John McCain
Question: What is your opinion on the war in Iraq?
Answer: U.S. forces need to stay in Iraq for as long as it takes for Iraqi forces to take over.
Explanation:"Ultimately, Iraq's future lies in the hands of its people, government, and armed forces, and strengthening them is an essential requirement for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq. Until Iraqi forces are ready, however, a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would condemn Iraq to civil war and intervention by its neighbors and energize al Qaeda and other jihadists across the globe. This would gravely jeopardize American security," McCain says on his Web site. [More]
Question:What is your position on immigration in the United States?
Answer:I favor a guest worker program, while tightening border security.
Explanation:"Only after specific enforcement and security triggers are met will the temporary guest worker provisions and the legalization program for the undocumented included in the bill take effect," McCain writes on his Web site. [More]
Question:Do you believe the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts should be made permanent?
Answer:Yes
Explanation:"If I didn't vote to make those tax cuts permanent, it would have the effect of a tax increase," McCain said.
Question:Should federal funding of embryonic stem cell research be expanded?
Answer:No
Explanation:In an April 2007 debate on the Senate floor, McCain said, "Mr. President, stem cell research has the potential to give us a better understanding of deadly diseases and spinal cord injuries affecting millions of Americans. One day, these efforts may lead to cures and treatments for these devastating diseases and conditions. At the same time, it is important and right to recognize the ethical and moral concerns have been raised by individuals inside and outside of the medical research community regarding one particular type of stem cell research that involves embryonic stem cells. I believe that these two bills will provide an appropriate framework for moving stem cell research forward in a responsible way." [More]
Question:Do you favor or oppose the concept of universal health care in America?
Answer:Oppose
Explanation:"I think that we can make health care affordable and available without a mandate," McCain told ABC's "This Week" program in June 2007. [More]
Question:Do you favor or oppose legalized abortion in the United States?
Answer:Oppose
Explanation:"John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench, Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat," according to McCain's Web site. [More]
Question:Do you favor the concept of privatization of Social Security to any degree?
Answer:Yes
Explanation:According to the Cato Institute, McCain said in a speech in 1999, "My friends, there is only one solution if Social Security commitments are to be honored without breaking the backs of the next generation: bold reform -- genuine reform -- that allows workers to invest some of their Social Security savings, privately, in higher yielding accounts. This isn't an exclusively Republican idea. Two well-respected, thoughtful Democrats, Senators Bob Kerrey and Pat Moynihan, have endorsed the idea because they know it is the only way Social Security can be saved without raising taxes or cutting benefits." [More]
Question:Do you favor or oppose giving the president a "line-item" veto; that is, the ability to remove parts of a spending bill without needing to veto the entire bill?
Answer:Favor
Explanation:McCain authored the Line Item Veto Act of 2006. In a speech on the Senate floor, he said, "Under this proposal, which is crafted to ensure its constitutionality, each item of every appropriation measure and authorization measure containing new direct spending or new targeted tax benefits passed by Congress would be separately enrolled. The President would then be able to consider each item as a separate bill and would have the power to veto items that, as President Bush has said, constitute unneeded spending that reflects special interests instead of the people's interest." [More]
Question:Do you support federal assistance for the production of ethanol and/or biofuel as an alternative to oil?
Answer:No
Explanation:McCain has been all over the map on his position. On 5/12/07, he said he supports ethanol but opposes subsidies. Previously, he said that "ethanol is not worth it. It does not help the consumer." He voted against the Energy Policy Act of 2005, he voted no for the Environmental Effects Caused by Ethanol Amendment and he voted no for the Energy Omnibus Bill in 2003. In 2006, however, when giving a speech in Iowa, he said, "I support ethanol and I think it is vital, a vital alternative energy source not only because of our dependency on foreign oil but its greenhouse gas reduction effects." In 2000, McCain skipped the Iowa caucuses because of his opposition to ethanol.
Question:Do you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman?
Answer:Oppose
Explanation:In 2004, when a constitutional amendment was being debated, McCain said, "The constitutional amendment we're debating today strikes me as antithetical in every way to the core philosophy of Republicans. It usurps from the states a fundamental authority they have always possessed and imposes a federal remedy for a problem that most states do not believe confronts them." [More]
Question:Do you favor or oppose the use of the death penalty for certain crimes?
Answer:Favor
Explanation:According to the Pew Forum on Religion and American Life, "McCain supports the death penalty for federal crimes. As senator from Arizona, he voted to prohibit the use of racial statistics in death penalty appeals and ban the death penalty for minors. He also supported legislation to allow the death penalty for acts of terrorism and has said he would consider further expansion of capital punishment laws for other crimes." [More]
Question:Agree or Disagree: When the government places restrictions on obtaining and owning a gun, they infringe upon our rights to bear arms.
Answer:Agree
Explanation:McCain voted "No" on regulating the sale of firearms at gun shows. [More]
Question:Do environmental regulations improve or limit the standard of living?
Answer:Limit - Focusing on the enviornment halts advances in technology and transportation.
Explanation:According to the League of Conservation Voters environmental profile, Senator John McCain has frequently voted against governmental regulations to protect the environment. [More]
Question:Should teachers receive pay based on the performance of their students?
Answer:Yes
Explanation:USA Today reports that McCain favors merit pay. At a Republican Debate on October 29, 1999, McCain stated, “I don’t see why a good teacher should be paid less money than a bad senator. It’s important that we have merit pay for teachers, that we have teacher testing, that we do everything we can to motivate young men and women to enter this profession.†[More]
Mitt Romney
Question:What is your opinion on the war in Iraq?
Answer:U.S. forces need to stay in Iraq for as long as it takes for Iraqi forces to take over.
Explanation:"I believe that so long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population," Romney said in announcing his candidacy. [More]
Question:What is your position on immigration in the United States?
Answer:Build a fence along the border. I am opposed to granting legal status to illegal immigrants.
Explanation:Romney disagrees with the immigration bill formulated by his rival, Sen. John McCain. He says strengthening the border is the first priority, followed by an employee verification policy. On hiw Web site, he says, "Third, No Special Privilege Or Special Pathway To Citizenship For Those Here Illegally. GOVERNOR ROMNEY: 'And number three, for the 12 million, we can't allow them to have a special privilege of being able to stay here indefinitely." (Mike Gallagher Show, 5/21/07)" [More]
Question:Do you believe the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts should be made permanent?
Answer:Yes
Explanation:
Question:Should federal funding of embryonic stem cell research be expanded?
Answer:Yes
Explanation:Asked on May 3, 2007 at an MSNBC debate whether expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research would progress under his administration, Romney replied, "it certainly will."
Question:Do you favor or oppose the concept of universal health care in America?
Answer:Oppose
Explanation:Romney's position on health care is difficult to determine. On his Web site, he says, "The health of our nation can be improved by extending health insurance to all Americans, not through a government program or new taxes, but through market reforms." Yet as governor of Massachusetts, he supported -- and signed -- a bill providing health insurance for every resident, with significant state investment. During the campaign, at debates he has ridiculed the notion of single-payer, government-subsidized health care, however. [More]
Question:Do you favor or oppose legalized abortion in the United States?
Answer:Oppose
Explanation:
Question:Do you favor the concept of privatization of Social Security to any degree?
Answer:No Position
Explanation:Romney has not articulated a position on this issue other than to call for a panel to study the issue.
Question:Do you favor or oppose giving the president a "line-item" veto; that is, the ability to remove parts of a spending bill without needing to veto the entire bill?
Answer:Favor
Explanation:In an April 4, 2007 interview with Sean Hannity, Romney said, "This is a time where America has to finally make sure that we're not spending more than we're taking in. And we've been on a binge over these last couple of decades, and it's important for to us reign in spending. I had the line item veto. We ought to have that in Washington. It allows you to pick out the pork and pick out the waste and to zero in on it. And then the legislature can overturn it, if they want to. If you waste money, if you put in place earmarks or pork spending, then somebody is going to say no and point it out to the American people." (Source: Real Clear Politics) [More]
Question:Do you support federal assistance for the production of ethanol and/or biofuel as an alternative to oil?
Answer:Yes
Explanation:After touring an ethanol research facility in Iowa, Romney said, "They don't start off being economic, but with time and research we find applications. We find how to improve the process and ultimately this kind of investment will lead to America generating the energy we need without having to rely upon foreign sources. [More]
Question:Do you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman?
Answer:Favor
Explanation:"I have always been somebody who opposes discrimination. But I also consistently feel that it's critical to have marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman," Romney said at the Fox News GOP presidential debate in South Carolina on May 15, 2007. [More]
Question:Do you favor or oppose the use of the death penalty for certain crimes?
Answer:Favor
Explanation:According to the Pew Forum on Religion and American Life, "Romney supports the death penalty for deadly acts of terrorism, killing sprees, murders involving torture and the killing of law enforcement authorities. As governor, he filed a bill to reinstate the death penalty in Massachusetts that required verifiable scientific evidence, such as DNA, in order to impose the death penalty. The bill also proposed measures to ensure proper representation for the indigent and allowed jurors who oppose the death penalty to participate in the guilt phase of a trial." [More]
Question:Agree or Disagree: When the government places restrictions on obtaining and owning a gun, they infringe upon our rights to bear arms.
Answer:Partially Agree
Explanation:Though Romney has historically been tough on gun control, he has recently shown support for loosening current gun laws. Romney also recently stated that he is a member of the NRA. [More]
Question:Do environmental regulations improve or limit the standard of living?
Answer:Limit - Focusing on the enviornment halts advances in technology and transportation.
Explanation:"Republicans should never abandon pro-growth conservative principles in an effort to embrace the ideas of Al Gore. Instead of sweeping mandates, we must use America's power of innovation to develop alternative sources of energy and new technologies that use energy more efficiently," said Romney in a press release on February 23, 2007. [More]
Question:Should teachers receive pay based on the performance of their students?
Answer:Yes
Explanation:On September 29, 2005 Romney introduced a plan that would increase teacher wages based on classroom performance. New York Time’s Michael Janofsky reports that the merit pay system may add more than $5,000 to a teacher’s annual salary. [More]