The+Candidates+on+The+Issues

  In addition to cracking down on employers hiring undocumented immigrants, Obama wants to “Bring People Out of the Shadows” by allowing undocumented immigrants with good standings to pay a fine, study and learn English, and apply for citizenship. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/immigration/ http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/290286/the_democratic_presidential_candidates.html?page=2&cat=75 || **Immigration** ||  McCain wants to emphasize technology at the border. He says he will “aggressively prosecute” employers who choose not to continue hiring illegal immigrants. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/289800/the_republican_presidential_candidates.html?page=3&cat=75 http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/68db8157-d301-4e22-baf7-a70dd8416efa.htm ||
 * **Obama** || **Issue** || **McCain** ||
 * || **Economy** || kdjklfjdkfjlds ||
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 * Reform No Child Left Behind through increased funding, assessment improvement, and individualized support. Also increase funding to pre-elementary school programs, such as Head Start. || **Education**
 * Reform No Child Left Behind through increased funding, assessment improvement, and individualized support. Also increase funding to pre-elementary school programs, such as Head Start. || **Education**

click for more information || Main education policy is that parents should have the right to choose the schools for their children ||  || **Free Trade** || **McCain seems to have different opinions on free trade for every major country the US deals with and is pro-NAFTA. He believes that the US should continue its trading with china, but "keep eyes open". At the Mexico is simply a "balancing act between free trade and stopping drugs". McCain voted YES for creating a free trade between US and Chile and US and Singapore both in 2003.** || Senator Obama opposed the war in Iraq. He advocates a regional conference involving Syria and Iran as one part of an ultimate Iraq solution. He partnered with GOP Senator Richard Lugar in efforts to fight proliferation of nuclear weapons. Obama has also spoken out on the importance of energy independence and the need for U.S. leadership in dealing with global climate change. He seeks significant changes in U.S.-Cuba policy. Obama believes that a time table should be used to withdraw troops from Iraq. “When I am this party's nominee, my opponent will not be able to say that I voted for the war in Iraq; or that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran; or that I supported Bush-Cheney policies of not talking to leaders that we don't like. And he will not be able to say that I wavered on something as fundamental as whether or not it is ok for America to torture — because it is never ok… I will end the war in Iraq… I will close Guantanamo. I will restore habeas corpus. I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century: nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. And I will send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.” — Barack Obama, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007
 * First, provide short-term relief to families struggling with gas prices, then implement a system to provide new jobs researching clean energy, create requirements for clean energy usage, implement a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among other programs. || **Energy Policy** || McCain has the Lexington Project to, among other things, cut off US dependence on foreign oil, provide clean energy sources, and make sure Americans have access to dependable energy sources.  ||
 * Has defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman; however, he opposes any constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, preferring to leave it up to the states to decide. He supports civil unions with all the benefits given to a married couple, such as the rights of adoption and health care, as well as the ability to be with their partner in hospital emergencies. Obama opposes, and vows to repeal, the Defense of Marriage Act, which stated that even if a particular state may perform a same-sex marriage, that marriage need not be recognized by any other state, or the Federal Government. He is against the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. || **Same-Sex Marriage/Other LGBT Issues** || Has also defined marriage as between a man and a woman, and also believes that the states should be left to decide on many issues, such as adoption. Believes that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is a good policy. Voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, but against a Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriages. Does not believe the Employment Non-Discrimination Act should include homosexuals/bisexuals/transgenders. ||
 * Obama identifies himself as pro-choice, and supports/supported the //Roe v. Wade// Supreme Court decision - however, one goal of his would be to attempt to reduce the number of performed abortions as substantially as possible, without denying people the freedom to do it. He has stated that defining when life begins as "above [his] pay grade." || **Abortion** || Staunchly dentifies himself as pro-life, believing the //Roe v. Wade// decision should be overturned and abortion made illegal. ||
 * **Obama in the past has voted YES on the "Free trade agreement with Oman" in June of 2006 and NO on "implementing CAFTA" for central America free-trade in July 2005. Obama has spoken about created standards with Chinese trading companies demanding human rights and labor law be put into place. He has been quoted saying "free trade should have tangible benefits for US".**
 * Obama identifies himself as pro-choice, and supports/supported the //Roe v. Wade// Supreme Court decision - however, one goal of his would be to attempt to reduce the number of performed abortions as substantially as possible, without denying people the freedom to do it. He has stated that defining when life begins as "above [his] pay grade." || **Abortion** || Staunchly dentifies himself as pro-life, believing the //Roe v. Wade// decision should be overturned and abortion made illegal. ||
 * **Obama in the past has voted YES on the "Free trade agreement with Oman" in June of 2006 and NO on "implementing CAFTA" for central America free-trade in July 2005. Obama has spoken about created standards with Chinese trading companies demanding human rights and labor law be put into place. He has been quoted saying "free trade should have tangible benefits for US".**
 * **Obama in the past has voted YES on the "Free trade agreement with Oman" in June of 2006 and NO on "implementing CAFTA" for central America free-trade in July 2005. Obama has spoken about created standards with Chinese trading companies demanding human rights and labor law be put into place. He has been quoted saying "free trade should have tangible benefits for US".**
 * **Obama in the past has voted YES on the "Free trade agreement with Oman" in June of 2006 and NO on "implementing CAFTA" for central America free-trade in July 2005. Obama has spoken about created standards with Chinese trading companies demanding human rights and labor law be put into place. He has been quoted saying "free trade should have tangible benefits for US".**
 * Supports to cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas levels. Has a great many other programs planned, such as the National Low Carbon Fuel Standard, offering incentives to forest-keepers, and deploying environmentally-friendly technologies to underdeveloped countries. || **Environmental Issues** || Proposed the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007, aiming to lower greenhouse gas levels through trading markets and the pursuit of alternative energy sources, including nuclear. Apparently scored a zero on the environmental standards of the Sierra Club (thanks, Sonja) ||
 * **Obama has voted to "reauthorize" the patriot act, and has also voted YES to extending it into continuing wiretapping. Obama has promised to repeal the Patriot Act but has than turned around and voted for it. He has been quoted to say "personal privacy must be protected even in the terrorism age". He supports the limiting of soldiers employment.** || Homeland Security || **Wants to "pursue goal of a world without nuclear weapons". Like Obama he voted YES to extending the patriot act into wire tapping and to "reauthorize" it. He plans on keeping the "don’t ask don’t tell" policy because he believes it works where as Obama plans to get ride of it.** ||
 * **Obama has voted to "reauthorize" the patriot act, and has also voted YES to extending it into continuing wiretapping. Obama has promised to repeal the Patriot Act but has than turned around and voted for it. He has been quoted to say "personal privacy must be protected even in the terrorism age". He supports the limiting of soldiers employment.** || Homeland Security || **Wants to "pursue goal of a world without nuclear weapons". Like Obama he voted YES to extending the patriot act into wire tapping and to "reauthorize" it. He plans on keeping the "don’t ask don’t tell" policy because he believes it works where as Obama plans to get ride of it.** ||
 * **Obama has voted to "reauthorize" the patriot act, and has also voted YES to extending it into continuing wiretapping. Obama has promised to repeal the Patriot Act but has than turned around and voted for it. He has been quoted to say "personal privacy must be protected even in the terrorism age". He supports the limiting of soldiers employment.** || Homeland Security || **Wants to "pursue goal of a world without nuclear weapons". Like Obama he voted YES to extending the patriot act into wire tapping and to "reauthorize" it. He plans on keeping the "don’t ask don’t tell" policy because he believes it works where as Obama plans to get ride of it.** ||

In the case of Europe, we dismissed European reservations about the wisdom and necessity of the Iraq war. In Asia, we belittled South Korean efforts to improve relations with the North. In Latin America, from Mexico to Argentina, we failed to adequately address concerns about immigration and equity and economic growth. In Africa, we have allowed genocide to persist for over four years in Darfur and have not done nearly enough to answer the African Union's call for more support to stop the killing. I will rebuild our ties to our allies in Europe and Asia and strengthen our partnerships throughout the Americas and Africa ... People around the world have heard a great deal of late about freedom on the march. Tragically, many have come to associate this with war, torture, and forcibly imposed regime change. To build a better, freer world, we must first behave in ways that reflect the decency and aspirations of the American people. This means ending the practices of shipping away prisoners in the dead of night to be tortured in far-off countries, of detaining thousands without charge or trial, of maintaining a network of secret prisons to jail people beyond the reach of the law ... I believe [the American people] will also agree that it is time for a new generation to tell the next great American story. If we act with boldness and foresight, we will be able to tell our grandchildren that this was the time when we helped forge peace in the Middle East. This was the time we confronted climate change and secured the weapons that could destroy the human race. This was the time we defeated global terrorists and brought opportunity to forgotten corners of the world. And this was the time when we renewed the America that has led generations of weary travelers from all over the world to find opportunity and liberty and hope on our doorstep. We can be this America again. This is our moment to renew the trust and faith of our people—and all people—in an America that battles immediate evils, promotes an ultimate good, and leads the world once more. McCain voted in favor of the Iraq war, and he says the U.S. may need to increase the number of troops there. He has supported almost all of President Bush's "War on Terror" bills. McCain would maintain the embargo on Cuba. He has called for strong action(including a NATO-enforced "no fly" zone) to end genocide in Darfur. Global climate change is seen by some as McCain's "signature issue". Citizens for Global Solutions gave McCain a F rating on foreign policy positions. "Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed," he said in a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. "We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies." "The United States cannot lead by virtue of its power alone," "Any president who does not regard this threat as transcending all others does not deserve to sit in the White House, for he or she does not take seriously enough the first and most basic duty a president has - to protect the lives of the American people," McCain added, suggesting that neither of his Democratic rivals, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama, understand the stakes at hand. In response to a question after the speech, McCain indicated he would have a much more hands-on attitude toward Middle East peacemaking than Bush. "I would devote every effort including personal deep engagement and involvement in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process," McCain said. Peace in the Middle East is too important, he said, "for us not to give it the highest priority." "John McCain is determined to carry out four more years of George Bush's failed policies," said Bill Burton, a spokesman for Obama campaign.
 * Foreign Policy ||  ||

McCain supports the death penalty for federal crimes. As a U.S. senator from Arizona, he has voted to prohibit the use of racial statistics in death penalty appeals and to ban the death penalty for minors. He has also supported legislation to allow the death penalty for acts of terrorism and has said he would consider further expansion of capital punishment laws for other crimes. || Obama says the death penalty "does little to deter crime" but he supports it for cases in which "the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage." While a state senator, Obama pushed for reform of the Illinois capital punishment system and authored a bill to mandate the videotaping of interrogations and confessions. ||



Econ -- graham Free trade -- Rose Environment -- Andrew Social Issues -- Andrew Abortion Gay marriage Death penalty Gun control

Immigration -- Mary Supreme Court nomination thoughts of each Energy policy, education -- Sonja Health care Abortion Homeland security -- Rose Foreign Policy -- Patrick Subdivisions (Iraq War; defense spending) Chase -- "essence of" McCain and Obama