A couple days ago I promised to post a side-by-side comparison of Obama and McCain on issues. It took awhile and it was an enormous amount of information, so I have distilled it here into brief synopsis. These items in no way reflect bias on my account; they are taken verbatim from Campaign Issues 2008. The list is not all inclusive, but represents those issues most often brought up on SodaHead. All issues are discussed on the website. Although I viewed many sites, I found that Campaign Issues 2008 (http://www.issue2008.com/) had the most non-partisan information which was easily comparable. It does appear, however, that the site has not been updated recently, as it does not mention 2008 voting records. Please go to the website for more information, including videos of each candidate discussing his stance on each issue.

From their website: ”*The words - candidates' stated political positions - are drawn from recent speeches, press statements, and debates or from their campaign web sites, often using direct quotes. The actions include voting records, legislation promoted or sponsored, budget proposals, ratings by interest groups (where based on similar actions), and so on.”


Education
McCain
Words: McCain supports rewarding good schools and advocates charter schools, as well s allowing the states to decide on school vouchers programs. He’s against nationally imposed standards for funding and feels that such programs penalize students. He also believes that teaching creationism and evolution should be decided at the local level.
Actions: McCain voted AGAINST national education standards (1994), FOR requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer (1994), FOR funding abstinence education (1996), FOR school vouchers in DC (1997), FOR education savings accounts (2000), AGAINST funding smaller classes and student testing instead of private tutors (2001), AGAINST spending tax cut funds on education (2001), AGAINST funding local educational agencies (2005), and AGAINST funding after-school programs (2005). The NEA has given him a rating of 45%.

Obama
Words: Obama calls for a sense of urgency about improving our education system and that there should be incentives, including higher pay, for increasing the number and quality of teachers. He argues that “No Child Left behind” is under-funded and supports summer learning opportunities for the disadvantaged.
Actions: Obama voted FOR funding local educational agencies (2005) and FOR funding after-school programs (2005). The NEA has given him a rating of 100%.

Energy Policy
McCain
Words: McCain believes that oil profits should be reinvested in nuclear power. He feels we should develop alternative fuels and strengthen emission controls, but does not support the Kyoto Protocol. He has changed his position on ethanol, feeling it now “makes sense”.
Actions: McCain voted AGAINST requiring ethanol in gasoline (1994), FOR approving a nuclear waste repository (1997), FOR defunding renewable and solar energy (1999), FOR oil drilling in ANWR (2000), AGAINST oil drilling in ANWR (2002), AGAINST terminating CAFE standards within 15 months (2002), FOR targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010 (2003), AGAINST the Bush administration’s energy policy (2003), FOR banning drilling in ANWR (2005), and AGAINST reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (2005). The Campaign for America’s Future has given him a rating of 17%.

Obama
Words: Obama supports raising CAFE standards as well as more investment in hybrids and greater ethanol production. He also advocates conservation and the development of alternative fuels, including further exploration of nuclear power. “We can save our economy, our environment, and stop funding both sides of the war on terror if we actually get serious about doing something about energy.”
Actions: Obama voted FOR banning drilling in ANWR (2005), FOR reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (2005), FOR factoring global warming into federal project planning (2007), FOR making oil-producing and -exporting cartels illegal (2007), and FOR removing oil and gas exploration subsidies (2007). The Campaign for America’s Future has given Obama a rating of 100%

Gun Control
McCain
Words: McCain feels we should prosecute criminals “rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens”. He opposes holding firearm manufacturers liable for gun violence as well as opposing restrictions on assault weapons. He supports safety lock mandates and background checks at gun shows.
Actions: McCain voted FOR allowing guns to be sold without trigger locks (1998), FOR loosening license and background checks at gun shows (1999), FOR increased mandatory penalties for gun violations (1999), AGAINST background checks at gun shows (1999), and FOR prohibiting lawsuits against firearm manufacturers for gun violence (2004 & 2005). The NRA has given him a “C+”.

Obama
Words: Obama feels we should ban semi-automatic weapons and institute more possession restrictions. “I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manufacturer’s lobby. But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels someone disrespected him, we have a problem of morality.
Actions: Obama voted AGAINST prohibiting lawsuits against firearm manufacturers for gun violence (2005). The NRA has given him an “F”.

Health Care
McCain
Words: McCain opposes a mandated universal health care system and mandated insurance coverage and supports tax-free medical savings accounts, tax credits for health insurance, and more community health care centers. He also argues that we must keep our health care promises to veterans. “People should be able to enroll in a point-of-service plan with access to a multitude of physicians, rather than be limited to an HMO.”
Actions: McCain voted AGAINST medical savings accounts (1996), AGAINST Medicare means testing (1997), FOR increasing tobacco restrictions (1998), FOR limiting self-employment health deduction (1999), AGAINST including prescription drugs under Medicare (2000), FOR the Republican “prescription drug benefit” bill (2001), FOR allowing patients to sue HMOs (2001), FOR allowing the import of prescription drugs from Canada (2002), AGAINST a limited Medicare prescription drug benefit (2003), FOR negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drugs (2005), FOR increasing the Medicaid rebate for producing generics (2005), and AGAINST expanding the enrollment period for Medicare (2006). The American Public Health Association has given McCain a rating of 25%.

Obama
Words: Obama believes that the federal government should provide health care for everyone. He also feels that we need to increase competition in the insurance and pharmaceutical markets and advocates better funding for AIDS research and prevention. “Too many hard-working Americans cannot afford their medical bills, and health-related issues are the number one cause for personal bankruptcy. Promoting affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care is a priority.”
Actions: Obama voted FOR negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drugs (2005), FOR increasing the Medicaid rebate for producing generics (2005), FOR expanding the enrollment period for Medicare (2006), and FOR requiring negotiated prescription prices for Medicare (2007). The American Public Health Association has given Obama a rating of 100%.

Immigration
McCain
Words: McCain believes in giving illegal aliens a path to citizenship, arguing that 14 million illegal aliens is “de facto amnesty”. He advocates fines, waiting periods, and deportation depending on circumstances. He feels that comprehensive reform starts with border security and includes a temporary worker program.
Actions: McCain voted FOR limiting welfare for immigrants (1997), FOR visas for skilled workers (1998), FOR allowing for immigrant labor for farm work (1998), FOR giving “guest workers” a path to citizenship (2006), FOR allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security (2006), FOR establishing a “guest worker” program (2006), FOR building a fence along the Mexican border (2006), FOR making English the official language of the US government (2007), and FOR comprehensive immigration reform (2007). Americans for Better Immigration has given him a rating of 10%.

Obama
Words: Obama feels there should be a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens, but argues that it must be earned. He supports border patrols and a border fence as well as holding employers accountable for hiring undocumented workers. He also feels that the system for legal immigration is broken.
Actions: Obama voted FOR giving “guest workers” a path to citizenship (2006), FOR allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security (2006), FOR establishing a “guest worker” program (2006), FOR building a fence along the Mexican border (2006), AGAINST making English the official language of the US government (2007), and FOR comprehensive immigration reform (2007). Americans for Better Immigration has given him a rating of 14%.

Iraq and the War on Terror
McCain
Words: The “McCain Principle” is that committing troops means completing the mission. He believes that the “war on terror” is the overriding, transcendent issue of the campaign - and that it is a war we must fight and win. “It’s a fight between a just regard for human dignity and a malevolent force that defiles an honorable religion by disputing God’s love for every soul on earth. It’s a fight between right and wrong, good and evil.”
Actions: McCain voted FOR authorizing air strikes in Kosovo (1999) but AGAINST using all necessary force (1999), FOR authorizing the use of force against Iraq (2002), FOR funding military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq (2003), FOR requiring on-budget funding rather than emergency funding for Iraq (2005), and AGAINST redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007 (2006). The Center for Security Policy has given McCain a rating of 59%.

Obama
Words: Obama advocates a slow, scheduled withdrawal from Iraq (which he argues was a strategic blunder) and feels we should have an open dialogue with Syria and Iran. He believes that the focus of the “war on terror” should be on al-Qaeda in Pakistan and the Taliban. “We live in a more dangerous world, partly as a consequence of Bush’s actions, primarily because of this war in Iraq that should have never been authorized or waged. …The US has to reserve all military options in facing an imminent threat - but we have to do it wisely.”
Actions: A long time critic of the invasion of Iraq, Obama voted AGAINST redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007 (2006) but FOR redeploying troops out of Iraq by March 2008 (2007). The Center for Security Policy has given Obama a rating of 21%.

National Security
McCain
Words: McCain strongly opposes the use of torture and rendition. He argues that the military’s political leaders should have a military background and that a Commander in Chief needs experience more than briefing books. He supports “don’t-ask-don’t-tell” and feels that women have proven themselves in combat. McCain feels that we should withdraw from the ABM Treaty and develop a missile defense system. He believes we should raise military pay to increase recruitment and is a strong proponent of veterans’ rights. He also feels that waste should be eliminated in defense spending and that Europe should increase its funding of NATO.
Actions: McCain served in the US Navy from 1958-1981 and was a prisoner of war in Vietnam from 1967-1973. He received Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross awards. McCain voted FOR amending the ABM Treaty to allow the deployment of the missile defense system (1996), FOR banning chemical weapons (1997), AGAINST prohibiting same-sex basic training (1998), FOR a military pay raise (1999), FOR deploying National Missile Defense (1999), FOR cutting nuclear weapons to below START levels (1999), FOR another round of military base closures (1999), AGAINST adopting the Comprehensive Test ban Treaty (1999), FOR the authorization for the use of force in Iraq (2002), AGAINST restoring $565M for states’ and ports’ first responders (2005), AGAINST restricting business with foreign companies with links to terrorism (2005), FOR the PATRIOT Act’s wiretap provision (2005), FOR reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act (2006), AGAINST requiring CIA reports on interrogation techniques (2006), and AGAINST preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees (2006). Peace Action has given McCain a rating of 0% and the Center for Security Policy has given him a rating of 59%.
Obama
Words: Obama feels we should support veterans and address the deficiencies in the VA system. He advocates appealing “don’t-ask-don’t-tell”, giving our troops the best training and equipment available, and growing the size of the military to maintain rotation schedules. “We know that… our long-term security depends on a judicious projection of military power and increased cooperation with other nations, and that addressing the problems of global poverty and failed states is vital to our nation’s interests.”
Actions: Obama has not served in the US military. He voted FOR restoring $565M for states’ and ports’ first responders (2005), FOR restricting business with foreign companies with links to terrorism (2005), AGAINST the PATRIOT Act’s wiretap provision (2005), FOR reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act (2006), FOR requiring CIA reports on interrogation techniques (2006), FOR preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees (2006), and FOR implementing the 9/11 Commission report (2007). The Center for Security Policy has given him a rating of 21%.
Tax Policy McCain
Words: McCain opposed the Bush administration tax cuts, but now feels they must be extended. He feels that the tax system should be simplified, closing special interest loopholes, and that the child tax credit should be doubled. He also advocates removing the charitable deduction.
Actions: McCain voted FOR requiring a super-majority for raising taxes (1998), AGAINST an across-the-board spending cut (1999), FOR phasing out the estate tax (2000), FOR eliminating the “marriage penalty” (2000), AGAINST increasing tax deductions for college tuition (2001), FOR reducing the “marriage penalty” rather than cutting top tax rates (2001), AGAINST $350 billion in tax breaks over eleven years (2003), FOR extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends (2005), FOR retaining reduced taxes on capital gains and dividends (2006), AGAINST raising $47 billion for the military by repealing the capital gains tax cut (2006), FOR permanently repealing the estate tax (2006), FOR supporting a permanent estate tax cut (2006), AGAINST raising estate tax exemption to $5 million (2007), and FOR repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax (2007). The NTU has given him a rating of 72%
Obama
Words: Obama feels we should reduce the Bush administration’s tax cuts to pay for health care and other programs, arguing that those cuts benefit corporations but not the middle class. He advocates tax incentives to create jobs at home rather than offshore. He also supports the estate tax.
Actions: Obama voted AGAINST extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends (2005), AGAINST retaining reduced taxes on capital gains and dividends (2006), FOR raising $47 billion for the military by repealing the capital gains tax cut (2006), AGAINST permanently repealing the estate tax (2006), AGAINST supporting a permanent estate tax cut (2006), AGAINST raising estate tax exemption to $5 million (2007), and AGAINST repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax (2007).

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