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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Becca Balint: Recognize the fundamental right of reproductive choice.     Alberto Gonzales: Apply law when personally opposed, like parental permission.     Arnold Schwarzenegger: Supports parental notification, with limits.     Beto O`Rourke: VA must cover full spectrum of women's reproductive care.     Dick Cheney: In Congress: No exceptions in the case of rape or incest.     Eddie Melton: Lets abortion bill become law, recognizes fundamental right.     Elizabeth Dole: Good & honorable people disagree-move on to other issues.     Mitt Romney: Now firmly pro-life, despite 2002 tolerance for abortion.     Rand Paul: Supports "Plan B" morning-after contraception.     Rudy Giuliani: Pro-choice; no ban on partial-birth abortions.     Wesley Clark: Undecided on partial-birth abortion.

Budget & Economy     George W. Bush: Bush ties growing economy to his tax cuts.     George W. Bush: A biennial budget will avoid budget gridlock.     Jesse Ventura: Government spending hurts the economy.     Jim DeMint: $13T in debt shows both parties are out of control.     John Edwards: $100B economic stimulus package for green infrastructure.     John Edwards: Long-term growth come from strengthening middle class.     John Kerry: Kerry pledges 10 million new jobs & to slow outsourcing.     Kendrick Meek: Grow the economy rather than applying ideology.     Wesley Clark: Fiscal responsibility means no long-term deficit.

Civil Rights     Arnold Schwarzenegger: Domestic partnership but not gay marriage.     Beto O`Rourke: Upgrade records of LGBTQ vets who were discharged.     Bill Bradley: Posting Ten Commandments in schools seems unconstitutional.     Dick Cheney: Voted against ERA in 1983.     Ezola Foster: Confederate battle flag should be honored.     Gary Bauer: Posting Ten Commandments will reduce crime.     George W. Bush: Condemns anti-Semitic comments of Dallas NAACP president.     Hillary Clinton: Gays deserve domestic partnership benefits.     Jack Conway: Claims Paul questions Civil Rights Act and the ADA.     Matt Lieberman: We need a Voting Rights Act for the 21st century.     Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Study social distancing practices while protecting privacy.     Oprah Winfrey: Credits the civil rights movement for her pathway to success.     Paul LePage: Confederate monuments are about a war for land.     Pope Francis: Christians owe apologies to gays and others.     Sam Clovis: Science on homosexuality is unsettled; behavior is a choice.     Sonia Sotomayor: Wise Latina woman reaches better conclusion than white male.     Steve Forbes: Posting Ten Commandments is ‘a positive thing'.     Perry Johnson: Leftists drives wedges among us in dealing with race.

Corporations     Dick Cheney: Cheney claims no influence on Halliburton contracts.     John Edwards: No cut in corporate tax rates; change incentives instead.

Crime     George W. Bush: Use DNA evidence for death penalty cases.     George W. Bush: Bush grants 30-day death row reprieve for first time.     George W. Bush: Tough love means consequences for committing crimes.     Jesse Ventura: Presidential pardons: if you don't like it change the system.

Drugs     Andrew Cuomo: Decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.     Arnold Schwarzenegger: No legalization except for the medicinal use of marijuana.     Howard Dean: Evaluate marijuana & legalize for valid medical purposes.     Tom Vilsack: Notes the revenue potential of an acre of marijuana.

Education     Al Gore: $36B for tuition after saving Medicare & Social Security.     Alan Keyes: Let God into schools to keep Columbine shooters out.     Arnold Schwarzenegger: Supports school prayer.     Arnold Schwarzenegger: Supports limited school vouchers.     Dick Cheney: Voted against Head Start, and against Dept. of Education.     Elizabeth Dole: Decisions on teaching evolution should be made locally.     Ezola Foster: Schools are failing; need more money & less government.     Gary Bauer: For school prayer & Ten Commandments in schools.     George W. Bush: Evolution & creationism both valid; let states decide.     George W. Bush: Pushes OPTIONS for private schools; without saying VOUCHERS.     Jim DeMint: Devolve education to states without abolishing Department.     John McCain: Decisions on teaching evolution should be made locally.     Maggie Hassan: As governor, I froze college tuition.     Rudy Giuliani: Sell Board of Ed HQ to shrink it.     Steve Forbes: Textbook illustrations on evolution "a massive fraud".     Steve Forbes: Columbine shooting shows need for morality in schools.     Ted Kennedy: Steadfast opponent of vouchers.

Energy & Oil     Al Gore: Use oil reserves so heat doesn’t become a luxury.     Charles Booker: Refers to Green New Deal as "Kentucky New Deal".     George W. Bush: Look for oil in US rather than tap into emergency reserves.     John Kerry: Encourage fuel efficient cars & use reserves in short-term.     Mark Kelly: Trump withdrawal from Paris Accords sets back U.S. progress.     Rev. Jesse Jackson: We need Senate to pass a climate bill & end oil subsidies.     Wesley Clark: Establish redline of protection in places like ANWR.     Kamala Harris: 2010s: Sued Big Oil; no climate change disinformation.

Environment     Al Gore: Vow to protect environment from special interests.     Chris Christie: Ethanol in gasoline is the law; and that's just the minimum.     Dick Cheney: Voted against Clean Water Act and air pollution sanctions.     Jeb Bush: Let the market decide on RFS' ethanol in gasoline.     Mike Huckabee: Ethanol mandate is a matter of national security.     Rick Perry: Ethanol waiver in Texas but not in Iowa: let states decide.     Rick Santorum: Ethanol mandate brings jobs & energy independence.     Scott Walker: Keep ethanol mandate until oil companies allow free market.     Ted Cruz: Don't pick winners & losers like RFS' ethanol in gasoline.

Families & Children     Hillary Clinton: Caution in treating preschoolers with psychiatric drugs.     John McCain: Violence in media caused Littleton shootings.     Sam Clovis: Same-sex marriage could lead to legalizing pedophilia.

Foreign Policy     Donald Trump: FactCheck: Yes, nuke deal sent planeloads of cash to Iran.     Francis Suarez: Asks "What's a Uyghur?" during interview .

Free Trade     Steve Forbes: Supports Fast Track presidential trade authority.

Government Reform     Dan Quayle: Replace ‘Legal Aristocracy’ with pro-morality judges.     Ed Markey: Ok with outside PAC ads, if positive ads.     Elizabeth Dole: Dole withdraws from race; cites campaign finance.     Gary Bauer: No campaign contributions from Hollywood.     George W. Bush: No government takeover of campaign finance.     George W. Bush: Make govt citizen-centered, results-oriented & market-based.     Gerry Connolly: Investigate election fraud in NC-9 district race.     Hillary Clinton: Soft money ban & independent ad ban for Senate campaign.     Jesse Ventura: Avoiding candidate debates cheats the American public.     Jesse Ventura: Get money out of politics, could be better spent elsewhere.     Jesse Ventura: We need to upgrade our voting process.     Jim DeMint: Earmarks are how lobbyists grease the skids.     Joe Kennedy III: Supports People's Pledge: no outside PAC spending.     John McCain: Campaign Finance: ban both labor union & corporate donations.     John McCain: Politicans poll, posture, & influence-peddle.     John McCain: CFR passes Senate; focus on House, not court challenges.     Julia Letlow: Would have objected to certification of president election.     Ralph Nader: Concentrated party power weakens democracy.     Roy Moore: Presidents should show birth certificates; question Obama's.     Larry Elder: Set up voter integrity website in 2021 recall election .

Gun Control     Arnold Schwarzenegger: Close the gun show loophole.     Bill Bradley: Ban inexpensive “junk” handguns.     Bill Bradley: Register guns; limit buyers to one per month.     Dick Cheney: Voted against banning plastic bullets & cop-killer bullets.     Gary Bauer: New gun laws won't prevent Littleton.     George W. Bush: Gun show checks OK; ban guns near schools & kids.     Hillary Clinton: License and register all handgun sales.     Jeb Bush: Reduce gun violence and protect 2nd Amendment.     Jesse Ventura: It's up to gun owners to ensure their weapons aren't misused.     Marjorie Taylor Greene: Confronted Parkland shooting survivor on radical gun control.     Steve Bullock: Background checks & age restrictions to reduce gun violence.     Tom Price: Gun ownership protects those at scene of crime.     Tom Steyer: Targets youth voter registration for pro gun control votes.     Tom Vilsack: Start conversation with a respect for the 2nd Amendment.

Health Care     Beto O`Rourke: Expand health care benefits and support for veterans.     Bill Gates: $100M for AIDS research; focus on poor countries.     George W. Bush: Modernize Medicare and give prescription help to seniors.     George W. Bush: Reinvent Medicare's bureaucracy.     Jo Rae Perkins: No masks; I don't need to be a doctor--I know how to read.     Sonia Sotomayor: Insurers must pay benefits even when sued by beneficiary.

Homeland Security     Dick Cheney: In Congress, consistently voted to raise military spending.     Dick Cheney: If Bush not elected, great danger of terrorist attack.     George W. Bush: Lack of details makes Bush SDI & START policy same as Gore's.     Tommy Thompson: Maintain vigilance against terrorism.     Wesley Clark: Talk about gays in military, but don't open the door.

Immigration     Al Gore: Citizenship for 1.2M cleared backlog, but sacrificed quality.     Al Sharpton: Current immigration law is discriminatory.     Arnold Schwarzenegger: No driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.     Beto O`Rourke: Military service as pathway to citizenship for immigrants.     Donald Trump: OpEd: businesses & Republicans condemn anti-Mexico terms.     Ezola Foster: Restrict immigration; support CA Prop. 187.     George Pataki: Practical policy: legal residency after 200 hours of service.

Jobs     Al Gore: Preserve free-flows, pristine peaks, & salmon fisheries.     Elizabeth Dole: Stabilize farm economy by increasing farm exports.     Rev. Jesse Jackson: 3.2M green jobs that can't be shipped overseas.     Sonia Sotomayor: 1995: OK'd free-agent system; ending baseball strike.

Principles & Values     Al Gore: Gore affirms his commitment to working people.     Alberto Gonzales: Wants to build upon Ashcroft’s record.     Bill Clinton: Repaying $85,000 in gifts to avoid impropriety.     Charlie Crist: I would have left GOP anyway; they're too extreme.     Charlie Crist: We need open-mindedness in a Senator, not ideology.     Dan McCready: Lost 2018 election by 905 votes, but NC investigating fraud.     Donald Trump: Mueller Report documents 77 lies by Trump campaign.     Donald Trump: Avoiding candidate debates cheats the American public.     Donald Trump: Lost 2000 Reform primary to Pat Buchanan and John Hagelin.     Eddie Melton: First Republican governor to support impeachment probe.     Hillary Clinton: National experience & ability to get along will serve NY.     Hillary Clinton: Support minimum wage & more teachers, in Senate or out.     Hillary Clinton: No problems with presidential transition; resolved by Xmas.     Jack Conway: TV ad: Rand Paul made fun of Christianity and Christ.     Jack Conway: FactCheck: "Aqua Buddha" TV ad is accurate but over the top.     Jack Conway: TV ad: Accuser is anonymous, but a Mr. Green says it's true.     Jesse Ventura: Encouraged Trump in 2000 Reform primary, but didn't endorse.     Jesse Ventura: Independent governor means not having to hire party cronies.     Jesse Ventura: It can be detrimental for a politician to be honest.     Jim DeMint: I'd prefer conservative principles than a Senate majority.     John Edward Walsh: AdWatch: "Where's Walsh-o" website: "Walsh is hard to find".     Kelli Ward: Urged anti-closure protestors to dress as health workers.     Lisa Murkowski: Not conservative enough for Tea Party, but I am for Alaska.     Lisa Murkowski: Running against Tea Party to give Alaskans a choice.     Mark Harris: Won 2018 election by 905 votes, but NC investigating fraud.     Ralph Nader: Pushed consumer protection in "Nader's Raiders".     Sharron Angle: Don't let Sharia law take hold anywhere in our United States.

Social Security     Al Gore: Use balanced budget to save Social Security, not Wall Street.     Al Gore: Bush didn’t know Soc.Sec.is federal; don’t trust him with it.     Jeb Bush: Allow diverting over 10% to private savings accounts.     John Kasich: Fix Social Security by lowering benefits.

Tax Reform     Arnold Schwarzenegger: Pledges against raising taxes, except in emergencies.     Beto O`Rourke: War tax on non-military households to support vet healthcare.     Dick Gephardt: Crazy to cut taxes without creating a budget first.     Jesse Ventura: Supported Bush tax cuts; it was over-taxation money.     Marco Rubio: No one should pay higher taxes in recession, not even top 2%.     Sonia Sotomayor: Some trust fees should be only partly tax deductible.     Tom Steyer: Tax reform bill keeps the rich happy but hurts middle class.     Wesley Clark: Tax cut is a cut in essential services.

Technology     Anthony Kennedy: Newspapers may not electronically reprint without permission.     Antonin Scalia: Newspapers may not electronically reprint without permission.     Clarence Thomas: Newspapers may not electronically reprint without permission.     David Souter: Newspapers may not electronically reprint without permission.     John Paul Stevens: Newspapers may electronically reprint without permission.     Pat Buchanan: Use anti-trust to fight social poison of media monopolies.     Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Newspapers may not electronically reprint without permission.     Sandra Day O`Connor: Newspapers may not electronically reprint without permission.     Sonia Sotomayor: Newspapers may electronically reprint without permission.     Stephen Breyer: Newspapers may electronically reprint without permission.     William Rehnquist: Newspapers may not electronically reprint without permission.

War & Peace     Al Gore: Don’t let OPEC take advantage of Americans.     Elizabeth Dole: Too many politicians made responses too slow.     John Kasich: Destroy ISIS, with US troops as part of coalition.     John Kerry: Word "atrocity" is too strong, though it reflected anger.     John Kerry: Hunting Osama-not Saddam-should be priority.     John Kerry: Meant to bash Bush, but ending up bashing soldiers in Iraq.     Mitt Romney: Withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake.     Steve Forbes: Supports bombing; supports arming the Kosovars.     Ted Kennedy: Fraudulent threat from Iraq was made up in Texas.

Welfare & Poverty     Jack Conway: Claims Paul would end federal faith-based initiatives.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Al Gore Democrat Al Sharpton Democrat Alan Keyes Republican Alberto Gonzales Cabinet-2008 Andrew Cuomo New York Democratic Governor Anthony Kennedy Republican Appointee to Supreme Court (retired) Antonin Scalia Republican Appointee to Supreme Court (deceased 2016) Arnold Schwarzenegger California Former Republican Governor (2003-2010) Becca Balint Democrat U.S. Rep Vermont-AL Beto O`Rourke Texas Democratic candidate for Governor; U.S. Rep Bill Bradley Democratic Senator (Former) New Jersey Bill Clinton Democrat Bill Gates Charles Booker Democratic Senate Challenger Kentucky Charlie Crist Florida Democratic Governor Challenger Chris Christie New Jersey N.J. Governor; Republican Presidential candidate Clarence Thomas Republican Appointee to Supreme Court Dan McCready Democrat U.S. Rep North Carolina-9 Dan Quayle David Souter Republican Appointee to Supreme Court (retired 2009) Dick Cheney Former Republican Vice President Dick Gephardt Democrat Donald Trump Republican former President Ed Markey Democratic Jr Senator Massachusetts Eddie Melton Indiana Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger Elizabeth Dole North Carolina Former Cabinet Member (Labor Sec'y) and Senator Ezola Foster Francis Suarez Florida Miami mayor; GOP presidential challenger (withdrew Oct.2023) Gary Bauer George Pataki New York Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush Republican Gerry Connolly Democrat U.S. Rep Virginia-11 Hillary Clinton Democratic Presidential candidate Howard Dean Democrat Jack Conway Kentucky Democratic 2015 Gubernatorial candidate Jeb Bush Florida Former FL Governor; Republican Presidential candidate Jesse Ventura Minnesota Former Minnesota Independent Governor Jim DeMint Republican Jr Senator; previously Representative South Carolina Jo Rae Perkins Republican Senate Challenger Oregon Joe Kennedy III Democratic Senate challenger Massachusetts John Edward Walsh Democratic Senate Challenger Montana John Edwards Democrat John Kasich Ohio Republican Ohio Governor John Kerry Cabinet Climate Envoy John McCain Republican John Paul Stevens Republican Appointee to Supreme Court (retired 2010) Julia Letlow Republican U.S. Rep Louisiana-5 Kamala Harris California Democratic nominee;Vice President; former California Senator Kelli Ward Republican candidate for Arizona U.S. Senator Arizona Kendrick Meek 2010 Democratic Senate Challenger; currently US Rep. Florida Larry Elder California Republican presidential contender & talkshow host Lisa Murkowski Republican Sr Senator Alaska Maggie Hassan New Hampshire Democratic Governor Marco Rubio FL Senator; Republican Presidential candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene Republican U.S. Rep Georgia-14 Mark Harris Republican U.S. Rep North Carolina-9 Mark Kelly Democratic Jr Senator Arizona Matt Lieberman Democratic challenger for 2-year special election Georgia Michelle Lujan-Grisham New Mexico Democrat Mike Huckabee Arkansas Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney Massachusetts Former GOP Governor (2003-2006); Pres. candidate (2008) Oprah Winfrey Possible candidate for president 2020 Pat Buchanan Reform Paul LePage Maine Republican Governor candidate Perry Johnson Illinois CEO & Republican presidential challenger Pope Francis Leader of the Catholic Church Ralph Nader Green Rand Paul Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Rev. Jesse Jackson Rick Perry Texas Former Secretary of Energy Rick Santorum Republican Presidential candidate Roy Moore Republican candidate for Alabama U.S. Senator Alabama Rudy Giuliani New York Former Mayor of NYC Ruth Bader Ginsburg Former Democratic Appointee to Supreme Court Sam Clovis Republican Senate Challenger Iowa Sandra Day O`Connor Republican Appointee to Supreme Court (retired 2005) Scott Walker Wisconsin WI Governor; Republican Presidential candidate Sharron Angle Republican Senate Challenger Nevada Sonia Sotomayor Democratic Appointee to Supreme Court Stephen Breyer Democratic Appointee to Supreme Court Steve Bullock Montana Democratic Montana Governor Steve Forbes Ted Cruz Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Ted Kennedy Democratic Senator (until 2009) Massachusetts Tom Price Georgia Secretary of Health and Human Services-2017 Tom Steyer Possible Democratic candidate for President from California Tom Vilsack Iowa USDA Secretary Tommy Thompson Cabinet-2005 Wesley Clark Democrat William Rehnquist Republican Appointee to Supreme Court (until 2005)