Michel Faulkner
Encyclopedia
Michel J. Faulkner is a former New York Jets
football player and was the 2010 Republican
nominee for U.S. Representative for . He is the pastor
for New Horizon Church in New York City
.
police officer
. After moving to D.C., he lived and attended elementary school
in southeast Washington, D.C. area of Anacostia
. His family later moved to Prince George's County, Maryland
, where Faulkner attend junior high and was graduated from Bishop McNamara High School
in 1975. He was awarded a football scholarship to Virginia Tech where he was a four-year starter and freshman All-American. In 1980, he was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in communications and sociology
. While at Tech Faulkner was involved in drama and spoken word
presentations where he developed his public speaking
abilities.
and had tryouts with the Oakland Raiders
and the Washington Redskins
. In 1981 he attended training camp with the New York Jets
and spent the 1981-1982 season with the team as a defensive lineman. He was cut from the Jets in 1982 because of a leg injury.
. After deciding to attend CBN, now Regents University in Virginia Beach, Virginia
, he served as Virginia Tech's assistant academic advisory to athletes. Faulkner moved to Blacksburg, Virginia
(Virginia Tech) to complete his master's degree
in education
and career counseling
. After completing his master's degree in 1985, Faulkner met Jerry Falwell
and joined Liberty University
as assistant Dean of Students. In 1987, he was promoted to vice president for urban ministry. In 1988 he moved from Lynchburg Va.
to Times Square
area of Manhattan
.
as assistant pastor of Lamb's Church in Times Square
. Here he worked directly with homeless men, women and children as both a pastor and a social work
er. Faulkner worked as an advocate for the homeless and the poor with both city, state and community organization
s.
In 1989, Faulkner joined Calvary Baptist Church in Midtown Manhattan
as a youth pastor and community outreach. He led the ministries to train and develop youth and managed the church’s programs serving the homeless, the prison ministry and an HIV
/AIDS
program. Faulkner was ordained at Calvary Baptist Church in December 1991.
In 1993, Rev. Faulkner became the senior pastor of Central Baptist Church in Manhattan
, growing the congregation from an average of 50 weekly attendees to over 400. During his nearly 14-year tenure at Central Baptist Church, Rev. Faulkner played in a leadership role in the creation of numerous city and leadership development
programs. He now pastors the New Horizon Church.
appointed Faulkner to Task Force on Police Community Relations, after working on Giuliani's campaign. He has also served as Commissioner of the City Charter Review initiative, the co-chairman for the New York City Board of Education
’s HIV/AIDS Task Force, and Vice President for Community Government Relations at King’s College from 1988 to 1992.
From June 2002 to February 2004, Michel served as World Vision
’s Director of U.S. Programs. He oversaw the distribution of over $1 million in faith-based
community and youth development grants
to eight local churches in New York City. Faulkner served as Regional Chaplin for New York State Office of Children and Family Services
from November 2005 to May 2006.
In 2005, Faulkner founded the Institute for Leadership, a non-profit organization
to developleaders and leadership
programs. The institute brings leadership principles to all areas and marketplaces such as teacher
s, business leaders, government officials, other public servants, sports coaches
and ministers.
In June 2006, Faulkner founded the New Horizon Church of New York in Harlem
. Faulkner describes New Horizon as a Christ-centered congregation focused on "bringing light to the darkness, and being an agent of transformation to bring the Gospel
to Harlem." In 2007, Faulkner sued the State of New York, on behalf of New Horizon Church, to overturn the Blaine Amendment
to its constitution. The Blaine Amendment bans state assistance to schools that have a religious affiliation.
training institution), Board Member for NYC Department of Youth and Community Assistance, Regional Leader for Christ Covenant Coalition (Clergy Association), Guest Speaker for national and local radio
and television
broadcasts including ABC
and “Live with Regis and Kelly
” and he serves as President of The Institute For Leadership. The IFL received a grand from New York State Health Foundation’s in 2009 to run Statewide Diabetes Campaign for the faith based community.
, Conservative and Jobs Now nominee, challenging Democratic and Working Families incumbent Charlie Rangel for . The 15th district includes Harlem
, parts of the Upper West Side
, Washington Heights
and parts of the Bronx and Queens
. Also running are Independence Party and Vote People Change nominee Craig Schley, and Socialist Worker
nominee Roger Calero. Faulkner was inspired to run for office by Scott Brown
's successful election to Ted Kennedy
's former Senate seat. Faulkner has stated that his reason for running for Congress is his belief that "greed and corruption" is ruining government. He believes that government should work to assist the "powerless" and the "voiceless".
Faulkner has been endorsed by Sean Hannity
, the New York Right to Life Party
, and Congressman John Carter.
Faulkner and Republican National Committee
Chairman Michael Steele campaigned together in Harlem on October 26, 2010. Steele called Faulkner a strong representative of "new" Republican Party.
In the November 2, 2010, general election, Faulkner received 9,235 votes (about 10%) of the 102,176 total votes cast, as Rangel won with 80% of the vote.
.
Faulkner advocates making changes to the recent enacted health care law where the focus would be impoving health care instead of changing health insurance. Faulkner has been critical of the law, stating that it was enacted before legislators had read it, increases federal regulation of health care, did not contain a provision on tort reform, did not deregulate insurance sales between states, will lead to higher costs and lost jobs.
Faulkner has been critical of incumbent Congressman Charles Rangel who has controlled four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, which are designated for individuals that have been approved for affordable housing.
Faulkner has been critical of the Obama
administration's handling of foreign affairs, especially as it pertains to Israel
. He believes that the national security of the United States is "inextricably tied to Israel's security" and as such the U.S. must "ensure that Israel's security is not compromised." Faulkner believes that the real threat to peace in the Middle East
is not Israel but rather the "terrorists such as Hamas
, Hezbollah, and other Iran
ian proxies." Faulkner has also stated that Obama assisted in the delegitimization of Israel and as such Obama's actions "fuel feelings of anti-Semitism
."
He has signed Grover Norquist
's anti-tax pledge of the Americans for Tax Reform
. Faulkner has stated that government spending is an important issue for him: "My campaign is not just about Mr. Rangel and his recent indiscretions. It is about stopping the direction in which the government, led by his party, is going. The growing size of the federal government is unbelievable. That’s a bigger scandal than the ethics issue — the size of the debt, the unbridled spending."
During the campaign, Faulkner appeared on the Imus In The Morning
show on Fox Business and WABC
, the John Batchelor Show on WABC
, the Hannity
show on Fox News Channel
, and Soul Matters with Rabbi Shimshon Nadel on Arutz 7/Israel National Radio to promote his candidacy.
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
football player and was the 2010 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for U.S. Representative for . He is the pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
for New Horizon Church in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Early life and education
His mother, Queenita Hairston, a beautician, married Steve Faulkner, a Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
. After moving to D.C., he lived and attended elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
in southeast Washington, D.C. area of Anacostia
Anacostia
Anacostia is a historic neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Its historic downtown is located at the intersection of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue It is the most famous neighborhood in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, located east of the Anacostia River, after which the...
. His family later moved to Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, where Faulkner attend junior high and was graduated from Bishop McNamara High School
Bishop McNamara High School
Bishop McNamara High School, a college preparatory school in the Holy Cross tradition, is in Forestville, Maryland. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.-History:...
in 1975. He was awarded a football scholarship to Virginia Tech where he was a four-year starter and freshman All-American. In 1980, he was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in communications and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. While at Tech Faulkner was involved in drama and spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
presentations where he developed his public speaking
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
abilities.
National Football League
After college, Faulkner signed with the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and had tryouts with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. In 1981 he attended training camp with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and spent the 1981-1982 season with the team as a defensive lineman. He was cut from the Jets in 1982 because of a leg injury.
Academic career
After leaving the Jets in June 1982 Faulkner returned to Washington DC. After several unsuccessful attempts to get into broadcast media Faulkner decided to attend graduate schoolGraduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
. After deciding to attend CBN, now Regents University in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, he served as Virginia Tech's assistant academic advisory to athletes. Faulkner moved to Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
(Virginia Tech) to complete his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and career counseling
Career Counseling
Career counseling and career coaching are similar in nature to traditional counseling. However, the focus is generally on issues such as career exploration, career change, personal career development and other career related issues. Typically when people come for career counseling they know exactly...
. After completing his master's degree in 1985, Faulkner met Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
and joined Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
as assistant Dean of Students. In 1987, he was promoted to vice president for urban ministry. In 1988 he moved from Lynchburg Va.
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
to Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
area of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
.
Ministry
In 1988, Faulkner returned to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as assistant pastor of Lamb's Church in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
. Here he worked directly with homeless men, women and children as both a pastor and a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er. Faulkner worked as an advocate for the homeless and the poor with both city, state and community organization
Community organization
Community organizations are civil society non-profits that operate within a single local community. They are essentially a subset of the wider group of nonprofits. Like other nonprofits they are often run on a voluntary basis and are self funded...
s.
In 1989, Faulkner joined Calvary Baptist Church in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
as a youth pastor and community outreach. He led the ministries to train and develop youth and managed the church’s programs serving the homeless, the prison ministry and an HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
program. Faulkner was ordained at Calvary Baptist Church in December 1991.
In 1993, Rev. Faulkner became the senior pastor of Central Baptist Church in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, growing the congregation from an average of 50 weekly attendees to over 400. During his nearly 14-year tenure at Central Baptist Church, Rev. Faulkner played in a leadership role in the creation of numerous city and leadership development
Leadership development
Leadership development refers to any activity that enhances the quality of leadership within an individual or organization. These activities have ranged from MBA style programs offered at university business schools to action learning, high-ropes courses and executive retreats.- Developing...
programs. He now pastors the New Horizon Church.
Community/civic work
Mayor Rudy GiulianiRudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
appointed Faulkner to Task Force on Police Community Relations, after working on Giuliani's campaign. He has also served as Commissioner of the City Charter Review initiative, the co-chairman for the New York City Board of Education
New York City Board of Education
The New York City Board of Education is the governing body of the New York City Department of Education. The members of the board are appointed by the mayor and by the five borough presidents.-Rise, fall and return of Mayoral Control:...
’s HIV/AIDS Task Force, and Vice President for Community Government Relations at King’s College from 1988 to 1992.
From June 2002 to February 2004, Michel served as World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
’s Director of U.S. Programs. He oversaw the distribution of over $1 million in faith-based
Faith-based
The term faith-based is a neologism , mostly current in US English, to describe any organization or government idea or plan based on religious beliefs, specifically Christian beliefs....
community and youth development grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
to eight local churches in New York City. Faulkner served as Regional Chaplin for New York State Office of Children and Family Services
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services is an agency of the Government of New York. The agency has its headquarters in the Capital View Office Park in Rensselaer.-History:...
from November 2005 to May 2006.
In 2005, Faulkner founded the Institute for Leadership, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
to developleaders and leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
programs. The institute brings leadership principles to all areas and marketplaces such as teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s, business leaders, government officials, other public servants, sports coaches
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and ministers.
In June 2006, Faulkner founded the New Horizon Church of New York in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
. Faulkner describes New Horizon as a Christ-centered congregation focused on "bringing light to the darkness, and being an agent of transformation to bring the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
to Harlem." In 2007, Faulkner sued the State of New York, on behalf of New Horizon Church, to overturn the Blaine Amendment
Blaine Amendment
The term Blaine Amendment refers to either a failed federal constitutional amendment or actual constitutional provisions that exist in 38 of the 50 state constitutions in the United States both of which forbid direct government aid to educational institutions that have any religious affiliation...
to its constitution. The Blaine Amendment bans state assistance to schools that have a religious affiliation.
Current activities
In addition to New Horizon Church, Faulkner also serves as the as Vice President for Antioch School (a church based theologicalTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
training institution), Board Member for NYC Department of Youth and Community Assistance, Regional Leader for Christ Covenant Coalition (Clergy Association), Guest Speaker for national and local radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasts including ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and “Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
” and he serves as President of The Institute For Leadership. The IFL received a grand from New York State Health Foundation’s in 2009 to run Statewide Diabetes Campaign for the faith based community.
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
On February 12, 2010, Faulkner announced his candidacy to run as the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Conservative and Jobs Now nominee, challenging Democratic and Working Families incumbent Charlie Rangel for . The 15th district includes Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, parts of the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
, Washington Heights
Washington Heights, Manhattan
Washington Heights is a New York City neighborhood in the northern reaches of the borough of Manhattan. It is named for Fort Washington, a fortification constructed at the highest point on Manhattan island by Continental Army troops during the American Revolutionary War, to defend the area from the...
and parts of the Bronx and Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. Also running are Independence Party and Vote People Change nominee Craig Schley, and Socialist Worker
Socialist Workers Party (United States)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
nominee Roger Calero. Faulkner was inspired to run for office by Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
's successful election to Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
's former Senate seat. Faulkner has stated that his reason for running for Congress is his belief that "greed and corruption" is ruining government. He believes that government should work to assist the "powerless" and the "voiceless".
Faulkner has been endorsed by Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity
Sean Hannity is an American radio and television host, author, and conservative political commentator. He is the host of The Sean Hannity Show, a nationally syndicated talk radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks. Hannity also hosts a cable news show, Hannity,...
, the New York Right to Life Party
New York State Right to Life Party
The New York State Right to Life Party was founded to oppose the legalization of abortion in New York in 1970. The party first made the state ballot in the 1978 gubernatorial election, where its candidate Mary Jane Tobin won 130,000 votes...
, and Congressman John Carter.
Faulkner and Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
Chairman Michael Steele campaigned together in Harlem on October 26, 2010. Steele called Faulkner a strong representative of "new" Republican Party.
In the November 2, 2010, general election, Faulkner received 9,235 votes (about 10%) of the 102,176 total votes cast, as Rangel won with 80% of the vote.
Political issues
Faulkner supports tax cuts for small businesses to create jobs. He supports alternatives to the public school system such as charter schools and school choice. Faulkner is pro-lifePro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
.
Faulkner advocates making changes to the recent enacted health care law where the focus would be impoving health care instead of changing health insurance. Faulkner has been critical of the law, stating that it was enacted before legislators had read it, increases federal regulation of health care, did not contain a provision on tort reform, did not deregulate insurance sales between states, will lead to higher costs and lost jobs.
Faulkner has been critical of incumbent Congressman Charles Rangel who has controlled four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, which are designated for individuals that have been approved for affordable housing.
Faulkner has been critical of the Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
administration's handling of foreign affairs, especially as it pertains to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He believes that the national security of the United States is "inextricably tied to Israel's security" and as such the U.S. must "ensure that Israel's security is not compromised." Faulkner believes that the real threat to peace in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
is not Israel but rather the "terrorists such as Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
, Hezbollah, and other Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian proxies." Faulkner has also stated that Obama assisted in the delegitimization of Israel and as such Obama's actions "fuel feelings of anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
."
He has signed Grover Norquist
Grover Norquist
Grover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
's anti-tax pledge of the Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform is an advocacy group and taxpayer group whose stated goal is "a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax...
. Faulkner has stated that government spending is an important issue for him: "My campaign is not just about Mr. Rangel and his recent indiscretions. It is about stopping the direction in which the government, led by his party, is going. The growing size of the federal government is unbelievable. That’s a bigger scandal than the ethics issue — the size of the debt, the unbridled spending."
During the campaign, Faulkner appeared on the Imus In The Morning
Imus in the Morning
Imus in the Morning is an American radio show hosted by Don Imus on Cumulus Media Networks , and simulcast for television on Fox Business Network....
show on Fox Business and WABC
WABC
WABC may refer to:* WABC , a radio station licensed to New York, New York, United States* WABC-TV, a television station licensed to New York, New York, United States* Classic Gold WABC, a defunct British radio station...
, the John Batchelor Show on WABC
WABC
WABC may refer to:* WABC , a radio station licensed to New York, New York, United States* WABC-TV, a television station licensed to New York, New York, United States* Classic Gold WABC, a defunct British radio station...
, the Hannity
Hannity
Hannity is a television show on the Fox News network, a replacement to the long-running show Hannity & Colmes. It is hosted by conservative political pundit Sean Hannity....
show on Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
, and Soul Matters with Rabbi Shimshon Nadel on Arutz 7/Israel National Radio to promote his candidacy.
External links
- Michel Faulkner for Congress Official campaign site
- Financial information from OpenSecrets.orgCenter for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive Politics is a non-profit, nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. that tracks money in politics and the effect of money and lobbying activity on elections and public policy and maintains a public online database of its information.Their database...