What are the most important issues of the presidential campaign? Find out where the candidates running for the presidency stand on a range of key issues.
Housing
Barack Obama: Create new F.H.A. program to make it easier to convert subprime loans to fixed-rate, 30-year loans; create a fund to help people avoid foreclosures; require better disclosure from lenders.
John McCain: Initially opposed large-scale federal assistance, but more recently called for the government to help qualified homeowners with subprime mortgages refinance and get federally guaranteed 30-year mortgages; opposes lower down payment on F.H.A. mortgages; Justice Department should investigate lenders.
The Economy
Barack Obama: Obama advocates tax cuts for working-class families and eliminating income taxes for certain low income families. Obama proposed a fund to help people refinance their mortgages to avoid foreclosure and provide tax credits to help pay mortgages. He has called for increased funding for job training programs that would train Americans to work in clean-energy related jobs.
John McCain: McCain says “hard-working American families need lower taxes” and pledges to seek a tax repeal that would save the average American working-class family $2,700 a year. He says he will reduce the government’s wasteful spending by eliminating federal programs that do not work. McCain has called for tax credits for research and development to encourage companies to be innovative while saving money.
War in Iraq
Barack Obama: Opposed the war in Iraq from the outset and has said there is "no military solution" to the situation there. He rejected the surge strategy, saying it was time for a fundamental change in policy. In January 2007 he proposed a plan for a phased withdrawal, saying benchmarks must be set and a political solution reached.
John McCain: Voted for the 2003 invasion and has said US forces should remain until Iraq is able to defend itself. He has been a prominent supporter of Mr Bush's troop escalation, although he has criticised other aspects of the war's handling. He has warned withdrawal plans could trigger genocide in the region. The senator does not think talking to Iran and Syria will serve US interests.
National Security
Barack Obama: Obama says that the “gravest danger to the American people is the threat of a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon and the spread of nuclear weapons to dangerous regimes.” He pledges to lead a global effort to secure all nuclear weapons and nuclear material now housed at vulnerable sites within four years. Obama says the U.S. military needs to be transformed to meet today's needs and supports plans to increase the size of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps.
John McCain: McCain says that “in a dangerous world, protecting America’s national security requires a strong military.” McCain says the U.S. Army must be enlarged and modernized with more advanced weapon systems to ensure it can meet a diverse set of security challenges. He supports the development and deployment of national missile defenses and says they are essential to protect the United States from rogue regimes.
Iran
Barack Obama. Engage in direct diplomacy; tighten economic sanctions with international cooperation; would meet with the Iranian president with no preconditions; military option not off the table.
John McCain: Form an alliance with European countries to put economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran; no unconditional diplomacy; military option not off the table, but would consult with leaders of Congress.
Social Issues
Barack Obama: Speaking at the April 2007 Democratic debate, Mr Obama said he trusted women to make their own choices on abortion "in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy". He has said he believes marriage is between a man and a woman but has supported civil unions for gay couples.
John McCain: At the presidential debate in South Carolina, Mr McCain said he believed Roe v Wade - the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that established governments lacked the power to prohibit abortions - should be overturned. He had previously said it should not be repealed because it would force women to seek backstreet abortions. He supports the Supreme Court ruling on partial birth abortion.
International Relations
Barack Obama: Obama says that he is “willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe.” He says that if elected he will expand the State Department’s Foreign Service, fight global poverty, develop the capacity for civilian aid workers to work alongside the military and strengthen NATO. He also has called for improving relations with Asian countries to “ensure that China plays by international rules.”
John McCain: McCain long has been an advocate of promoting democracy in Africa and the Middle East. He has spoken out against Russia’s leader and welcomed Fidel Castro’s recent resignation in Cuba. McCain favors cooperating with Pakistan’s leader to fight al-Qaida. He is opposed to meeting with leaders of rogue groups without establishing clear preconditions.
Health Care
Barack Obama: Providing universal coverage is also at the centre of Mr Obama's plans. He proposes keeping the private insurance system but injecting cash to expand it to cover everyone. Insurers would not be allowed to refuse coverage because of pre-existing conditions. He predicts the typical consumer would save $2,500 (£1,260). Campaign aides put the cost at $50-65bn a year, financed largely by eliminating tax cuts for the wealthy.
John McCain: Has highlighted his record on supporting health care for military veterans. He says he is prepared to make tough decisions to reform heath care and social security programmes and warns that without bipartisan action the costs will become unsustainable.
Climate Change
Barack Obama: Obama says the United States is responsible for leaving the planet in better shape for future generations. Obama has proposed a plan that would invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance biofuels and promote renewable energy. He has also called for doubling science and research funding for clean-energy projects. Obama says that he would create a Global Energy Forum that would bring together the largest energy-consuming nations to discuss environmental issues.
John McCain: McCain says that "ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land use, ample greenspace … is a patriotic responsibility." McCain would limit carbon dioxide emissions by harnessing market forces to bring advanced technologies like nuclear energy to market faster and reduce dependence on foreign energy supplies. He was the lead author of a Senate proposal to reduce projected carbon dioxide emissions 65 percent by 2050 and believes climate change is a national security issue.
Immigration
Barack Obama: Has said the US-Mexico border must be better policed and highlighted the plight of the hundreds of illegal immigrants who die each year making desert crossings. He favours stricter penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers. He has argued that proposals to give illegal immigrants already in the US a path to citizenship are not an amnesty if they have to pay a fine and learn English.
John McCain: The Arizona senator has come under fire from many fellow Republicans for co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill which they say offers an amnesty to illegal immigrants. He has argued that a temporary worker programme is needed and that measures must be taken to put the undocumented workers already in the US on a path to citizenship. The borders must also be secured to ensure national security, he has said.
Trade
Barack Obama Obama says that, if elected, he would ensure that “every [trade] agreement that we sign has the labor standards, the environmental standards and the safety standards that are going to protect not just workers, but also consumers.” Obama opposed the U.S.-Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) based on labor and environmental concerns. A long opponent of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Obama says he will act forcefully, including a potential withdrawal from the treaty, to ensure labor and environmental sidebar agreements are enforced effectively. He also supports setting labor and human rights standards for trade with China.
John McCain: McCain is a supporter of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). McCain also supported the U.S.-Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) and free trade with Oman, Singapore, Chile and the Andean nations. He also voted for normalizing trade with Vietnam and China and supports expanding trade to developing countries. McCain has called for improvements to job training and education programs so those Americans who lose jobs when their companies go overseas can find new jobs that “take advantage of trade and innovation.”
Education
Barack Obama: Obama says, if elected, he would improve funding for the No Child Left Behind program. He also says he would “make math and science education a national priority” and increase recruitment of teachers in these subjects. In order to better recruit teachers, Obama proposes providing four-year scholarships to those in college who will teach for at least four years after graduation. He pledges to implement a $4,000 tax credit for those attending college.
John McCain McCain says that “schools can and should compete” for the best teachers and reward teachers whose students do well. He believes that students should have the option of switching public schools in order to receive the best education and that “all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing schools.”
Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6690135.stm
http://uspolitics.america.gov/uspolitics/elections/issues.
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