OH THE ELECTION...

Because of the election coming up, I felt that in order for me to make a smart and informed decision for who to vote for, I should look at both McCain’s and Obama’s stances.
Abortion:
Mccain’s belief is against abortion rights meaning he is pro-life.
Obama’s stance is for abortion rights meaning pro-choice.
Budget/Economy:
McCain: He will balance the federal budget by the end of his first term by curbing wasteful spending and overhauling entitlement programs.
Obama: Require all disclosure of all congressional pet projects and force law makers pay for any new spending or tax breaks.
Civil Rights(liberties): (direct quote from newsday.com)
McCAin: “McCain is for renewal of the Patriot Act when it comes up next year, is for implementing the Real ID card next year, and supports the Military Commissions Act's ban of habeas corpus rights to people held as enemy combatants.”
Obama: “Obama promises to seek revisions in use of National Security Letters, sneak-and-peak searches and material witness arrests in the Patriot Act when it comes up for renewal. He also has concerns about Real ID and favors restoring habeas corpus rights to detainees held by the United States as enemy combatants.”
Defense (spending→ things McCain and Obama have said on the issue):
McCain: Make all defense contracts fixed-cost; costs are out of control. Eliminate defense pork, but increase most other defense. Terminate C-130, B-2, and Seawolf; use funds to modernize. $6.4B of military spending waste is a disgrace and raise military pay to avoid military draft.
Obama: Rebuild military for 21st century tasks, restore the readiness of the National Guard and Reserves, and engage our allies in meeting our common security challenges.
Education: (Direct Quotes from www.boston.com/news)
McCain: “Favors parental choice of schools, including vouchers for private schools when approved by local officials, and right of parents to choose home schooling. More money for community college education.”
Obama: “Encourage but not require universal pre-kindergarten programs, expand teacher mentoring programs and reward teachers with higher pay not tied to standardized test scores, in $18 billion plan to be paid for in part by delaying elements of moon and Mars missions. Change No Child Left Behind law "so that we're not just teaching to a test and crowding out programs like art and music." Tax credit to pay up to $4,000 of college expenses for students who perform 100 hours of community service a year.”
Energy/Oil:
McCain: Supports alternative energy and wants to look at more nuclear possibilities. Also supported off shore drilling in order to address the rising of oil prices (contradiction to earlier beliefs).
Obama: Supports using more renewable resources and requiring new vehicles to run on biofuel. Wants to look into clean coal to free US and wants to cut emission standards by 80% by 2050. He would invest $150 billion over 10 years in the production and development of biofuel and renewable energies.
Environment:
McCain: Believes in global warming and that cutting emissions throughout the market will force cleaner technology.
Obama: Also believes in global warming and wants to cap emissions and give incentives to corporations that cut greenhouse gasses.
Gay Marriage:
McCain: He is for gay marriage. He believes that same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into legal agreements for different benefits. Opposes constitutional amendment to ban it.
Obama: Supports civil union and thinks that states should decide it. Opposes constitutional amendment to ban it.
Gun Control: (direct quotes from www.boston.com/news)
McCain: “Voted against ban on assault-type weapons but in favor of requiring background checks at gun shows. Voted to shield gun-makers and dealers from civil suits. ‘I believe the Second Amendment ought to be preserved -- which means no gun control.’”
Obama: “Voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to suit. Also, as Illinois state lawmaker, supported ban on all forms of semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms.”
Health Care: (direct quotes from www.boston.com/news → summarizing would be almost direct quotes)
McCain: “$2,500 refundable tax credit for individuals, $5,000 for families, to make health insurance more affordable. No mandate for universal coverage. In gaining the tax credit, workers could not deduct the portion of their workplace health insurance paid by their employers.”
Obama: “Mandatory coverage for children, no mandate for adults. Aim for universal coverage by requiring employers to share costs of insuring workers and by offering coverage similar to that in plan for federal employees. Says package would cost up to $65 billion a year after unspecified savings from making system more efficient. Raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost.”
Homeland Security: (direct quotes from www.newsday.com)
McCain: “McCain has indicated terrorism probably would continue to be the major focus of the Homeland Security Department, though he would also pay attention to natural disasters. He promises to be on the "offense" against terrorism, but vows never to repeat mistakes of the response to Hurricane Katrina.”
Obama: “arack Obama would bring more of an "all hazards" approach than the one taken now, meaning the Homeland Security Department would focus on all hazards - terrorism and natural disasters - more equally. Obama would continue to focus on terrorism, but would also emphasize weather and other disasters.”
Immigration:
McCain: Used to say that he would allow illegal immigrants stay in the country and become a legal citizen (2006). Now he says he supports the border fence and would secure the border first.
Obama: Also voted in 2006 for illegal immigrants to become legal based on certain qualifications. Also voted for border fence.
Social Security: (direct quotes from www.boston.com/news)
McCain: “Would consider "almost anything" as part of a compromise to save Social Security, yet rules out higher payroll taxes for now.”
Obama: “Proposes raising cap with an unspecified "small adjustment" that would subject a portion of higher incomes to Social Security taxes.”
Taxes:
McCain: Wants to make Bush tax cuts (2001 and 2003) permanent and also a few of his own. Wants to double the deduction of dependents to 7,000$ and would forbid cell phone and internet tax. He also supports a simplified income tax system with 2 rates.
Obama: Will allow Bush tax cuts to expire. Supports a universal mortgage tax credit of 10% and he would raise taxes on capital gain and dividends. Opposed the federal gas tax suspension for the summer of 2008. Wants to close corporate loopholes.
War: (Iraq)
McCain: Opposes scheduled withdraw and supports initial invasion.
Obama: Wants troops out by the end of 2009 and spoke against war and opposes troop increase.
Welfare (things McCain and Obama has said on issue):
McCain: Require 40-hour work weeks from recipients. Supports block grants, welfare-to-work, state control. More housing assistance; tax breaks against homelessness and Fully fund AmeriCorps.
Obama: Cut poverty in half in 10 years, with faith-based help and Create 20 Promise Neighborhoods in high-poverty cities. Stop Fraud Act: full disclosure in subprime lending and $100M increase in IL Earned Income Tax Credit. Develop a strategy to eliminate extreme global poverty.

CITATION
The Associated Press. “Where they stand: Obama, McCain on the issues.” Boston.com. 3 June 2008. Associated Press. 2 Nov 2008. < page="3">
“Obama-McCain Comparisons.” Obama-McCain Comparisons. 2 Nov 2008 <>
“On the Issues-Every Political Leader on Every Issue.” On the Issues. Issue2000 and Speakout. 2 Nov 2008. <>