NPR.org
On Tuesday, March 18, Sen. Barack Obama gave what his advisors called a major address on “race, politics and unifying our country.” The speech, delivered within steps of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, was in response to explosive statements made by his long-time pastor and mentor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama said that Wright’s comments were not only wrong, but divisive. He called for unity and urged the country to break the racial stalemate he said the country has been stuck in for years. View the speech now.
NPR.org
Sen. John McCain’s tax policy includes making President Bush’s tax cuts permanent for individuals and businesses. The cuts are scheduled to expire in 2010. He proposes raising the personal exemption for dependents from $3,500 to $7,000. He also proposes a student loan continuity plan. He wants to eliminate the alternative minimum tax originally designed to make sure millionaires pay taxes, but which now affects middle-income taxpayers. McCain also wants to ban Internet taxes and believes any tax increase should require a three-fifths majority in Congress. He proposes supplementing Social Security with personal accounts. McCain would cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent and allow first-year expensing of equipment and technology investments by businesses to stimulate the economy. He would recommend tax credits for businesses for money spent on wages and research and development. McCain says excessive government borrowing and deficit spending must stop. More information is available at McCain’s web site.
NPR.org
Sen. Hillary Clinton’s tax policy also includes reversing the upper-income tax cuts implemented by President Bush. She recommends up to $1,000 tax credits to match retirement savings by middle-income couples. On trade, like Obama, Clinton wants to strengthen enforcement of trade agreements and would double the size of the U.S. trade representative’s enforcement unit. She has proposed a $70 billion economic stimulus package which includes a 90-day moratorium on subprime mortgage foreclosures and a $30 billion emergency-housing crisis fund. She would also create a fund to help at-risk borrowers and extend unemployment insurance. Clinton says she would require the government to pay for new spending with new revenues or cuts in other areas. More information is available at Clinton’s web site.
NPR.org
Sen. Barack Obama’s tax policy includes plans to repeal President Bush’s tax cuts for households earning more than $250,000 and give tax credits to low- and middle-income workers. He wants to eliminate income taxes for senior workers making less than $50,000 and triple the earned-income tax credit for full-time minimum wage workers. Obama also proposes a mortgage tax credit for homeowners that don’t itemize deductions. On trade, Obama says he would strengthen enforcement of current trade agreements, set standards in new agreements and work to repair NAFTA. He suggests an immediate $250 tax cut for workers as an economic stimulus and would help homeowners and states hit by the housing crisis. He would also create a fund for homeowners facing foreclosure and extend unemployment benefits. Obama says he would require new government spending to be paid for by revenue increases or cuts in other programs. More information is available at Obama’s web site.
All Things Considered – NPR – April 15, 2008
Presumptive Rep. presidential nominee Sen. John McCain outlined his economic plans in a speech in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Mellon University. He called for temporarily suspending the federal gas tax of 18 cents per gallon between Memorial Day and Labor Day and during the same period stopping the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He also called for expanding aid for college students and protecting manufacturing jobs in a global economy. In addition, he recommended overhauling the federal tax code by cutting the corporate tax rate, doubling the exemption for dependent children and updating the alternative tax system. He also suggested that more affluent people enrolled in Medicare pay higher premiums for prescription drugs.
The New York Times Election Guide
According to The New York Times Election Guide, in 2002, Sen. John McCain voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq. He is still supportive of the war, favors troop increases, and is against a timetable for troop withdrawal. In a statement on Aug. 25, 2006, he said, “I agreed with the President’s difficult decision to go to war in Iraq. I remain fully supportive of his determination not to leave…” In 2002 Sen. Hillary Clinton also voted to authorize the war in Iraq, but is now opposed. She is also opposed to troop increases and would start a phased withdrawal within 60 days of taking office. Her goal would have most troops out by the end of 2013. Sen. Barack Obama has opposed the invasion from the beginning, opposed troop increases, and would withdraw one or two brigades a month to finish within 16 months. You can find more detailed information at the Clinton, McCain and Obama Web sites.
Associated Press on MSNBC.com March 7, 2008
Republican presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Ron Paul hinted in March that he is ending his long-shot campaign for the presidency. Republican frontrunner John McCain has enough delegates to clinch the GOP’s nomination. In a video on his campaign Web site, Paul said that although a presidential victory is not available, many victories have been achieved. He said that he hoped his supporters could look back and say his campaign was a significant first step that signaled a change in direction for the country. As of April 13, 2008, Paul remains in the race. Get detailed information on his views on the issues at his Web site.
Associated Press – April 11, 2008
Presidential hopefuls have given little attention to crime, but Democrat Hillary Clinton is proposing to spend $4 billion a year on anti-crime measures. Clinton’s plan would hire 100,000 police officers “to address crime, through a modernized personnel grant program.” It would also spend $250 million a year on “community-oriented prosecutors.” Clinton notes that violent crime has begun to rise, and calls for federal grants or Justice Department assistance to help local governments fight gang violence, illegal drug and gun transactions, and to provide after-school programs, visiting nurses and “early-intervention mentoring programs” to help guide “at-risk-kids” away from crime. It would also fight identity theft and online child exploitation.
Associated Press – April 11, 2008
No wonder Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are running neck-and-neck in the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination race; when it comes to policy, they are closely aligned. “The differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences that we have with the Republicans,” noted Clinton earlier this year. And, Obama, too stated, “Ninety-five percent of our health care plan is similar.” Both want to end the Iraq war and provide universal health care. They both want to increase tax credits for college tuition, protect abortion rights and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. If elected president, both would repeal President Bush’s tax cuts on the wealthy to pay for their programs. One of their major differences, however, is whether the president should negotiate with rogue heads of state in places like Iran, Cuba and North Korea. While Obama encourages the strategy, Clinton disagrees and would use other diplomatic avenues. They also disagree on driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. Obama says yes, for safety reasons, and Clinton says no.
cnn.com
Want to find out how the presidential candidates stand on the important issues? Simply go to www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues. The easy-to-read chart lists the candidates, their parties, and their stands on the current issues ranging from education, health care, abortion, immigration, Iraq, the environment and more. This is a helpful tool for selecting your candidate.
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