Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Obama and his Campaign Issues for 2008

Abortion

Opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v Wade. Disagreed with Supreme Court ruling to uphold the "Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act." Did not cast a vote on Prohibiting Funds for Groups that Perform Abortions amendment in 2007.

Afghanistan

Says he would send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan and would seek greater contributions -- with fewer restrictions -- from NATO allies. Says he would focus on training Afghan security forces and supporting an Afghan judiciary, with more resources and incentives for American officers who perform these missions. Proposes an additional $1 billion in nonmilitary assistance each year, with meaningful safeguards to prevent corruption and to make sure investments are made -- not just in Kabul, but also in Afghanistan's provinces. Would address Pakistan policy to secure the border and crack down on terrorist camps. Has said: "We must make it clear that if Pakistan cannot or will not act, we will take out high-level terrorist targets like [Osama] bin Laden if we have them in our sights." Proposes to cut down on narcotics trafficking by offering alternative livelihoods to poppy farmers.

Cuba 

Would not lift the embargo unless Cuba releases political prisoners, starts instituting free press and takes other steps to democratize the island, but is looking to normalize relations at some point. Would meet the Cuban leadership without preconditions but with preparation. Would "immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island."

Economy

Supported the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package. On October 3, he said: "America is facing one of the greatest financial crises in history, and today's passage of an emergency rescue plan was absolutely necessary to prevent an economic catastrophe that could have cost millions of jobs and forced businesses across the country into bankruptcy."

Education

Advocates ensuring access to high-quality early childhood education programs and child care opportunities, recruit well-qualified and reward expert, accomplished teachers. Make science and math education a national priority. Reduce the high school dropout rate and empower parents to raise healthy and successful children by taking a greater role in their child's education at home and at school.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB):
Says the overall goal of NCLB "is the right one � but the law has significant flaws that need to be addressed."

Early childhood education:
Proposes investing $10 billion a year to increase the number of children eligible for Early Head Start, increase access to preschool, provide affordable and quality child care and increase coordination across federal, state and local levels. Proposes to increase the child and dependent care tax credit.

College tuition:
Proposes scholarships that will cover four years of undergraduate or two years of graduate teacher education, including high-quality alternative programs for mid-career recruits in exchange for teaching for at least four years in a high-need field or location. Advocates schools dedicated to enabling "teachers to learn from expert practitioners in the field." Says he would provide $1 billion in funding to create mentoring programs for teachers.

Teacher service scholarships:
Proposes an annual $4,000 tuition credit that will cover two-thirds of the tuition of an average public college and make community college completely free in America. Says he would expand the Pell Grant and lower interest rates on the existing federal student loan programs. 

 Energy

Says he would invest $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy. Proposes increasing fuel economy standards and would require that 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from clean, sustainable energy sources by 2025.

Gas tax holiday
Said he does not support a federal gas tax holiday and called it a "classic Washington gimmick." Voted for an Illinois gas tax holiday while in the Illinois State Senate. "Six months later we took a look, and consumers had not benefited at all, but we had lost revenue. I learned from a mistake."

Energy rebate
Said during an August 4, 2008, speech that "we should immediately give every working family in America a $1,000 energy rebate, and we should pay for it with part of the record profits that the oil companies are making right now."

Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Would suspend buying oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Said during an August 4, 2008, speech that the U.S. should sell 70 million barrels of oil from the reserve for less expensive crude oil. Earlier this year, Obama said he did not think the country should use the strategic oil reserves "at this point." He said on July 7: "I have said and, in fact, supported a congressional resolution that said we should suspend putting more oil into the strategic oil reserve, but the strategic oil reserve I think has to be reserved for a genuine emergency."

Taxes on oil companies
Advocates a windfall profits tax on oil companies.

Offshore drilling
Previously was against lifting federal government restrictions on offshore drilling, but appeared to modify his position in an August 1 statement that supported a bipartisan legislative effort that would expand offshore oil drilling. Part of the statement read: "I remain skeptical that new offshore drilling will bring down gas prices in the short-term or significantly reduce our oil dependence in the long-term, though I do welcome the establishment of a process that will allow us to make future drilling decisions based on science and fact."

Nuclear energy
Stated in a presidential debate that "we should explore nuclear power as part of the energy mix." Says he will find safer ways to use nuclear power and store nuclear waste.

Coal
Says he would invest in technology that will allow us to use more coal.

Cars and driving
Would mandate all new cars be flex-fuel capable and supports advanced technology, including research into new engines and plug-in hybrids. Would provide retooling credits to help domestic manufacturers switch to more fuel-efficient cars. Has said he would make $4 billion in loans to help domestic manufacturers retool factories and build more fuel-efficient cars. Says he would put 1 million 150-mpg hybrid cars on U.S. roads within six years and would provide a $7,000 tax credit to consumers to buy fuel-efficient cars. Supports next generation biofuels.

Renewable energy
Says he would require that 10 percent of U.S. energy come from renewable sources by the end of his first presidential term. Says he would extend the Production Tax Credit for five years to encourage the production of renewable energy like wind power, solar power and geothermal energy.

Climate change
Proposes reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 by using a market-based cap-and-trade system. Would create a Global Energy Forum and re-engage with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 

 Environment

Would implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the level recommended by top scientists. Would make the United States a leader in the global effort to combat climate change by leading anew international global warming partnership. Would establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. Would create a Technology Transfer program within the Department of Energy dedicated to exporting climate-friendly technologies to developing countries. Would offer incentives to maintain forests globally and manage them sustainably. Would develop domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers and ranchers when they plant trees, restore grasslands or undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Free trade

Would immediately call the leaders of Mexico and Canada to try to amend NAFTA. Would eliminate tax breaks for companies that are moving overseas. He stated, "We also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalization and not benefiting from it."

Guns 

Voted against a 2005 law prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers stemming from acts committed by others using their products. Supports instant criminal background checks on people purchasing guns and believes law should apply to gun sales at gun shows. Calls for permanently reinstating assault weapons ban. Voted for 2005 amendment placing restrictions on rifle ammunition that is "designed or marketed" to be armor-piercing. Supports making guns childproof and voted for 2005 child safety lock amendment. Would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which allows the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to share data on history of sales and transfers of firearms used in crimes only with federal agencies for national security purposes, or prosecutors needing it for an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution. Regarding the Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller, Obama did not sign a friend-of-the-court brief that urged the Supreme Court to overturn the District of Columbia gun ban. At a debate, when asked about case, Obama said he believes "that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms. But just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right." Voted for 2006 amendment prohibiting confiscation of firearms from private citizens, particularly during times of crisis or emergency.

Health care 

Would create a national health insurance program for individuals who do not have employer-provided health care and who do not qualify for other existing federal programs. Does not mandate individual coverage for all Americans, but requires coverage for all children. Allows individuals below age 25 to be covered through their parents' plans.

Allows individuals to choose between the new public insurance program and private insurance plans that meet certain coverage standards. The Obama campaign Web site says the coverage would have benefits similar to those offered to Congress through the Federal Employees Benefits Program. Plan would expand eligibility for Medicaid and State's Children's Health Insurance Program.

Offer an income-based federal subsidy for people who don't get insurance from an employer or qualify for government plans like Medicaid.

Obama estimates the cost at between $50 billion and $65 billion, to be paid for by eliminating Bush tax cuts for those earning over $250,000.

Regarding employer contributions toward healthcare costs, the Obama Web site states: "Employers that do not offer or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan." The plan calls for small businesses to be exempt from the requirement and some could receive a tax credit that helps reduce healthcare costs, according to the Web site.

Says states can continue to experiment with health care plans as long as they meet the minimum standards of the national plan.

Proposes investing $10 billion a year during the next five years to implement standards-based electronic health information systems, which would include electronic health records.

Would allow Americans to purchase medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower than outside the United States. Says he would repeal the ban that prevents the U.S. from negotiating with drug companies.

Homeland security 

Will implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Provide greater technical assistance to local and state first responders and increase funding for reliable, interoperable communications systems. Develop a meaningful critical infrastructure protection plan. Will secure chemical plants and ensure safe, secure disposal of nuclear waste. Will improve U.S. intelligence system by creating a senior position to coordinate domestic intelligence gathering, establish a grant program to support thousands more state and local level intelligence analysts and increase U.S. capacity to share intelligence across all levels of government.

On the Patriot Act:
Voted to reauthorize Patriot Act in 2006, but would revise it.

On the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA:
Voted for legislation overhauling the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, in July 2008. The bill, formally known as the FISA Amendments Act, effectively shields telephone companies from lawsuits for participating in a government eavesdropping program. "I made a judgment that at this point it was important for us to go ahead and get that program in place," Obama said about his vote. "It represents an assessment of a compromise that was the best that could be done right now, and whether it was more important for us to have that program in place." Previously opposed the bill and opposed giving retroactive immunity to telecommunications firms. Did not attend the February 2008 vote on the FISA Amendments Act of 2007.

On Guantanamo Bay:
Would close the controversial prison at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which holds hundreds of suspected terrorists and other detainees. Voted against the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which authorized trial by military commissions for detainees at the prison. Supports the Supreme Court decision granting foreign terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay a right to challenge their detention in civilian courts.

Housing 

Proposes creating a $10 billion fund to help prevent foreclosures, eliminate some taxes and fees for families who must sell and offer counseling to homeowners. Would allow troubled homeowners refinance a loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Announced a "credit card bill of rights" to provide disclosure of hidden credit costs. Would provide tax credits to 10 million middle class homeowners who struggle with mortgage costs.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Supports maintaining the role that the two companies play in providing capital to the housing market.

Immigration 

Supported Bush-backed immigration reform legislation, which would have increased funding and improved border security technology, improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Iran 

Did not vote on a September 2007 Senate resolution calling on the administration to declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Believes in using diplomatic efforts and would meet with leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea during first year of presidency. Would leave military option on the table.

Iraq 

Opposed use of military force in Iraq. In October 2002, when he was an Illinois state senator, Obama said, "I know that invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst rather than best impulses in the Arab world and strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars; I am opposed to dumb wars." Voted for war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Had once called for troop withdrawal to begin by the end of 2006.

On withdrawal
Would redeploy U.S. troops at a pace of one to two brigades a month. The Obama campaign says the proposed schedule would remove them from Iraq within 16 months and be complete by summer 2010.

Would maintain residual force to perform specific missions in Iraq, like targeting remnants of al Qaeda, protecting U.S. service members and diplomats, and supporting Iraq's security forces.

Would commit $2 billion toward an international effort to support the more than 4 million displaced Iraqis.

Would make it clear that the United States seeks no permanent bases in Iraq.

Would pursue diplomatic effort to reach a comprehensive compact on the stability of Iraq and the region, including Iran and Syria. Compact would aim to secure Iraq's borders, keep neighboring countries from meddling inside Iraq, isolate al Qaeda, support reconciliation among Iraq's sectarian groups and provide financial support for Iraq's reconstruction and development.

The surge
Opposed January 2007 "troop surge." In July, Obama said, "I have acknowledged repeatedly that the fact that we put more troops in there helped to quell the violence. The question is whether or not my position, in suggesting that we need to begin a phased withdrawal, we should have begun it earlier, whether that position that I took was a mistake. And I do not believe it was, because I continue to believe that the only way for us to stabilize the situation in Iraq -- I believed it then, and I believe it now -- is for the parties to arrive at a set of political accommodations."

Status of Forces Agreement
Believes that any Status of Forces Agreement, which allows U.S. military forces to operate within the host country, should be negotiated in the context of a broader commitment by the U.S. to begin withdrawing its troops and forswearing permanent bases. Also believes that any security accord must be subject to congressional approval.

Israel 

Believes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state should never be challenged. States on campaign Web site he "supports U.S. efforts to provide aid directly to the Palestinian people by bypassing any Hamas-led government that refuses to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist." Calls on Iran to abandon its nuclear program, support for terror, and threats to Israel, or face sanctions and isolation. Believes in working toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Said that any agreement must preserve "Israel's identity as Jewish state" and "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided."

LGBT issues 

Opposes same-sex marriage, but also opposes a constitutional ban. Says he would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment. As stated on the Obama campaign Web site, he supports full civil unions that "give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples, including the right to assist their loved ones in times of emergency as well as equal health insurance, employment benefits, and property and adoption rights."

Says the Employment Non-Discrimination Act should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Advocated legislation that sought to expand federal hate crimes law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Says the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy needs to be repealed.

Russia 

Believes that the U.S. and its European partners must "hold Russia accountable for its actions and stand united in support of a Europe in which all states can freely determine their foreign policies and alliances and in which the rule of law is respected."

Believes that the Bush administration neglected its "relationship with Russia at a time when Putin was strangling any opposition in the country when he was consolidating power, rattling sabers against his European neighbors, as well as satellites of the former Soviet Union. And so we did not send a signal to Mr. Putin that, in fact, we were going to be serious about issues like human rights, issues like international cooperation that were critical to us. That is something that we have to change."

Russia and Georgia
Said the expulsion of Russia from the Group of Eight would be a "mistake" during a CNN interview. "If we're going to do something about nuclear proliferation -- just to take one issue that I think is as important as any on the list -- we've got to have Russia involved." He added, "I think that we have to have a clear sense of what our values are and what our ideals are. I don't think that we should shy away from being straight with the Russians about human rights violations."

Georgia and NATO
Obama favors fewer specifics and prefers a closer security relationship with Georgia. "I welcome the desire and actions of (Georgia and Ukraine) to seek closer ties with NATO and hope that NATO responds favorably to their request, consistent with its criteria for membership. Whether Ukraine and Georgia ultimately join NATO will be a decision for the members of the alliance and the citizens of those countries, after a period of open and democratic debate."

Social Security

Strongly opposed to privatizing Social Security. Believes that the first place to look for ways to strengthen Social Security is the payroll tax system. Obama supports increasing the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security. Would work with Congress to choose a payroll tax reform package that will keep Social Security solvent for at least the next half century.

Stem cell research 

Advocates increased stem cell research. Opposes the creation of human embryos solely for research purposes. Campaign Web site states: "We owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life-threatening diseases." Supported legislation during his tenure in the Illinois Senate that allowed embryonic stem cell research in that state. Opposes human cloning.

Voted in support of these congressional stem-cell bills:

-- The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research.

-- The Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act, which promotes research into deriving stem cell lines by methods "that do not knowingly harm embryos."

-- The Fetal Farming Bill of 2006, which prohibits the "solicitation or acceptance of tissue from embryos gestated for research purposes."

He was one of the co-sponsors of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 5), which expands the number of human embryonic stem cells eligible for federally funded research.

Taxes

Opposed extending 2003 Bush tax cut law through 2010. Supports eliminating marriage penalty and extending child tax credit. Proposes a "making work pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. Proposes eliminating income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 per year and eliminating all capital gains taxes on start-ups and small businesses. Says he would reform the child and dependent care tax credit by making it refundable and allowing low-income families to receive up to a 50 percent credit for child care expenses. Favors tax cuts for middle-class workers and tax increases for top earners. Says he would restore the top two income tax rates to their pre-2001 levels of 36 percent and 39.6 percent. (Currently, they're 33 percent and 35 percent.) Says he would maintain the estate tax but would freeze the estate tax exemption amount at $3.5 million. Proposes to create an "American opportunity tax credit," which the Obama campaign describes as "a fully refundable credit" that "will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans and would cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university."

Fact Check
 Info from CNN: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/
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