Last week, the front page of the Washington Post featured an article about Flag City, USA (Findlay, Ohio) and false rumors about Obama that have been accepted as fact by some.
Summary of the Article
The article featured Jim Peterman, a 74-year-old retired Cooper Tire employee, and an U.S. Air Force veteran. In the article, he is depicted as being confused about Obama and his personal life (religion, nationality, etc.)…
You know what? No.
I’m not finishing that post.
Lets take it in a different direction.
I’m an Obama supporter. I have donated to his campaign, and I think it’s no mystery among my friends and relatives that I am an Obama supporter, and tend to be a Liberal.
That being said, I am an AVID supporter of voting. No matter if you are voting for Barack Obama, John McCain, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, or Róger Calero (Socialist Worker Party candidate), I IMPLORE you to VOTE. Obviously, I support Obama and would like people to vote for him, however, I would rather people vote for SOMEONE rather than no one at all.
Okay. Now for the long part. Seeing as how so much of America doesn’t have a single clue how the candidates stand on each issue, I thought I would break down the basics of which candidates stood for what pertaining to which issues. I’ll outline them briefly, as to keep this as short as possible. I’ll also only focus on the main party candidates (John McCain–Republican and Barack Obama–Democrat) and the main issues (Abortion, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Iraq, Foreign Affairs, Same-Sex Marriage, and Taxes). Not only will I outline what each candidate stands for, I will also outline my own personal views on the subject.
ABORTION
McCain–Officially Pro Life (against abortion). Believes that Roe v. Wade (1973 Supreme Court case legalizing Abortion up to week 28 of a woman’s pregnancy) was a flawed decision that must be overturned.
Obama–Officially Pro Choice (for abortion). Opposes any Constitutional Amendment overturning the results of Roe v. Wade.
My Beliefs–I am morally against abortion, because I believe in the right to life. However, I believe this country is founded on the freedom of choice. That being said, I am for abortion, because it is a freedom of choice, and the minute our government begins revoking personal freedoms is the minute this country begins its downfall from the basic principles it was founded on.
EDUCATION
McCain–Voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires public schools to meet test standards to receive federal funding. In a GOP primary debate, McCain said the following: “We need to reward good teachers and find bad teachers another line of work.”
Obama–Wishes to reform No Child Left Behind, ensuring access to high-quality early childhood education programs and child care opportunities. Obama also seeks to make math and science education a national priority (in light of steadily declining math and science scores nationwide).
My Beliefs–No Child Left Behind was a mistake from the beginning. Requiring public schools to meet test standards to receive federal funding means slowing classes down for any students that are not with the rest of the class. I believe No Child Left Behind needs to be reformed or even repealed. I believe the education system in America needs more funding if we don’t wish for it to flounder in the next 20 years.
ENERGY
McCain–Calls for the suspension of the federal gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and says the lost revenue will be paid for by money from the general fund. Believes that the government should lift restrictions on offshore drilling and provide incentives to states permitting offshore exploring. Opposed to drilling in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska). Calls for building new nuclear reactors. Proposed a market-based approach to climate change that would set caps on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Obama–Opposes a federal gas tax relief, calling it a “classic Washington gimmick.” Wishes to explore nuclear energy as a “part of the energy mix.” Against lifting government restrictions of offshore drilling and opposes drilling in ANWR. Proposes reducing carbon by 80 percent by 2050 by using a market-based cap-and-trade system. Would invest $150 billion over the next 10 years in clean energy.
My Beliefs–Being the product of an Oil Company executive (my father is an Area Manager for Marathon Petroleum in Canton, Ohio), I know a great deal on this subject. While gas prices affect EVERYONE (yes, even Oil Company execs pay for gasoline and are subject to the market prices of oil), I know that the future rests in alternative energy sources. I am definitely for the proliferation of nuclear energy. I am actively opposed to drilling in ANWR, and have been since it was first proposed (I’m still against having the above-ground pipeline that currently runs through ANWR). I’m opposed to lifting any gas tax, because I don’t believe it will do anything to help the economy, the national deficit, or our dependency on foreign oil.
ENVIRONMENT
McCain–Introduced the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 (with Joe Lieberman of Connecticut). The Act is designed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Would propose the use of alternative energy sources, including nuclear.
Obama–Would implement a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the level recommended by top scientists. Would establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to introduce low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. Wants to maintain forests globally, and wants to develop domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands or undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
My Beliefs–I believe greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced drastically, and that we need to help stop deforestation worldwide. I think we need to start using low-carbon fuels and alternative energy sources (including nuclear).
HEALTH CARE
McCain–Opposes a federally mandated universal health care coverage program. Will encourage small businesses to band together to negotiate lower health care rates with health care providers.
Obama–Would create a national health insurance program to provide health care to individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and who do not qualify for existing federal programs. Requires companies who do not provide health coverage for employees to pay into the national health insurance program. Requires health coverage for all children.
My Beliefs–I am a big proponent for socialized medicine and health care. I believe that everyone has the right to cheap, affordable health care and those who cannot afford health care should not suffer, but rather the government should provide some sort of loaning system so that they can afford it and pay it back over time. I believe companies should provide health coverage, and if they don’t, should have to help the government pay for health coverage for their employees.
IMMIGRATION
McCain–Voted to authorize a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border. Improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
Obama–Voted to authorize a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border. Improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
My Beliefs–Obama and McCain both stand for the same thing in this sense, and have voted for the same things (including the Bush-backed immigration reform, which would have improved border security technology). I, however, don’t support the 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border. It’s a little too Orwellian (as in 1984 by George Orwell) and Children of Menish for me. I do believe illegal immigrants should have a legal path to becoming U.S. citizens, and call me narrow-minded, but I do believe one of these requirements should be the ability to speak English.
IRAQ
McCain–Voted for the use of military force in Iraq. Was an early proponent of sending additional troops into Iraq, and supported the Bush veto of a war spending bill that would have withdrawn most troops from Iraq by March 2008. Has said that he has no problem “staying in Iraq for 100 more years” if that’s what it takes to “get the job done.”
Obama–Voted against the use of military force in Iraq. Voted for the war spending bill that would have withdrawn most troops from Iraq by March 2008. Opposed Bush’s plan to send additional troops to Iraq. Recently has made it known that he wants to withdraw most troops in a period of 16 to 24 months, but realizes it could take longer than 24 months.
My Beliefs–I believe Iraq was a mistake to begin with. I would have voted for the war spending bill, and I support the withdrawal of troops as soon as possible.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
McCain–Didn’t vote on September 2007 Senate resolution calling on the administration to declare Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Says military action in Iran is an option, but would consult Congressional Leaders before taking action.
Obama–Didn’t vote on 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 the leaders of Iran (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), Syria (Bashar al-Assad), Venezuela (Hugo Chavez), Cuba (Raul Castro), and North Korea (Kim Jong-il) during the first year of his presidency. He would leave military option on the table, but not pursue it immediately.
My Beliefs–Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy. I am a huge advocate of war, and do not condone it at all. Why fight wars when we can use diplomacy to settle it? However, if no diplomatic agreement can be reached, military action is always an option.
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
McCain–Believes that the definition of marriage is a union between a man and a woman, but opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Believes that 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.
Obama–Opposes same-sex marriage, but also opposes a constitutional ban, implying that states should decide the issue. Supports civil unions.
My Beliefs–This goes hand in hand with my position on abortion. I believe that people have the freedom of choice. I avidly am against a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and believe that same-sex partners should receive legal benefits.
TAXES
McCain–Voted to extend Bush tax cuts through 2010, even though he voted against 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cut laws. Says he opposes a proposal that supporters are calling the “Fair Tax,” which would repeal income taxes and other taxes and abolish the Internal Revenue, but he has previously said he would sign it into law as president.
Obama–Opposed extending 2003 Bush tax cut law through 2010. Wants to re-examine tax benefits for the top one percent of earners.
My Beliefs–Taxes are always a big issue. I support tax cuts for middle-to-low class citizens, but I do not support tax cuts for the top 5% of earners in the nation. The Bush tax cuts that were extended through 2010 cut taxes for the top 10% of earners and corporations, but does not give a tax break to middle class workers.
A lot of my information came from CNN.com’s Political pages.
I hope I have cleared up any issues, and I hope you go out and vote this November! Feel free to leave me comments arguing with my points of view or telling me what an amazing political writer I am (just kidding!). I really would love to hear from you all!
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10.07.2008, Thu 01:47:57 am at 01:47:57 am |
I certainly applaud your dedication to the political ring. Definitely not my cup of tea. I’m glad I read it though. Now I have an idea of what’s going on.
09.11.2008, Sun 11:45:04 am at 11:45:04 am |
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