San Jose Mercury News 09/16/2012

Page : A15
CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES

This is a good comparison of Obama and Romney. I've red boxed the areas I strongly agree with.
Women deserve the right to choose plus Planned Parenthood is very cost effective

How the major party presidential hopefuls line up on a variety of issues of interest to voters:

Where they stand

BARACK OBAMA
Democrat
Supports abortion rights; health care law requires contraceptives to be available for free for women enrolled in workplace health plans, including morning-after pill, which some religious conservatives consider tantamount to an abortion pill. Opposes citing China as a currency manipulator, which could lead to broad trade sanctions, instead pressing the matter through diplomacy and aggressively bringing unfair-trade cases to the World Trade Organization. Promises to cut deficits by $4 trillion over 10 years, a goal that will require Congress to raise the capital gains tax, boost taxes on households earning more than $250,000 a year, impose a minimum 30 percent tax on incomes above $1 million, and more changes. Term marked by high unemployment, a deep recession that began in previous administration and gradual recovery; responded to recession with a roughly $800 billion stimulus plan; expanded auto bailout begun under Bush; inherited and carried forward Wall Street bailout. Has approved waivers freeing states from the most onerous requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law; "Race to the Top" competition has rewarded winning states with billions of dollars for pursuing education policies Obama supports. Ordered temporary moratorium on deep-water drilling after the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico but has pushed for more oil and gas drilling overall; achieved historic increases in fuel economy standards expected to save money at the pump while raising the cost of new vehicles. Achieved regulations on heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming and on mercury pollution from power plants; spent heavily on green energy and has embraced nuclear power as a clean source; failed to persuade a Democratic Congress in 2009 to pass limits he promised on carbon emissions. Supports legal recognition of samesex marriage, which he opposed in 2008 campaign; achieved repeal of the military ban on openly gay members; has not achieved repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages. Has not pushed for stricter gun laws as president; signed laws letting people carry concealed weapons in national parks and in checked bags on Amtrak trains; voices support for renewed ban on assault-type weapons; previously backed stronger gun controls. Achieved landmark overhaul including a Medicaid expansion and a mandate for almost everyone to obtain insurance; under the law, insurers may not deny coverage to people with preexisting illness, tax credits will subsidize premiums, people can seek insurance in new markets. Issued directive that immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children be exempted from deportation and granted work permits if they apply; has failed to deliver on promised immigration overhaul, but says he is still committed to it; deportations are at record levels. Opposes near-term military strike on Iran except as last resort to stop it from getting nuclear weapons; seeks international pressure against Syrian government rather than military aid for opposition; chastised Israel for continuing to build housing settlements in disputed areas. Has not proposed a comprehensive plan to address Social Securitys long-term financial problems; proposed a new way of measuring inflation that would reduce annual increases in Social Security benefits, which would reduce the long-term shortfall by about 25 percent. Would raise taxes on the wealthy and ensure they pay at least 30 percent of their income; would extend Bush-era tax cuts for those making under $200,000 ($250,000 for couples), let top two tax rates go back up to 39.6 percent and 36 percent, raise rates on capital gains and dividends for the wealthy. Approved the raid that killed Osama bin Laden; set policy that U.S. would no longer use harsh interrogation techniques; carried forward many Bush anti-terrorism policies, including detention of suspects at Guantanamo Bay; expanded use of drone strikes against terrorist targets abroad. Ended Iraq War, increased U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan then began drawing down the force with a plan to have all out by the end of 2014; approved U.S. air power in NATO-led campaign that helped Libyan opposition topple government.

ISSUES
Abortion/ birth control

MITT ROMNEY
Republican
Opposes abortion rights, though he previously supported them; says state law should guide abortion rights, and Roe v. Wade should be reversed by a future Supreme Court ruling; said he would end federal aid to Planned Parenthood. Has said he would formally declare China a currency manipulator and would get tougher with China on human rights, religious freedom and intellectual property rights; wants more military capabilities in the Pacific to counter Beijing's growing influence in East Asia. Promises to cut $500 billion per year from the federal budget by 2016 and to balance it by 2020, but vital specifics are lacking; at same time would increase military spending, reverse $716 billion in Medicare cuts and cut taxes; favors constitutional balanced budget amendment. Lower taxes, less regulation, balanced budget, more trade deals to spur growth, replace jobless benefits with unemployment savings accounts; proposes repeal of the law toughening financial-industry regulations after the meltdown in that sector. Supported federal accountability standards of No Child Left Behind law; has said student testing, charter-school incentives and teacher evaluation standards of Obama's "Race to the Top" competition "make sense" though the federal government should have less control of education. Pledges U.S. will become independent of energy sources outside of North America by 2020; supports opening Atlantic and Pacific outer continental shelves, Western lands, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore Alaska to drilling; wants to reduce obstacles to energy development. Says green power has yet to become viable and the causes of climate change are unknown; opposes "cap and trade" policy that limits emissions; proposes to remove carbon dioxide from list of pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act. Opposes legal recognition of same-sex marriage, says it should be banned with a constitutional amendment; opposes civil unions but says states should decide which rights and benefits should be allowed under those unions; would not seek to restore the ban on openly gay military members. Opposes stricter gun control laws; suggested he favors tougher enforcement of existing gun laws; as Massachusetts governor, vowed in 2002 to protect the state's "tough gun laws," and in 2004 signed a Massachusetts ban on assault weapons. Promises to repeal the law modeled after his universal health care achievement in Massachusetts, saying states should drive policy on the uninsured; would expand individual taxadvantaged medical savings accounts and let savings be used for premiums and medical costs. Favors U.S.-Mexico border fence; opposes education benefits to illegal immigrants; opposes offering legal status to illegal immigrants who attend college, but would do so for those who serve in the military; would establish an immigration-status verification system for employers. Appears to present a clearer U.S. military threat to Iran; has spoken in favor of covert action by the U.S. in Syria but not military intervention; associates himself more closely with hardline Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; calls Jerusalem the capital of Israel. Says he would protect the status quo for people 55 and older but, for the next generation of retirees would raise the retirement age for full benefits by one or two years and reduce inflation increases in benefits for wealthier recipients. Wants to keep Bush-era tax cuts for all and drop all tax rates by 20 percent; would curtail deductions, credits, exemptions for the wealthiest, end Alternative Minimum Tax for individuals, end capital gains tax for those making below $200,000, cut corporate tax to 25 percent. Says foreign terrorism suspects should have no constitutional rights; in 2007, refused to rule out use of waterboarding to interrogate terrorist suspects; his campaign has said he does not consider waterboarding to be torture. Endorses 2014 end to U.S. combat in Afghanistan, subject to conditions at the time; would increase strength of armed forces, including number of troops and warships, adding almost $100 billion to the defense budget in 2016.

Mitt is wrong here plus he flip-flopped too much

China

Obama's plan is more balanced and makes better sense. Obama prevented a much bigger disaster and helped US industry

Debt

Economy

The old trickle down solution is not working and has resulted in the rich getting much richer while others stagnate No Child Let Behind left all of them behind

Rewards performance rather than punishing for non-performance Must pursue sustainable energy and reduce consumption Obama's recent fuel economy standards are good for the environment, energy, and economy! Obama is right for supporting equal rights in marriage and military!

Education

Energy

Drill baby drill is short sited and will leave us in a hole in the long run

Environment

Green power is viable and need leadership to make it even more so. Mitt lacks leadership here. Mitt & the Republican Party are behind the times and oppose an obvious civil right. They are wrong.

Gay rights

Guns

Obamacare is slated to save more money then it costs and it is saving in many of the right places as well as delivering better health care for more. Obama's strategy is a great way to recruit new patriotic, well educated talent! The Mideast is a dangerous powder keg, best to be very cautious and balanced.

Health care

Mitt & Republicans are hypocritical for opposing the laws and approach they originally supported.

Immigration

Mideast

Social Security

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Raising taxes on the very rich makes sense and helps reduce the huge gap between the rich and everyone else. They can afford it.

Taxes

Mitt wants to reward the rich even more. This only makes sense for the rich, not the US as a whole.

Terrorism

Obama deserves praise for getting bin Laden.

Obama did the right thing to end Iraq war & end Afghanistan. Also effective and economical choice with Libya
War

Mitt wants an even bigger & expensive government by further expanding military. This is a dead end and not worth it.

Sources: Candidate campaigns

TEXT BY ASSOCIATED PRESS; GRAPHIC BY DOUG GRISWOLD/BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

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