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John Kasich Visits Regent University

Ohio Governor John Kasich made a stop on his campaign trail at Regent University’s Virginia Beach campus on Wednesday, November 18, to participate in the Presidential Candidate Forums series.

The event featured opening remarks from Kasich, a live interview with Regent Founder, Chancellor and CEO, Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, and an audience Q&A session moderated by David Brody, chief political correspondent for CBN News.

Kasich was the second presidential candidate to participate in Regent University’s Presidential Candidate Forums, hosted by the university’s popular Executive Leadership Series (ELS), which provides candidates an opportunity to discuss their campaign platforms in a balanced, non-debate format. Regent does not support or oppose any candidate; presidential candidates from both parties have been offered invitations to participate in future Presidential Candidate Forums.

According to Regent’s executive vice president for Academic Affairs, Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, the forums are one step toward getting the public and his student body politically engaged to ensure a healthy republic.

“Today, more than ever, our American republic needs citizens to be politically engaged and to act in an enlightened manner,” said Moreno-Riaño. “These are real-time academic learning labs in which our students — America’s future leaders — can hear from political thought-leaders like Governor Kasich. The university looks forward to continuing its tradition of hosting these forums to engage with students and the Hampton Roads community.”

In his opening comments, Kasich discussed his platform, which includes balancing the national budget, rebuilding military defense, and bringing together a coalition for counterterrorism to provide joint intelligence — a pressing political matter to Kasich in light of the ISIS attacks on Paris just five days prior to the event.

“We’re not facing a lone-wolf or a small group of people, but a group that’s intent on destroying our very way of life,” said Kasich.

This “shoulder-to-shoulder” community of nations, to Kasich, would be similar to the one present during the Gulf War to protect the “Western ethic.”

“It means that our lives matter. It means that our lives make a difference. It’s about free speech, equality of women, it’s about hope and it’s about faith,” said Kasich. “It’s about a brighter future for our children and our grandchildren.”

The live-interview portion of the series between Kasich and Robertson focused on a wide-range of issues such as education, cyber security, rehabilitation programs for non-violent felons, caring for the mentally ill and tax reform.

He claims that his current policy is what drove his second term election in a state with a history of voting Democratic.

“I think that’s for two reasons: jobs, and the fact that people have hope. When your credit and pensions are strong, when you’re looking to help the mentally ill, non-violent felons and the working poor, people say that, ‘maybe this guy cares about me a little bit,'” said Kasich. “I know he’s a politician. But maybe he gets me.”

Following the live-interview, Brody offered questions from the audience regarding U.S.-Israel relations, student debt and immigration.

Kasich, who announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in July, 2015, was first elected as Ohio governor in 2010, and re-elected in 2014. Additionally, he has served nine terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, from 1989 to 2001. This was Kasich’s second visit to Regent, having joined the 2009 Clash of the Titans® debate, “America’s Future: Can Capitalism Survive?”

Learn more about Regent University’s Presidential Candidate Forums.