Candidate Survey – Eichenbaum

Name: Dan Eichenbaum, M.D.
Occupation: Ophthalmologist
Party affiliation, if any: Republican
Political experience: None
Endorsements: Asheville TEA PAC, Cherokee County 9-12 Project, Independence Caucus, Can-Do Conservatives of America

1) How much money have you raised for your campaign?
$119,000

Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed?
Myself, Jesse Eichenbaum and Robbie Eichenbaum. [Amounts not provided.]

2) What most distinguishes you from your opponents?
I am a statesman, not a politician. I represent a principled and energetic drive to represent Western North Carolina and can build a broad coalition to take on Heath Shuler. I am also the only candidate in this race to sign a bonded term-limit pledge to three terms.

3) What are your top three legislative priorities?
1. Private-sector job growth by eliminating capital gains and corporate taxes, drastic cuts in government size and spending, decrease in burdensome regulations.
2. Restore constitutionally mandated balance of federal/state power.
3. Energy independence by allowing energy companies to develop all domestic resources (oil, natural gas, wind, solar, biodiesel, nuclear, etc.)

4) What's your position on the recent health-care reform legislation passed by Congress? What steps should be next in tackling health care?
President Obama's health-care reform legislation is a bold step in exactly the wrong direction. It will only further damage the doctor/patient relationship. It must be defunded and repealed. We need free-market solutions: tax-free health savings accounts, insurance policies owned by individuals, nationwide insurance-company competition and state-level tort reform.

5) What steps should be taken to deal with the contaminated former CTS of Asheville site? What's your opinion of the EPA's handling of the cleanup?
Though I do not know the details of this situation, it is my opinion that environmental regulations are best managed on a state or local level. If CTS was responsible for the pollution, the responsible parties should have been made to clean it up with state or local oversight.

6) What's your opinion of the Defense Department's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy?
Sexual orientation should not be used to discriminate. Government and private entities may limit overt sexual activities, heterosexual and homosexual, to protect the safety and efficacy of the group. Homosexuality in the military should be dealt with as a matter of military policy, not government or social policy.

7) How do you believe the federal government should deal with the immigration situation?
Nations requires borders. Enforce current immigration laws and erect whatever barriers are necessary to keep out illegal aliens, drug smugglers and terrorists. Deport convicted illegals, and require police to determine the immigration status of detained persons. Fine those who hire known illegals and do not grant amnesty.

8) What steps do you favor to deal with the economic downturn?
Wasteful government spending and deliberate distortion of the free market got us into this mess. Congress has quadrupled its spending over the past two years, expecting that to bring prosperity. Government needs to drastically reduce spending and return revenues to small businesses and individuals, where they belong.

9) What's your position on abortion?
Life is sacred and begins at conception. Abortions should not be allowed except to save the life of the mother.

10) What do you believe is the best course for the U.S. to take in Afghanistan and Iraq?
We should focus on locating and killing al-Qaida leaders and soldiers, not on reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan in our image. Nation-building is a dangerous and costly endeavor and only furthers foreign resentment and increases the chances of future attacks.