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[Click on a diamond in the grid for full quotations. Key for diamonds]:
 | Libertarian view; typically focusing on non-governmental solutions and private decision-making.
|  | Liberal or leftist view; typically focusing on helping needy members of society, and using government to achieve societal good.
|  | Populist or progressive view; typically focusing on local solutions instead of federal action, on decentralizing power, and on religion as the basis for societal good.
|  | Conservative or rightist view; typically focusing on fiscal frugality, strength abroad, and moral integrity.
|  | Centrist or mixed view; typically focusing on reforming or amending existing institutions rather than replacing them.
|  | No view; the candidate does not have a sufficient record on the issue to judge his stance.
| | This scheme, known as the "Political Diamond", relies on an analysis in two dimensions, social and economic, rather than the typical one-dimensional right-left axis.
A complete description can be found on the Self-Government web site.
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Abortion
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Right to choose; partial birth ok |
Huckabee: Outlaw all abortions |
Paul: Life begins at conception; no stem cells |
| Clinton: Safe, legal & rare |
Keyes: Strongly pro-life |
Romney: Sanctity of life; but was pro-choice |
| Obama: Yes on Roe; yes on stem cells |
McCain: Pro-life |
Nader: Let women decide |
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Budget & Economy
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Roll back tax cuts |
Huckabee: Cut federal spending; defer to states |
Paul: Return to gold standard; deregulate economy |
| Clinton: Balance budget; pay down debt |
Keyes: Limit spending |
Romney: Cut deficit; reduce pork; cap spending |
| Obama: Pay-as-you-go; regulate mortgages |
McCain: Balance budget; Lockbox. |
Nader: Human economy is not booming |
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Civil Rights
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Aff. Action; no DOMA |
Huckabee: No civil unions; no affirmative action |
Paul: No affirmative action; no Marriage Amendment |
| Clinton: Pro-gay rights & women's rights |
Keyes: Anti-gay rights & aff.action |
Romney: No gay marriage; help women & minorities |
| Obama: Strong civil unions & affirmative action |
McCain: Anti-quota; for Flag protection |
Nader: Pro-gay; pro-privacy; pro-women |
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Corporations
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Attack corporate indifference |
Huckabee: Support marketplace |
Paul: Supports bankruptcy reform |
| Clinton: Limit bankruptcies; end corporate welfare |
Keyes: Protect workers against elite |
Romney: Close loopholes; protect smaller companies |
| Obama: Close loopholes; reward domestic jobs |
McCain: Restrict corporations some |
Nader: Shift power to consumers |
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Crime
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: No 3 Strikes; death penalty ok |
Huckabee: Ok on death penalty; not 3 Strikes |
Paul: Against death penalty; against hate crime laws |
| Clinton: 3 Strikes ok; DNA required |
Keyes: Death; no hate crimes |
Romney: Death penalty; One Strike you're out |
| Obama: Alternate sentencing; restrict death penalty |
McCain: Death; more prisons; less parole |
Nader: Focus on prevention; no death penalty |
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Drugs
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Drug courts; reasonable sentences |
Huckabee: Punishment over education |
Paul: War on Drugs is a failure |
| Clinton: Treatment & drug courts |
Keyes: More penalties |
Romney: Fight for drug war |
| Obama: Understand drug abuse |
McCain: More border; more penalties |
Nader: Stop prohibition |
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Education
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: No vouchers; more teachers |
Huckabee: Teach character; support charters |
Paul: Close Dept. of Ed.; tax credit for parochials |
| Clinton: Support public schools; no vouchers |
Keyes: No public monopoly; yes school prayer |
Romney: Vouchers over teachers' unions |
| Obama: Merit pay; free college |
McCain: More testing; more prayer; vouchers |
Nader: Invest in public education; teach citizenship |
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Energy & Oil
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Higher CAFE; no ANWR |
Huckabee: Increase oil; Kyoto was mistake |
Paul: No to CAFE; yes to ANWR drilling |
| Clinton: Ratify Kyoto; use hydrogen |
Keyes: Exploit ANWR; end Kyoto & CAFE |
Romney: Drill ANWR; develop nuclear & coal |
| Obama: Increase CAFE; alternative energy |
McCain: No ANWR; no on Bush energy plan |
Nader: More funds; less cars |
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Environment
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: No forest roads; reduce CO2 |
Huckabee: Conservation; caretaking; clean up |
Paul: Focus on property rights; ban Yucca ads |
| Clinton: Fund EPA & clean air |
Keyes: Marketable pollution credits |
Romney: Tough on Big Dig; focus on clean environment |
| Obama: Protect National Parks; reduce mercury |
McCain: End farm subsidies; expand CWA |
Nader: More funds; more rules |
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Families & Children
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Help working parents |
Huckabee: Covenant marriage; teach morality |
Paul: No state overriding parental decisions |
| Clinton: It takes a village to raise a child |
Keyes: Moral breakdown of families |
Romney: Strengthen families |
| Obama: Teach sex-ed; listen to evangelicals |
McCain: Labeling for parents; blame media |
Nader: Corporate TV hurts kids |
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Foreign Policy
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Focus on open society |
Huckabee: Non-intervention; support Israel |
Paul: Humble foreign policy instead of empire |
| Clinton: Focus on peace |
Keyes: "Anti-China, Anti-UN" |
Romney: Foster democracy with resolve, not arrogance |
| Obama: Strengthen NATO; more foreign aid |
McCain: Assertive multilateralism |
Nader: Interventionist with support, not arms |
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Free Trade
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: No NAFTA; but PNTR ok |
Huckabee: Trust marketplace; subsidize farms |
Paul: Sovereignty instead of NAFTA & WTO |
| Clinton: Humanization plus globalization |
Keyes: Out of WTO; defend sovereignty |
Romney: Open markets abroad |
| Obama: No CAFTA; fair trade |
McCain: Open trade; WTO ok |
Nader: Pro-immgrant; anti-globalization |
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Government Reform
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Limit lobbyists; public cmpn finance |
Huckabee: Strengthen states; term limits |
Paul: No earmarks; close non-Constitutional agencies |
| Clinton: Soft-money ban; govt not solution |
Keyes: Decrease campaign $; more disclosure |
Romney: For line-item veto; against McCain-Feingold |
| Obama: Public campaign finance; limit lobbyists |
McCain: Anti-influence peddling |
Nader: Remove corporate influences |
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Gun Control
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: 2nd Amendment with rules |
Huckabee: Supports 2nd amendment fully |
Paul: No gun bans; allow concealed carry |
| Clinton: More restrictions |
Keyes: No more laws; more morals |
Romney: Ok to ban some lethal weapons |
| Obama: Restrict guns; allow suing gunmakers |
McCain: More gun laws; more gun rights |
Nader: More restrictions; some bans |
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Health Care
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Cover every child; anti-HMOs |
Huckabee: Focus on prevention & consumers |
Paul: Against mandated insurance & managed care |
| Clinton: Universal coverage |
Keyes: No right-to-die; no health I.D. |
Romney: State-based plans with mandates plus market |
| Obama: Focus on affordability; focus on AIDS |
McCain: Patient rights; limit HMOs |
Nader: Cradle-to-grave non-profit system |
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Homeland Security
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: More $; no base closures |
Huckabee: Expand armed forces; close Guantanamo |
Paul: Protect habeas corpus; avoid draft |
| Clinton: Ban nuke tests; SDI ok |
Keyes: Less entangled;SDI; strike terrorists |
Romney: Wiretap mosques; double Guantanamo |
| Obama: Close Gitmo; address VA; grow military |
McCain: More pay; SDI; more engaged |
Nader: Reduce weapons & overseas troops |
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Immigration
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Earned legalization |
Huckabee: Send illegals home; but not kids |
Paul: Bilingualism yes; amnesty no; border fence yes |
| Clinton: Comprehensive reform & guest workers |
Keyes: Defend borders; oppose amnesty |
Romney: No tuition breaks; but no job enforcement |
| Obama: Path to citizenship; comprehensive reform |
McCain: Comprehensive reform |
Nader: Pro-immgrant; anti-globalization |
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Jobs
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Raise min. wage; protect unions |
Huckabee: Subsidize farms; unions over CEOs |
Paul: No minimum wage increase; no farm subsidies |
| Clinton: Living wage |
Keyes: No gov't jobs; yes family farms |
Romney: Farm subsidies; incentives for training |
| Obama: Living wage; support unions |
McCain: No subsidies; yes workfare |
Nader: Reduce pay gap |
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Principles & Values
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Two Americas |
Huckabee: Character IS the issue; support culture of life |
Paul: No dictating behavior; yes limited government |
| Clinton: New Democrat |
Keyes: Unalienable rights under God |
Romney: Learns from mistakes; ran Olympics; Mormon |
| Obama: Yes we can; Audacity of Hope |
McCain: Set an example |
Nader: New Populism: power corrupts |
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Social Security
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Protect it; no diversions |
Huckabee: Personal accounts but not privatized |
Paul: Personal accounts; let young opt out |
| Clinton: Preserve protections |
Keyes: Privatize; Lock-box |
Romney: Private accounts; honor commitments |
| Obama: No privatization; raise cap |
McCain: Lockbox & privatize |
Nader: Against privatization |
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Tax Reform
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Repeal tax cuts for rich |
Huckabee: Supports FairTax; simplify taxes |
Paul: End income tax; but no flat tax |
| Clinton: Say no to GOP tax cuts |
Keyes: Abolish IRS & income tax |
Romney: Tax cuts raise revenues; fees ok |
| Obama: End Bush tax cuts; keep estate tax |
McCain: Simplify & reduce taxes |
Nader: Keep progressivity; raise corporate taxes |
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Technology
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Promote Internet |
Huckabee: Tax Internet; TV indecency rules |
Paul: No network neutrality; no Fairness Doctrine |
| Clinton: Bridge digital divide |
Keyes: Regulate TV; fund NASA |
Romney: Invest in infrastructure; expect change |
| Obama: More R&D $; invest in transportation |
McCain: No Internet tax; yes porn filters |
Nader |
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War & Peace
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Voted for Iraq; get NATO involved |
Huckabee: Stay in Iraq; talk to Iran; fight jihadists |
Paul: Iraq war is illegal; talk to Iran |
| Clinton: Authorized Iraq war; redeploy now |
Keyes: Win in Iraq & war on terror |
Romney: Stay in Iraq until secret withdrawal |
| Obama: Leave Iraq carefully but quickly |
McCain: Yes on Iraq war; then & now |
Nader: Iraq war is for oil |
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Welfare & Poverty
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| Democrats |
Republicans |
GOP/Green |
| Edwards: Cities Rising: $ for EITC |
Huckabee: Charitable Choice & faith-based providers |
Paul: No faith-based initiatives; yes Section 8 |
| Clinton: Raise minimum wage |
Keyes: Solve social ills with family & faith |
Romney: Supports workfare |
| Obama: Help welfare recipients; engage faith |
McCain: Pro workfare; pro block grants |
Nader: Pro-union; anti-big business |
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