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- Believes Roe v. Wade should be repealed, but has said that he would support exemptions to any ban in cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
- Has said that if it were repealed, and abortion made illegal, that doctors should be prosecuted but not the women having undergone abortion.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 the “greatest day in this country’s history” when Roe v. Wade is overturned.
- Opposed federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research because it is “morally reprehensible.”
- Supported restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions.
- Supported making it a criminal offense to harm a fetus in the commission of another crime.
- Supported the ban on partial-birth abortion except to save the mother’s life.
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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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- Co-sponsored legislation that would ban same-sex marriage nationwide.
- Voted in favor of a constitutional ban on flag desecration.
- Voted in favor of making the PATRIOT Act permanent.
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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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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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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 stated that the national debt and its interest are “absolutely a problem,” and advocates paying it down by cutting all programs he sees as outside the scope of the Constitution.
- Supports the Fair Tax and the repeal of the 16th amendment.
- Voted in favor of extending tax cuts on capital gains and dividends.
- Voted in favor of making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
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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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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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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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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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- Supported strict House immigration reform legislation which did not provide a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
- Voted in favor of constructing a 700-mile fence along the southern border.
- Supports denying citizenship to American-born children of illegal immigrants.
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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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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 opposed the troop surge, but pledges support for the troops while the Iraqi government gains greater control.
- Has said that Muslim terrorists “are trying to kill us because it’s a dictate of their religion.”
- Believes that our troops in Iraq should function as “a supporting force for the Iraqi government” and not a “constabulary force.”
- Has said that if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon and “there is a threat to the existence of Israel,” that we should respond militarily.
- Voted in favor of the Iraq war authorization resolution.
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