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Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer, III (born October 4, 1943) is an American politician who served as the 52nd Governor of Louisiana, from 1988 to 1992. He was elected as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party on March 11, 1991. Prior to serving as Governor, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988.

Foreign policy and war issues: “I am so distraught about our foreign policy. It is flat-footed. It is late,” Mr. Roemer said. Of Mr. Obama, he added: “He has dithered over this no-fly zone for two weeks. It’s too late. If you can move quickly to defeat one of the world’s known terrorists, wouldn’t you do it, without a troop on the ground? He dithered. Inexcusable.” But Mr. Roemer has more trouble finding reasons for criticism on other areas of foreign policy. He said he thought there should be a review of America’s role in Afghanistan, something Mr. Obama recently completed. And he says the administration’s decisions to pull out gradually from Iraq are correct. Source
Buddy Roemer strongly criticized President Obama's handling of recent situations in the Middle East, saying he would establish a no-fly zone over Libya. Source
Views on Centrality of Israel to U.S. Foreign Policy Views unknown, unreported or unclear. Source

Security/liberties: Views unknown, unreported or unclear. Source

Social Security: He would increase Social Security's solvency by raising the retirement age by one month per year over 24 years -- in other words, raise the age by two years over the next 24. Source " target="_blank">Source

Stem cell research: Views unknown, unreported or unclear. Source

Same sex issues: He says marriage should be between a man and a woman. “Other partnerships are possible,” he says, “but it can’t be called marriage.” But he also says that states should be allowed to allow gay marriage if they choose, a position that may not sit well with some conservative primary voters. Source On same sex marriage, the possible 2012 Republican presidential candidate said marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Source

Trade issues: Roemer said he wants a tariff on oil from overseas. That does not include Mexico and Canada, which he would consider domestic oil production sources, but it definitely targets Russia, Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East. Source

Budget issues: On taxes, Roemer said he'd like to slim down the 6,500-page tax code and lower the marginal rate. He would minimize deductions but leave in charitable and medical exemptions and widen the middle class and reduce the government's share of domestic product to 18.5 percent. "That means everyone's paying a little, but the wealthy are paying a little more," Roemer said. And the tax code will be written so the "average, plain person can actually master" the system. Source
"We have a tax code that is 4,000 pages long and you can't read it," Roemer told the crowd. "We have a debt for the rest of our lives...We spend $300 billion a month and borrow $120 billion from our competitors. The game is rigged...the American Revolution was about a Tea Party, taxation without representation. I think it's time for a second revolution." Source

Business & labor issues: [Louisiana] had a 12 percent unemployment rate, guys, and a budget that was a billion dollars out of balance over five years. We had teachers with contracts for life, and many of them couldn't teach. [As governor] I went after every labor union. I went after public employee. I went after every part of the state that was not performing well. Source

Abortion issues: The former Louisiana governor is pro-life but drew the ire of pro-life advocates in July 1990 when he vetoed a bill that would have banned abortion in Louisiana. Source

Capital punishment: Views unknown, unreported or unclear. Source

Marijuana: Views unknown, unreported or unclear. Source

Gun control: He says he is a champion of gun rights: “Would I take away from that farmer in West Texas his right to have a shotgun? Of course not. Would defend it.” Source

Minimum wage: Views unknown, unreported or unclear. Source

Health care: As a diabetic, he said he has a very real interest in health care reform, but blasts the new law because it does not include tort reform, offers no negotiating with pharmaceutical companies and doesn't allow insurance companies to compete across state lines. Source
He took swings at the political establishment from the right, railing against the new health care law. Source
Asked about the health care plan Mr. Romney passed as governor in Massachusetts — which is often compared to the one Mr. Obama championed — Mr. Roemer said it would be “a factor” in the discussion. “He’ll get a chance to explain it,” Mr. Roemer said of Mr. Romney. “He’s a good guy. He’ll try to put a ribbon on that pig.” Source

Environmental issues: he has a record of supporting environmental regulations that will surely be viewed with suspicion by the party's more adamant climate skeptics. Source

Immigration issues: Illegal immigration is expensive, and must be stopped. -Twitter Source

Education issues: Views unknown, unreported or unclear. Source

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