 |
|
Universal Health Care supports Obama's health care plan includes 'affordable coverage for all Americans,' a number of reforms that are intended to lower costs, and promote public health. He does not ensure that everyone is covered, but makes coverage an option by lowering costs. His plan:
|
 |
|
Economic Sanctions on Iran strongly supports Obama introduced the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act in May 2007 which calls for stiffer economic sanctions on Iran's energy industry and countries that do business with Iran. |
 |
|
Assault Weapons Ban strongly supports According to the 2004 Chicago Tribune article, Obama said, "I believe we need to renew--not roll back--this common sense gun law" in reference to the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban. (Source: Chicago Tribune) Gun Owners of America give Obama an "F" grade for voting against gun interests in 6 out of 7 pieces of legislation since 2005. (Source: Gun Law News) |
 |
|
Dialogue with Rogue World Leaders supports 2007: During the YouTube/CNN Democratic debate, Obama promised that, if elected, he would meet with rogue leaders in the first year of his administration |
 |
|
Same Sex Marriage supports Obama stands against gay marriage but stands for same-sex civil unions |
 |
|
Legalized Abortion strongly supports Has made many public statements supporting Roe v. Wade. Voted against a bill that would require parental notification for minors who get out-of-state abortions. Voted against a ban late-term abortions stated he did not support the ban because it did not contain a clause to protect the life of the mother. During the April 2007 Democratic debate, Obama said that he trusts women to make their own decisions about whether or not to have an abortion "in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy." |
 |
|
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Oil Drilling against Voted to ban drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and voted to remove the establishment of an oil and gas leasing program in the Alaskan Coastal Plain. |
 |
|
Slavery Reparations against Obama is against monetary or land reparations, but supports social programs as a form of reparations. |
 |
|
Agricultural Subsidies strongly supports Barack Obama did not vote on the 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act. In May 2007, Obama co-sponsored legislation along with Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kit Bond (R-MO), George Voinovich (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to expand consumer access to cheaper ethanol fuel. This legislation, if passed, would be included in the 2007 Farm Bill, suggesting that Obama will be voting in favor of the bill and the subsidies embedded within it. |
 |
|
Constitutional Ban on Flag Desecration strongly against Voted against the Hatch Amendment in 2006 that would give Congress the power to prohibit flag desecration. He also issued an official statement explaining his opposition to the amendment. |
 |
|
Capital Punishment supports Obama supports the death penalty for cases in which "the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage" but acknowledges that says the death penalty "does little to deter crime." However, when asked in a Questionnaire Obama filled out when running for senate in 1996, he was stated he was against criminal punishment (see this story from politico.com) As state senator, Obama worked to reform capital punishment system in Illinois and wrote a bill to mandate the videotaping of interrogations and confessions. |
 |
|
Wiretapping supports Obama said in a statement after voting for new FISA Act "Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President's illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over. It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance ' making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law and disregard the civil liberties of the American people. It also firmly re-establishes basic judicial oversight over all domestic surveillance in the future. It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses. But this compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place in the past, and ensures that there will be accountability going forward. By demanding oversight and accountability, a grassroots movement of Americans has helped yield a bill that is far better than the Protect America Act." This marks something of a reversal of Obama's position from an earlier version of the bill, which was approved by the Senate Feb. 12, when Obama was locked in a fight for the Democratic nomination with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). Obama came down on the side of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who argued that a provision in the new law reaffirmed that FISA, and that act's courts, gives the final say over government spying. President Bush has argued that a war-time chief executive has powers that trump FISA. "It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance -- making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law," Obama said today. Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the most prominent Republican opponent of the compromise bill, issued a statement today calling that exclusivity provision "meaningless because that specific provision is now in [the] 1978 act." Specter said Bush just ignored existing law in starting the warrantless surveillance program." (Paul Kane, 'The Trail,' The Washington Post, June 23, 2008) |
 |
|
Public Display of 10 Commandments against While campaigning in Denison, Iowa, Obama responded to the Ten Commandments being on display in an Alabama court house. “If you are not a believer, there would be a feeling that you wouldn't be treated as fairly as a Christian. We want everybody to feel they are treated equally.” |
 |
|
Legalization of Medical Marijuana supports Promised to end end medical marijuana raids. |
 |
|
Mandatory Sentencing against In Sept 2007, Obama said he would review mandatory minimum drug sentencing as apart of a broader set of reforms concerning drug sentencing. |
 |
|
Social Security Reform against Against pre-funded social security, including privatized accounts or reserve funds. Open to tax breaks for savings accounts. |
 |
|
Outsourcing against In a March 2004 interview with Chicago's local access political talk show, "Public Affairs," Obama said the number 1 priority is jobs and job loss. In general, he feels outsourcing weakens the US economy. |
 |
|
Minimum Wage strongly supports Obama has a record of supporting minimum wage legislation, on both the federal and state levels. He was behind the Illinois' Earned Income Tax Credit and chief sponsor of the law that exempts Illinois from the Bush Administration's new federal overtime rules and protects overtime pay for thousands of Illinois workers. He voted for every increase the federal minimum wage. |
 |
|
Border Fence Wants a fence across parts of the border with the heaviest traffic Voted in favor of the Secure Fence Act of 2006. |
 |
|
Citizenship for illegal immigrants supports Supported several attempts that would establish a path for citizenship for illegal immigrants since 2006 and has made many public statements supporting citizenship for those who earn it. He is opposed to illegal immigration in general and has cosponsored a legislation to extend the border fence and to establish a mandatory electronic worker verification system that would prevent illegal aliens from taking jobs from those with legal right to work in the country. |
 |
|
Affirmative Action supports Affirmative action refers to policies intended to promote access to education or employment aimed at a historically socio-politically non-dominant group, typically minorities and women. |
 |
|
Consumption Tax against Obama's tax plan includes progressive rate structure and does not include a consumption tax. He has not been an outspoken opponent of a consumption tax. |
 |
|
Flat Tax strongly against Obama's tax plan includes progressive rate structure, not a flat tax. |
 |
|
Estate Tax strongly supports Voted against raising estate tax exemption to $5 million; Voted against supporting permanence of estate tax cuts; Voted against permanently repealing the estate tax. In his book, The Audacity of Hope, he wrote, "Repealing the estate tax would cost $1 trillion, and it would be hard to find a tax cut that was less responsive to the needs of ordinary Americans or the long-term interests of the country." |
 |
|
Bush Tax Cuts strongly against Has states strong opposition to Bush's tax cuts. His tax plan would end the tax cuts. |
 |
|
Free Trade supports Obama generally supports free trade agreements, but has expressed concern about free trade agreements that do not include labor and environmental protections. Obama voted to approve the 2006 FTA with Oman but opposed CAFTA, citing labor and environmental concerns. In an August 2007 Democratic debate, Obama said he would meet with the Canadian and Mexican heads of state to to amend NAFTA so that these issues are addressed. |
 |
|
Corporate Governance strongly supports Obama introduced the Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act in the Senate on 20 April 2007, requiring public companies to give shareholders an annual nonbinding vote on executive compensation due to rising concerns over excessive CEO salaries. |
 |
|
Antitrust Regulation strongly supports Obama issued a statement to the American Antitrust Institute posted on 27 Sept 2007 that promised strong antitrust enforcement as President. Voted in favor of the NOPEC Amendment to CLEAN Energy Act on 19 June 2007, making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. |
 |
|
Business Regulation supports Proposed greater regulation in response to the mortgage lending crisis. Receives a score of 55/100 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business advocacy group. |
 |
|
Public Preschool undecided Obama supports expanding the Head Start preschool program for low-income children, and voted to reauthorize the program in 2007. He does not have an opinion on universal preschool programs. |
 |
|
School Vouchers against In a 2004 debate, Obama was open to vouchers saying, "I am not close minded on this issue so I think everybody should go into this with the basic attitude that the bottom line is--how are we providing the most effective education for students at every grade level and every economic strata, and if we are doing that, then we shouldn't be didactic or ideological about how to best deliver that." In a July 5, 2007 speech, he strongly denounced the idea. In a Questionnaire Obama filled out when running for senate in 1996, Obama was asked if he "supports school vouchers or other means of public funding for private or parochial schools". He answered "No" (see http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7312.html) |
 |
|
Financial Aid for Students supports Obama has introduced in the Senate a proposal to increase the maximum Pell Grant in Aug 2007. |
 |
|
No Child Left Behind Act strongly against Obama has expressed dissatisfaction for NCLB. He has said it should not be reauthorized and that it should be substantially reformed. |
 |
|
Energy Independence strongly supports On 19 July 2006, Obama was apart of a bipartisan coalition that introduced The Fuel Economy Reform Act that would "reduce gasoline consumption by half a trillion gallons." This issue has also been a centerpiece to Obama's presidential campaign. |
 |
|
Fuel Efficiency Regulation supports On 19 July 2006, Obama was apart of a bipartisan coalition that introduced The Fuel Economy Reform Act that increases in fuel efficiency standards for cars, SUVs and light trucks. He has also spoken widely on the matter. |
 |
|
Genetically Engineered Foods against |
 |
|
State Children's Health Insurance Program strongly supports Obama voted to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act that would extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program. His presidential campaign includes a health care plan which would expand SCHIP to cover every child immediately. Obama has made many public statements condemning Pres. Bush's veto of the SCHIP renewal and expansion legislation. |
 |
|
Darfur Intervention Support intl. intervention and/or deploy NATO to protect civilians Co-sponsoring the Menendez Amendment for UN peacekeeping in Darfur, the Darfur Accountability Act, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, the Civilian Protection Co-Sponsored, a No-Fly Zone, the Sudan Divestment Authorization Act, the China Resolution. In addition, he voted in favor of the Hybrid Force Resolution. Darfurscores.org gives Obama an "A" for acting on the issue of Darfur. |
 |
|
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty supports The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT) is an international treaty opened for signature in 1968 and currently signed by 189 nations to stop the production of nuclear weapons, disarm current weapons and peacefully use nuclear technology. |
 |
|
Partitioning of Iraq against Obama has called for the withdrawal of all US combat troops from Iraq by the end of 2008. He has said he does not think that proposals to partition Iraq would work if it were a U.S. initiative. |
 |
|
Iraq War Withdrawal strongly supports Supports a phased redeployment that would have all combat troops out of the Middle East by the end of March 2008. |
 |
|
Iraq Troop Surge strongly against Obama has expressed skepticism to the press that adding thousands of troops would achieve the desired results. He said he would rather :see a "surge in diplomacy." |
 |
|
Militarization of Space supports On Feb. 15, 2007, Obama said, “We must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs.” But he voted for the transfer of funds away from missile defense in 2005. |
 |
|
Military Draft strongly against Obama has announced his opposition to proposals to reinstate the draft. |
 |
|
Gays in the Military strongly supports Obama wants to repeal the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy of the US military. |
 |
|
Guantanamo strongly against Obama wants to restore habeas corpus close the Guanatanamo Bay detention facility. |
 |
|
Public Campaign Financing undecided Obama pledged to accept public finance limits for the general election (providing his opponent agrees too) but opted out of public financing for the primary election. In a Questionnaire Obama filled out when running for senate in 1996, Obama was asked if he supports "public financing of election campaigns" to which he answered "No" (see http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7312.html) |
 |
|
Lobbyist Gifts to Congress strongly against Has introduced and supported several pieces of legislation that would limit or ban gifts from lobbyists. |
 |
|
Net Neutrality supports Obama released a podcast on 8 June 2006 in which he stated his position on the issue of net neutrality, saying "we can't have a situation in which the corporate duopoly dictates the future of the internet and that's why I'm supporting what is called net neutrality." In addition, Obama's Technology and Innovation policy states that he "strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet." |
 |
|
Separation of Church and State supports Obama has spoken on the importance of the separation of church and state, but supports a sense of moderation in enforcement. He says that the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance and voluntary student prayer groups on school property are two examples where moderation should be applied to enforcement of the rule. |
 |
|
Kyoto Protocol Ratification supports Support as evidenced by his speech in Chicago, IL on 3 April 2006 titled The Coming Storm: Energy Independence and the Safety of Our Planet. |
 |
|
Free Flow of Information Act strongly supports The Act protects a media reporter's source unless a federal judge, "by a preponderance of the evidence," rules that the identity sought is "essential to the resolution of the matter." |
 |
|
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) supports The FISA prescribes procedures for the physical and electronic surveillance and collection of "foreign intelligence information" between "foreign powers and its agents", this may include American citizens and permanent residents engaged in espionage. Co-sponsor: A bill to place reasonable limitations on the use of National Security Letters, and for other purposes. Latest Major Action: 4/23/2008 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. |
 |
|
Emissions Trading strongly supports Obama's energy plan would put carbon emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. He will establish annual reduction target and implement a mandate of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. |
 |
|
National Security Letter strongly supports A National Security Letter (NSL) is a form of administrative subpoena used by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation and reportedly by other U.S. Government Agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense. Co-sponsor: A bill to place reasonable limitations on the use of National Security Letters, and for other purposes. Latest Major Action: 4/23/2008 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. |
