Christopher Reed
Encyclopedia
Christopher Reed was the Republican
nominee in the 2008 Senate election in Iowa
, losing to Senator Tom Harkin
. Reed was unsuccessful in a bid for the Republican nomination for Congress in Iowa's 2nd District in 2010.
, Iowa
, in the eastern part of the state. He graduated from Solon High School, where he participated in wrestling, and entered the United States Navy
. He served for five years, stationed at Submarine Base New London in Connecticut
and then the USS San Jacinto
in Virginia
.
He and his wife, Kim, currently reside in Marion, Iowa
. They have four children.
In 1998, Reed founded Iowa Answering Service, Inc., a 24-hour answering service. Since then it has accumulated over 200 clients. The company is based in Cedar Rapids.
, and businessman Steve Rathje.
Having been nominated, Reed challenged four-term incumbent Democrat
Tom Harkin
. He ran on a self-described "solid conservative" platform, declaring that Harkin was supporting a misguided Democratic agenda. He also attacked Harkin for being out of touch with Iowans, citing that as chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Harkin had taken a "hands-off" approach to the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
, better known as the "Farm Bill". Reed charged that Harkin should have been "elbow-deep" in the issue. The bill passed in both houses of Congress by an overwhelming majority twice, overriding President George W. Bush
's veto.
Reed further accused his opponent of no longer truly representing Iowa, saying that he rarely visited his official residence in Cumming
and spent far more time in Alexandria, Virginia
and his vacation home in the Bahamas
, for which Iowa Republicans have attacked Harkin throughout his tenure.
Difficulties facing Reed's campaign included a relatively small amount of name recognition and fundraising compared to Harkin. As of September 29, 2008, Harkin led Reed in the polls by 14%. In addition Harkin was shown to be more popular among unaffiliated voters, women, and men.
Harkin easily defeated Reed in the general election on November 4, 2008, with 63% of the vote, as opposed to Reed's 37%.
. During the debate, Reed made personal attacks on Harkin, accusing him of being the "Tokyo Rose
of Al-Qaeda
and Middle East terrorism" and calling him "anti-American" and alleging that he provided "aid and comfort to the enemy" in a speech calling for the closure of the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After the debate, both Harkin and moderator David Yepsen chastised Reed for the attacks. Yepsen said that he had "never heard a candidate make that kind of serious charge about his opponent." Yepsen also wrote that immediately after the end of the broadcast Harkin had informed Reed that he had ended his political career by making the comments. Harkin later said that Reed's comments were "beyond the pale" and "ought not be part of political discourse...anywhere...."
Reed also drew some criticism for writing a blog
post in which he wrote that "Harkin wants marriage to be between any 2, 3 or multiple people of any and all sexes. Heck, as far as he is concerned, you could marry your horse if it makes you happy."
and Utah
as well as introducing ethanol
as an alternative fuel. He is also in favor of gun rights and has been endorsed by the Gun Owners of America
group.
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 in the 2008 Senate election in Iowa
United States Senate election in Iowa, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate election in Iowa was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Harkin won re-election to a fifth term.-Results:-Candidates:* Christopher Reed - small businessman and Navy veteran...
, losing to Senator Tom Harkin
Tom Harkin
Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin is the junior United States Senator from Iowa and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives ....
. Reed was unsuccessful in a bid for the Republican nomination for Congress in Iowa's 2nd District in 2010.
Early life
Reed was born and reared in the small rural town of SolonSolon, Iowa
Solon is a city located in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. Part of the Iowa City, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, it is located a few miles from Lake MacBride State Park and the larger cities of Coralville and Iowa City. The population was 1,177 at the 2000 census.-History:Solon is named...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, in the eastern part of the state. He graduated from Solon High School, where he participated in wrestling, and entered the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He served for five years, stationed at Submarine Base New London in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and then the USS San Jacinto
USS San Jacinto
Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS San Jacinto, after the Texas battle of San Jacinto in 1836, and the navy considered acquiring a fourth ship of the name:...
in 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 and his wife, Kim, currently reside in Marion, Iowa
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. They have four children.
In 1998, Reed founded Iowa Answering Service, Inc., a 24-hour answering service. Since then it has accumulated over 200 clients. The company is based in Cedar Rapids.
2008 U.S. Senate campaign
Reed narrowly won a three-way Republican primary on June 3, 2008, defeating George Eichhorn, a former member of the Iowa House of RepresentativesIowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
, and businessman Steve Rathje.
Having been nominated, Reed challenged four-term incumbent Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Tom Harkin
Tom Harkin
Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin is the junior United States Senator from Iowa and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives ....
. He ran on a self-described "solid conservative" platform, declaring that Harkin was supporting a misguided Democratic agenda. He also attacked Harkin for being out of touch with Iowans, citing that as chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Harkin had taken a "hands-off" approach to the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 was a $288 billion, five-year agricultural policy bill that was passed into law by the United States Congress on June 18, 2008. The bill was a continuation of the 2002 Farm Bill. It continues the United States' long history of agricultural subsidy as...
, better known as the "Farm Bill". Reed charged that Harkin should have been "elbow-deep" in the issue. The bill passed in both houses of Congress by an overwhelming majority twice, overriding President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's veto.
Reed further accused his opponent of no longer truly representing Iowa, saying that he rarely visited his official residence in Cumming
Cumming, Iowa
Cumming is a city in Warren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 351 at the 2010 census. It is the hometown of Senator Tom Harkin.A part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area, Cumming is considered one of the smallest incorporated suburbs of the metro area...
and spent far more time in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
and his vacation home in the Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
, for which Iowa Republicans have attacked Harkin throughout his tenure.
Difficulties facing Reed's campaign included a relatively small amount of name recognition and fundraising compared to Harkin. As of September 29, 2008, Harkin led Reed in the polls by 14%. In addition Harkin was shown to be more popular among unaffiliated voters, women, and men.
Harkin easily defeated Reed in the general election on November 4, 2008, with 63% of the vote, as opposed to Reed's 37%.
Controversies
On October 23, Reed and Senator Harkin met for a debate on Iowa Public TelevisionIowa Public Television
Iowa Public Television is a state network of Public Broadcasting Service member non-commercial educational Public television stations in the state of Iowa. A member of the PBS, it is owned by the Iowa Public Broadcasting Board, an agency of the state education department which holds the licenses...
. During the debate, Reed made personal attacks on Harkin, accusing him of being the "Tokyo Rose
Tokyo Rose
Tokyo Rose was a generic name given by Allied forces in the South Pacific during World War II to any of approximately a dozen English-speaking female broadcasters of Japanese propaganda. The intent of these broadcasts was to disrupt the morale of Allied forces listening to the broadcast...
of Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and Middle East terrorism" and calling him "anti-American" and alleging that he provided "aid and comfort to the enemy" in a speech calling for the closure of the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
After the debate, both Harkin and moderator David Yepsen chastised Reed for the attacks. Yepsen said that he had "never heard a candidate make that kind of serious charge about his opponent." Yepsen also wrote that immediately after the end of the broadcast Harkin had informed Reed that he had ended his political career by making the comments. Harkin later said that Reed's comments were "beyond the pale" and "ought not be part of political discourse...anywhere...."
Reed also drew some criticism for writing a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
post in which he wrote that "Harkin wants marriage to be between any 2, 3 or multiple people of any and all sexes. Heck, as far as he is concerned, you could marry your horse if it makes you happy."
Political positions
Reed supports cutting taxes as a way to stimulate the troubled economy. He is strongly against illegal immigration and supports a border fence and an end to giving residential benefits to illegal immigrants. He opposes rapid withdrawal from Iraq, claiming that withdrawal would embolden enemies to attack the United States. He is strongly anti-abortion. He wants to end American dependence on foreign oil by expanding drilling for oil in AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
as well as introducing ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
as an alternative fuel. He is also in favor of gun rights and has been endorsed by the Gun Owners of America
Gun Owners of America
Gun Owners of America is a gun rights organization in the United States with over 300,000 members. They make efforts to differentiate themselves from the larger National Rifle Association , and have publicly criticized the NRA on multiple occasions for what the GOA considers to be the selling out...
group.
External links
- Christopher Reed Official 2010 Campaign Website