work = [[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=2010-08-25}}</ref>

During the deposition for the Jones lawsuit, which was held at the White House,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/13/jones.v.clinton.docs/clinton/ |title=Deposition of William Jefferson Clinton, January 17, 1998 |publisher=Cnn.com |date=1998-03-13 |accessdate=2010-08-25}}</ref> Clinton [[I did not have sexual relations with that woman|denied having sexual relations]] with [[Monica Lewinsky]]{{spaced ndash}}a denial that became the basis for the [[Lewinsky scandal]] and the president's subsequent [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment charge of perjury]].<ref name="encyclopedia.com">"Lewinsky scandal", ''The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition'', ©2008 Columbia University Press, {{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Lewinsky_scandal.aspx|title=As Retrieved 2010-02-09|archiveurl=http://archive.is/ualo|archivedate=2012-07-30}}</ref> In April 1999, Judge Wright found Clinton in [[Civil law (common law)|civil]] [[contempt of court]] for misleading testimony in the Jones case. She ordered Clinton to pay $1,202 to the court and an additional $90,000 to Jones's lawyers for expenses incurred,<ref>{{cite news | first=Bob | last=Franken | title=Clinton Found in Civil Contempt for Jones Testimony | date=1999-04-12 | url =http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/04/12/clinton.contempt/ | work =CNN | accessdate = 2007-09-26 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070620120650/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/04/12/clinton.contempt/  |archivedate = 2007-06-20}}</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19991111130840/http://www.ardemgaz.com/prev/Clinton/aaxclinton041399.html Clinton Cited for Contempt]
</ref><ref name=[]l;>http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CLINTON+MUST+PAY+$90,000+TO+PAULA+JONES'S+LAWYERS.(News)-a083618563</ref> far less than the $496,000 that the lawyers originally requested.<ref name=[]l; /> Wright then referred Clinton's conduct to the [[State bar association|Arkansas Bar]] for disciplinary action, and on January 19, 2001, the day before Clinton left the office of president, he entered into an agreement with the Arkansas Bar and [[Independent Counsel]] [[Robert Ray (prosecutor)|Robert Ray]] under which Clinton was stripped of his license to practice law in Arkansas for a period of five years.<ref>{{cite news | title=Transcript - Independent Counsel Robert Ray Holds News Conference on Deal Struck With President Clinton in Whitewater Probe | date=2001-01-19 | url =http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0101/19/bn.10.html
| work =CNN | accessdate = 2007-09-26}}</ref>

On November 18, 1998, Clinton agreed to an out-of-court settlement, and agreed to pay Jones and her attorneys a sum of $850,000.<ref name="CO">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/18/jones/ |title=Appeals court ponders Paula Jones settlement – November 18, 1998 |publisher=CNN |date= |accessdate=January 8, 2016}}</ref> Clinton denies ever engaging in a sexual affair with her.<ref name="CO" />

==Gennifer Flowers==
In 1992 [[Gennifer Flowers]] stated that she had a relationship with Clinton that began in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/docs/flowers031398.htm |title=Declaration of Gennifer Flowers |publisher=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 13, 1998 |accessdate=2008-03-20}}</ref> Flowers at first denied that she had an affair with Clinton, but later changed her story.<ref name="Flo*^">{{cite news |url=http://www.rcfp.org/news/2002/1119flower.html |title=Gennifer Flowers may proceed with defamation suit |publisher=[[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press]] | date=November 19, 2002 |accessdate=2008-03-20 |quote=At the press conference, Flowers — who initially denied allegations that she had an affair with then Arkansas governor Bill Clinton but then changed her story — played tapes of conversations she had secretly recorded between herself and Clinton}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/97591856.html|title=Entrepreneur - Start, run and grow your business.|work=Entrepreneur}}</ref> After initially denying it, Clinton later admitted that he had a sexual encounter with Flowers when put under oath during the Lewinsky investigation.<ref name=rp.x>{{cite news| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E4D91739F937A25750C0A96E958260| title=TESTING OF A PRESIDENT: THE ACCUSER; JONES LAWYERS ISSUE FILES ALLEGING CLINTON PATTERN OF HARASSMENT OF WOMEN| publisher=[[The New York Times]]| date=1998-03-14| quote=In his January deposition, the President, though finally confirming a sexual encounter with Ms. Flowers, was precise in denying Ms. Willey's report that he had sought to kiss her and feel her breasts| accessdate=2008-03-20 | first=Francis X. | last=Clines}}</ref>

==Monica Lewinsky==
{{main|Lewinsky scandal}}

In 1995, [[Monica Lewinsky]], a graduate of [[Lewis & Clark College]], was hired to work as an intern at the White House during Clinton's first term, and began a personal relationship with him, the details of which she later confided to her friend and Defense department co-worker [[Linda Tripp]], who secretly recorded their telephone conversations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tripp: I Am Not Intimidated |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/07/archive/main13349.shtml |date=July 7, 1998 |accessdate=January 26, 2010 |publisher=CBS Worldwide Corp |quote=In January, Trpp[sic] gave Starr the tapes. She made the recordings secretly at her home at the urging of her friend Lucianne Goldberg, a New York literary agent.}}</ref> When Tripp discovered in January 1998 that Lewinsky had signed an [[affidavit]] in the [[Paula Jones]] case denying a relationship with Clinton, she delivered the tapes to [[Kenneth Starr]], the [[United States Office of the Independent Counsel|Independent Counsel]] who was investigating Clinton on other matters, including the [[Whitewater scandal]], the [[White House FBI files controversy]], and the [[White House travel office controversy]]. The news of this [[extra-marital affair]] and the resulting investigation eventually led to the [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment of President Clinton]] in 1998 by the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] and his subsequent acquittal on all impeachment charges of [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]] in a 21-day [[United States Senate|Senate]] trial.<ref name="encyclopedia.com"/>

==Kathleen Willey==
In 1998, [[Kathleen Willey]] alleged Clinton groped her in a hallway in 1993. An independent counsel determined Willey gave "false information" to the FBI, inconsistent with sworn testimony related to the Jones allegation.<ref name=wilo9r>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/23/time/willey.html | title=The Lives Of Kathleen Willey | publisher=CNN |date= March 30, 1998 | accessdate =September 11, 2011}}</ref> Willey dodged perjury charges after Kenneth Starr granted her immunity for her testimony.<ref name=wilo9r /><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E4D91739F937A25750C0A96E958260| title=Testing of a President: The Accuser; Jones Lawyers Issue Files Alleging Clinton Pattern of Harassment of Women|work=The New York Times |date=March 14, 1998| quote=The Presidential deposition released today confirmed several revelations reported earlier, including Mr. Clinton's confirmation... that he had had sex with Gennifer Flowers, a one-time Arkansas worker. |accessdate=March 20, 2008 |first=Francis X. |last=Clines}}</ref>

==Other allegations==
In 1998, in response to what she called false media claims that Clinton had raped her, [[Elizabeth Ward Gracen]] (former Miss Arkansas and Miss America) recanted a six-year-old denial and stated she had a consensual one night stand with Clinton in 1982.<ref name="comgrawc"/> Gracen later apologized to Hillary Clinton.<ref name="comgrawc">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/25/clinton.gracen/ |title=Former Miss America Apologizes To First Lady – April 25, 1998 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=November 9, 2008| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080614143559/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/25/clinton.gracen/| archivedate = June 14, 2008}}</ref> Ward stated that Clinton bit her lip during the encounter, echoing the behavior described by Juanita Broaddrick in her rape allegation against Clinton.<ref>http://www.mofopolitics.com/2013/09/27/bill-clinton-a-long-history-of-alleged-rape-and-sexual-assault/</ref>

Dolly Kyle Browning began writing a "semi-autobiographical novel" about her alleged affair with Bill Clinton. In the publication process, Browning asserted that Clinton did everything in his power to prevent publication and diminish circulation of the book. Browning sued Clinton for damages, but her case was dismissed.<ref>[http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/6717652191D1169185256F82005D3421/$file/01-5050a.txt Browning v. Clinton] No. 01-5050, June 11, 2002. Retrieved August 23, 2012.</ref>

[[Sally Perdue]], a former Miss Arkansas, has stated that she had a four-month affair with Clinton in 1983.
<ref name=slate>{{cite news |publisher=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=1998-01-29 |accessdate=2008-08-23 |title=All The President's Women |url= http://www.slate.com/id/1849/ |author=David Plotz}}</ref>

[[Connie Hamzy]], a self-described rock-and-roll groupie, states that Clinton propositioned her in 1984 while she was sunbathing by a Little Rock hotel pool.<ref name="stephanopoulos">{{cite book |last=Stephanopoulos |first=George |authorlink=George Stephanopoulos |title=All Too Human: A Political Education |origyear=1999 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=uRCVwv87nkMC&pg=PA54&dq=%22connie+hamzy%22 |accessdate=2008-11-29 |year=2000 |month= |publisher=Back Bay |location=Boston |isbn=0-316-93016-4 |pages=54–55}}</ref>

Bobbie Ann Williams, a one-time Little Rock prostitute, has stated that Clinton fathered a child by her when he was the governor of Arkansas.<ref>http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/re-surfaced-sex-allegation-could-be-hillary-clintons-biggest-nightmare/</ref>

[[Lencola Sullivan]], a former Miss Arkansas and fourth runner-up in the Miss America pageant was claimed to have "sexual relationship" with Clinton.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/docs/brown031398.htm</ref>

Clinton's name appears more than 10 times on flight manifests for [[Jeffrey Epstein]]'s private airliner: a Boeing 727. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in Florida for soliciting underage teenage prostitutes. Court documents show that Epstein used the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]] to avoid self-incrimination in a deposition when directly asked, “Do you know former President Clinton personally?” Epstein made the plea in a 2010-2011 civil case between Epstein and Florida lawyer Brad Edwards, who sued Epstein on behalf of some of Epstein’s alleged victims.<ref>http://observer.com/2015/03/the-jeffrey-epstein-affair-imperils-hillary-clintons-presidential-prospects/</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/08/pedophile-pleaded-the-fifth-when-asked-if-he-was-friends-with-bill-clinton/|title=Pedophile Took The Fifth When Asked About Clinton Friendship - The Daily Caller|work=The Daily Caller}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Bill Clinton}}

===Bibliography===

* Morrow, Robert [http://www.mofopolitics.com/2013/09/27/bill-clinton-a-long-history-of-alleged-rape-and-sexual-assault/ Bill Clinton: A Long History of Alleged Rape and Sexual Assault]
* Daniel J. Harris & Teresa Hampton [http://www.albertpeia.com/oxfordassault.htm Juanita isn't the only one]
* Bob Flanagan [http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/bill-clinton-victim-of-blackmail-over-ashley-madison-account/ Bill Clinton Victim Of Blackmail Over Ashley Madison Account]
[[Category:Clinton administration controversies]]

Bill Clinton sexual assault and misconduct allegations

2016-01-13T06:23:28Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Juanita Broaddrick */ clarify date per ref

[[Bill Clinton]], the [[List of Presidents of the United States|42nd]] [[President of the United States]], has been accused by multiple women of [[sexual misconduct]]. Clinton has only admitted extramarital relationships with [[Monica Lewinsky]] and [[Gennifer Flowers]].

==Juanita Broaddrick==
Former Clinton volunteer [[Juanita Broaddrick]] alleged that in 1978, Bill Clinton raped her in her hotel room. According to Broaddrick, she agreed to meet with Clinton for coffee in the lobby of her hotel, but Clinton asked if they could go to her room to avoid a crowd of reporters. Once Clinton had isolated her in her hotel room, he sexually assaulted her. Broaddrick stated Clinton injured her lip by biting it during the assault.
<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/janedoe022099.htm</ref><ref name=CapitalHillBlueWebArchive1>Archive.org record from February 2006, of Capitol Hill Blue's original record;
[http://web.archive.org/web/20060216043650/http://www.capitolhillblue.com/Feb1999/022599/datelinetranscript022599.htm Full Transcript of NBC Dateline report on Juanita Broaddrick]; February 1999.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/broaddrick022599.htm|title=Clinton Accuser's Story Aired | work=The Washington Post | date=March 14, 1999 | accessdate=April 26, 2010}}</ref>

==Paula Jones==
According to Jones's account, on May 8, 1991, she was escorted to Clinton's hotel room in the Excelsior<ref name="Case_95-1853">{{cite court
|litigants=Clinton v. Jones
|vol=No. 95-1853
|reporter=U.S.
|opinion=
|pinpoint=
|court=
|date=1997-05-27
|url= http://laws.findlaw.com/us/000/95-1853.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = Key Events in Paula Jones's '''Sex'''ual Harassment Case Against President Clinton
| url=http://www.gargaro.com/pjkeyevents.html
| accessdate = 2007-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = Top 8 Clinton Scandal Sites
| url=http://littlerock.about.com/cs/thingstodo/tp/tpclintonscand.htm
| accessdate = 2007-09-26}}</ref> (now Little Rock [[Marriott Hotels & Resorts|Marriott]]) Hotel in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], where he propositioned and exposed himself to her. She claimed she kept quiet about the incident until 1994, when a [[David Brock]] story in the ''[[American Spectator]]'' magazine printed an account.

Jones filed a sexual harassment suit against Clinton on May 6, 1994, two days prior to the three-year [[statute of limitations]], and sought $750,000 in damages.<ref name="cvjtime">{{cite news
| title=''Clinton v. Jones'' Timeline
| date=1997-07-04
| url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/timeline.htm
| work =The Washington Post
| accessdate = 2009-01-19}}</ref> Clinton argued that as a sitting president, he should not be vulnerable to a civil suit of this nature. The case landed in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that "Deferral of this litigation until petitioner's Presidency ends is not constitutionally required."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=95-1853 |title=Clinton v. Jones, No. 95-1853 |publisher=Caselaw.lp.findlaw.com |date= |accessdate=2011-06-11}}</ref> However, a U.S. judge in Arkansas, [[Susan Webber Wright]], ruled that since Jones had not suffered any damages, the case should be dismissed.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/docs/order040198.htm | title = Judge Wright's Opinion | work=The Washington Post | date=April 1, 1998 | accessdate=April 26, 2010}}</ref> On April 2, 1998, Judge [[Susan Webber Wright]] dismissed Jones' lawsuit.<ref name="JO#$">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/02/clinton.jones.reax/ |title=Clinton Welcomes Jones Decision; Appeal Likely – April 2, 1998 |publisher=CNN |date= |accessdate=November 9, 2008}}</ref> On July 31, 1998, Jones appealed the dismissal to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/jonesappeal073198.htm |title=Text of Jones's Appeal |date = July 31, 1998 | work = [[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=2010-08-25}}</ref>

During the deposition for the Jones lawsuit, which was held at the White House,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/13/jones.v.clinton.docs/clinton/ |title=Deposition of William Jefferson Clinton, January 17, 1998 |publisher=Cnn.com |date=1998-03-13 |accessdate=2010-08-25}}</ref> Clinton [[I did not have sexual relations with that woman|denied having sexual relations]] with [[Monica Lewinsky]]{{spaced ndash}}a denial that became the basis for the [[Lewinsky scandal]] and the president's subsequent [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment charge of perjury]].<ref name="encyclopedia.com">"Lewinsky scandal", ''The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition'', ©2008 Columbia University Press, {{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Lewinsky_scandal.aspx|title=As Retrieved 2010-02-09|archiveurl=http://archive.is/ualo|archivedate=2012-07-30}}</ref> In April 1999, Judge Wright found Clinton in [[Civil law (common law)|civil]] [[contempt of court]] for misleading testimony in the Jones case. She ordered Clinton to pay $1,202 to the court and an additional $90,000 to Jones's lawyers for expenses incurred,<ref>{{cite news | first=Bob | last=Franken | title=Clinton Found in Civil Contempt for Jones Testimony | date=1999-04-12 | url =http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/04/12/clinton.contempt/ | work =CNN | accessdate = 2007-09-26 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070620120650/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/04/12/clinton.contempt/  |archivedate = 2007-06-20}}</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19991111130840/http://www.ardemgaz.com/prev/Clinton/aaxclinton041399.html Clinton Cited for Contempt]
</ref><ref name=[]l;>http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CLINTON+MUST+PAY+$90,000+TO+PAULA+JONES'S+LAWYERS.(News)-a083618563</ref> far less than the $496,000 that the lawyers originally requested.<ref name=[]l; /> Wright then referred Clinton's conduct to the [[State bar association|Arkansas Bar]] for disciplinary action, and on January 19, 2001, the day before Clinton left the office of president, he entered into an agreement with the Arkansas Bar and [[Independent Counsel]] [[Robert Ray (prosecutor)|Robert Ray]] under which Clinton was stripped of his license to practice law in Arkansas for a period of five years.<ref>{{cite news | title=Transcript - Independent Counsel Robert Ray Holds News Conference on Deal Struck With President Clinton in Whitewater Probe | date=2001-01-19 | url =http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0101/19/bn.10.html
| work =CNN | accessdate = 2007-09-26}}</ref>

On November 18, 1998, Clinton agreed to an out-of-court settlement, and agreed to pay Jones and her attorneys a sum of $850,000.<ref name="CO">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/18/jones/ |title=Appeals court ponders Paula Jones settlement – November 18, 1998 |publisher=CNN |date= |accessdate=January 8, 2016}}</ref> Clinton denies ever engaging in a sexual affair with her.<ref name="CO" />

==Gennifer Flowers==
In 1992 [[Gennifer Flowers]] stated that she had a relationship with Clinton that began in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/docs/flowers031398.htm |title=Declaration of Gennifer Flowers |publisher=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 13, 1998 |accessdate=2008-03-20}}</ref> Flowers at first denied that she had an affair with Clinton, but later changed her story.<ref name="Flo*^">{{cite news |url=http://www.rcfp.org/news/2002/1119flower.html |title=Gennifer Flowers may proceed with defamation suit |publisher=[[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press]] | date=November 19, 2002 |accessdate=2008-03-20 |quote=At the press conference, Flowers — who initially denied allegations that she had an affair with then Arkansas governor Bill Clinton but then changed her story — played tapes of conversations she had secretly recorded between herself and Clinton}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/97591856.html|title=Entrepreneur - Start, run and grow your business.|work=Entrepreneur}}</ref> After initially denying it, Clinton later admitted that he had a sexual encounter with Flowers when put under oath during the Lewinsky investigation.<ref name=rp.x>{{cite news| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E4D91739F937A25750C0A96E958260| title=TESTING OF A PRESIDENT: THE ACCUSER; JONES LAWYERS ISSUE FILES ALLEGING CLINTON PATTERN OF HARASSMENT OF WOMEN| publisher=[[The New York Times]]| date=1998-03-14| quote=In his January deposition, the President, though finally confirming a sexual encounter with Ms. Flowers, was precise in denying Ms. Willey's report that he had sought to kiss her and feel her breasts| accessdate=2008-03-20 | first=Francis X. | last=Clines}}</ref>

==Monica Lewinsky==
{{main|Lewinsky scandal}}

In 1995, [[Monica Lewinsky]], a graduate of [[Lewis & Clark College]], was hired to work as an intern at the White House during Clinton's first term, and began a personal relationship with him, the details of which she later confided to her friend and Defense department co-worker [[Linda Tripp]], who secretly recorded their telephone conversations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tripp: I Am Not Intimidated |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/07/archive/main13349.shtml |date=July 7, 1998 |accessdate=January 26, 2010 |publisher=CBS Worldwide Corp |quote=In January, Trpp[sic] gave Starr the tapes. She made the recordings secretly at her home at the urging of her friend Lucianne Goldberg, a New York literary agent.}}</ref> When Tripp discovered in January 1998 that Lewinsky had signed an [[affidavit]] in the [[Paula Jones]] case denying a relationship with Clinton, she delivered the tapes to [[Kenneth Starr]], the [[United States Office of the Independent Counsel|Independent Counsel]] who was investigating Clinton on other matters, including the [[Whitewater scandal]], the [[White House FBI files controversy]], and the [[White House travel office controversy]]. The news of this [[extra-marital affair]] and the resulting investigation eventually led to the [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeachment of President Clinton]] in 1998 by the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] and his subsequent acquittal on all impeachment charges of [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]] in a 21-day [[United States Senate|Senate]] trial.<ref name="encyclopedia.com"/>

==Kathleen Willey==
In 1998, [[Kathleen Willey]] alleged Clinton groped her in a hallway in 1993. An independent counsel determined Willey gave "false information" to the FBI, inconsistent with sworn testimony related to the Jones allegation.<ref name=wilo9r>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/23/time/willey.html | title=The Lives Of Kathleen Willey | publisher=CNN |date= March 30, 1998 | accessdate =September 11, 2011}}</ref> Willey dodged perjury charges after Kenneth Starr granted her immunity for her testimony.<ref name=wilo9r /><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E4D91739F937A25750C0A96E958260| title=Testing of a President: The Accuser; Jones Lawyers Issue Files Alleging Clinton Pattern of Harassment of Women|work=The New York Times |date=March 14, 1998| quote=The Presidential deposition released today confirmed several revelations reported earlier, including Mr. Clinton's confirmation... that he had had sex with Gennifer Flowers, a one-time Arkansas worker. |accessdate=March 20, 2008 |first=Francis X. |last=Clines}}</ref>

==Other allegations==
In 1998, in response to what she called false media claims that Clinton had raped her, [[Elizabeth Ward Gracen]] (former Miss Arkansas and Miss America) recanted a six-year-old denial and stated she had a consensual one night stand with Clinton in 1982.<ref name="comgrawc"/> Gracen later apologized to Hillary Clinton.<ref name="comgrawc">{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/25/clinton.gracen/ |title=Former Miss America Apologizes To First Lady – April 25, 1998 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=November 9, 2008| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080614143559/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/25/clinton.gracen/| archivedate = June 14, 2008}}</ref> Ward stated that Clinton bit her lip during the encounter, echoing the behavior described by Juanita Broaddrick in her rape allegation against Clinton.<ref>http://www.mofopolitics.com/2013/09/27/bill-clinton-a-long-history-of-alleged-rape-and-sexual-assault/</ref>

Dolly Kyle Browning began writing a "semi-autobiographical novel" about her alleged affair with Bill Clinton. In the publication process, Browning asserted that Clinton did everything in his power to prevent publication and diminish circulation of the book. Browning sued Clinton for damages, but her case was dismissed.<ref>[http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/6717652191D1169185256F82005D3421/$file/01-5050a.txt Browning v. Clinton] No. 01-5050, June 11, 2002. Retrieved August 23, 2012.</ref>

[[Sally Perdue]], a former Miss Arkansas, has stated that she had a four-month affair with Clinton in 1983.
<ref name=slate>{{cite news |publisher=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=1998-01-29 |accessdate=2008-08-23 |title=All The President's Women |url= http://www.slate.com/id/1849/ |author=David Plotz}}</ref>

[[Connie Hamzy]], a self-described rock-and-roll groupie, states that Clinton propositioned her in 1984 while she was sunbathing by a Little Rock hotel pool.<ref name="stephanopoulos">{{cite book |last=Stephanopoulos |first=George |authorlink=George Stephanopoulos |title=All Too Human: A Political Education |origyear=1999 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=uRCVwv87nkMC&pg=PA54&dq=%22connie+hamzy%22 |accessdate=2008-11-29 |year=2000 |month= |publisher=Back Bay |location=Boston |isbn=0-316-93016-4 |pages=54–55}}</ref>

Bobbie Ann Williams, a one-time Little Rock prostitute, has stated that Clinton fathered a child by her when he was the governor of Arkansas.<ref>http://www.thepoliticalinsider.com/re-surfaced-sex-allegation-could-be-hillary-clintons-biggest-nightmare/</ref>

[[Lencola Sullivan]], a former Miss Arkansas and fourth runner-up in the Miss America pageant was claimed to have "sexual relationship" with Clinton.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/docs/brown031398.htm</ref>

Clinton's name appears more than 10 times on flight manifests for [[Jeffrey Epstein]]'s private airliner: a Boeing 727. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in Florida for soliciting underage teenage prostitutes. Court documents show that Epstein used the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]] to avoid self-incrimination in a deposition when directly asked, “Do you know former President Clinton personally?” Epstein made the plea in a 2010-2011 civil case between Epstein and Florida lawyer Brad Edwards, who sued Epstein on behalf of some of Epstein’s alleged victims.<ref>http://observer.com/2015/03/the-jeffrey-epstein-affair-imperils-hillary-clintons-presidential-prospects/</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailycaller.com/2015/02/08/pedophile-pleaded-the-fifth-when-asked-if-he-was-friends-with-bill-clinton/|title=Pedophile Took The Fifth When Asked About Clinton Friendship - The Daily Caller|work=The Daily Caller}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Bill Clinton}}

===Bibliography===

* Morrow, Robert [http://www.mofopolitics.com/2013/09/27/bill-clinton-a-long-history-of-alleged-rape-and-sexual-assault/ Bill Clinton: A Long History of Alleged Rape and Sexual Assault]
* Daniel J. Harris & Teresa Hampton [http://www.albertpeia.com/oxfordassault.htm Juanita isn't the only one]
* Bob Flanagan [http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/bill-clinton-victim-of-blackmail-over-ashley-madison-account/ Bill Clinton Victim Of Blackmail Over Ashley Madison Account]
[[Category:Clinton administration controversies]]

Juanita Broaddrick

2016-01-13T05:42:15Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Allegations against Bill Clinton */ copy edit

{{Infobox person
|name=Juanita Broaddrick
|birth_name=
|birth_date=
|birth_place=[[United States]]
|nationality=[[United States|American]]
|death_date=
|death_place=
|occupation=[[Nursing home|Nursing home administrator]]
}}

'''Juanita Broaddrick''' is a former [[nursing home]] administrator from [[Arkansas]]. She alleged in 1999 that [[United States President]] [[Bill Clinton]] had [[rape]]d her two decades earlier. President Clinton's attorney, [[David E. Kendall|David Kendall]], denied the allegations on his client's behalf. Clinton refused to comment further on the issue.

==Allegations against Bill Clinton==
Rumors circulated about Broaddrick's allegations for many years, but she refused to speak to the media and filed an [[affidavit]] with [[Paula Jones]]' lawyers stating that the rumors were unfounded.<ref name=affidavit>The ''Washington Post'' [December 23, 1998 reported that Broaddrick was "Jane Doe #5" in the Paula Jones trial] on February 25, 1999. Her affidavit as Jane Doe #5 [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/affidavit122398.htm was posted by the ''Washington Post''] on December 23, 1998.</ref> (See [[#Road to public disclosure|Road to public disclosure]].) In an interview with ''[[Dateline NBC]],'' that aired on February 24, 1999, Broaddrick claimed she had indeed been raped by Clinton.''<ref name="NBCinterview">''Dateline NBC'': February 24, 1999. ''The Washington Post'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/broaddrick022599.htm published a story about the interview] on February 25, 1999.</ref>

Broaddrick first met Clinton when he made a visit to her nursing home during his 1978 gubernatorial campaign. Broaddrick wanted to volunteer for the campaign, and says Clinton invited her to stop by the campaign office in [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]].<ref name=NYT>''New York Times'': [http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/24/us/on-tortuous-route-sexual-assault-accusation-against-clinton-resurfaces.html On Tortuous Route, Sexual Assault Accusation Against Clinton Resurfaces]. February 24, 1999.</ref> She contacted the office a few weeks later while in the area for a nursing home conference. Clinton said he would not be in the campaign office that day and suggested they meet at her hotel’s coffee shop instead. Upon his arrival, however, he allegedly requested that they instead have coffee in her room to avoid a crowd of reporters in the lobby. Broaddrick agreed.<ref name="NBCinterview" />

Broaddrick says the two spoke briefly in her room, with Clinton describing plans to renovate a prison visible from her window if he became governor. Then, according to Broaddrick, Clinton suddenly kissed her.<ref name="NBCinterview" /> Broaddrick says she pushed Clinton away and told him she was married and not interested, but he persisted. As recounted in the NBC interview:<ref name="NBCinterview" />
{{quote |text=Then he tries to kiss me again. And the second time he tries to kiss me he starts biting my lip … He starts to, um, bite on my top lip and I tried to pull away from him. And then he forces me down on the bed. And I just was very frightened, and I tried to get away from him and I told him ‘No,’ that I didn’t want this to happen but he wouldn’t listen to me. … It was a real panicky, panicky situation. I was even to the point where I was getting very noisy, you know, yelling to ‘Please stop.’ And that’s when he pressed down on my right shoulder and he would bite my lip. … When everything was over with, he got up and straightened himself, and I was crying at the moment and he walks to the door, and calmly puts on his sunglasses. And before he goes out the door he says ‘You better get some ice on that.’ And he turned and went out the door.” }}
When asked if there was any way Clinton could have thought it was consensual, Broaddrick said “No, not with what I told him and with how I tried to push him away. It was not consensual.”<ref name="NBCinterview" />

Broaddrick shared the hotel room with her friend and employee Norma Rodgers. Rodgers attended a conference seminar that morning, and says she returned to their room to find Broaddrick on the bed “in a state of shock,” her pantyhose torn in the crotch and her lip swollen as though she had been hit.<ref name="NYT" /> Rogers says Broaddrick told her Clinton had "forced himself on her."<ref name="NYT" /> Rogers helped Broaddrick ice her lip, and then the women left Little Rock. Rogers said that Broaddrick was very upset on the way home and blamed herself for letting Clinton in the room.<ref name="NBCinterview" />

Broaddrick says she did not tell her then-husband, Gary Hickey, about the incident, and told him she accidentally injured her lip. He told NBC he did not remember the injury or her excuse.<ref name="NBCinterview" /><ref name=Slate>[http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/1999/03/is_juanita_broaddrick_telling_the_truth.html "Is Juanita Broaddrick Telling the Truth?"]. ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''. March 3, 1999.</ref>

At the time, she was having an affair with her eventual second husband, David Broaddrick. He says he noticed her injured lip, and she told him that Clinton had raped her when he asked about it.<ref name="NBCinterview" /> Three other friends confirmed that Broaddrick had told them about the incident at the time: Susan Lewis, Louis Ma, and Jean Darden, Norma Rogers’ sister.<ref name="NBCinterview" />

Broaddrick did not recall the date of the alleged incident, but said it was spring of 1978 and that she had stayed in the Camelot Hotel. Records show Broaddrick attended a nursing home meeting at the Camelot Hotel in Little Rock on April 25, 1978.<ref name="NBCinterview" /><ref name="Slate" /> The Clinton White House would not respond to requests for Clinton's official schedule for the date,<ref name=WashingtonPost-Feb25-1999 /> but news reports suggest that he was in Little Rock that day, with no official commitments in the morning.<ref name="NBCinterview" />

Three weeks after the alleged assault, Broaddrick participated in a small Clinton fundraiser at the home of a local dentist.<ref name="NBCinterview" /> Broaddrick said she was “in denial,” and felt guilty, thinking that she had given Clinton the wrong idea by letting him into her room.<ref name="NBCinterview" /> When she arrived at the event, she says, her friend who had picked the Clintons up from the airport told her that Hillary Clinton had asked if she would be at the event.<ref name=FOXinterview>''FOX News'': [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/broaddrick022599.html Interview with Sean Hannity]. June 10, 2003.</ref>{{Citation broken|date=January 2016}} Broaddrick says Clinton did not speak to her at the event, but his wife [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary]] approached her, took her hand, and said 'I just want you to know how much Bill and I appreciate what you do for him.”<ref name="FOXinterview" />{{Citation broken|date=January 2016}} When Broaddrick moved her hand away, she says, Mrs. Clinton held on to her and said, "Do you understand? Everything that you do."<ref name="FOXinterview" />{{Citation broken|date=January 2016}} Broaddrick says she felt nauseated and left the gathering. Broaddrick says she interpreted the incident as Mrs. Clinton thanking her for keeping quiet.<ref name="FOXinterview" />{{Citation broken|date=January 2016}}

In 1984, Broaddrick's nursing facility was adjudged the best in the state, which brought a congratulatory official letter from the governor. On the bottom was a handwritten note from Clinton, saying, "I admire you very much."<ref name=WSJ>''Wall Street Journal'': [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB919379691540145000.html Juanita Broaddrick Meets the Press]. February 19, 1999.</ref> Broaddrick said that in 1991, Clinton called her out of a state nursing standards meeting to try to apologize. In response to his apologies, as she told ''[[The Washington Post]]'', "I told him to go to hell, and I walked off".<ref name=WashingtonPost-Feb25-1999>Kurtz, Howard (February 25, 1999). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/broaddrick022599.htm "Clinton Accuser's Story Aired"]. ''[[Washington Post]]''. p. A15.</ref> Darden also attended the meeting, and said she saw Broaddrick talking to Clinton in the hallway.<ref name="NBCinterview" /> Clinton announced his 1992 presidential campaign soon after the alleged interaction.

Clinton's attorney, [[David E. Kendall|David Kendall]], denied the allegations on Clinton's behalf. Clinton refused to comment on the issue.<ref name="Observer" />

===Road to public disclosure===
Though Broaddrick was very resistant to talking to the media, rumors about her story began circulating no later than Clinton’s presidental bid in 1992.<ref name="NYT" /> Broaddrick had confided in Phillip Yoakum, whom she knew from business circles and at the time considered a friend. When Clinton won the Democratic nomination, Yoakum, widely considered to have a [[U.S. Republican Party|Republican]] agenda,<ref name="NYT" /> contacted Sheffield Nelson, Clinton’s opponent in the 1990 gubernatorial race. Yoakum arranged a meeting between Nelson and Broaddrick, who resisted Yoakum's and Nelson’s push that she go public.<ref name=WPbaker>Baker, Peter, and Romano, Lois. (February 20, 1999). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/janedoe022099.htm "Another Clinton Accuser Goes Public"]. Washington Post.</ref> Yoakum secretly taped the conversation and wrote a letter summarizing the allegations, which began to circulate within Republican circles. The story reached the ''New York Times'' and the ''[[LA Times]]'' in October 1992, but the papers dropped the story after Broaddrick refused to talk to reporters and Yoakum refused to release the recording.<ref name="NYT" />

In the fall of 1997, Paula Jones’s private investigators tried to talk to Broaddrick at her home, also secretly taping the conversation.<ref name=Observer>Weiss, Philip. (April 19, 1999). [http://observer.com/1999/04/nbcs-vetting-of-juanita-broaddrick-clintons-accuser-discusses-agonizing-weeks-as-nbc-dragged-it-out/ "NBC’s Vetting of Juanita Broaddrick: Clinton’s Accuser Discusses Agonizing Weeks as NBC Dragged It Out"]. New York Observer.</ref> Broaddrick refused to discuss the incident, saying “it was just a horrible horrible thing,” and that she “wouldn’t relive it for anything.”<ref name=Lambert>[http://www.mega.nu/ampp/toobin_leaks/5.pdf transcript of conversation] recorded by Rick Lambert</ref> The investigators told her she would likely be subpoenaed if she would not talk to them. Broaddrick said she would deny everything, saying “you can’t get to him, and I’m not going to ruin my good name to do it… there’s just absolutely no way anyone can get to him, he’s just too vicious.”<ref name="Lambert" /> Broaddrick was subpoenaed in the Jones suit soon after and submitted an affidavit denying that Clinton had made “any sexual advances”.<ref name="affidavit" /> The recording of Broaddrick’s conversation with the investigators was leaked to the press, but Broaddrick continued to refuse to speak to reporters.<ref name="Observer" />

Despite Broaddrick’s denial in her affidavit, Jones’ lawyers included Yoakum’s letter and Broaddrick's name in a 1998 filing.<ref name="Observer" /> The letter suggested that the Clintons had bought Broaddrick’s silence, describing a phone call where Broaddrick’s husband asked Yoakum to say the incident never happened and said that he intended to ask Clinton “for a couple of big favors.”<ref name=Yoakumletter>Yoakum's letter regarding "Jane Doe #5" [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/lettertext122398.htm was posted by the ''Washington Post''] on December 23, 1998.</ref> This, along with the discrepancy between the letter and Broaddrick’s affidavit, attracted the attention of independent counsel [[Kenneth Starr]], who was investigating Clinton for obstruction of justice. After being approached by the FBI, Broaddrick consulted her son, a lawyer, who told her she could not lie to federal investigators.<ref name="NYT" /> After they promised her she would not be prosecuted for perjury regarding her affidavit in the Jones case, Broaddrick recanted the affadavit. However, she insisted that Clinton had not pressured or bribed her in any way, and so Starr concluded that the story was not relevant to his investigation and his report only mentioned the recanting in a footnote.<ref name="WPbaker" />

Rumors continued to circulate in tabloids and on talk radio, now with Broaddrick's name attached.<ref name="Observer" /> Broaddrick was upset by a tabloid report that she had been paid to keep quiet, and decided to agree to an interview with NBC's [[Lisa Myers]]. Myers interviewed her on January 20, 1999, the day after [[Impeachment and acquittal of Bill Clinton|Clinton was impeached]]. The interview only aired on February 24, 1999, 35 days later and after Clinton had been acquitted. NBC was accused of intentionally sitting on the story and invoking unusually demanding standards of corroboration until the impeachment process ended.<ref name="Observer" /> Broaddrick and another source said NBC gathered the key corroborating evidence within 10 days of the interview, NBC assistant producer Chris Giglio said it may have taken him 14 days—in either case, while the impeachment process was ongoing.<ref name="Observer" /> Though the story was unaired, at least one Republican senator reportedly invoked it to convince undecided Republicans to vote for impeachment.<ref name="NYT" />

While NBC waited to air the interview, Broaddrick was approached by [[Dorothy Rabinowitz]], who wrote for the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' editorial page. Upset with NBC's delay, Broaddrick agreed to speak with Rabinowitz, and the story debuted on the Wall Street Journal's editorial page on February 19.<ref name=WallStreetJournal>Editorial Commentary, Dorothy Rabinowitz; February 19, 1999; Page A18.</ref> NBC aired Myers' interview soon after.

===Public and press reactions===
Because of the time since the alleged incident and the nature of acquaintance rape cases, there was limited corroborating evidence and so the allegations rested on Broaddrick's testimony. Because she had filed and then recanted an affidavit saying there was no assault, some thought she was not credible.<ref name="Slate" /> [[Joe Conason]] and [[Gene Lyons]]' book ''[[The Hunting of the President]]'' argued that Broaddrick's claim is not credible. [[Michael Isikoff]]'s book, ''Uncovering Clinton'', and [[Christopher Hitchens]]' book, ''No One Left to Lie To'', argued that Broaddrick's claim is credible and shows similarities to [[Paula Jones]]' later allegation of sexual harassment.

It was suggested the five people that said Broaddrick had confided in them soon after the incident could be lying.<ref name="Slate" /> Rogers and Darden had an independent reason to dislike Clinton: as they notified NBC, Clinton had commuted the life sentence of the man who killed their father.<ref name="NBCinterview" /> [[Slate|Slate Explainer]] proposes that they may have a grudge against Clinton. Even if the confidants were telling the truth, skeptics noted that Broaddrick could have been lying when she originally confided in them.<ref name="Slate" />

Some details in Broaddrick's account corresponded with other women's allegations. In an interview that emerged after Broaddrick's allegations, [[Elizabeth Gracen]] said that Clinton got carried away and bit her lip during a consensual encounter that became rough.<ref>Isikoff, Michael (May 30, 2000). ''Uncovering Clinton.'' Three Rivers Press. p. 256</ref> Broaddrick said that after the assault, Clinton told her not to worry about pregnancy because childhood [[mumps]] had rendered him sterile.<ref name="WallStreetJournal" /> When contacted about the issue, [[Gennifer Flowers]], who Clinton admitted to a sexual encounter with, agreed that Clinton had thought he couldn't have children.<ref>The Weekly Standard. (February 20, 1999). [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Protected/Articles/000/000/010/352lwsba.asp "A Case of the Mumps?"].</ref>

In March 1999, a few months after the allegations publicly aired, 56% of Americans believed the allegations were false, while a third believed that Broaddrick's allegation of rape was at least possibly true. Similarly, 29% of the public felt the press should continue to cover the story, while 66% felt that the media should stop pursuing the story.<ref name=CNNPoll0301-1999>Holland, Keating (March 1, 1999). [http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/03/01/poll/ "Poll: Most believe media should lay off Broaddrick allegation"]. CNN.</ref>

The public and media had "scandal fatigue" from the [[Sexual misconduct allegations against Bill Clinton|repeated sexual misconduct allegations against Clinton]] and, after his impeachment and acquittal, many felt the charges had nowhere to go.<ref name=WPweary>Kurtz, Howard (March 1, 1999). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1999/03/01/no-rest-for-the-scandal-weary/81fd7680-4339-4348-9a0e-ef43d65487a6/ "No Rest for the Scandal-Weary"]. ''Washington Post''.</ref> Many reporters had encountered the story while it was being disseminated by Republican activists and felt they had already looked into it.<ref name=Salon-0220-1999>Walsh, Joan (February 20, 1999). [https://www.salon.com/1999/02/20/cov_20news_2/ "THE UGLIEST STORY YET"]. ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]''.</ref> Jack Nelson, Washington bureau chief of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', said "This is a story that's been knocked down and discredited so many times ... [E]veryone's taken a slice of it, and after looking at it, everyone's knocked it down. The woman has changed her story about whether it happened. It just wasn't credible."<ref name="Salon-0220-1999" /> Broaddrick had refused to speak to reporters before Myers and Rabinowitz.

Julia Malone, a [[Cox Communications]] reporter, became frustrated by what she perceived as media neglect of the story and held a National Press Club held a panel on the issue entitled “Too Hot for a ‘Scandal-Weary’ New Media to Handle?"<ref name="Observer" /> [[ABC News|ABC News's]] [[Sam Donaldson]] said he was frustrated over his fellow reporters' unwillingness to press Clinton to respond to the allegations: Clinton refused to comment when Donaldson asked about the allegations, and no one else would press the issue.<ref name="Observer" />

==Aftermath==
Broaddrick filed a lawsuit against Clinton in the summer of 1999, to obtain documents which the [[White House]] may have gathered about her, claiming its refusal to accede to her demand for such documents violated the [[Privacy Act of 1974]]. During that time, Broaddrick's business was audited by the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] which she charged was retaliation: "I do not believe this was coincidence," Broaddrick declared, "I do not think our number just came up."<ref>''Their Lives: The Women Targeted by the Clinton Machine''. World Ahead Publishing, 2005. ISBN 9780974670133 p. 241.</ref>

No legal action, [[Civil law (common law)|civil]] or [[Criminal law|criminal]], was taken against Clinton or Broaddrick based on the allegation and the case was dismissed in 2001.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broaddrick, Juanita}}
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Arkansas]]
[[Category:American nursing administrators]]
[[Category:Clinton administration controversies]]

User talk:BoboMeowCat

2016-01-13T05:30:17Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Happy New Year! */ thanks :)

{{Archives|auto=yes|search=yes}}
== By way of explanation ==

See [[Talk:Sex-selective_abortion#Edit_Warring_Over_Categories]] and [[User_talk:7157.118.25a#1RR_violation]]. Binksternet is edit warring to remove the Abortion debate tag from multiple articles and trying to get me to violate the 1RR rule. Binkster was disproved by 20+ sources showing their argument that sex-selective abortion is not part of the abortion debate is stupid, and continues to remove the Abortion debate tag from multiple articles. --[[User:7157.118.25a|7157.118.25a]] ([[User talk:7157.118.25a|talk]]) 18:01, 19 January 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:7157.118.25a|7157.118.25a]], thanks for explanation. I was surprised to see an edit war pop up on [[David M. Fergusson]] considering it seems such a low traffic article. I opened a talk page discussion. It's good that you self-reverted. I've noticed a POV bias regarding who gets blocked or sanctioned on abortion related pages, so please be vigilant to avoid any and all violations of any policies, even minor things like using the word "stupid" when faced with ridiculous seeming talk page exchanges could be called violation of [[WP:CIVIL]], so try to remain polite, even when it gets ridiculous. Thanks for trying to improve WP. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 19:02, 19 January 2015 (UTC)
::Yeah, Binksternet did that because I pointed out most pages in the Abortion debate category don't specifically mention the abortion debate, in arguing that his standard made no sense; which led to him edit warring on those pages as well to remove the category from them also.[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Sex-selective_abortion&diff=next&oldid=643166521] Appreciate the advice though, there is a need for caution in tone given the bias that exists. --[[User:7157.118.25a|7157.118.25a]] ([[User talk:7157.118.25a|talk]]) 19:14, 19 January 2015 (UTC)
::It's gotten so out of hand that I am just taking the dispute with Binkster to AN/I. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators%27_noticeboard/Edit_warring#User:Binksternet_reported_by_User:7157.118.25a] Discussion really seems to be counterproductive with Binkster. --[[User:7157.118.25a|7157.118.25a]] ([[User talk:7157.118.25a|talk]]) 19:16, 19 January 2015 (UTC)

== A kitten for you! ==

[[File:Kitten-stare.jpg|left|150px]]
Cheer up, dude! :)

[[User:MaranoFan| '''MaRAno''''']] [[User talk:MaranoFan| FAN]] 07:08, 20 January 2015 (UTC)
 

== suggestions for edit on Emma Sulkowicz ==

New information hinting that her accusation is not as credible as originally was. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/03/columbia-student-i-didn-t-rape-her.html

The messages come in the form of amiable facebook messages that breaks her original narrative. She has refused to officially comment on the messages and explain their context. — Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Itmad2015|Itmad2015]] ([[User talk:Itmad2015|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Itmad2015|contribs]]) 19:37, 4 February 2015 (UTC) 
:[[User:Itmad2015|Itmad2015]], this reference is already used in the current version of the article. The current article mentions the seemingly friendly fb messages. If you have other suggestions regarding this source, maybe bring them up on [[talk:Emma Sulkowicz]]. Also, there is currently a discussion regarding moving the page to "Mattress Performance: Carry That Weight" because it's not really a biography. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 16:55, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

== A kitten for you! ==

[[File:Red Kitten 01.jpg|left|150px]]
Seems you had a rough start - but it looks like you're going to fit in just fine. Don't get discouraged - we all have bad days here. Best of luck, and happy editing.

— [[User:Ched|Ched]] : [[User_talk:Ched| ? ]] 23:29, 12 February 2015 (UTC)
 

== Mattress Performance ==

I'm sorry about the situation there. I'm just feeling increasingly uncomfortable that we're publishing those allegations. [[User:SlimVirgin|Sarah (SV)]] [[User_talk:SlimVirgin|(talk)]] 03:55, 2 March 2015 (UTC)

== Greetings ==

Hi, sorry I have not yet edited on the [[Campus Accountability and Safety Act]] page we had discussed about a month ago. My partner is laid up in the hospital so editing has been sporadic. Thank you for creating it. I will contribute to improving any page dealing with the topic, as I have in the past with several related articles. Ping me if needed. I agree eyes do need to be watching carefully for POV-pushers inserting misinformation in any article on this topic, such as what happened (and may still be ongoing) in the [[Campus rape|campus rape]] article. [[User:Ongepotchket|Ongepotchket]] ([[User talk:Ongepotchket|talk]]) 22:14, 8 March 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:Ongepotchket|Ongepotchket]], I'm sorry to hear about your partner. I hope they are feeling better. I actually didn't create the [[Campus Accountability and Safety Act]] article, I created [[Campus Safety and Accountability Act]] (the press oddly describes it both ways) but my stub was deleted and redirected the existing article. I think that article needs work, but haven't had time. I can imagine that [[Campus rape]] is a POV-nightmare, considering [[Mattress Performance (Carry That Weight)]] seems to be drifting further and further away from neutral as those with strong POV against Sulkowicz seem to have dominated the editing lately, but i haven't had the energy or time to attempt to balance it lately. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 19:46, 31 March 2015 (UTC)

== A kitten for you! ==

[[File:Youngkitten.JPG|left|150px]]
Here kitty, kitty...where are you kitty, kitty? I always wondered why WP had user sandboxes. {{P|smile}}

[[User:Atsme|Atsme]]☯[[User talk:Atsme|Consult]] 04:19, 18 April 2015 (UTC)
 

== Thanks for posting news article ==

Just a quick thanks for posting the News article[http://www.newsweek.com/2015/04/03/manipulating-wikipedia-promote-bogus-business-school-316133.html] in the discussion on astroturfing. It should be made essential reading for all editors and perhaps even readers of Wikipedia.__[[User:DrChrissy|DrChrissy]] ([[User talk:DrChrissy|talk]]) 11:19, 20 April 2015 (UTC)

== apology ==

I apologize for screwing up your explanation of the vote. I was trying to move a lengthy discussion into the discussion section, but did so poorly. [[User:Formerly 98|Formerly 98]] [[User talk:Formerly 98|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Formerly 98|contribs]]|[[User:Formerly 98#Statement of Compliance with Wikipedia's Conflict of Interest Guideline|COI statement]] 15:16, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

== Flowery Language in [[Mattress Performance (Carry That Weight)]] ==

I just wanted to be clear, I'm legitimately thankful, The only reason I used that turn of phrase is because I wanted to make sure I wasn't committing a copyvio by being too close to the source material. But your wording is better.--[[User:Shibbolethink|Shibbolethink]] ([[User talk:Shibbolethink|♔]] [[Special:Contributions/Shibbolethink|♕]]) 01:55, 27 April 2015 (UTC)

== Nungeßer ==
See his mother's name and the articel [[ß]].--[[User:Cyve|Cyve]] ([[User talk:Cyve|talk]]) 13:14, 27 April 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:Cyve|Cyve]], zero English language sources have spelled name that way, and you are also attempting to restructure the section headers without any discussion. Worst of all, you are currently in violation of [[wp:3rr]]. Please self revert, or I'll file at [[wp:AN3]].--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 13:17, 27 April 2015 (UTC)
::I don't think he's going to listen, just take it to AN3.--[[User:Shibbolethink|Shibbolethink]] ([[User talk:Shibbolethink|♔]] [[Special:Contributions/Shibbolethink|♕]]) 15:04, 27 April 2015 (UTC)
:::He's definitely being disruptive and is over 3rr, but at least this edit didn't change the spelling of all of the names this time, and what he added from the lawsuit in his most recent revert might be correct [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mattress_Performance_%28Carry_That_Weight%29&diff=659501217&oldid=659500877]. [[User:Cyve|Cyve]] really should be getting consensus before continuing to revert, but I'm not going to file yet because I hate those boards and hopefully he will stop at that edit, but I will support report if you file it [[User:Shibbolethink]].--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 15:10, 27 April 2015 (UTC)
::::Yeah, after looking at how it is now, I think it's fair to include the Eszett in his "given name" parenthetical. I mean why not, it encourages people to learn about german culture, and it doesn't really affect readability or googleability of the article. Pragmatism! Hopefully everyone else agrees and this little editwar can be over :P --[[User:Shibbolethink|Shibbolethink]] ([[User talk:Shibbolethink|♔]] [[Special:Contributions/Shibbolethink|♕]]) 15:12, 27 April 2015 (UTC)
Why should we discuss. He is simply Paul Jonathan Nungeßer from Berlin. There is no "name transliterration" from German to English, it's not Russian. Greetings from Germany. --[[User:Cyve|Cyve]] ([[User talk:Cyve|talk]]) 15:16, 27 April 2015 (UTC)\
:[[User:Cyve|Cyve]] this would probably be considered original research, if the legal document you are referencing doesn't spell it that way. [[User:Shibbolethink|Shibbolethink]], I'm kind of distracted with real life right now, so if he keeps on aggressively reverting and won't discuss this should probably be filed at AN3. It appears he's also been warned about edit warring by [[User:Mr. Granger]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_talk:Mr._Granger#Paul_Nunge.C3.9Fer].--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 15:21, 27 April 2015 (UTC)
:I mean, after coming to the US, he's clearly decided to transliterate it, as every name he's given in every interview in a WP:RS has not included the Eszett. It makes sense to keep it untransliterated in the parenthetical, let's just leave it at that.--[[User:Shibbolethink|Shibbolethink]] ([[User talk:Shibbolethink|♔]] [[Special:Contributions/Shibbolethink|♕]]) 15:23, 27 April 2015 (UTC)

== Sorry ==
I apologize for being disruptive (saw it on the edit log). I'm new to editing wikipedia. Long-time reader. It was not intentional, thanks for pointing out that rule.
Hope we can work out something regarding the NPOV.
[[User:NPOV Ninja|NPOV Ninja]] ([[User talk:NPOV Ninja|talk]]) 00:59, 3 May 2015 (UTC)

== Meghan's discography ==
Hi Bobo, Winkelvi is trying to get the article unstable again, the best thing to do is to not revert him. [[User:MaranoFan|All About That Bass]] ([[User talk:MaranoFan|A word??]] / [[Special:Contributions/MaranoFan|Stalking not allowed...]]) 14:47, 3 May 2015 (UTC)

== A barnstar for you! ==

{| style="border: 1px solid #999999; background-color: #FFFFFF}; width:100%;"
|rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;" | {{#ifeq:alt|alt|[[File:Socratic Barnstar Hires.png|100px]]|[[File:Socratic Barnstar.png|100px]]}}
|rowspan="2" |
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 0; vertical-align: middle; height: 1.1em; color:#9D741A; font-family:Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica;" | '''The Socratic Barnstar'''
|-
|style="vertical-align: middle; border-top: 1px solid gray;" | For putting up with everything that has happened regarding [[Mattress_Performance_(Carry_That_Weight)|Mattress Performance (Carry That Weight)]], putting up good arguments and not losing your cool about it (as I imagine many others would!) - [[User:RatRat|RatRat]]- [[User_talk:RatRat|Talk]]    02:23, 4 May 2015 (UTC)
|}
:Thanks [[User:RatRat|RatRat]] :) That article was insane today!--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 02:56, 4 May 2015 (UTC)
==Orphaned non-free image File:Casey J - The Truth.jpeg==
'''[[Image:Ambox warning blue.svg|35px|left|⚠|link=]]''' Thanks for uploading '''[[:File:Casey J - The Truth.jpeg]]'''. The image description page currently specifies that the image is non-free and may only be used on Wikipedia under a [[WP:FU|claim of fair use]]. However, the image is currently not used in any articles on Wikipedia. If the image was previously in an article, please go to the article and see why it was removed. You may add it back if you think that that will be useful. However, please note that images for which a replacement could be created are not acceptable for use on Wikipedia (see [[Wikipedia:Non-free content#Policy|our policy for non-free media]]).

Note that any non-free images not used in any '''articles''' will be deleted after seven days, as described in the [[wikipedia:Criteria for speedy deletion#F5|criteria for speedy deletion]]. Thank you. --[[User:B-bot|B-bot]] ([[User talk:B-bot|talk]]) 17:13, 6 May 2015 (UTC)

== thanks ==

Just a quick note to say thank you for your contribution at ANI.DrChrissy [[User talk:DrChrissy|(talk)]] 21:45, 14 May 2015 (UTC)

==Where do I request a kitten==
Though allergic, the stress of this place demands something. Cheers, Le Prof [[User:Leprof 7272|Leprof 7272]] ([[User talk:Leprof 7272|talk]]) 05:52, 16 May 2015 (UTC)

== Thanks for fixing the Josh Duggar page! ==

you actually beat me to it by a few seconds lol[[Special:Contributions/76.7.5.182|76.7.5.182]] ([[User talk:76.7.5.182|talk]]) 23:30, 4 June 2015 (UTC)

== Mattress ==

Hi Bobo, hope you don't mind me asking this here, but I'm starting to find that talk page disturbing. It's [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mattress_Performance_%28Carry_That_Weight%29&type=revision&diff=665752435&oldid=665748264 this edit]. It's something people are going to continue wondering, i.e. who the other party was, and that newspaper has been the most detailed source for much of this situation. [[User:SlimVirgin|Sarah (SV)]] [[User_talk:SlimVirgin|(talk)]] 16:24, 6 June 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:SlimVirgin|Sarah (SV)]], maybe we should add "anonymous actor", which is supported by reliable sources, so in case people are wondering, they will know it's an actor, but per BLP, I really think we need a better source before we say Sulkowciz had what appears to be unprotected sex in that video with a guy Lawson apparently found on a fetish website to act out the rapist role. While that might be true, because the Columbia Spectator has tended to get correct info on this case, I don't really feel comfortable sourcing something like that to only a student newspaper. Also, I kind of think it's undue to get into the casting of a separate performance art piece in the main Mattress Performance article, but if art critics start weighting in, we might have enough sources to start a break away article soon for the new piece, where all those details about casting etc would seem very on topic.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 17:21, 6 June 2015 (UTC)
::[[User:SlimVirgin|Sarah (SV)]] Add- I tweaked it to "anonymous actor". It does seem important to stress this is an actor. In case those familiar with the video, but not really paying attention to her disclaimer, assume this is the accused student, especially given that Sulkowicz timestamps the video with the date of the alleged sexual assault. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 18:12, 6 June 2015 (UTC)

:::Okay, thanks. I won't restore the other thing for now, though I think the source (the director) is authoritative for that issue, as he seems to have helped to find the actor. But I take your point. [[User:SlimVirgin|Sarah (SV)]] [[User_talk:SlimVirgin|(talk)]] 18:54, 6 June 2015 (UTC)

== You done good on [[Josh Duggar]] ==

I know that popular opinion is that Josh Duggar is a paedophile, rapist, child molester, etc, but Wikipedia isn't about what is popular, and in cases of BLP we need to err on the side of protecting the living person. Since he wasn't charged with anything, let alone found guilty of anything, we can't say that he did anything more than what he has admitted himself to doing, which is that he molested 5 girls, 4 of whom were his sisters, the other being a babysitter. Had any of the victims said anything to the contrary, we could have included that too, but to date all of the victims who have come forward have agreed with him. While we can debate personally whether they might be "brainwashed" or coerced into it in some way, because they are his sisters, and that has some merit, we are treading on some seriously dangerous water by speculating on things that may not be true.

But anyway, though I suspect that you disagree with my perspective on the whole issue, I think that you did well in how you finished up displaying it.

While popular media has tended to avoid the decision by Judge Stacey Zimmerman, which ordered that all copies of the police report be destroyed, the fact is that that is a legally binding decision. And Wikipedia cannot have a copy of that police report. We can't reference to it either. If, in the future, another court order is made that says that they can be displayed, then we can, but we have to be very careful.

Not just because of the laws surrounding this, but also in relation to protecting the identities of people.

It is becoming a major debate right now as to whether juveniles are protected at all, and I suspect that soon that will be the major element of this, not about trying to determine just how bad Josh Duggar's offences were. But I am happy if we wait before diverting discussion to being about that. Wait a week and it probably will be all that anyone is talking about, I suspect. [[User:Mister Sneeze A Lot|Mister Sneeze A Lot]] ([[User talk:Mister Sneeze A Lot|talk]]) 13:34, 7 June 2015 (UTC)

:[[User:Mister Sneeze A Lot|Mister Sneeze A Lot]], thanks. I agree it's a complicated issue, but I'm not sure setting up a separate section header as you did regarding the legality of it and its impact on the girls is a good idea at this point. I'm concerned such a section will only serve to invite non-authoritative quotes from tons of op-eds regarding the legality and also quotes calling the girls "brainwashed", which I'm hoping we can keep out of the article because diagnosis per op-ed is a BLP concern.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 13:59, 7 June 2015 (UTC)

== Image query ==

Hi Bobo, there's something I'd like to ask you about an image, but it's better not to do it on talk, so I've sent you an email. Thanks for your comment, by the way. [[User:SlimVirgin|Sarah (SV)]] [[User_talk:SlimVirgin|(talk)]] 21:58, 7 June 2015 (UTC)

== FYI - Pings ==

Pings won't work if you add them the to post after. A ping and a new signature must appear in the same single edit. --[[User:NeilN|NeilN]] [[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]] 05:28, 10 June 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:NeilN|NeilN]], thanks for the info. If I edit my comment to delete my signature and then resign, will that work, or do I need to add a new comment to ping after the fact?--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 05:31, 10 June 2015 (UTC)
::See [[Wikipedia_talk:Notifications/Archive_6#Linking_and_signing]]: "Re-signing your post isn't enough if the re-sign merely overwrites the original signature. A signature needed to be added in the same post that the link is added; so yes, you can post a ping underneath with a second signature. Alternatively, you can revert your post and re-add it with the link in place that had been omitted first time..." If I mess up I usually delete my post, save, and re-add or I add something like {{u|ExampleUser1}} Missed ping --[[User:NeilN|NeilN]] [[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]] 05:41, 10 June 2015 (UTC) at the end. --[[User:NeilN|NeilN]] [[User talk:NeilN|talk to me]] 05:41, 10 June 2015 (UTC)
== Reference errors on 10 June ==

[[File:Information.svg|25px|alt=|link=]] Hello, I'm [[User:ReferenceBot|ReferenceBot]]. I have '''automatically detected''' that an edit performed by you may have introduced errors in referencing. {{#ifeq:1|1|It is|They are}} as follows:
*On the [[:Meghan Trainor]] page, [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?diff=666403926 your edit] caused a [[:Category:Pages_with_broken_reference_names|broken reference name]] ([[Help:Cite_errors/Cite_error_references_no_text|help]]). ([{{fullurl:Meghan Trainor|action=edit&minor=minor&summary=Fixing+reference+error+raised+by+%5B%5BUser%3AReferenceBot%7CReferenceBot%5D%5D}} Fix] | [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Help_desk&action=edit&section=new&preload=User:ReferenceBot/helpform&preloadtitle=Referencing%20errors%20on%20%5B%5BSpecial%3ADiff%2F666403926%7C{{Replace|Meghan Trainor| |%20}}%5D%5D Ask for help])
Please check this page and fix the errors highlighted. If you think this is a [[false positive]], you can [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?action=edit&preload=User:A930913/RBpreload&editintro=User:A930913/RBeditintro&minor=&title=User_talk:A930913&preloadtitle=ReferenceBot%20–%20{{subst</noinclude>:REVISIONUSER}}&section=new report it to my operator].
Thanks, [[User:ReferenceBot|ReferenceBot]] ([[User talk:ReferenceBot|talk]]) 00:25, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

== Canvassing ==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:Sergecross73&diff=prev&oldid=666404081 This] looks like canvassing to me. I think others would agree. Lips Are Movin and I are working things out, cooperating with each other, and trying to create a productive editing environment. I've been very clear in my comments that I'm fine with others adding their thoughts on the content issues I saw. But you seem hell-bent on creating more drama and trying to shift things in a direction that feels comfortable for you, in spite of what's happening at the article talk page. Why is that? Why can't you just join in and comment and add your own two-cents instead of trying to tip the scales? I seriously don't get you. -- [[User:Winkelvi|WV]] ● [[User_talk:Winkelvi|✉]] [[Special:Contributions/Winkelvi|✓]] 03:52, 11 June 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:Winkelvi|Winkelvi]], I started [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Meghan_Trainor#start_smaller this] discussion yesterday regarding adding back the early life section, because I think it's more productive to work on much less at a time and Lips Are Movin agreed (11,000 characters is a lot, and it seems like too much to debate productively at one time on talk page). You never objected until now, despite being pinged and active on page. I also incorporated suggestions from your comments/concerns. I do not believe that brief message was canvassing. He's an experienced editor who has been active on that page in past, and most importantly, he has expressed neutrality regarding past length/bloat/fancruft concerns, acknowledging issues on both sides. He's also an admin, so I would think he'd let me know if it was against policy, but I've read WP:Canvassing and I don't see where it was.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 04:37, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

::Aside from the canvassing, there is also the issue of you stirring the pot. You asked someone to step in, when it is no longer necessary. NeilN was already taking care of the issue, both Lips and myself are working together, but it seems to me that isn't enough for you and I have to wonder why. It's as if you are trying to undermine the progress that's occurred and will hopefully continue to occur. -- [[User:Winkelvi|WV]] ● [[User_talk:Winkelvi|✉]] [[Special:Contributions/Winkelvi|✓]] 05:42, 11 June 2015 (UTC)
:::[[User:Winkelvi|Winkelvi]], I think you may have misinterpreted my motivations. I’m just interested in editor retention and reducing battleground. I think some of the problems on Trainor articles are related to the fact that Trainor’s fanbase tends to be very young. I agree there have been fancruft issues in past, but I also think it’s a problem for Wikipedia, if these editors keep leaving in frustration. Only fans seem motivated enough to read the reliable sources needed create a comprehensive article on a recording artist. Personally, I’m not going to spend my free time reading all about Meghan Trainor’s early life, and I’d be willing to guess you are in the same boat here :) Basically, I just want to work with editors who appear to be editing in good faith, and hopefully incorporate some of their relevant sourced content in an encyclopedic way to improve these articles. I do appreciate your efforts to work collaboratively with Lips Are Movin and also your recent collaborative contributions to the talk page [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Meghan_Trainor&diff=666502971&oldid=666501584] and article. Thanks, and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with you on the talk page and article.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 18:40, 12 June 2015 (UTC)

== Nomination of [[:Women's rights in 2014]] for deletion ==
<div class="floatleft" style="margin-bottom:0">[[File:Ambox warning orange.svg|48px|alt=|link=]]</div>A discussion is taking place as to whether the article '''[[:Women's rights in 2014]]''' is suitable for inclusion in Wikipedia according to [[Wikipedia:List of policies and guidelines|Wikipedia's policies and guidelines]] or whether it should be [[Wikipedia:Deletion policy|deleted]].

The article will be discussed at [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Women's_rights_in_2014 ]] until a consensus is reached, and anyone is welcome to contribute to the discussion. The nomination will explain the policies and guidelines which are of concern. The discussion focuses on high-quality evidence and our policies and guidelines.

Users may edit the article during the discussion, including to improve the article to address concerns raised in the discussion. However, do not remove the article-for-deletion notice from the top of the article. — Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Abaget|Abaget]] ([[User talk:Abaget|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Abaget|contribs]]) 12:52, 17 June 2015 (UTC) 
:[[User:Abaget|Abaget]], Thanks for the notification. It's standard to notify article creator regarding nomination for deletion, but I'm not the article creator. The article was created as a collaborative effort of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Countering systemic bias/Gender gap task force]]. Placed notification of deletion nomination on wikiproject talk page.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 16:34, 17 June 2015 (UTC)

== Discretionary sanctions relevant to Mattress Performance ==

{{Ivm|2=''This message contains important information about an administrative situation on Wikipedia. It does '''not''' imply any misconduct regarding your own contributions to date.''

'''Please carefully read this information:'''

The Arbitration Committee has authorised [[Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Discretionary sanctions|discretionary sanctions]] to be used for pages regarding all edits about, and all pages related to, (a) GamerGate, (b) any gender-related dispute or controversy, (c) people associated with (a) or (b), all broadly construed, a topic which you have edited. The Committee's decision is [[Wikipedia:Arbitration/Requests/Case/GamerGate|here]].

Discretionary sanctions is a system of conduct regulation designed to minimize disruption to controversial topics. This means [[WP:INVOLVED|uninvolved]] administrators can impose sanctions for edits relating to the topic that do not adhere to the [[Wikipedia:Five pillars|purpose of Wikipedia]], our [[:Category:Wikipedia conduct policies|standards of behavior]], or relevant [[Wikipedia:List of policies|policies]]. Administrators may impose sanctions such as [[Wikipedia:Editing restrictions#Types of restrictions|editing restrictions]], [[Wikipedia:Banning policy#Types of bans|bans]], or [[WP:Blocking policy|blocks]]. This message is to notify you sanctions are authorised for the topic you are editing. Before continuing to edit this topic, please familiarise yourself with the discretionary sanctions system. Don't hesitate to contact me or another editor if you have any questions.
}}{{Z33}}
{{Ivm|2=''This message contains important information about an administrative situation on Wikipedia. It does '''not''' imply any misconduct regarding your own contributions to date.''

'''Please carefully read this information:'''

The Arbitration Committee has authorised [[Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Discretionary sanctions|discretionary sanctions]] to be used for pages regarding living or recently deceased people, and edits relating to the subject (living or recently deceased) of such biographical articles, a topic which you have edited. The Committee's decision is [[Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/Editing of Biographies of Living Persons|here]].

Discretionary sanctions is a system of conduct regulation designed to minimize disruption to controversial topics. This means [[WP:INVOLVED|uninvolved]] administrators can impose sanctions for edits relating to the topic that do not adhere to the [[Wikipedia:Five pillars|purpose of Wikipedia]], our [[:Category:Wikipedia conduct policies|standards of behavior]], or relevant [[Wikipedia:List of policies|policies]]. Administrators may impose sanctions such as [[Wikipedia:Editing restrictions#Types of restrictions|editing restrictions]], [[Wikipedia:Banning policy#Types of bans|bans]], or [[WP:Blocking policy|blocks]]. This message is to notify you sanctions are authorised for the topic you are editing. Before continuing to edit this topic, please familiarise yourself with the discretionary sanctions system. Don't hesitate to contact me or another editor if you have any questions.
}}{{Z33}}
I'm notifying you of discretionary sanctions pertinent to this topic because of your recent un-reversion of edits which included the accused's name in the article, and cited a legal document for a controversial claim about a living person; both of these actions were contrary to BLP policy and established consensus specific to the topic. I recognize you are doing your best to deal with a fraught issue and I apologize if this comes across as unfriendly. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 20:57, 20 July 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]], my edit did not include the accused student's name. The edit, which I explained on talk page removed a BLP violation which inaccurately stated in Wikipedia's voice that Columbia's lawyers agreed with the lawyers for the accused that Sulkowicz made "false allegations", when they did not agree she made false allegations. They agreed: "that Ms. Sulkowicz did in fact become a prominent figure in the context of sexual assault on college campuses". I see you have reinserted this BLP violation regarding the lawyers supposedly agreeing Sulkowicz made "false allegations" twice now, which seems an odd thing to do...considering you're obviously aware the article is under discretionary sanctions. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 23:54, 20 July 2015 (UTC)
::The name was in the reference title and was visible both with a mouseover and in the reflist. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 23:59, 20 July 2015 (UTC)
:::As I've responded on talk page, just redact that from the reference. A simple redaction of ref title seems a much better option than blanket reversions which restore BLP violation to article text.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 00:21, 21 July 2015 (UTC)

== Standard Offer unblock request for [[user:Technophant|Technophant]] ==

{{user5|Technophant}}

Technophant has requested an unblock under the standard offer. As one of about 60 editors who has contributed to [[User talk:Technophant]] you may have an interest in this request. Sent by [[user:PBS]] via -- [[User:MediaWiki message delivery|MediaWiki message delivery]] ([[User talk:MediaWiki message delivery|talk]]) 16:48, 18 August 2015 (UTC)


== Talk page of Editor to Mattress Performance ==

Thanks for that. What's the next step? The guy can't even spell ''drunk'' correctly on his own Talk page.--[[User:A21sauce|A21sauce]] ([[User talk:A21sauce|talk]]) 20:12, 20 August 2015 (UTC)
:::A21Sauce, that's a template and it makes a joke about being drunk while editing by misspelling drunk, "druck". That you you didn't get it is priceless ;)[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] ([[User talk:Mattnad|talk]]) 01:25, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
::::Another illustration of what I complained about in the first place. Go play some video games, Mattnad, and leave the adults to talk.--[[User:A21sauce|A21sauce]] ([[User talk:A21sauce|talk]]) 23:19, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
:The guy's German. And to be honest, I hope the next step is for everyone to holster their pistols and back off slowly. Hopefully you can come to some sort of compromise about attributing Paglia's contrarian tendencies without starting a litigation process. Something like "professor at UArts, known for her controversial views on gender issues." Really, it's not the biggest deal ever. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 20:45, 20 August 2015 (UTC)
::[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]], I don't really get why it's a big deal either. I'm hoping we can come to a consensus on this without too much battleground or drama because it seems a relatively minor thing. [[User:A21sauce|A21sauce]], I remember [[User:SlimVirgin|Sarah]] mentioning ArbCom as an option for ongoing issues on that page, but honestly, I'm not inclined to go there, mostly because ArbCom confuses me, and also because I'm starting to find that article exhausting again, and may seriously need a break. My main confusion is why [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] is editing the article at all, let alone contentiously, when he avoided a block for violation of 3RR by saying he would no longer edit the article at all. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators'_noticeboard/3RRArchive285#User:Mattnad_reported_by_User:BoboMeowCat_.28Result:_No_action_at_this_time.29]. Maybe we should just wait and see how he responds to inquiry on his talk page regarding this first.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 23:03, 20 August 2015 (UTC)
:::[[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] didn't say that: he said he had no plans to edit the article further. That's not inconsistent with his much later, arguably spontaneous edits. [[User:A21sauce|A21sauce]]'s allegations of subsequent edit-warring on his part were exaggerated. You don't have any case against him, just an honest content dispute - one on which I think he is wrong in this instance, even though I'm usually on his side. And with [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]] and [[User:Bus stop|Bus stop]] also expressing surprising opinions, I think this complicated minor point is not the right issue to make a last stand on. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 23:26, 20 August 2015 (UTC)
::::Sammy, I'm not really interested in a case against him, but the closing admin said he did not block Mattnad because Mattnad said he would no longer edit the article. The closing statement included: {{tq| @Mattnad: You clearly broke 3RR in this case, and it is not at all clear that the BLP exception to 3RR would apply in this case. However, given that blocks are not punitive and you have stated that you will not continue to edit this article, I don't see that it would be productive or helpful to block you from editing.}}[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators'_noticeboard/3RRArchive285#User:Mattnad_reported_by_User:BoboMeowCat_.28Result:_No_action_at_this_time.29]]. Either way, if he's decided to go back to editing there, contentious reverts honestly seem to be an odd way to start. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 23:38, 20 August 2015 (UTC)
:::::I think that was the admin's mistake. [[User:Mattnad|Mattnad]] never agreed to a topic ban. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 23:52, 20 August 2015 (UTC)
::::::I interpreted his statement's the same as the admin did, but if it was mistake, I didn't see Mattnad correct him.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 01:17, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
:::::::Yep, so can we get him blocked? It will help prevent the article from having to be under semi-protection for awhile.--[[User:A21sauce|A21sauce]] ([[User talk:A21sauce|talk]]) 23:26, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
:::::::I also noticed he took off his editing warring warning. Classic. Are you even allowed to do that?--[[User:A21sauce|A21sauce]] ([[User talk:A21sauce|talk]]) 23:44, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
::::::::Yes. --[[User:Sammy1339|Sammy1339]] ([[User talk:Sammy1339|talk]]) 23:53, 21 August 2015 (UTC)

== Carry that weight ==

I think you didn't finish your last post on the talk page. The final sentence is a fragment. [[User:Phiwum|Phiwum]] ([[User talk:Phiwum|talk]]) 16:14, 2 September 2015 (UTC)
:Thanks. Fixed it. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 20:53, 2 September 2015 (UTC)

== Domestic Violence article ==
Hi. I just restored the long term status quo to the article page, prior to it now being discussed at the reliable sources dispute resolution page. If you want to revert it again, I will not follow, as I do not want to get even close to edit warring over a source that some other editor added months ago. However you added '''no explanation''' as to why you deleted long standing referenced material from the article on the talk page? [[User:Charlotte135|Charlotte135]] ([[User talk:Charlotte135|talk]]) 03:19, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
:[[User:Charlotte135|Charlotte135]] I removed it because GandyDancer and Flyer made solid arguments on talk page that it was WP:Undue and a POV attempt to present men as primary victims of IPV when bulk of research shows opposite. I explained edit in edit summary. I may revert again, if talk page consensus continues to support removing it, but I don't have a lot of time for Wikipedia right now, and I'll chime in more fully on article talk page later.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 04:56, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
::Not what source said? However this is a significant viewpoint and '''reliably sourced, long standing edits''' should not be deleted because someone doesn't like them?[[User:Charlotte135|Charlotte135]] ([[User talk:Charlotte135|talk]]) 05:00, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
::And it was not me who added that reliably sourced, long standing edit. However like many other editors on this article page, I am seeing reliably sourced material presenting significant viewpoints being deleted, like you just did) from the article and contrary to '''Wiki policy''' of presenting "significant viewpoints," albeit in a measured manner? It makes for a very, very biased and unbalanced article indeed. Comment?[[User:Charlotte135|Charlotte135]] ([[User talk:Charlotte135|talk]]) 05:05, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
:::It wasn't removed because "I didn't like it". It was removed per WP:UNDUE and talk page consensus.--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 06:02, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
::::No one mentioned due weight of that British Psychological Society reference added by someone else months ago. You originall quoted MEDRS as an attempt to delete this reliably sourced long standing material from the article because it was a primary source. Now you say due weight? Could you explain your sudden shift of reasoning?[[User:Charlotte135|Charlotte135]] ([[User talk:Charlotte135|talk]]) 06:16, 9 November 2015 (UTC)
:::::Review talk page [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Domestic_violence#Info.2Fstudy_removed] Gandydancer wrote "it was done by one researcher who used a questionnaire to gain her information and presented as one of several lectures at the annual BPS symposium. It should not be used to refute findings of most of the research". That's pretty much the definition of WP:UNDUE. Will continue discussion on article talk page when get a chance. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 06:33, 9 November 2015 (UTC)

== [[WP:ACE2015|ArbCom elections are now open!]] ==

Hi, 
You appear to be eligible to vote in the current [[WP:ACE2015|Arbitration Committee election]]. The [[WP:ARBCOM|Arbitration Committee]] is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Wikipedia [[WP:RFAR|arbitration process]]. It has the authority to enact binding solutions for disputes between editors, primarily related to serious behavioural issues that the community has been unable to resolve. This includes the ability to impose [[WP:BAN|site bans]], [[WP:TBAN|topic bans]], editing restrictions, and other measures needed to maintain our editing environment. The [[WP:ARBPOL|arbitration policy]] describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail. If you wish to participate, you are welcome to [[WP:ACE2015/C|review the candidates' statements]] and submit your choices on [[Special:SecurePoll/vote/398|the voting page]]. For the Election committee, [[User:MediaWiki message delivery|MediaWiki message delivery]] ([[User talk:MediaWiki message delivery|talk]]) 17:05, 24 November 2015 (UTC)


== Happy New Year! ==

{| style="background-color: #fdffe7; border: 1px solid #fceb92;"
|rowspan="2" style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 5px;" | [[File:Happy new year confetti.svg|100px]]
|style="font-size: x-large; padding: 3px 3px 0 3px; height: 1.5em;" | '''Happy New Year!'''
|-
|style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 3px;" | Best wishes for a wonderful 2016! -- [[User:Winkelvi|WV]] ● [[User_talk:Winkelvi|✉]] [[Special:Contributions/Winkelvi|✓]] 23:36, 30 December 2015 (UTC)
|}
:Thanks [[User:Winkelvi|Winkelvi]]! Happy New Year to you too...I wish you all the best in 2016! --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat#top|talk]]) 05:29, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

Bill Clinton

2016-01-13T05:12:54Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Public image */ Tweak for accuracy - source cited is clear Broaddrick's allegation is for spring of 1978 but Broaddrick states she cannot recall exact date

{{Redirect|William Clinton}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{pp-semi-blp | small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates | date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox president
|name = Bill Clinton
|image = 44 Bill Clinton 3x4.jpg{{!}}border
|order = [[List of Presidents of the United States|42nd]]
|office = President of the United States
|vicepresident = [[Al Gore]]
|term_start = January 20, 1993
|term_end = January 20, 2001
|predecessor = [[George H. W. Bush]]
|successor = [[George W. Bush]]
|order1 = 40th and 42nd
|office1 = Governor of Arkansas
|lieutenant1 = {{unbulleted list|[[Winston Bryant]]|[[Jim Guy Tucker]]}}
|term_start1 = January 11, 1983
|term_end1 = December 12, 1992
|predecessor1 = [[Frank D. White]]
|successor1 = [[Jim Guy Tucker]]
|lieutenant2 = [[Joe Purcell]]
|term_start2 = January 9, 1979
|term_end2 = January 19, 1981
|predecessor2 = Joe Purcell ([[Acting (law)|acting]])
|successor2 = Frank D. White
|order3 = 50th
|office3 = Attorney General of Arkansas
|governor3 = {{unbulleted list|[[David Pryor]]|Joe Purcell (acting)}}
|term_start3 = January 3, 1977
|term_end3 = January 9, 1979
|predecessor3 = Jim Guy Tucker
|successor3 = Steve Clark
|birth_name = William Jefferson Blythe III
|birth_date = {{birth date and age | mf=yes|1946|8|19}}
|birth_place = [[Hope, Arkansas]], [[United States]]
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|profession = {{unbulleted list|[[Lawyer]]|[[Politician]]}}
|parents = {{unbulleted list|[[William Jefferson Blythe, Jr.]]|[[Virginia Clinton Kelley]]}}
|relations = See [[Clinton family]]
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Hillary Clinton|Hillary Rodham]]|October 11, 1975}}
|children = [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]]
|alma_mater = {{plain list|
*[[Georgetown University]]
*[[University College, Oxford]]
*[[Yale Law School]]
}}
|religion = [[Baptist]] (formerly [[Southern Baptist]])<ref>He was [http://www.beliefnet.com/News/Politics/2004/09/All-Of-Us-See-Through-The-Glass-Darkly.aspx raised a Southern Baptist]. (= a member of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] SBC). Clinton left the SBC due to disagreement with its conservative positions (details [[List of Southern Baptist Convention affiliated people#Ex-members|here]]). See also [[New Baptist Covenant]]</ref>
|signature = Signature of Bill Clinton.svg
|signature_alt = Cursive signature of Bill Clinton in ink
|website = {{url|clintonlibrary.gov}}
}}
{{BillClintonseries}}
'''William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton''' (born {{nowrap|'''William Jefferson Blythe III''';}} August 19, 1946) is an [[Americans|American]] politician who served as the [[List of Presidents of the United States|42nd]] [[President of the United States]] from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as [[Governor of Arkansas]] from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1992, and as the [[Arkansas Attorney General|state's Attorney General]] from 1977 to 1979. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], ideologically Clinton was a [[New Democrats|New Democrat]], and many of his policies reflected a [[centrism|centrist]] [[Third Way]] philosophy of governance.

Clinton was born and raised in [[Arkansas]], and is an alumnus of [[Georgetown University]], where he was a member of [[Kappa Kappa Psi]] and [[Phi Beta Kappa]] and earned a [[Rhodes Scholarship]] to attend the [[University of Oxford]]. He is married to [[Hillary Clinton]], who served as [[United States Secretary of State]] from 2009 to 2013 and who was a [[List of United States Senators from New York|Senator from New York]] from 2001 to 2009. Both Clintons earned [[Juris Doctor|law degrees]] from [[Yale Law School]], where they met and began dating. As [[List of Governors of Arkansas|Governor of Arkansas]], Clinton overhauled the state's education system, and served as [[Chair]] of the [[National Governors Association]].

Clinton was elected president in [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992]], defeating incumbent [[George H. W. Bush]]. At age 46, he was the [[List of Presidents of the United States by age|third-youngest president]] and the first from the [[baby boomer]] generation. Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history, and signed into law the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]]. After failing to pass [[Clinton health care plan|national health care reform]], the Democratic House was ousted when the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] [[Republican Revolution|won control]] of the [[United States Congress|Congress]] in 1994 for the first time in 40 years. Two years later, Clinton became the first Democrat since [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] to be elected president twice. He passed [[welfare reform]] and the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]], providing health coverage for millions of children. In 1998, he was [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeached]] for [[perjury]] before a [[grand jury]] and [[obstruction of justice]] during a lawsuit against him, both related to a [[Lewinsky scandal|scandal]] involving White House (and later [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]) employee [[Monica Lewinsky]]. He was acquitted by the [[U.S. Senate]] and served his complete term of office. The [[Congressional Budget Office]] reported a budget surplus between the years 1998 and 2000, the last three years of Clinton's presidency.

Clinton left office with the highest end-of-office [[approval rating]] of any U.S. president since [[World War II]]. Since then, he has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work. Clinton created the [[Clinton Foundation|William J. Clinton Foundation]] to address international causes such as the prevention of AIDS and [[global warming]]. In 2004, he published his autobiography ''[[My Life (Bill Clinton autobiography)|My Life]]''. He has remained active in politics by campaigning for Democratic candidates, including [[Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2008|his wife's campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination]], and then [[Barack Obama]]'s presidential campaigns in [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008|2008]] and [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012|2012]]. In 2009, he was named United Nations [[Special Envoy of the Secretary-General|Special Envoy]] to [[Haiti]], and after the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]] he teamed with [[George W. Bush]] to form the [[Clinton Bush Haiti Fund]]. Since leaving office, Clinton has been rated highly in [[Historical rankings of Presidents of the United States|public opinion polls of U.S. presidents]].

==Early life and career==

[[File:Bill Clinton Boyhood Home in Hope, Arkansas IMG 1515.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Clinton's boyhood home in [[Hope, Arkansas]]]]
Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946, at Julia Chester Hospital in [[Hope, Arkansas]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://homepage.eircom.net/%257Eseanjmurphy/dir/pres.htm | title=Directory of Irish Genealogy: American Presidents with Irish Ancestors | publisher=Homepage.eircom.net | date=March 23, 2004 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref><ref name="My Life" /> His father, [[William Jefferson Blythe, Jr.]] (1918–1946), was a traveling salesman who died in an automobile accident three months before Clinton was born.<ref name="whitehouse.gov bio">{{cite web | title=Biography of William J. Clinton | publisher=[[The White House]] | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjclinton | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110722104326/http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjclinton/| archivedate= July 22, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> His mother, [[Virginia Clinton Kelley|Virginia Dell]] (née Cassidy; 1923–1994), traveled to [[New Orleans]] to study nursing soon after he was born. She left Clinton in Hope with her parents Eldridge and Edith Cassidy, who owned and ran a small [[grocery store]].<ref name="My Life" /> At a time when the Southern United States was [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregated racially]], Clinton's grandparents sold goods on [[credit (finance)|credit]] to people of all races.<ref name="My Life" /> In 1950, Bill's mother returned from nursing school and married [[Roger Clinton, Sr.]], who owned an [[Car dealership|automobile dealership]] in [[Hot Springs, Arkansas]], with his brother and [[Earl T. Ricks]].<ref name="My Life">{{Cite book | last=Clinton | first=Bill | title=My Life | publisher=[[Random House]] | year=2004 | isbn=1-4000-3003-X}}</ref> The family moved to Hot Springs in 1950.

Although he immediately assumed use of his stepfather's surname, it was not until Clinton turned fifteen<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Oprah-Interviews-President-Bill-Clinton/3 | title=Oprah Talks to Bill Clinton | work=[[O, The Oprah Magazine]] | date=August 2004 | accessdate=December 18, 2011}}</ref> that he formally adopted the surname Clinton as a gesture toward his stepfather.<ref name="My Life" /> Clinton says he remembers his stepfather as a [[gambler]] and an alcoholic who regularly [[domestic violence|abused]] his mother and half-brother, [[Roger Clinton, Jr.]], to the point where he intervened multiple times with the threat of violence to protect them.<ref name="My Life" /><ref name="First In His Class">{{Cite book | last=Maraniss | first=David | title=First In His Class: A Biography Of Bill Clinton | publisher=Touchstone | year=1996 | isbn= 0-684-81890-6}}</ref>

In Hot Springs, Clinton attended St. John's Catholic Elementary School, [[Primary school|Ramble Elementary School]], and [[Hot Springs High School (Arkansas)|Hot Springs High School]] – where he was an active student leader, avid reader, and musician.<ref name="My Life" /> Clinton was in the chorus and played the [[tenor saxophone]], winning first chair in the state band's saxophone section. He briefly considered dedicating his life to music, but as he noted in his autobiography ''[[My Life (Bill Clinton autobiography)|My Life]]'':
{{quote|Sometime in my sixteenth year, I decided I wanted to be in public life as an elected official. I loved music and thought I could be very good, but I knew I would never be [[John Coltrane]] or [[Stan Getz]]. I was interested in medicine and thought I could be a fine doctor, but I knew I would never be [[Michael E. DeBakey|Michael DeBakey]]. But I knew I could be great in public service.<ref name="My Life" />}}

Clinton's interest in law also began in Hot Springs High, when in his Latin class he took up the challenge to argue the defense of the ancient [[Roman Senator]] [[Catiline]] in a mock trial.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/25/bill-clinton-facts_n_3497083.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037 | title=10 Things You Definitely Didn't Know About Bill Clinton | publisher=Huffington Post | date=June 25, 2013 | first=Jimmy | last=Soni}}</ref> After a vigorous defense that made use of his "budding rhetorical and political skills", he told the Latin teacher Elizabeth Buck that it "made him realize that someday he would study law."<ref>{{cite book | title=First In His Class: A Biography Of Bill Clinton | author=David Maraniss | year=1996 | publisher=Touchstone | page=43}}</ref>

Clinton has named two influential moments in his life that contributed to his decision to become a public figure, both occurring in 1963. One was his visit as a [[Boys Nation]] senator to the [[White House]] to meet President [[John F. Kennedy]].<ref name="My Life" /><ref name="First In His Class" /> The other was listening to [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]]'s 1963 ''[[I Have a Dream]]'' speech, which impressed him enough that he later memorized it.<ref>{{cite web | title=It All Began in a Place Called Hope (Archived whitehouse.gov Article) | publisher=[[The White House]] | url=http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/EOP/OP/html/Hope.html | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719152125/http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/EOP/OP/html/Hope.html| archivedate= July 19, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

==College and law school years==

===Georgetown University===
[[File:Clinton at Georgetown 1967.jpg|thumb|Clinton ran for President of the [[Georgetown University Student Association|Student Council]] while attending the School of Foreign Service at [[Georgetown University]].]]
With the aid of scholarships, Clinton attended the [[Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service]] at [[Georgetown University]] in Washington, D.C., receiving a [[List of tagged degrees|Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service]] (B.S.) degree in 1968. In 1964 and 1965 he won elections for [[class president]].<ref>Robert E. Levin, [https://books.google.com/books?id=63OGMhI5ISgC&pg=PR24&lpg=PR24&dq=%22bill+clinton%22+%22class+president%22+georgetown&source=bl&ots=Pd9eZhhCAh&sig=q1qtgTvEZA9lOMGPErAUbz2fkf4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=m2ujU6uaKoOSqgadzoKIBA&ved=0CH4Q6AEwDg#v=onepage&q=%22bill%20clinton%22%20%22class%20president%22%20georgetown&f=false Bill Clinton: The Inside Story], 1992, pages xxiv–xxv</ref> From 1964 to 1967 he was an intern and then a clerk in the office of Arkansas Senator [[J. William Fulbright]].<ref name="My Life" /> While in college, he became a brother of co-ed service fraternity [[Alpha Phi Omega]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.apo.org/leadershipdevelopment | title=About Leadership | accessdate=April 7, 2013 | publisher=APO.org}}</ref> and was elected to [[Phi Beta Kappa]]. Clinton was also a member of the Order of [[DeMolay International|DeMolay]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.demolay.org/aboutdemolay/halloffame_bio.php?hofid=18 | title=Bill Clinton Inducted May 1, 1988 | publisher=DeMolay | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> a youth group affiliated with Freemasonry, but he never became a [[Freemasonry|Freemason]]. He is a member of [[Kappa Kappa Psi]] honorary band fraternity.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kkpsi.org/prominentmembers.asp | title=Prominent Members | publisher=Kappa Kappa Psi | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716182330/http://www.kkpsi.org/prominentmembers.asp| archivedate= July 16, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

===Rhodes Scholar===
Upon graduation, he won a [[Rhodes Scholarship]] to [[University College, Oxford]] where he studied [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics]], though because he had switched programs and had left early for Yale University, he did not receive a degree there.<ref name="First In His Class" /><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/09/world/oxford-journal-whereas-he-is-an-old-boy-if-a-young-chief-honor-him.html | title=Oxford Journal; Whereas, He Is an Old Boy, If a Young Chief, Honor Him | last=Dowd | first=Maureen | work=The New York Times | accessdate=July 17, 2009 | date=June 9, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Hitch-22: A Memoir | author=Christopher Hitchens | chapter=Chris or Christopher? | pages=106–107 | publisher=Atlantic books | location= London, England | isbn= 978-1-843-54922-2}}</ref> He developed an interest in [[rugby union]], playing at Oxford<ref>{{cite book | title=Rugby Union for Dummies | author=Cain, Nick & Growden, Greg | chapter=21: Ten Peculiar Facts about Rugby | page=297 | edition=2 | publisher=John Wiley and Sons | location= [[Chichester]], England | isbn=978-0-470-03537-5}}</ref> and later for the Little Rock Rugby club in Arkansas.{{citation needed | date=August 2015}}

===Vietnam War opposition and draft controversy===
While at Oxford he also participated in [[Opposition to the Vietnam War|Vietnam War protests]] and organized an October 1969 [[Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam]] event.<ref name="My Life" />

Clinton received [[Vietnam War]] draft deferments during 1968 and 1969 while he was in England.<ref>Neil Hamilton, [https://books.google.com/books?id=pfbt5NXvF64C&pg=PA366&dq=bill+clinton+Presidents:+A+Biographical+Dictionary&hl=en&sa=X&ei=pwujU4nwBrbesATrnYH4BA&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=bill%20clinton%20Presidents%3A%20A%20Biographical%20Dictionary&f=false Presidents: A Biographical Dictionary], 2005, page 367</ref> Planning to attend law school in the U.S, and aware that he might lose his draft deferment, he tried unsuccessfully to obtain positions in the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] or [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], and then made arrangements to join the [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] (ROTC) program at the [[University of Arkansas]].<ref>Steven Gillon, [https://books.google.com/books?id=d-U2IzI2r5YC&printsec=frontcover&dq=steven+gillon+the+pact+gingrich+clinton&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FAyjU7TSIY3gsATL2oKwCw&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=steven%20gillon%20the%20pact%20gingrich%20clinton&f=false The Pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and the Rivalry that Defined a Generation], 2008, page 21</ref>

He subsequently decided not to join the ROTC, saying in a letter to the officer in charge of the program he had planned to join that he opposed the war, but did not think it was honorable to use ROTC, National Guard, or Reserve service to avoid serving in Vietnam. He further stated that because he opposed the war, he would not volunteer to serve in uniform, but would subject himself to the draft, and would serve if selected only as a way "to maintain my political viability within the system."<ref>New York Times, [http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/13/us/1992-campaign-letter-clinton-his-draft-deferment-war-opposed-despised.html The 1992 Campaign; A Letter by Clinton on His Draft Deferment: 'A War I Opposed and Despised'], February 13, 1992</ref> Clinton registered for the draft and received a high number (311), meaning that those whose birthdays had been drawn as numbers 1 to 310 would have to be drafted before him, which was unlikely. Clinton's political opponents charge that he used Fulbright's influence to avoid military service.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/etc/draftletter.html | title=Bill Clinton's Draft Letter | work=[[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]] | publisher=PBS | date=November 23, 1991 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] Eugene Holmes, the Army officer who had been involved with Clinton's ROTC application, suspected that Clinton attempted to manipulate the situation to avoid the draft and avoid serving in uniform. He issued a [[notarize]]d statement during the 1992 presidential campaign:

{{quote|I was informed by the draft board that it was of interest to Senator Fulbright's office that Bill Clinton, a Rhodes Scholar, should be admitted to the [[ROTC]] program … I believe that he purposely deceived me, using the possibility of joining the ROTC as a ploy to work with the draft board to delay his induction and get a new draft classification.<ref name="Morris1999">{{cite book | last=Morris | first=Roger | title=Partners in Power: The Clintons and Their America | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vq96BQV5lF4C&pg=PA100 | accessdate=August 17, 2011 | date=April 25, 1999 | publisher=Regnery Publishing | isbn=978-0-89526-302-5 | page=100}}</ref>}}

During the 1992 campaign it was revealed that Clinton's uncle had attempted to secure him a position in the [[United States Navy Reserve|Navy Reserve]], which would have kept him from going to Vietnam. This effort was unsuccessful and Clinton said in 1992 that he had been unaware of it until then.<ref>{{cite news | last=CNN | first=All Politics | url =http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/skeletons/draft.shtml | title = Clinton's Draft Deferrment | accessdate = June 19, 2014 | work=CNN.com | date= 1997}}</ref> Although legal, Clinton's actions with respect to the draft and deciding whether to serve in the military were criticized by conservatives and some Vietnam veterans during his first presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite news | last=Frammolino | first=Ralph | url =http://articles.latimes.com/1992-04-06/news/mn-447_1_draft-board | title = ROTC Officer Unaware of Draft Notice : Clinton: The man whose action kept the future governor in school says he was not told of 1969 induction letter. Draft board insists none was sent | accessdate = January 6, 2013 | work=Los Angeles Times | date=April 6, 1992}}</ref> Clinton's 1992 campaign manager, [[James Carville]], successfully argued that Clinton's letter in which he declined to join the ROTC should be made public, insisting that voters, many of whom had also opposed the Vietnam War, would understand and appreciate his position.<ref>Public Broadcasting System, [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/carville.html Frontline: Interview with James Carville], 2000</ref>

===Law school===
After Oxford, Clinton attended [[Yale Law School]] and earned a [[Juris Doctor]] (J.D.) degree in 1973.<ref name="My Life" /><ref name="First In His Class" /> In the [[Lillian Goldman Law Library|Yale Law Library]] in 1971 he met fellow law student [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary Rodham]], who was a year ahead of him.<ref name="My Life"/><ref name="HRCBio">{{cite web | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/first-ladies/hillaryclinton | title=Hillary Rodham Clinton | publisher=The White House | accessdate=August 26, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724141126/http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/first-ladies/hillaryclinton| archivedate= July 24, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> They began dating and soon were inseparable. After only about a month, Clinton postponed his plans to be a coordinator for the [[George McGovern presidential campaign, 1972|George McGovern campaign]] for the [[United States presidential election, 1972|1972 United States presidential election]] in order to move in with her in California.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.nysun.com/national/clintons-berkeley-summer-of-love/66982 | title=The Clintons' Berkeley Summer of Love | author=Gerstein, Josh | work=The New York Sun | date=November 26, 2007 | accessdate=May 9, 2009}}</ref> They married on October 11, 1975, and their only child, [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]], was born on February 27, 1980.<ref name="HRCBio" />

Clinton did eventually move to Texas with Rodham to take a job leading [[George McGovern]]'s effort there in 1972. He spent considerable time in [[Dallas]], at the campaign's local headquarters on Lemmon Avenue, where he had an office. Clinton worked with future two-term [[List of mayors of Dallas|mayor of Dallas]], [[Ron Kirk]], future [[List of Governors of Texas|governor of Texas]], [[Ann Richards]], and then unknown television director (and future filmmaker) [[Steven Spielberg]].{{citation needed | date=August 2015}}

==Early political career, 1976–92==
{{Further|Electoral history of Bill Clinton}}

===Governor of Arkansas (1979–81, 1983–92)===
{{Further|Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1978|Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1980|Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1982}}
After graduating from Yale Law School, Clinton returned to Arkansas and became a law professor at the [[University of Arkansas]]. In 1974 he ran for the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. Running in a conservative district against incumbent Republican [[John Paul Hammerschmidt]], Clinton's campaign was bolstered by the anti-Republican and anti-incumbent mood resulting from the [[Watergate scandal]]. Hammerschmidt, who had received 77 percent of the vote in 1972, defeated Clinton by only a 52 percent to 48 percent margin. In 1976 Clinton ran for [[Arkansas Attorney General]]. With only minor opposition in the primary and no opposition at all in the general election,<ref name=AllPolitics1>{{cite news | url=http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/political.career.shtml | publisher=CNN | title=Bill Clinton Political Career | year=1997 | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719145720/http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/democrat/clinton/political.career.shtml| archivedate= July 19, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Clinton was elected.<ref name="First In His Class" />

[[File:Bill Clinton 1978.jpg|thumb|right|Clinton, as the newly elected [[Governor of Arkansas]], meeting with President [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1978]]
Clinton was elected [[Governor of Arkansas]] in 1978, having defeated the Republican candidate [[Lynn Lowe]], a farmer from [[Texarkana, Arkansas|Texarkana]]. He became the youngest governor in the country at 32. Due to his youthful appearance, Clinton was often called the "Boy Governor".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/opinion/12wed4.html | title=Bill and Hillary Clinton's Pitch in Iowa: 'I Love the '90s' | newspaper=New York Times | author=Adam Cohen | date=December 12, 2007 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Boy Clinton: The Political Biography | author=R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. | publisher=Eagle Publishing | url=https://books.google.com/?id=rLSJ5oJG3fcC&pg=PA236&lpg=PA236&dq=Clinton+%22Boy+Governor%22#v=onepage&q=Clinton%20%22Boy%20Governor%22&f=false | isbn=978-0-89526-439-8 | year=1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/27/us/little-rock-hopes-clinton-presidency-will-put-its-dogpatch-image-to-rest.html | title=Little Rock Hopes Clinton Presidency Will Put Its Dogpatch Image to Rest | author=Michael Kelly | work=New York Times | date=November 27, 1992 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> He worked on educational reform and Arkansas's roads, with wife Hillary leading a successful committee on urban health care reform. However, his term included an unpopular motor vehicle tax and citizens' anger over the escape of Cuban refugees (from the [[Mariel boatlift]]) detained in [[Fort Chaffee]] in 1980. [[Monroe Schwarzlose]] of [[Kingsland, Arkansas|Kingsland]] in [[Cleveland County, Arkansas|Cleveland County]], polled 31 percent of the vote against Clinton in the Democratic gubernatorial primary of 1980. Some suggested Schwarzlose's unexpected voter turnout foreshadowed Clinton's defeat in the general election that year by [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] challenger [[Frank D. White]]. As Clinton once joked, he was the youngest ex-governor in the nation's history.<ref name="First In His Class" />

Clinton joined friend [[Bruce Lindsey]]'s Little Rock law firm of Wright, Lindsey and Jennings.<ref>{{cite web | title=Bill Clinton Timeline | author=Jonathan W. Nicholsen | url=http://www.timeline-help.com/bill-clinton-timeline.html | publisher=Timeline Help | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> In 1982, he was again elected governor and kept the office for ten years; beginning with the 1986 election, Arkansas had changed its gubernatorial term of office from two to four years. During his term he helped transform Arkansas's economy and improved the state's educational system.<ref name=pendleton/> For [[senior citizens]], he removed the [[sales tax]] from medications and increased the home property-tax exemption.<ref name="The Natural" /> He became a leading figure among the [[New Democrats]], a group of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] who advocated welfare reform, smaller government, and other policies not supported by liberals. Formally organized as the [[Democratic Leadership Council]] (DLC), the New Democrats argued that in light of President [[Ronald Reagan]]'s [[United States presidential election, 1984|landslide victory in 1984]], the Democratic Party needed to adopt a more centrist political stance in order to succeed at the national level.<ref name= 'The Natural'>{{Cite book | last=Klein | first=Joe | title=The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton | url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Natural.html?id=uyvn5vqHh6UC | publisher=Doubleday | year=2002 | isbn=0-7679-1412-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=127&subid=173&contentid=252794 | title=Bill Clinton, New Democrat | publisher=DLC | date=July 25, 2004 | accessdate=August 30, 2010}}</ref> Clinton delivered the [[Democratic response to the State of the Union address|Democratic response]] to President Reagan's [[1985 State of the Union Address]] and served as Chair of the [[National Governors Association]] from 1986 to 1987, bringing him to an audience beyond Arkansas.<ref name="First In His Class" />

In the early 1980s, Clinton made reform of the Arkansas education system a top priority. Chaired by Clinton's wife [[Hillary Clinton|Hillary Rodham Clinton]], also an attorney and chair of the [[Legal Services Corporation]], the Arkansas Education Standards Committee transformed Arkansas's education system from the worst in the United States to one of the best. Proposed reforms included more spending for schools (supported by a sales-tax increase), better opportunities for gifted children, vocational education, higher teachers' salaries, more course variety, and compulsory teacher competency exams. The reforms passed in September 1983 after Clinton called a special [[Arkansas General Assembly|legislative session]]—the longest in Arkansas history.<ref name=pendleton>{{cite news|last1=Pendleton|first1=Scott | title=Governor Gets High Marks for Public Education Reforms | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0721/21062.html | work=Christian Science Monitor | date=July 21, 1992}}</ref> Many have considered this the greatest achievement of the Clinton governorship.<ref name="First In His Class" /><ref name="The Natural" /> He defeated four Republican candidates for governor: Lowe (1978), White (1982 and 1986), [[Jonesboro, Arkansas|Jonesboro]] businessmen [[Woody Freeman]] (1984), and [[Sheffield Nelson]] of Little Rock (1990).<ref name=AllPolitics1 />

The Clintons' personal and business affairs in the 1980s included transactions that became the basis of the [[Whitewater controversy]] investigation that later dogged his presidential administration.<ref name="Clinton Wars">{{Cite book | last=Blumenthal | first=Sidney | title=The Clinton Wars | publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux | edition=1st | year=2003 | isbn= 0-374-12502-3}}</ref> After extensive investigation over several years, no indictments were made against the Clintons related to the years in Arkansas.<ref name="First In His Class" /><ref name="The Survivor">{{Cite book | last= Harris | first=John F. | title=The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House | publisher=Random House Trade Paperbacks | year=2006 | edition=1st | isbn= 0-375-76084-9}}</ref>

According to some sources, Clinton was in his early years a death penalty opponent who switched positions.<ref name = "mbsrgd" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=bill_clintons_death_penalty_waffle_ | title=Bill Clinton's Death Penalty Waffle—and Why It's Good News for Execution's Foes | author=Nguyen, Alexander | date=July 14, 2000 | accessdate=August 30, 2010 | work=[[The American Prospect]] | quote=In his early days, Clinton opposed the death penalty. And while he and his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton were both teaching at the University of Arkansas Law School, she wrote an appellate brief that helped save a mentally retarded man from execution. "Clinton was against the death penalty," says Arkansas attorney Jeff Rosenzweig, who, like Clinton, grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas. "He told me so."}}</ref> During Clinton's term, Arkansas performed its first executions since 1964 (the death penalty had been re-enacted on March 23, 1973).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/sxs.php?a=v&s=3 | title=Arkansas | publisher=[[Death Penalty Information Center]] | accessdate=February 24, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100227235637/http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/sxs.php?a=v&s=3| archivedate= February 27, 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref> As Governor, he oversaw four executions: one by [[electric chair]] and three by [[lethal injection]]. Later, as president, Clinton was the first President to pardon a death-row inmate since the federal death penalty was reintroduced in 1988.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/clemency | title=Clemency | publisher=[[Death Penalty Information Center]] | accessdate=February 24, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221212625/http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/clemency| archivedate= February 21, 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

===1988 Democratic presidential primaries===
[[File:Reagans with the Clintons.jpg|thumb|Governor and Mrs. Clinton attend the Dinner Honoring the Nation's Governors in the [[White House]] with President [[Ronald Reagan]] and first lady [[Nancy Reagan]], 1987.]]
In 1987, there was media speculation Clinton would enter the race after then-[[Governor of New York|New York Governor]] [[Mario Cuomo]] declined to run and Democratic front-runner [[Gary Hart]] withdrew owing to revelations of marital infidelity. Clinton decided to remain as Arkansas governor (following consideration for the potential candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton for governor, initially favored – but ultimately vetoed – by the First Lady).<ref name=autogenerated1>David Maraniss, ''First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton'' (New York: Random House, 1996; ISBN 978-0-684-81890-0).</ref> For the nomination, Clinton endorsed [[Governor of Massachusetts|Massachusetts Governor]] [[Michael Dukakis]]. He gave the nationally televised opening night address at the [[1988 Democratic National Convention]], but his speech, which was 33 minutes long and twice as long as it was expected to be, was criticized for being too long<ref>{{Cite news | last=Church | first=George J. | title=Cover: Is Bill Clinton For Real? | url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,974739,00.html | work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=January 27, 1992 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> and poorly delivered.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Kornacki | first=Steve | title=When Bill Clinton died onstage | url=http://www.salon.com/2012/07/30/when_bill_clinton_died_on_stage | work=Salon | date=July 30, 2012 | accessdate=August 6, 2012}}</ref> Presenting himself as a moderate and a member of the New Democrat wing of the Democratic Party, he headed the moderate [[Democratic Leadership Council]] in 1990 and 1991.<ref name="The Natural" /><ref name="The Choice">{{Cite book | last=Woodward | first=Bob | title=The Choice: How Bill Clinton Won | publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] | edition= | year=2005 | isbn= 0-7432-8514-X}}</ref>

==Presidency (1993–2001)==
{{Main|Presidency of Bill Clinton}}
[[File:US President Bill Clinton Presidential Trips.svg|thumb|Countries visited by President Clinton during his terms in office.]]
During his presidency, [[Presidency of Bill Clinton#Legislation and programs|Clinton advocated for a wide variety of legislation and programs]], much of which was enacted into law or was implemented by the executive branch. His policies, particularly the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] and [[welfare reform]], have been attributed to a [[centrism|centrist]] [[Third Way]] philosophy of governance.<ref>{{cite news | last=Safire | first=William | title=Essay; Looking Beyond Peace | work=The New York Times | date=December 6, 1993 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/06/opinion/essay-looking-beyond-peace.html | accessdate=October 29, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Duffy|first1=Michael |last2=Barrett |first2=Laurence I. |last3=Blackman |first3=Ann |last4=Carney |first4=James | title=Secrets Of Success | work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=November 29, 1993 | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979697,00.html | accessdate=October 29, 2008}}</ref> On budgetary matters his policy of [[fiscal conservatism]] helped to reduce deficits.<ref name=wp070914>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402451.html | title=Greenspan Is Critical Of Bush in Memoir | author=Bob Woodward | newspaper=Washington Post | date=September 15, 2007 | accessdate=January 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name=bbc010115>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1110165.stm | title=Bill Clinton's economic legacy | newspaper=BBC news | date=January 15, 2001 | accessdate=January 9, 2014 | author=Steve Schifferes}}</ref> Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/02/AR2008020202521.html | title=Bill Clinton's Legacy | first=Peter| last=Baker| work=The Washington Post | date=February 3, 2008 | accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.history.com/topics/bill-clinton | title=Bill Clinton | publisher=History.com| accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref><ref name=NYTExpansion>{{cite news| title=The Battle of the Decades; Reaganomics vs. Clintonomics Is a Central Issue in 2000| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/08/business/the-battle-of-the-decades-reaganomics-vs-clintonomics-is-a-central-issue-in-2000.html| last=Stevenson| first=Richard| newspaper=The New York Times| date=February 8, 2000| accessdate=March 15, 2011}}</ref> The [[Congressional Budget Office]] reported budget surpluses of $69 billion in 1998, $126 billion in 1999, and $236 billion in 2000,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbo.gov/publication/43904 | title=Revenues, Outlays, Deficits, Surpluses, and Debt Held by the Public, 1968 to 2007, in Billions of Dollars | publisher=Congressional Budget Office | date=September 2008 | format=PDF | accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref> during the last three years of Clinton's presidency.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://factcheck.org/2008/02/the-budget-and-deficit-under-clinton | title=The Budget and Deficit Under Clinton | publisher=FactCheck.org | accessdate=August 17, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110728091132/http://factcheck.org/2008/02/the-budget-and-deficit-under-clinton/| archivedate=July 28, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The U.S. treasury reported a debt of $5.413 trillion in 1997, and a debt of $5.656 trillion in 1999.<ref>{{cite web | title=Historical Debt Outstanding - Annual 1950 - 1999 | url=https://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo4.htm | website=Treasury Direct}}</ref> At the end of his presidency, Clinton moved to New York and helped his wife win election to the U.S. Senate there.

=== 1992 presidential campaign ===
{{Further|Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1992|United States presidential election, 1992|Bill Clinton presidential campaign, 1992}}

In the first primary contest, the [[Iowa caucus]], Clinton finished a distant third to Iowa Senator [[Tom Harkin]]. During the campaign for the [[New Hampshire primary]], reports of an extramarital affair with [[Gennifer Flowers]] surfaced. As Clinton fell far behind former [[Massachusetts]] Senator [[Paul Tsongas]] in the New Hampshire polls,<ref name="First In His Class" /> following [[Super Bowl XXVI]], Clinton and his wife Hillary went on ''[[60 Minutes]]'' to rebuff the charges. Their television appearance was a calculated risk, but Clinton regained several delegates. He finished second to Tsongas in the [[New Hampshire Democratic primary, 1992|New Hampshire primary]], but after trailing badly in the polls and coming within single digits of winning, the media viewed it as a victory. News outlets labeled him "The Comeback Kid" for earning a firm second-place finish.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.cnn.com/2001-01-11/politics/clinton.nh_1_president-clinton-new-hampshire-bill-clinton | title=Clinton thanks New Hampshire for making him the 'Comeback Kid' | date=January 11, 2001 | accessdate=August 30, 2011 | publisher=CNN | first=Amy | last=Herste}}</ref>

Winning the big prizes of Florida and Texas and many of the [[Southern United States|Southern primaries]] on [[Super Tuesday]] gave Clinton a sizable delegate lead. However, former California Governor [[Jerry Brown]] was scoring victories and Clinton had yet to win a significant contest outside his native South.<ref name="First In His Class" /><ref name="The Choice" /> With no major Southern state remaining, Clinton targeted New York, which had many delegates. He scored a resounding victory in New York City, shedding his image as a regional candidate.<ref name="The Choice" /> Having been transformed into the consensus candidate, he secured the Democratic Party nomination, finishing with a victory in [[Jerry Brown]]'s home state of California.<ref name="First In His Class"/>

[[File:Clinton family.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Clinton family in the [[White House]]]]

During the campaign, questions of [[conflict of interest]] regarding state business and the politically powerful [[Rose Law Firm]], at which Hillary Rodham Clinton was a partner, arose. Clinton argued the questions were moot because all transactions with the state had been deducted before determining Hillary's firm pay.<ref name="My Life" /><ref>{{Cite news | last=Ifill | first=Gwen | title=Hillary Clinton Defends Her Conduct in Law Firm | work=The New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/17/us/the-1992-campaign-hillary-clinton-defends-her-conduct-in-law-firm.html | date=March 17, 1992 | accessdate=March 28, 2008}}</ref> Further concern arose when Bill Clinton announced that, with Hillary, voters would be getting two presidents "for the price of one".<ref>{{Cite news | last=MacGillis | first=Alec |last2=Kornblut |first2=Anne E. | title=Hillary Clinton Embraces Her Husband's Legacy | work=The Washington Post | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/21/AR2007122102588.html | page=A1 | date=December 21, 2007 | accessdate=March 28, 2008}}</ref>

While campaigning for U.S. President, the then Governor Clinton returned to Arkansas to see that [[Ricky Ray Rector]] would be executed. After killing a police officer and a civilian, Rector shot himself in the head, leading to what his lawyers said was a state where he could still talk but did not understand the idea of death. According to Arkansas state and Federal law, a seriously mentally impaired inmate cannot be executed. The courts disagreed with the allegation of grave mental impairment and allowed the execution. Clinton's return to Arkansas for the execution was framed in a ''[[The New York Times]]'' article as a possible political move to counter "soft on crime" accusations.<ref name = "mbsrgd">[[George Stephanopoulos]], ''All Too Human: A Political Education'', 1999, ISBN 978-0-316-92919-6</ref><ref>{{Cite news | last=Applebome | first=Peter | title=Arkansas Execution Raises Questions on Governor's Politics | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/25/us/1992-campaign-death-penalty-arkansas-execution-raises-questions-governor-s.html | work=The New York Times | date=January 25, 1992 | accessdate=March 28, 2008}}</ref>

Because Bush's [[United States presidential approval rating|approval ratings]] were around 80 percent during the [[Gulf War]], he was described as unbeatable. However, when Bush compromised with Democrats to try to lower Federal deficits, he reneged on his [[Read my lips: no new taxes|promise not to raise taxes]], hurting his approval rating. Clinton repeatedly condemned Bush for making a promise he failed to keep.<ref name="The Choice"/> By election time, the economy was souring and Bush saw his approval rating plummet to just slightly over 40 percent.<ref name="The Choice"/><ref>{{Cite news | title=How the Presidents Stack Up: A look at U.S. presidents' job-approval ratings | work=The Wall Street Journal | year=2006 | url=http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-presapp0605-31.html | accessdate=October 30, 2008| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081025015927/http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-presapp0605-31.html| archivedate= October 25, 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Finally, conservatives were previously united by anti-communism, but with the end of the Cold War, the party lacked a uniting issue. When [[Pat Buchanan]] and [[Pat Robertson]] addressed Christian themes at the [[1992 Republican National Convention|Republican National Convention]] – with Bush criticizing Democrats for omitting God from their platform – many moderates were alienated.<ref>{{cite web | last=Le Beau | first=Bryan | title=The Political Mobilization of the New Christian Right | publisher=[[Creighton University]] | url=http://are.as.wvu.edu/lebeau1.htm | accessdate=December 1, 2006 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061206022453/http://are.as.wvu.edu/lebeau1.htm| archivedate= December 6, 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Clinton then pointed to his moderate, "New Democrat" record as governor of Arkansas, though some on the more liberal side of the party remained suspicious.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Walker | first=Martin | title=Tough love child of Kennedy | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/1992/jan/06/usa.martinwalker | accessdate=October 12, 2007 | location=London | work=The Guardian | date=January 6, 1992}}</ref> Many Democrats who had supported [[Ronald Reagan]] and Bush in previous elections switched their support to Clinton.<ref name=BBConthisday>{{Cite news | title=On this day (November 4) in 1992: Clinton beats Bush to the White House | publisher=BBC News Online | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/4/newsid_3659000/3659498.stm | accessdate=October 31, 2008 | date=November 4, 1992| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081218141055/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/4/newsid_3659000/3659498.stm| archivedate= December 18, 2008 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Clinton and his running mate, [[Al Gore]], toured the country during the final weeks of the campaign, shoring up support and pledging a "new beginning".<ref name=BBConthisday />

Clinton won the [[United States presidential election, 1992|1992 presidential election]] (43.0 percent of the vote) against Republican incumbent [[George H. W. Bush]] (37.4 percent of the vote) and billionaire [[populism|populist]] [[Ross Perot]], who ran as an independent (18.9 percent of the vote) on a platform focusing on domestic issues; a significant part of Clinton's success was Bush's steep decline in public approval.<ref name=BBConthisday /> Clinton's election ended twelve years of Republican rule of the [[White House]] and twenty of the previous twenty-four years. The election gave Democrats full control of the [[United States Congress]],<ref name="whitehouse.gov bio" /> the first time one party controlled both the executive and legislative branches since Democrats held the [[95th United States Congress]] during the [[Jimmy Carter]] presidency in the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm | title=Party Division in the Senate, 1789 – present | publisher=United States Senate | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718045714/http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm| archivedate= July 18, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://artandhistory.house.gov/house_history | title=House History | publisher=United States House of Representatives | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>

===First term, 1993–97===
{{listen
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[[File:Bill Clinton taking the oath of office, 1993.jpg|thumb|Clinton takes the [[Oath of office of the President of the United States|oath of office]] from Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]] during his [[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|1993 presidential inauguration]] on January 20, 1993.]]
[[File:Coat of Arms of Bill Clinton.svg|101px|thumb|Clinton's coat of arms, granted by the [[Chief Herald of Ireland]] in 1995.]]
Clinton was [[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|inaugurated]] as the 42nd President of the United States on January 20, 1993. Shortly after taking office, Clinton signed the [[Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993]] on February 5, which required large employers to allow employees to take unpaid leave for pregnancy or a serious medical condition. This action had bipartisan support,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=103&session=1&vote=00011 | title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 103rd Congress – 1st Session | publisher=United States Senate | accessdate= August 30, 2011}}</ref> and proved quite popular with the public.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.protectfamilyleave.org/pdf/030608_ncpfl_fmla_national_survey.pdf | title=New Nationwide Poll Shows Strong Support for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) | publisher=Protect Family Leave | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>

Two days after taking office, on January 22, 1993—the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', Clinton reversed restrictions on domestic and international [[family planning]] programs that had been imposed by Clinton's predecessors, Ronald Regan and George H.W. Bush.<ref>Sharon L. Camp, ''The Politics of U.S. Population Assistance'', in ''Beyond the Numbers: A Reader on Population, Consumption and the Environment'' (ed. Laurie Ann Mazur), p. 130.</ref> Clinton said that abortion should be kept "safe, legal, and rare"—a slogan that had been suggested by University of California, San Diego political scientist [[Samuel L. Popkin]] and first used by Clinton in December 1991, while campaigning.<ref>Amy Sullivan, ''The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap'' (Simon & Schuster: 2008), pp. 91–92.</ref> During the eight years of the Clinton administration, the U.S. abortion rate declined by about 18.4 percent.<ref>Sullivan, ''The Party Faithful'', pp. 236–37.</ref>

On February 15, 1993, Clinton made his first address to the nation, announcing his plan to raise taxes to cap the [[budget deficit]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/15/us/white-house-hones-all-out-campaign-to-sell-sacrifice.html | title=White House Hones All-Out Campaign to Sell Sacrifice | newspaper=The New York Times | date=February 15, 1993 | author=Richard L. Burke | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Two days later, in a nationally televised address to a [[joint session of Congress]], Clinton unveiled his economic plan. The plan focused on reducing the deficit rather than on cutting taxes for the middle class, which had been high on his campaign agenda.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/cron | title=The Clinton Years: Chronology | publisher=Frontline: PBS | accessdate=June 13, 2010| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100502012813/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/cron/| archivedate=May 2, 2010 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Clinton's advisers pressured him to raise taxes on the theory that a smaller federal budget deficit would reduce bond interest rates.<ref>{{cite book | last=Woodward | first=Bob | title=Maestro | publisher=Simon & Schuster | location=New York | year=2000 | page=116}}</ref>

On May 19, 1993, Clinton fired seven employees of the White House Travel Office, causing the [[White House travel office controversy]] even though the Travel Office staff served at the pleasure of the president and could be [[At-will employment|dismissed without cause]]. The White House responded to the controversy by claiming the firings were done because of financial improprieties that had been revealed by a brief FBI investigation.<ref>{{cite book | author=Hillary Clinton | authorlink=Hillary Clinton | title=[[Living History]] | publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] | year=2003 | isbn=0-7432-2224-5 | page=172}}</ref> Critics contended the firings had been done to allow friends of the Clintons to take over the travel business and that the involvement of the FBI was unwarranted.<ref>{{cite book | author=Ken Gormley | authorlink=Ken Gormley (academic) | title=The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr | publisher=[[Crown Publishers]] | location=New York | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-307-40944-7 | pages=70–71}}</ref>

{{quote box | width=30em | bgcolor=#c6dbf7 | align=left | quote="Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world but the engine of our own renewal. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America." | source=Inaugural address, January 20, 1993.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/clinton1.asp | first=Bill | last=Clinton | title=First Inaugural Address of William J. Clinton; January 20, 1993 | publisher=[[Yale Law School]] | date=January 20, 1993 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>}}

Clinton signed the [[Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993]] in August of that year, which passed Congress without a Republican vote. It cut taxes for fifteen million low-income families, made tax cuts available to 90 percent of small businesses,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.clintonfoundation.org/legacy/080393-presidential-press-conference-in-nevada.htm | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022455/http://www.clintonfoundation.org/legacy/080393-presidential-press-conference-in-nevada.htm | archivedate=September 27, 2007 | title=Presidential Press Conference in Nevada | date=August 3, 1993 | first=Bill | last=Clinton}}</ref> and raised taxes on the wealthiest 1.2 percent of taxpayers. Additionally, through the implementation of spending restraints, it mandated the budget be balanced over a number of years.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=50409#axzz1VKZJJKA6 | title=William J. Clinton: Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union | publisher=Presidency.ucsb.edu | date=January 25, 1994 | accessdate=August 17, 2011 | first=Bill | last=Clinton}}</ref>

[[File:Bill Clinton, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasser Arafat at the White House 1993-09-13.jpg|thumb|Clinton, [[Yitzhak Rabin]] and [[Yasser Arafat]] during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993.]]
Clinton made a major speech to Congress regarding [[Clinton health care plan|a health care reform plan]] on September 22, 1993, aimed at achieving universal coverage through a national health care plan. This was one of the most prominent items on Clinton's legislative agenda, and resulted from a task force headed by [[Hillary Clinton]]. Though at first well received in political circles, it was eventually doomed by well-organized opposition from conservatives, the [[American Medical Association]], and the health insurance industry. However, [[John F. Harris]], a biographer of Clinton's, states the program failed because of a lack of coordination within the [[White House]].<ref name="The Survivor" /> Despite the Democratic majority in Congress, the effort to create a national health care system ultimately died when compromise legislation by [[George J. Mitchell]] failed to gain a majority of support in August 1994. It was the first major legislative defeat of Clinton's administration.<ref name="The Natural" /><ref name="The Survivor" />

In November 1993, [[David Hale (Whitewater)|David Hale]], the source of criminal allegations against Bill Clinton in the [[Whitewater controversy]], alleged that Clinton, while governor of Arkansas, pressured him to provide an illegal $300,000 loan to Susan McDougal, the partner of the Clintons in the Whitewater land deal.<ref name="salon031798">{{cite news|author1=Jonathan Broder |author2=[[Murray Waas]] | url=http://www.salon.com/news/1998/03/cov_17news.html | title=The Road To Hale | publisher=[[Salon.com|Salon]] | date=March 17, 1998 | accessdate=August 25, 2007 | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20060616194202/http://salon.com:80/news/1998/03/cov_17news.html | archivedate=June 16, 2006 }}</ref> A [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] investigation did result in convictions against the McDougals for their role in the Whitewater project, but the Clintons themselves were never charged, and Clinton maintains innocence in the affair.

Clinton signed the [[Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act|Brady Bill]] into law on November 30, 1993, which imposed a five-day waiting period on handgun purchases. He also expanded the [[Earned Income Tax Credit]], a subsidy for low-income workers.<ref name="The Survivor" />

In December of that year, allegations by Arkansas state troopers [[Larry Patterson]] and Roger Perry were first reported by [[David Brock]] in [[the American Spectator]]. Later known as [[Troopergate (Bill Clinton)|Troopergate]], the allegations by these men were that they arranged sexual liaisons for Bill Clinton back when he was governor of Arkansas. The story mentioned a woman named ''Paula'', a reference to [[Paula Jones]]. Brock later apologized to Clinton, saying the article was politically motivated "bad journalism" and that "the troopers were greedy and had slimy motives."<ref name="apology">{{Cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/10/brocks.remorse | title=Reporter Apologizes For Clinton Sex Article | publisher=CNN | date=March 10, 1998 | first=Jonathan | last=Karl | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614124146/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/10/brocks.remorse/| archivedate=June 14, 2008}}</ref>

{{listen
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That month, Clinton implemented a Department of Defense directive known as "[[Don't Ask, Don't Tell]]", which allowed [[homosexuality|gay men and women]] to serve in the armed services provided they kept their sexuality a secret, and forbade the military from inquiring about an individual's sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Feder |first1=Jody | title="Don't Ask, Don't Tell": A Legal Analysis | publisher=DIANE Publishing | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-4379-2208-0}}</ref> The policy was developed as a compromise after Clinton's proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the military met staunch opposition from prominent Congressional Republicans and Democrats, including Senators [[John McCain]] (R-AZ) and [[Sam Nunn]] (D-GA). According to [[David Mixner]], Clinton's support for the compromise led to a heated dispute with Vice President Al Gore, who felt that "the President should lift the ban … even though [his executive order] was sure to be overridden by the Congress".<ref name="Mixner2009">{{cite book | last=Mixner | first=David | title=Stranger Among Friends | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Jeg2X025UgC | accessdate=September 12, 2014 | date=November 25, 2009 | publisher=Random House Publishing Group | isbn=9780307429582 | pages=495–497}}</ref> Some gay-rights advocates criticized Clinton for not going far enough and accused him of making his campaign promise to get votes and contributions.<ref>{{cite news | title=Stranger Among Friends. – book reviews | url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n11_v28/ai_18855826 | newspaper=[[Washington Monthly]] | author=John Cloud | date=November 1996 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Their position was that Clinton should have integrated the military by executive order, noting that President [[Harry Truman]] used executive order to racially desegregate the armed forces. Clinton's defenders argue that an executive order might have prompted the Senate to write the exclusion of gays into law, potentially making it harder to integrate the military in the future.<ref name="The Natural" /> Later in his presidency, in 1999, Clinton criticized the way the policy was implemented, saying he did not think any serious person could say it was not "out of whack".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://archives.cnn.com/1999/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/11/clinton.gays.military/index.html | title=President seeks better implementation of 'don't ask, don't tell' | date=December 11, 1999 | publisher=CNN | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> The policy remained controversial, and was finally [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010|repealed in 2011]], removing open sexual preference as a reason for dismissal from the armed forces.<ref>{{cite news | title=Obama certifies end of military's gay ban | agency=[[Reuters]] | publisher=[[NBC News]] | date=July 22, 2011 | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43859711/ns/us_news-life | accessdate=September 7, 2011| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729081153/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43859711/ns/us_news-life/| archivedate=July 29, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref>

On January 1, 1994, Clinton signed the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] into law.<ref name=NAFTA>{{cite journal|author1=Don C. Livingston |author2=Kenneth A. Wink | title=The Passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives: Presidential Leadership or Presidential Luck? | work=Presidential Studies Quarterly | volume=27 | year=1997}}</ref> Throughout his first year in office, Clinton consistently supported ratification of the treaty by the U.S. Senate. Clinton and most of his allies in the Democratic Leadership Committee strongly supported free trade measures; there remained, however, strong disagreement within the party. Opposition came chiefly from anti-trade Republicans, protectionist Democrats and supporters of [[Ross Perot]]. The bill passed the house with 234 votes against 200 opposed (132 Republicans and 102 Democrats voting in favor; 156 Democrats, 43 Republicans, and 1 independent against). The treaty was then ratified by the Senate and signed into law by the President.<ref name=NAFTA />

The [[Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994|Omnibus Crime Bill]] which Clinton signed into law in 1994<ref>{{cite web | title=HR 3355 - Omnibus Crime Bill | url=https://votesmart.org/bill/2666/8428/omnibus-crime-bill#.VfSjsxHBzGc | publisher=votesmart.org | accessdate=September 12, 2015}}</ref> made many changes to U.S. crime and law enforcement legislation including the expansion of the death penalty to include crimes not resulting in death, such as running a large-scale drug enterprise. During Clinton's re-election campaign he said, "My 1994 crime bill expanded the death penalty for drug kingpins, murderers of federal law enforcement officers, and nearly 60 additional categories of violent felons."<ref>{{cite web | title=Bill Clinton | url=http://www.4to40.com/legends/print.asp?p=Bill_Clinton | publisher=4to40.com | accessdate=November 4, 2010}}</ref>

{{quote box | width=30em | bgcolor=#c6dbf7 | align=left | quote="When I took office, only high energy physicists had ever heard of what is called the Worldwide Web … Now even my cat has its own page." | source=Bill Clinton's announcement of Next Generation Internet initiative, 1996.<ref name="NetValley">{{cite news | author=Gregory Gromov | url=http://www.netvalley.com | title=History of the Internet and World Wide Web | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720213401/http://www.netvalley.com/| archivedate=July 20, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref>}}

The Clinton administration also launched the first official [[White House]] website, [[whitehouse.gov]], on October 21, 1994.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://clinton1.nara.gov/White_House/html/White_House_Home.html | title=Welcome to the White House | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa012201b.htm | title=The Clinton White House Web Site | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722064216/http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa012201b.htm| archivedate=July 22, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref> It was followed by three more versions, resulting in the final edition launched in 2000.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://clinton5.nara.gov/index.html | title=Welcome to the White House | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723135626/http://clinton5.nara.gov/index.html| archivedate=July 23, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Robert | last=Longley | url=http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa012201b.htm | title=The Clinton White House Web Site: Part 2: Preserving the Clinton White House Web Site | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722064216/http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa012201b.htm| archivedate=July 22, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The White House website was part of a wider movement of the Clinton administration toward web-based communication. According to Robert Longley, "Clinton and Gore were responsible for pressing almost all federal agencies, the U.S. court system and the U.S. military onto the Internet, thus opening up America's government to more of America's citizens than ever before. On July 17, 1996, Clinton issued Executive Order 13011 – Federal Information Technology, ordering the heads of all federal agencies to utilize information technology fully to make the information of the agency easily accessible to the public."<ref>{{cite web | first=Robert | last=Longley | url=http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa012201a.htm | title=The Clinton White House Web Site: Part 1: Perhaps the most important Web site in American history | publisher=About.com | accessdate=June 6, 2007}}</ref>

After two years of Democratic Party control, the Democrats lost control of Congress in the [[U.S. House election, 1994|mid-term elections in 1994]], for the first time in forty years.<ref>{{cite web | last=Hulsey | first=Byron | title=The Altered Terrain of American Politics (Review of Do Elections Matter?) | url=http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=1463 | accessdate=October 29, 2008}}</ref>
[[File:Clinton Yeltsin 1995.jpg|thumb|Clinton and [[Russian President]] [[Boris Yeltsin]] in October 1995]]
[[Ken Gormley (academic)|Ken Gormley]], Dean of the School of Law at Duquesne University in Pittsburg, authored a book titled ''The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr''. In his book, Gormley reveals President Clinton narrowly escaped assassination in the Philippines in 1996. During his visit to the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] (APEC) forum in Manila, Clinton was saved minutes before his motorcade was scheduled to drive over a bridge charged with a timed improvised explosive device (IED).<ref name="youtube.com">{{cite web|last1=Discovery TV | title=Clinton Assassination Attempt - Secret Service Secrets | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvhldq-OHK0 | website=YouTube.com | accessdate=March 29, 2015}}</ref> According to officials, the IED was large enough to "blow up the entire presidential motorcade".<ref name="Crown Publishing Group">{{cite book|last1=Gormley|first1=Ken | title=The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs. Starr | date=February 1, 2011 | publisher=Crown Publishing Group | isbn=0307409457 | pages=800}}</ref> Details of the plot were revealed to Gormley by [[Lewis Merletti]], former member of the Presidential Protection Detail and Director of the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]]. The President was on his way to meet with a senior member of the Philippine government when disaster was averted. Intelligence officers intercepted a radio transmission indicating that there was a wedding cake under a bridge.<ref name="youtube.com"/> This alerted Merletti and others as Clinton's motorcade was scheduled to drive over a major bridge in downtown Manila.<ref name="Crown Publishing Group"/> Once more, the word "wedding" was the code name used by a terrorist group for a past assassination attempt.<ref name="Crown Publishing Group"/> Merletti wanted to reroute the motorcade, but the alternate route would add forty-five minutes to the drive time. Clinton was very angry, as he was already late for the meeting; however, following the advice of the secret service saved his life. Two other bombs had been discovered in Manila earlier in the week so the threat level that day was high.<ref>{{cite news|last1=N.A. | title=Bombs Found As Manila Readies For APEC Summit | accessdate=March 29, 2015 | agency=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Security personnel at the Manila International Airport uncovered several grenades and a timing device in a travel bag.<ref name="Explosives Found Near Summit Site">{{cite news|last1=N.A. | title=Explosives Found Near Summit Site | accessdate=March 29, 2015 | agency=Associated Press | publisher=The Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Officials also discovered a bomb near a major U.S. naval base.<ref name="Explosives Found Near Summit Site"/> The President was scheduled to visit both of these locations later in the week. An intense investigation took place into the events in Manila and it was discovered that the group behind the bridge bomb was a Saudi terrorist group in Afghanistan known as [[al-Qaeda]] and the plot was masterminded by [[Osama bin Laden]].<ref name="Crown Publishing Group"/> Until recently, this thwarted assassination attempt was never made public and remained top secret. Only top members of the U.S. intelligence community were aware of these events.<ref name="Crown Publishing Group"/>

[[File:Clinton health care elderly.jpg|thumb|Bill Clinton made health care reform one of his highest priorities; the First Lady chaired the Task Force on National Health Care Reform.]]
The [[White House FBI files controversy]] of June 1996 arose concerning improper access by the White House to [[FBI]] security-clearance documents. Craig Livingstone, head of the White House Office of Personnel Security, improperly requested, and received from the FBI, background report files without asking permission of the subject individuals; many of these were employees of former Republican administrations.<ref>{{cite web | author=Robert Ray | authorlink=Robert Ray (prosecutor) | url=http://www.gpoaccess.gov/icreport/marceca/sec1-2.pdf | title=Final Report of the Independent Counsel … of the Investigation In Re: Anthony Marceca | publisher=[[United States Government Printing Office]] | date=March 16, 2000 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> In March 2000, Independent Counsel [[Robert Ray (prosecutor)|Robert Ray]] determined that there was no credible evidence of any crime. Ray's report further stated, "there was no substantial and credible evidence that any senior White House official was involved" in seeking the files.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/28/clinton.filegate | title=Independent counsel: No evidence to warrant prosecution against first lady in 'filegate' | publisher=CNN | date = July 28, 2000 | accessdate=April 26, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100529015957/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/28/clinton.filegate/| archivedate= May 29, 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

On September 21, 1996, Clinton signed into law the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] (DOMA), which defines marriage for federal purposes as the legal union of one man and one woman, allowing individual states to refuse to recognize gay marriages performed in other states.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-104publ199/content-detail.html | publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office | title=PUBLIC LAW 104 – 199 – DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT}}</ref> [[Paul Yandura]], speaking for the White House gay and lesbian liaison office, said that Clinton's signing of DOMA "was a political decision that they made at the time of a re-election." In defense of his actions, Clinton has said that DOMA was an attempt to "head off an attempt to send a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to the states", a possibility he described as highly likely in the context of a "very reactionary Congress."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://nymag.com/news/frank-rich/bill-clinton-doma-2012-3 | work=New York | author=Frank Rich | title=Bill Clinton's shifting justifications for signing the Defense of Marriage Act | date=February 26, 2012}}</ref> Administration spokesman [[Richard Socarides]] said, "… the alternatives we knew were going to be far worse, and it was time to move on and get the president re-elected."<ref name=metroweekly>{{cite news | url=http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=6613 | work=MetroWeekly | author=Chris Geidner | title=Becoming Law | date=September 29, 2011}}</ref> Clinton himself stated that DOMA was something "which the Republicans put on the ballot to try to get the base vote for President Bush up, I think it's obvious that something had to be done to try to keep the Republican Congress from presenting that."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nymag.com/news/frank-rich/bill-clinton-doma-2012-3 | title=Bill Clinton's Justifications for Signing DOMA -- New York Magazine | work=NYMag.com | accessdate=March 28, 2015}}</ref> Others were more critical. The veteran gay rights and gay marriage activist [[Evan Wolfson]] has called these claims "historic revisionism".<ref name=metroweekly/> In a July 2, 2011 editorial ''[[The New York Times]]'' opined, "The Defense of Marriage Act was enacted in 1996 as an election-year wedge issue, signed by President Bill Clinton in one of his worst policy moments.".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/opinion/sunday/03sun1.html | work=The New York Times | title=Unfinished Business: The Defense of Marriage Act | date=July 2, 2011}}</ref> In June 2013, the United States Supreme Court, in [[United States v. Windsor]], struck down DOMA.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-the-court-ruled-on-doma-and-prop-8 | title=How The Court Ruled on DOMA and Prop. 8 | author=Richard Socarides | date=June 26, 2013 | work=The New Yorker | accessdate=March 28, 2015}}</ref>

Despite DOMA, Clinton was the first President to select openly gay persons for Administration positions,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://clinton2.nara.gov/WH/Accomplishments/ac399.html | title=Clinton-Gore Accomplishments: Gay and Lesbian Americans | publisher=Clinton2.nara.gov | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> and is generally credited as the first President to publicly champion gay rights.<ref name="newyorker.com">{{cite web | last=Socarides | first=Richard | url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/03/why-clinton-signed-the-defense-of-marriage-act.html | title=Why Bill Clinton Signed the Defense of Marriage Act | work=The New Yorker | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> During his Presidency, Clinton controversially issued two substantial executive orders on behalf of gay rights, the first lifting the ban on security clearances for LGBT federal employees<ref>Volsky, Igor. (August 5, 1995) [http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/08/05/288942/clinton-issued-order-letting-gays-get-security-clearances-16-years-ago-today/?mobile=nc Clinton Issued Order Letting Gays Get Security Clearances 16 Years Ago Today]</ref> and the second outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal civilian workforce.<ref>{{cite news | author= | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/29/us/clinton-grants-gay-workers-job-protection.html | title=Clinton Grants Gay Workers Job Protection | work=The New York Times | date=May 29, 1998 | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> Under President Clinton's leadership, federal funding for HIV/AIDS research, prevention and treatment more than doubled.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archive.hhs.gov/news/press/2000pres/00fsaids.html | title=2000.12.01: (Fact Sheet) Clinton Administration Record on HIV/AIDS | publisher=Archive.hhs.gov | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> And Clinton also pushed for passing hate crimes laws for gays and for the private sector [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]], which, buoyed by his lobbying, failed to pass the Senate by a single vote in 1996.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/104-1996/s281 | title=S. 2056 (104th): Employment Nondiscrimination Act of 1996 (On Passage of the Bill) | publisher=Govtrack.us | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> Advocacy for these issues, paired with the politically unpopular nature of the gay rights movement at the time, led to enthusiastic support for Clinton's election and reelection by the [[Human Rights Campaign]].<ref name="newyorker.com"/> Clinton came out for gay marriage in July 2009<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thenation.com/article/bill-clinton-backs-same-sex-marriage | title=Bill Clinton Backs Same-Sex Marriage | work=The Nation | date=July 14, 2009 | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> and urged the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA in 2013.<ref>{{cite news | last=Clinton | first=Bill | url=http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-07/opinions/37528448_1_doma-defense-of-marriage-act-marriage-equality | title=It's time to overturn DOMA | work=The Washington Post | date=March 7, 2013 | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> He was later honored by [[GLAAD]] for his prior pro-gay stances and his reversal on DOMA.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.3news.co.nz/GLAAD-honours-Bill-Clinton/tabid/418/articleID/295095/Default.aspx | work=3 News NZ | title=GLAAD honours Bill Clinton| date=April 22, 2013}}</ref>

As part of a 1996 initiative to curb [[illegal immigration]], Clinton signed the [[Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996|Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act]] (IIRIRA) on September 30, 1996. Appointed by Clinton,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.sfgate.com/1995-06-02/news/17808549_1_legal-immigrants-immigration-agenda-commission-on-immigration-reform | title=New Limits In Works on Immigration / Powerful commission focusing on families of legal entrants | newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle | date=June 2, 1995 | accessdate=August 30, 2011 | author=Louis Freedberg}}</ref> the [[History of laws concerning immigration and naturalization in the United States#1990s|U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform]] recommended reducing legal immigration from about 800,000 people a year to about 550,000.<ref>{{cite book | author=Plummer Alston Jones | year=2004 | url=https://books.google.com/?id=bmSKvXN2a1IC&pg=PA153&dq#v=onepage&q=&f=false | title=Still struggling for equality: American public library services with minorities | publisher=Libraries Unlimited | page=154 | isbn=1-59158-243-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/08/us/clinton-embraces-a-proposal-to-cut-immigration-by-a-third.html | title=Clinton Embraces a Proposal To Cut Immigration by a Third | author=Robert Pear | newspaper=The New York Times | date=June 8, 1995 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>

The [[1996 United States campaign finance controversy]] was an alleged effort by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to influence the domestic policies of the United States, before and during the Clinton administration, and involved the fundraising practices of the administration itself. The Chinese government denied all accusations.<ref name=embassy>{{cite news|author1=Bob Woodward |author2=Brian Duffy | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/china1.htm | title=Chinese Embassy Role In Contributions Probed | work=[[The Washington Post]] | date=February 13, 1997 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>

=== 1996 presidential election ===
[[File:Hillary Clinton Bill Chelsea on parade.jpg|thumb|President Bill Clinton (center), first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (right) and their daughter [[Chelsea Clinton|Chelsea]] (left) wave to watchers at a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue on Inauguration Day, January 20, 1997.]]
In the [[United States presidential election, 1996|1996 presidential election]], Clinton was re-elected, receiving 49.2 percent of the popular vote over Republican [[Bob Dole]] (40.7 percent of the popular vote) and [[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform]] candidate [[Ross Perot]] (8.4 percent of the popular vote), becoming the first Democratic incumbent since [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Lyndon Johnson]] to be elected to a second term and the first Democrat since [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] to be elected President more than once.<ref name="Clinton@2">{{Cite book | last=Jones | first=Charles O. | title=The Presidency in a Separated System | publisher=[[The Brookings Institution]] | year=2005 | page=318}}</ref> The Republicans lost a few seats in the House and gained a few in the Senate, but retained control of both houses of the [[105th United States Congress]]. Clinton received 379, or over 70 percent of the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] votes, with Dole receiving 159 electoral votes.

===Second term, 1997–2001===

[[File:Clinton1997SOTU.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Al Gore]] and [[Newt Gingrich]] applaud as US president Clinton waves during the [[State of the Union address]] in 1997.]]
In the January 1997 State of the Union address, Clinton proposed a new initiative to provide coverage to up to five million children. Senators [[Ted Kennedy]] – a Democrat – and [[Orrin Hatch]] – a Republican – teamed up with Hillary Rodham Clinton and her staff in 1997, and succeeded in passing legislation forming the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]] (SCHIP), the largest (successful) health care reform in the years of the Clinton Presidency. That year, Hillary Clinton shepherded through Congress the [[Adoption and Safe Families Act]] and two years later she succeeded in helping pass the [[Foster Care Independence Act]]. He negotiated the passage of the [[Balanced Budget Act of 1997]] by the Republican Congress. In October 1997, he announced he was getting hearing aids, due to hearing loss attributed to his age, and his time spent as a musician in his youth.<ref>{{cite news | last=Shogren | first=Elizabeth | title=Clinton to Get Hearing Aids for Both Ears | url=http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/04/news/mn-39089 | accessdate=November 1, 2012 | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=October 4, 1997}}</ref> In 1999 Clinton signed into law the ''Financial Services Modernization Act'' also known as the [[Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act]], which repealed the part of the [[Glass–Steagall Act]] that had prohibited a bank from offering a full range of [[Investment bank|investment]], [[commercial bank]]ing, and [[insurance]] services since its enactment in 1933.<ref>{{cite news | title=Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 | url=http://www.federalreservehistory.org/Events/DetailView/53 | accessdate=September 12, 2015 | publisher=Federal Reserve History}}</ref>{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}

====Impeachment and acquittal====
[[File:Senate in session.jpg|thumb|250px|Clinton's impeachment trial in 1999]]
{{Main|Impeachment and acquittal of Bill Clinton}}
After the 1998 elections, the House [[Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeached Clinton]], alleging [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]] related to the [[Lewinsky scandal]].<ref name="The Survivor" /> Clinton was only the second U.S. President to be impeached, after [[Andrew Johnson]]. Impeachment proceedings were based on allegations that Clinton had illegally lied about and covered up his relationship with 22-year-old White House (and later [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]) employee [[Monica Lewinsky]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Time Line | date=September 13, 1998 | page=A32 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/timeline.htm | work=The Washington Post | accessdate=January 20, 2007}}</ref> After the [[Starr Report]] was submitted to the House providing what it termed "substantial and credible information that President Clinton Committed Acts that May Constitute Grounds for an Impeachment",<ref>{{cite book | title=The [[Starr Report]]: The Findings of Independent Counsel [[Kenneth Starr]] on President Clinton and the Lewinsky Affair | year=1998 | isbn=1-891620-24-X}}</ref> the House began impeachment hearings against Clinton before the [[United States midterm election|mid-term elections]]. To hold impeachment proceedings, the Republican leadership called a [[Lame duck session (United States)|lame-duck session]] in December 1998.

While the [[House Judiciary Committee]] hearings ended in a straight party-line vote, there was lively debate on the House floor. The two charges passed in the House (largely with Republican support, but with a handful of Democratic votes as well) were for [[perjury]] and [[obstruction of justice]]. The perjury charge arose from Clinton's testimony before a [[grand jury]] that had been convened to investigate [[perjury]] he may have committed in his sworn deposition during [[Paula Jones]]'s sexual harassment lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/pjones.htm | title=Case Closed | author=Dan Froomkin | work=The Washington Post | date=August 26, 1999 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> The obstruction charge was based on his actions to conceal his relationship with Lewinsky before and after that deposition.

The Senate later acquitted Clinton on both charges.<ref name=senvoteai>{{cite web | author=Senate LIS | title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 106th Congress – 1st Session: vote number 17 – Guilty or Not Guilty (Art I, Articles of Impeachment v. President W. J. Clinton) | publisher=United States Senate | date=February 12, 1999 | url=http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00017 |accessdate =August 30, 2011}}</ref> The Senate refused to meet to hold an impeachment trial before the end of the old term, so the trial was held over until the next Congress. Clinton was represented by Washington law firm [[Williams & Connolly]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Clinton impeached | publisher=BBC News Online | date=December 19, 1998 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/clinton_under_fire/latest_news/238784.stm | accessdate=October 29, 2008 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211142909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/events/clinton_under_fire/latest_news/238784.stm | archivedate=December 11, 2008 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The Senate finished a twenty-one-day trial on February 12, 1999, with the vote of 55 Not Guilty/45 Guilty on the perjury charge<ref name=senvoteai /> and 50 Not Guilty/50 Guilty on the obstruction of justice charge.<ref name="washingtonpostimpeachment">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/impeach021399.htm | title=The Senate Acquits President Clinton | work=The Washington Post | date=February 13, 1999 | accessdate=January 4, 2012}}</ref> Both votes fell short of the Constitutional two-thirds majority requirement to convict and remove an officeholder. The final vote was generally along party lines, with no Democrats voting guilty, and only a handful of Republicans voting not guilty.<ref name=senvoteai />

====Pardons and commutations====
Clinton [[Bill Clinton pardon controversy|controversially issued]] 141 pardons and 36 commutations on his last day in office on January 20, 2001.<ref name="The Survivor" /><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010120/aponline135239_000.htm | title=Clinton Pardon's List | agency=[[Associated Press]] | work=[[The Washington Post]] | date=January 20, 2001 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Most of the controversy surrounded [[Marc Rich]] and allegations that Hillary Clinton's brother, [[Hugh Rodham]], accepted payments in return for influencing the president's decision-making regarding the pardons.<ref>{{cite news | title=Clinton pardons: Cast of characters | publisher=BBC News Online | date=February 22, 2001 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1184118.stm | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> Some of Clinton's pardons remain a point of controversy.<ref>{{cite news | last=Curl | first=Joseph | url=http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/NATION/107060099/1001 | title=Clintons hit over Libby criticism | work=[[The Washington Times]] | date=August 30, 2011}}</ref>

===Military and foreign events===
{{Further|Foreign policy of the Bill Clinton administration}}

[[File:President Clinton talks with Col. Paul Fletcher, USAF.jpeg|thumb|left|President Clinton speaks with [[Colonel (United States)|Col.]] [[Paul J. Fletcher|Paul Fletcher]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]], before boarding [[Air Force One]], November 4, 1999.]]

Many military events occurred during Clinton's presidency. The [[Battle of Mogadishu (1993)|Battle of Mogadishu]] occurred in [[Somalia]] in 1993. During the operation, [[MH-60 Black Hawk|two U.S. helicopters]] were shot down by [[rocket-propelled grenade]] attacks to their [[tail rotor]]s, trapping soldiers behind enemy lines. This resulted in an urban battle that killed 18 American soldiers, wounded 73 others, and one was taken prisoner. There were many more Somali casualties. Some of the American bodies were dragged through the streets – a spectacle broadcast on television news programs. In response, U.S. forces were withdrawn from Somalia and later conflicts were approached with fewer soldiers on the ground. In 1995, U.S. and [[NATO]] aircraft [[1995 NATO bombing campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina|attacked Bosnian Serb targets]] to halt attacks on U.N. safe zones and to pressure them into a peace accord. Clinton deployed U.S. peacekeepers to Bosnia in late 1995, to uphold the subsequent [[Dayton Agreement]].

[[File:President Clinton by Molly Gilliam, 1999 (DOD 990505-F-7597G-005) (514619639).jpg|thumb|General John P. Jumper, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, escorts President William Jefferson Clinton upon his arrival to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 5, 1999. The president visited several European air bases to thank the troops (not shown) for their support of NATO Operations Allied Force and Shining Hope, 1999.]]

In February 1996, the Clinton administration agreed to pay [[Iran]] US$131.8 million in settlement to discontinue a case brought by Iran in 1989 against the U.S. in the [[International Court of Justice]] after the shooting down of [[Iran Air Flight 655]] by the U.S. Navy [[guided missile cruiser]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2014/07/the_vincennes_downing_of_iran_air_flight_655_the_united_states_tried_to.html | title=America's Flight 17 | work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] | date=July 23, 2014}}</ref>

Capturing [[Osama bin Laden]] had been an objective of the U.S. government during the presidency of Bill Clinton (and continued to be until [[Death of Osama bin Laden|bin Laden's death in 2011]]).<ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/24/clinton.binladen/index.html | title=Bill Clinton: I got closer to killing bin Laden | publisher=CNN | date=September 24, 2006 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> Despite claims by [[Mansoor Ijaz]] and Sudanese officials that the Sudanese government had offered to arrest and extradite bin Laden and that that U.S. authorities rejected each offer<ref name="articles.latimes.com">{{cite news | url=http://articles.latimes.com/2001/dec/05/opinion/oe-ijaz05 | title=Clinton Let Bin Laden Slip Away and Metastisize | work=Los Angeles Times | date=December 5, 2001 | accessdate=June 13, 2010 | first=Mansoor | last=Ijaz}}</ref> the [[9/11 Commission Report]] stated that "we have not found any reliable evidence to support the Sudanese claim."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/staff_statements/staff_statement_5.pdf | title=Staff Statement No. 5 | format=PDF | publisher=9/11 Commission | accessdate=August 6, 2009}}</ref>

In response to a 1996 State Department warning about bin Laden and the [[1998 United States embassy bombings|1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa]] by [[al-Qaeda]] (which killed 224 people, including 12 Americans), Clinton ordered several military missions to capture or kill bin Laden, both of which were unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite news | last=Lichtblau | first=Eric | title=State Dept. Says It Warned About bin Laden in 1996 | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/17/international/asia/17osama.html | work=The New York Times | accessdate=November 4, 2010 | date=August 17, 2005}}</ref> In August 1998, Clinton [[Cruise missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan (August 1998)|ordered cruise missile strikes on terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan]], targeting the [[Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory]] in Sudan, which was suspected of assisting bin Laden in making chemical weapons, and bin Laden's terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web | author=John Pike | url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/bgm-109-operation.htm | title=BGM-109 Tomahawk – Smart Weapons | publisher=Globalsecurity.org | accessdate=August 17, 2011}}</ref>

[[File:President Clinton greets the crowd at Spangdahlem Air Base.jpg|thumb|left|President Clinton greets Air Force personnel at [[Spangdahlem Air Base]], May 5, 1999.]]

To stop the [[ethnic cleansing]] and [[genocide]]<ref>{{cite web | last=Cohen | first=William | date=April 7, 1999 | url=http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=582 | title=Secretary Cohen's Press Conference at NATO Headquarters | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Clinton | first=Bill | date=August 30, 2011 | url=http://clinton6.nara.gov/1999/06/1999-06-25-press-conference-by-the-president.html | title=Press Conference by the President}}</ref> of [[Albanians]] by anti-guerilla military units in the former [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]'s province of [[Kosovo]], Clinton authorized the use of U.S. Armed Forces in a [[NATO]] bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999, named [[Operation Allied Force]]. General [[Wesley Clark]] was [[Supreme Allied Commander Europe|Supreme Allied Commander of NATO]] and oversaw the mission. With [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244]], the bombing campaign ended on June 10, 1999. The resolution placed Kosovo under UN administration and authorized a [[Kosovo Force|peacekeeping force]] to be deployed to the region.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nato.int/kosovo/docu/u990610a.htm | title=Resolution 1244 (1999) | date=June 10, 1999 | publisher=NATO | accessdate=August 17, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629135857/http://www.nato.int/kosovo/docu/u990610a.htm| archivedate= June 29, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> NATO announced that its forces had suffered zero combat deaths,<ref name="roblect">{{cite web | author=Adam Roberts | url=http://www.princeton.edu/~lisd/events/talks/Roberts_Lecture.pdf | title=The Impact of the Laws of War in Contemporary Conflicts (PDF) | date=April 10, 2003 | publisher=Princeton University | accessdate=January 25, 2007}}</ref> and two deaths from an [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|Apache helicopter]] crash.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/335709.stm | title=Two die in Apache crash | publisher=BBC News Online | date=May 5, 1999 | accessdate=August 17, 2011}}</ref> Opinions in the popular press criticized pre-war genocide statements by the Clinton administration as greatly exaggerated.<ref>{{cite web | last=Pilger | first=John | date=September 4, 2000 | url=http://www.newstatesman.com/node/138456 | title=US and British officials told us that at least 100,000 were murdered in Kosovo. A year later, fewer than 3,000 bodies have been found | work=New Statesman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Daniel Pearl |author2=Robert Block | date=December 31, 1999 | title=War in Kosovo Was Cruel, Bitter, Savage; Genocide It Wasn't | work=The Wall Street Journal | page= A1}}</ref> In 2001, the [[United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo|U.N.-supervised]] [[Judiciary of Kosovo|Supreme Court of Kosovo]] ruled that genocide did not take place, but recognized "a systematic campaign of terror, including murders, rapes, arsons and severe maltreatments."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1530781.stm | title=Kosovo assault 'was not genocide' | publisher=BBC News Online | date=September 7, 2001 | accessdate=August 17, 2011}}</ref> The term "ethnic cleansing" was used as an alternative to "genocide" to denote not just ethnically motivated murder but also displacement, though critics charge there is no difference.<ref>{{cite web | author=George J. Andreopoulos | url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/194242/ethnic-cleansing | title=Ethnic Cleansing | work=Encyclopædia Britannica | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> [[Slobodan Milošević]], the president of Yugoslavia at the time of the atrocities, was [[Trial of Slobodan Milošević|eventually brought to trial]] before the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] in [[the Hague]] on charges of [[crimes against humanity]], genocide, and war crimes.<ref name="Milosevic Charges">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1402790.stm#kosovo | title=The charges against Milosevic | publisher=BBC News Online | date=March 11, 2006 | accessdate=August 17, 2011}}</ref> Milošević died in 2006, before the completion of the trial.<ref name="Milosevic Charges"/><ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/03/11/milosevic.trial/ Milosevic's war crimes trial a 4-year marathon], CNN (March 11, 2006).</ref>

In Clinton's [[1998 State of the Union Address]], he warned Congress that Iraqi dictator [[Saddam Hussein]] was possibly pursuing nuclear weapons:
{{quote|Together we must also confront the new hazards of [[chemical weapon|chemical]] and [[biological weapon]]s, and the outlaw states, terrorists and organized criminals seeking to acquire them. Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of this decade, and much of his nation's wealth, not on providing for the Iraqi people, but on developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to deliver them. The United Nations weapons inspectors have done a truly remarkable job, finding and destroying more of Iraq's arsenal than was destroyed during the entire gulf war. Now, Saddam Hussein wants to stop them from completing their mission. I know I speak for everyone in this chamber, Republicans and Democrats, when I say to Saddam Hussein, "You cannot defy the will of the world", and when I say to him, "You have used weapons of mass destruction before; we are determined to deny you the capacity to use them again.<ref>{{cite press release | title=Text of President Clinton's 1998 State of the Union Address | date=January 27, 1998 | first=Bill | last=Clinton | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/states/docs/sou98.htm | work=The Washington Post | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>}}

[[File:Clinton and jiang.jpg|thumb|Bill Clinton and [[Jiang Zemin]] holding a joint press conference at the White House, October 29, 1997]]

Seeking to weaken Saddam Hussein's grip of power, Clinton signed the [[Iraq Liberation Act of 1998]] into law on October 31, 1998, which instituted a policy of "regime change" against Iraq, though it explicitly stated it did not provide for direct intervention on the part of American military forces.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/libera.htm | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218092435/http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/libera.htm | archivedate=February 18, 2007 | title=Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, H.R.4655, One Hundred Fifth Congress of United States of America at Second Session | publisher=Library of Congress | accessdate=February 18, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c105:H.R.4655.ENR: | title=H.R.4655 – Iraq Liberation Act of 1998}}</ref> The administration then launched a four-day bombing campaign named [[Operation Desert Fox]], lasting from December 16 to 19, 1998. At the end of this operation Clinton announced that "So long as Saddam remains in power, he will remain a threat to his people, his region, and the world. With our allies, we must pursue a strategy to contain him and to constrain his weapons of mass destruction program, while working toward the day Iraq has a government willing to live at peace with its people and with its neighbors."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=55436&st=&st1= | title=Address to the Nation on Completion of Military Strikes in Iraq | publisher=Presidency.ucsb.edu | date=December 19, 1998 | accessdate=July 22, 2013}}</ref> American and British aircraft in the Iraq no-fly zones attacked hostile Iraqi air defenses 166 times in 1999 and 78 times in 2000.<ref>{{cite web | author=John Pike | url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/southern_watch.htm | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009174722/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/southern_watch.htm | archivedate=October 9, 2007 | title=Operation Southern Watch | publisher=Web.archive.org | accessdate=July 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=John Pike | url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/northern_watch.htm | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009174419/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/northern_watch.htm | archivedate=October 9, 2007 | title=Operation Northern Watch | publisher=Web.archive.org | accessdate=July 22, 2013}}</ref>

Clinton's November 2000 visit to [[Vietnam]] was the first by a U.S. president since the end of the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1025169.stm | title= Clinton's Vietnam visit | publisher=BBC News Online | date=November 16, 2000 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> On October 10, 2000, Clinton signed into law the [[U.S.–China Relations Act of 2000]], which granted [[permanent normal trade relations]] (PNTR) trade status to People's Republic of China.<ref>{{cite news | last=Smith | first=Matt | url=http://cgi.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/10/10/clinton.pntr | title=Clinton signs China trade bill | publisher=CNN | date=October 10, 2000 | accessdate=July 3, 2014}}</ref> The president asserted that free trade would gradually open China to democratic reform.<ref>{{cite book | author=Peter B. Levy | year=2002 | url=https://books.google.com/?id=vEzWlAvDEf0C&pg=PA57&dq#v=onepage&q=&f=false | title=Encyclopedia of the Clinton Presidency | page=57 | publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group | isbn=0-313-31294-X}}</ref> Clinton also oversaw a boom of the U.S. economy. Under Clinton, the United States had a projected federal [[United States federal budget|budget surplus]] for the first time since 1969.<ref>{{cite web | title=Historical Budget Data | url=http://www.cbo.gov/budget/historical.pdf | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101033553/http://www.cbo.gov/budget/historical.pdf | archivedate=January 1, 2007 | format=PDF | publisher=Congressional Budget Office | date=January 26, 2006 | accessdate=January 20, 2007}}</ref>

After initial successes such as the [[Oslo Accords]] of the early 1990s, Clinton attempted to address the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]]. Clinton brought Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Barak]] and Palestinian Authority Chairman [[Yasser Arafat]] together at [[Camp David]] for the [[2000 Camp David Summit]].<ref name="The Survivor" /> Following the peace talk failures, Clinton stated Arafat "missed the opportunity" to facilitate a "just and lasting peace." In his [[My Life (Bill Clinton autobiography)|autobiography]], Clinton blames Arafat for the collapse of the summit.<ref name="My Life" /><ref>{{cite web | last=Shyovitz | first=David | publisher=Jewish Virtual Library | url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/cd2000art.html | title=Camp David 2000 | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719031905/https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/cd2000art.html| archivedate=July 19, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The situation broke down completely with the start of the [[Second Intifada]].<ref name="The Survivor" />

===Judicial appointments===
[[File:Ginsburgandclinton.jpg|thumb|[[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] accepting her nomination to the Supreme Court from President Clinton.]]
{{Main|Bill Clinton Supreme Court candidates|Bill Clinton judicial appointments}}
Clinton appointed two justices to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]: [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] in 1993<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx | title=Biographies of Current Justices of the Supreme Court | publisher=Supremecourt.gov | accessdate=August 30, 2011| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721063602/http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx| archivedate=July 21, 2011 | deadurl=no}}</ref> and [[Stephen Breyer]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://law.onecle.com/ussc/justices/512usxi-appointment-of-justice-breyer.html | title=Appointment and swearing in of Justice Breyer, 1994 | publisher=Law.onecle.com | date=September 30, 1994 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>

Along with his two Supreme Court appointments, Clinton appointed 66 judges to the [[United States courts of appeals]] and 305 judges to the [[United States district courts]]. His 373 judicial appointments are the second most in American history behind those of Ronald Reagan. Clinton also experienced a number of [[Bill Clinton judicial appointment controversies|judicial appointment controversies]], as 69 nominees to [[United States federal judge|federal judgeships]] did not receive a vote in the [[United States Republican Party|Republican]]-controlled [[Senate Judiciary Committee]]. In all, 84 percent of his nominees were confirmed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fjc.gov/public/home.nsf/hisj | title=Biographical Directory of Federal Judges | publisher=[[Federal Judicial Center]] | accessdate=August 29, 2011}}</ref>

Among the judges appointed by Clinton to the courts of appeals was [[Sonia Sotomayor]], who was nominated by Clinton in 1997 to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit|Second Circuit]] and confirmed in 1998, following a delay of more than a year caused by Republican opposition.<ref>Meg Greene, ''Sonia Sotomayor: A Biography'' (ABC-CLIO, 2012), pp. 121–29.</ref><ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/08/us/sonia-sotomayor-fast-facts/ Sonia Sotomayor Fast Facts], CNN Library (June 22, 2015).</ref>

Clinton was the first president in history to appoint more women and minority judges than white male judges to the federal courts.<ref>Nancy Scherer, ''Scoring Points: Politicians, Activists, and the Lower Federal Court Appointment Process'' (Stanford University Press, 2005), p. 85.</ref> In his eight years in office, 11.6% of Clinton's court of appeals nominees and 17.4% of his district court nominees were black; 32.8% of his court of appeals nominees and 28.5% of his district court nominees were women.<ref name="Scherer, p. 85">Scherer, p. 85.</ref> Clinton appointed the first African American judges to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit|Fourth Circuit]] ([[Roger L. Gregory]]) and the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit|Seventh Circuit]] ([[Ann C. Williams]]).<ref name="Scherer, p. 85"/> Clinton also appointed the nation's first openly [[LGBT|gay or lesbian]] federal judge when he named [[Deborah A. Batts]] to the [[U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York]]. Batts was confirmed by the Senate in a [[voice vote]] in 1994.<ref>Henry J. Reske, [https://books.google.com/books?id=MSo7JKWXiFkC&pg=PA29#v=onepage&q&f=false Appointment Breaks Barrier: First Openly Gay Federal Judge Assumes Duties], ''ABA Journal'' (December 1994), p. 27.</ref>

==Public opinion==
[[File:Clinton approval rating.png|thumb|300px|Clinton's [[United States Presidential approval rating|approval ratings]] throughout his presidential career]]

Clinton's job approval rating fluctuated in the 40s and 50s throughout his first term. In his second term, his rating consistently ranged from the high-50s to the high-60s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pollingreport.com/clinton-.htm | title=Bill Clinton: Job Ratings | publisher=Pollingreport.com | accessdate=August 17, 2011}}</ref> After his impeachment proceedings in 1998 and 1999, Clinton's rating reached its highest point.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/20/impeachment.poll | title=Clinton's approval rating up in wake of impeachment | publisher=CNN | date=December 20, 1998 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> According to a [[CBS News]]/''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' poll, Clinton left office with an approval rating of 68 percent, which matched those of [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] as the highest ratings for departing presidents in the modern era.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/07/opinion/polls/main621632.shtml | title=A Look Back at the Polls | publisher=[[CBS News]] | author=Bootie Cosgrove-Mather | date=June 7, 2004 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Clinton's average [[Gallup Organization|Gallup poll]] approval rating for his last quarter in office was 61%, the highest final quarter rating any president has received for fifty years.<ref name="Jan2001Gallup">David W. Moore, [http://www.gallup.com/poll/2125/clinton-leaves-office-mixed-public-reaction.aspx Clinton Leaves Office With Mixed Public Reaction], Gallup Organization (January 12, 2001).</ref> Forty-seven percent of the respondents identified themselves as being Clinton supporters.<ref name="Jan2001Gallup"/>

As he was leaving office, a CNN/''[[USA Today]]''/Gallup poll revealed that 45 percent of Americans said they would miss him; 55 percent thought he "would have something worthwhile to contribute and should remain active in public life"; 68 percent thought he would be remembered more for his "involvement in personal scandal" than for "his accomplishments"; and 58 percent answered "No" to the question "Do you generally think Bill Clinton is honest and trustworthy?"<ref name="Jan2001Gallup"/> The same percentage said he would be remembered as either "outstanding" or "above average" as a president, while 22 percent said he would be remembered as "below average" or "poor."<ref name="Jan2001Gallup"/> [[ABC News]] characterized public consensus on Clinton as, "You can't trust him, he's got weak morals and ethics{{spaced ndash}} and he's done a heck of a good job."<ref name=langer>{{cite web| url=http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=120952| title=Poll: Clinton Legacy Mixed| publisher=ABC News| date=January 17, 2001| author=Gary Langer| accessdate=January 19, 2013}}</ref>

In May 2006, a CNN poll comparing Clinton's job performance with that of his successor, George W. Bush, found that a strong majority of respondents said Clinton outperformed Bush in six different areas questioned.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/12/bush.clinton.poll/index.html | title=Poll: Clinton outperformed Bush | publisher=CNN | date=May 15, 2006 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Gallup polls in 2007 and 2011 showed that Clinton was regarded by 13% of Americans as the greatest president in U.S. history.<ref>Lydia Saad, [http://www.gallup.com/poll/26608/lincoln-resumes-position-americans-toprated-president.aspx Lincoln Resumes Position as Americans' Top-Rated President: Reagan and Clinton lead among members of their respective parties], Gallup (February 19, 2007).</ref><ref>Frank Newport, [Americans Say Reagan Is the Greatest U.S. President: Lincoln and Clinton next on the list; Washington fifth], Gallup (February 18, 2011).</ref>

In 2014, 18% of respondents in a [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]] poll of American voters regarded Clinton as the best president since World War II, making him the third most popular among postwar presidents, behind [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Ronald Reagan]].<ref name="Q Poll">[http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2056 Obama Is First As Worst President Since WWII, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; More Voters Say Romney Would Have Been Better], Quinnipiac University (July 2, 2014).</ref> The same poll showed that just 3% of American voters regarded Clinton as the worst president since World War II.<ref name="Q Poll"/>

A 2015 poll by ''[[The Washington Post]]'' asked 162 scholars of the [[American Political Science Association]] to rank all the U.S. presidents in order of greatness. According to their findings, Clinton ranked eighth overall, with a rating of 70 percent.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/02/16/new-ranking-of-u-s-presidents-puts-lincoln-1-obama-18-kennedy-judged-most-over-rated/ New ranking of U.S. presidents puts Lincoln at No. 1, Obama at 18; Kennedy judged most overrated - The Washington Post.] Retrieved March 24, 2015</ref>

==Public image==
{{main|Public image of Bill Clinton}}
{{seealso|Bill Clinton sexual misconduct allegations}}
[[File:FEMA - 14697 - Photograph by Ed Edahl taken on 09-05-2005 in Texas.jpg|thumb|Clinton greets a [[Hurricane Katrina]] evacuee, September 5, 2005. In the background holding his jacket is then-Senator [[Barack Obama]].]]
As the first [[baby boomer]] president, Clinton was the first president in more than half a century not to have been alive during World War II.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Sandalow | first=Marc | title=Clinton Era Marked by Scandal, Prosperity: 1st Baby Boomer in White House Changed Notions of Presidency | work=San Francisco Chronicle | date=January 14, 2001 | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/14/MN71509.DTL | accessdate=October 29, 2008 | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20080611162047/http://www.sfgate.com:80/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/01/14/MN71509.DTL | archivedate=June 11, 2008 }}</ref> Authors Martin Walker and Bob Woodward state Clinton's innovative use of [[sound bite]]-ready dialogue, personal charisma, and public perception-oriented campaigning was a major factor in his high public approval ratings.<ref>Martin Walker, ''Clinton: the President they deserve'', Fourth Estate 1999</ref><ref>Bob Woodward, ''The choice: how Clinton won'', Touchstone 1996, ISBN 0-684-81308-4</ref> When Clinton played the saxophone on ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]'', he was described by some religious conservatives as "the MTV president."<ref>{{Cite news | last=Bresler | first=Robert J. | title=The Muddled Meaning of the 2000 Election | publisher=USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education) | date=January 2001 | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2668_129/ai_69698398 | accessdate=January 2, 2007}}</ref> Opponents sometimes referred to him as "Slick Willie", a nickname which was first applied to him in 1980 by ''Pine Bluff Commercial'' journalist [[Paul Greenberg (journalist)|Paul Greenberg]];<ref name=mafadgreenberg>[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/choice/bill/greenberg.html American Frontline:Stories of Bill] Accessed May 4, 2015</ref> Greenberg believed that Clinton was abandoning the progressive policies of previous Arkansas Governors such as [[Winthrop Rockefeller]], [[Dale Bumpers]] and [[David Pryor]].<ref name=mafadgreenberg /> The claim "Slick Willie" would last throughout his presidency.<ref name=WaPoNickname>{{Cite news| title = It's Come To This: A Nickname That's Proven Hard to Slip | last = Mérida| first = Kevin| date = December 20, 1998 | work=The Washington Post | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/slick122098.htm}}</ref> Standing at a height of {{nowrap|6 ft 2 in}} (1.88 m), Clinton is tied with five others as the [[Heights of presidents and presidential candidates of the United States|fourth-tallest president]] in the nation's history.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Baker | first=Peter | title=Head and Shoulders Above the Rest | url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/10/11/head_and_shoulders_above.html | date=October 11, 2007 | accessdate=August 30, 2011 | work=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Carnahan | first=Ira | title=Presidential Timber Tends To Be Tall | url=http://www.forbes.com/2004/05/19/cz_ic_0519beltway.html | date=May 19, 2004 | accessdate=September 11, 2011 | work=Forbes}}</ref> His folksy manner led him to be [[List of nicknames of United States Presidents|nicknamed]] ''Bubba'', especially in the [[Southern United States|South]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/item_QmEh4WrpgVtGtmVB4prTtI | title=Rudy Bops Bugga | work= New York Post | date=June 27, 2007 | accessdate=August 23, 2012 | first1=Charles | last1=Hurt | first2=Carl | last2=Campanile}}</ref> Since 2000, he has frequently been referred to as "The Big Dog" or "Big Dog."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/22/opinion/liberties-dare-speak-his-name.html | title=Liberties; Dare Speak His Name | work= The New York Times | date=October 22, 2000 | accessdate=August 23, 2012 | author=Dowd, Maureen | quote="They're going to have to let the big dog run."}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/us/politics/21clinton.html | title=Bill Clinton Stumps for Obama | work= The New York Times | date=September 20, 2010 | accessdate=August 23, 2012 | author=Rutenberg, Jim|author2= Zernike, Kate | quote="The Big Dog, as he is known among those in the tight world of Clinton associates …"}}</ref> His prominent role in campaigning for [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] during the [[United States presidential election, 2012|2012 presidential election]] and his widely-publicized speech at the [[2012 Democratic National Convention]], where he officially nominated Obama and criticized Republican nominee [[Mitt Romney]] and Republican policies in detail, earned him the nickname "Explainer-in-Chief."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/think-tanked/post/bill-clintons-dnc-speech-as-explainer-in-chief-it-takes-some-brass-and-more-am-briefing/2012/09/06/088a467a-f821-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_blog.html | title=Bill Clinton's DNC speech as 'explainer in chief,' 'it takes some brass,' and more [AM Briefing] | work= The Washington Post | date = September 6, 2012 | accessdate=January 25, 2013 | author=McDuffee, Allen}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.time.com/2012/09/06/the-morning-after-obama-turns-to-bill-clinton-explainer-in-chief | title=The Morning After: Obama Turns to Bill Clinton, Explainer-in-Chief | work= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=September 6, 2012 | accessdate=January 25, 2013 | author=Poniewozik, James}}</ref>

Clinton drew strong support from the [[African American]] community and made improving race relations a major theme of his presidency.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/07/b122950.html | title=A Conversation With President Bill Clinton on Race in America Today | publisher=[[Center for American Progress]] | date=July 16, 2004 | accessdate= August 30, 2011}}</ref> In 1998, [[Nobel Prize|Nobel]] laureate [[Toni Morrison]] called Clinton "the first Black president", saying, "Clinton displays almost every trope of blackness: single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, [[McDonald's]]-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas".<ref name=MorrisonNewYorker>{{cite web | last=Morrison | first=Toni | authorlink=Toni Morrison | title=Clinton as the first black president | work=The New Yorker | date=October 1998 | url=http://ontology.buffalo.edu./smith/clinton/morrison.html | accessdate=December 1, 2006| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061021020246/http://ontology.buffalo.edu/smith/clinton/morrison.html| archivedate= October 21, 2006 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Noting that Clinton's sex life was scrutinized more than his career accomplishments, Morrison compared this to the stereotyping and [[double standards]] that blacks typically endure.<ref name=MorrisonNewYorker />

Shortly after he took office, conservative newspaper owner [[Richard Mellon Scaife]] organized a fundraising campaign to smear Clinton's image in the media.<ref name="scaife2">{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/scaifemain050299.htm | title=Scaife: Funding Father of the Right | author=Robert G. Kaiser, Ira Chinoy | publisher=Washington Post | date=May 2, 1999 | accessdate=August 19, 2013}}</ref> Leading the [[Arkansas Project]], Scaife and other associates sought to find sources in Clinton's home state of Arkansas who would be willing to dish out negative allegations against the President.<ref name="scaife2"/>
[[File:ClintonLjubljana.JPG|thumb|Clinton in [[Ljubljana]], Slovenia, 2009]]

In 1994, [[Paula Jones]] brought a sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton, claiming he made unwanted advances in 1991, which he denied. In April 1998, the case was initially dismissed by Judge [[Susan Webber Wright]] as lacking legal merit.<ref name="JO#$">{{Cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/02/clinton.jones.reax | title=Clinton Welcomes Jones Decision; Appeal Likely | date=April 2, 1998 | publisher=CNN | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> But Jones appealed Webber Wright's ruling, and her suit gained traction following Clinton's admission to having an affair with Monica Lewinsky in August 1998.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/jonesappeal073198.htm | title=Text of Jones's Appeal |date = July 31, 1998 | work=The Washington Post | accessdate=August 25, 2010}}</ref> In 1998, lawyers for Paula Jones released court documents contending a pattern of sexual harassment by Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas. [[Robert S. Bennett]], Clinton's main lawyer for the case, called the filing "a pack of lies" and "an organized campaign to smear the President of the United States" funded by Clinton's political enemies.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/14/us/testing-president-accuser-jones-lawyers-issue-files-alleging-clinton-pattern.html | title=Testing of a President: The Accuser; Jones Lawyers Issue Files Alleging Clinton Pattern of Harassment of Women | work=The New York Times | date=March 14, 1998 | accessdate=August 30, 2011 | first=Francis X. | last=Clines}}</ref> Clinton later agreed to an out-of-court settlement, paying $850,000.<ref name="CO">{{Cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/18/jones | title=Appeals court ponders Paula Jones settlement | date=November 18, 1998 | publisher=CNN | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> Bennett said that the President made the settlement only so he could end the lawsuit for good and move on with his life.<ref name=clqc>{{cite news | first=Peter | last=Baker | title=Clinton Settles Paula Jones Lawsuit for $850,000 | date=November 14, 1998 | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/jones111498.htm | work =The Washington Post | accessdate = October 27, 2011}}</ref> During the deposition for the Jones lawsuit, which was held at the White House,<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/13/jones.v.clinton.docs/clinton | title=Deposition of William Jefferson Clinton, January 17, 1998 | publisher=CNN | date=March 13, 1998 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> Clinton [[Lewinsky scandal|denied having sexual relations]] with [[Monica Lewinsky]]{{spaced ndash}} a denial that became the basis for an impeachment charge of perjury.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | chapter=Lewinsky scandal | title=The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2008 | url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Lewinsky_scandal.aspx | accessdate=February 9, 2010 | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20090618062707/http://www.encyclopedia.com:80/topic/Lewinsky_scandal.aspx | archivedate=June 18, 2009 }}</ref>

In 1992, [[Gennifer Flowers]] stated that she had a relationship with Clinton that began in 1980.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/pjones/docs/flowers031398.htm | title=Declaration of Gennifer Flowers | work=[[The Washington Post]] | date=March 13, 1998 | accessdate=March 20, 2008}}</ref> Flowers at first denied that she had an affair with Clinton, but later changed her story.<ref name="Flo*^">{{cite news | url=http://www.rcfp.org/news/2002/1119flower.html | title=Gennifer Flowers may proceed with defamation suit | publisher=[[Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press]] | date=November 19, 2002 | accessdate=March 20, 2008 | quote=At the press conference, Flowers – who initially denied allegations that she had an affair with then Arkansas governor Bill Clinton but then changed her story – played tapes of conversations she had secretly recorded between herself and Clinton | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20071209092553/http://www.rcfp.org:80/news/2002/1119flower.html | archivedate=December 9, 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/97591856.html] {{wayback | url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/97591856.html | date=20141129034327 }}</ref> After Clinton at first denied having a relationship with Flowers on ''60 Minutes'', he later admitted that he had a sexual encounter with Flowers.<ref name=rp.x>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/14/us/testing-president-accuser-jones-lawyers-issue-files-alleging-clinton-pattern.html?pagewanted=all | title=Testing Of A President: The Accuser; Jones Lawyers Issue Files Alleging Clinton Pattern Of Harassment Of Women| work=[[The New York Times]]| date=March 14, 1998| quote=In his January deposition, the President, though finally confirming a sexual encounter with Ms. Flowers, was precise in denying Ms. Willey's report that he had sought to kiss her and feel her breasts in an encounter in his private dining room off the Oval Office. | accessdate=March 20, 2008 | first=Francis X. | last=Clines}}</ref>

In 1998, [[Kathleen Willey]] alleged that Clinton groped her in a hallway in 1993. An independent counsel determined Willey gave "false information" to the FBI, inconsistent with sworn testimony related to the Jones allegation.<ref name=wilo9r>{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/03/23/time/willey.html | title=The Lives Of Kathleen Willey | publisher=CNN | date= March 30, 1998 | accessdate =September 11, 2011}}</ref> On March 19, 1998, Julie Hiatt Steele, a friend of Willey, released an [[affidavit]], accusing the former White House aide of asking her to lie to corroborate Ms. Willey's account of being sexually groped by President Clinton in the Oval Office.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/19/us/friend-accuses-willey-of-plea-for-her-to-lie.html | title=Friend Accuses Willey for Plea to her to Lie | author=John M. Broder | publisher=New York Times | date=March 19, 1998 | accessdate=February 15, 2014}}</ref> An attempt by Kenneth Starr to prosecute Steele for making false statements and obstructing justice ended in a mistrial and Starr declined to seek a retrial after Steele sought an investigation against the former Independent Counsel for prosecutorial misconduct.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vEzWlAvDEf0C&pg=PA328&lpg=PA328&dq=julia+hiatt+steele&source=bl&ots=xzEyze3S0b&sig=8P6FYM0HbMQ4fbf47Cy3NrXEils&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9an_UoXBOsfIyAHWuYCwBQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=julia%20hiatt%20steele&f=false | title=Encyclopedia of the Clinton Presidency | author=Peter Levy | pages=328–329 | date=November 30, 2001 | publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group | isbn=978-0313312946 | accessdate=February 15, 2014}}</ref> [[Linda Tripp]]'s grand jury testimony also differed from Willey's claims regarding inappropriate sexual advances.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.salon.com/news/1999/01/22newsa.html | title=Stalking the president | publisher=[[Salon.com]] | date= January 1999 | first= | last= | accessdate =February 15, 2014}}</ref>

Also in 1998, [[Juanita Broaddrick]] alleged Clinton had raped her in the spring 1978, although she stated she did not remember the exact date.<ref name=CapitalHillBlueWebArchive1>{{cite web | url=http://www.capitolhillblue.com/Feb1999/022599/datelinetranscript022599.htm | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216043650/http://www.capitolhillblue.com/Feb1999/022599/datelinetranscript022599.htm | archivedate=February 16, 2006 | title=Full Transcript of NBC Dateline report on Juanita Broaddrick | date=February 1999 | accessdate=February 2006}}</ref> In another 1998 event, [[Elizabeth Ward Gracen]] recanted a six-year-old denial and stated she had a one-night stand with Clinton in 1982.<ref name="comgrawc">{{cite web
| title = All the President's Women – Elizabeth Ward Gracen
| url = http://www.comedyontap.com/presgirls/ward.html
| work = Comedy on Tap
}}
</ref> Gracen later apologized to Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/25/clinton.gracen | title=Former Miss America Apologizes To First Lady | date = April 25, 1998 | publisher=CNN | accessdate=November 9, 2008| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080614143559/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/04/25/clinton.gracen/| archivedate = June 14, 2008}}</ref> Throughout the year, however, Gracen eluded a [[subpoena]] from Kenneth Starr to testify her claim in court.<ref name="Gracen0s">{{cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/subpoena122498.htm | work=The Washington Post | date=December 24, 1998 | title=Big Year for the Bad News Bearers}}</ref>

==Post-presidency (2001–present)==
{{Main|Post-presidency of Bill Clinton}}

[[File:Photograph of President William Jefferson Clinton Greeting People in a Large Crowd at a "Get Out the Vote" Rally in Los Angeles, California, 11 02 2000.jpg|thumb|Clinton at a Democratic "[[Get out the vote]]" rally in Los Angeles on November 2, 2000]]
Bill Clinton continues to be active in public life, giving speeches, fundraising, and founding charitable organizations.<ref>{{cite news | author=Josh Gerstein | title=Clinton Eligible, Once Again, To Practice Law | work=[[New York Sun]] | date=January 17, 2006 | url=http://www.nysun.com/article/25965?page_no=2 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Clinton has spoken in [[prime time]] at every [[Democratic National Convention]] since 1988.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/05/us/politics/clinton-dnc-speeches.html Bill Clinton's Democratic Convention Speeches], ''New York Times'' (September 5, 2012).</ref>

===Activities up until 2008 campaign===
In 2002, Clinton warned that pre-emptive military action against Iraq would have unwelcome consequences,<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0210/02/ip.00.html | title=House Passes Resolution Authorizing Use of Force in Iraq; New Jerssy Supreme Court Hears Argument For, Against New Democrat on Ballot | publisher=CNN | date=October 2, 2002 | accessdate=August 30, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/clinton-urges-caution-over-iraq-as-bush-is-granted-war-powers-607775.html | work=The Independent | location=London | author=Andrew Grice | date=October 3, 2002 | accessdate=August 30, 2011 | title=Clinton urges caution over Iraq as Bush is granted war powers | quote=As a preemptive action today, however well-justified, may come back with unwelcome consequences in the future. And because I don't care – and I've done this. I've ordered these kinds of actions. I don't care how precise your bombs and your weapons are, when you set them off, innocent people will die.}}</ref> and later claimed to have opposed the Iraq War from the start (though some dispute this).<ref>{{cite web | author= | url=http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/bill_clinton_says_he_opposed_iraq_war_from_start | title=Bill Clinton Says He Opposed Iraq War from Start (UPDATED) | publisher=Outsidethebeltway.com | date=November 28, 2007 | accessdate=September 12, 2013}}</ref> In 2005, Clinton criticized the Bush administration for its handling of emissions control, while speaking at the [[United Nations Climate Change Conference]] in Montreal.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4515898.stm | title=Last-minute climate deals reached | publisher=BBC News Online | date=December 10, 2005 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref>

The [[William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park]] in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]] was dedicated in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4021201.stm | title=Clinton Library open for business | publisher=BBC News Online | date=November 18, 2004 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> Clinton released a best-selling autobiography, ''[[My Life (Bill Clinton autobiography)|My Life]]'' in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news | last=Glaister | first=Dan | title=Oprah Winfrey book deal tops Clinton's $12 m | date=May 22, 2006 | work=The Guardian | location=London | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/may/22/books.media | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> In 2007, he released ''[[Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World]]'', which also became a [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller]] and garnered positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/books/bestseller/0923besthardnonfiction.html | title=Best Sellers | date = September 23, 2007 | accessdate=September 18, 2007 | work=The New York Times | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070915235442/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/books/bestseller/0923besthardnonfiction.html| archivedate= September 15, 2007 | deadurl= no}}</ref>

[[File:Bush and Clinton.jpg|thumb|left|Clinton with former President George H. W. Bush in January 2005]]
In the aftermath of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Asian tsunami]], [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|U.N. Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]] appointed Clinton to head a relief effort.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6894871/ns/world_news-tsunami_a_year_later/t/clinton-be-uns-envoy-tsunami-relief | title=Clinton to be U.N.'s envoy on tsunami relief | date=February 1, 2005 | agency=Associated Press | publisher = msnbc.com | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> After [[Hurricane Katrina]], Clinton joined with fellow former President George H. W. Bush to establish the Bush-Clinton Tsunami Fund in January 2005, and the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund in October of that year.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/recipient_2006.html | title=2006 Philadelphia Liberty Medal Award | publisher=Constitutioncenter.org | accessdate=August 26, 2011}}</ref> As part of the tsunami effort, these two ex-presidents appeared in a [[Super Bowl XXXIX]] pre-game show,<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39788-2005Jan26.html | title=Senior Bush, Clinton to Appear at Super Bowl | work=The Washington Post | first=Mark | last=Maske | date=January 27, 2005 | accessdate=April 26, 2010}}</ref> and traveled to the affected areas.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4281627.stm | title=Bush, Clinton end tsunami visit | publisher=BBC News Online | date=February 21, 2005 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> They also spoke together at the funeral of [[Boris Yeltsin]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268092,00.html | title=Former Presidents Bush, Clinton Represent U.S. at Boris Yeltsin's Funeral | publisher=Fox News | date=April 24, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Clinton pres library.jpg|thumb|[[William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park]], dedicated in 2004]]
Based on his philanthropic worldview,<ref>{{cite web | author=Jon Meacham | url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/12/20/planetary-problem-solver.html | title=Planetary Problem Solver | work=Newsweek | date=December 20, 2009 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> Clinton created the [[William J. Clinton Foundation]] to address issues of global importance. This foundation includes the Clinton Foundation HIV and AIDS Initiative (CHAI), which strives to combat that disease, and has worked with the Australian government toward that end. The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), begun by the Clinton Foundation in 2005, attempts to address world problems such as global [[public health]], poverty alleviation and religious and [[ethnic conflict]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org | title=Clinton Global Initiative | publisher=Clinton Global Initiative | date=June 19, 2011 | accessdate=August 17, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110725183207/http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/| archivedate= July 25, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> In 2005, Clinton announced through his foundation an agreement with manufacturers to stop selling sugared drinks in schools.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2006/05/03/383279.html | title=William J. Clinton Foundation announces agreement to reduce junk food in schools | publisher=Comcast.net | accessdate=August 25, 2010}}</ref> Clinton's foundation joined with the [[Large Cities Climate Leadership Group]] in 2006 to improve cooperation among those cities, and he met with foreign leaders to promote this initiative.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.clintonfoundation.org/080106-nr-cf-cci-pr-president-clinton-launches-clinton-climate-initiative.htm | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022059/http://www.clintonfoundation.org/080106-nr-cf-cci-pr-president-clinton-launches-clinton-climate-initiative.htm | archivedate=September 27, 2007 | title=Clinton Foundation and Climate Partnership, Press Release | date=August 1, 2006}}</ref> The foundation has received donations from a number of governments all over the world, including Asia and the Middle East.<ref name="theage.com.au">{{Cite news | url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/obama-team-turns-scrutiny-on-bill-clinton-20081117-692j.html | title=Obama team turns scrutiny on Bill Clinton | work=The Age | location=Melbourne | accessdate=August 31, 2011 | first1=Peter | last1=Baker | first2=Anne | last2=Davies | date=November 18, 2008}}</ref> In 2008, Foundation director [[Inder Singh (philanthropist)|Inder Singh]] announced deals to reduce the price of anti-malaria drugs by 30 percent in developing nations.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08233/905462-114.stm | title=Young man combines expertise in economics and social issues at Clinton Foundation | author=Pohla Smith | date=August 20, 2008 | newspaper=Pittsburg Post-Gazette | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Clinton also spoke in favor of [[California Proposition 87 (2006)|California Proposition 87]] on [[energy development|alternative energy]], which was voted down.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Peach | last=Indravudh | title=Clinton backs Prop. 87 | date=October 15, 2006 | publisher=[[UCLA]] | url=http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2006/10/clinton-backs-prop-87 | work=Daily Bruin | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref>

===Presidential election 2008===
During the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2008|2008 Democratic presidential primary campaign]], Clinton vigorously advocated on behalf of his wife, [[Hillary Clinton]]. Through speaking engagements and fundraisers, he was able to raise $10 million toward her campaign.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/30/bill-clinton-2007-speech-haul-tops-10-million | title=Bill Clinton 2007 speech haul tops $10 million | author=Robert Yoon | date=July 30, 2008 | publisher=CNN | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Some worried that as an ex-president, he was too active on the trail, too negative to Clinton rival Barack Obama, and alienating his supporters at home and abroad.<ref name = "CBS-Tarnish">{{Cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/26/politics/main3755521.shtml | title=Analysis: Bill Clinton's Lost Legacy | publisher=CBS News | date= January 26, 2008 | accessdate=August 30, 2011 | author=Vaughn Ververs}}</ref> Many were especially critical of him following his remarks in the South Carolina primary, which Obama won. Later in the 2008 primaries, there was some infighting between Bill and Hillary's staffs, especially in Pennsylvania.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{Cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08recon.html | title=The Long Road to a Clinton Exit | work=The New York Times | author=Peter Baker And Jim Rutenberg | date=June 8, 2008 | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> Considering Bill's remarks, many thought that he could not rally Hillary supporters behind Obama after Obama won the primary.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/08/06/a-catharsis-in-denver.html | date=August 6, 2008 | work=Newsweek | author=Jonathan Alter | accessdate=September 11, 2011 | title=A Catharsis in Denver? | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20111110110248/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/08/06/a-catharsis-in-denver.html | archivedate=November 10, 2011 }}</ref> Such remarks lead to apprehension that the party would be split to the detriment of Obama's election. Fears were allayed August 27, 2008, when Clinton enthusiastically endorsed Obama at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]], saying that all his experience as president assures him that Obama is "ready to lead."<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/08/bill_clinton_vouches_for_obama.html | title=Bill Clinton vouches for Obama: now "ready to lead." | date=August 28, 2008 | work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] | author=Lynn Sweet | accessdate=August 30, 2011}}</ref> After Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign was over, Bill Clinton continued to raise funds to help pay off her campaign debt.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/24/clinton-turns-husbands-charity-retire-campaign-debt | title=Clinton Turns to Husband's Charity to Retire Campaign Debt | publisher=Fox News | date=December 24, 2008 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004883-503544.html | title=Bill Clinton Raffles Himself to Pay Hillary's Campaign Debt | publisher=CBS News | date=May 13, 2010 | author=Stephanie Condon | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref>

===After the 2008 election===
[[File:Obama and Bill Clinton.jpg|thumb|Clinton with President [[Barack Obama]] and Senior Advisor [[Valerie Jarrett]] in July 2010]]
In 2009, Clinton travelled to [[North Korea]] on behalf of [[2009 imprisonment of American journalists by North Korea|two American journalists imprisoned in North Korea]]. [[Euna Lee]] and [[Laura Ling]] had been imprisoned for illegally entering the country from China.<ref name=BBCDPRK>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8182716.stm | title=Bill Clinton meets N Korea leader | publisher=BBC News Online | date=August 4, 2009 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> [[Jimmy Carter]] had made a similar visit in 1994.<ref name=BBCDPRK/> After Clinton met with North Korean leader [[Kim Jong-il]], Kim issued a pardon.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8184583.stm | title=North Korea pardons US reporters | publisher=BBC News Online | date=August 4, 2009 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/world/asia/06korea.html | title=Bill Clinton and Journalists in Emotional Return to U.S. | work=The New York Times | date=August 5, 2009 | accessdate=August 30, 2011 | first1=Mark | last1=Landler | first2=Peter | last2=Baker}}</ref>

Since then, Clinton has been assigned a number of other diplomatic missions. He was named United Nations [[Special Envoy of the Secretary-General|Special Envoy]] to [[Haiti]] in 2009.<ref name="haiti">{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8056762.stm | title=Bill Clinton to be UN Haiti envoy | publisher=BBC News Online | date=May 19, 2009 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> In response to the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], U.S. President Barack Obama announced that Clinton and [[George W. Bush]] would coordinate efforts to raise funds for Haiti's recovery.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/16/presidents-clinton-bush-lead-effort-to-raise-funds-for-haiti | title=Presidents Clinton, Bush lead effort to raise funds for Haiti | publisher=CNN | date=January 16, 2010 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> Clinton continues to visit Haiti to witness the inauguration of refugee villages, and to raise funds for victims of the earthquake.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=14318999 | title=Clinton launches business loan program in Haiti | agency=Associated Press | publisher = ABC News | author=Jacob Kushner | date=August 17, 2011 | accessdate=December 10, 2011}}</ref> In 2010, Clinton announced support of, and delivered the keynote address for, the inauguration of [[NTR Foundation|NTR]], Ireland's first environmental foundation.<ref>{{cite news | title=Clinton backs NTR's environment foundation | work=The Irish Independent | url=http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/clinton-backs-ntrs-environment-foundation-2089592.html | author=Emmet Oliver | date=March 5, 2010 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=President Bill Clinton Delivers Keynote Address | publisher=NTR Foundation | date=March 4, 2010 | url=http://www.ntr-foundation.org/news/article/president-bill-clinton-delivers-keynote-address1 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> At the [[2012 Democratic National Convention]], Clinton gave a widely praised speech nominating Barack Obama.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/06/opinion/opinion-roundup-clinton/index.html | title =Bill Clinton brings it for Obama | publisher =CNN | date =September 6, 2012}}</ref>

===Post-presidential health concerns===
In September 2004, Clinton received a quadruple bypass surgery.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8511817.stm | publisher=BBC News Online | title=Bill Clinton 'in good spirits' after heart procedure | date=February 12, 2010 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> In March 2005, he underwent surgery for a partially collapsed lung.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7127096 | title=Clinton surgery called successful | agency=Associated Press | publisher=msnbc.com | date=March 10, 2005 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> On February 11, 2010, he was rushed to [[Columbia Presbyterian Hospital]] in New York City after complaining of chest pains, and had two [[coronary stent]]s implanted in his heart.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/><ref>{{Cite news | author=Mark Egan | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/02/11/us-clinton-idUSTRE61A5L020100211 | title=Bill Clinton in good spirits after heart procedure | agency=Reuters | date= February 11, 2010 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref> After this experience, Clinton adopted the plant-based whole foods ([[veganism|vegan]]) diet recommended by doctors [[Dean Ornish]] and [[Caldwell Esselstyn]].<ref name="cnn2011">{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/18/bill.clinton.diet.vegan/index.html | title=From omnivore to vegan: The dietary education of Bill Clinton | author=David S. Martin | date=August 18, 2011 | publisher=CNN | accessdate=September 17, 2012}}</ref>

Clinton has reportedly begun practicing [[Buddhist meditation]] in order to help him relax.<ref name="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2183101/Bill-Clinton-turns-art-Buddhist-meditation-relax.html">{{cite news | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2183101/Bill-Clinton-turns-art-Buddhist-meditation-relax.html | title=Chill Bill: Clinton turns to the art of Buddhist meditation to relax | accessdate=March 6, 2013 | location=London | work=Daily Mail | date=August 3, 2012}}</ref>

===Wealth===
The Clintons accrued several million dollars in legal bills during his presidency; they were paid off four years after he left office.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/clintons-pay-off-legal-bills | title=Clintons Pay Off Legal Bills | date=June 14, 2005 | publisher= | accessdate=March 28, 2015}}</ref> Both Bill and Hillary Clinton have received millions of dollars in book authorship fees.<ref name=NYT-2008-04-05>{{cite news | last=McIntire | first=Mike | title=Clintons made $109 Million in Last 8 Years | date=April 5, 2008 | publisher=The New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/politics/05clintons.html}}</ref> In May 2015, ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' reported that Bill and Hillary Clinton have made more than $25 million in speaking fees since the start of 2014, and that Hillary Clinton also made $5 million or more from her book, ''[[Hard Choices]],'' during the same time period.<ref>Ben Kamisar, [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-primaries/242291-clintons-made-more-than-25-million-in-speaking-fees-since Clintons earned more than $25 million for speeches since 2014] (May 15, 2015), ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]''</ref> In July 2014, the ''[[Mail Online|Daily Mail]]'' reported that together, the couple "has earned more than $160 million in the decade after Bill's second presidential term came to an end."<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2700875/Hillary-Clinton-12-million-leaving-State-Department.html Hillary Clinton has made $12 million since leaving the State Department] (July 21, 2014), Francesca Chambers, the ''[[Mail Online|Daily Mail]]''</ref> Also in July 2014, the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that at the end of 2012, the Clintons were worth between $5 million and $25.5 million, and that in 2012 (the last year they were required to disclose the information) the Clintons made between $16 and $17 million, mostly from speaking fees earned by the former president.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-bill-and-hillary-clinton-money-machine-taps-corporate-cash-1404268205 The Bill and Hillary Clinton Money Machine Taps Corporate Cash], BRODY MULLINS, PETER NICHOLAS and REBECCA BALLHAUS, ''The Wall Street Journal,'' July 1, 2014</ref> Clinton earned more than $104 million from paid speeches between 2001 and 2012.<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{cite web|last1=Epstein|first1=Jennifer | title=Clinton Family Speeches Netted as Much as $26 Million for Foundation | url=http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-05-22/clinton-foundation-discloses-speech-fees | website=Bloomberg | accessdate=May 23, 2015}}</ref> In June 2014, ''ABC News'' and ''The Washington Post'' reported that Bill Clinton has made more than $100 million giving paid speeches since leaving public office, and in 2008, the ''New York Times'' reported that the Clintons' income tax returns<ref>(linked in the NYT article)</ref> show they have made $109 million in the 8 years from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007, including almost $92 million from his speaking and book-writing.<ref name=NYT-2008-04-05/><ref name=washingtonpost-2014-06-26>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-clintons-went-from-dead-broke-to-rich-bill-earned-1049-million-for-speeches/2014/06/26/8fa0b372-fd3a-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html How the Clintons went from 'dead broke' to rich: Bill earned $104.9 million for speeches] (June 26, 2014), ''[[The Washington Post]]''</ref><ref name=ABC-News-2014-06-09>[https://gma.yahoo.com/hillary-clinton-defends-high-dollar-speaking-fees-113922185--abc-news-topstories.html Hillary Clinton Defends High-Dollar Speaking Fees] (June 9, 2014), ''[[ABC News]]'' and ''[[Good Morning America]]''</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/17/bills-500000-kuwait-lecture.html Bill's $500,000 Kuwait Lecture] (November 17, 2008), ''[[The Daily Beast]]''</ref>

Clinton has given dozens of paid speeches each year, mostly to corporations and philanthropic groups in North America and Europe, often earning $100,000 to $300,000 per speech.<ref>Josh Gerstein, ''Clinton Eligible, Once Again, To Practice Law'', New York Sun, January 17, 2006, downloaded from [http://www.nysun.com/article/25965?page_no=2 N.Y. Sun article].</ref> According to his wife's Senate ethics reports, he earned more than $30 million in speaking from 2001 to 2005.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/us/politics/10clinton.html | title=Bill Clinton Ponders a role as 'First Gentlemen', NY Times, 2007 | work=The New York Times | first=Patrick | last=Healy | date=May 10, 2007 | accessdate=May 22, 2010}}</ref> In 2007, it is estimated he amassed around $40 million from speaking.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2300374.ece | title=Forty Million Dollar Bill, Independent, 2007 | work=The Independent | location=London | date=February 24, 2007 | accessdate=May 22, 2010 | first=Daniel | last=Bentley}}</ref> Hillary Clinton said that she and Bill came out of the White House financially "broke" and in debt, especially due to large legal fees incurred during their years in the White House. "We had no money when we got there, and we struggled to, you know, piece together the resources for mortgages, for houses, for Chelsea's education." She added, "Bill has worked really hard…we had to pay off all our debts…he had to make double the money because of, obviously, taxes; and then pay off the debts, and get us houses, and take care of family members."<ref name=ABC-News-2014-06-09/>

==Honors and recognition==
{{main|List of honors and awards earned by Bill Clinton}}
[[File:William S. Cohen presents President Clinton the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.jpg|thumb|left|[[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[William Cohen|Cohen]] presents President Clinton the DoD Medal for Distinguished Public Service.]]
[[File:Bill Clinton statue.jpg|thumb|Bill Clinton statue in [[Pristina]], the capital of the [[Republic of Kosovo]]]]

Various colleges and universities have awarded Clinton [[honorary degrees]], including [[Legum Doctor|Doctorate of Law]] degrees<ref>{{cite web | url=http://faccoun.unc.edu/awards/honorary-degrees | title=Honorary Degrees | year=1993 | accessdate=August 31, 2011 | publisher=UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Faculty Governance}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tulane.edu/newwave/cornerpics/051906_grads.html | title=President Bill Clinton with an honorary doctorate of law | publisher=Tulane University | date=May 19, 2006 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> and [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] degrees.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rit.edu/news/story.php?id=45649 | title=Clinton to address graduates, Honorary doctorate will be bestowed | publisher=RIT News, Rochester Institute of Technology | date=May 18, 2007 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> He is an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford, which he attended as a [[Rhodes Scholar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.univ.ox.ac.uk/content/honorary-fellows|title=www.univ.ox.ac.uk|work=ox.ac.uk}}</ref> Schools have been named for Clinton,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.compton.k12.ca.us/www/schoolsites/showschool.aspx?id=13900 | title=Clinton Elementary | publisher=Compton Unified School District | accessdate=August 31, 2010 | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20110927162333/http://www.compton.k12.ca.us/www/schoolsites/showschool.aspx?id=13900 | archivedate=September 27, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lausd.net/Clinton_MS | title=William Jefferson Clinton Middle School | publisher=Los Angeles Unified School District | accessdate=August 31, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110719002854/http://www.lausd.net/Clinton_MS/| archivedate= July 19, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.clintonschool.uasys.edu | title=Clinton School of Public service | publisher=University of Arkansas | accessdate=August 31, 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720063224/http://clintonschool.uasys.edu/| archivedate= July 20, 2011 | deadurl= no}}</ref> and statues have been built to pay him homage.<ref name=WJCstatue>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8336789.stm | title=Kosovo unveils Clinton's statue | publisher=BBC News Online | accessdate=November 2, 2009 | date=November 1, 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20091102101327/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8336789.stm| archivedate= November 2, 2009 | deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/05/23/us-serbia-kosovo-clinton-idUSL2316200920070523 | title=Kosovo to honor Bill Clinton with statue | agency=Reuters | date= May 23, 2007 | accessdate=September 11, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.russiatoday.com/Politics/2009-11-02/clinton-unveils-statue-kosovo.html | title=Clinton unveils statue to (guess who?) in Kosovo | publisher=Russiatoday.com | author=Robert Bridge | date=November 2, 2009 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> U.S. states where he has been honored include Missouri,<ref name=DeMolay-1>{{cite web | author=DeMolay International | url=http://www.demolay.org/aboutdemolay/halloffame.php | title=DeMolay Hall of Fame | publisher=Demolay.org | accessdate=August 25, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100905133239/http://www.demolay.org/aboutdemolay/halloffame.php| archivedate= September 5, 2010 | deadurl= no}}</ref> Arkansas,<ref>{{Cite news | last=Purdum | first=Todd S. | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/17/us/campaign-season-another-first-for-clinton.html | title=Campaign Season; Another First for Clinton | work=The New York Times | date=October 17, 2002 | accessdate=August 6, 2009}}</ref> Kentucky,<ref name="HOOKC">{{cite web | url=http://kycolonels.org/index.cgi?id=54 | title=Colonels website | accessdate=December 21, 2009 | publisher=Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels | last=Kentucky Colonels | first=Honorable Order of | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20090625033818/http://kycolonels.org:80/index.cgi?id=54 | archivedate=June 25, 2009 }}</ref> and New York.<ref>{{cite news | last=Dunlap | first=David | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/23/nyregion/23rebuild.html | title=Pataki Offers Peek at 9/11 Memorial Progress | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 23, 2004 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> He was presented with the [[Medal for Distinguished Public Service]] by [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[William S. Cohen]] in 2001.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.defense.gov/photos/newsphoto.aspx?newsphotoid=3174 | title=Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen presents the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service to President Bill Clinton in a ceremonial farewell at Fort Myer, Va., on Jan. 5, 2001. | publisher=U.S. Department of Defense | accessdate=September 1, 2011}}</ref> The [[Clinton Presidential Center]] was opened in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]] in his honor on December 5, 2001.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/28/us/dinner-for-a-presidential-library-contributions-welcome.html?pagewanted=all | title=Dinner for a Presidential Library, Contributions Welcome | date=June 28, 1999 | last=Van Natta | first=Don, Jr. | work=The New York Times | accessdate=December 17, 2009}}</ref>

He has been honored in various other ways, in countries that include the Czech Republic,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://old.hrad.cz/kpr/rady/rbl_lide_uk.html | title=List of Individuals Awarded the Order of the White Lion | publisher=Old.hrad.cz | date=October 13, 2005 | accessdate=August 6, 2009}}</ref> Papua New Guinea,<ref>{{Cite news | title=It's now 'Chief'' Bill Clinton | publisher=UPI | date=December 3, 2006 | url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2006/12/03/Its-now-Chief-Bill-Clinton/UPI-99431165188768 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.karlspreis.de/index.php?id=12&doc=42 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206203817/http://www.karlspreis.de/index.php?id=12&doc=42 | archivedate=February 6, 2008 | title=International Prize of the city of Aachen (German)}}</ref> and Kosovo.<ref name=WJCstatue /> The [[Republic of Kosovo]], in gratitude for his help during the [[Kosovo War]], renamed a major street in the capital city of [[Pristina]] as [[Bill Clinton Boulevard]] and added a monumental Clinton statue.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/23/statue-watch-bill-clinton-edition | title=Statue Watch: Bill Clinton Edition | author=Mike Nizza | date=May 23, 2007 | accessdate=October 8, 2012 | work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/world/europe/17kosovo.html | title=Kosovo Struggles to Forge an Identity | author=Dan Bilefsky | date=December 17, 2007 | accessdate=October 8, 2012 | work = [[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/world/europe/09iht-kosovo.1.8653760.html | title=Kosovo: Forging an identity on eve of new era | author=Dan Bilefsky | date=December 9, 2007 | accessdate=October 8, 2012 | work = [[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

Clinton was selected as ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} "[[Time Person of the Year|Man of the Year]]" in 1992,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19930104,00.html | title=Bill Clinton, Man of the Year | newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | author=Elizabeth P. Valk | date=January 4, 1993 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> and again in 1998, along with [[Ken Starr]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19981228,00.html | title=Kenneth Starr & Bill Clinton, Men of the Year | newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | author=Nancy Gibbs | date=December 28, 1998 | accessdate=August 31, 2011}}</ref> From a poll conducted of the American people in December 1999, Clinton was among eighteen included in [[Gallup's List of Widely Admired People]] of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Gallup Poll 1999 | publisher=Scholarly Resources Inc | year = 1999 | location = Wilmington, DE | pages = 248–249}}</ref> He was honored with a [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children]], a [[J. William Fulbright]] Prize for International Understanding,<ref>{{Cite news| url =http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-506513 | title=President Bill Clinton Biography | author=AmericaLive | publisher=[[CNN]] |date =October 22, 2010}}</ref> a [[TED (conference)|TED]] Prize (named for the confluence of technology, entertainment and design),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://tedblog.typepad.com/tedblog/2007/04/2007_ted_prize__2.html | title=2007 TED Prize winner Bill Clinton on TEDTalks | publisher=TED Blog | date=April 4, 2007 | accessdate=August 31, 2011 | deadurl=yes | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20110728122424/http://tedblog.typepad.com/tedblog/2007/04/2007_ted_prize__2.html | archivedate=July 28, 2011 }}</ref> and was named as an Honorary [[GLAAD Media Award]] recipient for his work as an advocate for the [[LGBT]] community.<ref name="24-GLAAD-LA">{{cite web | url=http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/losangeles | title=24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards – Los Angeles | author= | accessdate=April 7, 2013 | publisher=[[GLAAD|GLAAD.org]]}}</ref> U.S. President Barack Obama awarded Clinton the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] on November 20, 2013.<ref name="Medal of Honor">{{cite news | title=Obama awards Medal of Freedom to Clinton, Oprah, others | url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/20/obama-clinton-oprah-winfrey-dean-smith-ernie-banks/3650113 | work=USA Today | accessdate=November 20, 2013|first1=David|last1=Jackson | date=November 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Authored books==
*{{cite book | title=[[Between Hope and History]] | year=1996 | publisher=Times Books | location=New York | isbn=978-0-8129-2913-3}}
*{{cite book | title=[[My Life (Bill Clinton autobiography)|My Life]] | year=2004 | publisher=Vintage Books | location=New York | isbn=978-1-4000-3003-3 | edition=1st}}
*{{cite book | title=[[Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World]] | year=2007 | publisher=Knopf | location=New York | isbn=0-307-26674-5 | edition=1st}}
*{{cite book|title = Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy|url = https://books.google.com/?id=-S2JCDOpgXYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:%22Bill+Clinton%22|year =2011|publisher = Knopf|isbn = 978-0-307-95975-1}}

==Recordings==

Bill Clinton is one of the narrators on a 2003 recording of [[Sergei Prokofiev]]'s ''Peter and the Wolf'', on [[PentaTone Classics|Pentatone]], together with [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] and [[Sophia Loren]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Arkansas|Government of the United States|Politics}}

* [[Clinton family]]
* [[Clinton School of Public Service]]
* [[Gun control policy of the Clinton Administration]]
* [[Historical rankings of Presidents of the United States]]
* [[List of Governors of Arkansas]]
* [[List of Presidents of the United States]]
* [[List of Presidents of the United States, sortable by previous experience]]
* [[List of TED speakers]]


==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==

===Primary sources===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Clinton, Bill. (with [[Al Gore]]). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20070621005829/http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/22/4f/40.pdf Science in the National Interest].'' Washington, D.C.: The White House, August 1994.
*--- (with Al Gore). ''[http://www.gcrio.org/USCCAP/toc.html The Climate Change Action Plan].'' Washington, D.C.: The White House, October 1993.
* [[Taylor Branch]] ''The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President.'' (2009) Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4165-4333-6
* ''Official Congressional Record Impeachment Set: … Containing the Procedures for Implementing the Articles of Impeachment and the Proceedings of the Impeachment Trial of President William Jefferson Clinton.'' Washington, D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 1999.
* ''Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, William J. Clinton.'' Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O., 1994–2002.
* [[S. Daniel Abraham]] ''[[Peace Is Possible]]'', foreword by Bill Clinton
{{refend}}

===Popular books===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Peter Baker ''The Breach: Inside the Impeachment and Trial of William Jefferson Clinton'' (2000) ISBN 0-684-86813-X
* [[James Bovard]] ''Feeling Your Pain: The Explosion and Abuse of Government Power in the Clinton-Gore Years'' (2000) ISBN 0-312-23082-6
* [[Joe Conason]] and [[Gene Lyons]] ''The Hunting of the President: The Ten-Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton'' (2003) ISBN 0-312-27319-3
* [[Elizabeth Drew]] ''On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency'' (1994) ISBN 0-671-87147-1
* [[David Gergen]] ''Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership.'' (2000) ISBN 0-684-82663-1
* [[Nigel Hamilton (author)|Nigel Hamilton]] ''Bill Clinton: An American Journey'' (2003) ISBN 0-375-50610-1
* [[Christopher Hitchens]] ''No One Left to Lie to: The Triangulations of William Jefferson Clinton'' (1999) ISBN 1-85984-736-6
* [[Michael Isikoff]] ''Uncovering Clinton: A Reporter's Story'' (1999) ISBN 0-609-60393-0
* [[Mark Katz]] ''Clinton and Me: A Real-Life Political Comedy'' (2004) ISBN 978-0-7868-6949-7
* David Maraniss ''The Clinton Enigma: A Four and a Half Minute Speech Reveals This President's Entire Life'' (1998) ISBN 0-684-86296-4
* [[Dick Morris]] with Eileen McGann ''Because He Could'' (2004) ISBN 0-06-078415-6
* [[Richard Posner|Richard A. Posner]] ''An Affair of State: The Investigation, Impeachment, and Trial of President Clinton'' (1999) ISBN 0-674-00080-3
* Mark J. Rozell ''The Clinton Scandal and the Future of American Government'' (2000) ISBN 0-87840-777-4
* Timperlake, Edward, and William C. Triplett II ''Year of the Rat: How Bill Clinton Compromised U.S. Security for Chinese Cash''. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, 1998. 275 p. + [8] p. of col. photos. ISBN 0-89526-333-5
* Michael Waldman ''POTUS Speaks: Finding the Words That Defined the Clinton Presidency'' (2000) ISBN 0-7432-0020-9
* Ivory Tower Publishing Company. Achievements of the Clinton Administration: the Complete Legislative and Executive. (1995) ISBN 0-88032-748-0
{{refend}}

===Scholarly studies===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Campbell, Colin, and Bert A. Rockman, eds. ''The Clinton Legacy'' (Chatham House Pub, 2000)
* Cohen; Jeffrey E. "The Polls: Change and Stability in Public Assessments of Personal Traits, Bill Clinton, 1993–99" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 31, 2001
* Cronin, Thomas E. and Michael A. Genovese; "President Clinton and Character Questions" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' Vol. 28, 1998
* Davis; John. "The Evolution of American Grand Strategy and the War on Terrorism: Clinton and Bush Perspectives" ''White House Studies'', Vol. 3, 2003
* Dumbrell, John. "Was there a Clinton doctrine? President Clinton's foreign policy reconsidered." ''Diplomacy and Statecraft'' 13.2 (2002): 43-56.
* Edwards; George C. "Bill Clinton and His Crisis of Governance" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly,'' Vol. 28, 1998
* Fisher; Patrick. "Clinton's Greatest Legislative Achievement? the Success of the 1993 Budget Reconciliation Bill" ''White House Studies'', Vol. 1, 2001
* Glad; Betty. "Evaluating Presidential Character" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 28, 1998
* Harris, John F. ''The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House (2006).
* Hyland, William G. . ''Clinton's World: Remaking American Foreign Policy'' (1999) ISBN 0-275-96396-9
* Jewett, Aubrey W. and Marc D. Turetzky; "Stability and Change in President Clinton's Foreign Policy Beliefs, 1993–96" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 28, 1998
* Kim, Claire Jean. "Managing the Racial Breach: Clinton, Black‐White Polarization, and the Race Initiative." ''Political Science Quarterly'' 117.1 (2002): 55-79. [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2307/798094/abstract online]
* Laham, Nicholas, ''A Lost Cause: Bill Clinton's Campaign for National Health Insurance'' (1996)
Campbell, Colin, and Bert A. Rockman, eds. The Clinton Legacy. Chatham House Pub, 2000.
* Lanoue, David J. and Craig F. Emmert; "Voting in the Glare of the Spotlight: Representatives' Votes on the Impeachment of President Clinton" ''Polity'', Vol. 32, 1999
* Levy, Peter B. ''Encyclopedia of the Clinton presidency'' (Greenwood, 2002)
* Maurer; Paul J. "Media Feeding Frenzies: Press Behavior during Two Clinton Scandals" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly,'' Vol. 29, 1999
* Nie; Martin A. "'It's the Environment, Stupid!': Clinton and the Environment" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 27, 1997 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/27551699 in JSTOR]
* O'Connor; Brendon. "Policies, Principles, and Polls: Bill Clinton's Third Way Welfare Politics 1992–1996" ''The Australian Journal of Politics and History'', Vol. 48, 2002
* Poveda; Tony G. "Clinton, Crime, and the Justice Department" ''Social Justice'', Vol. 21, 1994
* Renshon; Stanley A. ''The Clinton Presidency: Campaigning, Governing, and the Psychology of Leadership'' Westview Press, 1995
* Romano, Flavio. ''Clinton and Blair: the political economy of the third way'' (Routledge, 2007)
* Renshon; Stanley A. "The Polls: The Public's Response to the Clinton Scandals, Part 1: Inconsistent Theories, Contradictory Evidence" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 32, 2002
* Rushefsky, Mark E. and Kant Patel. ''Politics, Power & Policy Making: The Case of Health Care Reform in the 1990s'' (1998) ISBN 1-56324-956-1
* Schantz, Harvey L. ''Politics in an Era of Divided Government: Elections and Governance in the Second Clinton Administration'' (2001) ISBN 0-8153-3583-0
* Troy, Gill. ''The Age of Clinton: America in the 1990s'' (2015)
* Warshaw, Shirley Anne. ''The Clinton Years'' ( Infobase Publishing, 2009)
* Wattenberg; Martin P. "The Democrats' Decline in the House during the Clinton Presidency: An Analysis of Partisan Swings" ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'', Vol. 29, 1999
* Wattier; Mark J. "The Clinton Factor: The Effects of Clinton's Personal Image in 2000 Presidential Primaries and in the General Election" ''White House Studies'', Vol. 4, 2004
* Smithers, Luken J. "The Miracle Whip"
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Bill_Clinton_(spoken_article).ogg|2012-06-04}}
{{Sister project links | wikt=Clinton | b=no | s=Author:William Jefferson Clinton | v=no}}
;Official
* [http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/ Presidential Library & Museum]
* [http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjclinton/ White House biography]

;Organizations
* [http://www.clintonfoundation.org/ Clinton Foundation]

;Books and movies
* {{IMDb name|0001051 | name=Bill Clinton}}

;Interviews, speeches and statements
* {{CongLinks
| c-span = billclinton
| rose = 329
| imdb =
| ontheissuespath = Bill_Clinton.htm
| nyt = c/bill_clinton
| wsj =
| guardian = world/bill-clinton
| findagrave =
| retrieved =
}}
* {{C-SPAN|Bill Clinton}}
* {{TED speaker|bill_clinton}}
* [http://millercenter.org/president/speeches#clinton Full audio of a number of Clinton speeches] [[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]
* [http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/A-0027/menu.html Oral History Interview with Bill Clinton] from [http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/ Oral Histories of the American South], June 1974
* [http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/09/18/060918fa_fact1 "The Wanderer"], a profile from ''[[The New Yorker]]'', September 2006

;Media coverage
* {{Guardian topic|world/clinton}}
* {{NYT topic|people/c/bill_clinton}}
* {{WSJ topic|person/C/bill-clinton/6326}}

;Other
*{{Dmoz|Society/History/By_Region/North_America/United_States/Presidents/Clinton%2C_William_Jefferson/}}
* [http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/index.php/academic/americanpresident/clinton Extensive essays on Bill Clinton] and shorter essays on each member of his cabinet and First Lady from the [[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]
* [http://americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=41 Bill Clinton] at [[C-SPAN]]'s ''[[American Presidents: Life Portraits]]''
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/clinton/player/ ''Clinton''] an ''[[American Experience]]'' documentary

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Talk:ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-23T14:52:20Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Splitting media reaction into "support" and "criticism" */

{{Talk header}}
{{WikiProject Abortion}}
{{WikiProject Internet culture}}
{{WikiProject Women}}

== Removed that Ameial Bonow "forced to leave her home" per [[WP:BLP]] ==

Amelia Bonow has criticized media reports that threats have “forced her to leave her home” as sensationalism. Bonow reports she hasn't received credible threats [http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170] . Additionally, WP articles tend to have longer staying power than individual LA times articles etc, so it seems we probably should not publicize that Bonow's address has been made publicly available (the article linking apartment complex is still available online as far as I know) because announcing this on Wikipedia could potentially lead to credible threats or stalking.

== Staying on topic per reliable sources ==

Some of the content recently reverted appeared to be the sort of thing that would be added to college research paper on this topic, but it did not adhere to sourcing per Wikipedia guidelines. References that made no mention of Shout Your Abortion were added to veer off into the wider topic of abortion related violence. These references made no mention of Shout Your Abortion and would be more appropriate in [[Anti-abortion violence]] article. This article should be referenced by sources which specifically refer to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. We shouldn't add our own interpretation or our own idea of what is relevant background information for this article, but rather rely only on what reliable sources which specifically discuss Shout Your Abortion present as the background and the context here. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 03:27, 7 November 2015 (UTC)

:Hi [[User:Feministyolo|Feministyolo]], your undiscussed total rewrite of the article has been reverted. Please review [[WP:No Original Research]]. I notice from your user page that you are a student editor for “Advanced Readings in Feminist Theory” and that you have added many sources to the article which do not at all mention SYA social media campaign. As WP editors, we are only suppose to report on what reliable sources have published in relation to the topic. We can’t add sources from an Advanced Readings in Feminist Theory course, when those sources don’t discuss the topics (in this case abortion stigma, abortion violence, history of planned parenthoood etc) specifically in relation to Shout Your Abortion. We can’t publish original thought on WP. Also, all articles on the topic of abortion are covered by [[Wikipedia:Community discretionary sanctions]] and are subject to [[WP:1RR]] rule. You technically violated this today (Nov 11).--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 06:18, 11 November 2015 (UTC)

== Splitting media reaction into "support" and "criticism" ==

I don't think we should change the media attention section into two different sections for "support" and "criticism". Doing this seems confusing because it requires O’Doherty's comments (which were mixed) to be split, into 2 different sections. Also, some of the commentary seems neutral, and it seems we shouldn't require editors to make a personal opinion judgement on whether a commentator is being supportive, critical or neutral. Also, it seems confusing to mix the coverage of reaction on twitter with the reaction of mainstream media. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 14:49, 23 November 2015 (UTC)

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-23T14:50:01Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Criticism and backlash */ add hyphen

Talk:ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-23T14:49:38Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Splitting media reaction into "support" and "criticism" */ new section

{{Talk header}}
{{WikiProject Abortion}}
{{WikiProject Internet culture}}
{{WikiProject Women}}

== Removed that Ameial Bonow "forced to leave her home" per [[WP:BLP]] ==

Amelia Bonow has criticized media reports that threats have “forced her to leave her home” as sensationalism. Bonow reports she hasn't received credible threats [http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170] . Additionally, WP articles tend to have longer staying power than individual LA times articles etc, so it seems we probably should not publicize that Bonow's address has been made publicly available (the article linking apartment complex is still available online as far as I know) because announcing this on Wikipedia could potentially lead to credible threats or stalking.

== Staying on topic per reliable sources ==

Some of the content recently reverted appeared to be the sort of thing that would be added to college research paper on this topic, but it did not adhere to sourcing per Wikipedia guidelines. References that made no mention of Shout Your Abortion were added to veer off into the wider topic of abortion related violence. These references made no mention of Shout Your Abortion and would be more appropriate in [[Anti-abortion violence]] article. This article should be referenced by sources which specifically refer to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. We shouldn't add our own interpretation or our own idea of what is relevant background information for this article, but rather rely only on what reliable sources which specifically discuss Shout Your Abortion present as the background and the context here. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 03:27, 7 November 2015 (UTC)

:Hi [[User:Feministyolo|Feministyolo]], your undiscussed total rewrite of the article has been reverted. Please review [[WP:No Original Research]]. I notice from your user page that you are a student editor for “Advanced Readings in Feminist Theory” and that you have added many sources to the article which do not at all mention SYA social media campaign. As WP editors, we are only suppose to report on what reliable sources have published in relation to the topic. We can’t add sources from an Advanced Readings in Feminist Theory course, when those sources don’t discuss the topics (in this case abortion stigma, abortion violence, history of planned parenthoood etc) specifically in relation to Shout Your Abortion. We can’t publish original thought on WP. Also, all articles on the topic of abortion are covered by [[Wikipedia:Community discretionary sanctions]] and are subject to [[WP:1RR]] rule. You technically violated this today (Nov 11).--[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 06:18, 11 November 2015 (UTC)

== Splitting media reaction into "support" and "criticism" ==

I don't think we should change the media reaction section into two different sections for "support" and "criticism". Doing this seems confusing because it requires O’Doherty comments (which were mixed) to be split, into 2 different sections. Also, some of the commentary seems neutral, and it seems we shouldn't require editors to make a personal opinion judgement on whether a commentator is being supportive, critical or neutral. Also, it seems confusing to mix the coverage of reaction on twitter with the reaction of mainstream media. --[[User:BoboMeowCat|BoboMeowCat]] ([[User talk:BoboMeowCat|talk]]) 14:49, 23 November 2015 (UTC)

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-23T14:46:46Z

BoboMeowCat: Seems confusing to split media responses into "support" & "criticism". Some seem neutral, but I added "support" to content header per sources (see talk)

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame." Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015 by American activists [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>

==Background and origin==

On September 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret.”<ref name="Pearson" /> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s Facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about.” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24-hour period.<ref name="Wilmer" /><ref name="Aditi" /><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Support for abortion-rights==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion.”<ref name="West" /> West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Bonow expressed that perhaps she and her friends, whom Bonow described as "irreverent, foul-mouthed ladies" were better able than those currently inside the traditional abortion-rights organizations to talk frankly about their positive experiences with abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vara|first1=Vauhini|title=Can #ShoutYourAbortion Turn Hashtag Activism Into a Movement?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-shoutyourabortion-turn-hashtag-activism-into-a-movement|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=The New Yorker|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> Within days of the launch of the social media campaign, Bonow was contacted by [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] and Planned Parenthood with advice for harnessing the current outpouring of attention in order to turn Shout Your Abortion into something bigger and more organized. In November 2015, an official Shout Your Abortion web site and [[YouTube channel]] were launched.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Caitlin|title=How #ShoutYourAbortion is transforming the reproductive rights conversation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-shoutyourabortion-is-transforming-the-reproductive-rights-conversation/2015/11/13/aa64e68a-895f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html?postshare=1891447654778109&tid=ss_tw|accessdate=16 November 2015|publisher=The Washington Post|date=15 November 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism and backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight.”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Lewin">{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref name="Lewin" /><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other critical tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion."<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

Some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, the hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption was created in response to #ShoutYourAbortion, to promote [[adoption]] instead of abortion.<ref name="Lewin" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladwell|first1=Hattie|title=#ShoutYourAdoption: The campaign celebrating life and adoption|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/23/shoutyouradoption-the-campaign-celebrating-life-and-adoption-5404069/|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=Metro|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Writing for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]], Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

Shout Your Abortion was described as marking a significant tonal shift in the cultural conversation about abortion in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', by Caitlin Gibson. She described Shout Your Abortion as a shift away from describing abortion as a less-than-desirable outcome and a distancing from [[Hillary Clinton]]’s frequently-quoted 2008 remark that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare," saying the campaign moves the discussion away from extreme cases involving [[rape]], [[incest]], medical emergencies or severe birth defects.<ref name="Gibson" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
*[http://shoutyourabortion.com/ Official website - Shout Your Abortion]
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AL15Hw0yvc #ShoutYourAbortion Official YouTube Channel]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''
* [http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2015/10/05/shoutyourabortion-co-founder-discusses-hairy-armpits-and-fighting-stigma/ #ShoutYourAbortion Co-Founder Discusses Hairy Armpits and Fighting Stigma] - published by KQED Arts

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-18T16:24:21Z

BoboMeowCat: /* External links */ add youtube channel

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015, by American activists: [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
==Background and origin==

On Septermber 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder, Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about .” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period.<ref name="Wilmer"></ref><ref name="Aditi"></ref><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Purpose and content==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion”.
West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Bonow expressed that perhaps she and her friends, who Bonow described as "irreverent, foul-mouthed ladies" were better able than those currently inside the traditional abortion-rights organizations to talk frankly about their positive experiences with abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vara|first1=Vauhini|title=Can #ShoutYourAbortion Turn Hashtag Activism Into a Movement?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-shoutyourabortion-turn-hashtag-activism-into-a-movement|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=The New Yorker|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> Within days of the launch of the social media campaign, Bonow was contacted by [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] and Planned Parenthood with advice for harnessing the current outpouring of attention in order to turn Shout Your Abortion into something bigger and more organized. In November 2015, an official Shout Your Abortion web site and [[YouTube channel]] were launched.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Caitlin|title=How #ShoutYourAbortion is transforming the reproductive rights conversation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-shoutyourabortion-is-transforming-the-reproductive-rights-conversation/2015/11/13/aa64e68a-895f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html?postshare=1891447654778109&tid=ss_tw|accessdate=16 November 2015|publisher=The Washington Post|date=15 November 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism/backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Lewin">{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other critical tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion".<ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

Some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, the hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption was created in response to #ShoutYourAbortion, to promote [[adoption]] instead of abortion.<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladwell|first1=Hattie|title=#ShoutYourAdoption: The campaign celebrating life and adoption|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/23/shoutyouradoption-the-campaign-celebrating-life-and-adoption-5404069/|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=Metro|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Writing for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]], Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

Shout Your Abortion was described as marking a significant tonal shift in the cultural conversation about abortion in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', by Caitlin Gibson. She described Shout Your Abortion as a shift away from describing abortion as a less-than-desirable outcome and a distancing from [[Hillary Clinton]]’s frequently-quoted 2008 remark that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare", saying the campaign moves the discussion away from extreme cases involving [[rape]], [[incest]], medical emergencies or severe birth defects.<ref name="Gibson"></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
*[http://shoutyourabortion.com/ Official website - Shout Your Abortion]
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AL15Hw0yvc #ShoutYourAbortion Official YouTube Channel]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''
* [http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2015/10/05/shoutyourabortion-co-founder-discusses-hairy-armpits-and-fighting-stigma/ #ShoutYourAbortion Co-Founder Discusses Hairy Armpits and Fighting Stigma] - published by KQED Arts

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-18T16:17:41Z

BoboMeowCat: add external link and official website & copyedit

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015, by American activists: [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
==Background and origin==

On Septermber 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder, Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about .” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period.<ref name="Wilmer"></ref><ref name="Aditi"></ref><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Purpose and content==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion”.
West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Bonow expressed that perhaps she and her friends, who Bonow described as "irreverent, foul-mouthed ladies" were better able than those currently inside the traditional abortion-rights organizations to talk frankly about their positive experiences with abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vara|first1=Vauhini|title=Can #ShoutYourAbortion Turn Hashtag Activism Into a Movement?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-shoutyourabortion-turn-hashtag-activism-into-a-movement|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=The New Yorker|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> Within days of the launch of the social media campaign, Bonow was contacted by [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] and Planned Parenthood with advice for harnessing the current outpouring of attention in order to turn Shout Your Abortion into something bigger and more organized. In November 2015, an official Shout Your Abortion web site and [[YouTube channel]] were launched.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Caitlin|title=How #ShoutYourAbortion is transforming the reproductive rights conversation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-shoutyourabortion-is-transforming-the-reproductive-rights-conversation/2015/11/13/aa64e68a-895f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html?postshare=1891447654778109&tid=ss_tw|accessdate=16 November 2015|publisher=The Washington Post|date=15 November 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism/backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Lewin">{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other critical tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion".<ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

Some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, the hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption was created in response to #ShoutYourAbortion, to promote [[adoption]] instead of abortion.<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladwell|first1=Hattie|title=#ShoutYourAdoption: The campaign celebrating life and adoption|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/23/shoutyouradoption-the-campaign-celebrating-life-and-adoption-5404069/|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=Metro|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Writing for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]], Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

Shout Your Abortion was described as marking a significant tonal shift in the cultural conversation about abortion in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', by Caitlin Gibson. She described Shout Your Abortion as a shift away from describing abortion as a less-than-desirable outcome and a distancing from [[Hillary Clinton]]’s frequently-quoted 2008 remark that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare", saying the campaign moves the discussion away from extreme cases involving [[rape]], [[incest]], medical emergencies or severe birth defects.<ref name="Gibson"></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
*[http://shoutyourabortion.com/ Official website - Shout Your Abortion]
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''
* [http://ww2.kqed.org/pop/2015/10/05/shoutyourabortion-co-founder-discusses-hairy-armpits-and-fighting-stigma/ #ShoutYourAbortion Co-Founder Discusses Hairy Armpits and Fighting Stigma] - published by KQED Arts

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-16T16:34:34Z

BoboMeowCat:

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015, by American activists: [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
==Background and origin==

On Septermber 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder, Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about .” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period.<ref name="Wilmer"></ref><ref name="Aditi"></ref><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Purpose and content==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion”.
West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Bonow expressed that perhaps she and her friends, who Bonow described as "irreverent, foul-mouthed ladies" were better able than those currently inside the traditional abortion-rights organizations to talk frankly about their positive experiences with abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vara|first1=Vauhini|title=Can #ShoutYourAbortion Turn Hashtag Activism Into a Movement?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-shoutyourabortion-turn-hashtag-activism-into-a-movement|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=The New Yorker|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> Within days of the launch of the social media campaign, Bonow was contacted by [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] and Planned Parenthood with advice for harnessing the current outpouring of attention in order to turn Shout Your Abortion into something bigger and more organized. In November 2015, an official Shout Your Abortion web site and [[YouTube channel]] were launched.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Caitlin|title=How #ShoutYourAbortion is transforming the reproductive rights conversation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-shoutyourabortion-is-transforming-the-reproductive-rights-conversation/2015/11/13/aa64e68a-895f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html?postshare=1891447654778109&tid=ss_tw|accessdate=16 November 2015|publisher=The Washington Post|date=15 November 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism/backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Lewin">{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion".<ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref> In response to the Shout Your Abortion campaign, the hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption was created to promote [[adoption]] instead of abortion.<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladwell|first1=Hattie|title=#ShoutYourAdoption: The campaign celebrating life and adoption|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/23/shoutyouradoption-the-campaign-celebrating-life-and-adoption-5404069/|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=Metro|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Writing for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]], Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

Shout Your Abortion was described as marking a significant tonal shift in the cultural conversation about abortion in ''[[The Washington Post]]'', by Caitlin Gibson. Gibson described Shout Your Abortion as a shift away from describing abortion as a less-than-desirable outcome and a distancing from [[Hillary Clinton]]’s frequently-quoted 2008 remark that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare", saying the campaign moves the discussion away from extreme cases involving [[rape]], [[incest]], medical emergencies or severe birth defects.<ref name="Gibson"></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-16T16:28:35Z

BoboMeowCat: add ref & content from Washington Post, tweak order, and copy edit

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015, by American activists: [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
==Background and origin==

On Septermber 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder, Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about .” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period.<ref name="Wilmer"></ref><ref name="Aditi"></ref><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Purpose and content==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion”.
West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Bonow expressed that perhaps she and her friends, who Bonow described as "irreverent, foul-mouthed ladies" were better able than those currently inside the traditional abortion-rights organizations to talk frankly about their positive experiences with abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vara|first1=Vauhini|title=Can #ShoutYourAbortion Turn Hashtag Activism Into a Movement?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-shoutyourabortion-turn-hashtag-activism-into-a-movement|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=The New Yorker|date=10 November 2015}}</ref> Within days of the launch of the social media campaign, Bonow was contacted by [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] and Planned Parenthood with advice for harnessing the current outpouring of attention in order to turn Shout Your Abortion into something bigger and more organized. In November 2015, an official Shout Your Abortion web site and [[YouTube channel]] were launched. <ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Caitlin|title=How #ShoutYourAbortion is transforming the reproductive rights conversation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/how-shoutyourabortion-is-transforming-the-reproductive-rights-conversation/2015/11/13/aa64e68a-895f-11e5-9a07-453018f9a0ec_story.html?postshare=1891447654778109&tid=ss_tw|accessdate=16 November 2015|publisher=The Washington Post|date=15 November 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism/backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Lewin">{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion".<ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref> In response to the Shout Your Abortion campaign, the hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption was created to promote [[adoption]] instead of abortion.<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladwell|first1=Hattie|title=#ShoutYourAdoption: The campaign celebrating life and adoption|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/23/shoutyouradoption-the-campaign-celebrating-life-and-adoption-5404069/|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=Metro|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Writing for [[Jezebel (website)|Jezebel]], Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

Shout Your Abortion was described as marking a significant tonal shift in the cultural conversation about abortion in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' by Caitlin Gibson. Gibson described Shout Your Abortion as a shift away from describing abortion as a less-than-desirable outcome and a distancing from [[Hillary Clinton]]’s frequently-quoted 2008 remark that abortion should be “safe, legal and rare", saying the campaign moves the discussion away from extreme cases involving [[rape]], [[incest]], medical emergencies or severe birth defects.<ref name="Gibson"></ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-11T14:49:35Z

BoboMeowCat: add quote from Bonow from The New Yorker, #ShoutYourAdoption, and refs

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015, by American activists: [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
==Background and origin==

On Septermber 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder, Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about .” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period.<ref name="Wilmer"></ref><ref name="Aditi"></ref><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Purpose and content==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref> In and interview with the ''[[The New Yorker]]'', Bonow expressed that perhaps she and her friends, who Bonow described as "irreverent, foul-mouthed ladies" were better able than those currently inside the traditional abortion-rights organizations to talk frankly about their positive experiences with abortion.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vara|first1=Vauhini|title=Can #ShoutYourAbortion Turn Hashtag Activism Into a Movement?|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-shoutyourabortion-turn-hashtag-activism-into-a-movement|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=The New Yorker|date=10 November 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion”.
West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism/backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Lewin">{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion".<ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref> In response to the Shout Your Abortion campaign, the hashtag #ShoutYourAdoption was created to promote [[adoption]] instead of abortion.<ref name="Lewin"></ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gladwell|first1=Hattie|title=#ShoutYourAdoption: The campaign celebrating life and adoption|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/23/shoutyouradoption-the-campaign-celebrating-life-and-adoption-5404069/|accessdate=11 November 2015|publisher=Metro|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-11T06:25:14Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Criticism/backlash */ punctuation

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015, by American activists: [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
==Background and origin==

On Septermber 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder, Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about .” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period.<ref name="Wilmer"></ref><ref name="Aditi"></ref><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Purpose and content==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion”.
West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism/backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said, “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion".<ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]

Talk:ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-11T06:21:13Z

BoboMeowCat: /* Staying on topic per reliable sources */ undiscussed rewrite of article in violation of WP:NOR

ShoutYourAbortion

2015-11-11T06:20:29Z

BoboMeowCat: Restored last version by Donner60 – reverted undiscussed rewrite of article in violation of WP:NOR

'''Shout Your Abortion''' also known as ''#ShoutYourAbortion'' is a social media campaign where women share their [[abortion]] experiences online without “sadness, shame or regret” for the purpose of “destigmatization, normalization, and putting an end to shame". Tens of thousands of women worldwide have shared their abortion experiences online using the [[hashtag]] #ShoutYourAbortion. The Shout Your Abortion campaign was started on September 19, 2015, by American activists: [[Lindy West]], Amelia Bonow and Kimberly Morrison, in response to the [[US House of Representatives]] efforts to defund Planned Parenthood following the [[Planned Parenthood 2015 undercover videos controversy]]. The hashtag has received both positive and negative attention within social media and the mainstream media.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news|last1=Pearson|first1=Michael|title=Women embrace, criticize #ShoutYourAbortion|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/living/shout-your-abortion-feat/|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=CNN|date=29 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Buchanan|first1=Rose|title=Tens of thousands of women share their abortion experiences in global attempt to end stigma|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/tens-of-thousands-of-women-share-their-abortion-experiences-in-global-attempt-to-end-stigma-10512161.html|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=The Independent|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wilmer">{{cite news|last1=Wilmer|first1=Henry|title=The women 'shouting' their abortions|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34327404|accessdate=12 October 2015|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Bowden>{{cite news|last1=Bowden|first1=George|title=Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Aditi">{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Aditi|title=How the #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Started and Sparked a New Movement|url=http://abcnews.go.com/US/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-started-sparked-movement/story?id=34631955|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=ABC News|date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
==Background and origin==

On Septermber 18, 2015, the U.S House of Representatives passed legislation to suspend funding of [[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)]] for one year, pending investigation of allegations regarding PPFA’s practices with respect to fetal organ and tissue donation. Shout Your Abortion co-founder, Amelia Bonow reported she “cried all day” in response to the House of Representatives attempts to defund PPFA.<ref name="yahoo">{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion hashtag dominates pro-choice debate as Planned Parenthood funding is suspended|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/shout-abortion-hashtag-dominates-pro-145613656.html#okTfB38|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Syfret|first1=Wendy|title=We Spoke to a Founder of #shoutyourabortion About Rejecting Shame|url=http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/we-spoke-to-a-founder-of-shoutyourabortion-about-rejecting-shame|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Vice|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=Taylor>{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Florence|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Christian Today|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pickens|first1=Josie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Cries Loud|url=http://www.ebony.com/news-views/shoutyourabortion-cries-loud-999#axzz3n2zhevAf|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Ebony|date=24 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, Bonow turned to social media, speaking out in defense of PPFA on her [[Facebook]] page. Bonow expressed gratitude for what she described as an “incredibly positive experience” of an abortion procedure she had at a Planned Parenthood facility and Bonow publicly discussed her abortion without “sadness, shame or regret”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> Two other activists, Lindy West and Kimberly Morrison became involved. West took a screen shot of Bonow’s Facebook post, added the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion, and then sent Bonow’s facebook post out to her over 60,000 [[Twitter]] followers with the introduction: “The campaign to defund PP relies on the assumption that abortion is something to be whispered about .” An image of Kimberly Morrison's unshaved armpit with a tattoo that reads "fuck the [[patriarchy]]" was used as the logo for the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion soon trended worldwide, including in the US, Australia, UK, and Ireland. On September 22, 2015 the #ShoutYourAbortion hashtag was used over 100,000 times in a 24 hour period.<ref name="Wilmer"></ref><ref name="Aditi"></ref><ref name="Fishwick">{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: women fight stigma surrounding abortions|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/22/shoutyourabortion-women-fight-stigma-surrounding-abortions|accessdate=13 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Women tweet their abortion stories in hashtag campaign to fight stigma|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/shoutyourabortion-twitter-hashtag-2346285-Sep2015/|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=TheJournal.ie|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Davies">{{cite news|last1=Davies|first1=Madeleine|title=Amelia Bonow Explains How #ShoutYourAbortion 'Just Kicked the Patriarchy in the Dick'|url=http://jezebel.com/amelia-bonow-explains-how-shoutyourabortion-just-kicke-1732379155|accessdate=23 October 2015|date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

==Purpose and content==

Lindy West, Amelia Bonow, and Kimberly Morrison encouraged other women to share positive abortion experiences online using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion in order to “denounce the stigma surrounding abortion.”<ref name="Fishwick" /><ref>{{cite news|title='ShoutYourAbortion' campaign explodes on social media|url=http://news.yahoo.com/shoutyourabortion-campaign-explodes-social-media-222022186.html;_ylt=A0LEVj3jVypWjcEAvFYnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXQ0NThjBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM1BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=Yahoo News|date=22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Klabusich|first1=Katie|title=Frisky Rant: Actually, I Love Abortion|url=http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-09-25/frisky-rant-actually-i-love-abortion/?utm_campaign=autotweet&utm_medium=ref&utm_source=sc-tw|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=The Frisky|date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Fishwick|first1=Carmen|title=Why we need to talk about abortion: eight women share their experiences|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/09/why-we-need-to-talk-about-abortion-eight-women-share-their-experiences|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Guardian|date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koza|first1=Neo|title=#ShoutYourAbortion activists won't be silenced|url=http://ewn.co.za/2015/09/25/Shout-Your-Abortion|accessdate=23 October 2015|publisher=EWN Eyewitness News|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>

On September 19, 2015, West tweeted: “My abortion was in '10 & the career I've built since then fulfills me & makes me better able to care for kids I have now #ShoutYourAbortion”.
West said, "I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry and I will not whisper."<ref name="West">{{cite news|last1=West|first1=Lindy|title=I set up #ShoutYourAbortion because I am not sorry, and I will not whisper|url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/i-set-up-shoutyourabortion-because-i-am-not-sorry-and-i-will-not-whisper|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=22 September 2015}}</ref> Within days, tens of thousands of other women worldwide shared their personal abortion experiences. Tweets included: “I've never wanted to have children, so I had an abortion. I'm thriving, without guilt, without shame, without apologies. #ShoutYourAbortion”; “I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. #shoutyourabortion”; "In 1988 a late-term abortion got a teenage me back on track for college, career, & motherhood. #ShoutYourAbortion"; “My abortion was the most compassionate option for the baby and me. #ShoutYourAbortion”, and "I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. #shoutyourabortion".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nina|title=Why Women Are Shouting Out Their Abortion Stories On Twitter|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-are-tweeting-shoutyourabortion-to-end-abortion-stigma_55fffcf0e4b00310edf7a02c|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Zeilinger">{{cite news|last1=Zeilinger|first1=Julie|title=#ShoutYourAbortion: Twitter Users Are Bravely Fighting Stigma in the Most Inspiring Way|url=http://mic.com/articles/125616/shout-your-abortion-twitter-users-are-bravely-fighting-stigma-in-the-most-inspiring-way|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Mic.com|date=21 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kahn|first1=Matie|title=The Dark Side of Hashtag Activism|url=http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a30714/shoutyourabortion-hashtag-activism-harrassment/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Elle|date=25 September 2015}}</ref> [[Planned Parenthood]]'s executive vice present, Dawn Laguens, publicly supported the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign saying: "We're happy to see more and more people coming forward...these stories are a powerful reminder that women should never feel shamed or judged."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mogul|first1=Priyanka|title=Shout Your Abortion founder Amelia Bonow criticises LA Times for sensationalist death threat article|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/shout-your-abortion-founder-amelia-bonow-criticises-la-times-sensationalist-death-threat-article-1522170|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=International Business Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

== Criticism/backlash ==
In addition to positive abortion stories and support for the [[abortion rights movement]], the social media campaign received backlash and criticism as [[anti-abortion]] activists also began using the hashtag #ShoutYourAbortion. [[CNN]] reported: “it should surprise no one that this has turned into a bit of a fight”.<ref name="Pearson"></ref> [[Pro-life movement in the United States|Pro-life activist]] [[Gianna Jessen]] tweeted: “My medical records: 'Born during saline abortion.' I didn't have an abortion. I Lived through one. #shoutyourabortion." Conservative blogger [[Michelle Malkin]] urged her Twitter followers to "Shout this LOUDER: #PPSellsBabyParts.” Former Republican member of the House of Representatives, and 2012 presidential candidate [[Michele Bachmann]] said: “#ShoutYourAbortion gives a new meaning to [[macabre]].”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Lewin|first1 = Tamar|title = #ShoutYourAbortion Gets Angry Shouts Back|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/us/hashtag-campaign-twitter-abortion.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0#permid=16248329|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The New York Times|date = 1 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="Scanlan2">{{cite news|last1 = Scanlan|first1 = Kate|title = Viral #ShoutYourAbortion Hashtag Met With Pro-Life Response|url = http://dailysignal.com/2015/09/22/viral-shoutyourabortion-hashtag-met-with-pro-life-response/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = The Daily Signal|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref> Other tweets included: "When did making someone else pay dearly for your mistakes become empowerment for women? #shoutyourabortion"; "All of humanity past and present looks upon what has become of modern feminism and shakes its head in disgust & disbelief #shoutyourabortion"; and "All great genocides start by dehumanizing the victim. #ShoutYourAbortion".<ref name="Scanlan2" /><ref name="Pearson"></ref><ref name="Bowden2">{{cite news|last1 = Bowden|first1 = George|title = Planned Parenthood's #ShoutYourAbortion Sees Women Take To Social Media To Help Save Funding|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/22/shout-your-abortion-sees-women-take-to-social-media-to-help-save-planned-parenthood-funding_n_8174748.html|accessdate = 13 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Social media media campaign Shout Your Abortion stirring up controversy|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/morning-news/2015/9/social-media-media-campaign-shout-your-abortion-stirring-up-controversy.html|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AlJazeera America|date = 24 September 2015}}</ref>

On Twitter, some users who identified as pro-choice also questioned the approach. Tweets included: "I am pro choice. However, abortion is a difficult decision and not something to ‘shout’ about."; "Ladies there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate being a strong independent & intelligent woman, #ShoutYourAbortion is not one of them."; and "Regardless of your stance on abortion, why can't we all agree it's not something to brag about?”<ref name="Pearson" /><ref name="Taylor2">{{cite news|last1 = Taylor|first1 = Florence|title = #ShoutYourAbortion: Hashtag goes viral over Planned Parenthood funding cuts|url = http://www.christiantoday.com/article/shoutyourabortion.hashtag.goes.viral.over.planned.parenthood.funding.cuts/65489.htm|accessdate = 23 October 2015|publisher = Christian Today|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Abortion hashtag is stirring up a mix of controversy and support|url = http://www.aol.com/article/2015/09/22/abortion-hashtag-is-stirring-up-a-mix-of-controversy-and-support/21239420/|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = AOL News|date = 22 September 2015}}</ref>

In response to online criticism, actress [[Martha Plimpton]], co-founder of the pro-choice organization ''"A is for"'' created a “[[Mean Tweets]]” style video along with comedian [[Margaret Cho]] and other prominent contributors to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign. The video shows the women “laughing off the [[Internet Trolls|trolls]]” on Twitter. Critical tweets included: threats, references to racism, and calling the women “baby killers.”<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Pittman|first1 = Taylor|title = Women Read The Mean Tweets They Received For Supporting Abortion|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-read-the-mean-tweets-they-received-for-supporting-abortion_561fc3abe4b028dd7ea6d874?utm_hp_ref=women&ir=Women&section=women|accessdate = 24 October 2015|publisher = Huffington Post|date = 15 October 2015}}</ref>

==Media attention==
Media responses to the Shout Your Abortion social media campaign were mixed. [[Mic.com]], a media company focused on [[millennials]] described Shout Your Abortion as Twitter users “bravely fighting stigma in the most inspiring way”, while the ''[[The Blaze]]'', a conservative news outlet, responded to the campaign by stating: “there is a stigma rightfully associated with abortion...knowingly deciding to end human life for your life’s sake resonates poorly in the minds of humanity.”<ref name="Zeilinger" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Matt|title=#ShoutYourAbortion Proves That Modern Liberalism Is A Satanic Death Cult|url=http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/shoutyourabortion-proves-that-modern-liberalism-is-a-satanic-death-cult-2/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Blaze|date=22 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Shout Your Abortion co-founder Lindy West said, "there are no 'good' abortions and 'bad' abortions, because an abortion is just a medical procedure" and “a [[foetus]] is not a person.”<ref name="West" /> Ian O’Doherty writing for ''[[The Irish Independent]]'' commented on the social media campaign saying abortion is “not really something to shout about” describing abortion as “the only medical procedure which deliberately ends a life”, saying it can at best be described as “a necessary evil.” Voicing a pro-choice position, O’Doherty said “abortion should be legal, safe and rare” concluding “it’s not an act of patriarchial [[misogyny]] to say that.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Doherty|first1=Ian|title=Abortion: not really something to shout about|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/odoherty-abortion-not-really-something-to-shout-about-31555477.html|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=Irish Independent|date=27 September 2015}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', Nicole Brodeur commented that “If abortion is a political football, #ShoutYourAbortion is a [[Hail Mary pass]] - women publicizing an extremely personal decision in order to save what they believe is every woman’s right.”<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brodeur|first1=Nicole|title=Why #ShoutYourAbortion is a woman’s personal imperative|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/why-shoutyourabortion-is-a-womans-personal-imperative/|accessdate=24 October 2015|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow summarized the social media campaign by saying: “they can’t figure out how to shut us up” furthering, “there are too goddamned many of us and you cannot reverse a viral shift in cultural consciousness. “ Co-founder Lindy West said that getting the discussion out in public is the whole point of the social media campaign, saying: "you never have to feel ashamed of your personal medical decisions," “You can speak about them at full volume." <ref name="Davies" /><ref name="West" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />

==External links==
* [https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShoutYourAbortion?src=hash Postings to #ShoutYourAbortion] on [[Twitter]]
* [http://www.salon.com/2015/09/22/my_abortion_made_me_happy_the_story_that_started_the_shoutyourabortion_movement My abortion made me happy: The story that started the #shoutyourabortion movement] - Shout Your Abortion co-founder Amelia Bonow's story published by [[Salon (website)|Salon]]
* [https://vimeo.com/142463362 Abortion Tweet Theater] by ''A is for''

[[Category:Abortion debate]]
[[Category:Pro-choice movement]]
[[Category:Hashtags]]