NEWS

Have a favorite candidate? Find out stand on issues

03/12/2007

Have a favorite candidate? Find out stand on issues

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The stands of these 2008 presidential candidates on a selection of issues:
Democrats: Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

Republicans: Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo.

DEMOCRATS:

Biden:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Asked in 2003 whether gay marriage is inevitable, said, ''I'm not sure. I think probably it is.'' Opposed constitutional amendment against it.

Global warming: Favors negotiation of new treaty to curb emissions. Voted for 2003 bill that would have capped 2010 emissions at 2000 levels, increasing energy costs.

Health care: Expand health insurance for children and for catastrophic care, look to states for ideas on moving toward universal coverage.

Immigration: Backed 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants who have been in the country for at least five years, subject to conditions including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines, with tougher conditions for those who have been in the U.S. for shorter time. Favors tightening U.S.-Mexico border with fences.

Iran: Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran.

Iraq: Withdraw most U.S. troops by end of year, leaving about 20,000 in or near Iraq, as part of plan to see Iraq governed as largely autonomous Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish regions. Opposes President George W. Bush's deployment of more troops. Led Senate effort to pass resolution declaring war is against U.S. interest. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Clinton:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Unclear. Has said opposes in the past, but now says rethinking the issue. Opposed constitutional amendment against it.

Global warming: Voted for the 2003 bill that would have capped 2010 emissions at 2000 levels and increased energy costs.

Health care: Seeks national consensus before proceeding with universal health care plan. ''I want to figure out how we provide universal health care without putting billions more into the system.'' Goal of universal coverage in eight years. Led an unsuccessful health care reform effort in 1993.

Immigration: Voted for 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines. Voted for border fence.

Iran: Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran.

Iraq: Opposes troop increase, favors cap on troop levels and starting withdrawal in three months, with U.S. extricated by 2009. Has opposed using congressional spending power to end war. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Dodd:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Would let states decide. Opposed constitutional amendment against it.

Global warming: Favors negotiation of new treaty to curb emissions. Voted for 2003 bill that would have capped 2010 emissions at 2000 levels and increased energy costs.

Health care: Sponsored legislation to expand coverage for young, old and poor. Goal of universal coverage; details and costs not specified.

Immigration: Voted for 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines. Voted against border fence.

Iran: Says the U.S. should negotiate directly, also with Syria.

Iraq: Opposes troop increase, would cap force at about 130,000 unless Congress approves more, has not specified withdrawal timetable, would not cut off money. Begin withdrawing troops now from worst parts of Baghdad. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Edwards:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights.

Gay marriage: ''I don't know the answer.''

Global warming: Supports tougher vehicle fuel efficiency standards. Says people must make sacrifices in energy use, including changing vehicles they drive. As senator, missed vote on 2003 bill.

Health care: Achieve universal health coverage by 2012 with a system of expanded federal health insurance, family tax credits, and coverage requirements on employers, insurance companies and individuals. Increase taxes to pay for program's cost of up to $120 billion (euro91.22 billion) a year.

Immigration: Supports path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who speak English and meet other conditions.

Iran: Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, Syria.

Iraq: Favors immediate withdrawal of 40,000-50,000 troops, would block money for troop increase. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Kucinich:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Supports same-sex marriage.

Global warming: Supports the Kyoto Protocol treaty to curb emissions of greenhouse gases.

Health care: Favors national health insurance program covering medical, dental, mental health and long term care as well as prescription drugs. ''My plan doesn't provide for a role for for-profit insurance companies.''

Immigration: Legalize ''hardworking, taxpaying'' illegal immigrants.

Iran: Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran.

Iraq: Opposed U.S. invasion, favors troop withdrawal and cutting off additional money to continue the war.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Obama:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights. As Illinois lawmaker, opposed restrictions on public financing of abortions.

Gay marriage: Would let states decide. Opposes constitutional amendment to ban it.

Global warming: Joined McCain in sponsoring legislation that would set mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions and boost energy costs. Plan would require emissions to return to 2004 levels by 2012 and to 1990 levels by 2020.

Health care: Goal of universal coverage by 2012; details and costs not specified.

Immigration: Voted for 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines. Voted for border fence.

Iran: Says U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran. Proposed regional conference that includes Iran, Syria and other neighbors, aimed at stabilizing Iraq. Military action an option if Iran is not dissuaded from developing nuclear weapons by other means.

Iraq: Supports capping troop levels at 130,000, beginning withdrawal May 1 and completing pullout of combat brigades by March 31, 2008. Opposed invasion.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Richardson:

Abortion: Favors abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Opposes same-sex marriage.

Global warming: Favors U.S. joining Kyoto treaty to curb greenhouse gas emissions and going ''well beyond'' its requirements, boosting fuel economy standards and undertaking massive spending on renewable energy to slash oil imports from 65 percent of fossil fuel use to 10 percent in 15 years.

Health care: Priority is to insure all children under five. Work with market and state to expand access for others. For New Mexico, favors expansion of health insurance through combination of private sector and government reforms instead of through state-sponsored universal health care.

Immigration: Favors path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, opposes border fence.

Iran: Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, and with Syria and North Korea.

Iraq: Says U.S. troops should be redeployed by the end of the year to Afghanistan and other regions in the Persian Gulf.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
REPUBLICANS

Brownback:

Abortion: Opposes abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Opposes. Voted for a constitutional amendment against it.

Global warming: Voted against 2003 bill that would have capped 2010 emissions at 2000 levels, saying it would have increased energy costs.

Health insurance: ''Market-based solutions, not government-run health care.''

Immigration: Voted for 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions, including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines. Voted for border fence.

Iran: Spend $100 million (euro76 million) this year, a tenfold increase, on ''democracy building, civil society building, and civil disobedience building'' inside Iran and on external ways to support pro-democracy and human rights groups opposed to the government. Appoint special human rights envoy to increase international pressure on Iran.

Iraq: Opposes troop increase, says ethnic partition of Iraq might have to occur. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Opposes relaxing federal restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Giuliani:

Abortion: Supports constitutional right to abortion, but says he would appoint justices ''very similar'' to Samuel Alito and John Roberts, who he thinks will vote for abortion restrictions.

Gay marriage: Opposed.

Global warming: Not sure how much global warming is caused by human activity. Consider expanding nuclear power as well as alternative energy.

Health insurance: ''Market-driven'' expansion of coverage, not government-sponsored universal coverage.

Immigration: Open to conferring legal status if proficiency in English is among conditions.

Iran: Doubts negotiations with Iran or Syria would work.

Iraq: Supports troop increase.

Stem cell research: Supports relaxing restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Huckabee:

Abortion: Opposes abortion rights and favors constitutional ban.

Gay marriage: Opposed. Amend Constitution to ban it, as Arkansas did with state constitution when he was governor.

Global warming: Favors private-sector innovation as the means to control emissions. Opposed Kyoto treaty.

Health insurance: Favors market solutions, state innovation. ''We don't need universal health care mandated by federal edict or funding through ever-higher taxes.''

Immigration: Favors letting illegal aliens in the country apply for legal status if they pay penalties, get guest worker permits, register with authorities and aren't allowed to jump in line ahead of other applicants. As governor, opposed banning state services for illegal immigrants.

Iran: Favors direct negotiations.

Iraq: Opposes abrupt withdrawal.

Stem cell research: Opposes relaxing federal restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Hunter:

Abortion: Opposes abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Opposed. Favors amending Constitution to ban it.

Global warming: Favors federal subsidies for increased ethanol production.

Health insurance: Supported expansion of health insurance through tax breaks, not government-sponsored universal coverage.

Immigration: Favors deporting the millions of illegal aliens. A sponsor of legislation authorizing construction of Mexico border fence.

Iran: Said it would be a mistake to enlist the help of Iran in stabilizing Iraq.

Iraq: Opposes immediate withdrawal and opposes cutting additional money for the war. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Opposes relaxing federal restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.
McCain:

Abortion: Opposes abortion rights, says Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

Gay marriage: Would let states regulate it. Opposes constitutional amendment to ban it.

Global warming: Joined Obama in sponsoring bill that would set mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions and boost energy costs. Plan would require emissions to return to 2004 levels by 2012 and to 1990 levels by 2020.

Health insurance: Has a record of promoting prescription drug coverage for elderly and expanded insurance for children, but not universal coverage.

Immigration: Voted for 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines. Voted for border fence.

Iran: Reluctant to negotiate directly with Iran and Syria. Wants international pressure, not ''unconditional dialogues with these two dictatorships from a position of weakness.'' Bolster U.S. forces in region to deter Iranian intervention in Iraq.

Iraq: Supports troop increase, opposes scheduling a withdrawal. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Favors relaxing federal restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Romney:

Abortion: Opposes abortion rights. Says to let states decide. Opposes constitutional amendment banning abortion. Previously supported abortion rights.

Gay marriage: Opposes recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions. Favors constitutional amendment against gay marriage.

Global warming: As Massachusetts governor, backed out of regional pact to curb carbon dioxide emissions from power plants because it did not cap the higher energy costs it might place on business and consumers.

Health insurance: As governor, signed health care law aimed at ensuring universal coverage through a mix of subsidies, sliding scale premiums and penalties for those who don't get insurance. Says that plan might eventually become a national model.

Immigration: Criticized plans in Congress to offer illegal immigrants a path to legal status. Supports building a border fence with Mexico and stationing National Guard troops there. Favors penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. As governor, reached an agreement with Washington allowing state troopers to enforce federal immigration law, including arresting illegal immigrants and seeking their deportation.

Iran: Opposes direct negotiations. Supports economic and diplomatic isolation of Iran, rather than engagement.

Iraq: Supports troop increase, favors adding five brigades in Baghdad and two regiments in Al-Anbar province.

Stem cell research: As governor, tried to stop legislation that encouraged expanded embryonic stem cell research of the kind opposed by Bush. Veto was overturned.
Tancredo:

Abortion: Opposes abortion rights, says Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

Gay marriage: Opposed. Voted for constitutional amendment to ban it.

Global warming: Not convinced human activity has contributed to global warming or that warming is anything more than cyclical. ''Certainly, we should pay attention to these changes and study them _ but we should refrain from imposing a litany of state, federal and international restrictions.''

Health insurance: Market reforms instead of more federal spending to expand health coverage.

Immigration: Opposes legal status for illegal immigrants. Says mass deportation is impractical, but illegal immigrants will ''self-deport'' if penalties on businesses that hire them are made so tough that the market for their labor dries up. Also favors deep cut in legal immigration.

Iran: Negotiate with Iran, with certain preconditions.

Iraq: Voted last year to reject timetable for withdrawal. Voted for war authorization in 2002.

Stem cell research: Opposes relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research. The government has no business making taxpayers subsidize the destruction of human life.''
Associated Press writers Kasie Hunt and Natasha Metzler contributed to this report.