VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (-3 points on Social scale)	Choose life even in case of rape or teenage pregnancy: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rejected sympathy for Down’s Syndrome son, as gift from God: Opposes topic 1 Opposes embryonic stem cell research: Opposes topic 1 Every baby is created with a future and potential: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Praised by pro-life groups for keeping Down syndrome baby: Opposes topic 1 Safe Haven bill: allow surrendering newborns without penalty: Favors topic 1 Adoption is best plan for permanency for foster care kids: Opposes topic 1 Pro-life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Choose life, even if her own daughter were raped: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Opposes use of public funds for abortions: Opposes topic 1 Pro-contraception, pro-woman, pro-life: Opposes topic 1 Only exception for abortion is if mother’s life would end: Opposes topic 1
Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	New feminism: pro-woman, pro-life sisterhood: Favors topic 2 Women's movement was "seat at table"; now "control table": Favors topic 2 I am a feminist, and grateful beneficiary of Title IX: Strongly Favors topic 2 Recognize Juneteenth to celebrate the end of slavery: Favors topic 2 Recognize Martin Luther King holiday: Favors topic 2 Value our cultural diversity: Favors topic 2 No special hate-crime laws; all heinous crime is hate-based: Opposes topic 2
Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-3 points on Social scale)	2006: No choice but to comply with same-sex partner benefits: Favors topic 3 College roommate openly lives in same-sex marriage: Favors topic 3 Respected court ruling allowing same-sex state benefits: Favors topic 3 Non-support of anything but traditional marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Vetoed bill denying benefits to gays, as unconstitutional: Favors topic 3 HIV/AIDS among Alaska Natives is public health crisis: Favors topic 3 Comply with same-sex partner benefits despite disagreement: Opposes topic 3 Marriage only between one man and one woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Special legislative session on same-sex health benefits: Opposes topic 3 Ok to deny benefits to homosexual couples: Strongly Opposes topic 3 No spousal benefits for same-sex couples: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Top priorities include preserving definition of “marriage”: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	1996: Gave evangelical churches access to city parks: Strongly Favors topic 4 Got churches to provide private aid for starving people: Strongly Favors topic 4 No state-mandated religion, but public faith is ok: Favors topic 4 Teach creationism alongside evolution in schools: Strongly Favors topic 4 Supports teaching intelligent design in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 4 Committed to providing strong education, including morals: Strongly Favors topic 4 Recognize Salvation Army and encourage charity to them: Favors topic 4 Faith-based materials ok in homeschooling: Favors topic 4 ABC method: back to basics, plus patriotism & ethics: Favors topic 4 Let parents opt out of schoolbooks they find offensive: Favors topic 4 Pledge of Allegiance with ‘Under God’ is good enough: Favors topic 4 Opposes explicit sex-education programs: Favors topic 4 Fought each Xmas as mayor to keep Jesus manger in Wasilla: Strongly Favors topic 4 Duck Dynasty: fired for expressing devout Christian views: Strongly Favors topic 4 Declare a National Day of Prayer in Alaska: Strongly Favors topic 4 The Bible has profoundly influenced America: Favors topic 4 Recognize America’s historic and founding Christian heritage: Favors topic 4
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	Health care must be market-and business-driven: Strongly Favors topic 5 Take personal responsibility for personal health & all areas: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Doctors should manage health care, not bureaucracies: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Doctors should manage health care, not bureaucracies: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Personal responsibility & choices key to good health: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Flexibility in government regulations to allow competition: Opposes topic 5 More affordable health care via competition: Strongly Favors topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Entitlement programs will consume entire budget by 2035: Favors topic 6 Allow some personal accounts for new enrollees: Strongly Favors topic 6 Sacrifice now to keep system for the future: Opposes topic 6 Fund the Seniors Longevity Bonus Program: Opposes topic 6
Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+2 points on Economic scale)	294 Alaska public schools progressed under NCLB: Favors topic 7 Supports charter schools, home schools, & other alternatives: Strongly Favors topic 7 Target early education programs to at-risk groups: Opposes topic 7 Supports parental choice for what is best for their children: Favors topic 7 Support charters & home schools; not private school vouchers: Favors topic 7 Parents know best, about school spending & school age: Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-5 points on Social scale)	Plenty of room for all animals--next to mashed potatoes: Strongly Favors topic 8 Hunting provides organic protein sources: Strongly Favors topic 8 Sues federal EPA for misusing Endangered Species Act: Strongly Favors topic 8 Shot her first rabbit at age 10; freezer filled with game: Strongly Favors topic 8 Opposed protections for salmon from mining contamination: Strongly Favors topic 8 Sue US government to stop listing polar bear as endangered: Strongly Favors topic 8 We must encourage timber, mining, drilling, & fishing: Strongly Favors topic 8 Wolf predator control is important for subsistence hunters: Favors topic 8 Feds shouldn’t list beluga whales as endangered: Strongly Favors topic 8 Fish platform: “Resource First” philosophy: Strongly Favors topic 8 Supports “Roads to Resources”: subsidized access to mines: Strongly Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale)	Establish “FBI Day” to support fighting global crime: Favors topic 9 Register sex offenders; & investigate internet sex crimes: Favors topic 9 Victims’ rights are critical to “justice for all”: Favors topic 9 We are tough on crime and beefing up law enforcement: Favors topic 9 Collect DNA samples from felons: Strongly Favors topic 9 Maximum sentence for first-degree murder by police: Favors topic 9 If legislature passed death penalty law, I would sign it: Strongly Favors topic 9 Strong public safety presence, via police, courts & prisons: Strongly Favors topic 9 Death penalty for adults who murder children: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Gun laws just take away the good guys' freedom: Strongly Favors topic 10 1996: Allow concealed carry in bars, banks, & schools: Strongly Favors topic 10 Hunts as much as she can; freezer-full of wild game: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports ending D.C.’s 32-year-old ban on handguns: Strongly Favors topic 10 Lifelong NRA member & champion of right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports Constitutional right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10
Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Core GOP belief is limited government and limited taxation: Strongly Opposes topic 11 ACES: equitable share of oil profits go to state: Favors topic 11 Raising taxes hurts small business and hurts jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Elected mayor based on tax cut promise: Strongly Opposes topic 11 As mayor, cut property taxes & increased sales tax: Favors topic 11 Windfall oil profits tax prevents investment: Opposes topic 11 $60M annually for municipal revenue sharing: Opposes topic 11 Eliminate taxes that inhibit business: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Repeal “nuisance taxes” including the tire tax: Favors topic 11 Encourage small business growth by reducing business taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 No income tax; no taking the people’s dividends: Opposes topic 11 Would support a seasonal sales tax, but no income tax: Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Supports a path to citizenship, but no amnesty for illegals: Strongly Favors topic 12 Has not often expressed views on illegal immigration: Neutral on topic 12 OpEd: Palin is sick to death of this immigration nonsense: Opposes topic 12 Address jointly with Canada the border security challenges: Neutral on topic 12 Immigrants want more vocational training & senior assistance: Neutral on topic 12 Took no action on Alaska’s “sanctuary cities”: Favors topic 12 Tightened restrictions on illegal alien’s drivers licenses: Opposes topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Trade important to Alaska, but keep Alaska residents first: Opposes topic 13 Allow wineries to ship by mail within state: Favors topic 13 International markets and companies trust Alaska: Favors topic 13 Record-high exports; growth of 12.6% since last year: Favors topic 13 Firm believer in free market capitalism: Favors topic 13
No opinion on topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale)	Vouchers for veterans' health care outside the VA system: Favors topic 15 Muslim jihadists threaten our way of life: Favors topic 15 Strong military and sound energy: Strongly Favors topic 15 Ask all candidates “Are you doing all you can for security?”: Favors topic 15 Obligation to support our troops, even if criticizing war: Favors topic 15 Promote from within, in Alaska’s National Guard: Favors topic 15 Let military personnel know how much we support them: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Criminal penalty if vote traded for campaign contribution: Favors topic 16 McCain: She’s a soul-mate who implemented ethics reform: Favors topic 16 VECO scandal & Stevens indictment shows need for GOP cleanup: Favors topic 16 Comprehensive ethics reform: change politics as usual: Strongly Favors topic 16 Presented comprehensive ethics bill in early 2007: Favors topic 16 Unions should get member permission for political donations: Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Yes, we can kill our way to victory in the Mideast: Opposes topic 17 It's a "war", not an "overseas contingency operation": Favors topic 17 Tough sanctions on Iran: Favors topic 17 Responsibility to complete mission until we win: Strongly Opposes topic 17 No white flag of surrender on Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Retreat is defeat in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 McCain: She has right judgment on Iran and the surge: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Visited Alaska National Guard troops in Kuwait: Opposes topic 17 Generally supportive of America’s presence in Iraq: Opposes topic 17 We don’t know what the plan is to ever end the war: Favors topic 17 Armed forces, including my son, give us security and freedom: Opposes topic 17 Wants exit plan; also assurances to keep our troops safe: Favors topic 17 We have not been attacked since 2001; so support our troops: Opposes topic 17 I support the mission of our troops in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Our troops in Iraq keep us safe at home: Strongly Opposes topic 17 I support President Bush’s efforts to stop terrorism: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Drill here and drill now; axe the cap-and-tax plan: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Renewable Energy Fund for hydropower, wind, biomass: Strongly Favors topic 18 Sued ExxonMobil to drill next to ANWR, or give up lease: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Nonsensical to leave domestic supply untapped: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Produce more of our own oil & gas, for national security: Opposes topic 18 Resource rebate: suspend AK 8-cent fuel tax for one year: Opposes topic 18 Lift moratorium on offshore drilling: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Exxon-Mobil should pay $507 million for Exxon Valdez spill: Favors topic 18 Energy relief plan: $100 per person monthly, for oil & gas: Opposes topic 18 $250M for proven alternative energy, including wind & hydro: Strongly Favors topic 18 Fund cellulosic biofuel research in Farm Bill: Strongly Favors topic 18 Convince the rest of the nation to open ANWR: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Goal of 50% of Alaska electric power from renewable sources: Favors topic 18 Commercialize Alaska’s North Slope natural gas: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Agrees with Obama on more Alaska oil & gas production: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Unlock ANWR; we’re ready, willing and able to contribute: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Bush is right: drill ANWR & develop our own supplies: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Stranded Gas Development Act no longer applies: Opposes topic 18 Get ANWR open: Strongly Opposes topic 18 I do support capping carbon emissions: Favors topic 18 Global warming affects Alaska, but is not man-made: Strongly Opposes topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Rejected making Wasilla bars close earlier than 5 AM: Opposes topic 19 Highway fatalities down because of strict drunk driving laws: Favors topic 19 Maintain alcohol sale database; bar giving alcohol to minors: Favors topic 19 Opposes legalizing marijuana, but meth is greater threat: Strongly Favors topic 19 Smoked marijuana when it was legal under Alaska law: Opposes topic 19 Top priorities include gangs & drugs; they harm family life: Strongly Favors topic 19
Strongly Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	First priority for GOP Congress: rein in spending: Opposes topic 20 Everybody benefits when government takes less: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Raising taxes hurts small business and hurts jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 20

Sarah Palin is a Moderate Conservative
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