John Edwards on SenateMatch

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)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (10 points on Social scale)	Right to abortion is constitutionally protected: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 NO on disallowing overseas military abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors topic 1 NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Require companies to hire more women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	I support affirmative action: Strongly Favors topic 2 Affirmative Action needed 40 years ago & still needed today: Strongly Favors topic 2 Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws (10 points on Social scale)	Governments don't belong in bedrooms, including gay bedrooms: Strongly Favors topic 3 More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3 YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors topic 3 YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4: Permit prayer in public schools (7 points on Social scale)	Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4 NO on restricting violent videos to minors: Neutral topic 4 YES on declaring that memorial prayers and religious symbols at sch: Favors topic 4
Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (2 points on Economic scale)	It is morally wrong to leave so many Americans uninsured: Favors topic 5 Start providing health insurance for every child in America: Strongly Favors topic 5 Cover every child and vulnerable adults: Strongly Favors topic 5 Health care crisis requires fighting big corporations: Strongly Favors topic 5 Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5 Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors topic 5 NO on Unknown roll call for 1999-76: Opposes topic 5 YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Favors topic 5 NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5 NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	Don't divert payroll taxes to private accounts: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Keep stock market out of Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6 NO on using the Social Security Surplus to fund tax reductions: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (0 points on Social scale)	Private school vouchers drain resources from public schools: Opposes topic 7 Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Opposes topic 7 NO on Educational Savings Accounts: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7 YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (2 points on Social scale)	Death penalty OK despite flaws, on state-by-state decision: Favors topic 8 Capital punishment needed-some crimes deserve ultimate: Strongly Favors topic 8 Supports the death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 8 Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (7 points on Social scale)	Eliminate mandatory minimums for non-violent crimes: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Rated 63% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation: Neutral on topic 9 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 9 YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (2 points on Social scale)	Right to bear arms protected by Second Amendment, with rules: Favors topic 10 Hunting is fine, but criminals & kids should have limits: Opposes topic 10 Guns are about independence-don't mess with that: Favors topic 10 NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Opposes topic 10 YES on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy (0 points on Economic scale)	Offer tax cuts that will help the middle class families: Opposes topic 11 Repeal tax cuts for earners over $200,000: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Shift tax burden from taxing work to taxing wealth: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Revise the capital gains tax rate: Opposes topic 11 Millionaires should not pay lower taxes than nurses: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Roll back the Bush tax cuts and address real priorities: Opposes topic 11 Rated 22% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on $792B tax cuts: Opposes topic 11 NO on phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"): Opposes topic 11 NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Opposes topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Opposes topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Opposes topic 11 NO on cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Opposes topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Immigration helps our economy-encourage it (10 points on Economic scale)	Roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants: Favors topic 12 Welcome immigrants with earned legalization program: Strongly Favors topic 12 Hard working immigrants earn right to citizenship: Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (2 points on Economic scale)	Against NAFTA, against Chile trade, against Singapore trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Level the playing field for American workers: Opposes topic 13 Against Fast Track--not enough for US workers: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 13 NO on expanding trade to the third world: Opposes topic 13 YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 NO on establishing a free trade agreement between US & Singapore: Opposes topic 13 NO on establishing a free trade agreement between the US and Chile: Opposes topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Link human rights to trade with China (10 points on Social scale)	YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons: Opposes topic 14 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Opposes topic 14
Favors topic 15: More spending on armed forces (2 points on Economic scale)	Rated 40% by SANE, indicating a mixed record on military issues: Neutral on topic 15 NO on allowing another round of military base closures: Favors topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Reduce spending on missile defense (Star Wars) (2 points on Economic scale)	Reduce $9B spending on missile defense: Strongly Favors topic 16 NO on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels: Favors topic 16 YES on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Favors topic 16 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Seek UN approval for military action (0 points on Economic scale)	America should lead by extending a hand, not a fist: Strongly Favors topic 17 Reorient US aid to support open societies: Strongly Favors topic 17 Bring UN, allies and friends to Iraq: Favors topic 17 Work with other nations in war on terror: Favors topic 17 NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion: Favors topic 17 YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo: Neutral topic 17 YES on allowing all necessary forces and other means in Kosovo: Neutral topic 17 YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe: Strongly Favors topic 17
Favors topic 18: Reduce use of coal, oil, & nuclear energy (2 points on Economic scale)	Protect ANWR, lead in global warming battle: Strongly Favors topic 18 Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report: Favors topic 18 Rated 37% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 18 Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Opposes topic 18 NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors topic 18 NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior: Favors topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (7 points on Social scale)	Supports drug courts and alternatives to incarceration: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Rated B- by VOTE-HEMP, indicating a pro-hemp voting record: Strongly Favors topic 19 NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes topic 19 NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes topic 19
Opposes topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (7 points on Social scale)	Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit: Opposes topic 20