Politics

I do not normally get into all of the political things but I think as an American during the voting year of a President it is important to at least know the basics. I wanted to pass along this information that was emailed to me because I found it very interesting. Who will better serve our country as President? Two more months and we will know what America thinks, make sure your vote counts!

Voting Guide

BARACK OBAMA	KEY ISSUE	JOHN McCAIN
Supports Co-sponsor of the "Freedom of Choice Act"* "I have consistently advocated for reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President." *Note: The "Freedom of Choice Act" is a bill that would invalidate virtually all state and federal limitations on abortion, including partial-birth abortion.	Roe V Wade	Opposes Voted to oppose Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that allows abortion for any reason. "...We would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states ... I don't believe the ...Court should be legislating in the way that they did on Roe v. Wade."
Opposes Ban"I am extremely concerned that [Gonzales v. Carhart*] will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman's right to choose, and that the conservative Supreme Court justices will look for other opportunities to erode Roe v. Wade." *Note: Gonzales v. Carhart is the April 2007 Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Act.	Partial Birth Abortion Ban The partial-birth abortion procedure, used from the filth month on, involves pulling a living baby feet-first out of the womb, except for the head, puncturing the skull and suctioning out the brain. The great majority of partial-birth abortions are preformed on healthy babies of healthy mothers.	Supports Ban Voted for the partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. "Today's Supreme Court ruling (in Gonzales v. Carhart*) is a victory for those who cherish the sanctity of life."
Supports Voted against legislation in the Illinois State Senate that prohibited taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortion. His campaign has stated that he "does not support" the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion through the Medicaid program.	Taxpayer Funding of Abortion	Opposes Voted in favor of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion through the Medicaid program. Voted consistently against federal funding of abortion.
Opposes Voted to block a bill that would have required an abortionist to notify at least one parent before performing an abortion on a minor girl from another state.	Parental Notification Law	Supports Voted to support a bill that would have required an abortionist to notify at least one part before performing an abortion on a minor girl from another state.
Opposes Voted three times against a bill in the Illinois State Senate that would have provided protection for babies who survive abortions equal to protection received by babies who are spontaneously born prematurely.	Protecting Abortion Survivors	Supported Voted for legislation that provides protecting for babies who survive abortions equal to protection received by babies who are spontaneously born prematurely.
Supports Co-sponsored a bill (S. 1520) in 2005 that would allow the cloning of human embryos to be used in research, but prohibit placing them in wombs.	Human Cloning	Opposes His campaign website states that he "opposes the international creation of human embryos for research purposes."
Obama: Voted in favor of funding embryonic stem cell research. "Embryonic stem cells can obtain from a number of sources including in vitro fertilization... We should expand and accelerate research using these embryos..."	Embryonic Stem Cell Research	McCain: Voted in favor of funding embryonic stem cell research. "I believe that skin stem cell research has every potential very soon of making that discussion [embryonic stem cell research] academic."
Obama: Voted against confirming Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. "With one more vacancy on the Supreme Court, we could be looking at a majority hostile to a women's fundamental right to choose for the first time since Roe v. Wade. The next president may be asking to nominate that Supreme Court justice. That is what is at stake in this election."	Judges	McCain: Voted to confirm Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Pledge to appoint judges like John Roberts and the late Williams Rehnquist. Believes that the moral authority of our judiciary depends on judicial self-restraint. He believes judges should strictly interpret the law, and not legislate.
Obama: Support full civil unions that give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples. Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have defines marriage as between a man and a woman.	Gay Marriage	McCain: Believes that marriage must be protected as a sacred institution of a man and a woman. Co-chaired the Arizona Marriage Protection Amendment campaign in 2006.
Obama: "We need stronger enforcement on the border and at the workplace..."	Immigration	McCain: "As president, I will secure the border. ...Tight border security includes not just the entry and exit of people, but also the effective screening of cargo at our ports and other points of entry."
Obama: "Let me be clear: there is no military solution in Iraq, and there never was. The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops. Not in six months or one year -now."	Iraq	McCain: "I do not want to keep troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interest there. Our goal is an Iraq that can stand on its own as a democratic ally and a responsible force for peace in its neighborhood. Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops." Strongly disagrees with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before Iraq has become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people.
Obama: "We had a situation surrounding Terri Schiavo... that eventually allowed Congress to interject itself into that decision-making process of the families. It wasn't something I was comfortable with, but it was not something that I stood on the floor and stopped. And I think that was a mistake."	Terri Schiavo	McCain: "It's an American tragedy and i hope that the next time we're presented with one of these situations we'll perhaps approach it in a more measured and reasoned fashion."