Remember this guy?

James Dobson’s ‘Letter From 2012 in Obama’s America’

http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=3283&continue

James Dobson’s ‘Letter From 2012 in Obama’s America’

by Jim Wallis 10-29-2008

James Dobson, you owe America an apology. The fictional letter released through your Focus on the Family Action organization, titled “Letter From 2012 in Obama’s America”, crosses all lines of decent public discourse. In a time of utter political incivility, it shows the kind of negative Christian leadership that has become so embarrassing to so many of your fellow Christians in America. We are weary of this kind of Christian leadership, and that is why so many are forsaking the Religious Right in this election.

This letter offers nothing but fear. It apocalyptically depicts terrorist attacks in American cities, churches losing their tax exempt status for not allowing gay marriages, pornography pushed in front of our children, doctors and nurses forced to perform abortions, euthanasia as commonplace, inner-city crime gone wild because of lack of gun ownership, home schooling banned, restricted religious speech, liberal censorship shutting down conservative talk shows, Christian publishers forced out of business, Israel nuked, power blackouts because of environmental restrictions, brave Christian resisters jailed by a liberal Supreme court, and finally, good Christian families emigrating to Australia and New Zealand.

It is shocking how thoroughly biblical teachings against slander—misrepresentations that damage another’s reputation—are ignored (Ephesians 4:29-31, Colossians 3:8, Titus 3:2). Such outrageous predictions not only damage your credibility, they slander Barack Obama who, you should remember, is a brother in Christ, and they insult any Christian who might choose to vote for him.

Let me make this clear: Christians will be voting both ways in this election, informed by their good faith, and based on their views of what are the best public policies and direction for America. But in utter disrespect for the prayerful discernment of your fellow Christians, this letter stirs their ugliest fears, appealing to their worst impulses instead of their best.

Fear is the clear motivator in the letter; especially fear that evangelical Christians might vote for Barack Obama. The letter was very revealing when it suggested that “younger Evangelicals” became the “swing vote” that elected Obama and the results were catastrophic.

You make a mistake when you assume that younger Christians don’t care as much as you about the sanctity of life. They do care—very much—but they have a more consistent ethic of life. Both broader and deeper, it is inclusive of abortion, but also of the many other assaults on human life and dignity. For the new generation, poverty, hunger, and disease are also life issues; creation care is a life issue; genocide, torture, the death penalty, and human rights are life issues; war is a life issue. What happens to poor children after they are born is also a life issue.

The America you helped vote into power has lost its moral standing in the world, and even here at home. The America you told Christians to vote for in past elections is now an embarrassment to Christians around the globe, and to the children of your generation of evangelicals. And the vision of America that you still tell Christians to vote for is not the one that many in a new generation of Christians believes expresses their best values and convictions.

Christians should be committed to the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of America, and the church is to live an alternative existence of love and justice, offering a prophetic witness to politics. Elections are full of imperfect choices where we all seek to what is best for the “common good” by applying the values of our faith as best we can.

Dr. Dobson, you of course have the same right as every Christian and every American to vote your own convictions on the issues you most care about, but you have chosen to insult the convictions of millions of other Christians, whose own deeply held faith convictions might motivate them to vote differently than you. This epistle of fear is perhaps the dying gasp of a discredited heterodoxy of conservative religion and conservative politics. But out of that death, a resurrection of biblical politics more faithful to the whole gospel—one that is truly good news—might indeed be coming to life.

Electoral Compass

http://www.electoralcompass.com

Here you find an overview of all issues. You can click on an issue to see your repsonses and responses from Barack Obama as well as the sources on which they are based.

67% agreement	Gun control
67% agreement	Environment
92% agreement	Iraq
92% agreement	Economy
75% agreement	Income
67% agreement	National security
92% agreement	Family
75% agreement	Immigration
67% agreement	Health care
83% agreement	Law and order
92% agreement	Education
83% agreement	Terrorism

Gun control (67%) agreement

Proposition 1: People should have a background check and obtain a license before they can buy a gun Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Debate transcripts I think all of us are still just overwhelmed with grief for the families and for Virginia Tech and obviously people here remember what happened at the university and how painful it can be (a reference to the shootings at the University of Iowa). I do think that the evidence so far at least indicates that you've got a young man who was mentally deranged, was identified as such, was temporarily committed and was still able to obtain handguns and so one critical question is, 'What happened to our background check system? Why did it fail?' and it seems like we should be able to come to some bipartisan agreement on making that background system, background check system work. The second area which may be fought by the NRA, but I think has to be looked at is the availability of 19-round clips. I'm a strong believer in the rights of hunters and sportsmen to have firearms. I'm a believe in homeowners having a firearms to protect their home and their family. It's hard for me to find a rationale for a 19-clip semi-automatic. I said at a forum earlier this week, 'If you need 19 rounds to shoot a deer, you probably shouldn't be hunting' and so that I think is something that we should be able to have a reasonable conversation about." "The problem that we've had is that the overwhelming majority of gun owners use those firearms safely, secure them properly and I think would be amenable to reasonable gun control laws. The NRA's attitude has been that any restriction is an infringement on the rights of gun owners and you know because of the breadth of their membership and the large amounts of money that they have at their disposal, I think they are oftentimes able to scare law-abiding gun owners into thinking that Democrats are going to take away their rights and part of what I think we have to communicate is that we are committed to maintaining the rights of lawful gun owners, but that doesn't contradict the need to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill or put limits on the accessibility of semi-automatic weapons or make sure that straw purchasers aren't dumping firearms into our inner cities." (On radio IOWA 22nd April 2007) http://learfield.typepad.com/radioiowa/2007/04/clinton_edwards.html(there are) two realities to gun culture in this country,” a rural tradition of hunting and “self-protection” and the “reality of urban crime and guns used to initiate violence.” “I think we can respect the traditions of the former while dealing with the problems of the latter,” said Obama, who said he supports programs designed to trace back gun purchases to shut down unscrupulous dealers, as well as laws that prevent convicted criminals or the mentally deranged from obtaining guns. Valley News NH (Nov 2007) http://www.alphecca.com/?p=544 Other websites and news sources He also answered "yes" when asked if he backed state bills that would ban the possession of all handguns. He now backs stringent but limited controls. Newsday 02/12/2007

Proposition 2: Stricter gun control will not reduce crime Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Other websites and news sources Q: Do you think gun control has an impact on crime rates in the United States? A Obama: "Yes, I do think that reasonable gun control measures reduces violent crime and saves lives. I respect the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. But we can't deny that gun violence has taken the lives of too many Americans. I believe that through common-sense measures, we can keep guns from those who may pose a threat, while also protecting the rights of legitimate hunters and sportsmen." (http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/#gun-control) NASHUA, N.H. --Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said this week's shooting at Virginia Tech highlights serious shortcomings with gun control. "We're still selling handguns to crazy people," Obama said during a campaign stop at a Nashua senior center on Friday. "We're supposed to have a system that these people are screened out. What's clear is the background check system in this case failed entirely." http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/04/20/obama_says_us_needs_to_review_gun_policies/Just days prior to announcing his urban agenda aimed at combating urban poverty, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama entered Vernon Park Church of God on July 15 to a thunderous applause from a supportive crowd with a message challenging the gun lobby, criticizing the Bush administration and issuing a call to action for Black men. “Our playgrounds have become battlegrounds. Our streets have become cemeteries. Our schools have become places to mourn the ones we’ve lost,” said the Illinois senator. “I’m sick and tired of seeing our young people gunned down.” http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_3789.shtml Website candidate's former or current post / roll call behaviour Obama was a board member of the Joyce Foundation which funds and maintains several gun control organizations in the United States.

Proposition 3: All semi-automatic weapons should be banned Your opinion: completely agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Debate transcripts "I'm a strong believer in the rights of hunters and sportsmen to have firearms. I'm a believer in homeowners having a firearm to protect their home and their family," Obama said. "It's hard for me to find a rationale for having a 17-clip semiautomatic." http://www.radioiowa.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=1AE9B6AE-D8A7-6619-6DA493C9771D0676

Top

---

Environment (67%) agreement

Proposition 1: The effects of global warming are grossly exaggerated Your opinion: completely disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website "Global warming is real, is happening now and is the result of human activities. " "The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe." http://www.barackobama.com/issues/environment/ "Climate change is an unprecedented man-made threat to the environment." http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Foreign%20Policy.pdf

Proposition 2: An additional carbon tax on fuel will effectively reduce pollution Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website In contrast to other approaches like a carbon tax, cap-and-trade programs provide maximum assurances that emissions will decline to desired levels by the targeted dates. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/environment/ Other websites and news sources Do you believe that we need a carbon tax in addition to a cap-and-trade program? I believe that, depending on how it is designed, a carbon tax accomplishes much of the same thing that a cap-and-trade program accomplishes. The danger in a cap-and-trade system is that the permits to emit greenhouse gases are given away for free as opposed to priced at auction. One of the mistakes the Europeans made in setting up a cap-and-trade system was to give too many of those permits away. So as I roll out my proposals for a cap-and-trade system, I will price permits so that it has much of the same effect as a carbon tax. http://www.grist.org/feature/2007/07/30/obama/index.html

Proposition 3: The US should never sign international treaties on climate change that limit economic growth Your opinion: neutral Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website Obama will build on our domestic commitments by creating a negotiating process that involves a smaller number of countries than the nearly 200 countries in the current Kyoto system. Obama will create a Global Energy Forum - based on the G8+5, which included all G-8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa - of the world's largest emitters to focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues. "Re-Engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): As the world prepares for the post-2012 phase of the UNFCCC, the United States must regain its leadership role in multiple forums to negotiate effective climate agreements. This requires re-engagement with the diplomatic efforts under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change . The UNFCCC process is the main international forum dedicated to addressing the climate problem and an Obama administration will work constructively within it. " http://www.barackobama.com/issues/environment/

Top

---

Iraq (92%) agreement

Proposition 1: The US had every right to invade Iraq Your opinion: completely disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website "DEC 2003: Obama Said Iraq And Al-Qaeda Not Connected. "On the Iraq war, Obama is strongly critical of President Bush, saying, 'We have an administration whose arrogance internationally seems to have no bounds.' The Iraq war 'is distracting us from what should be our number-one priority, the war on terrorism. There is no connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.' Obama wants to bring other nations into the terrorism fight." [Rockford Register Star, 12/2/03]" "Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning. In 2002, as the conventional thinking in Washington lined up for war, Obama had the judgment and courage to speak out against the war. He said the war would lead to "an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences." http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Iraq%20Final.pdf

Proposition 2: The US is safer because of the invasion of Iraq Your opinion: completely disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website (from election programme 2008) FEB 2004: Obama Said Iraq War Will Not Make America Safer And Will 'Poison' Relations With The World. "'I am the only candidate in this race [Illinois Senate primary] to have publicly opposed the war in Iraq before it started,' Obama said. 'Rather than reducing the threat of terrorism and making America safer, I feared that going to war unilaterally would poison our relations with other countries.'" [Chicago Daily Herald, 2/1/04] Plan terugtrekking Irak http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Iraq%20Final.pdf

Proposition 3: The new president should begin to bring home all US troops from Iraq immediately Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website "All Combat Troops Redeployed by 2009: Barack Obama would immediately begin redeploying American troops from Iraq. The withdrawal would be strategic and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Troops would be removed from secure areas first, with troops remaining longer in more volatile areas. The drawdown would begin immediately with one to two combat brigades redeploying each month and all troops engaged in combat operations out by the end of next year." "SEP 2006: Obama Said US Must Leave Iraq Responsibly. In West Virginia, Obama said, “We must exit Iraq, but not in a way that leaves behind a security vacuum filled with terrorism, chaos, ethnic cleansing and genocide that could engulf large swaths of the Middle East and endanger America…We have both moral and national security reasons to manage our exit in a responsible way.” [Charleston Gazette, 9/26/06]" http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Iraq%20Final.pdf

Top

---

Economy (92%) agreement

Proposition 1: The best way to reduce the federal deficit is to raise taxes Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website A COMMITMENT TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY Barack Obama’s plan will provide $80-85 billion in tax relief to America’s workers, seniors, and homeowners. Unlike President Bush, whose fiscally irresponsible tax cuts that traded the budget surpluses of the 1990s to record deficits today, Obama has a plan to pay for his tax reform plan. In addition to closing the corporate loopholes and cracking down on international tax havens, he will pay for middle class tax relief by and increasing the highest bracket for capital gains and dividends and closing the carried interest loophole. BARACK OBAMA: TAX FAIRNESS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/HQpress/Fact%20Sheet%20Tax%20Fairness%20Speech%20091707%20FINAL%20IH.pdf Candidate's book, columns or other publications We were told by our President that we could fight two wars, increase our military budget by 74%, spend more on education, initiate a prescription drug plan, have tax cuts, all at the same time. We were told by Congress that they could make up for lost revenue by cutting government waste. The result is the most precarious budget situation we have seen in years. We now have an annual budget deficit of almost $300 billion, not counting more than $180 billion we borrow every year from the Social Security Trust Fund. It is not the debt that is most troubling. The bulk of the debt is a direct result of the President's tax cuts, 47.4% of which went to the top 5% income bracket. We can eliminate tax credits that have outlived their usefulness & close loopholes that let corporations get away without paying taxes. We can restore a law that was in place during the Clinton presidency--called Paygo--that prohibits money from leaving the treasury without some way of compensating for the lost revenue. The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.187-189 Oct 1, 2006 Website candidate's former or current post / roll call behaviour "Senator Obama voted against the most recent effort to raise the national debt limit. The current national debt has exceeded $8.6 trillion dollars, and nearly $4 trillion of that debt is now held by foreign governments. Our national debt and annual budget deficits effectively tax all Americans by adding to the amount of interest paid to service U.S. borrowing; Senator Obama would rather invest these hundreds of billions of dollars into national priorities, such as securing our homeland, improving our schools and providing needed benefits to our veterans. " http://obama.senate.gov/issues/good_government_responsible_spending/

Proposition 2: The tax cuts for people with a higher income should be reversed Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Debate transcripts "MR. NAVARRETTE: Thank you, Tavis. This week billionaire Warren Buffett said that the very wealthy aren’t taxed nearly enough. In fact, he noted -- (applause) -- in fact, he noted that he’s taxed at a lower rate than some of his employees, who earn much less. Do you agree that the rich aren’t paying their fair share of taxes? And if so, what would you do about it? SEN. OBAMA: There’s no doubt that the tax system has been skewed. And the Bush tax cuts -- people didn’t need them, and they weren’t even asking for them, and that’s why they need to be less, so that we can pay for universal health care and other initiatives. " Democratic Debate Washington PBS 28-6-2007 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/us/politics/29transcript.html?pagewanted=print Other websites and news sources Edwards has vowed to completely repeal the tax cuts for high earners to pay for the cost of his plan, estimated at $90 billion-$120 billion per year, while Obama would pay for his plan in part by letting the tax cuts expire in 2010. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20819827/

Proposition 3: The government has no responsibility to provide retirement funds Your opinion: tend to disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website Strengthen Social Security Barack Obama recognizes that Social Security is indispensable to workers and seniors, and it is probably the most important and most successful program that our country has ever made. Obama is committed to ensuring Social Security is solvent and viable for the American people, now and in the future. Although the underlying Social Security system remains strong, the projected long-term cash flow of the program needs to be addressed, particularly as the baby boom generation begins to retire. This is a real but manageable problem. Obama will be honest with the American people about the solvency of Social Security and the ways we can address the shortfall. Obama will make it a top priority of his administration to protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries alike. And he does not believe it is necessary or fair to hardworking seniors to raise the retirement age. He will also continue his long record of opposing the privatization of Social Security, which has dominated the debate in Washington for too long. http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/retirementFactSheet.pdf

Top

---

Income (75%) agreement

Proposition 1: Mortgage lenders should be more tightly controlled Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website Barack Obama believes we must establish stiff penalties to deter fraud and protect consumers against abusive lending practices. Obama introduced the STOP FRAUD Act, which would increase funding for federal law enforcement programs, create new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud, and require industry insiders to report suspicious activity. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/fightingpoverty/

Proposition 2: People with higher incomes should receive less Medicare benefits Your opinion: neutral Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website EXPANSION OF MEDICAID AND SCHIP. Obama will expand eligibility for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs and ensure that these programs continue to serve their critical safety net function. Subsidies. Individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP but still need assistance will receive income-related federal subsidies to keep health insurance premiums affordable. They can use the subsidy to buy into the new public plan or purchase a private health care plan. (http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/HealthPlanFull.pdf)

Proposition 3: The federal government should reduce income inequality Your opinion: neutral Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website In both the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate, Obama has championed efforts to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is one of the most successful anti-poverty programs to date. As president, Obama will reward work by increasing the number of working parents eligible for EITC benefits, increasing the benefit available to parents who support their children through child support payments and reducing the EITC marriage penalty which hurts low-income families. (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/fightingpoverty/) Supporting Low-Income Families The Child Tax Credit allows parents to receive $1,000 per child and has been an important financial resource for working families. Unfortunately, the credit is skewed so that many families who need it the most cannot get it. Because of artificially high income limits that are indexed to inflation every year, parents that work full time at minimum wage are not eligible for the credit. As a result, nearly 17 million low-income children get less than the full credit. Senator Obama worked with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) to introduce legislation lowering the income limit so that 600,000 more families can benefit. Senator Obama also introduced legislation to temporarily expand the Child Tax Credit for low-income parents affected by Hurricane Katrina. Senator Obama succeeded in passing legislation to extend tax credits for military families by allowing service members deployed to war zones to apply their non-taxable combat pay toward the Earned Income Tax Credit. (...) Support Low-Income Families: The Child Tax Credit allows parents to receive $1,000 per child and has been an important financial resource for working families. www.barackobama.com/issues/family/

Top

---

National security (67%) agreement

Proposition 1: The US should reduce its financial contribution to the UN Your opinion: tend to disagree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website “Today it’s become fashionable to disparage the United Nations, the World Bank, and other international organizations. In fact, reform of these bodies is urgently needed if they are to keep pace with the fast-moving threats of today. But real reform will not come . . . by bullying other countries . . . . Real reform will come because we convince others that they too have a stake in change – that such reforms will make their world, and not just ours, more secure.” As president, Barack Obama will restore America’s leadership abroad, reform and enhance international organizations and strengthen our alliances. (http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Foreign%20Policy.pdf)

Proposition 2: Iran is not an imminent threat to world peace Your opinion: neutral Opinion Barack Obama: tend to disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website Barack Obama would refocus our efforts on the challenges in the wider Middle East, where Hamas and Hezbollah feel emboldened and Israel’s prospects for secure peace seem uncertain, while U.S. diplomatic engagement has been sporadic; on preventing Iran, which has been strengthened by the war in Iraq, from acquiring nuclear weapons; Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs are a threat to global security and could provoke a nuclear arms race that results in many more nuclear states. (http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Foreign%20Policy.pdf) Website candidate's former or current post / roll call behaviour The world must work to stop Iran’s uranium enrichment program and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It is far too dangerous to have nuclear weapons in the hands of a radical theocracy. And while we should take no option, including military action, off the table, sustained and aggressive diplomacy combined with tough sanctions should be our primary means to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons. (http://obama.senate.gov/speech/070302-aipac_policy_fo/index.php)

Proposition 3: The US should decrease its spending on defense Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website Rebuild and Repair the Military. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated the consequences of underestimating the number of troops required to fight two wars and defend our homeland. Barack Obama supports plans to increase the size of the Army by 65,000 troops and the Marines by 27,000 troops. Increasing our end strength will allow units to retrain and re-equip properly between deployments and decrease the strain on military families. Barack Obama also will invest in an equipment reset for the Armed Services, including the National Guard, which has seen its readiness for homeland security missions decrease significantly. Transform the Military to Meet 21st-Century Threats. Barack Obama will ensure the United States Armed Forces maintain their technological edge, but will also invest in our warfighters to ensure they have the skills and training to fight and win the 21st century’s complicated conflicts. That includes counterinsurgency and intelligence expertise as well as language skills and cultural literacy. Obama supports incentives such as foreign language proficiency pay for high-demand languages. http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Foreign%20Policy.pdf

Top

---

Family (92%) agreement

Proposition 1: Same sex marriages should be made legal Your opinion: completely agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Candidate's book, columns or other publications It is my obligation, not only as an elected official in a pluralistic society but also as a Christian, to remain open to the possibility that my unwillingness to support gay marriage is misguided, just as I cannot claim infallibility in my support of abortion rights. I must admit that I may have been infected with society's prejudices and predilections and attributed them to God; that Jesus' call to love one another might demand a different conclusion; and that in years hence I might be seen on the wrong side of history. Barack Obama The Audacity of Hope Debate transcripts "COOPER: Senator Obama, the laws banning interracial marriage in the United States were ruled unconstitutional in 1967. What is the difference between a ban on interracial marriage and a ban on gay marriage? OBAMA: Well, I think that it is important to pick up on something that was said earlier by both Dennis and by Bill, and that is that we've got to make sure that everybody is equal under the law. And the civil unions that I proposed would be equivalent in terms of making sure that all the rights that are conferred by the state are equal for same-sex couples as well as for heterosexual couples. Now, with respect to marriage, it's my belief that it's up to the individual denominations to make a decision as to whether they want to recognize marriage or not. But in terms of, you know, the rights of people to transfer property, to have hospital visitation, all those critical civil rights that are conferred by our government, those should be equal." CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate 07/23/2007 http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/23/debate.transcript/

Proposition 2: Abortion should be made completely illegal Your opinion: completely disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Debate transcripts "Senator Obama, on this same topic, what about your view on the decision on partial-birth abortion and your reaction to most of the public agreeing with the court's holding? Obama: You know, I think that most Americans recognize that this is a profoundly difficult issue for the women and families who make these decisions. They don't make them casually. And I trust women to make these decisions in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy. And I think that's where most Americans are. Now, when you describe a specific procedure that accounts for less than 1 percent of the abortions that take place, then naturally, people get concerned, and I think legitimately so. But the broader issue here is: Do women have the right to make these profoundly difficult decisions? And I trust them to do it. " South Carolina Democratic debate. April 26, 2007 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18352397/

Proposition 3: Using embryos for stem cell research is acceptable as it enables us to find cures for diseases Your opinion: completely agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Other websites and news sources If elected, would you keep the current ban on funding for embryonic stem cell research in place? Why or why not? No. Each year, 100,000 Americans will develop Alzheimer's disease, with impaired memory, ability to understand, and judgment. Over 1 million adults will be diagnosed with diabetes this year, and risk complications that include blindness, damaged nerves and loss of kidney function. We all know or have met individuals with spinal cord injuries, including national celebrities, local war heroes and loved ones from our own families and circles of friends, who are struggling to maintain mobility and independence. For most of our history, medicine has offered little hope of recovery to the 100 million individuals affected by these and other devastating illnesses and injuries. Until now. Recent developments in stem cell research may hold the key to improved treatments, if not cures, for those affected by Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, spinal cord injury and countless other conditions. For this reason, I am a proud supporter of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The president was wrong to veto it, and I will make sure that it is finally signed into law when I'm president. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/issues/candidates/barack-obama/#stem-cell-research Website candidate's former or current post / roll call behaviour "Obama Renews Support for Embryonic Stem Cell Research Wednesday, April 11, 2007 I stand in full support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act as I did when this bill was introduced and sent to the President’s desk in the 109th Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill. I am frustrated by the opposition this bill has generated and saddened that we are preventing the advancement of important science that could potentially impact millions of suffering Americans. The study of stem cells holds enormous promise for the treatment of debilitating and life-threatening diseases. However, in order to reach this level of medical achievement, much more research is necessary to understand, and eventually harness, the amazing potential of stem cells. Instead of creating roadblocks, we must all work together to expand federal funding of stem cell research and continue moving forward in our fight against disease by advancing our knowledge through science and medicine." http://obama.senate.gov/press/070411-obama_renews_su/

Top

---

Immigration (75%) agreement

Proposition 1: To prevent illegal immigration, the US should complete the fence along the entire Mexican border Your opinion: tend to disagree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website "Creating Secure Borders Barack Obama wants to preserve the integrity of our borders. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure, and technology on the border and at our ports of entry. Obama believes we need additional Customs and Border Protection agents equipped with better technology and real-time intelligence." http://www.barackobama.com/issues/immigration_and_the_border/ Debate transcripts "SENATOR OBAMA: What I would do as president is pass comprehensive immigration reform. And the federal government should be doing, which is controlling our borders but also providing a rational immigration system, which we currently don't have" http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/us/politics/26DEBATE-TRANSCRIPT.html?pagewanted=printSEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I have been a consistent champion of comprehensive immigration reform. Keep in mind, that my father came to this country from a small village in Africa because he was looking for opportunity, and so when I see people who are coming across these borders, whether legally or illegally, I know that the motivation is trying to create a better life for their children and their grandchildren. SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I have been a consistent champion of comprehensive immigration reform. Keep in mind, that my father came to this country from a small village in Africa because he was looking for opportunity, and so when I see people who are coming across these borders, whether legally or illegally, I know that the motivation is trying to create a better life for their children and their grandchildren. Website candidate's former or current post / roll call behaviour "Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. Reference: Secure Fence Act; Bill H R 6061 ; vote number 2006-262 on Sep 29, 2006 http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/10/ldt.01.html

Proposition 2: All illegal immigrants without a criminal record should be given the right to stay in the US legally Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website There are millions of people living in the shadows who would like to fully embrace our values and become full members of our democracy. For the millions living here illegally but otherwise playing by the rules, we must encourage them to come out of hiding and get right with the law. Barack Obama supports a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, not violate the law, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/immigration_and_the_border/ Other websites and news sources CNN LARRY KING LIVE Encore Presentation: Interview With Barack Obama Aired March 24, 2007 - 21:00 ET What's your position on illegal immigration? [...]But we also have to recognize that we've got 12 million undocumented workers who are already here. Many of them living their lives alongside other Americans. Their kids are going to school. Many of the kids, in fact, were born in this country and are citizens. And so, it's absolutely vital that we bring those families out of the shadows and that we give them the opportunity to travel a pathway to citizenship. It's not automatic citizenship. It's not amnesty. They would have to pay a fine. They would have to not have engaged in any criminal activity. They would have to learn English. They would have to go to the back of the line so that they did not get citizenship before those persons who had come here legally. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/24/lkl.01.html

Proposition 3: Illegal immigration threatens our national security Your opinion: neutral Opinion Barack Obama: tend to disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website "The overwhelming majority of immigrants, both legal and undocumented, come to this country with the hope that hard work and sacrifice will secure a better life for their children. Every year, a million people enter the country legally and another 500,000-800,000 people come illegally or illegally overstay their visas. Barack Obama believes we must fix the broken system to meet the needs of the U.S. economy. Obama believes immigrant workers should have legal protections to avoid abuse and downward pressure on American wages and working conditions. He also realizes the need to increase the number of people we allow into the country legally to a level that keeps families together and meets the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill." http://www.barackobama.com/issues/immigration_and_the_border/

Top

---

Health care (67%) agreement

Proposition 1: Providing health care is not the responsibility of the government Your opinion: tend to disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website " The federal government and state and local governments play critical roles across the full range of disease prevention and health promotion activities. First, working together, governments at all levels should lead the effort to develop a national and regional strategy for public health, and align funding mechanisms to support its implementation. Second, the field of public health would benefit from greater research to optimize organization of the 3,000 health departments in this nation,65 collaborative arrangements between levels of government and its private partners, performance and accountability indicators, integrated and interoperable communication networks, and disaster preparedness and response. Third, the government must invest in workforce recruitment as well as modernizing our physical structures, particularly our public health laboratories. And finally, the government must examine its own policies, including agricultural, educational, environmental and health policies, to assess and improve their effect on public health in this nation. As President, Barack Obama will prioritize all of these activities, to ensure a 21st century public health system and healthy America." (Heathcare plan Obama.http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/HealthPlanFull.pdf )

Proposition 2: US law should obligate all companies to provide health care insurance for their workers Your opinion: neutral Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website "EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION. Employers that do not offer meaningful coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees will be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of the national plan." (Health care plan Obama http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/HealthPlanFull.pdf ) Candidate's book, columns or other publications Other websites and news sources Democrats John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama, for instance, would do on the federal level what Massachusetts is now doing through a state mandate: require employers to either cover their employees or help finance their insurance. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20002130/

Proposition 3: The government should provide health care coverage for the millions of uninsured Americans Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website The Obama plan will guarantee coverage for every American through partnerships among employers, private health plans, the federal government, and the states. The plan both builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and leaves Medicare intact for older and disabled Americans. Under the Obama plan, Americans will be able to maintain their current coverage if they choose to, and will see the quality of their health care improve and their costs go down. Plan gezondheidszorg volledig http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/HealthPlanFull.pdf Republican skeptics say it would be too invasive and would restrict personal freedom and choice. Liberal Democrats have expressed concern that such a mandate would be too financially burdensome for lower-income individuals and families a concern shared by Obama, who has said individuals cannot be forced to purchase insurance until the cost of coverage is substantially reduced. n response, Obama said Clinton's plan is similar to one he proposed in the spring, "though my universal health care plan would go further in reducing the punishing cost of health care than any other proposal that's been offered in this campaign." http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2007/09/17/News/Clinton.Announces.Plan.To.Cover.The.Uninsured.And.Lower.Health.Care.Costs.For.Ot-2972874.shtml

Top

---

Law and order (83%) agreement

Proposition 1: The death penalty helps deter crime Your opinion: completely disagree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to disagree Candidate's book, columns or other publications While the evidence tells me that the death penalty does little to deter crime, I believe there are some crimes--mass murder, the rape and murder of a child--so heinous that the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage by meting out the ultimate punishment. On the other hand, the way capital cases were tried in Illinois at the time was so rife with error, questionable police tactics, racial bias, and shoddy lawyering, that 13 death row inmates had been exonerated. Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p. 58 Oct 1, 2006

Proposition 2: The government should spend money on keeping drugs off the streets, not on treating drug addicts Your opinion: neutral Opinion Barack Obama: tend to disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website A RAND study found that mandatory minimum sentences are less effective than discretionary sentencing and drug treatment in reducing drug-related crime, and every leading expert body in criminal justice has opposed the use of mandatory minimum sentences, including the Sentencing Commission, the Judicial Conference, the American Bar Association, and leading criminal justice scholars. http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/HQpress/Fact%20Sheet%20Howard%20Convocation%20FINAL%20IH.pdf

Proposition 3: For each crime there should be a fixed minimum sentence Your opinion: tend to disagree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to disagree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website A RAND study found that mandatory minimum sentences are less effective than discretionary sentencing and drug treatment in reducing drug-related crime, and every leading expert body in criminal justice has opposed the use of mandatory minimum sentences, including the Sentencing Commission, the Judicial Conference, the American Bar Association, and leading criminal justice scholars. [...] Obama will immediately review these sentences to see where we can be smarter on crime and reduce the ineffective warehousing of non-violent drug offenders. http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/HQpress/Fact%20Sheet%20Howard%20Convocation%20FINAL%20IH.pdf

Top

---

Education (92%) agreement

Proposition 1: Better teachers should be paid higher wages than their colleagues Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: completely agree Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website Pay Teachers More: Barack Obama wants to make a promise to educators -- if you're a teacher or a principal doing the hard work of educating our children, we will reward that work with the salary increase that you deserve. If you're willing to take on more responsibilities like mentoring, we'll pay you more. And if you excel at helping your students achieve success, your success will be valued and rewarded as well. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/

Proposition 2: Creationism should be taught in science classes in school Your opinion: completely disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Website candidate's former or current post / roll call behaviour On science and faith in the classroom: "Intelligent design is not science. We should teach our children theology to get them to think about the meaning of life. But that's separate from how atoms or photons work." http://obama.senate.gov/news/060118-obama_townhall/index.php

Proposition 3: More government funding should go into public schools, not to education vouchers Your opinion: tend to agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Candidate's book, columns or other publications Conservatives argue that the problems in schools are caused by bureaucracies and teachers' unions; and that the only solution is to hand out vouchers. Those on the left find themselves defending an indefensible status quo, insisting that more spending will improve education. Both assumptions are wrong. Money does matter in education. But there is no denying that the way many public schools are managed poses at least as big a problem as how well they're funded. Our task is to identify those reforms that have the highest impact on achievement, fund them, and eliminate those programs that don't produce results. We are going to have to take the teaching profession seriously. This means paying teachers what they are worth. There is no reason why an experienced, highly qualified teacher shouldn't earn $100,000. In exchange for more money, teachers need to become more accountable for their performances, and school districts need to have greater ability to get rid of ineffective teachers. Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.161-163 Oct 1, 2006

Top

---

Terrorism (83%) agreement

Proposition 1: Anti-terrorism legislation, such as the Patriot Act, unacceptably violates civil liberties Your opinion: completely agree Opinion Barack Obama: tend to agree Debate transcripts But what we cannot continue to do is operate as if we are the weakest nation in the world instead of the strongest one, because that's not who we are. And that's not what America has been about historically, and it is starting to warp our domestic policies, as well. We haven't even talked about civil liberties and the impact of that politics of fear, what that has done to us in terms of undermining basic civil liberties in this country, what it has done in terms of our reputation around the world. Democratic Debate Philadelphia MSNBC 30-9-2007 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30debate-transcript.html?pagewanted=print

Proposition 2: Some form of torture is acceptable if it can prevent terrorist attacks Your opinion: tend to disagree Opinion Barack Obama: completely disagree Other websites and news sources "I have been consistent in my strong belief that no Administration should allow the use of torture, including so-called 'enhanced interrogation techniques' like water-boarding, head-slapping, and extreme temperatures. It's time that we had a Department of Justice that upholds the rule of law and American values, instead of finding ways to enable the President to subvert them. No more political parsing or legal loopholes. I cannot support Judge Mukasey unless he clearly and unequivocally rejects techniques like water-boarding." Barack Obama in: http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/10/obama.php

Proposition 3:
Iraq is just one front in a broader fight against Islamic terrorism

Your opinion:	completely disagree
Opinion Barack Obama:	completely disagree

Issues and plans from candidate's campaign website

"OBAMA’S VISION OF AMERICAN SECURITY IN THE 21st CENTURY. 1. ENDING THE WAR IN IRAQ 2. RESTORE OUR MILITARY 3. SECURE AND STOP THE SPREAD OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION" http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Foreign%20Policy.pdf " Barack Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning. In 2002, as the conventional thinking in Washington lined up for war, Obama had the judgment and courage to speak out against the war. He said the war would lead to "an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs and undetermined consequences." In January 2007, Obama introduced legislation to responsibly end the war in Iraq, with a phased withdrawal of troops engaged in combat operations. As the nation debates how to move forward in Iraq, Obama laid out his plan to end the war, as well as his vision for what America can achieve once we turn the page in Iraq. " http://my.barackobama.com/page/-/pdf/Fact%20Sheet%20Iraq%20Final.pdf

Speech transcripts