Presidential comparison

General voting / Rated 100% by the CAF*, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006). Pushes alternative energies and more testing on nuclear first before promoting it as a solution.

Energy

*CAF = (Campaign for America’s Future)

Obama plan - $150B 10year energy program with short and mid-long term solutions

Agrees with offshore drilling with restrictions;

General voting / and Rated 17% by the CAF*, indicating opposition to energy independence. Promotion of nuclear energy as an immediately viable energy source

Agrees with application of offshore drilling outside of sensitive ecological areas such as the Artic Wildlife refuge

Opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Co-sponsored the "Sense of the Senate" resolution and a stringent climate bill (Boxer-Sanders Act). Feels that global warming is man-made

Rated 83% by CAF

Quotes

Supports more domestic drilling for oil and gas

Doesn’t believe global warming is man-made

Pushed law for 1700mi natural gas pipeline to be built by private not oil company.

Believes in drilling the Arctic Wildlife Refuge

Ethics reform

Cosponsor 1998 and created 2007 ethics reform action and public database to view federal spending;

Co-sponsor -Bill against misuse of response funds (post Katrina)

McCain site

Dislikes earmarks

Voted against Obama’s ethics bill and claims that Dems weren’t including Repubs in the creation process

Helped craft and signed in Alaska ethics reform law in 2007

Under investigation for ethical violation

Not necessarily a reformist

Charged state for questionable expenses and as if working remotely, yet was at home

Fact checking quotes

Politifact.com
(stats from 9/10/08)

Of 113 investigations

62 (54%) were True/Mostly True
33 (29%) were Half True/Barely True
18 (16%) were False/Pants-on-fire

Of 111 investigations

45 (41%) were True/Mostly True
39 (35%) were Half True/Barely True
27 (24%) were False/Pants-on-fire

Of 26 investigations

11 (42%) were True/Mostly True
9 (35%) were Half True/Barely True
6 (23%) were False/Pants-on-fire

Only 7 investigations

Not sufficient data to compare with other candidates
4 True and 3 Half true

Foreign Policy

Very good summation between link for views common and different between Obama and McCain

Policy

Has taken trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East (including Iraq), and Africa.

Been part of or headed committees including those involving NATO

Quotes
Policy

Very good summation between link for views common and different between McCain and Obama

Knows many world leaders, well traveled and this link shows in-depth familiarity with issues

Link1 Link2

Very strong. Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Knows many world leaders. Visited Afghanistan, Iraq many times etc…

No experience

First traveled outside the U.S. in 2007

Has not met heads of state and feels that Americans wish someone without that type of foreign policy experience

Either inexperienced or is knowingly stating that it’s okay for U.S. to go to war with Russia over Georgia?

Experience commanding Alaska National Guard limited to recruiting and ordering shipments

Gay Rights

Is anti-same sex marriage but supports laws that have been/to be passed

quotes

Voted against same-sex marriage and classifying sexual orientation with hate crimes. Voted No on vote to prohibit job discrimination by sexual orientation

Is against same sex marriage, but supports passed laws. Pro-civil (including) gay rights

Biden site – pro gay rights as expansion of hate laws, and changed in the tax code for same-sex partnerships

Anti-same sex marriage but will support laws. Spoke against, later for benefits for same sex partners in 2006

Guns

Voting record. Respect second Amendment and state passed gun bans (e.g. DC). Supports better tracing of illegal gun distribution. Supported suing gun manufacturers

Voting record. Although does not own gun is pro-gun and generally not supportive of any bans (including within national parks)

A couple of quotes where McCain supports background checks at shows and banning certain types of weapons but generally pro-gun rights

Has had guns in his home. Respects second ammendment and state passed bans. Voted for legislation to do more background checks. Supported suing gun manufacturers

Is a hunter and pro-gun rights

Obama site - Plan for nationalized healthcare.

Health (personal)

Supposedly good. 47yrs old. link

Has had some serious health issues but prognosis ranges from no worries to very considerable chance that Sarah Palin would take over for John McCain within next 4 yrs
link1 link2 71yrs old.

No data. 65yrs old. Had two brain aneurysms in 1980’s. Would be nice to get health info…

Very good (avid runner, hunting, fishing, outdoors). 44yrs old.

Healthcare

Independent analysis - Obama's plan would cover more uninsured than McCain’s plan by 2018

McCain site – healthcare plan

McCain plan would be not expansion, but rather reduction of government based healthcare assistance and reduced insurance company regulations. Core of plan is to remove employer tax break and pass it to families. Worker’s would not be able to deduct employer paid health insurance portion.

Potentially could move parts of veteran healthcare to a voucher system?

Obama plan - Tax credit for 10% of annual mortgage-interest payments for "struggling homeowners," scoring system for consumer mortgage comparison, fund for mortgage-fraud victims and new penalties fraud, aid to state and local governments stung by housing crisis. $20b plan

Not much info out there

Housing crisis

Comment - Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac should be public entities w/o profit, or private with selective rescue

Says is open to helping homeowners facing foreclosure if they are "legitimate borrowers" and not speculators.

Comment - Fannie Mae Freddie Mac – eliminate them (too large, much risk). Shrink size and privatize

Understands markets - commented on crisis early on

Pushed a bill that worsened the crisis

Perhaps not clear of housing issue – thought Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac were publicly controlled when at the time they weren't

No opinion or voting history found prior to nomination

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.

Obama site - plan

Sponsored 2006 bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S., work and apply to become legal residents after learning English, paying fines and back taxes and clearing a background check. Now says he would secure the border first. Supports border fence.

McCain site - plan

Tougher employee sanctions, guest worker program, supports border fence

No opinion or voting history found prior to nomination

Iran

Voting record
Quotes

First would push diplomacy and economic encouragement to avoid militaristic option as last resort. Would try not to offend Iraq by pushing American policy towards change of Iranian regime

Initially said he would meet Ahmadinejad without preconditions, now says he's not sure "Ahmadinejad is the right person to meet with right now." Pushing for diplomacy for U.S. credibility to press for tougher international sanctions. Wants to put diplomatic pressure on Tehran before Israel takes military action against Iranian nuclear facilities

Favors tougher sanctions, opposes direct high-level talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Would not talks with Iran (apply pressure internationally)

Joked about bombing Iran (Beach Boys song)

Push diplomacy first, no regime change recommended, use force as needed

No opinion or voting history found prior to nomination

Iraq

Quotes
Voting record

Spoke against war at start, opposed troop increase. Voted against one major military spending bill in May 2007; otherwise voted in favor of money to support the war. Says his plan would complete withdrawal of combat troops in 16 months. Initially had said a timetable for completing withdrawal would be irresponsible without knowing what facts he'd face in office.

Is opposed to permanent bases in Iraq, seeks to protect interests and train Iraqis

Quotes
Voting record

McCain’s son Jimmy has been to Iraq

Has always supported Iraq. Chastised Bush for not sending enough troops.

McCain Website

McCain Website 2

Opposes scheduling a troop withdrawal, saying latest strategy is succeeding. Supported decision to go to war, but was early critic of the manner in which administration prosecuted it. Was key backer of the troop increase. Willing to have permanent U.S. peacekeeping forces in Iraq.

Biden’s son Beau in Army National Guard to be deployed to Iraq

Likes negotiation first, pushed Bush for Iraq war, now against it, once proposed controversial plan to split Iraq into sections by religion.

Wishes to withdraw troops - leave Iraq

Feels we have to leave Iraq without leaving a dictatorship

Palin’s son Track to be deployed to Iraq

No voting history found prior to nomination.

Unclear. Appears to support the administration (the premise to be in Iraq), but then hopes for an exit strategy and later to not take a stance.

Israel

Pro Isreal - $30B 10 yr package (no strings). Promote meetings with Hamas and Iran when meeting U.S. interests (emphasis on negotiations)

Obama is probably supported by several Jewish groups such as this link would imply

Useful link (voting record)

Sympathetic to both Israel and Palestine, selecting Isreal first, no proposal to end stalemate

History (20yrs) of supporting Israel

Policy should stay about the same. Support Israel (before Palestine) although push for talks between the two sides

Opinion towards McCain

Supports diplomacy and two-state solution to Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

No opinion or voting history found prior to nomination

Recent snippet - supports Israel’s right to defend itself

Nuclear weapons

Cosponsored initiative to lock down and secure both nuclear and conventional weapons worldwide

Proposes to reduce nuclear weapons and eventually global ban on nuclear weapons

Proposes to reduce nuclear weapons

Wishes missile defense system

Voted against treaty in 99'

Reduce stockpiles. Global ban. No new generation nuclear weapons

No opinion or voting history found prior to nomination

Personal Education and experience

· B.A. Int’l Relations (Columbia)

· Law degree (Harvard)

· Chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee

· Part time constitutional law professor (Univ Chicago)

Senate Committees 110th Congress:

· Committee on Foreign Relations

· Subcommittee on African Affairs

· Subcommittee on International Economic Policy

· Subcommittee on Asians and Pacific Affairs

· Committee on Veterans' Affairs

· Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

· Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs

Community organizer: Three years.

Professional/legal experience: Four years full-time and eight years part-time.

Teaching experience: 11 years part-time.

State legislative experience: Eight years.

Federal legislative experience: Four years.

· United States Naval Academy at Annapolis

· Renowned POW

· Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee

· Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.

* Member of Armed Services Committee

McCain, 72, has been a U.S. senator from Arizona since 1986, for a total of 22 years. Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Congress for four years, from 1982 to 1986.

four years he served as the U.S. Navy Liaison to the Senate

Military Experience: 22 years

Federal legislative experience: 26 years

· Law degree (Syracuse)

· Honorary degree (St. Joseph’s)

· Professor of constitutional law

· Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

· Long time member of the Senate Judiciary Committee

· Has been a Senator consistently since 1972 (through 7 presidents)

Professional/legal experience: Four years.

County government experience: Two years.

Federal legislative experience: 36 years.

Biden site - legislation

· B.S. Journalism- Communications (University of Idaho)

· Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska

· Governor of Alaska

· Chairwoman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission

TV reporter: Two years.

Small business owner: Nine years, includes part-time work.

Municipal legislative experience: Four years.

Municipal executive experience: Six years.

State commission experience: One year.

State executive experience: Two years.

Religion

Christian – United Church of Christ

Southern Baptist congregant
(Brought up Episcopalian)

Christian – Roman Catholic

Pentecostal

Sex education & contraception

Voted for

Voted against

Voted $75m for abstinence education

Voted for legislation for teen pregnancy education and contraception. Ok to stem cell, no to partial birth abortions

Voted for abstinence education

Pro-contraception

Social Security

Voting record /

Not for privatization of social security

Obama site (page on senior citizens and plan). One part is taxing very wealthy to pay for others, and also bringing back pensions

Voting record /

Rated 40% by the ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues. (Dec 2003)

Still for privatization of social security

Another link on policy

Biden is opposed to the privatization of Social Security and was given an 89% approval rating from the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), reflecting a pro-senior citizen voting record.

Other - Biden site (page on senior citizens)

No opinion or voting history found prior to nomination

Special Interest, Lobbying, Earmarks

$311m and $0 in earmarks for 08’/09’ combined

No earmarks requested 08’/09’

$300m earmarks for 09’

$350m earmarks for 08’/09’ combined

Pushed for then backtracked on questionable bridge. Didn’t return federal money

Earmark funding – national avg $15 per person, Alaska $1k per person

Taxes

Overview

Details of tax plan
Another view

Raise taxes for familes over $250,000. “Most people would see a cut”;

Overview

Details of tax plan
Another view

History tax policy

Women’s Rights

Averaged 90% by these women's groups

Obama site - plan
Obama site – plan breakout

Averaged 16% by these women's groups

Generally disliked by women's groups - long doc but thorough and has some voting history and covers many issues

From Obama blogger (be advised)

Averaged 83% by these women's groups