Obama and McCain: Where do they really stand?
Senator Barack Obama Plans to revise Bush tax cut system. Supports $75B in tax cuts and a $45B economic stimulus reserve to inject into the economy in the future as needed. Most income brackets would pay less, but the wealthiest tax brackets would see a tax increase. Supports tax relief for small businesses and investment in technology infrastructure. Supports a national health insurance plan that would provide coverage for those without employer-provided insurance or who are denied other coverage, at an estimated cost of $65B. Program would be mandatory for children. Would fund by repealing Bush tax cuts on households earning over $250,000 a year. Supports allowing bankruptcy judges to renegotiate mortgage terms for homeowners' principal dwelling. Opposes private investment accounts. Would change payroll tax cap so that income over $97,500 is still taxed for social security. Supports $10B investment in pre-K programs. Would revise NCLB to cut link between teacher pay and test scores. Proposes a $4,000 community service tax credit for college students. Supports withdrawing most troops from Iraq in 16 months and concentrating military resources in Afghanistan. Would close GitMo. Would implement 9/11 Commission proposals. Would revise Patriot Act. Focus on securing domestic chemical plants and nuclear waste. Supports a woman's right to choose. Supports civil unions, and believe the issue of gay marriage should be determined at the state level. Barack Obama's Issues Page Taxes (plus a chart and a comparative calculator) Health Care Senator John McCain Supports making Bush tax cuts permanent; additional proposed tax cuts would cut taxes for all income brackets, with the biggest cuts going to the wealthiest taxpayers. Plans to eliminate the Federal 18.4cent-per-gallon gas tax during the summer. Plans to lower corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%. Plans to reduce estate tax to 15%. Opposes a universal health care plan. Supports a $2,500 per individual or $5,000 per family tax credit for purchasing health insurance. Would fund this by taxing employer-provided health insurance benefits.
Economic Crisis Social Security Education
Opposes allowing bankruptcy judges to renegotiate mortgage terms for a principal dwelling. Favors slowing benefit increases in order to avoid tax increases. Supports creating individual investment accounts. Favors school voucher system and tax credits for private school. Supported NCLB. Would invest $500M in creating virtual/online classrooms. Does not support a timetable for supporting troops, but believes most troops could be home by 2013. Supports sending additional combat brigades to Afghanistan. Would close GitMo. Supported the Patriot Act. Plans to revitalize diplomatic efforts, and has proposed a new civil-military agency like the WWII-era Office of Strategic Services. Supports banning abortion and overturning Roe v. Wade. Opposes gay marriage, but supports civil unions. John McCain's Issues Page
Iraq
National Security
Abortion Gay Rights More Information
Much of this information is gleaned from coverage by Newsday: Part I and Part II. Some issues lack links to more information because of the difficulty in finding an unbiased source. This document is covered by a Creative Commons 2.0, noncommercial, sharealike license, My site is Deus Ex Machinatio, but be warned, it's mostly games, not politics!