Every Wednesday, in the eight weeks leading up to the election, The Daily Orange will explore major political issues and compare the presidential candidate stances.

Here is a sneak peek at how the candidates stand on the issues that will be featured:

Next week: Iran

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)

Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961 to a Kenyan father and an American mother. He moved frequently in his youth, living in Indonesia and New York, and graduated from the University of Columbia in 1983. He received his law degree from Harvard University in 1991 and then moved to Chicago to practice law.

Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996, and was reelected in 1998. In 2004, he successfully ran for U.S. Senate and was the featured speaker at the Democratic National Convention that year.

The Issues:

Abortion and Stem Cell Research: Supports both abortion rights and stem cell research and hails himself as a ‘consistent champion of reproductive choice.’ Opposes any attempt to overturn the 1972 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade.

Economy: Would authorize the spending of $50 billion to jumpstart the economy and support middle class. Also proposes eliminating income taxes for the American elderly who earn less than $50,000 each year.

Energy: Supports the diversification of American energy. Plans to eliminate the need for Middle Eastern and Venezuelan oil within 10 years by increasing fuel economy standards, supporting hybrid cars and developing a ‘use it or lose it’ policy for existing oil and gas leases. Aims to ensure that 10 percent of America’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.

Healthcare: Plans to present a universal healthcare program that is affordable and offers comprehensive benefits, which will include a simple enrollment process.

Higher Education Financial Aid: Wants to create an American Opportunity Tax Credit worth $4,000. Would also move to simplify the aid application process.

Immigration: Supports bringing in more legal immigrants to meet the demands that exist in the economy for their labor. Proposes allowing current illegal immigrants to pay a fine, learn English and then reenter the immigration application process. Also wants to impose severe penalties on any employer who hires illegal workers.

Iraq: Since 2002, has voiced his disapproval of the war in Iraq and ‘is fully committed to ending the war in Iraq as president.’ If elected, would immediately begin planning a ‘responsible phased withdrawal.’ Hopes to complete this plan by the summer of 2010; believes his withdrawal would force the Iraqi government to start taking matters into its own hands.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)

John McCain was born in 1936 and served 22 years in the U.S. Navy. He spent five years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.

He left the Navy in 1981, and a year later, he was elected to the House of Representatives. Then in 1986, he left the House and became a senator. He ran for president in 2000 but failed to receive his party’s nomination.

Abortion and Stem Cell Research: Is against abortion. Has called Roe v. Wade a ‘flawed decision’ and says that it ‘must be overturned.’ Supports stem cell research as long as the embryos are not deliberately created solely for scientific purposes.

Economy: Calls for a comprehensive strategy for the American economy emphasizing the creation of millions of new jobs. Wants to make many of the Bush tax cuts permanent and to balance the budget by 2013.

Energy: Supports plan called ‘The Lexington Project’ to expand America’s oil and natural gas production and exploration. Would offer a ‘clean car challenge’ and a $300 million prize to improve battery technology to help diversify American energy. He plans to set reduction timetables for emissions, with benchmarks in 2012, 2020, 2030 and 2050. Supports implementing cap-and-trade system to allow for the gradual reduction of emissions.

Healthcare: Would propose a simplified healthcare system. He would offer a tax credit of $2,500 for an individual or $5,000 for a family towards its healthcare costs.

Higher Education Financial Aid: Supports a simplified, federal financial aid application and improved access to the information. Suggests simplifying the existing benefit system so more Americans understand what they can receive.

Immigration: Plans to secure the borders by increasing funding to those regions. Would penalize employers who hire illegal workers. Immigrants already in the country would take an English and citizenship course and reenter the immigration process.

Iraq: Calls himself a ‘leading advocate’ of continuing the war in Iraq. Says special attention must be spent on Iraq’s economy. Does not support a troop withdrawal of any kind until the Iraqi government can function on its own.

Ralph Nader

Nader was born in 1934 and educated at Princeton University and Harvard Law School, where he graduated with honors.

He is best known as a consumer advocate. His book, ‘Unsafe at Any Speed,’ revolutionized the car industry and made companies refocus on protecting the consumer. Nader has previously run for president, most notably in 2000 when he won almost 3 percent of the vote as the Green Party candidate.

Abortion and Stem Cell Research: According to a CBS report released in 2000, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League released an anti-Nader ad and did not support his election campaign.

Economy: Would increase the prosecution of white-collar, corporate crime. Wants to reform the pension program. Says that ‘corporations must be held more responsible for the retirement system.’

Energy: Proposes moving entirely to solar and wind-based energy system and investing in clean fuels. Would add a carbon pollution tax and does not support corn ethanol.

Healthcare: Prefers the Canadian healthcare system of a public health insurance system that includes choice of hospital and doctor. Under his plan, all Americans would be covered for all medically necessary services.

Higher Education Financial Aid: Says not enough is done to help students but it is not immediately clear what his own plans for students are.

Immigration: Views on immigration has not been voiced recently. Has not discussed any immediate reforms.

Iraq: Does not support the war in Iraq. Would bring home the troops within six months of assuming office.

(Source The Record: The Independent Newspaper at Harvard Law School).

Published on July 7, 2009 at 12:00 pm