Where they stand

Ninety-day foreclosure moratorium for homeowners living in their homes making good-faith efforts to pay mortgages.

$300 billion to take bad mortgages off banks’ books and negotiate better mortgage rates for homeowners

Businesses receive a $3,000 refundable tax credit for each additional full-time worker hired.

Increase the tax write-off for stock losses to $15,000 from $3,000 for tax years 2008, 2009; reduce maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains to 7.5 percent in 2009, 2010.

Supports suspending 401(k), IRA tax rules that force seniors to sell equities; favors allowing withdrawals of 15 percent up to $10,000 without normal 10 percent tax penalty in 2008, 2009.

Suspend tax rules that force seniors to sell equities when they reach age 70 1/2; allow those over age 60 to withdraw up to $50,000 per year for 2008, 2009, to be taxed at only 10 percent.

Says security of nuclear fuel and waste, waste storage and proliferation must be addressed before more plants can be built.

Says it's the best way to solve climate-change problems; wants 45 nuclear plants as soon as possible, with an eventual goal of 100

Would require Congress to offset any new spending by increasing taxes or cutting other programs; spending cuts would save an estimated $144 billion.

Would eliminate all earmarks, freeze discretionary spending for a year and cut wasteful spending; cuts would save an estimated $241 billion to $254 billion.

Proposes spending on health care, energy development, infrastructure repair and others.

Would retain all tax cuts from Bush era and continue with health care initiatives

Eliminate income tax for seniors making less than $50,000 per year, increase college Hope credit.

Reduce maximum corporate income tax rate from 35 to 25 percent, suspend federal gas tax for summer 2008.

Reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent by 2030 via fuel efficiency, biofuels, investing in new vehicle technologies.

Cap and trade emissions program to help cut dependence; send correct signals to market to move beyond fossil fuel dependence.

$150 billion over 10 years to fund transition to digital electricity grid, low-emission coal plants, other projects.

Revise federal research funding and bureaucracy to develop new emission reduction technologies; streamline process to deploy new technology.

Double fuel economy standards within 18 years; retool tax credits, loan guarantees so fuel-efficient cars can be built in U.S.

Supports Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards; penalties must compel production of fuel-efficient cars.

Has suggested using military force to deal with nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.

Says free trade agreements need protections for the environment and for workers.

Supported NAFTA, CAFTA; favors the pending free trade deals with South Korea and Colombia.

Criticized Russia’s invasion of Georgia; wants to help Russia secure its nuclear stockpiles to keep them away from terrorists.

Wants Russia excluded from the Group of 8 nations; says a U.S. missile defense system should be built in Europe even if Russia objects.

Opposed the invasion and the surge, says the surge has worked; on taking office, will order plans for a “responsible and phased” troop withdrawal over 16 months, along with aggressive initiatives to promote ethnic reconciliation.

Claims “victory ... is finally in sight”; against a timetable for ending U.S. occupation, warning Iraq would become a “failed” state where al-Qaida would gain safe haven.

Afghanistan is “the war we have to win”; would send thousands more troops; won’t tolerate a terrorist sanctuary in a nuclear-armed Pakistan, implying he’d send in U.S. troops if needed.

Backtracked from proposal to divert 14,000 troops from Iraq, saying he would press NATO allies to provide some of the forces and equipment; will appoint White House “czar” to oversee plan to double Afghan army.

Would hold direct talks, offer Iran political and economic incentives to halt nuclear program; would push for tougher U.N. sanctions if it refuses; won’t rule out use of force, but would use all diplomatic efforts first.

Calls Iran “world’s chief sponsor of terrorism”; says if it had nuclear weapons, would be “a danger we cannot allow”; rules out direct talks, won’t rule out force.

Allow illegal immigrants to apply if they pay a fine, learn English and don’t have a criminal record.

Backs increasing number of visas to “keep families together and meet demand for jobs.”

Opposes an across-the-board freeze, but wants to enforce pay-as-you-go rules that would require Congress to pay for any new spending.

One-year freeze on discretionary spending (except defense and veterans); after Iraq and Afghanistan wars end, use savings to reduce deficit.

Introduced legislation to require more disclosure of earmarks; wants to cut earmark spending to 1994 levels; has suspended all earmark requests after proposing 53 last year for projects totaling more than $97 million.

Promises to veto any spending bill containing an earmark; one of five senators who did not request any earmarks last year.

Has same 2020 goal as McCain, but calls for an 80 percent reduction from 1990 emissions levels by 2050.

Reduce greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; a 60 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2050.

Wants to spend $150 billion on clean energy over 10 years; would create a program to transfer clean technologies, including those for coal burning, to developing countries.

Would invest $2 billion per year for 15 years to find ways to permanently store greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal.

Backs charter school funding in states that have greater accountability for those schools.

Vouchers would give poor parents greater choice about where to educate their children.

More than 20 candidates besides John McCain and Barack Obama are running for U.S. president.

Issues: Single-payer health insurance, cut defense, go after Wall Street speculators

Supported a bill that created a tax credit for first-time home buyers, required more disclosure to borrowers before they sign a mortgage, and helped homeowners refinance delinquent mortgages.

Pledges to work to ensure sensible and effective regulations to protect taxpayers and consumers from the greed and corruption that he says have plagued Wall Street under President Bush and Sen. Lamar Alexander.

Is pro-life, says he has a deep and abiding respect for life in all of its forms. Supports adoption as an alternative to abortion and encourages efforts to make adopting a child easier.

Supports a woman’s right to choose; stands with the Democrats for Life of America favoring the Pregnant Women Support Act that aims to reduce the number of abortions in the United States.

Voted for the $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan after initially voting “no,” saying he decided that doing nothing about the credit crunch would do more harm to the economy.

Says he would have voted against the $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan, calling it a bailout of special interests and an excessive expansion of federal government.

Has pushed for “all of the above” solutions, including increased oil drilling, alternative fuels investment and incentives for conservation.

Says he would support increased oil drilling to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Your wish is my command, m'Ladies:

U.S. President

Home mortgage relief

Barack Obama

Ninety-day foreclosure moratorium for homeowners living in their homes making good-faith efforts to pay mortgages.

John McCain

$300 billion to take bad mortgages off banks’ books and negotiate better mortgage rates for homeowners

Taxes

Barack Obama

Businesses receive a $3,000 refundable tax credit for each additional full-time worker hired.

John McCain

Increase the tax write-off for stock losses to $15,000 from $3,000 for tax years 2008, 2009; reduce maximum tax rate on long-term capital gains to 7.5 percent in 2009, 2010.

401(k), IRA retirement plans

Barack Obama

Supports suspending 401(k), IRA tax rules that force seniors to sell equities; favors allowing withdrawals of 15 percent up to $10,000 without normal 10 percent tax penalty in 2008, 2009.

John McCain

Suspend tax rules that force seniors to sell equities when they reach age 70 1/2; allow those over age 60 to withdraw up to $50,000 per year for 2008, 2009, to be taxed at only 10 percent.

Nuclear power

Barack Obama

Says security of nuclear fuel and waste, waste storage and proliferation must be addressed before more plants can be built.

John McCain

Says it's the best way to solve climate-change problems; wants 45 nuclear plants as soon as possible, with an eventual goal of 100

The deficit

Balancing the budget

Barack Obama

Vows he will not increase the deficit.

John McCain

Says he will balance budget by 2013.

Cutting spending

Barack Obama

Would require Congress to offset any new spending by increasing taxes or cutting other programs; spending cuts would save an estimated $144 billion.

John McCain

Would eliminate all earmarks, freeze discretionary spending for a year and cut wasteful spending; cuts would save an estimated $241 billion to $254 billion.

Still wants to spend

Barack Obama

Proposes spending on health care, energy development, infrastructure repair and others.

John McCain

Would retain all tax cuts from Bush era and continue with health care initiatives

Taxes

Estate tax

Barack Obama

Permanent estate tax; $3.5 million exemption, 45 percent rate.

John McCain

Permanent estate tax; $5 million exemption, 15 percent rate.

New tax cuts

Barack Obama

Eliminate income tax for seniors making less than $50,000 per year, increase college Hope credit.

John McCain

Reduce maximum corporate income tax rate from 35 to 25 percent, suspend federal gas tax for summer 2008.

Tax increases

Barack Obama

Raise income tax, payroll tax rates on personal incomes of $250,000 and higher.

John McCain

Eliminate oil and gas loopholes.

Energy

Dependence on foreign oil

Barack Obama

Reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent by 2030 via fuel efficiency, biofuels, investing in new vehicle technologies.

John McCain

Cap and trade emissions program to help cut dependence; send correct signals to market to move beyond fossil fuel dependence.

Technology investment

Barack Obama

$150 billion over 10 years to fund transition to digital electricity grid, low-emission coal plants, other projects.

John McCain

Revise federal research funding and bureaucracy to develop new emission reduction technologies; streamline process to deploy new technology.

Vehicle fuel efficiency

Barack Obama

Double fuel economy standards within 18 years; retool tax credits, loan guarantees so fuel-efficient cars can be built in U.S.

John McCain

Supports Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards; penalties must compel production of fuel-efficient cars.

Foreign policy

Rogue regimes

Barack Obama

Would be willing to meet with leaders of rogue regimes.

John McCain

Has suggested using military force to deal with nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.

World trade

Barack Obama

Says free trade agreements need protections for the environment and for workers.

John McCain

Supported NAFTA, CAFTA; favors the pending free trade deals with South Korea and Colombia.

Russia

Barack Obama

Criticized Russia’s invasion of Georgia; wants to help Russia secure its nuclear stockpiles to keep them away from terrorists.

John McCain

Wants Russia excluded from the Group of 8 nations; says a U.S. missile defense system should be built in Europe even if Russia objects.

Iraq

Barack Obama

John McCain

Claims “victory ... is finally in sight”; against a timetable for ending U.S. occupation, warning Iraq would become a “failed” state where al-Qaida would gain safe haven.

Afghanistan

Barack Obama

Afghanistan is “the war we have to win”; would send thousands more troops; won’t tolerate a terrorist sanctuary in a nuclear-armed Pakistan, implying he’d send in U.S. troops if needed.

John McCain

Iran

Barack Obama

John McCain

Calls Iran “world’s chief sponsor of terrorism”; says if it had nuclear weapons, would be “a danger we cannot allow”; rules out direct talks, won’t rule out force.

Immigration

Path to citizenship

No significant differences

Visas

Barack Obama

Backs increasing number of visas to “keep families together and meet demand for jobs.”

John McCain

Backs more “guest-worker visas.”

Priorities

Barack Obama

Comprehensive reform will be “one of my priorities on my first day.”

John McCain

Wants secure borders first, then will focus on comprehensive reform.

Pork spending

Spending

Barack Obama

Opposes an across-the-board freeze, but wants to enforce pay-as-you-go rules that would require Congress to pay for any new spending.

John McCain

One-year freeze on discretionary spending (except defense and veterans); after Iraq and Afghanistan wars end, use savings to reduce deficit.

Earmarks

Barack Obama

John McCain

Promises to veto any spending bill containing an earmark; one of five senators who did not request any earmarks last year.

Global warming

Mandatory cap and trade system

Barack Obama

Has same 2020 goal as McCain, but calls for an 80 percent reduction from 1990 emissions levels by 2050.

John McCain

Reduce greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; a 60 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2050.

Cutting emissions from coal burning

Barack Obama

Wants to spend $150 billion on clean energy over 10 years; would create a program to transfer clean technologies, including those for coal burning, to developing countries.

John McCain

Would invest $2 billion per year for 15 years to find ways to permanently store greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal.

Urban issues

Affordable housing

Barack Obama

Trust fund to develop housing in mixed-income neighborhoods.

John McCain

Would rely on private sector rather than government subsidy.

School vouchers

Barack Obama

Backs charter school funding in states that have greater accountability for those schools.

John McCain

Vouchers would give poor parents greater choice about where to educate their children.

Who else is running

More than 20 candidates besides John McCain and Barack Obama are running for U.S. president.

The top third-party candidates:

Cynthia McKinney: Green Party, Running mate: Rosa Clemente

On ballot in 31 states

Issues: Full employment, environmental protection, end war on drugs

Bob Barr: Libertarian Party, Running mate: Wayne A. Root

On ballot in 45 states

Issues: Repeal income, tax, cut defense spending by half, no trade barriers

Chuck Baldwin: Constitution Party, Running mate: Darrell Castle

On ballot in 37 states

Issues: Close borders, tariffs on all imports, end foreign aid and income tax

Ralph Nader: Independent, Running mate: Matt Gonzalez

On ballot in 45 states

Issues: Single-payer health insurance, cut defense, go after Wall Street speculators

U.S. Senate

Financial crisis

Lamar Alexander

Supported a bill that created a tax credit for first-time home buyers, required more disclosure to borrowers before they sign a mortgage, and helped homeowners refinance delinquent mortgages.

Bob Tuke

Abortion

Lamar Alexander

Is pro-life, says he has a deep and abiding respect for life in all of its forms. Supports adoption as an alternative to abortion and encourages efforts to make adopting a child easier.

Bob Tuke

Supports a woman’s right to choose; stands with the Democrats for Life of America favoring the Pregnant Women Support Act that aims to reduce the number of abortions in the United States.

U.S. House District 3

Financial crisis

Zach Wamp

Voted for the $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan after initially voting “no,” saying he decided that doing nothing about the credit crunch would do more harm to the economy.

Doug Vandagriff

Says he would have voted against the $700 billion Wall Street rescue plan, calling it a bailout of special interests and an excessive expansion of federal government.

Energy

Zach Wamp

Has pushed for “all of the above” solutions, including increased oil drilling, alternative fuels investment and incentives for conservation.

Doug Vandagriff

Says he would support increased oil drilling to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

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An Appeal to Grass Roots America Part 1!

YES WE CAN! WE CAN WIN! WE MUST WIN!