Abortion
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- Believes Roe v. Wade should be repealed, but has said that he would support exemptions to any ban in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
- Has said that if it were repealed, and abortion made illegal, that doctors should be prosecuted but not the women having undergone abortion.
- Supports encouragement of adoption and foster care to mitigate the need for abortion.
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- Has said it would be “OK” to repeal Roe v. Wade and return the issue to states, because the country can deal with either that outcome or the status quo.
- Supports the Hyde Amendment prohibiting federal funding of abortions, believes states should make the determination whether to fund abortions on their own.
- Supports the ban on partial-birth abortion.
- Advocates expanded adoption to mitigate the need for abortion.
- Says he would probably not sign a federal ban on abortions.
- Believes the ultimate decision is by the woman, her doctor and her conscience.
- Says allowing choice keeps the government out of people’s lives.
- Is forever against abortion, but respects others’ choices.
- Would appoint constructionist judges, but with no litmus test.
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Civil Rights
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- Supports definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, but opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
- Supports legal benefits for same-sex couples and says individual states should decide the issue, unless courts overturned state marriage laws.
- Voted against adding sexual orientation to the definition of hate crimes.
- Voted in favor of a constitutional ban on flag desecration.
- Says that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is working, and we shouldn’t tamper with it.
- Believes the interracial dating ban at Bob Jones University is idiotic and cruel.
- In 1999, said he would be comfortable with a homosexual President.
- Supports women in combat positions.
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- Says marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman, but supports domestic partnerships and legal benefits for same-sex couples.
- Opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
- While Mayor of New York City, extended all city benefits to same-sex couples.
- Would not change Don’t Ask Don’t Tell during a time of war.
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Crime + Gun Control
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- Believes the US should broaden use of the death penalty
- Wants to impose stricter penalties for violent felons and “truth in sentencing” for violent criminals so they serve full sentences
- Would increase spending to build more federal prisons
- Supports programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job related skills and job placement assistance when released, and programs to provide drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
- Wants to prosecute youths accused of a felony as adults.
- Would increase funding for local Boys & Girls Clubs and other independent organizations in communities with at risk youth.
- Supports the use of “boot camps” as alternative sentencing for juvenile offenders.
- Opposes restrictions on so called "assault rifles" and voted consistently against such bans.
- Supports the 2nd amendment and says that “gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime.”
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- Prefers the death penalty for 9/11 conspirators.
- Cites that as NYC mayor, he reduced crime but didn’t raise police pay.
- Wants the focus on criminals, not guns.
- Supports nationwide licensing and assault weapons ban.
- Says gun control reduces urban crime with no effect on hunting.
- Believes all gun owners should pass a written test.
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Drugs/Alcohol
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- Wants to increase penalties for selling drugs, supports the death penalty for drug kingpins, favors tightening security to stop the flow of drugs into the country, and wants to restrict availability of methadone for heroin addicts.
- Does not support the legalization of marijuana – believes it is a gateway drug and that it is harmful and addictive.
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- Believes there is no need for medical marijuana, and that it is a front to support legalization.
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Economic
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- Advocates a simpler, flatter, fair tax.
- Advocates the line-item veto, saying that if he were President Bush, he would have vetoed more spending bills and pork-barrel projects in the spirit of Reagan.
- Has accused congress of spending like “a drunken sailor.”
- Warns that the alternative minimum tax is “eating Americans alive” and advocates its repeal.
- Voted in favor of permanently repealing the estate tax.
- Voted against the Bush tax cuts, but now believes they need to be made permanent.
- Voted against repealing the capital gains tax cut in order to fund military appropriations.
- Voted against increasing tax deductions for college tuition costs.
- Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore.
- Believes we should have personal savings accounts for the Social Security system.
- Would be willing to compromise on raising the Social Security cap above $90K.
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- Has said we must “adjust” the alternative minimum tax.
- Advocates eliminating the estate tax.
- Believes lowering taxes create jobs.
- Supports adding private accounts for Social Security.
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Education
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- Believes the Ten Commandments should be taught in schools.
- Believes in Evolution, but says he sees the hand of God in nature.
- Thinks teaching creationism in schools should be up to the school district.
- Wants to teach virtue and character in schools.
- Wants to create a pool of retirees and veterans who would tutor children in math, science, and English.
- Supports merit pay and teacher testing.
- Supports tax free savings accounts for education expenses.
- Wants to label violent media products like we label cigarettes.
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- Supports parents deciding on parochial, charter, or home schooling.
- Says schools should be open on weekends for remedial catch up.
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Environment
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- Believes we should use nuclear power as an answer to the climate change.
- Would not require oil companies to use any profits for alternative energy research, but would support public pressure.
- Wants to strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, in order to “improve efficiency and effectiveness”.
- Supports preservation and funding for National parks.
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- Doesn’t want to draw the line anywhere, but advance all possible technologies.
- Accepts global warming, and wants to work toward energy independence.
- Says Nuclear power is dangerous, but cites that no one has died from it.
- Wants to develop energy independent technology, but not wind power.
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Health Care
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- Opposes mandated health insurance and universal coverage.
- Supports tax free medical savings accounts & tax credits.
- Supports raising the tax on cigarettes.
- Wants to control health costs so manufacturers stay competitive.
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- Wants credits for low income Americans.
- Supports price transparency, and state by state availability of low cost insurance options.
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Immigration
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- Co-sponsored the Bush-backed immigration reform legislation, increasing funding for improved border security, improved enforcement of existing laws, and providing a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
- Voted in favor of constructing a 700-mile fence along the southern border.
- Would pledge to veto any bill involving amnesty, but says “immigrants are God’s children as well.”
- Supports immigration reform that requires fines, going to the “back of the line”, and deportation for some.
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- Supports a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants, but not ahead of those legal applicants already in the system.
- Has said that illegal immigrants must pay back-taxes, fines, and learn English and American civics and history before being granted citizenship.
- Supports securing the border with technology and a fence at the southern border, along with using the National Guard to assist the border patrol and long-term increases in border patrol personnel.
- Supports tamper proof IDs and a database for immigrants.
- Says the children of illegal immigrants should be allowed in schools to keep them off the streets.
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Other
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- Medical/Science - Supports federal funding of stem-cell research.
- Voting Record - http://www.vote smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id= 53270
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- Medical/Science - Not opposed to embryonic stem cell research if limited so that embryos are not deliberately created for the purpose of destruction.
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War and Peace
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- On the “surge” in Iraq and General Petraeus, McCain has said that the war has been mismanaged but is now “on the right track,” since “we have a new strategy and a new general.”
- Has stated that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and that the U.S. should strike Iran if they acquire nuclear weapons.
- Has said that timetables for withdrawal from Iraq would be “catastrophic,” even if Congress and the Iraqi parliament want it.
- Has said that the Iraq invasion was justified given the information we had at the time.
- Has said that if we withdraw from Iraq, the terrorists will “follow us home,” and the region “will erupt to a point where we may have to come back.”
- Voted NO on an amendment that opposed comments that criticize the honor, integrity, and patriotism of individuals serving or having served honorably in the United States Armed Forces.
- Voted YES to pass an amendment to reaffirm support for all men and women of the United States Armed Forces, to strongly condemn any attacks on General David Petraeus and all members of the US Armed Forces and to specifically condemn Moveon.org’s advertisement about General David Petraeus.
- Says he would change, “our policies concerning rogue states: Iraq, Libya, North Korea those countries that continue to try to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. I’d institute a policy that I call ‘rogue state rollback.’ I would arm, train, equip, both from without and from within, forces that would eventually overthrow the governments and install free and democratically elected governments.”
- Wants to make sure money given to Africa to fight AIDS would not end up in corrupt hands before funding.
- Believes waterboarding is torture; says we should not torture people.
- Supports the closing of Guantanamo prison.
- Would, at minimum, consult with the leaders of Congress regarding military action against Iran.
- Will do “whatever is necessary” to catch Osama Bin Laden.
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- Has called the Democrats’ passage of an Iraq funding bill containing a timetable for withdrawal “highly irresponsible.”
- Has said that using military force against Iran would be “very dangerous,” but that Iran acquiring nuclear weapons would be worse.
- Believes that any withdrawal from Iraq will only embolden the terrorists.
- Says we cannot close Guantanamo, as no one will take the people currently held there.
- Supports using every method possible to interrogate terrorists, but says “it shouldn’t be torture.”
- Says that we’ve never won a war while discussing how to retreat.
- Believes a Democratic timetable for retreat is “fundamentally irresponsible”.
- Supports the US’ overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
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