Open thread: Road to the White House, the Issues

[XT]

Was reading this section on CNN that gives a thumb nail view of each of the major candidates stances on several issues and thought it would make a good thread for an open discussion. I’m going to list each category and the thumb nail stance of the major candidates (I’m not going to bother with the Huckster as I don’t consider Huckabee to still be a serious candidate at this point). Feel free to discuss the issues, comment about the various stances or expand on them with cites from the Candidates web sites or other sources. It’s an open discussion to just talk about the issues and the candidates…I’m hoping the thread will be resurrected during the long slog to November.

Abortion:

The candidates in the race to '08 divide evenly among party lines on this emotional issue, except for Rudy Giuliani who goes against the rest of the GOP field in supporting abortion rights.

Hillary Clinton
Will sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. Would overturn the “global gag rule,” which prohibits Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from talking about abortion in the event of an unplanned pregnancy. Voted against the Prohibit Partial Birth Abortion bill in 2003. Did not cast a vote on Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions amendment in 2007. Disagreed with Supreme Court ruling to uphold the “Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.”

Barack Obama
Opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v Wade. Disagreed with Supreme Court ruling to uphold the “Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.” Did not cast a vote on Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions amendment in 2007.

John McCain
Voted for the Prohibit Partial Birth Abortion bill in 2003 and “yes” for Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions amendment in 2007. Believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned. Supports Supreme Court ruling upholding the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.

Economic Stimulum:

With recession fears dampening consumer confidence, President Bush is pushing Congress to quickly pass a bill that would infuse the economy with cash for individuals and families and inspire corporate growth through tax breaks.

John McCain
Would lower the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent. Would allow first-year deduction of equipment and technology investments and establish a permanent research and development tax credit equal to 10 percent of wages spent on R&D.

Hillary Clinton
Would establish a $30 billion emergency housing fund to assist states and cities mitigate the effects of mounting foreclosures. Would also include a 90-day moratorium on subprime foreclosures and an automatic rate freeze on subprime mortgages of at least five years. Would provide $25 billion in emergency energy assistance for families facing skyrocketing heating bills. Would invest $10 billion in extending and broadening unemployment insurance for those who are struggling to find work. Would accelerate $5 billion in energy efficiency and alternative energy investments to jump-start green-collar job growth.

Barack Obama
Would pump $75 billion into the economy via tax cuts and direct spending targeted to working families, seniors, homeowners and the unemployed. The plan also includes $45 billion in reserves that can be injected into the economy quickly in the future if the economy continues to deteriorate. Would provide an immediate $250 tax cut for workers and their families and an immediate, temporary $250 bonus to seniors in their Social Security checks. Would provide an additional $250 tax cut to workers and an additional $250 to seniors if the economy continues to worsen. Would extend and expand unemployment insurance.

Energy:

While each candidate agrees that the United States depends far too much on imported oil and gas, opinion varies on how to lessen the burden and how to promote research and development of other energy sources.

John McCain
Proposes a national energy strategy that will rely on the technological prowess of American industry and science. Would not support subsidizing every alternative or tariffs that restrict the competition that stimulates innovation and lower cost. Believes barriers to nuclear energy are political not technological. Would provide for safe storage of spent nuclear fuel and give host states or localities a proprietary interest so when advanced recycling technologies turn used fuel into a valuable commodity, the public will share in its economic benefits. Proposed a bipartisan plan to address the problem of climate change and stimulate the development and use of advanced technologies. It is a market-based approach that would set reasonable caps on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, and provide industries with tradable credits.

Hillary Clinton
Proposes a cap-and-trade program that auctions 100 percent of permits alongside investments. Would reduce electricity consumption by 20 percent from projected levels by 2020 by changing the way utilities do business. Proposes a $50 billion fund – paid for in part by oil companies – to fund investments in alternative energy. Would double federal investment in basic energy research. Would have renewable energy generating 25 percent of electricity by 2025 and have 60 billion gallons of home-grown bio-fuels available for cars and trucks by 2030. Proposes an increase in fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030. Would create a “National Energy Council” within the White House to ensure implementation of the plan across the Executive Branch.

Barack Obama
Proposes reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 by using a market-based cap-and-trade system. Would invest $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy. Supports next generation biofuels. Proposes increasing fuel economy standards and would require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources by 2025. Would create a Global Energy Forum and re-engage with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Housing:

Home prices are declining and foreclosure filings are skyrocketing. Several prominent companies that engaged in volatile sub prime loans have gone bankrupt or have been bought out, while the people they loaned money to are faced with mortgage bills they often cannot pay.

John McCain
Would consider greater intervention by the federal government to limit effects of mortgage crisis if current measures fail. Believes a government bailout should only be a last resort.

Hillary Clinton
Would freeze the monthly rate on subprime adjustable rate mortgages, with the freeze lasting at least five years until the mortgages have been converted into affordable, fixed-rate loans. Would call on mortgage industry to provide status reports on the number of mortgages it is modifying.

Barack Obama
Proposes creating a $10 billion fund to help prevent foreclosures, eliminate some taxes and fees for families who must sell and offer counseling to homeowners. Announced a “credit card bill of rights” to provide disclosure of hidden credit costs. Would provide tax credits to 10 million middle class homeowners who struggle with mortgage costs.

Iran:

Iran says it is enriching uranium as part of a burgeoning nuclear energy program, while the United States and other countries have called on Tehran to halt the enrichment program, which could also be used to build centrifuges for nuclear bombs.

John McCain
Did not vote on a September 2007 Senate resolution calling on the administration to declare Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Says military action is an option, but would consult with congressional leaders before taking action.

Hillary Clinton
Voted for a September 2007 Senate resolution calling on the administration to declare Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Advocates diplomatic engagement with Iran but would not meet with leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea in first year of presidency. Has stated on Senate floor “no option can be taken off the table…No action can or should be taken without explicit congressional authorization.”

Barack Obama
Did not vote on a September 2007 Senate resolution calling on the administration to declare Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Believes in using diplomatic efforts and would meet with leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea during first year of presidency. Would leave military option on the table.

Iraq:

The Iraq war looms as, perhaps, the most important foreign policy issue during the 2008 election. With thousands of U.S. troops stationed there and sectarian violence always threatening to engulf the country, candidates will have to grapple with the day-to-day events taking place more than 6,000 miles away.

Hillary Clinton
Voted for use of military force in Iraq, but now says she would have voted differently “if we knew then what we know now.” Supports de-authorizing the war. Voted for war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Opposed Bush plan to increase the number of American troops in Iraq. Supports a phased redeployment

Barack Obama
Opposed use of military force in Iraq. Voted for war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Supports phased redeployment of U.S. troops. Opposed Bush’s plan to send additional troops to Iraq. Had once called for troop withdrawal to begin by the end of 2006.

John McCain
Voted for use of military force in Iraq. Supported Bush veto of war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Was an early proponent of sending additional American troops to Iraq.

SSM:

Dozens of states had ballot measures on same-sex marriage during the midterm elections in 2006, and the issue looks to heat up again as candidates campaign for 2008.

John McCain
Supports definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Says individual states should decide the issue. Says a federal marriage ban might be appropriate if courts overturned state marriage laws. Supports legal benefits for same-sex partners.

Hillary Clinton
Opposes same-sex marriage but supports civil unions. Says states should ultimately decide the issue. Opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Barack Obama
Opposes same-sex marriage, but also opposes a constitutional ban. Supports civil unions.

Taxes:

Along with the Iraq war, economic issues promise to dominate the race for the White House, including the always heated issue of taxes.

Hillary Clinton
Opposed 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts. Opposed extending tax cuts through 2010.

Barack Obama
Opposed extending 2003 Bush tax cut law through 2010. Supports eliminating marriage penalty and extending child tax credit. Supports scaling back capital gains and dividends tax cuts and re-examining tax benefits for the top one percent of earners.

John McCain
Voted against 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cut laws, but later voted in favor of extending tax cuts through 2010. Says he opposes a proposal supporters call the “Fair Tax,” which would repeal income taxes and other taxes and abolish the Internal Revenue, but has previously said he would sign it into law as president.

I realize that all of these positions are pretty sketchy (especially for McCain for some reason), so feel free to fill them out in more depth from cites from either the candidates web page or from speeches or other sources. Discuss whatever you like about the various positions including what you’d like to see, whether you agree or disagree with the candidates stances and why, etc etc.

-XT

[MovieMogul]

Here’s an interesting piece from The New Republic:

A lot has been made of the claim that electing Barack Obama, a black man raised overseas, would be enough to change the world’s perception of America. Clinton supporters justifiably dismiss this as a flimsy argument. But Marc Lynch does a great job of analyzing the two candidates’ positions on public diplomacy to the Arab world–a crucial component in improving our image abroad. Contrary to Obama’s stereotype of being full of meaningless rhetoric, Lynch highlights his substantive and on-target policies in this arena, such as his commitment to hold a summit with leaders of the Muslim world in the first 100 days of his administration and launching an “America’s Voice Initiative” modeled after the Peace Corps. Lynch turned up empty-handed when searching for similar public diplomacy initiatives on Clinton’s platform, a surprise for the self-proclaimed super-wonk:

Her Foreign Affairs essay says not a single word about public diplomacy or the war of ideas, or even hints at the notion that there might be a vast, complicated Muslim world out there beyond al-Qaeda impatient for real dialogue with a post-Bush America. When she talks about engagement, she seems to mean either talking to friendly leaders or working within institutions. I searched her campaign web site in vain for her ideas on the subject: the term “public diplomacy” turns up only one, unrelated hit on her campaign site, “war of ideas” none, “dialogue and Islam” none. Even her big foreign policy address last week at GWU - right across the street from where I was teaching at the time - began by proposing to restore America’s moral authority but never offered a single word about public diplomacy or international dialogue or the internal debates in the Muslim world. Even when the address closed by reciting all the “tools” which she would use, public diplomacy didn’t make the laundry list. In a foreign policy community saturated with recommendations on public diplomacy and the war of ideas, this absence has to be intentional. Combine the silence on public diplomacy with her decision to highlight at every opportunity her Bush-like refusal to talk to problematic foreign leaders as her main point of disagreement with Obama, and you get something which looks… well, all too familiar (no wonder those bastions of liberal foreign policy Powerline and Commentary have got her back).

So while Hillary may be ready to man the “red phone” at 3 a.m. while your children are sleeping, what is she going to be doing the 99.9% rest of the time to heal our relationship with the Muslim world?

Don’t know exactly where McCain stands, but it’s an interesting question.