Deepak Nagpal
The United States goes to polls on November 4, 2008 – the day that will mark the end of President George W Bush’s eight-year term. Bush leaves behind a legacy full of challenges for his successor, be it Illinois Senator Barack Obama (Democrat) or Arizona Senator John McCain (Republican). The winner, as soon as he takes charge in January next year, will have to sit down and find answers to some of the most pressing questions – how to revive the economy that has come to a grinding halt and sent ripples across the world, carry on the war against terror that is flagging, mend the foreign policy that has created more enemies than friends, and many more.
In the run-up to the November elections, both candidates have put forward their views and stance on various issues, in their respective campaign speeches as well as during the three presidential debates. Here is how the two stand on key issues:
Abortion:
The word ‘abortion’ can never be kept out of US politics, given the ‘modern’ society that America boasts of. Most of the voters – be it teenagers or parents – consider the candidates’ stand on the issue before casting their ballot.
Barack Obama
Backs the Supreme Court’s decision in 1973 in Roe vs Wade, legalising abortion, but does not agree with the apex court’s ruling upholding the ban on partial-birth abortions. Believes women are capable of deciding on abortion "in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy".
John McCain
Had been supportive of abortions in the past but is now in favour of constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court verdict in Roe vs Wade. Backs apex court’s decision upholding ban on partial-birth abortions. Is in favour of measures by state to promote adoption.
Lesbians and Gays’ Issues:
Like abortion, issues concerning lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender hold quite an importance in this year`s Presidential Election.
John McCain
For the Republican Senator, marriage means a union between a man and a woman. Supported the Defence of Marriage Act in a vote but is against any Federal intervention; instead wants states and local governments to decide on their own marriage policies. McCain’s campaign describes gay adoption as a state issue and opposes any Federal legislation on this.
Barack Obama
While on one hand Obama is against union between people of same sex, he is also not inclined to support any Constitutional ban. Unlike McCain, he is in favour of repealing the Defence of Marriage Act. The Obama campaign states on its website that the Illinois Senator supports full civil unions that "give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples, including the right to assist their loved ones in times of emergency as well as equal health insurance, employment benefits, and property and adoption rights".
Climate Change:
There’s no more denying the fact that climate change/global warming exists – it’s a universal truth now. And greenhouse gases are largely responsible for a rise in the Earth`s temperatures, a majority of scientists believe. The debate between the two presidential candidates on the issue centred on the level of regulatory intervention which the government is required to make and whether that ‘expensive’ regulation would yield any positive results.
Barack Obama
The Democrat backs a compulsory cap-and-trade system in order to bring down carbon emissions by about 80 percent to below 1990 levels by the year 2050. Is also in favour of the US taking up a lead role in the global fight against climate change. Is willing to invest upto USD 150 billion in the next 10 years in clean energy and would offer incentives to maintain forests globally and manage them sustainably.
John McCain
Like Obama, McCain too supports a mandatory cap-and-trade system to bring down carbon emissions by 2050. However, the Arizona Senator would work to reduce emissions by 60 percent to below 1990 levels, as against Obama’s 80 percent target. Believes climate change is real phenomena and would have devastating consequences. Supports US participating in global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, if China and India jump in.
Economy/Taxes:
Americans are worried and so are presidential candidates, about the state of economy. Stock markets are facing rout, banks are falling apart one after another, companies are closing down and people are losing jobs – in short, there’s nothing to keep the confidence afloat. The US Congress, in early October, approved a USD 700 billion bailout plan aimed at shoring up the country’s lenders. In these tumultuous times, issues about economy and taxes are sure to play a crucial role in deciding who emerges as winner.
Barack Obama
If voted to power, Obama would waste no time in announcing a series of tax cuts for individuals as well as businesses to help deal with the current financial crisis. Plus, he would impose a ban on home foreclosures for 90 days and revoke the tax cuts enacted by the Bush administration for households earning over USD 250,000. In the eyes of the Illinois Senator, deregulation has been the prime reason behind the current crisis.
While backing the USD 700 billion bailout plan, Obama said: "America is facing one of the greatest financial crises in history, and today`s passage of an emergency rescue plan was absolutely necessary to prevent an economic catastrophe that could have cost millions of jobs and forced businesses across the country into bankruptcy." The Democrat further advocates a USD 50 billion emergency economic stimulus plan, which would be used to generate one million jobs to reconstruct infrastructure and schools, and assist local governments avoid budget cuts.
John McCain
Among the steps the Republican Senator would take to rescue the economy include purchasing and restructuring financial institutions’ troubled mortgages, and reducing capital gains tax rate. McCain pins the blame on lobbyists for the current financial mess and supports a new federal authority. Further, if elected President, the Arizona Senator would make the tax cuts introduced by the Bush regime permanent and do away with alternative minimum tax.
He too backed the USD 700 billion bailout package, saying: "This rescue bill isn`t perfect, and it is an outrage that it`s even necessary, but we have to stop the damage to our economy done by corrupt and incompetent practices on Wall Street and in Washington. The action Congress took (on October 3) is a tourniquet. It is not a permanent solution."
McCain also supports the financial sector’s reform. "The McCain-Palin administration will replace the outdated and ineffective patchwork quilt of regulatory oversight in Washington and bring transparency and accountability to Wall Street," he said in a statement.
Education:
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, under which public schools have to achieve a certain standard to be qualified for federal funding, came into effect in January 2002. It is counted among the Bush administration’s major legislative victories. However, controversy surrounds the measures that allow access to federal funding for students who go for private schooling.
Barack Obama
If elected the Head of State, Obama would provide USD 18 billion in federal funding every year to make sure students in early childhood gain access to high-quality education, and that well-qualified teachers are recruited and suitably rewarded. Further, the Illinois Senator wants educationists to prioritise science and math education and help find ways to bring down the high school dropout rate. He has described the NCLB’s goal as "the right one… but the law has significant flaws that need to be addressed".
John McCain
The Arizona Senator, on the other hand, is of the view that the government should restrict its role which it strives to play in public education. Also, he has very few initiatives compared to his Democrat rival. He once stated during the GOP Primary debates: "We need more charter schools. We need vouchers where it`s approved by the local, state school boards. We need to have, clearly, home schooling if people want that … We need to reward good teachers and find bad teachers another line of work." McCain favours the NCLB, and according to his campaign website, “while NCLB has been invaluable in providing a clear picture of which schools and students are struggling, it is only the beginning of education reform”.
Energy:
Both Obama and McCain share the view that their country is depending too much on oil and gas imports to meet its domestic needs, but both have divergent views on how to reduce the burden and advocate greater use of other energy sources.
Barack Obama
Is against any Federal gas tax holiday which he describes as a "classic Washington gimmick". Proposes investment of upto USD 150 billion over the next decade to promote increased use and development of clean energy. If voted to power, Obama would make it necessary to have 25 percent of the electricity consumed in the country derived from clean, sustainable energy sources by 2025. However, he is not a proponent of expanding nuclear power. Also opposes buying oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and drilling in the Arctic and offshore.
John McCain
Favours gas tax holiday, but opposes windfall profit tax unlike Obama. Supports greater use of nuclear power. Like Obama, wants the purchase of foreign oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be suspended to bring down demand at a time when prices are high. Advocates offshore drilling for oil, but is not in favour of drilling in the Arctic.
Healthcare:
Healthcare concerns millions of Americans and is one of the most critical issues in these elections.
Barack Obama
Would mandate health insurance for all children, payment for which will be made by revoking the Bush administration`s tax cuts for households earning over USD 250,000. Would want to extend the coverage to all. Also proposes a national health insurance programme for individuals not covered by employer-provided healthcare.
John McCain
Advocates a free-market, consumer-based system of insurance. Would strive for affordable healthcare for all but would not make it mandatory for anybody, including children. Believes it is possible to provide healthcare to all without increasing taxes. Supports tax sops to encourage people to go for personal health insurance.
Social Security:
Both the candidates differ on how to bring about reforms in the Social Security system, which – both presidential hopefuls have at times conveyed – doesn’t need any fixing at all.
Barack Obama
Is a strong opposer of the proposal to privatise Social Security. Advocates raising the maximum limit of earnings covered by Social Security.
John McCain
Believes it would be useful to augment Social Security benefits with individual investment accounts. Favours decelerating growth benefits to raising taxes. While speaking during a GOP debate, McCain said: "Every man, woman and child in America needs to know it`s going broke, and we`ve got to do the hard things. We`ve got to fix it for the future generations of Americans... It`s got to be bi-partisan. And you have to go to the American people and say we won`t raise your taxes. We need personal savings accounts, but we (have) to fix this system."
Housing:
Property prices are headed South, while foreclosure filings the opposite way. A number of leading firms busy with volatile sub-prime loans have either vanished or lost identity (bought out). On the other hand, most of the people who took loans from these firms are facing mortgage bills which don’t fall under their capacity to pay.
Barack Obama
The Democrat suggests putting in place a 90-day moratorium on almost every home foreclosures, making it mandatory for financial institutions that are bailed out by the government not to take action against homeowners who are paying up, even if not in full. If comes to power, would announce tax credits for 10 million middle class homeowners who are finding it difficult to cope with mortgage costs.
John McCain
Advocates government buyout of troubled mortgages from financial institutions, which would be replaced with fixed-rate, government-guaranteed mortgages at the reduced value of the homes. Also wants financial institutions to allow homeowners to get their loan modified, if they meet certain criteria.
Immigration:
Illegal immigration into the US continues to be a hot topic of debate for the candidates eyeing presidency.
Barack Obama
The Democrat Senator is in favour of allowing illegal immigrants to get legal status, including by learning English and paying fines. Obama also wants penalties for hiring illegal immigrants to be made stricter. Supports a fence along the volatile Mexican border.
John McCain
Had earlier played a role in drafting the 2007 immigration bill that backed the path to legalisation for illegal immigrants. However, McCain has now changed his mind and announced earlier this year that he would oppose his own bill. Like Obama, the Republican Senator too supports the fence along the Mexican border.
Free Trade:
The US has entered into many regional free trade pacts which have led to the elimination of tariffs on a number of goods exported to and imported from other nations. While supporters of these agreements describe them as opportunities to sell American goods overseas, critics say this has resulted in loss of US jobs.
Barack Obama
Wants immediate renegotiation of NAFTA with Mexico and Canada. Is against continuing with tax breaks for firms that outsource work. "We also have to have an intentional strategy on the part of the Federal government to make sure that we are reinvesting in those communities that are being burdened by globalisation and not benefiting from it," Obama said.
John McCain
Had supported NAFTA way back in 1993. McCain has described “free trade” as something he believes is significant for America’s future. Further, he has called himself "the biggest free marketer and free trader that you will ever see".
Homeland Security:
Both the candidates see the war on terror differently, and want it to be conducted in a manner different from the way it is waged now. Their main focus is on sound intelligence gathering in order to thwart domestic attacks and also on how to ensure terrorists don’t enter America in the first place.
John McCain
The Arizona Senator suggests he is better equipped to keep America safe given his military background. McCain, who is an ex-Vietnam prisoner of war, has said that he would press for a change in the way the CIA treats detainees – "cruel, inhumane or degrading". He is also in favour of closing down the controversial prison at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Also advocates revitalising public diplomacy so that the US is able to send its message across to the world in a desired manner. "The State Department and other agencies need to enhance their ability to send more experts to rebuild war-torn lands – or, better still, bolster peaceful development to reduce the chances of war breaking out in the first place," he said once.
Barack Obama
Believes the foreign policy followed by President Bush’s administration has made the US a dangerous place to live than it was ever before. Is in favour of forging global alliances. Like McCain, Obama too supports the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.
Iran:
The US and other UNSC members have imposed sanctions on Iran, saying it is on the path to develop nuclear weapons. However, Tehran claims it is enriching uranium for its under-development peaceful nuclear energy programme.
Barack Obama
The Illinois Senator advocates further tightening of economic sanctions against the Middle East nation, but these should not be unilateral. Like Bush, the option of military action against Iran is open for Obama too. However, he is in favour of holding direct talks without any preconditions and is "willing to meet with appropriate Iranian leaders at the appropriate time after due preparation and advance work by US diplomats".
John McCain
The Republican Senator wants to forge an alliance with European nations to exert economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran. Is against unconditional talks with Tehran and like Obama, believes military option is not off the table to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.
Iraq:
Iraq, like 2004, continues to be the most important foreign policy issue during this year’s Presidential Elections. Thousands of American soldiers continue to be stationed there five years after the war and sectarian violence shows no signs of abating.
Barack Obama
Was a staunch opposer of the Iraq invasion right from the start, saying there is "no military solution" to the problem. Did not back troop surge after the war to maintain peace; favours withdrawal of brigades in a phased manner to bring the entire contingent back within 16 months.
"I know that invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East and encourage the worst rather than best impulses in the Arab world and strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars; I am opposed to dumb wars," Obama said in October 2002, in the capacity of Illinois state senator.
John McCain
Toed the Bush line in 2002 by supporting the invasion and continues to do so. Favoured troop surge in Iraq and is against any timetable for withdrawal, but has said he would like to bring back most troops home by 2013.
McCain campaign states on its website, "I do not want to keep our troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there. Our goal is an Iraq that can stand on its own as a democratic ally and a responsible force for peace in its neighbourhood. Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops."
Afghanistan:
Though the war in Afghanistan is no longer as important an issue in American politics as Iraq, but still it has political implications. The war against al Qaeda and Taliban, which started after the September 11 terror attacks, has still not concluded after nearly seven years.
John McCain
The Republican candidate supports dispatching three additional brigades to the war-torn country and doubling the size of the Afghan Army to 160,000 troops. Advocates an international fund involving the US and its allies to finance the Afghan troop surge. In order to bring the war to its end, McCain would use the counter-insurgency technique employed in Iraq, in the Central Asian nation. Says his focus would be on reinforcing local tribes to battle terrorism on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Barack Obama
Obama wants increased contributions from NATO members in Afghanistan and like McCain, advocates sending additional combat brigades to the war-torn country. He would like to place his focus on training Afghan security forces and helping an Afghan judiciary. As regards Pakistan, the Democrat would strive to secure the border and launch a crackdown on terrorist camps. "We must make it clear that if Pakistan cannot or will not act, we will take out high-level terrorist targets like (Osama) bin Laden if we have them in our sights," he said.
