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PICK A DEMOCRAT
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WHO Stands
for WHAT?
for WHAT?
U.S. Presidential Candidates
DEMOCRATIC
DEMOCRATIC
Real Issues, Hard Specifics
The charges are true: U.S. political campaigns get covered like a "horse race." Forget issues—it's who's ahead today, who's behind? It's lazy and shallow.
Who's up in this week's polls? Who raised the most money? Who misspoke, or fell down, or got angry, or looked silly?
Don't you care about something bigger? Where do candidates stand on real issues? What would they do, if actually elected?
In the matrix below, you'll find hard positions of all 18 announced 2008 U.S. presidential candidates on 12 progressive issues.
We hope this comparison helps you understand their differences better, see "who stands for what," and find your best candidate to support.
After checking their positions, compare your own views against EdgyBear's Candidates Scorecard.
| ISSUE | Hillary Clinton (Dem) | John Edwards (Dem) | Barack Obama (Dem) |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 Saving Planet Earth
|
CLINTON: Supports ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.
Would establish a $50-billion Strategic Energy Fund to create an energy research agency to gather "the best minds from academia, the private sector, and government to devise ways to make the United States energy independent and reduce the threat of global warming." Would create a "Green Building Fund" (GBF) from which the federal government would allocate $1 billion annually to states for grants or low-interest loans to improve energy efficiency in public buildings, such as schools, police stations, firehouses and offices. "The GBF will create as many as 50,000 new 'green collar' jobs." Opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). |
EDWARDS: Supports capping greenhouse gas pollution, from 2010 on, with a cap-and-trade system, reducing emissions by 15 percent by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050, to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.
Would lead the world to a new climate treaty commiting other countries, including developing nations, to reduce their pollution. |
OBAMA: Supports using a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon (greenhouse gas) emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Would double funding for science and research on clean energy projects and invest in new job training and transition programs for jobs in new green technologies. Would invest federal resources for advanced biofuels (including celluosic ethanol) developed and applied rapidly, plus work to apply clean coal technology. |
#2 Peace and War
|
CLINTON: Strongly supported military action in 2001 in Afghanistan as a chance to combat terrorism and improve the lives of Afghan women. In 2002, voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution, which authorized George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq.
Co-sponsored (with Sen. Robert Byrd) the Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007, which would limit U.S. military force levels and expenditures in Iraq and require the President to report justifications for additional requests. Opposes permanent U.S. bases in Iraq. However, would allow a "residual force" of U.S. troops to stay for training Iraqis, logistical support, and counterterrorism. In a Democratic debate (on 27 Sep 2007, MSNBC), she—along with candidates John Edwards and Barack Obama—refused to give a firm pledge of "no U.S. troops" in Iraq by the year 2013. Sponsored the Heroes at Home Act (S. 1065) to improve the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury in current and former members of the Armed Forces. Supports UN sanctions on Iran and asserts Iran should not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. Has said "all options remain on the table," including military action, when dealing with Iran. |
EDWARDS: Has stated: "There is no military solution to the chaos in Iraq. Instead, the Iraqi people must solve the problem politically by taking responsibility for their country. By leaving Iraq, America will prompt the Iraqi people, regional powers, and the entire international community to find the political solution that will end the sectarian violence and create a stable Iraq."
Strongly supported the supplemental spending bill passed by both Houses of Congress and vetoed by President Bush that funds the troops with a timetable for withdrawal. Called for Congress to respond to the President's veto by sending back the same bill—as many times as it takes for the President to end the war. His plan for ending the war in Iraq is to: (1) begin immediately to draw down 40,000 to 50,000 combat troops; (2) prohibit funding for any new trooops that do not meet readiness standards and have not been properly trained and equipped; (3) require the President to seek new authority for the war (since he has exceeded authority granted in the 2002 authorization); (4) completely withdraw all combat troops within 9 to 10 months; (5) prohibit permanent U.S. bases in Iraq; (6) retain sufficient forces in Iraq to ensure stability in Iraq; (7) intensify U.S. efforts to train Iraqi security forces; (8) hold direct talks with all nations in the region, including Iran and Syria, to bring a political solution to the sectarian violence inside Iraq. |
OBAMA: As a State Senator in Illinois, spoke (October 2, 2002) Against Going to War with Iraq. Argued that "Saddam Hussein posed no imminent threat to the United States" and that a U.S. invasion "would lead to an occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences."
Says his plan for leaving Iraq parallels that of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by James Baker and Lee Hamilton. Introduced legislation to end the war in Iraq with a phased withdrawal. Would begin by withdrawing troops engaged in combat operations, one or two brigades a month, completed by the end of 2008. Would call for a new Iraq constitutional convention, convened with the United Nations, not to adjourn until Iraq's leaders reach a new accord on reconciliation. Would use leadership to surge diplomacy with all nations of the region on behalf of a new regional security compact. Has asserted he would "take immediate steps to confront the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Iraq." Would ensure that all returning military service members are given proper disability coverage for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and that they are screened for Traumatic Brain Injury. Would provide a window of from two to five years of mental health care after service. |
#3 Global Living Conditions
|
CLINTON: Has a detailed ten-step Gulf Coast Recovery Agenda to help get services runnning again and to get infrastructure re-built in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast.
Proposes support for public schools in developing countries to help attain "universal primary education for the 77 million children around the world who aren't in school because they are too poor." |
EDWARDS: Pledges to create a new Cabinet Level Advisor on Global Poverty. Pledges to seek to "modernize, consolidate, and simplify foreign aid" for a better comprehensive strategy to fight global poverty. | OBAMA: Helped secure $25 million that U.S. agencies in Southeast Asia are using to combat and contain widespread outbreaks of avian flu. Also worked with other Senators to provide $4 billion in funding to the Centers for Disease Control to combat avian flu, including more than $3 billion to build a stockpile of antiviral drugs that had been in short supply. |
#4 Human Rights
|
CLINTON: Was co-sponsor of Internet Freedom Preservation Act (S. 2917) for "net neutrality."
Stated in 1995 in Beijing, at the U.N. Conference on Women, that "women's rights are human rights." Among her efforts for women's rights have been supporting the Prevention First Act (to help reduce the need for abortions); expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act; and support for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies. Personally opposes abortion but does not believe it should be illegal. Has been a firm advocate for a woman's right to choose. Has opposed right-wing efforts to limit protections of Roe v. Wade, while working for greater access to family planning services including for low-income women. Supports membership by the United States in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. |
EDWARDS: Issued statement on torture: "As president, I will work to restore America's moral authority in the world by upholding the rule of law and safeguarding our civil liberties. I reject the Bush Administration's twisted logic justifying torture. I will release the legal opinions justifying it, and end the abuse of classification and legal privilege to hide un-American legal judgments." Also believes that "saying no to torture will protect our troops and our values by upholding the Geneva Conventions anywhere American security forces, military or civilian, are engaged." Supports "net neutrality" so that all people, not just big businesses and big organizations, can express themselves through the Internet on an equal footing. Supports legal access to abortion. Opposes same-sex marriage. Supports civil unions and partnership benefits. |
OBAMA: Would protect network neutrality so that anyone could transmit their ideas over the Internet "without having to go through any corporate media middleman."
Believes "abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade." Voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman, but believes "marriage is defined as a religious bond between a man and a woman." Supports civil unions that would carry the same legal standing as marriages for same-sex couples, but believes "decisions about the title of marriage should be left to the states." |
#5 Economic Justice
|
CLINTON: Affirms a Modern Progressive Vision for Shared Prosperity to "restore a strong middle class in the face of globalization and the Bush administration's concerns for the special interests."
Would tie the minimum wage to Congressional pay votes—if Congress raises its own pay, the minimum wage would go up, too. Would change tax policies to reward companies for creating jobs in America and not reward companies that move jobs offshore. Would foster greater public scrutiny of CEO pay and more independence of Boards of Directors. Would simplify and expand the earned income tax credit (EITC), overhaul the unemployment insurance system, and make it easier for workers to join unions. Favors tax relief for middle-class families by ending the marriage penalty, by extending lower income-tax rates, and by giving a deduction for college tuition, a refundable child tax credit, and an adoption tax credit. |
EDWARDS: Says he is running for President "to build One America where every American can work hard and build a better life."
Would set a national goal of ending poverty within 30 years, lifting 37 million Americans out of poverty by the year 2036. Set an interim goal of cutting poverty by one-third within a decade (12 million Americans out of poverty by 2016). Would reform the measurement of "poverty" so we "measure poverty honestly, evaluate our performance, and hold politicians accountable for policies that change the number of people suffering hardship." Would create a Working Society where "everyone who is able to work will be expected to work and, in turn, rewarded for it." Would overhaul housing policy with new housing vouchers for low-income families. Would invest to revitalize devastated neighborhoods. Would fight abusive lenders and help working families save. Would overhaul the tax code and create new tax breaks for the middle-class—a "Get Ahead" tax credit matching family savings, a Child Care Credit, and a tripled earned income tax credit (EITC). Proposes a new Rural Recovery Act to rejuvenate the struggling counties and towns of people in rural America. |
OBAMA: Would double the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program, which provides grants for public transportation in highest-need communities and for planning initiatives to give better public transportation for low-income workers.
Would create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to bring affordable housing into mixed-income neighborhoods. Would create transitional job programs to provide temporary, subsidized wage-paying jobs for those in extreme need to learn job skills before they apply for unsubsidized jobs in the private and public sectors. Would fully fund the Community Development Block Grant program of housing for low- and moderate-income people. Is a strong advocate for passing the Employee Free Choice Act to ensure workers the freedom and rights to unionize. Would protect and strengthen Social Security, insist that companies keep their promises and secure employee pensions, and eliminate income taxes for seniors who make less than $50,000. Would raise the minimum wage and expand the earned income tax credit (EITC). |
#6 Opportunity for All
|
CLINTON: Would have federal agencies "adopt criteria that take diversity into account" when awarding education and research grants.
Would encourage the federal government to "provide financial support to college and university programs that encourage women and minorities to study math, science, and engineering." Has fought for policies that promote equality and oppose marginalizing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Supports civil unions, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and federal hate crimes legislation. Would end "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy and allow military service regardless of sexual orientation. Expects expanded access to broadband to bring opportunities "to underserved/disadvantaged communities." |
EDWARDS: Would limit local and national concentration of media and make ownership of media more possible for women and minorities.
Would set a national broadband policy to "help make the Internet more affordable and accessible to all Americans, regardless of where they live or how much money they have." Would lift FCC restrictions and allow local grassroots groups to set up low-power FM (LPFM) radio stations. Would appoint Commissioners to the FCC who will define "robust public interest obligations" for digital broadcasters—including closed-captioning and other tools for people with disabilities. |
OBAMA: Would create 20 "Promise Neighborhoods" across the nation in cities with high poverty and crime and low student academic achievement, to engage all neighborhood children and their
parents in an achievement program based on tangible goals, like going to college for every participating student, strong physical and mental health for children, and meaningful employment and parenting skills for parents.
Would support a Nurse-Family Partnership for home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income expectant mothers and their families. Would invest $1 billion over five years in transitional jobs and career pathway programs to help low-income Americans succeed in the workforce. Would seek broadband Internet access for every home and business in urban America at an affordable rate to give opportunity to low-income people. |
#7 International Balance
|
CLINTON: Promises to restore America's reputation in the world, lead the world through alliances, and build our foreign policy on a strong foundation of bipartisan consensus. Would seek to forge "global coalitions to tackle global problems like climate change, poverty, AIDS, and terrorism."
Believes the solution to illegal immigration is to make "a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes, respecting the law, and willing to meet a high bar for becoming a citizen." Voted (in 2006) for construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S. Mexico border. Voted for the compromise Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Believes in a strong United Nations. |
EDWARDS: Committed to helping end the genocide in Darfur (in Western Sudan). Calls for a combination of U.S. and NATO actions to accelerate the peacekeeping and stop the genocide by ensuring the U.N. process is as "rapid, tough, and effective as possible."
Seeks to help resolve the humanitarian crisis caused by the Civil War in Uganda. Urges U.S. support (by President Bush) for the Juba peace talks. |
OBAMA: Co-sponsored (with Richard Lugar) Lugar-Obama Initiative to crack down on caches of conventional weapons internationally and help nations detect and secure weapons of mass destruction before they leave their borders.
Helped revamp U.S. policy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo committing to help rebuild the country, develop lasting political structures, hold accountable destabilizing by foreign governments, crack down on corrupt politicians, and professionalize the military. Co-sponsored the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act to end the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. |
#8 Democratic Reform
|
CLINTON: Introduced the Count Every Vote Act to reform the U.S. election process. This bill would assure a paper trail for every vote cast, make Election Day a national holiday, allow same-day registration, minimize long lines, discourage deceptive practices, and require that elections be administered by officials who are impartial.
Co-sponsored the McCain- Feingold Campaign Reform Act which imposed restrictions on soft money, contributions, and political campaign advertising. Would strengthen protections for whistle-blowers. Would end abuse of "no-bid" government contracts and post all contracts online. Would cut 500,000 Government contractors. Would "reinvigorate the Office of Science and Technology Policy to ensure that the President receives objective, fact-based advice" and "reverse the Bush administration's irresponsible politicization of science." Promises "a government that puts competency ahead of cronyism" and "a return to transparency and a system of checks and balances." |
EDWARDS: Believes that policy should be "science-driven" and that science should not be "politics-driven."
Will ensure that government professionals charged with the collection and analysis of scientific data, from medical research to mercury emissions, are insulated from political influence. As a Senator, co-sponsored the McCain-Feingold bill (S. 27), which became McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act (Public Law 107-155). |
OBAMA: Introduced the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act (S. 1975) against deceptive election practices, to give harsh penalties to those who engage in voter fraud, and to ensure that accurate and full information is given to every citizen who wishes to vote.
Worked in Senate for strong ethics reform legislation to include banning of gifts and meals from lobbyists, prohibiting subsidized travel on corporate jets, and requiring full disclosure on earmark sponsors, restrictions on "the revolving door" from government to lobbying, and tighter disclosure on bundled contributions to politicians by lobbyists. Supports the creation of an independent ethics commission for addressing complaints from the public on alleged ethics violations by members of Congress, staff, and lobbyists. Co-sponsored Coburn-Obama Bill (S. 2590) with Tom Coburn, which allows regular people to track all federal grants, contracts, earmarks, and loans using a Google-like search engine with an Internet database. |
#9 Universal Health Care
|
CLINTON: Has a Seven-Step Strategy for lowering the spiraling costs of health care, which would: (1) install a National Prevention Initiative to reduce chronic illness like diabetes, heart conditions, and obesity; (2) install a "paperless" health information technology system; (3) provide better care management for catastrophic chronic diseases; (4) end discriminatory insurance practices and create a "guarantee issue" system for everyone; (5) create an independent Best Practices Institute to research the effectiveness of alternative treatments; (6) implement Smart Purchasing Initiatives to allow better generic competition, provide more oversight, and crack down on Medicare overpayments; (7) promote common-sense medical malpractice reforms.
Would allow Medicare to negotiate lower prices with big drug companies. |
EDWARDS: Would provide universal health care for everyone in America. Would require businesses to either cover employees or help finance their health insurance.
Would make health care more affordable by creating new tax credits, expanding Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), reforming insurance laws, and seeking innovations to contain health care costs. Would create regional "Health Care Markets" to allow Americans to poll their bargaining power. Would use universal health care as a foundation in a major national HIV/AIDS strategy with guaranteed treatment for everyone. Would reform health insurance industry, cut costs and improve treatment for chronic and preventive care, improve health information technology systems, make prescription drugs more affordable, and support more nurses, long-term care, and telemedicine in rural areas. |
OBAMA: Would create a National Health Insurance Exchange as a watchdog group to help citizens who purchase private insurance.
Would require businesses to cover employees or contribute to national health insurance costs. Would require coverage for all children, and expand eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Supports coordinated disease management programs for chronic conditions (like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension); systems to monitor for reforms and excellence; lower costs by investing in electronic health technology systems; and, more competition among insurance companies. Would allow Americans to buy cheaper medicines from other countries, let the government negotiate for lower Medicare prescription drug relief, and increase the use of generic drugs. |
#10 Lifetime Education
|
CLINTON: Believes "every child should have ready access to high quality pre-K" learning.
Would give high priority to Early Head Start program (ages one to three). Would support community colleges and "regional skills alliances and job training programs" for lifelong learning. Proposed a Student Borrowers Bill of Rights to stop predatory lending practices aimed at student borrowers. If elected, pledges to reform the "unkept promise" of the No Child Left Behind Act. |
EDWARDS: Would move towards universal preschool with "Great Promise" universal high-quality programs for four-year-olds.
Would raise pay for teachers in successful high-poverty schools and create a national teachers' university—a West Point for teachers—"to train excellent teachers for our worst schools." Would create a national "College for Everyone" initiative, overhaul the student loan program, and simplify financial aid. Would radically overhaul No Child Left Behind to live up to its goal of helping all children learn at high levels. |
OBAMA: Would increase funding for Head Start to give critically important learning skills to low-income preschool children.
Would use a "STEP UP" plan to support summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged grade school children through partnerships between local schools and community organizations. Would make college more affordable for more young people by increasing the amounts of need-based grants (such as the Pell Grant), and by eliminating wasteful subsidies to private banks under the student loan program. |
#11 Energy Freedom
|
CLINTON: Proposes an "Apollo project-like program" to reduce the cost of energy and make the United States energy-independent.
Would scale back oil and gas subsidies. Would require big oil companies to either invest in alternative energy or pay into the Strategic Energy Fund for clean energy research. |
EDWARDS: Would create a New Energy Economy Fund by auctioning off $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and repealing subsidies for big oil companies to support U.S. R&D on energy technology. | OBAMA: Has a comprehensive program for Meeting Energy Needs.
Would establish a national Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS); require 25% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025; and, invest in energy efficiency (as in government buildings, energy utilities, and light bulbs). Would raise auto fuel economy standards. Would jumpstart investment in advanced (e.g., hybrid) vehicles and use them by government. |
#12 Fiscal Responsibility
|
CLINTON: Would work to help balance the federal budget, save Social Security, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign creditors (like China), return income-tax rates to 1990s levels, reform the alternative minimum tax (AMT), and ensure that corporations pay fair taxes.
Voted against the Bush tax cuts as being fiscally irresponsible. |
EDWARDS: In a 2002 speech, stated that: "Both parties in Washington need to stop spending money we don't have and make a real commitment to fiscal discipline." | OBAMA: Has stated that he favors "a return to fiscal responsibility, so we are not borrowing billions from the Social Security trust fund, [which] would help strengthen the program for the long term." |
| ISSUE | Mike Gravel (Dem) | Dennis Kucinich (Dem) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Saving Planet Earth
|
GRAVEL: Believes that global climate change is a matter of national security and survivability of the planet.
As President, would act swiftly to reduce the U.S. carbon footprint in the world by legislation that taxes carbon at the source and caps carbon emissions. |
KUCINICH: Co-sponsored Safe Climate Act of 2007 (H.R. 1590) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the climate.
Would put the United States in the forefront of solving the global warming crisis by rejoining the Kyoto accord and implementing its recommendations. Believes that: "After global warming, water use and availability may be the most important sustainability issue of all." Has proposed ten principles as "Water Marks": (1) All water will be forever in the public domain. (2) Each nation's duty is to provide accessible, affordable drinking water. (3) There shall be public ownership of drinking water. (4) Wealthy nations must provide poor nations with the means to obtain water for survival. (5) Water must not become a commodity and must be exempted from all trade agreements. (6) Water privatization shall not be a condition of debt restructuring, loan renewal, or loan forgiveness. (7) Governments must use their powers to prevent private aggregation of water rights. (8) Water must be conserved through sustainable agriculture and plant-based diets. (9) Water resources must be protected from pollution. (10) Our children shall be educated about the essential nature of water for maintaining life. Has affirmed that: "I will lead the way in protecting our oceans, rivers and rural environments. I will also lead in fighting for clean, affordable and accessible drinking water. I have worked hand-in-hand with the environmental movement on many battles, from thwarting a nuclear waste dump to boosting organics to demanding labels on genetically-engineered products. A clean environment, a sustainable economy, and an intact ozone layer are not luxuries, but necessities for our planet's future." |
|
| #2 Peace and War
|
GRAVEL: Advocates immediate and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq.
Opposes a military confrontation with Iran and Syria. Advocates a diplomatic solution to the current situation. Would ensure that veterans receive full and unambiguous funding for their most important needs, including treatment for post traumatic stress disorder. |
KUCINICH: Would withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq immediately.
Voted against the authorization of military force against Iraq and voted against all funding bills. Stated: "One cannot be against the Iraq war yet still fund it." |
|
| #3 Global Living Conditions
|
GRAVEL: Believes the U.S. should commit to helping raise the economic standards in a future Palestinian State to compare with those in Israel. | KUCINICH: Would set a national priority to fight worldwide poverty.
Believes "the path to a safe, strong America is through peace, tolerance and committing our nation to eradicating the root causes of global poverty." Believes the real "weapons of mass destruction" are actually joblessness, poverty, hunger, poor health, poor education, and discrimination. Would carry out plans to end poverty, U.S. and worldwide, by cutting money from the federal budget for military and war spending, and adding taxes for the most privileged. |
|
| #4 Human Rights
|
GRAVEL: Supports a free and open Internet with unlimited access to all sites regardless of content. Supports legislation and regulation that "keeps you in control of your internet usage and promotes free speech."
Supports a woman's right to choose if and when to have children and to make the difficult decision about abortion without interference by government. Supports same-sex marriage and opposes the Defense of Marriage Act. |
KUCINICH: Believes "democracy can not flourish when the government shrouds itself in secrecy and citizens lose their privacy. It should be the other way around. . . . The assertion by the White House of a chilling new doctrine know as the 'Unitary Executive' should truly terrify us more than remote and inflated threats of terrorism. . . . The United States does not elect kings."
Actually read the Patriot Act and voted against it. Supports same-sex marriage. Supports issues on behalf of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (LGBT) community. |
|
| #5 Economic Justice
|
GRAVEL: Proposes Progressive Fair Tax that would eliminate the IRS and replace the income tax system with a national sales tax on new products and services.
To compensate for taxes on necessities like food, lodging, transportation, and clothing, there would be a reimbursement "rebate" to taxpayers, paid by the government in a monthly check to all citizens. Would provide a guaranteed income (a Citizen's Wage) of $5,000 a year for a family of four, to which everyone is entitled at birth and which is available to the worker and the poor alike until they make over $18,000. The amount should maintain a minimum, decent standard of living, and would also become an effective tool for the long-run economic improvement of the entire society. The intent is to banish poverty and financial insecurity. |
KUCINICH: Would ensure that any corporation with an American name pays U.S. corporate taxes.
Has supported a WPA-type program to create jobs and rebuild America. Says "the U. S. slide towards banana-republic disparities in wealth and income threatens our very political and economic lives. Democracy and capitalism are at risk in a system where casino capitalists earn a billion dollars or more in a year while wages and savings wither for the middle class. America's consumer-driven capitalism will die if these Great Depression era trends are allowed to continue." |
|
| #6 Opportunity for All
|
GRAVEL: Has expressed explicit support for "the full range of gay civil rights" issues.
Strongly opposes the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" legislation on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. |
KUCINICH: Favors providing reparations to African-Americans for slavery, delivered as "a broad based program of social and economic reforms. . . . with health care for all, jobs for all, educational opportunities for all, housing opportunities for all." | |
| #7 International Balance
|
GRAVEL: Has stated that: "The preeminent threat in the affairs of nations is nuclear proliferation." Believes sanctions do not work and are in most cases immoral.
Supports protecting our borders, but also supports a guest worker program with naturalization to fairly bring immigrants into legal status. Would address the root cause of illegal immigration, which he believes is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). |
KUCINICH: Opposes U.S. participation in North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and World Trade Organization (WTO).
Would immediately cancel NAFTA. |
|
| #8 Democratic Reform
|
GRAVEL: Believes that "one of the most important contributions to good governance since our nation's founding is the National Initiative for Democracy, which grants citizens the power to make laws by using national ballot initiatives | KUCINICH: commits to "protect individual liberty and privacy and restore balance and fairness in America's electoral system."
Supports public financing of political campaigns. Points out that "less than 1% of the U.S. population contributes 80% of the money in federal elections," and that "the top 1% in income also received more than half the Bush tax cuts." Believes in "the separation of corporation and state." Would extend complete and equal voting representation in the U.S. Congress for the District of Columbia, including equality through statehood. |
|
| #9 Universal Health Care
|
GRAVEL: Advocates universal healthcare system providing equal medical services to all citizens, paid for by a retail sales tax (a portion of the Progressive Fair Tax plan). Citizens would pay nothing for health benefits.
Believes the War on Drugs has been a failure. Feels "it is time to end prohibition and start treating addiction as a public health problem." |
KUCINICH: Advocates a Universal, Single-Payer, Not-for-Profit health care system. While in Congress, co-authored legislation for a comparable program to establish Medicare for All (H.R. 676). |
|
| #10 Lifetime Education
|
GRAVEL: Supports re-ordering national budget priorities to improve the American education system.
Supports government funding of education from pre-kindergarten to higher education. |
KUCINICH: Pledges to provide "universal education to all Americans from pre-school through college."
Would end No Child Left Behind. |
|
| #11 Energy Freedom
|
GRAVEL: Would initiate a massive effort among the world's scientific and engineering community to end energy dependence on oil. | KUCINICH: Attended the World Summit on Sustainable Development and advocated a plan with Mikhail Gorbachev for a Global Green Deal to enable introduction of $50 billion in new solar projects around the world.
Would create a Works Green Administration (WGA) merging a new WPA-type program with EPA and NASA to both restore America's infrastructure and provide sustainable energy. |
|
| #12 Fiscal Responsibility
|
GRAVEL: Would put "real money rather than borrowed money" in the Social Security Trust Fund.
Advocates investing Social Security funds based on the interests of beneficiaries "so they can know what their retirement fund is and leave surplus funds to heirs." |
KUCINICH: Would eliminate waste from "our bloated, inefficient military budget," shift the tax burden to those who can most afford it, and save hundreds of billions in health care costs by money spent by the insurance industry to exclude people from coverage and pay for profits and exorbitant salaries. |
SOURCES
Democrats
CLINTON (D): Campaign Website: Hillary Clinton for President. Wikipedia, Hillary Rodham Clinton; Political Positions of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
EDWARDS (D): Campaign Website: John Edwards for President; Political Positions of John Edwards.
GRAVEL (D): Campaign Website: Mike Gravel for President; Wikipedia: Political Positions of Mike Gravel.
KUCINICH (D): Campaign Website: Dennis Kucinich for President; Wikipedia: Political Positions of Dennis Kucinich; On the Issues: Dennis Kucinich on the Issues.
OBAMA (D): Campaign Website: Barack Obama for President; Wikipedia: Political Positions of Barack Obama.
RICHARDSON (D): Campaign Website: Bill Richardson for President.
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