Candidate Issues - Where Democrats and Republicans Stand - Election 2008

Issues	Hillary Clinton	John Edwards	Barack Obama	Joe Biden	Bill Richardson	Dennis Kucinich	Mike Gravel
Role	The Queen	The Populist	The Wunderkind	The Usual Suspect	The Overqualified One	The Healer	The Loud One
Recent Gig	Senator from New York	Senator from North Carolina	Senator from Illinois	Senator from Delaware	Governor of New Mexico, UN Ambassador, Secretary of Energy, Representative from New Mexico.	Representative from Ohio	Senator from Alaska
Abortion	Pro-Choice, wants better access to birth control for women.	Pro-Choice, supports public funding for abortion.	Pro-choice. Co-sponsored Prevention First act.	Pro-choice, but voted for 'partial-birth' abortion ban. Opposed to public funding.	Pro-choice, supports public funding for reproductive services.	Pro-choice but formerly pro-life.	Pro-choice.
AIDS	$50 billion for AIDS relief throughout world. Double national budget for AIDS within NIH.	Universal access to AIDS medications, $50 billion for AIDS relief throughout world. Guarantee health care for Americans with HIV.	Worked with Republican Senator Brownback to promote greater investment in fighting AIDS worldwide. Homophobia prevents talking about AIDS.	Voted for abstinence education. Pledged $50 billion to AIDS relief throughout the world.	Create blue ribbon commission on HIV/AIDS, increase availability of testing, allow medical marijuana. Cancel debt of developing nations that invest in AIDS prevention and care.	At least $30 billion over next four years. Fight poverty, AIDS together. Forgive debt of poor nations to invest in AIDS prevention and care.	Need to do better treating Americans with HIV.
Civil Liberties	Rated 60% by ACLU. National Security more important than human rights. Voted for PATRIOT act but against wiretapping.	Fix PATRIOT act, end wiretapping and profiling, respect privacy.	Former civil rights lawyer, opposed to profiling. Voted against PATRIOT act. Passed law in Illinois requiring videotaping of police interrogations.	Voted to loosen restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. Enforce opportunities to vote for all.	Opposes PATRIOT act.	Opposes PATRIOT act, voted for flag-burning amendment, supports ERA for equal rights for women.	Created AK human rights commission.
Crime	Address increase in incaraceration, supported 3 Strikes law.	Eliminate mandatory sentencing for nonviolent crimes, mixed rating on rehabilitation. More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes.	Wants to provide job training to ex-offenders to reintegrate into society. Fight hate crimes.	Stricter sentencing for hate crimes. Wrote Violence Against Women act, put 100,000 more cops on the street. Authored Second Chance act to rehabilitate prisoners.	Zero-tolerance on "heinous" crimes.Pushed tougher penalties for sex offenders.	End drug war, focus on preventing violent crime. Increase first responders and training.	End drug war, expand hate crime legislation.
Darfur	UN Troops on the ground. Supports No-Fly Zone.	UN and NATO troops involved. Supports No-Fly zone. US Airlift, logistical support and intelligence aid.	Received an A from DarfurScores.org for co-sponsoring important legislation, including Menendez Amendment for UN peacekeeping in Darfur. Make Africa a priority.	UN Troops on the ground. Make peace a priority. Enforce No-Fly zone. Leader on issue in congress.	Make peace in Sudan a priority. Deploy UN Peacekeepers and diplomats. Join international criminal court.	Received an A from DarfurScores.org for co-sponsoring important legislation. Extra credit for the China Resolution.	No US troops in Darfur, Africa does not trust US.
Death Penalty	Require DNA testing for executions.	Supports death penalty, wants more DNA testing for executions.	Believes it is currently discriminatory. Worked against it in Illinois, says some crimes justify "ultimate punishment."	Voted against limiting death penalty appeals.	Pro-Death Penalty, voted to make appeals harder.	Introduced Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2003. Favors life without parole.	Abolish death penalty.
Drugs	Get nonviolent offenders out of prisons, special drug courts. Opposes sentencing disparity, but not retroactively.	Admits having smoked marijuana, opposes decrminalizing. Opposes disparity in crack and cocaine sentencing.	Opposes disparity in crack and cocaine sentencing; wants to give first-time offenders rehabilitation rather than jail.	Eliminate sentencing disparity. Increase funding for jail and prison-based rehab programs.	No legalization, but drug courts and rehab rather than prison. Mandatory sentences for dealers.	Decriminalize. End war on drugs, consult with physicians. Drug enforcement is racist--eliminate disparity in sentencing retroactively.	End drug war, focus on rehabilitation. Decriminalize minor drug offenses and regulate hard drugs.
Economy	Look back to (Bill) Clinton Administration. Help people facing foreclosure, not bail out companies.	Renegotiate NAFTA. address subprime mortgages and predatory lending and credit cards. Fair trade deals and ending corporate loopholes. Invest in technology.	Fix CAFTA and NAFTA to work for Americans, invest in research and technology. Address the subprime mortgage problem and predatory credit card practices.	Balanced budget amendment. End war and end tax cuts.	Balanced budget 5 times as governor, supports balanced budget amendment. End corporate subsidies.	New public works program to create green jobs, withdraw from NAFTA and WTO and return to bilateral agreements, end corporate subsidies.	Withdraw from NAFTA and CAFTA, reform trade agreements,
Education	Total change in No Child Left Behind. Oppose school vouchers. Shift tax cut money to education.	Universal preschool, increase teacher salaries, create national teachers' academy, overhaul No Child Left Behind--fix standardized tests, more resources, Second Chance programs for former dropouts.	Reform No Child Left Behind, increase Head Start and after-school programs, retain and reward teachers, create tax credit for $4000 of college education. Worked to increase federal Pell grants while in Congress. Encourage public service in high school and college, including credit for service.	Voting for No Child Left Behind was a mistake. $3000 tax credit for college for anyone earning under $150K. Increase teacher pay to get results. Start school earlier and increase school year. Reduce class sizes. Increase Pell grants for college.	$60 billion in new spending paid for with military budget cuts. Change No Child Left Behind to a fairer, less punitive program. Raise teacher salaries. Oppose private school vouchers but increase public school choice. Invest in arts and music, retention programs. Forgive tuition and fees at university in exchange for public service.	Triple Head Start budget, invest in public schools, encourage creative programs, scrap standardized testing, fund college education. Pay for with repeal of Bush tax cuts. Cut 15% of Pentagon budget for free college.	No Child Left Behind has left too many children behind. Needs funding, reform, and focus on critical thinking and not just standardized testing.Supports merit pay for teachers, school vouchers.
Energy	Invest in alternative energy. $50 billion for Strategic Energy Fund	No 'clean' coal or nuclear power plants. Cut oil imports.	Invest in alternative energy and give tax credits to producers of energy.Supports 'clean coal' and biofuels.	Invest in alternative energy. $50 billion for new technologies.	Invest in alternative energy. Opposes gas tax.	Double renewable sources by 2010, raise CAFE standards, invest in alternative energy, opposes nuclear fuel.	End dependence on oil.
Environment	Make sure trade policy protects environment. Reduce oil use 40% by 2025. No drilling in ANWR. Green job training. Launched EPA study of air at Ground Zero.	80% greenhouse reductions by 2050. Cap and trade carbon emissions, investigate and enforce clean air laws	Cap and trade carbon emissions, invest $150 billion in clean energy, require 25% renewable electricity by 2025. Increase fuel economy standards and work with international community.	Introduced first climate change bill in 1986. Cap and trade, raise fuel economy standards by 1 MPG each year, require flex-fuel vehicles and increase biofuels. Allow developing countries to trade debt for conserving rain forests.	Cut oil imports 50% by 2020. Lead the world--do it faster than scientists say is necessary. Increase fuel standards to 50 mpg by 2020.	Double renewable sources by 2010, raise CAFE standards, sign Kyoto, remove oil & gas subsidies, preserve ANWR, clean water is a human right.	Tax and cap carbon emissions, lead global effort to end dependence on oil. Lead fight against deforestation.
Farms		Support family farms, back country-of-origin laws, support packer ban on hog farming, fight banking discrimination against rural areas.	Support family farms, lower subsidies to large factory farms. Fight discrimination against black farmers by the Department of Agriculture.		Protect family farmers. Increase food safety requirements on imports.	USDA funding for small farms, label genetically modified foods, incentives for business in rural areas.
Foreign Relations	Debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries. Restore diplomacy, important part of Bill Clinton's foreign relations team.	Multilateral relations. Create Marshall Corps of humanitarian workers to be deployed in emergencies.	Double humanitarian spending. Open diplomatic relations even with countries "we don't like"	Chairman of Foreign Relations committee. Support UN and diplomacy with all nations.	Former UN Ambassador, improve international relations, foreign aid, and US reputation abroad.	Create Department of Peace to work nonviolently across the world. Diplomacy, not military.	Replace intervention with participation, not isolation. Multilateral and bilateral talks with North Korea.
Gay Rights	Supports domestic partnerships and equal rights under law.	Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.	Supports civil unions and equal rights under law. Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell	Supports civil unions, says gay marriage is probably inevitable. Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.	Supports "domestic partnerships" and equal rights under the law. Won't accept honorary chair of Boy Scouts because of gay issue.	Supports gay marriage and full equality under the law.	Supports gay marriage and full equality under the law. Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.
Gun Control	Get guns off streets, background checks.	Renew assault weapons ban, background checks at gun shows. Hunting is a way of life, but criminals and kids need limits.	More regulation, keep guns out of inner cities. Pay attention to kids in cities, not just at Virginia Tech. Treat problem with people as well as control guns.	Keep assault weapons ban, close loopholes. Background checks.	Endorsed by NRA, gun owner. Believes in background checks, attack poverty at the core of gun violence.	Ban handguns, semiautomatic weapons, background checks, fingerprinting, licensing.	Military culture causes gun violence, license and training to own guns.
Health Care	Plan failed in 90s after involvement of pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Options like the ones available to Congress, plus public Medicare plan. End discrimination based on preexisting conditions. Limit premium payments to percentage of income. Founder of SCHIP.	Require businesses to help finance or pay for health care, reform insurance laws, expande Medicaid and SCHIP. Create health care markets, THEN require everyone to get insurance.	Public program similar to the one for members of Congress. Subsidy for people who are not eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP. National Health Insurance Exchange to watch over private insurers. Mandatory coverage for children, not adults. Save on drug costs by negotiating. Invest in prevention.	Expand SCHIP and allow families to buy in to cover all children. Public program similar to the one for members of Congress. Small businesses can buy in to this plan. Focus on prevention. Federal catastrophic insurance pool.	Public plan similar to the one for members for Congress. Require coverage. Advance tax credit on income. Invest in prevention--got junk food out of schools in New Mexico.	Single-payer, non-profit, publicly funded health care similar to Medicare for all.	Single-payer universal government health care paid for by a portion of Progressive Sales Tax.
Immigration	Secure borders, create system for employers to verify legal status. Oppose guest worker program, allow families to stay together. Make legal immigration easier.	Increase border security. Undocumented workers deserve same rights as American workers, but no drivers' licenses unless on path to citizenship.	Create system for employers to verify legal status of employees. Fix bureaucracy and make legal immigration easier.	Opposes drivers' licenses. Increase security and hold employers accountable. Create a work visa system that works. "Americans will do any job if you pay them properly."	Opposed to border wall, mother was Mexican citizen. Supports drivers' licenses. Increase skilled workers' visas, have them pay into healthcare system.	"There are no illegal human beings." Legalize current immigrants, make it easier for legal immigration. End employer penalties.	Protect borders, enact guest worker program and path to legality for immigrants. address NAFTA.
Iran	Engage diplomatically, refuse to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.	Sanctions, engage low-level diplomacy, use carrot and stick approach.	Increase diplomacy; introduced resolution saying that Bush administration not authorized to attack Iran.	Focus on policy change, not regime change. Prevent nuclear weapons but avoid war.	Negotiate without conditions, no saber-rattling. Pledge to not allow Iran a nuclear bomb.	Work with Iran to discourage nuclear weapons.	Opposed to military confrontation with Iran.
Iraq	Voted for war, never apologized for it. Withdraw troops, leave some for counterterrorism. Intense diplomatic mediation.	Voted for war but has since apologized. Immediately draw down troops. Require them to be ready before they can be deployed. Peace conference with neighboring countries.	Opposed the war from the beginning. No permanent bases; leave some troops to protect diplomats. Promote diplomacy and increase humanitarian aid.	Give Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds their own regions.Draw down troops but maintain small force.	Withdraw all troops. Deauthorize war, send in 'diplomatic surge.' No remaining troops.	Opposed the war from the beginning. Withdraw completely, international peacekeeping force, reconstruction and reparations.	Opposed to war from the beginning. Immediately withdraw all troops to make room for diplomatic end to conflict.
Jobs	Minimum wage should be tied to Congressional salaries. Stand up for unions. Create new tech jobs, alternative energy, science.	Support unions. Increase minimum wage to $9.50 by 2012 and index it. Protect Davis-Bacon act to keep disaster workers' wages fair.	Support unions, striking workers, and keep increasing minimum wage with cost of living. Double funding for after-school programs, expand flexible working hours. Encourage public service.	Defend workers' right to organize. Invest in green jobs and health care jobs. Increase minimum wage and require standards in Katrina workers' wages.	Tax incentives for creating jobs. Create Green Jobs program. Expand transitional jobs and career training, adult education.	Create Works Green Administration for green public works projects, create jobs when there are none. Fair Trade policies to keep jobs in America. Cut 15% from military budget and use for jobs programs.	Claims 100% rating from AFL-CIO for entire career.
Media	Balance open internet with defamation. Oppose greater media conglomeration. Invest in communications infrastructure.	Only candidate with a media page on his site. Oppose conglomeration of media owners. Restore public interest to public airwaves. Ensure low-power FM radio access. Universal cheap internet.	Protect openness of Internet. Increase diversity in ownership of media and clarify public interest responsibilities of media owners. Ensure right to privacy on internet. Invest in broadband and wireless.	Opposed recent relaxing of FCC regulations on media ownership. Free and open internet, affordable access.	Free and open internet. Opposed to media consolidation.	Degree in communications. Opposed to media conglomeration; break up conglomerates and restore public interest to public airwaves. Withdraw from WTO to protect public media.	Free and open internet.
Military	Increase health benefits, education benefits, and job training for veterans.	Modernize and green the military, increase recruitment, create Marshall Corps of humanitarian workers, streamline Pentagon and eliminate cronyism.	Increase size and training of standing military, withdraw from Iraq, increase rest time between deployments. Strengthen the VA and help returning veterans return to civilian life. Member of Committee on Veterans Affairs.	Improve veterans' health care and job training.	"Heroes Health Card" for veterans to get health care wherever they are. Eliminate mercenaries, increase size of standing army. Cut Cold War programs and fund new technologies.	Cut military budget, create Department of Peace, support veterans completely.	Only military veteran in the Democratic race. Fully support veterans, health care and benefits. Cut military budget by at least 15%, wasting money.
Nuclear Weapons	Prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapon.	New Global Nuclear pact. Support peaceful nuclear programs and monitor them.	Work toward nuclear-free world.	Work toward eliminating nuclear weapons and chemical weapons.	No first use of nuclear weapons but keep options on table.	Move toward complete disarmament.	"I started the nuclear debate in this country." Opposed to nuclear weapons.
Pakistan	Support Musharraf against "islamic extremists."	Use leverage of support to push for democratic reforms. Aid should go to Pakistan, not to Musharraf.	Opposed martial law, move beyond promoting stability over democracy, act on terrorism if Musharraf won't.	Cut off support if elections are not free and fair.	Musharraf should step down, free and fair elections should be held.	United States must stop adding fuel to fire and supporting Musharraf.
Poverty	Partner with faith-based community, "working should mean no poverty." Increase minimum wage.	Eliminate poverty completely in America within a generation. Create stepping-stone jobs, increase minimum wage, create housing vouchers rather than public housing, create tax credits to help people save for future.	Increase minimum wage, invest in transitional job programs, expand Nurse-Family partnership. Establish affordable housing trust fund. Established low-income tax credit in Illinois.	Partnered with Bono on Jubilee Debt Relief. Increase minimum wage.	Unions, minimum wage increase, increase tax deduction for charities.	Eradicate poverty. Jobs programs, right-to-work programs, not welfare.	Increase minimum wage, fix taxes, end poverty.
Religion	Christian. Refers to prayer. Has Jewish step-grandfather. Allow prayer in schools but not religious instruction.	Christian (Methodist). Prays daily, but "prayer doesn't prevent bad things."	Christian. Believes faith is important, but so is understanding of others. Spent part of his time growing up in Indonesia, a majority Muslim country. Was not, contrary to some claims, raised Muslim, though his grandfather was.	Catholic. Says "prayer gives you strength, but doesn't prevent crises."	Catholic. Credits his sense of social justice to his religion.	Catholic. Supports church-state separation but not separation from spiritual values.	No religious preference, says "I believe in the power of love over the power of prayer."
Social Security	Increase maximum earnings taxed for Social Security.	Increase maximum earnings taxed but create buffer zone between 97K and 200K, then tax above 200K. Reduce benefits, not raise retirement age.	Increase maximum earnings taxed for Social Security. Force companies to properly fund pension plans.	Increase maximum earnings taxed for Social Security. Increase personal retirement accounts.	Don't increase maximum earnings taxable, stop raiding trust fund.	Increase maximum earnings taxable, return retirement age to 65.	Put "real money" in Social Security trust fund, invest it properly, allow people to leave it to their heirs. Semi-privatized?
Taxes	Extend middle class tax cuts, include new tax cuts for college, health care and retirement,	Create "Get Ahead" tax cut, expand child care credit, triple Earned Income credit. Increase tax on capital gains, repeal Bush tax cuts, close loopholes for hedge funds.	Tax credit for middle class instead of rich. Reverse most of Bush tax cuts. Increase child and dependent care tax credit. Tax credit to companies who employ Americans as opposed to outsource.	Eliminate tax cut for top 1%.	Replace Bush tax cuts with cuts for middle class.	Repeal Bush tax cuts to fund public higher education. Keep child tax credit and extend to more families.	Eliminate income tax in favor of Progressive Fair Tax, a universal sales tax with rebates for purchases of essentials.
Terrorism	National security more important than human rights.	Tighten border security, increase security on chemical plants. Improve training for first responders.	Increase security on chemical and nuclear plants. Protect water. Introduced plan for national database for emergency information after Hurricane Katrina.	Repeal tax cuts and use money to implement 9/11 Commission recommendations. Increase security of ports, communication, and hire more FBI and police.	Human rights can be more important than national security. Focus on international terrorism and fissionable material.	Human rights more important, security through peace.	US has no real enemies, terrorism is not a war, it's a crime. Fear sustains the military complex.
Torture	National Security more important than human rights. Opposed to torture but approved "exceptions"	End torture, ban rendition, issue executive order detailing interrogation practices. Restore habeas corpus and shut down Guantanamo.	Restore habeas corpus. No torture, no exceptions. Close Guantanamo.	Commitment to not use torture, ever.	No place for torture. Follow Geneva Conventions. No waterboarding. Close Guantanamo.	Torture breeds torture and violence. Waterboarding is unacceptable. Close Guantanamo.	Torture is absolutely unacceptable. Close Guantanamo. Abide by Geneva Conventions.
Trade	Former corporate lawyer, now says 'enough with corporate welfare.' Was pro-NAFTA, now opposes CAFTA. Trade policy must improve standard of living.	"We need smart trade, not free trade or fair trade. " Trade agreements focus on profits for multinationals. Enforce country-of-origin laws.	Promote fair policies abroad, protect intellectual property, invest in education to remain competitive.	No trade agreements without workers' rights and environmental protections.	We need fair trade, not just free trade. Workers rights, child labor laws and environmental laws.	Scrap NAFTA and WTO, begin again with bilateral trade agreements that protect workers' and environmental rights.	NAFTA is a disaster. Reform unfair trade policies that hurt working class.
Washington	Balanced budget requirement. Return to pay-as-you-go. End lobbyists' revolving door, end no-bid contracts. Public campaign financing, not end lobbying. Designate election day as national holiday.	Ban lobbyist donations, OK to take money from trial lawyers (he was one). Public financing for campaigns. Prosecute voter suppression efforts.	Proposed legislation on campaign finance reform, lobbying reform, and ethics reform. Campaign refuses contributions from lobbying groups and PACs. Restore pay-as-you-go spending to balance budget. Get rid of no-bid contracts. Make government data available online to public.	Pay-as-you-go spending. Repeal oil companies' tax breaks.	Return to budget surpluses of (Bill) Clinton administration. Same day voter registration and paper balloting.	Public financing of elections, free television time, same-day voter registration, instant runoff voting. No corporate PAC donations.	Common sense budget act. Leadership fails because US is run by corporate interests. Get rid of electoral college, public campaign finance, paper ballots.

Issues

Role

The Queen

The Populist

The Wunderkind

The Usual Suspect

The Overqualified One

The Healer

The Loud One

Recent Gig

Senator from New York

Senator from North Carolina

Senator from Illinois

Senator from Delaware

Governor of New Mexico, UN Ambassador, Secretary of Energy, Representative from New Mexico.

Representative from Ohio

Senator from Alaska

Abortion

Pro-Choice, wants better access to birth control for women.

Pro-Choice, supports public funding for abortion.

Pro-choice. Co-sponsored Prevention First act.

Pro-choice, but voted for 'partial-birth' abortion ban. Opposed to public funding.

Pro-choice, supports public funding for reproductive services.

Pro-choice but formerly pro-life.

Pro-choice.

AIDS

$50 billion for AIDS relief throughout world. Double national budget for AIDS within NIH.

Universal access to AIDS medications, $50 billion for AIDS relief throughout world. Guarantee health care for Americans with HIV.

Worked with Republican Senator Brownback to promote greater investment in fighting AIDS worldwide. Homophobia prevents talking about AIDS.

Voted for abstinence education. Pledged $50 billion to AIDS relief throughout the world.

Create blue ribbon commission on HIV/AIDS, increase availability of testing, allow medical marijuana. Cancel debt of developing nations that invest in AIDS prevention and care.

At least $30 billion over next four years. Fight poverty, AIDS together. Forgive debt of poor nations to invest in AIDS prevention and care.

Need to do better treating Americans with HIV.

Civil Liberties

Rated 60% by ACLU. National Security more important than human rights. Voted for PATRIOT act but against wiretapping.

Fix PATRIOT act, end wiretapping and profiling, respect privacy.

Former civil rights lawyer, opposed to profiling. Voted against PATRIOT act. Passed law in Illinois requiring videotaping of police interrogations.

Voted to loosen restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. Enforce opportunities to vote for all.

Opposes PATRIOT act.

Opposes PATRIOT act, voted for flag-burning amendment, supports ERA for equal rights for women.

Created AK human rights commission.

Crime

Address increase in incaraceration, supported 3 Strikes law.

Eliminate mandatory sentencing for nonviolent crimes, mixed rating on rehabilitation. More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes.

Wants to provide job training to ex-offenders to reintegrate into society. Fight hate crimes.

Stricter sentencing for hate crimes. Wrote Violence Against Women act, put 100,000 more cops on the street. Authored Second Chance act to rehabilitate prisoners.

Zero-tolerance on "heinous" crimes.Pushed tougher penalties for sex offenders.

End drug war, focus on preventing violent crime. Increase first responders and training.

End drug war, expand hate crime legislation.

Darfur

UN Troops on the ground. Supports No-Fly Zone.

UN and NATO troops involved. Supports No-Fly zone. US Airlift, logistical support and intelligence aid.

Received an A from DarfurScores.org for co-sponsoring important legislation, including Menendez Amendment for UN peacekeeping in Darfur. Make Africa a priority.

UN Troops on the ground. Make peace a priority. Enforce No-Fly zone. Leader on issue in congress.

Make peace in Sudan a priority. Deploy UN Peacekeepers and diplomats. Join international criminal court.

Received an A from DarfurScores.org for co-sponsoring important legislation. Extra credit for the China Resolution.

No US troops in Darfur, Africa does not trust US.

Death Penalty

Require DNA testing for executions.

Supports death penalty, wants more DNA testing for executions.

Believes it is currently discriminatory. Worked against it in Illinois, says some crimes justify "ultimate punishment."

Voted against limiting death penalty appeals.

Pro-Death Penalty, voted to make appeals harder.

Introduced Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2003. Favors life without parole.

Abolish death penalty.

Drugs

Get nonviolent offenders out of prisons, special drug courts. Opposes sentencing disparity, but not retroactively.

Admits having smoked marijuana, opposes decrminalizing. Opposes disparity in crack and cocaine sentencing.

Opposes disparity in crack and cocaine sentencing; wants to give first-time offenders rehabilitation rather than jail.

Eliminate sentencing disparity. Increase funding for jail and prison-based rehab programs.

No legalization, but drug courts and rehab rather than prison. Mandatory sentences for dealers.

Decriminalize. End war on drugs, consult with physicians. Drug enforcement is racist--eliminate disparity in sentencing retroactively.

End drug war, focus on rehabilitation. Decriminalize minor drug offenses and regulate hard drugs.

Economy

Look back to (Bill) Clinton Administration. Help people facing foreclosure, not bail out companies.

Renegotiate NAFTA. address subprime mortgages and predatory lending and credit cards. Fair trade deals and ending corporate loopholes. Invest in technology.

Fix CAFTA and NAFTA to work for Americans, invest in research and technology. Address the subprime mortgage problem and predatory credit card practices.

Balanced budget amendment. End war and end tax cuts.

Balanced budget 5 times as governor, supports balanced budget amendment. End corporate subsidies.

New public works program to create green jobs, withdraw from NAFTA and WTO and return to bilateral agreements, end corporate subsidies.

Withdraw from NAFTA and CAFTA, reform trade agreements,

Education

Total change in No Child Left Behind. Oppose school vouchers. Shift tax cut money to education.

Universal preschool, increase teacher salaries, create national teachers' academy, overhaul No Child Left Behind--fix standardized tests, more resources, Second Chance programs for former dropouts.

Reform No Child Left Behind, increase Head Start and after-school programs, retain and reward teachers, create tax credit for $4000 of college education. Worked to increase federal Pell grants while in Congress. Encourage public service in high school and college, including credit for service.

Voting for No Child Left Behind was a mistake. $3000 tax credit for college for anyone earning under $150K. Increase teacher pay to get results. Start school earlier and increase school year. Reduce class sizes. Increase Pell grants for college.

$60 billion in new spending paid for with military budget cuts. Change No Child Left Behind to a fairer, less punitive program. Raise teacher salaries. Oppose private school vouchers but increase public school choice. Invest in arts and music, retention programs. Forgive tuition and fees at university in exchange for public service.

Triple Head Start budget, invest in public schools, encourage creative programs, scrap standardized testing, fund college education. Pay for with repeal of Bush tax cuts. Cut 15% of Pentagon budget for free college.

No Child Left Behind has left too many children behind. Needs funding, reform, and focus on critical thinking and not just standardized testing.Supports merit pay for teachers, school vouchers.

Energy

Invest in alternative energy. $50 billion for Strategic Energy Fund

No 'clean' coal or nuclear power plants. Cut oil imports.

Invest in alternative energy and give tax credits to producers of energy.Supports 'clean coal' and biofuels.

Invest in alternative energy. $50 billion for new technologies.

Invest in alternative energy. Opposes gas tax.

Double renewable sources by 2010, raise CAFE standards, invest in alternative energy, opposes nuclear fuel.

End dependence on oil.

Environment

Make sure trade policy protects environment. Reduce oil use 40% by 2025. No drilling in ANWR. Green job training. Launched EPA study of air at Ground Zero.

80% greenhouse reductions by 2050. Cap and trade carbon emissions, investigate and enforce clean air laws

Cap and trade carbon emissions, invest $150 billion in clean energy, require 25% renewable electricity by 2025. Increase fuel economy standards and work with international community.

Introduced first climate change bill in 1986. Cap and trade, raise fuel economy standards by 1 MPG each year, require flex-fuel vehicles and increase biofuels. Allow developing countries to trade debt for conserving rain forests.

Cut oil imports 50% by 2020. Lead the world--do it faster than scientists say is necessary. Increase fuel standards to 50 mpg by 2020.

Double renewable sources by 2010, raise CAFE standards, sign Kyoto, remove oil & gas subsidies, preserve ANWR, clean water is a human right.

Tax and cap carbon emissions, lead global effort to end dependence on oil. Lead fight against deforestation.

Farms

Support family farms, back country-of-origin laws, support packer ban on hog farming, fight banking discrimination against rural areas.

Support family farms, lower subsidies to large factory farms. Fight discrimination against black farmers by the Department of Agriculture.

Protect family farmers. Increase food safety requirements on imports.

USDA funding for small farms, label genetically modified foods, incentives for business in rural areas.

Foreign Relations

Debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries. Restore diplomacy, important part of Bill Clinton's foreign relations team.

Multilateral relations. Create Marshall Corps of humanitarian workers to be deployed in emergencies.

Double humanitarian spending. Open diplomatic relations even with countries "we don't like"

Chairman of Foreign Relations committee. Support UN and diplomacy with all nations.

Former UN Ambassador, improve international relations, foreign aid, and US reputation abroad.

Create Department of Peace to work nonviolently across the world. Diplomacy, not military.

Replace intervention with participation, not isolation. Multilateral and bilateral talks with North Korea.

Gay Rights

Supports domestic partnerships and equal rights under law.

Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Supports civil unions and equal rights under law. Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Supports civil unions, says gay marriage is probably inevitable. Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Supports "domestic partnerships" and equal rights under the law. Won't accept honorary chair of Boy Scouts because of gay issue.

Supports gay marriage and full equality under the law.

Supports gay marriage and full equality under the law. Repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

Gun Control

Get guns off streets, background checks.

Renew assault weapons ban, background checks at gun shows. Hunting is a way of life, but criminals and kids need limits.

More regulation, keep guns out of inner cities. Pay attention to kids in cities, not just at Virginia Tech. Treat problem with people as well as control guns.

Keep assault weapons ban, close loopholes. Background checks.

Endorsed by NRA, gun owner. Believes in background checks, attack poverty at the core of gun violence.

Ban handguns, semiautomatic weapons, background checks, fingerprinting, licensing.

Military culture causes gun violence, license and training to own guns.

Health Care

Plan failed in 90s after involvement of pharmaceutical and insurance companies. Options like the ones available to Congress, plus public Medicare plan. End discrimination based on preexisting conditions. Limit premium payments to percentage of income. Founder of SCHIP.

Require businesses to help finance or pay for health care, reform insurance laws, expande Medicaid and SCHIP. Create health care markets, THEN require everyone to get insurance.

Public program similar to the one for members of Congress. Subsidy for people who are not eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP. National Health Insurance Exchange to watch over private insurers. Mandatory coverage for children, not adults. Save on drug costs by negotiating. Invest in prevention.

Expand SCHIP and allow families to buy in to cover all children. Public program similar to the one for members of Congress. Small businesses can buy in to this plan. Focus on prevention. Federal catastrophic insurance pool.

Public plan similar to the one for members for Congress. Require coverage. Advance tax credit on income. Invest in prevention--got junk food out of schools in New Mexico.

Single-payer, non-profit, publicly funded health care similar to Medicare for all.

Single-payer universal government health care paid for by a portion of Progressive Sales Tax.

Immigration

Secure borders, create system for employers to verify legal status. Oppose guest worker program, allow families to stay together. Make legal immigration easier.

Increase border security. Undocumented workers deserve same rights as American workers, but no drivers' licenses unless on path to citizenship.

Create system for employers to verify legal status of employees. Fix bureaucracy and make legal immigration easier.

Opposes drivers' licenses. Increase security and hold employers accountable. Create a work visa system that works. "Americans will do any job if you pay them properly."

Opposed to border wall, mother was Mexican citizen. Supports drivers' licenses. Increase skilled workers' visas, have them pay into healthcare system.

"There are no illegal human beings." Legalize current immigrants, make it easier for legal immigration. End employer penalties.

Protect borders, enact guest worker program and path to legality for immigrants. address NAFTA.

Iran

Engage diplomatically, refuse to allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Sanctions, engage low-level diplomacy, use carrot and stick approach.

Increase diplomacy; introduced resolution saying that Bush administration not authorized to attack Iran.

Focus on policy change, not regime change. Prevent nuclear weapons but avoid war.

Negotiate without conditions, no saber-rattling. Pledge to not allow Iran a nuclear bomb.

Work with Iran to discourage nuclear weapons.

Opposed to military confrontation with Iran.

Iraq

Voted for war, never apologized for it. Withdraw troops, leave some for counterterrorism. Intense diplomatic mediation.

Voted for war but has since apologized. Immediately draw down troops. Require them to be ready before they can be deployed. Peace conference with neighboring countries.

Opposed the war from the beginning. No permanent bases; leave some troops to protect diplomats. Promote diplomacy and increase humanitarian aid.

Give Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds their own regions.Draw down troops but maintain small force.

Withdraw all troops. Deauthorize war, send in 'diplomatic surge.' No remaining troops.

Opposed the war from the beginning. Withdraw completely, international peacekeeping force, reconstruction and reparations.

Opposed to war from the beginning. Immediately withdraw all troops to make room for diplomatic end to conflict.

Jobs

Minimum wage should be tied to Congressional salaries. Stand up for unions. Create new tech jobs, alternative energy, science.

Support unions. Increase minimum wage to $9.50 by 2012 and index it. Protect Davis-Bacon act to keep disaster workers' wages fair.

Support unions, striking workers, and keep increasing minimum wage with cost of living. Double funding for after-school programs, expand flexible working hours. Encourage public service.

Defend workers' right to organize. Invest in green jobs and health care jobs. Increase minimum wage and require standards in Katrina workers' wages.

Tax incentives for creating jobs. Create Green Jobs program. Expand transitional jobs and career training, adult education.

Create Works Green Administration for green public works projects, create jobs when there are none. Fair Trade policies to keep jobs in America. Cut 15% from military budget and use for jobs programs.

Claims 100% rating from AFL-CIO for entire career.

Media

Balance open internet with defamation. Oppose greater media conglomeration. Invest in communications infrastructure.

Only candidate with a media page on his site. Oppose conglomeration of media owners. Restore public interest to public airwaves. Ensure low-power FM radio access. Universal cheap internet.

Protect openness of Internet. Increase diversity in ownership of media and clarify public interest responsibilities of media owners. Ensure right to privacy on internet. Invest in broadband and wireless.

Opposed recent relaxing of FCC regulations on media ownership. Free and open internet, affordable access.

Free and open internet. Opposed to media consolidation.

Degree in communications. Opposed to media conglomeration; break up conglomerates and restore public interest to public airwaves. Withdraw from WTO to protect public media.

Free and open internet.

Military

Increase health benefits, education benefits, and job training for veterans.

Modernize and green the military, increase recruitment, create Marshall Corps of humanitarian workers, streamline Pentagon and eliminate cronyism.

Increase size and training of standing military, withdraw from Iraq, increase rest time between deployments. Strengthen the VA and help returning veterans return to civilian life. Member of Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Improve veterans' health care and job training.

"Heroes Health Card" for veterans to get health care wherever they are. Eliminate mercenaries, increase size of standing army. Cut Cold War programs and fund new technologies.

Cut military budget, create Department of Peace, support veterans completely.

Only military veteran in the Democratic race. Fully support veterans, health care and benefits. Cut military budget by at least 15%, wasting money.

Nuclear Weapons

Prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapon.

New Global Nuclear pact. Support peaceful nuclear programs and monitor them.

Work toward nuclear-free world.

Work toward eliminating nuclear weapons and chemical weapons.

No first use of nuclear weapons but keep options on table.

Move toward complete disarmament.

"I started the nuclear debate in this country." Opposed to nuclear weapons.

Pakistan

Support Musharraf against "islamic extremists."

Use leverage of support to push for democratic reforms. Aid should go to Pakistan, not to Musharraf.

Opposed martial law, move beyond promoting stability over democracy, act on terrorism if Musharraf won't.

Cut off support if elections are not free and fair.

Musharraf should step down, free and fair elections should be held.

United States must stop adding fuel to fire and supporting Musharraf.

Poverty

Partner with faith-based community, "working should mean no poverty." Increase minimum wage.

Eliminate poverty completely in America within a generation. Create stepping-stone jobs, increase minimum wage, create housing vouchers rather than public housing, create tax credits to help people save for future.

Increase minimum wage, invest in transitional job programs, expand Nurse-Family partnership. Establish affordable housing trust fund. Established low-income tax credit in Illinois.

Partnered with Bono on Jubilee Debt Relief. Increase minimum wage.

Unions, minimum wage increase, increase tax deduction for charities.

Eradicate poverty. Jobs programs, right-to-work programs, not welfare.

Increase minimum wage, fix taxes, end poverty.

Religion

Christian. Refers to prayer. Has Jewish step-grandfather. Allow prayer in schools but not religious instruction.

Christian (Methodist). Prays daily, but "prayer doesn't prevent bad things."

Christian. Believes faith is important, but so is understanding of others. Spent part of his time growing up in Indonesia, a majority Muslim country. Was not, contrary to some claims, raised Muslim, though his grandfather was.

Catholic. Says "prayer gives you strength, but doesn't prevent crises."

Catholic. Credits his sense of social justice to his religion.

Catholic. Supports church-state separation but not separation from spiritual values.

No religious preference, says "I believe in the power of love over the power of prayer."

Social Security

Increase maximum earnings taxed for Social Security.

Increase maximum earnings taxed but create buffer zone between 97K and 200K, then tax above 200K. Reduce benefits, not raise retirement age.

Increase maximum earnings taxed for Social Security. Force companies to properly fund pension plans.

Increase maximum earnings taxed for Social Security. Increase personal retirement accounts.

Don't increase maximum earnings taxable, stop raiding trust fund.

Increase maximum earnings taxable, return retirement age to 65.

Put "real money" in Social Security trust fund, invest it properly, allow people to leave it to their heirs. Semi-privatized?

Taxes

Extend middle class tax cuts, include new tax cuts for college, health care and retirement,

Create "Get Ahead" tax cut, expand child care credit, triple Earned Income credit. Increase tax on capital gains, repeal Bush tax cuts, close loopholes for hedge funds.

Tax credit for middle class instead of rich. Reverse most of Bush tax cuts. Increase child and dependent care tax credit. Tax credit to companies who employ Americans as opposed to outsource.

Eliminate tax cut for top 1%.

Replace Bush tax cuts with cuts for middle class.

Repeal Bush tax cuts to fund public higher education. Keep child tax credit and extend to more families.

Eliminate income tax in favor of Progressive Fair Tax, a universal sales tax with rebates for purchases of essentials.

Terrorism

National security more important than human rights.

Tighten border security, increase security on chemical plants. Improve training for first responders.

Increase security on chemical and nuclear plants. Protect water. Introduced plan for national database for emergency information after Hurricane Katrina.

Repeal tax cuts and use money to implement 9/11 Commission recommendations. Increase security of ports, communication, and hire more FBI and police.

Human rights can be more important than national security. Focus on international terrorism and fissionable material.

Human rights more important, security through peace.

US has no real enemies, terrorism is not a war, it's a crime. Fear sustains the military complex.

Torture

National Security more important than human rights. Opposed to torture but approved "exceptions"

End torture, ban rendition, issue executive order detailing interrogation practices. Restore habeas corpus and shut down Guantanamo.

Restore habeas corpus. No torture, no exceptions. Close Guantanamo.

Commitment to not use torture, ever.

No place for torture. Follow Geneva Conventions. No waterboarding. Close Guantanamo.

Torture breeds torture and violence. Waterboarding is unacceptable. Close Guantanamo.

Torture is absolutely unacceptable. Close Guantanamo. Abide by Geneva Conventions.

Trade

Former corporate lawyer, now says 'enough with corporate welfare.' Was pro-NAFTA, now opposes CAFTA. Trade policy must improve standard of living.

"We need smart trade, not free trade or fair trade. " Trade agreements focus on profits for multinationals. Enforce country-of-origin laws.

Promote fair policies abroad, protect intellectual property, invest in education to remain competitive.

No trade agreements without workers' rights and environmental protections.

We need fair trade, not just free trade. Workers rights, child labor laws and environmental laws.

Scrap NAFTA and WTO, begin again with bilateral trade agreements that protect workers' and environmental rights.

NAFTA is a disaster. Reform unfair trade policies that hurt working class.

Washington

Balanced budget requirement. Return to pay-as-you-go. End lobbyists' revolving door, end no-bid contracts. Public campaign financing, not end lobbying. Designate election day as national holiday.

Ban lobbyist donations, OK to take money from trial lawyers (he was one). Public financing for campaigns. Prosecute voter suppression efforts.

Proposed legislation on campaign finance reform, lobbying reform, and ethics reform. Campaign refuses contributions from lobbying groups and PACs. Restore pay-as-you-go spending to balance budget. Get rid of no-bid contracts. Make government data available online to public.

Pay-as-you-go spending. Repeal oil companies' tax breaks.

Return to budget surpluses of (Bill) Clinton administration. Same day voter registration and paper balloting.

Public financing of elections, free television time, same-day voter registration, instant runoff voting. No corporate PAC donations.

Common sense budget act. Leadership fails because US is run by corporate interests. Get rid of electoral college, public campaign finance, paper ballots.

Issues	Rudy Giuliani	Ron Paul	Mike Huckabee	John McCain	Mitt Romney	Duncan Hunter	Fred Thompson
Role	The 9/11 Mayor	The Libertarian	The Baptist Preacher	The Stand-Up Guy	The Mormon	The One You Haven't Heard Of	The Actor
Recent Gig	Mayor of New York	Representative from Texas	Governor of Arkansas	Senator from Arizona	Governor of Massachusetts	Representative from California	Law & Order, Senator from Tennessee
Abortion	Pro-choice as mayor, says he supports the ban on 'partial-birth' abortion but respects a woman's right to choose.	Anti-abortion. Believes abortion is not a constitutional issue, but that being pro-life is necessary for being a libertarian. Opposed to stem cell research.	Anti-abortion. Supports constitutional amendment outlawing abortion. Once said he respected Roe as established law.	Anti-abortion. Supports stem cell research, says abortion OK if raped. Voted no to increase funding for prevention of pregnancy through education.	Anti-abortion, formerly pro-choice as governor of Massachusetts. Vetoed emergency contraception.	Anti-abortion. Supports constitutional amendment outlawing abortion.	Anti-abortion. Says the way to getting rid of abortion is through judges. Lobbied for Planned Parenthood, but always voted against them.
AIDS			In 1992, said "Treat AIDS as plague to be isolated, not civil rights issue." Supports increase in funding to Global Fund	In 2000, said money for AIDS in Africa would be lost to corruption.	Empower one individual to address AIDS and poverty in Africa.
Civil Liberties	Dismantled affirmative action in NYC. Supports PATRIOT Act and FISA.	Opposed to affirmative action.	No affirmative action for state contracts or colleges, believes in principles of Equal Rights amendment, says racial profiling is unamerican.	Recommended flag-burning amendment, supports PATRIOT act, confederate flag symbol of "heritage" but should not be on Capitol.	Wiretap mosques to keep tabs on 'extremists.'	Opposes affirmative action, says GOP should ask for African-American vote, supported flag-burning amendment, voted to make PATRIOT Act permanent.	Voted for flag-burning amendment, voted against loosening restrictions for wiretapping.
Crime	Enforced minor offenses, crime rate fell in NYC.	Opposes hate crimes legislation, fund alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.	Opposes three strikes laws, says they give no incentive for rehabilitation. Supports tougher penalties for juvenile crime.	More community policing, stricter sentencing, sentence juveniles as adults.	One Strike, You're Ours: lifelong GPS tracking.	Voted no on rehabilitation programs and alternative sentencing, trust juries to make right decisions on crime.	Voted no on $1.15 billion a year for COPS program, impose truth in sentencing for violent crime. 3,500 distinct crimes means over-federalization of the law.
Darfur		Opposed to foreign intervention.	Genocide in Darfur matched by infanticide of unborn.	Has co-sponsored some legislation and written op-eds about the problem. Supports No-Fly zone.		Rated D by DarfurScores.org. Has not cosponsored any bills and voted against several.
Death Penalty	Supports death penalty, especially for terrorism suspects.	Opposes death penalty due to too many mistakes.	Supports death penalty biblically and politically.	More death penalty.	Supports death penalty in heinous murders.	Death penalty is needed for deterrence.	Death penalty DOES deter crime.
Drugs	Drug policy should be integral part of foreign policy.	War on Drugs is racist, legalize medical marijuana.	Conflicting views: supports drug courts and rehab but says that drug education fails and punishment works.	Mexico should extradite drug dealers to US. In 2000, said "we're losing the war on drugs."	"Combat the ruthless narco-terrorists in Colombia."	Voted yes on military border patrols, no on needle exchanges and medical marijuana.	Voted to increase drug penalties and to spend international development money on drug control.
Economy	Across-the-board spending cuts, cut failing programs, retire government employees to save money.	"Give up American empire, that reduces debt." Weak economy is source of anger at immigrants. Small government, prioritize spending based on Constitution.	Rein in spending and balance budget, do things differently so people need not sacrifice.	Reduce spending, end pork-barrel bills and announce pork spenders. Loss of economic strength equals loss of military strength.	Cut defecit via cutting waste spending. Reduce pork. Economic strength comes from people, not Washington.	Balance budget, voted no on regulating subprime mortgage industry.	Voted for balanced budget amendment in 1997, says deficit spending OK for military, infrastructure. $9 trillion debt affects national security.
Education	Supports school vouchers, school choice.	Close department of education, but don't dismantle public schools. Equal funds for abstinence and contraceptive education. Tax credits for Christian schools.	Once said to raise teacher salaries, now says focus on what's good for students and accountability. Reinstate school prayer, does not believe in evolution, equal funds for abstinence and contraceptive education.	Let states decide, charters, vouchers and school choice key. Allow states to teach evolution or creation. Voted no on shifting money from corporate tax loopholes to education.	Push choice, parental involvement, merit scholarships. Supports English immersion and abstinence education.	Support vouchers, home schooling, voted no on additional money for schools, Black & Hispanic colleges, present scientific facts that support creationism, equal funds for abstinence and contraceptive-based education.	Voted for No Child Left Behind, but critics were right. Use bully pulpit to support vouchers, school choice, homeschooling and charter schools. Voted against spending part of tax cut on education and debt reduction.
Energy	Develop alternatives, but use strategic oil reserves. Opposes raising fuel standards.	Allow drilling, more refineries. Big Oil profits OK, subsidies not.	Promote alternative energy and independence. Ethanol and biofuels.	Support alternative fuels but no ethanol subsidy, supports nuclear power. Put pressure on oil companies to invest in alternatives.	Biofuel, ethanol, drill in ANWR. Invest in oil refineries.	Voted to keep oil subsidies, wants to take taxes off alternative energy sources.	Don't interfere with automakers unless drastic circumstances. Oil dependency associated with every recession in 50 years. Get ethanol up and let free market take over. Voted to drill in ANWR
Environment	Accept global warming and work toward change, Kyoto would send pollution to developing nations.	Does not believe in global warming.	Kyoto treaty should include reductions by all countries, comprehensive plan for energy independence within ten years. Conservation is a religious issue.	Preserve environment, environmental and economic issues not mutually exclusive.	In 2002, said clean environment would be campaign theme.	Opposed to Kyoto protocol, voted to deauthorize protected habitats for endangered species.	Solar system is warming, not earth. Voted to defund solar and renewable energy in 1999.
Farms			Farm subsidies OK because Europe and Asia do same. More tax incentives for small farmers.	Offer crop insurance, estate tax repeal for family farms.	Domestic supports for agriculture industry.	Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports.	Voted to replace farm price supports in 1996.
Foreign Relations	Stand against Chavez and Castro, democracy long-term goal.	Non-intervention is basic policy.	Protect US sovereignty but earn respect abroad. Not ready for two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.	In 1998, voted to cap foreign aid and ability to impose sanctions. Says it's naive to exclude nuclear weapons or attacking Pakistan.	Encourage others to embrace democracy, without military. New Marshall Plan to encourage moderate Islamic leaders.	Avoid ratifying Law of the Sea treaty, increase burden-sharing at UN.	Keep embargo against Cuba, diplomacy works better when we're prepared to use force.
Gay Rights	Supports domestic partnerships, not marriage. Don't change gays-in-military policy in time of war.	Don't ask, don't tell is OK, protect "voluntary associations."	No gay marriage or civil unions, no gay adoptions, "address gay behavior if problematic"	Don't Ask Don't Tell is working fine, ban on same-sex marriage should be left to states.	Supports benefits for gay partners, but not gay marriage. Don't Ask Don't Tell effective policy.	Resisting gays in the military is why we have the best military.	Dislikes gay marriage, but leave it to states.
Gun Control	Government can impose reasonable regulations, but focus on criminals, not guns.	Rated A by NRA, ease procedures on purchase and use of firearms.	Gun owner and hunter, supports 2nd Amendment.	Opposes restrictions on assault weapons, prosecute criminals, not gun owners. Don't hold gun manufacturers liable.	Supports second amendment but also assault weapons ban.	Let DC residents keep guns, then maybe OK to let them have representative. Voted to decrease waiting period, prohibit lawsuits against manufacturers.	Concealed carry could have prevented VA Tech massacre, voted to maintain guns without trigger locks, loosen background checks at gun shows.
Health Care	$15,000 tax deduction for private health insurance. Health Savings Accounts.	Transfer funds from war and overseas entanglements to health care, but socialized medicine won't work nor will managed care.	Individually-conrolled insurance, not SCHIP. Simplify system, portable records that you own, not doctors. Focus on prevention. Oppose mandated coverage and government coverage.	Refundable tax credits for healthcare, control costs so manufacturers stay competitive, voted yes on importing drugs from Canada, and in 1999 voted yes on limiting self-employment health tax deduction.	Personal responsibility instead of employer requirements. Insurance with free-market based system. (FactCheck says Romney plan is similar to Obama plan.) Massachusetts enacted universal health care plan.	Oppose mandated insurance, bring back family doctor with tax breaks and less malpractice. Free enterprise invents drugs.	Lower costs by more efficient markets, not state control. Voted against importing drugs from Canada, against suing HMOs and collecting punitive damages.
Immigration	Supported guest worker plan, allowed jobs for illegals in NYC, supports database of immigrants.	If economy were good, immigration would be no problem. Impractical to round up illegal immigrants. Voted for border fence.	Supported scholarships for illegal aliens in Arkansas. Favors sealed borders, send them home, penalize employers, path to citizenship should start out of US.	Sponsored comprehensive immigration reform that offered path to citizenship, fines, border security and guest worker program. Voted to allow illegal immigrants to participate in Social Security.	Enforce law on immigrants here now, took no action against sanctuary cities in MA, claims McCain plan allowed special pathway to those here illegally.	Supports border fence, people here illegally have to leave, takes credit for the border fence in California.	Protect border, oppose amnesty, abolish sanctuary cities, do not give special status to illegals, cut welfare incentive for illegals.
Iran	Keep military option on the table.	Talk to Iran like we talked to Soviet Union during Cold War.	Reestablish diplomatic ties to Iran, attack their nukes even if Congress says no.	Sanctions, consult Congress before attacking. Must not get nuclear weapons. No direct talk.	Let lawyers decide if authorization to attack Iran.	Take out Iran nukes with precision strikes. Iran's behavior justifies military action.	Preemptive attack on Iran if nuclear weapons imminent.
Iraq	No time limit, stay until we achieve security.	Opposed war from start. Only Republican to be against the war.	Stay in because we're winning, moving away is losing. Invaded based on poor info.Get help from Iraq's neighbors.	Stay in Iraq, though reasons for getting in were flawed. Would rather lose campaign than lose the war. Front in War on Terror.	War right choice, but not what came after. Stay in, staying in protects lives of American citizens.	Supports war, son served in Iraq and Afghanistan.	Stay the course in Iraq, Saddam would have had nuclear weapons by now if we had not gone in.
Jobs	Unions are good, but should not compel membership. Grew jobs in NYC as mayor.	Right to organize, minimum wage takes away opportunities.	Unions prominent to fight high CEO salaries. Says blacks still face racism in job market.	Supports flex-time and unpaid family leave. Unions are monopolies, don't compel joining. Voted yes to raise minimum wage to $7.25 in 2007 but no in 2005.	Good unions train members, bad unions hurt their company.	Unions built the middle class, but voted not to limit employer interference in organizing. Manufacturing jobs part of his platform.	In dynamic economy, some jobs lost and some gained. Voted to kill minimum wage increase in 1999.
Media	Do not tax Internet, but police the internet.	No fairness doctrine, trusts Internet more than mainstream media.	No fairness doctrine, apply broadcast indecency rules to cable networks. More bible, less blogs, more music, less network TV.	"Telecommunications Act was an influence-peddling scheme." Voted no on deregulation in 1996, but voted to allow approval of greater conglomerates in 2003.No taxing internet. Free TV and Radio to candidates as public interest.	Invest in infrastructure.	No fairness doctrine, voted against Net Neutrality, increase fines for indecent broadcasting.	No fairness doctrine for talk radio shows, voted for deregulation in 1996.
Military	Keep options open for tactical nuclear weapon use. Bring accountability to the VA and increase the size of the military.	Intervention abroad incites attacks like 9/11. Congress should declare war when threatened.	Supports Powell Doctrine of overwhelming force, says jihadists would destroy civilization. Supports Veterans Bill of Rights.	Military veteran and former POW, improve veterans health care, benefits, retirement, transition to civil society.	Increase military by 100,000 troops, additional $30-$40 billion.	Son serves as a Marine. "Resisting gays in the military is why we have the best military." Rebuild defense for emerging threats.	Build larger, more capable, and more modern military.
Nuclear Weapons	Keep them as a last resort, keep Iran from getting them.		"Strength is deterrent"	Naive to take nuclear weapons off table.	Combating threat of nuclear terrorism top administration priority.	OK to use tactical nuclear strikes against Iran.	Supports preemption policy to prevent other countries getting nuclear weapons.
Pakistan	Put more pressure on Musharraf to clean up Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Keep military option open.	Opposed to involvement in foreign countries.	Commented (wrongly) that Pakistanis are largest immigrant group to America besides Latin Americans.	"Musharraf came to power to replace a failed state." Says he knows how to handle Musharraf.	Said that trying to shore up Musharraf's support will have opposite effect, promote democracy.	Work with Pakistan against Al-Qaeda and Taliban.	Considers Musharraf an ally, recommends keeping up aid. Play hardball but don't cut him off.
Poverty	Getting people off welfare reduces crime.	See taxes.	Supports TANF grants to the states, supports funding for faith-based initiatives. Says culture of life includes respecting life after birth.	Supports block grants, welfare-to-work.	Vetoed $220K for state homelessness projects. Require welfare recipients to work.	Limit welfare to 2 years, support faith-based organizations. Empower the poor instead of government handouts.	1990s welfare reform worked because it empowered states.
Religion	Catholic. Married three times.	Christian, thinks Congres should write fewer laws on church and state.	Baptist minister. Does not believe in evolution, says freedom of speech should include religious speech, believes in prayer in schools.	Christian, thinks character is important.	Mormon, made speech about his religion. Believes in Jesus, thinks he should not be judged by his religion but that religion is important.	Baptist, believes in school prayer.	Protestant.
Social Security	Supports adding private accounts.	Personal retirement accounts.	Personalization, not privatization. Replace payroll tax with FairTax. Maintain long-term solvency.	Personal savings accounts, willing to compromise on raising cap on maximum earnings.	Favors private retirement accounts.	Favors personal retirement accounts.	Allow 2% into personal accounts, with 2% match. Revamp system now. Index benefits to inflation instead of to wages.
Taxes	Reduce corporate tax from 35% to 25%.	Tax cuts are always good.	Supports the FairTax: national sales tax to eliminate income taxes. It includes a rebate on necessities so people under poverty line will not be taxed.	Need simpler, fairer tax program but not FairTax. Opposed Bush tax cuts, but must extend them now. Supported permanent repeal on estate tax and raising minimum for estate tax to $5 million.	Pledge not to raise taxes, does not like FairTax, end taxes on capital gains, interest and dividends.	Supports the FairTax: national sales tax to eliminate income taxes. Voted for Bush tax cuts, permanent repeal of estate tax.	Do better than world's second-highest corporate tax. Progressive tax taxes wealth but does nothing for economy, believes tax cuts stimulate economy.
Terrorism	Major focus of his campaign. Kill or capture Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah.	Our foreign interventions caused terrorists' anger, if we stopped intervening, they would not be angry.	Terrorists would wipe out western civilization, deal with terrorism as joint federal-state responsibility.	War on Terror overriding and transcendent mission.	Use both military and civilian means to fight terrorism.	Too liberal about freeing Guantanamo prisoners, fight War on Terror in Iraq.	We face global war declared on us by Islamic fascism, says enemies do not doubt our strength, but our determination.
Torture	Use every method you can think of to interrogate terrorists.		Has condemned torture but also said that US has received reliable intelligence by "those means"	Will not torture, as former POW fought this issue in Congress. Waterboarding is torture.	Double Guantanamo, do not discuss interrogation methods.	We've been too liberal about freeing Guantanamo prisoners.	Waterboarding OK if national security at stake.
Trade	Balance foreign debt by selling more things abroad, trade deals with more countries.	No NAFTA, no WTO. China trade not contingent on human rights and product safety.	Says FairTax will make American goods more competitive. We need fair trade because we're losing jobs. Trade with China should be contingent on human rights and product safety. No NAFTA superhighway from Canada to Mexico.	Supports NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT and WTO. Free trade with any country other than security risks. No environmental provisions in trade agreements. Support ethanol by exporting, not subsidies.	Open up markets, businesspeople should negotiate trade, not government.	Opposes NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO. Voted to assist workers who lose their jobs due to globalization. Says China is cheating on trade, junk bad trade deals with China.	Markets do more for freedom than any central planner, help South America and Africa through trade.
Washington	Supports tort reform and campaign finance reform. Attempted to undo term limits in NYC to be mayor longer.	Dismantle agencies that are not in the Constitution. Opposed to earmarks, but put $4B into 2006 bills for his district. Supports term limits, but not voluntarily for himself.	Limit campaign contributions, but no public funding. Require photo ID for voting. More efficient government. Wants to get rid of IRS and impose FairTax.	Reform election system, get rid of electoral college, sponsored campaign finance reform, Voted No on DC representation in Congress. Require photo ID for voter registration.	Supports balanced budget amendment and line-item veto. Opposed to McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform. Spent large amounts of personal fortune on his campaign.	Voted against ending no-bid contracts. Voted against protecting whistleblowers. Voted against DC representation in Congress. Voted no on campaign finance reform, but yes on limiting grassroots contributors.	Voted for McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, do away with soft money. Supporter of states' rights, opposes government waste.

Issues

Role

The 9/11 Mayor

The Libertarian

The Baptist Preacher

The Stand-Up Guy

The Mormon

The One You Haven't Heard Of

The Actor

Recent Gig

Mayor of New York

Representative from Texas

Governor of Arkansas

Senator from Arizona

Governor of Massachusetts

Representative from California

Law & Order, Senator from Tennessee

Abortion

Pro-choice as mayor, says he supports the ban on 'partial-birth' abortion but respects a woman's right to choose.

Anti-abortion. Believes abortion is not a constitutional issue, but that being pro-life is necessary for being a libertarian. Opposed to stem cell research.

Anti-abortion. Supports constitutional amendment outlawing abortion. Once said he respected Roe as established law.

Anti-abortion. Supports stem cell research, says abortion OK if raped. Voted no to increase funding for prevention of pregnancy through education.

Anti-abortion, formerly pro-choice as governor of Massachusetts. Vetoed emergency contraception.

Anti-abortion. Supports constitutional amendment outlawing abortion.

Anti-abortion. Says the way to getting rid of abortion is through judges. Lobbied for Planned Parenthood, but always voted against them.

AIDS

In 1992, said "Treat AIDS as plague to be isolated, not civil rights issue." Supports increase in funding to Global Fund

In 2000, said money for AIDS in Africa would be lost to corruption.

Empower one individual to address AIDS and poverty in Africa.

Civil Liberties

Dismantled affirmative action in NYC. Supports PATRIOT Act and FISA.

Opposed to affirmative action.

No affirmative action for state contracts or colleges, believes in principles of Equal Rights amendment, says racial profiling is unamerican.

Recommended flag-burning amendment, supports PATRIOT act, confederate flag symbol of "heritage" but should not be on Capitol.

Wiretap mosques to keep tabs on 'extremists.'

Opposes affirmative action, says GOP should ask for African-American vote, supported flag-burning amendment, voted to make PATRIOT Act permanent.

Voted for flag-burning amendment, voted against loosening restrictions for wiretapping.

Crime

Enforced minor offenses, crime rate fell in NYC.

Opposes hate crimes legislation, fund alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.

Opposes three strikes laws, says they give no incentive for rehabilitation. Supports tougher penalties for juvenile crime.

More community policing, stricter sentencing, sentence juveniles as adults.

One Strike, You're Ours: lifelong GPS tracking.

Voted no on rehabilitation programs and alternative sentencing, trust juries to make right decisions on crime.

Voted no on $1.15 billion a year for COPS program, impose truth in sentencing for violent crime. 3,500 distinct crimes means over-federalization of the law.

Darfur

Opposed to foreign intervention.

Genocide in Darfur matched by infanticide of unborn.

Has co-sponsored some legislation and written op-eds about the problem. Supports No-Fly zone.

Rated D by DarfurScores.org. Has not cosponsored any bills and voted against several.

Death Penalty

Supports death penalty, especially for terrorism suspects.

Opposes death penalty due to too many mistakes.

Supports death penalty biblically and politically.

More death penalty.

Supports death penalty in heinous murders.

Death penalty is needed for deterrence.

Death penalty DOES deter crime.

Drugs

Drug policy should be integral part of foreign policy.

War on Drugs is racist, legalize medical marijuana.

Conflicting views: supports drug courts and rehab but says that drug education fails and punishment works.

Mexico should extradite drug dealers to US. In 2000, said "we're losing the war on drugs."

"Combat the ruthless narco-terrorists in Colombia."

Voted yes on military border patrols, no on needle exchanges and medical marijuana.

Voted to increase drug penalties and to spend international development money on drug control.

Economy

Across-the-board spending cuts, cut failing programs, retire government employees to save money.

"Give up American empire, that reduces debt." Weak economy is source of anger at immigrants. Small government, prioritize spending based on Constitution.

Rein in spending and balance budget, do things differently so people need not sacrifice.

Reduce spending, end pork-barrel bills and announce pork spenders. Loss of economic strength equals loss of military strength.

Cut defecit via cutting waste spending. Reduce pork. Economic strength comes from people, not Washington.

Balance budget, voted no on regulating subprime mortgage industry.

Voted for balanced budget amendment in 1997, says deficit spending OK for military, infrastructure. $9 trillion debt affects national security.

Education

Supports school vouchers, school choice.

Close department of education, but don't dismantle public schools. Equal funds for abstinence and contraceptive education. Tax credits for Christian schools.

Once said to raise teacher salaries, now says focus on what's good for students and accountability. Reinstate school prayer, does not believe in evolution, equal funds for abstinence and contraceptive education.

Let states decide, charters, vouchers and school choice key. Allow states to teach evolution or creation. Voted no on shifting money from corporate tax loopholes to education.

Push choice, parental involvement, merit scholarships. Supports English immersion and abstinence education.

Support vouchers, home schooling, voted no on additional money for schools, Black & Hispanic colleges, present scientific facts that support creationism, equal funds for abstinence and contraceptive-based education.

Voted for No Child Left Behind, but critics were right. Use bully pulpit to support vouchers, school choice, homeschooling and charter schools. Voted against spending part of tax cut on education and debt reduction.

Energy

Develop alternatives, but use strategic oil reserves. Opposes raising fuel standards.

Allow drilling, more refineries. Big Oil profits OK, subsidies not.

Promote alternative energy and independence. Ethanol and biofuels.

Support alternative fuels but no ethanol subsidy, supports nuclear power. Put pressure on oil companies to invest in alternatives.

Biofuel, ethanol, drill in ANWR. Invest in oil refineries.

Voted to keep oil subsidies, wants to take taxes off alternative energy sources.

Don't interfere with automakers unless drastic circumstances. Oil dependency associated with every recession in 50 years. Get ethanol up and let free market take over. Voted to drill in ANWR

Environment

Accept global warming and work toward change, Kyoto would send pollution to developing nations.

Does not believe in global warming.

Kyoto treaty should include reductions by all countries, comprehensive plan for energy independence within ten years. Conservation is a religious issue.

Preserve environment, environmental and economic issues not mutually exclusive.

In 2002, said clean environment would be campaign theme.

Opposed to Kyoto protocol, voted to deauthorize protected habitats for endangered species.

Solar system is warming, not earth. Voted to defund solar and renewable energy in 1999.

Farms

Farm subsidies OK because Europe and Asia do same. More tax incentives for small farmers.

Offer crop insurance, estate tax repeal for family farms.

Domestic supports for agriculture industry.

Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports.

Voted to replace farm price supports in 1996.

Foreign Relations

Stand against Chavez and Castro, democracy long-term goal.

Non-intervention is basic policy.

Protect US sovereignty but earn respect abroad. Not ready for two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.

In 1998, voted to cap foreign aid and ability to impose sanctions. Says it's naive to exclude nuclear weapons or attacking Pakistan.

Encourage others to embrace democracy, without military. New Marshall Plan to encourage moderate Islamic leaders.

Avoid ratifying Law of the Sea treaty, increase burden-sharing at UN.

Keep embargo against Cuba, diplomacy works better when we're prepared to use force.

Gay Rights

Supports domestic partnerships, not marriage. Don't change gays-in-military policy in time of war.

Don't ask, don't tell is OK, protect "voluntary associations."

No gay marriage or civil unions, no gay adoptions, "address gay behavior if problematic"

Don't Ask Don't Tell is working fine, ban on same-sex marriage should be left to states.

Supports benefits for gay partners, but not gay marriage. Don't Ask Don't Tell effective policy.

Resisting gays in the military is why we have the best military.

Dislikes gay marriage, but leave it to states.

Gun Control

Government can impose reasonable regulations, but focus on criminals, not guns.

Rated A by NRA, ease procedures on purchase and use of firearms.

Gun owner and hunter, supports 2nd Amendment.

Opposes restrictions on assault weapons, prosecute criminals, not gun owners. Don't hold gun manufacturers liable.

Supports second amendment but also assault weapons ban.

Let DC residents keep guns, then maybe OK to let them have representative. Voted to decrease waiting period, prohibit lawsuits against manufacturers.

Concealed carry could have prevented VA Tech massacre, voted to maintain guns without trigger locks, loosen background checks at gun shows.

Health Care

$15,000 tax deduction for private health insurance. Health Savings Accounts.

Transfer funds from war and overseas entanglements to health care, but socialized medicine won't work nor will managed care.

Individually-conrolled insurance, not SCHIP. Simplify system, portable records that you own, not doctors. Focus on prevention. Oppose mandated coverage and government coverage.

Refundable tax credits for healthcare, control costs so manufacturers stay competitive, voted yes on importing drugs from Canada, and in 1999 voted yes on limiting self-employment health tax deduction.

Personal responsibility instead of employer requirements. Insurance with free-market based system. (FactCheck says Romney plan is similar to Obama plan.) Massachusetts enacted universal health care plan.

Oppose mandated insurance, bring back family doctor with tax breaks and less malpractice. Free enterprise invents drugs.

Lower costs by more efficient markets, not state control. Voted against importing drugs from Canada, against suing HMOs and collecting punitive damages.

Immigration

Supported guest worker plan, allowed jobs for illegals in NYC, supports database of immigrants.

If economy were good, immigration would be no problem. Impractical to round up illegal immigrants. Voted for border fence.

Supported scholarships for illegal aliens in Arkansas. Favors sealed borders, send them home, penalize employers, path to citizenship should start out of US.

Sponsored comprehensive immigration reform that offered path to citizenship, fines, border security and guest worker program. Voted to allow illegal immigrants to participate in Social Security.

Enforce law on immigrants here now, took no action against sanctuary cities in MA, claims McCain plan allowed special pathway to those here illegally.

Supports border fence, people here illegally have to leave, takes credit for the border fence in California.

Protect border, oppose amnesty, abolish sanctuary cities, do not give special status to illegals, cut welfare incentive for illegals.

Iran

Keep military option on the table.

Talk to Iran like we talked to Soviet Union during Cold War.

Reestablish diplomatic ties to Iran, attack their nukes even if Congress says no.

Sanctions, consult Congress before attacking. Must not get nuclear weapons. No direct talk.

Let lawyers decide if authorization to attack Iran.

Take out Iran nukes with precision strikes. Iran's behavior justifies military action.

Preemptive attack on Iran if nuclear weapons imminent.

Iraq

No time limit, stay until we achieve security.

Opposed war from start. Only Republican to be against the war.

Stay in because we're winning, moving away is losing. Invaded based on poor info.Get help from Iraq's neighbors.

Stay in Iraq, though reasons for getting in were flawed. Would rather lose campaign than lose the war. Front in War on Terror.

War right choice, but not what came after. Stay in, staying in protects lives of American citizens.

Supports war, son served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Stay the course in Iraq, Saddam would have had nuclear weapons by now if we had not gone in.

Jobs

Unions are good, but should not compel membership. Grew jobs in NYC as mayor.

Right to organize, minimum wage takes away opportunities.

Unions prominent to fight high CEO salaries. Says blacks still face racism in job market.

Supports flex-time and unpaid family leave. Unions are monopolies, don't compel joining. Voted yes to raise minimum wage to $7.25 in 2007 but no in 2005.

Good unions train members, bad unions hurt their company.

Unions built the middle class, but voted not to limit employer interference in organizing. Manufacturing jobs part of his platform.

In dynamic economy, some jobs lost and some gained. Voted to kill minimum wage increase in 1999.

Media

Do not tax Internet, but police the internet.

No fairness doctrine, trusts Internet more than mainstream media.

No fairness doctrine, apply broadcast indecency rules to cable networks. More bible, less blogs, more music, less network TV.

"Telecommunications Act was an influence-peddling scheme." Voted no on deregulation in 1996, but voted to allow approval of greater conglomerates in 2003.No taxing internet. Free TV and Radio to candidates as public interest.

Invest in infrastructure.

No fairness doctrine, voted against Net Neutrality, increase fines for indecent broadcasting.

No fairness doctrine for talk radio shows, voted for deregulation in 1996.

Military

Keep options open for tactical nuclear weapon use. Bring accountability to the VA and increase the size of the military.

Intervention abroad incites attacks like 9/11. Congress should declare war when threatened.

Supports Powell Doctrine of overwhelming force, says jihadists would destroy civilization. Supports Veterans Bill of Rights.

Military veteran and former POW, improve veterans health care, benefits, retirement, transition to civil society.

Increase military by 100,000 troops, additional $30-$40 billion.

Son serves as a Marine. "Resisting gays in the military is why we have the best military." Rebuild defense for emerging threats.

Build larger, more capable, and more modern military.

Nuclear Weapons

Keep them as a last resort, keep Iran from getting them.

"Strength is deterrent"

Naive to take nuclear weapons off table.

Combating threat of nuclear terrorism top administration priority.

OK to use tactical nuclear strikes against Iran.

Supports preemption policy to prevent other countries getting nuclear weapons.

Pakistan

Put more pressure on Musharraf to clean up Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Keep military option open.

Opposed to involvement in foreign countries.

Commented (wrongly) that Pakistanis are largest immigrant group to America besides Latin Americans.

"Musharraf came to power to replace a failed state." Says he knows how to handle Musharraf.

Said that trying to shore up Musharraf's support will have opposite effect, promote democracy.

Work with Pakistan against Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Considers Musharraf an ally, recommends keeping up aid. Play hardball but don't cut him off.

Poverty

Getting people off welfare reduces crime.

See taxes.

Supports TANF grants to the states, supports funding for faith-based initiatives. Says culture of life includes respecting life after birth.

Supports block grants, welfare-to-work.

Vetoed $220K for state homelessness projects. Require welfare recipients to work.

Limit welfare to 2 years, support faith-based organizations. Empower the poor instead of government handouts.

1990s welfare reform worked because it empowered states.

Religion

Catholic. Married three times.

Christian, thinks Congres should write fewer laws on church and state.

Baptist minister. Does not believe in evolution, says freedom of speech should include religious speech, believes in prayer in schools.

Christian, thinks character is important.

Mormon, made speech about his religion. Believes in Jesus, thinks he should not be judged by his religion but that religion is important.

Baptist, believes in school prayer.

Protestant.

Social Security

Supports adding private accounts.

Personal retirement accounts.

Personalization, not privatization. Replace payroll tax with FairTax. Maintain long-term solvency.

Personal savings accounts, willing to compromise on raising cap on maximum earnings.

Favors private retirement accounts.

Favors personal retirement accounts.

Allow 2% into personal accounts, with 2% match. Revamp system now. Index benefits to inflation instead of to wages.

Taxes

Reduce corporate tax from 35% to 25%.

Tax cuts are always good.

Supports the FairTax: national sales tax to eliminate income taxes. It includes a rebate on necessities so people under poverty line will not be taxed.

Need simpler, fairer tax program but not FairTax. Opposed Bush tax cuts, but must extend them now. Supported permanent repeal on estate tax and raising minimum for estate tax to $5 million.

Pledge not to raise taxes, does not like FairTax, end taxes on capital gains, interest and dividends.

Supports the FairTax: national sales tax to eliminate income taxes. Voted for Bush tax cuts, permanent repeal of estate tax.

Do better than world's second-highest corporate tax. Progressive tax taxes wealth but does nothing for economy, believes tax cuts stimulate economy.

Terrorism

Major focus of his campaign. Kill or capture Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah.

Our foreign interventions caused terrorists' anger, if we stopped intervening, they would not be angry.

Terrorists would wipe out western civilization, deal with terrorism as joint federal-state responsibility.

War on Terror overriding and transcendent mission.

Use both military and civilian means to fight terrorism.

Too liberal about freeing Guantanamo prisoners, fight War on Terror in Iraq.

We face global war declared on us by Islamic fascism, says enemies do not doubt our strength, but our determination.

Torture

Use every method you can think of to interrogate terrorists.

Has condemned torture but also said that US has received reliable intelligence by "those means"

Will not torture, as former POW fought this issue in Congress. Waterboarding is torture.

Double Guantanamo, do not discuss interrogation methods.

We've been too liberal about freeing Guantanamo prisoners.

Waterboarding OK if national security at stake.

Trade

Balance foreign debt by selling more things abroad, trade deals with more countries.

No NAFTA, no WTO. China trade not contingent on human rights and product safety.

Says FairTax will make American goods more competitive. We need fair trade because we're losing jobs. Trade with China should be contingent on human rights and product safety. No NAFTA superhighway from Canada to Mexico.

Supports NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT and WTO. Free trade with any country other than security risks. No environmental provisions in trade agreements. Support ethanol by exporting, not subsidies.

Open up markets, businesspeople should negotiate trade, not government.

Opposes NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO. Voted to assist workers who lose their jobs due to globalization. Says China is cheating on trade, junk bad trade deals with China.

Markets do more for freedom than any central planner, help South America and Africa through trade.

Washington

Supports tort reform and campaign finance reform. Attempted to undo term limits in NYC to be mayor longer.

Dismantle agencies that are not in the Constitution. Opposed to earmarks, but put $4B into 2006 bills for his district. Supports term limits, but not voluntarily for himself.

Limit campaign contributions, but no public funding. Require photo ID for voting. More efficient government. Wants to get rid of IRS and impose FairTax.

Reform election system, get rid of electoral college, sponsored campaign finance reform, Voted No on DC representation in Congress. Require photo ID for voter registration.

Supports balanced budget amendment and line-item veto. Opposed to McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform. Spent large amounts of personal fortune on his campaign.

Voted against ending no-bid contracts. Voted against protecting whistleblowers. Voted against DC representation in Congress. Voted no on campaign finance reform, but yes on limiting grassroots contributors.

Voted for McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform, do away with soft money. Supporter of states' rights, opposes government waste.