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Candidates listed in alphabetical order
Biographies
John McCain
John McCain is a 72-year-old senator from Arizona. McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958 and spent 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam during his Naval service. McCain was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and was a 2000 presidential candidate. Described as a “maverick,” McCain secured the Republican nomination in September after defeating opponents such as former Govs. Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee and selected Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.
Barack Obama
Barack Obama is a 47-year-old senator from Illinois. A graduate of Columbia and Harvard Universities, Obama was president of the Harvard Law Review and served as a community organizer in Chicago’s South Side for two years. Obama served on the Illinois Senate from 1997 until 2004, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate, according to his Web site, barackobama.com. Employing the word “change” as his campaign mantra, Obama recieved the Democratic nomination in August after defeating rival Sen. Hillary Clinton. Obama selected Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate.
On the War in Iraq
McCain: In 2002, McCain voted to support the invasion of Iraq and has maintained support, despite openly criticizing the Bush administration’s handling of the war, according to his Web site and the Washington Post. McCain supports an increase in the number of troops being sent to Iraq, according to his Web site. In a May 2008 speech, McCain expressed his hopes that a majority of troops would return by January 2013, according to democrats.org.
Obama: Obama opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq when it began in 2002, believing it would anger leaders in the Middle East. Obama opposed sending more troops overseas and instead advocated for the Bush administration to change its direction. Obama wants to set a timetable of 16 months to bring all troops home by withdrawing one to two brigades each month, according to his Web site.
On the Economy
McCain: According to McCain’s Web site, he supports the Bush administration tax cuts and wants to make them permanent. He wants to repeal the alternative minimum tax, a tax applied to some incomes in additional to regular taxes. McCain wants to require a three-fifths vote in Congress to increase taxes.
Obama: Obama wants to repeal the Bush tax cuts on incomes of more than $250,000. The Obama campaign Web site mentions the candidate’s dislike of Bush’s tax cuts for earnings more than $1 million. Obama advocates tax credits for $500 per working person and $1,000 per working family.
On Health Care
McCain: According to his Web site, McCain promised health care to all Americans and believes universal health care does not require a tax increase. McCain wants to allocate $2,500 and $5,000 tax credits for individuals and families, respectively, to purchase their own insurance plan at any agency, his Web site stated. McCain wants insurance plans to be transferable between jobs and states.
Obama: Advocating for universal health care, Obama would help employers provide health care or financially assist their employees and provide health care to all children. Obama wants insurance plans to be transferable between jobs, to create subsidies for low-income workers and forbid insurance companies from denying coverage to sickly individuals.
Energy and Climate Change
McCain: McCain said he would support subsidies for nuclear power plants in the U.S. and supports the development of fuel-efficient technology, according to his Web site. McCain opposes Arctic oil drilling but supports offshore drilling, according to nytimes.com. Like Sen. Barack Obama, McCain advocates for a cap-and-trade program, where the federal government limits the amount of carbon emissions but allows companies to bid for permits to emit more than the set limit, his Web site stated.
Obama: In the next 10 years, Obama would allocate $150 billion for climate-friendly energy supplies. He wants 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels to be phased into the fuel supply, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 5 billion tons and make all buildings carbon neutral, all by 2030. Obama has not ruled out nuclear energy, but he has expressed concerns about its safety. Like Sen. John McCain, Obama advocates for a cap-and-trade program, where the federal government limits the amount of carbon emissions but allows companies to bid for permits to emit above the set limit.
On Education
McCain: On his Web site, McCain doesn’t favor considerable federal involvement in public education. McCain wants to amend the No Child Left Behind Act and offer bonuses to “high-performing teachers.” He voted not to allocate funds for after-school programs, according to ontheissues.org. McCain wants to condense various financial aid programs to simplify the process of financial aid.
Obama: Obama believes No Child Left Behind needs to be rewritten before reauthorization. Obama would allocate funds for school districts with performance assessment programs. He wants to create a Teacher Residency Program to train teachers for demanding school districts. Obama would double funding for the main federal support for after school programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers Program. Obama would increase federal Pell grants, and, according to his Web site, eliminate FAFSA forms. Instead, people will apply for financial aid by checking a box on their tax forms.
On Immigration
McCain: McCain, on his Web site, said he would allow current illegal immigrants without a criminal record to become legal citizens if they pay taxes and a mandatory fine and learn English. McCain strongly supports strengthening U.S.-Mexican border patrol and security, according to glassbooth.org and washingtonpost.com. McCain voted yes on a bill to fund 700 miles of fencing along the border.
Obama: Obama supports legalization of current illegal immigrants living in the U.S. if they pay a fine and learn to speak English. Obama would increase the punishment of employers who hire illegal immigrants. Like Sen. McCain, Obama voted to build a fence along the Mexican border.
On Abortion
McCain: McCain is anti-abortion and wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to his Web site.
Obama: Obama supports abortion rights.
On Gay Rights
McCain: McCain opposes gay marriage, but he supports same-sex couples entering other personal and legal contracts, according to glassbooth.org.
Obama: Obama opposes gay marriage but supports civil unions and adoption rights for same-sex couples. Obama also wants to repeal the Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell military policy.
