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Paul Broun
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 10th district
Incumbent
Assumed office July 17, 2007
Preceded by	Charlie Norwood
Personal details
Born	Paul Collins Broun, Jr. (1946-05-14) May 14, 1946 (age 78) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Niki Broun (3 previous)
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Georgia Georgia Regents University

Paul Collins Broun, Jr. (born May 14, 1946) is the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 10th congressional district, serving since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party and the Tea Party Caucus. On February 6, 2012, Broun announced that he plans to run for the U.S. Senate in the 2014 Georgia election being vacated by Saxby Chambliss.

Early life, education, and medical career

Broun was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Gertrude Margaret (née Beasley) and Democratic Georgia state senator Paul Collins Broun, Sr. (1916–2005), who represented Athens and the surrounding area from 1963 to 2001. His paternal grandfather was a minister. Broun is a graduate of Athens High School and the University of Georgia at Athens (B.S., Chemistry, 1967) and earned his Doctor of Medicine (1971) from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. His internship was at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon and residency at University Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. At age 18, he volunteered to serve our nation as a U.S. Marine. He was later commissioned as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy. Today he continues to serve America as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves. In 2012, Paul was deployed to Afghanistan where he treated sick and injured Marines and soldiers. As a physican-Congressman, Dr. Broun is deeply devoted to quality medical care for Wounded Warriors and Veterans at home. He then practiced general medicine; starting in 2002 he maintained a practice based solely on house calls. Since his election to Congress, Dr. Broun continues to practice medicine as a doctor in his role as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, Lt. Commander Broun treated sick and wounded Marines and soldiers. As a military doctor he treats patients in the Navy Health Clinic at Marine Base Quantico and at the Brigade Medical Center at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Early campaigns

Broun first ran for public office in 1990, challenging Democratic U.S. Congressman Richard Ray, of Georgia's 3rd congressional district. Ray defeated him 63%-37%.

Broun ran again in 1992, but lost in the Republican primary to State Senator Mac Collins, 55%-45%. Broun won five of the district's seventeen counties. Collins went on to defeat Ray, 55%-44%.

In 1996, Democratic U.S. Senator Sam Nunn decided to retire. Broun was one of six Republicans who ran for the Republican nomination in the race. Guy Millner, a businessman, finished first with 42% of the vote. He won the run-off election against state representative Johnny Isakson, who had received 35% of the vote in the primary, then lost the general election to Democrat Max Cleland by just one percentage point.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2007

In February 2007, Republican U.S. Congressman Charlie Norwood, of Georgia's 10th congressional district, died of cancer. There was a special election open primary in June 2007, where candidates of all parties participated in the primary. A candidate needed 50% to win outright, and there would be a run-off if no candidate earned it the first time. Ten candidates filed: six Republicans, three Democrats, and a Libertarian. State Senator Jim Whitehead was the only elected politician to run, and was the front-runner. He won the endorsements of U.S. Congressman Saxby Chambliss.

In the primary, Whitehead finished first with 44% of the vote. Broun qualified for the run-off, ranking second with 21% of the vote, with only 198 votes more than third-place finisher James Marlow, a Democrat. Broun won a plurality of just four counties: Oconee (47%), Jackson (42%), Oglethorpe (37%), and Morgan (31%).

In the primary campaign, Whitehead angered some voters by failing to appear at a debate held in Athens and then by referring to his alma mater, the University of Georgia, as a "liberal bastion" that should be eliminated, save for the football team. In the July 17, 2007 election, Broun upset Whitehead by a margin of just 0.8%, a difference of just 394 votes. After the votes were certified, Whitehead declined to ask for a recount despite the narrow margin. Broun won the counties in the Northern part of the district, while Whitehead won the counties in the southern part. Broun's best two performing counties were Clarke (90%) and Oconee (88%).

2008

Broun was challenged by Republican State Representative and House Majority Leader Barry Fleming, who had endorsed Whitehead in the 2007 election. Broun defeated Fleming in the July 2008 primary, 71%-29%. He won every county in the district. However, his weakest performance was in the Southeastern part. He won counties like Richmond with just 52% and Columbia with just 58%. He won the general election with 61% to 39% against Democrat Bobby Saxon.

2010

Broun won re-election to a second full term, defeating Democrat Russell Edwards, 67%-33%.

2012

In July, Broun won the Republican primary, defeating retired Army officer Stephen Simpson. Broun faced no Democratic candidate in the November general election.

Broun won re-election on November 6, 2012, receiving 209,917 votes across the district.

Tenure

On July 25, 2007, Broun was sworn in by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. On January 3, 2013, Broun declined to vote for John Boehner's re-election as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, instead nominating outspoken Florida Representative Allen West, even through West lost his bid for re-election in November 2012 and was no longer a member of Congress, West was constitutionally qualified to serve as Speaker, as the Speaker need not be a member of Congress. According to Politico reporter Charlie Mahtesian, Broun has "a flair for the provocative."

Broun is a political conservative. In May 2009, Broun proposed legislation that would have proclaimed 2010 "The Year Of The Bible". He also introduced a bill to ban the sale or rental of sexually explicit materials on U.S. military installations.

In 2008, Broun and 91 co-sponsors introduced H.J.Res.89, a proposition for the Federal Marriage Amendment. The proposed amendment to the United States Constitution would define marriage as "as consisting only of the union of a man and a woman." Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and eight other senators introduced a proposition for the amendment with S.J.Res.43 on June 25.

Broun's voting record is fiscally conservative receiving a 96% rating from the National Taxpayers Union and supports a balanced-budget amendment to the constitution. Broun is extremely concerned with the size of the national deficit and supports an amendment that would require a two-thirds majority in congress to raise revenues and require that all excess revenue to be returned to the American taxpayer. Broun also voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and decries the high cost of the bill.

Broun, in September 2008, voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which created the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or "TARP". In line with his conservative ideology, Broun voted against the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009.

Broun supports the repeal of ObamaCare, and instead takes a “common sense” approach to healthcare reform favoring a series of reforms over a comprehensive overhaul. His approach involves a 100% tax deduction of healthcare costs, allowing consumers to shop for health insurance across state lines, and save Medicarefrom going broke. Although Broun is an MD, he receives a 0% rating from more than three quarters of health issues interest groups.

Broun supported the efforts to defund ObamaCare during the October, 2013 U.S. federal government shutdown, calling it "a stand for principles that would lead to prosperity for all Americans as they fought to dismantle the president’s health care law." According to Broun, "It was the fight that Americans had been waiting and hoping for...the majority of Americans applauded our efforts and encouraged us to stand strong", although a CBS News poll reported that 72 percent of Americans disapproved of shutting down the federal government over differences on the Affordable Care Act. In the wake of the shutdown during an interview on the Michael Opitz Show, Broun asserted that "There was absolutely no reason, whatsoever, for this administration to block access to the World War II Memorial or the Lincoln Memorial. It’s never ever been done in a government shutdown prior to this administration doing so”, although the Lincoln Memorial was closed during a 1995 government shutdown and the World War II Memorial, which opened in 2004, had not existed at the time of any previous shutdown.

In February 2014, at a Republican debate in Gainesville, Broun pointed out that the United States must support Israel. "“It’s absolutely imperative that we support Israel -- our brothers and sisters in the Middle East -- not only because of the geopolitical reasons there, which are strong enough in themselves, but because of a promise God made to Abraham,” he said.

Controversies

Obama-Hitler

On November 10, 2008, one week after the 2008 presidential election, Broun drew national attention when he criticized President-elect Barack Obama's call for a civilian national service corps, suggesting that Obama might use it to establish a Marxist dictatorship. In an interview with the Associated Press, Broun said, "That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did. When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist." Broun later clarified his statement by saying, "We can't be lulled into complacency. You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential of going down that road." Broun cited a July 2008 speech by Obama in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate had said, "We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

The following day, November 11, Broun released a statement, saying on WGAC radio, "I regret putting it that way," and "I apologize to anyone who has taken offense at that." Broun nevertheless asserted that Obama "is extremely liberal" and "has promoted a lot of socialistic ideas, and it just makes me concerned." His remarks in the radio interview were at first interpreted in the press as an apology. However, Broun's office later said he was "not taking back anything he said" and a spokeswoman said, "We have not issued any official apology” for the remarks. The spokeswoman said Broun stood by a written statement he had issued in which he criticized Obama for having "socialist views" and raised what the Atlanta Journal Constitution described as "ominous concerns" about the civilian force. The news release read in part, "I firmly believe that we must not fall victim to the 'it can't happen here' mentality. I adhere to the adage 'eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.'" Broun also said that his comments had been sensationalized by the media.

Some of Broun's fellow lawmakers criticized his remarks. Republican U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss both expressed disagreement with his comments, while state Democratic Party spokesman Martin Matheny accused Broun of "playing to the extremes" at a time “when Americans are coming together to celebrate history and renew America's promise." and that "Broun's neo-McCarthyism has no place in today's political environment."

CAIR

On October 14, 2009, Broun joined with three fellow Representatives in calling for the investigation of CAIR (the Council on American-Islamic Relations) over allegations of trying to plant "spies," based on a CAIR memo indicating that they "will develop national initiatives such as Lobby Day, and placing Muslim interns in Congressional offices." Broun further implied CAIR had involvement with terrorism, stating, "If an organization that is connected to or supports terrorists is running influence operations or planting spies in key national security-related congressional offices, I think this needs to be made known." The request came in the wake of the publication of a book, Muslim Mafia, the foreword of which had been penned by Congresswoman Sue Myrick, that portrayed CAIR as a subversive organization allied with international terrorists.

CAIR has countered that accusations against them are "unfounded" and that such initiatives are extensively used by all advocacy groups. A CAIR representative has accused Broun and his colleagues of being "hate-filled" and of seeking to intimidate American Muslims who "take part in the political process and exercise their rights."

Global Warming

In June 2009, Broun received a standing ovation when he said that global warming is a "hoax". He said "Scientists all over this world say that the idea of human induced global climate change is one of the greatest hoaxes perpetrated out of the scientific community. It is a hoax. There is no scientific consensus."

When Broun spoke in June 2010 to the John Birch Society, he said that the entire concept of man-made global warming is a conspiracy perpetuated by certain members of the scientific community to "destroy America.".

Obama-socialism

In a March 2010 interview with Sirius XM radio host Pete Dominick, Broun said "I don't know" when asked if President Obama was a US citizen and when asked if the President was a Christian he said, “I don’t know that,” explaining that “I’m a Christian but only me and the Lord know that for sure.” He also said that he did know Obama was a socialist, and said “America has to stand up and decide if we want to be a socialist nation or if we’re going to be a free nation." During President Obama's 2011 State of the Union address, Broun tweeted that "Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism."

In September 2010 at a town hall meeting held at the Elberton Civic Center in Elberton, Georgia, Broun said that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta "...want to give all the power to the federal government to force you to eat more fruits and vegetables. This is what the federal, CDC, they gonna be calling you to make sure you eat fruits and vegetables, every day. This is socialism of the highest order!"

Obama assassination

In a town hall meeting on February 22, 2011, Broun was asked by an unidentified elderly man, "Who is going to shoot Obama?" Broun did not directly address the question, but instead responded with, "The thing is, I know there's a lot of frustration with this president. We're going to have an election next year. Hopefully, we'll elect somebody that's going to be a conservative, limited-government president ... who will sign a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare."

Broun, who later that week condemned the question, contested the quoted response originally reported by the Athens Banner-Herald. According to his press secretary, Broun immediately moved on to the next question.

The incident prompted a brief investigation by the Secret Service, who days later confirmed that the constituent did not pose a threat and had "acted in poor taste," concluding that the incident was a "closed matter."

Evolution

On September 27, 2012, in a speech at the Liberty Baptist Church Sportsman's Banquet, Broun stated that the sciences of embryology, evolution, and the Big Bang are "lies straight from the Pit of Hell ... lies to try to keep me and all the folks who are taught that from understanding that they need a savior." This position is in support of his stance supporting Young Earth creationism. In the speech he also said that, "Earth is about 9,000 years old," that "it was created in six days as we know them," and that mainline Christian denominations are "going to send their people to hell".

Committee assignments

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
  • Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence (Vice Chair)
• Committee on Science and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
  • Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight (Chairman)

• Republican Study Committee

2014 U.S. Senate election

In February 2013, Broun officially announced he would run for the open senate seat vacated by Republican U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss.

Personal life

Paul and Niki Broun have been married since 1985. Dr. Broun has three adult children and two grandchildren.

References

1. "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress".
2. Sullivan, Sean (February 6, 2013). "Paul Broun announces Georgia Senate bid". Washington Post. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
3. "broun". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
4. "BROUN, Paul C., Jr. - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. May 14, 1946. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
5. "GA District 3 Race - Nov 6, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
6. "GA District 3 - R Primary Race - Jul 21, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
7. "GA District 3 Race - Nov 3, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
8. "1996 U.S. Senate Results". Federal Elections Commission. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
9. "GA US Senate - R Primary Runoff Race - Aug 6, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
10. "GA US Senate - R Primary Race - Jul 9, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
11. "GA US Senate Race - Nov 5, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
12. "6/19/2007 - U.S. Representative, District 10". Sos.georgia.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
13. "GA - District 10- Special Election Race - Jun 19, 2007". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
14. ^ Kapochunas, Rachel (July 24, 2007). "Georgia Conservative Broun Fulfills House Dreams With Special Win". Congressional Quarterly. The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
15. "GA - District 10- Special Election Runoff Race - Jul 17, 2007". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
16. "GA District 10 - R Primary Race - Jul 15, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
17. "GA - District 10 Race - Nov 4, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
18. "GA - District 10 Race - Nov 2, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
19. "House Results Map". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
20. "Broun Wins Georgia 10th Congressional District GOP Primary". Associated Press. July 31, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
21. "Broun sworn in", OnlineAthens.com, July 26, 2007
22. Chris Moody (January 3, 2013), John Boehner re-elected as speaker of the House Yahoo News
23. Who are the Boehner resisters? Politico January 3, 2013
24. "Lawmaker wants to make 2010 'Year of the Bible'". Politico. May 22, 2009.
25. "Bill Text - 110th Congress (2007-2008) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)". Thomas.loc.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
26. "H.J.Res.89: Marriage Protection Amendment". OpenCongress.org. May 22, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
27. "S. J. RES. 43". Library of Congress. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
28. "Congressman Paul Broun, M.D". Broun.house.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
29. "Paul Broun - Ratings and Endorsements - Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
30. ^ "Paul Broun - The Economy". Thepoliticalguide.com. December 15, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
31. FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 674, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, September 29, 2008.
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33. Jilani, Zaid (October 26, 2009). "Rep. Paul Broun Proposes Bill That Would Privatize Medicare". ThinkProgress. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
34. "Paul Broun - Ratings and Endorsements - Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
35. Paul C. Broun, The Augusta Chronicle, October 26, 2013 , "The fight to defeat Obamacare was worth it -- and here's why"
36. Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Anthony Salvanto and Fred Backus, CBS News, October 3, 2013 , "Poll: Americans not happy about shutdown; more blame GOP"
37. Audio recording, Buzzfeed Politics, October 25, 2013 , "Congressman Says Memorial That Opened In 2004 Wasn’t Closed In 1995 Shutdown", Retrieved October 28, 2013
38. Steve Benen, MSNBC, October 25, 2013 , "Paul Broun needs a calendar"
39. Georgia Senate Candidate Paul Broun: Support Israel Or God Will Curse America By Eric Brown, 24 February 2014, International Business Times
40. ^ Malone, Julia (November 11, 2008). "Rep. Broun regrets linking Obama, Hitler". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
41. ^ Evans, Ben (November 10, 2008). "Georgia congressman warns of Obama dictatorship". Fox News. Associated Press. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
42. "Paul Broun expresses 'regret' for calling Obama a Marxist". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 11, 2009.
43. "Does Chaos on Wall Street Mean an End to Their Big Bonuses?". Fox News. November 13, 2008.
44. Mooney, Alexander. "Congressman sorry for likening Obama to Hitler", CNN, November 12, 2008.
45. ^ Cite error: The named reference ajc.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
46. Malone, Julia (November 13, 2008). "Rep. Broun stands by Marxist remarks about Obama". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
47. "Broun defends remarks". Augusta Chronicle. November 12, 2008.
48. Glenn Greenwald (October 15, 2009). "GOP House members call for investigation of Muslim political activity". Salon.com.
49. Doyle, Michael, "Judge: Controversial 'Muslim Mafia' used stolen papers", Charlotte Observer, November 10, 2009, accessed 2009-11-17
50. Jordy Yager (October 14, 2009). "House Republicans accuse Muslim group of trying to plant spies". Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.
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52. Krugman, Paul (June 29, 2009). "Betraying the Planet". The New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
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55. Montopoli, Brian (January 25, 2011). "GOP Rep. Paul Broun on Speech: Obama "Believes in Socialism"". CBS News. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
56. Zaid Jilani, Think Progress, September 30, 2010, , "Rep. Broun Claims Federal Government Will Be Calling Your House Every Day To Make Sure You Eat Your Veggies", Retrieved October 28, 2013
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62. "Secret Service interviews Georgia constituent who asked who will 'shoot' Obama; case is 'closed matter'". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
63. "Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA): Evolution, Big Bang 'Lies Straight From The Pit Of Hell'". 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com. October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
64. Matt Pearce (October 7, 2012). "U.S. Rep. Paul Broun: Evolution a lie 'from the pit of hell'". Los Angeles Times.
65. Jay Bookman (October 6, 2012). "Paul Broun: Evolution, Big Bang theory 'lies straight from pit of hell'". Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
66. "Evolution Is A Lie From Hell! (Republican Rep. Paul Broun)". TYT Network, The Young Turks' Youtube channel. Youtube. October 9, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
67. "Rep. Paul Broun Says Evolution, Embryology, and Big Bang Theory are "Lies from the Pit of Hell"". Conservative/Constitutionalist's Youtube channel, Conservative1001BG. Youtube. October 5, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
68. "Biography // About Me". Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. Broun.house.gov. Retrieved November 29, 2012. Dr. Broun has been married to his wife Niki since 1985 and has two grown daughters, a son and two grandchildren.
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70. Bunch, Will. "The right-wing congressman made for the Obama age". Salon. Retrieved October 5, 2012.

See also

• Physicians in US Congress

External links

• Congressman Paul Broun official U.S. House site
• Paul Broun for Congress
• Template:Dmoz
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Videos related to Broun at The Young Turks' Youtube channel

Template:Persondata

• 1946 births
• Baptists from the United States
• Christian creationists
• Georgia Health Sciences University alumni
• Georgia (U.S. state) Republicans
• Living people
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia (U.S. state)
• People from Athens, Georgia
• Physicians from Georgia (U.S. state)
• United States Marine Corps reservists
• University of Georgia alumni
• People associated with the Tea Party movement
• People from Atlanta, Georgia