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VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Abortion is a woman's choice, not a political statement: Strongly Favors topic 1 Personal choice is best for abortion's moral decision: Favors topic 1 Federal government should protect reproductive freedom: Strongly Favors topic 1 Abortion is moral question decided by woman, not government: Strongly Favors topic 1 Offered anti-abortion clinic help away from abortion clinic: Opposes topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Government investment can help minority businesses: Favors topic 2 As mayor, renamed main street as Martin Luther King Blvd: Favors topic 2 Address racial divide by showing up & building trust: Favors topic 2 Douglass Plan: tackle racial inequality with funding & laws: Strongly Favors topic 2 Racial inequality compounds, which is why it is persistent: Strongly Favors topic 2 Systemic racism has touched every part of American life: Strongly Favors topic 2 White America needs to face roots of systemic racism: Favors topic 2 Look at reparations to mend generational theft of racism: Strongly Favors topic 2 Transportation decisions have hurt minority neighborhoods: Strongly Favors topic 2 Move policing out from the shadow of systemic racism: Strongly Favors topic 2 Created plan to ensure diversity in city government jobs: Strongly Favors topic 2 Security establishment should reflect nation's diversity: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights (+5 points on Social scale)	Came out as gay, to inspire others to judge character: Strongly Favors topic 3 Voters have judged his record, not his marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 Freedom is personal, not about government regulation: Strongly Favors topic 3 Declared "open city" for LGBT, when state became anti-LGBT: Strongly Favors topic 3 Someday, politicians won't have to come out as gay: Favors topic 3 Problem about me being gay means problem with my creator: Strongly Favors topic 3 For LGBT rights, but doesn't presume to speak for everyone: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports Equality Act; need better legislation: Strongly Favors topic 3 Trans members of the military deserve presidential support: Strongly Favors topic 3 Black voters more interested in issues than his being gay: Strongly Favors topic 3 Companies are not persons; should not have religious rights: Strongly Favors topic 3 Open to gay parenthood if elected president: Strongly Favors topic 3 Not going to take family values lectures from Rush Limbaugh: Strongly Favors topic 3 Gender reassignment surgery is part of health care: Strongly Favors topic 3 If I had been given a choice, I would have not been gay: Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: America was founded on Christian values (+2 points on Social scale)	Federal funding should never be used to discriminate: Opposes topic 4 Supports religious values and separation of church and state: Opposes topic 4 God does not have a political party: Opposes topic 4 Government belongs to people of every religion & no religion: Strongly Opposes topic 4 Scripture is about protecting the stranger and the poor: Favors topic 4 Every religion says we should care for our neighbors: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Healing & Belonging Grants: more mental healthcare support: Favors topic 5 Medicare for all who want it: public option: Strongly Favors topic 5 Single rate for healthcare before single payer: Strongly Favors topic 5 Single payer can still allow role for private insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 Single payer option can lead to Medicare for all: Strongly Favors topic 5 His generation not put off by claims of "socialism": Strongly Favors topic 5 Public option is step towards universal care: Strongly Favors topic 5 How do we get to single payer? Need a glide path: Strongly Favors topic 5 Cover undocumented immigrants; then we're all healthier: Strongly Favors topic 5 2018: favored single-payer Medicare-for-All: Strongly Favors topic 5 Make it OK to publicly talk about mental health struggles: Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Double Social Security's payroll-tax cap to $250,000: Favors topic 6 Would establish $90/day benefit for long-term care: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Charter schools can't replace public, but can try new things: Favors topic 7 Charter schools have a place in the school ecosystem: Favors topic 7 Stand up and support public education: Opposes topic 7 Triple Title I funding; create Education Access Corps: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Support for childcare will let people return to labor market: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Businesses have a right to pollute (+2 points on Social scale)	Support nuclear power: Favors topic 8 Regulate plastics; incentives for non-plastic replacements: Opposes topic 8 Transportation part of solution to greenhouse gas emissions: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Has dealt with racism & police violence, but it's not enough: Opposes topic 9 Death penalty is racist; mandatory minimums too: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Concentrate law enforcement on gang-related violence: Favors topic 9 Supports constitutional ban on death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9 End cash bail; it hits low-income Americans: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Eliminate private prisons: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Abolish capital punishment: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Cut federal prison population, encourage states to follow: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Justice is blind; appointees should uphold that principle: Neutral on topic 9 Country is shockingly over-incarcerated: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Not up to the president to decide who should be prosecuted: Neutral on topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Schoolchildren shouldn't have to have active shooter drills: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Teens shouldn't worry that they will be killed at school: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Yes to gun control and universal background checks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Installed ShotSpotter technology: identify source of gunfire: Opposes topic 10 Common sense gun control can work under Second Amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Respect people's desire for self-defense: Favors topic 10 Trained on military weapons: no place in civilian use: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Voluntary buyback, plus ban assault weapons: Strongly Opposes topic 10 What we're doing on gun violence isn't working: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Much work to enact measures that vast majority supports: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	The wealthy should pay their fair share in taxes: Strongly Favors topic 11 Financial transactions tax, wealth tax, and estate tax: Strongly Favors topic 11 April: raise top tax rate; October: "soft-pedals" wealth tax: Favors topic 11 Move from fuel taxes to mileage fees to fund roads: Neutral on topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Supports DACA and easing deportation policies: Strongly Favors topic 12 Most Americans are immigrants or their descendants: Favors topic 12 There's a consensus on immigration if we have the will: Strongly Favors topic 12 Problem isn't ICE; it's what they're ordered to do: Favors topic 12 Decriminalizing border-crossing ends child separation: Favors topic 12 Policies make things worse instead of solving problems: Favors topic 12 Crossing the border illegally should still be illegal: Opposes topic 12 Should help stabilize Central America nations, not cut aid: Favors topic 12 Set up program for undocumented, alert system for ICE raids: Strongly Favors topic 12 Biblical "welcoming the stranger" means immigrants: Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Free trade doesn't have to mean exporting jobs: Favors topic 13 Tariffs are taxes; we pay $800 a year for Trump's tariffs: Strongly Favors topic 13 Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA: Opposes topic 13 Don't use tariffs to pressure countries: Favors topic 13 Support African nations; recognize market opportunities: Strongly Favors topic 13 Americans pay the price for Trump's trade war with China: Favors topic 13 Invest in domestic competitiveness to stay ahead of China: Favors topic 13 Unions good for US workers, but not NAFTA: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Favors topic 14: Stay away from the UN & Globalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	If U.S. to address human rights, we need to be credible: Opposes topic 14 US foreign policy should be based on American values: Favors topic 14 We can lead the world or resent it; we can't do both: Strongly Favors topic 14 Regional & global allies have interest in Middle East peace: Opposes topic 14 Isolationism is not right way for us to go: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Foreign policy grounded in American interests for 2050s: Favors topic 14 Provide new opportunities for voluntary public service: Favors topic 14 Amendments among "most elegant features" of Constitution: Favors topic 14 Be serious about security like Israel, but live freely: Strongly Opposes topic 14 9/11 brought post-Cold War era to new generation of war: Favors topic 14 National service can unite Americans: Favors topic 14 Tension between capitalism and democracy America's challenge: Opposes topic 14 America known as country that keeps its word: Strongly Favors topic 14 The world needs America at our best: Strongly Favors topic 14 Mustn't let China lead world on artificial intelligence: Favors topic 14
Opposes topic 15: Peace through Strength (+2 points on Social scale)	Military can play huge role in solving climate change: Favors topic 15 Recognize Vietnam Veterans Day, as late honor: Favors topic 15 Boost the defense budget: Strongly Favors topic 15 Re-prioritize runaway growth in military spending: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Prioritize cyber-threats & extremism, not more submarines: Opposes topic 15 Immigrants who enlisted deserve sure path to citizenship: Favors topic 15 Special ops more useful than land troops in some cases: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Military budget should be defined by 21st century realities: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Make sure we have right kind of settlement in Afghanistan: Opposes topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Calls for redistricting reform; questions Electoral College: Strongly Favors topic 16 Restore voting rights for ex-cons, but not those in prison: Favors topic 16 Felons should be allowed after release from prison: Favors topic 16 Get rid of the Electoral College: Strongly Favors topic 16 Abolish Electoral College; it makes society less democratic: Strongly Favors topic 16 Offer of foreign electoral help should lead to call to FBI: Strongly Favors topic 16 Same-day voter registration, and fight voter suppression: Strongly Favors topic 16 Must not allow foreign powers to interfere in elections: Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Stay out of foreign wars (-3 points on Social scale)	Pay attention to assessments of intelligence agencies: Opposes topic 17 Supports Israel; situation more complex than seen in media: Opposes topic 17 Use diplomatic strategies in Venezuela, not military: Opposes topic 17 Work with allies in region & elsewhere on Middle East: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Sanctions on Russia; support for Ukraine: Opposes topic 17 We must reset our relationship with Saudi Arabia: Strongly Opposes topic 17 China uses technology for perfection of dictatorship: Opposes topic 17 Restore U.S. credibility by leading world on big challenges: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Bring troops home from Afghanistan except for Special Ops: Opposes topic 17 Pull troops out of Afghanistan, but not Syria: Neutral on topic 17 Don't let Iraq war supporters plan Venezuela invasion: Strongly Favors topic 17 2002: opposed Iraq War because believed WMDs would be used: Favors topic 17 Be more judicious when committing troops: Strongly Favors topic 17 U.S. not the guarantor of peace in Afghanistan: Favors topic 17 Keep the troops deployed abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Restore Iran deal; work with allies in Europe and the region: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Deal with Iran; consult with intelligence: Opposes topic 17 Never should have left Iran deal, will do something new: Strongly Opposes topic 17 We've learned how hard it is to end a war: Favors topic 17 We have betrayed our allies & values by exiting Syria: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Syrian withdrawal undermines our soldiers' honor: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Rejoin Iran deal with 6 other countries: Favors topic 17 Never send troops without clear definition of their mission: Favors topic 17 Small steps forward in North Korea; no "love letters": Strongly Opposes topic 17 Would use force, but need to think of the consequences: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports Paris climate accord and Green New Deal: Strongly Favors topic 18 Green New Deal is a framework addressing climate & jobs: Favors topic 18 Timetable on climate set by reality, not by Congress: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate security is priority, invest in renewables: Strongly Favors topic 18 Money from carbon tax should go to American families: Favors topic 18 Institute carbon tax, to capture the true cost of things: Strongly Favors topic 18 Pittsburgh Summit instead of Paris Summit: Strongly Favors topic 18 Ban fracking: Favors topic 18 We have 12 years until climate catastrophe: Strongly Favors topic 18 No more intermediate steps: de-carbonize industry by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18 Federal investment in renewable tech for farms: Strongly Favors topic 18 US must lead the way in exit of coal-fired power: Strongly Favors topic 18 Have to break idea that choice is between climate and jobs: Strongly Favors topic 18 Trump's EPA small refinery waivers benefitted big oil: Strongly Opposes topic 18 The EV revolution will happen with or without us: Strongly Favors topic 18 Lots of job opportunity in green economy; not all high tech: Strongly Favors topic 18 Can't solve problem by air travel ban; focus on fast trains: Favors topic 18 Put millions of new electric vehicles on America's roads: Strongly Favors topic 18 Observe Paris Climate Agreement in city, if not federally: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Focus on opioid treatment options, not just defining problem: Opposes topic 19 Marijuana is personal responsibility issue; move to legalize: Opposes topic 19 Decriminalize and legalize marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Put boundaries on what phamra companies can do: Opposes topic 19 Incarceration does more harm than dealing with addiction: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	We should support workers going through changes: Strongly Favors topic 20 Redesigned streets proved safer & increased property values: Strongly Favors topic 20 Invest in infrastructure, get pandemic behind us: Strongly Favors topic 20 Government must be pro-active with changing economy: Favors topic 20 2009 auto bailout was worthwhile; it saved jobs and pensions: Strongly Favors topic 20 Infrastructure upgrade of sewer system needed in South Bend: Favors topic 20 As mayor: major investment in data and technology industries: Favors topic 20

Pete Buttigieg is a Hard-Core Liberal
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