Posted on 05/18/2008 3:06:53 PM PDT by kc8ukw
I often find myself in discussions with Obama supporters in which I need to know Obama's policy positions. So, I've listed some of them here along with websites where you can get more information, in case you find yourself in the same situation.. I've tried to list positions I know many Freepers would disagree with. I know some of us agree with some of these, that's inevitable. (There are many goals I agree with, I just don't think government is responsible for getting us there.) I also know I've missed a lot - Obama is often quite vague on policy, and it can be hard to tell exactly what he wants to do. Even if he tells you what he wants to attain, he doesn't always spell out how he intends to get there. If you have things to add just put them in the comments. If there are a lot, maybe I'll recompile a new list. I've added keyword "ofs" for Obama Fact Sheet so that you can easily find this and any updates if you need to. "Enjoy."
Policy problems we have with Obama
Abortion: He has said that he is not certain if life begins at conception, but is so pro-choice that he has received at 100% rating by NARAL. (I think if you really don't know when life begins, you should be playing it safe and doing all you can to stop abortions, not the other way around.)
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm
Civil Rights: Supports affirmative action. Wants to end racial profiling. Is against a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and says the issue should be left to the states.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Civil_Rights.htm
Wants to strengthen federal hate crimes legislation including passing the Matthew Shepherd Act, that would add hate crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Wants to end racial profiling.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/civilrights/
Drugs: Would be willing to consider a needle exchange program.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Drugs.htm
Supports legalizing marijuana.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/31/obama-decriminalize-pot_n_84277.html
Economy: Voted yes on raising minimum wage.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Jobs.htm
Education: Wants to establish a $4000 education tax credit in exchange for 100 hours of public service. In Illinois, he supported providing "state-funded tuition and fees to any Illinois student who attends a public college or university as long as they maintain a B average."
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Education.htm
Wants more funding for educational programs from birth to 5 years.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/20/474908.aspx
Energy: Believes we need to aggressively address climate change, and wants to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Wants higher car fuel efficiency standards. Believes we need to reduce energy consumption of lighting and appliances. In 2006, called for greater ethanol production.
On oil, says "We cannot drill our way out of the problem. Instead of subsidizing the oil industry, we should end every single tax break the industry currently receives and demand that 1% of the revenues from oil companies with over $1 billion in quarterly profits go toward financing alternative energy research and infrastructure."
Voted yes on an amendment to "require the consideration of global climate change, in planning, feasibility studies, & general reevaluation reports." Opposes drilling in ANWR.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Energy_+_Oil.htm
Wants to create new job training programs focused on clean technologies. Has called for 25% of the nations energy to come from renewable sources by 2025.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/
Families: Believes teens should be taught abstinence and contraception. Believes in teaching "age-appropriate sex education" beginning very young.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Families_+_Children.htm
Foreign Policy: On China, says "They are not enemies, but they are competitors of ours." Wants to double foreign aid by 2012, with an aim to strengthen weak states.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Foreign_Policy.htm
Wants troops out of Iraq by the end of 2009, with no permanent bases left behind. Supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian problem.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_War_+_Peace.htm
Government: Sponsored resolution rejecting photo ID for voting. Wants DC to be able to elect representatives, and voted to give them a seat in Congress. Has suggested "public financing of elections, reduced-cost TV ads for candidates," and also "free television and radio time."
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Government_Reform.htm
Wants an exemption in bankruptcy law that forgives the debts of those who file because of medical expenses.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/
Gun Control: Supports the DC handgun ban. Supports banning semiautomatic weapons. Voted against prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers for misuse of their products.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm
Health Care: As we all know, supports a universal health care plan. Says "health care is a right for everyone." Says no American should be turned away from an insurance plan "because of illness or pre-existing conditions." Believes the terminally ill should be allowed medication to let them die, upon their choice. Says we have to "deal with the cost of medical education." In favor of a national smoking ban. Believes we need to use whatever works to fight AIDS, including condom distribution. Believes the US should give more to the "Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria."
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Health_Care.htm
Homeland Security: No torture under any circumstances. Will stop the development of new nuclear weapons. Opposes FISA and military commissions. Wants to close Guantanamo. Wants to repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell. Wants to expand Americorps and the Peace Corps, including adding a Clean Energy Corps. 18 year old women should also have to register for potential national service, but not necessarily military combat. Voted in favor of limiting soldier deployments to 12 months except in time of national emergency.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Homeland_Security.htm
Immigration: Says deporting 12 million people is ridiculous. Says immigration raids are ineffective and have "placed all the burdens of a broken system onto immigrant families." Supports a pathway to citizenship for illegals. Sponsored an Illinois version of the DREAM Act. Is against deputizing Americans to turn in illegals. Supports providing government services in Spanish. Supports driver's licenses for illegals. Supports welfare benefits for illegals. Voted in favor of continuing federal funds for sanctuary cities. Voted against making English the official language. Voted in favor of allowing illegals to participate in Social Security.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Immigration.htm
Voted in favor of a bill to require consultation with Mexico before building structures along the border.
http://profiles.numbersusa.com/improfile.php3?DistSend=IL&VIPID=1162
Social Security: Totally against privatizing Social Security, or cutting benefits, or raising the retirement age. Wants to raise the payroll tax cap for the wealthy.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Social_Security.htm
Taxes: Wants to raise the capital gains tax. Said "And the Bush tax cuts--people didn't need them, and they weren't even asking for them, and that's why they need to be less, so that we can pay for universal health care and other initiatives." Was against repealing the estate tax.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Tax_Reform.htm
He supported partial birth abortion in Illinois
You must hang out in some weird places.
Obama has gone as far as killing legislation that would outlaw the killing of aborted babies who were born alive. That is a position further left than anyone else in the Senate.
Voted against Roberts and Alito as well.
I probably differ with the majority of posters here in my belief that there is nothing inherently malicious about liberals, just a difference of opinion/judgment.
This is a good list to start.
I’ll add my contribution:
Abortion - As an Illinois state legislator, Obama was directly responsible for their version of the “Born Alive” act from passing. This act would have required doctors to provide comfort and attempt to rescue any children who happened to survive an abortion.
Taxes - In a debate moderated by Charles Gibson, Obama was asked if he would raise taxes, despite data that shows that increasing taxes would probably result in less revenue for the government to collect (the Lafler curve). Obama said that even if this was the case, he would still raise taxes on the wealthy “because its fair.” This is a direct demonstration that Obama is more interested in Marxism than helping the disadvantaged. To Obama, it is more important to engage in class warfare than to redistribute wealth...he has crossed that line that separates Socialism from Marxism.
This is a long, but really good YouTube clip that explains how liberals think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c
The presenter agrees with you, he believes that liberals are neither evil nor stupid. He explains their thought process and why its so messed up.
You are wrong on his abortion stance. Three times as a state senator in Illinois he voted against a measure that would protect babies who survived abortions. (Yes, it happens) Apparently a nurse exposed a hospital practice of placing babies who survived late term abortions in a janitor’s closet an allowing them to die. Obama THREE times voted AGAINST protecting these babies. Surely if he won’t give a damn about those babies, he would give a rat’s butt about on still in its mom.
Let me clarify. You are right that he is 100% abortion.
You are wrong to think it has anything to dowith when life begins. It has to do with the inconvenience of a “surprise” child.
Thanks for the clip, pretty funny stuff.
Obama is an idiot.
TRY THIS METHOD
Obama Fact Sheet (Vanityish item)
Me | May 18, 2008 | Me
Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 5:06:53 PM by kc8ukw
I often find myself in discussions with Obama supporters in which I need to know Obama’s policy positions. So, I’ve listed some of them here along with websites where you can get more information, in case you find yourself in the same situation.. I’ve tried to list positions I know many Freepers would disagree with. I know some of us agree with some of these, that’s inevitable. (There are many goals I agree with, I just don’t think government is responsible for getting us there.) I also know I’ve missed a lot - Obama is often quite vague on policy, and it can be hard to tell exactly what he wants to do. Even if he tells you what he wants to attain, he doesn’t always spell out how he intends to get there. If you have things to add just put them in the comments. If there are a lot, maybe I’ll recompile a new list. I’ve added keyword “ofs” for Obama Fact Sheet so that you can easily find this and any updates if you need to. “Enjoy.”
Policy problems we have with Obama
Abortion: He has said that he is not certain if life begins at conception, but is so pro-choice that he has received at 100% rating by NARAL. (I think if you really don’t know when life begins, you should be playing it safe and doing all you can to stop abortions, not the other way around.)
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Abortion.htm
Civil Rights: Supports affirmative action. Wants to end racial profiling. Is against a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and says the issue should be left to the states.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Civil_Rights.htm
Wants to strengthen federal hate crimes legislation including passing the Matthew Shepherd Act, that would add hate crimes motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. Wants to end racial profiling.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/civilrights/
Drugs: Would be willing to consider a needle exchange program.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Drugs.htm
Supports legalizing marijuana.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/31/obama-decriminalize-pot_n_84277.html
Economy: Voted yes on raising minimum wage.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Jobs.htm
Education: Wants to establish a $4000 education tax credit in exchange for 100 hours of public service. In Illinois, he supported providing “state-funded tuition and fees to any Illinois student who attends a public college or university as long as they maintain a B average.”
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Education.htm
Wants more funding for educational programs from birth to 5 years.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/20/474908.aspx
Energy: Believes we need to aggressively address climate change, and wants to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. Wants higher car fuel efficiency standards. Believes we need to reduce energy consumption of lighting and appliances. In 2006, called for greater ethanol production.
On oil, says “We cannot drill our way out of the problem. Instead of subsidizing the oil industry, we should end every single tax break the industry currently receives and demand that 1% of the revenues from oil companies with over $1 billion in quarterly profits go toward financing alternative energy research and infrastructure.”
Voted yes on an amendment to “require the consideration of global climate change, in planning, feasibility studies, & general reevaluation reports.” Opposes drilling in ANWR.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Energy_+_Oil.htm
Wants to create new job training programs focused on clean technologies. Has called for 25% of the nations energy to come from renewable sources by 2025.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/
Families: Believes teens should be taught abstinence and contraception. Believes in teaching “age-appropriate sex education” beginning very young.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Families_+_Children.htm
Foreign Policy: On China, says “They are not enemies, but they are competitors of ours.” Wants to double foreign aid by 2012, with an aim to strengthen weak states.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Foreign_Policy.htm
Wants troops out of Iraq by the end of 2009, with no permanent bases left behind. Supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian problem.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_War_+_Peace.htm
Government: Sponsored resolution rejecting photo ID for voting. Wants DC to be able to elect representatives, and voted to give them a seat in Congress. Has suggested “public financing of elections, reduced-cost TV ads for candidates,” and also “free television and radio time.”
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Government_Reform.htm
Wants an exemption in bankruptcy law that forgives the debts of those who file because of medical expenses.
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/
Gun Control: Supports the DC handgun ban. Supports banning semiautomatic weapons. Voted against prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers for misuse of their products.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Gun_Control.htm
Health Care: As we all know, supports a universal health care plan. Says “health care is a right for everyone.” Says no American should be turned away from an insurance plan “because of illness or pre-existing conditions.” Believes the terminally ill should be allowed medication to let them die, upon their choice. Says we have to “deal with the cost of medical education.” In favor of a national smoking ban. Believes we need to use whatever works to fight AIDS, including condom distribution. Believes the US should give more to the “Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.”
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Health_Care.htm
Homeland Security: No torture under any circumstances. Will stop the development of new nuclear weapons. Opposes FISA and military commissions. Wants to close Guantanamo. Wants to repeal Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell. Wants to expand Americorps and the Peace Corps, including adding a Clean Energy Corps. 18 year old women should also have to register for potential national service, but not necessarily military combat. Voted in favor of limiting soldier deployments to 12 months except in time of national emergency.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Homeland_Security.htm
Immigration: Says deporting 12 million people is ridiculous. Says immigration raids are ineffective and have “placed all the burdens of a broken system onto immigrant families.” Supports a pathway to citizenship for illegals. Sponsored an Illinois version of the DREAM Act. Is against deputizing Americans to turn in illegals. Supports providing government services in Spanish. Supports driver’s licenses for illegals. Supports welfare benefits for illegals. Voted in favor of continuing federal funds for sanctuary cities. Voted against making English the official language. Voted in favor of allowing illegals to participate in Social Security.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Immigration.htm
Voted in favor of a bill to require consultation with Mexico before building structures along the border.
http://profiles.numbersusa.com/improfile.php3?DistSend=IL&VIPID=1162
Social Security: Totally against privatizing Social Security, or cutting benefits, or raising the retirement age. Wants to raise the payroll tax cap for the wealthy.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Social_Security.htm
Taxes: Wants to raise the capital gains tax. Said “And the Bush tax cuts—people didn’t need them, and they weren’t even asking for them, and that’s why they need to be less, so that we can pay for universal health care and other initiatives.” Was against repealing the estate tax.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Tax_Reform.htm
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