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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)	Reverse Obama regulations that threaten innocent life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 1990: As church leader, urged at-risk mom against abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 1994: Supported abortion rights but personally opposed: Favors topic 1 1993: Personally opposed, but let women decide themselves: Favors topic 1 Firmly pro-life; including Court nominations: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Abortion decision should recognize TWO lives involved: Opposes topic 1 GovWatch: 2002: “preserve & protect” right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1 I took action as governor to preserve the sanctity of life: Opposes topic 1 No punishment for women who have partial birth abortions: Favors topic 1 Was pro-choice, now proudly pro-life: Opposes topic 1 Firmly in the “legal but rare” camp: Favors topic 1 Tired of holier-than-thou attitude about becoming pro-life: Opposes topic 1 Absolute good day for America when Roe v. Wade is repealed: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Breach of Constitution for justices to adjust Constitution: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Now firmly pro-life, despite 2002 tolerance for abortion: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Anti-abortion views have “evolved & deepened” while governor: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Personally against abortion, but pro-choice as governor: Favors topic 1 For safe, legal abortion since relative’s death from illegal: Favors topic 1 2002: No to new abortion law; yes to emergency contraception: Favors topic 1 1993: Morning-after pill could make abortions obsolete: Favors topic 1 Vetoed emergency contraception for rape victims: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Stem cell research lofty goals don’t justify destroying life: Opposes topic 1 Vetoed stem cell research bill: Opposes topic 1 Would be delighted to sign federal ban on all abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 2005: Vetoed availability without Rx of morning-after pill: Opposes topic 1 Would welcome overturning Roe v. Wade: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Opposes Roe v Wade, but won’t tamper with abortion laws: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Endorsed legalization of RU-486: Strongly Favors topic 1 CC:Appoint strict Constitutionalist judges: Opposes topic 1 CC:De-fund Planned Parenthood: Opposes topic 1 CC:Parental notification for abortions by minors: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Voted YES to protect infant survivors of abortion: Opposes topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Recruited women for gubernatorial staff: Favors topic 2 I picked a woman Lt. Gov., and more women in my Cabinet: Favors topic 2 1993: As church leader, granted women's equality requests: Favors topic 2 Failure to educate minorities is a civil rights issue: Strongly Favors topic 2 To compete as a nation, draw on skills of women & minorities: Strongly Favors topic 2 Help women thru glass ceiling by requiring annual reporting: Favors topic 2
Opposes topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (-3 points on Social scale)	Impact of same-sex marriage on kids won't be known for years: Opposes topic 3 2006: Marriage: I agree with 3000 years of recorded history: Opposes topic 3 1994: "I'll be better than Ted Kennedy" on gay rights: Strongly Favors topic 3 2002: domestic partnership benefits instead of civil unions: Favors topic 3 Gay community needs more support from the Republican Party: Favors topic 3 1994: Supported ENDA to ban anti-gay employer discrimination: Favors topic 3 2003: Worked with cities to prepare for gay marriages: Favors topic 3 Federal definition of marriage as one-man-one-woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Marriage is not just quaint custom; recognize critical role: Opposes topic 3 GovWatch: 1994: Favored gays serving openly in military: Strongly Favors topic 3 1994: Gays ok in Boy Scouts: Favors topic 3 Pushed vote on traditional marriage against MA gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Pushed vote on traditional marriage against MA gay marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Marriage pre-dates our Constitution & shouldn’t de redefined: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Constitutional amendment defining 1-man-1-woman marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Constitutional amendment defining 1-man-1-woman marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Opposed gay marriage but played fair and upheld law: Favors topic 3 Put gay marriage ban into GOP party platform: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Every child deserves a mother and a father: Strongly Opposes topic 3 OpEd: abdicated power in 2004 & allowed gay marriage: Favors topic 3 Supports benefits for gay partners, but not gay marriage: Favors topic 3 Sexual orientation should not preclude being a Scout: Favors topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	Abstinence-only education for 12-to-14 year olds: Favors topic 4 My faith would inform my presidency: Strongly Favors topic 4 Vetoed $220K for state-run homelessness projects: Favors topic 4 Vetoed studying how MA can overcome federal workfare rules: Favors topic 4 Values family, faith, education, sport, & healing: Favors topic 4 Would require welfare recipients to work: Favors topic 4 Schools can teach family values, but not religion or prayer: Favors topic 4
Opposes topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (+2 points on Economic scale)	Conservative idea: individual responsibility for health care: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Insure 45 million uninsured with a free-market based system: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Subsidies for health coverage for low-income individuals: Favors topic 5 Repeal Obamacare; Federal-state partnerships instead: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Idea for opt-in health exchanges adopted by ObamaCare: Favors topic 5 No FEDERAL individual mandate; but state mandate ok: Opposes topic 5 ObamaCare's power grab won't work; Obama didn't ask me: Strongly Opposes topic 5 2006: individual mandate is a Republican approach: Strongly Favors topic 5 Base health care system on free choice & private medicine: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Get everybody insured with state-based market dynamics: Opposes topic 5 Signal accomplishment as Governor is MA insurance reform: Favors topic 5 MA reform focuses on individual responsibility (via fines): Opposes topic 5 State universal coverage plan is national test case: Strongly Favors topic 5 MA state health insurance plan lowered costs: Favors topic 5 Mandates on health insurance work in Massachusetts: Strongly Favors topic 5 Repeal healthcare mandate, according to CC survey: Opposes topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Bipartisan effort with Mitt Romney to shore up entitlements: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Add individual retirement accounts as option: Favors topic 6 Favors private accounts; prepared to be entirely bold: Strongly Favors topic 6 Private accounts work better than extending retirement age: Strongly Favors topic 6 Reform entitlements by negotiating behind closed doors: Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (+5 points on Economic scale)	Teachers unions need to go behind parents & kids: Favors topic 7 Let IDEA and Title I funds follow disabled child: Favors topic 7 Every parent should have a choice of schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 2003: Bold reforms: required H.S. graduation test: Favors topic 7 Vetoed abandoning three new Massachusetts charter schools: Favors topic 7 School choice over fat-cat CEOs of teachers' unions: Favors topic 7 Education is not just the teachers’ union: Strongly Favors topic 7 Identify failing schools; push choice & English immersion: Favors topic 7 Principles: choice; parental involvement; merit scholarships: Favors topic 7 Supported means-tested vouchers for public & private schools: Strongly Favors topic 7
Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-3 points on Social scale)	FDA should collaborate with businesses they monitor: Favors topic 8 Clean Air & Water Acts are significantly out of date: Favors topic 8 Cross-border pollution matters; so build natural gas system: Opposes topic 8 Replace "green jobs" program with American competitiveness: Strongly Favors topic 8 2008: "Lifelong" devotion to hunting meant "small varmints": Strongly Favors topic 8 States should be able to have their own emissions standards: Favors topic 8 Lit mountain with Olympic rings while placating enviro’s: Opposes topic 8 Clean environment will be a campaign theme: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-5 points on Social scale)	2002: Supported death penalty although it was long abolished: Strongly Favors topic 9 One Strike, You’re Ours: lifetime GPS tracking: Strongly Favors topic 9 Reform sentencing process; appeal too-lenient sentences: Strongly Favors topic 9 Supports death penalty in heinous murders: Strongly Favors topic 9 Favored mandatory sentencing and three strikes: Strongly Favors topic 9 Supports death penalty and “three strikes” sentencing: Favors topic 9 Supports death penalty and “three strikes” sentencing: Favors topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-3 points on Economic scale)	Prevent school shootings with state and local action: Opposes topic 10 1994: backed 5-day waiting period on gun sales: Strongly Opposes topic 10 2002: My positions won't make me the hero of the NRA: Strongly Opposes topic 10 GovWatch: 1994: did not “line up with the NRA”: Opposes topic 10 I support the work of the NRA, but disagree sometimes: Opposes topic 10 Ok to ban lethal weapons that threaten police: Opposes topic 10 Compromise MA gun bills were net gain for gun owner: Favors topic 10 Will support assault weapons bill and Brady Bill: Opposes topic 10 Unrestricted right to bear arms, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Eliminate taxes on dividends & interest but not via FairTax: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Apply Reaganomics to current recession: cut taxes & grow: Strongly Opposes topic 11 I support the Bush tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Zero tax rate on capital gains, for incomes up to $200,000: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Death tax just doesn’t make sense: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Invest in infrastructure from growing economy by lower taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Pledges no new taxes in 2007 after refusing pledge in 2002: Strongly Opposes topic 11 My pledge: no freeze on tax rollback: Opposes topic 11 Pledges not to raise taxes: Opposes topic 11 1996: flat tax is unfair to the middle class: Favors topic 11 I cut taxes 19 times as MA governor: Opposes topic 11 CC:Make federal income tax cuts permanent: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (-3 points on Social scale)	Secure the borders; deport people here illegally: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Reluctantly supports DACA, but need to crack down: Favors topic 12 Welcome legal immigrants, instead of message of exclusion: Favors topic 12 Executive action on immigration is only a temporary solution: Opposes topic 12 Poverty level of aspiring immigrant's nation is irrelevant: Favors topic 12 Enforce employment laws; illegal immigrants will self-deport: Opposes topic 12 I like legal immigration; let business determine visas: Favors topic 12 Ardent proponent of English immersion: Opposes topic 12 GovWatch: 2005: Called comprehensive reform “reasonable”: Strongly Favors topic 12 Deport illegal immigrants in 90 days under the ideal setting: Strongly Opposes topic 12 No mandatory prison term for employers who hire illegals: Favors topic 12 Enforce the law against 12 million illegals here now: Strongly Opposes topic 12 McCain’s plan gives special pathway to those here illegally: Opposes topic 12 The 12 million illegal immigrants can’t stay forever: Opposes topic 12 Unfair to allow all illegal immigrants to stay: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Reduce federal funding to sanctuary cities: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Tuition breaks encourage illegal immigration: Opposes topic 12 Supports border infrastructure, according to CC survey: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12 Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: Favors topic 12
Neutral on topic 13: Support & expand free trade (0 points on Economic scale)	If America fails to protect against China, we'll be eclipsed: Opposes topic 13 China must respect intellectual property if they want trade: Opposes topic 13 Trade is good for the nation, but not good for everybody: Opposes topic 13 Re-negotiate trade deals with China and other countries: Opposes topic 13 Open up markets to American goods and services: Strongly Favors topic 13 Emergence of Asia is an opportunity for trade and commerce: Favors topic 13 Declined state commitment to CAFTA: Opposes topic 13 Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13
Favors topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (+2 points on Economic scale)	World has been losing respect for America for last 5 years: Strongly Favors topic 14 Reject philosophy of national decline in all of its variants: Strongly Favors topic 14 To win the war on jihad, we need friends in Muslim world: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Sponsored bill to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang: Strongly Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale)	Strong Economy; Strong Military; Strong People: Strongly Favors topic 15 Stronger America is less likely to have to fight: Strongly Favors topic 15 We want a peaceful planet; but we need strength to do that: Strongly Favors topic 15 Navy needs 313 ships; cutting to 200 is unacceptable: Strongly Favors topic 15 It's a terrible idea to cut defense: Strongly Favors topic 15 Devoted to making America the strongest nation on Earth: Strongly Favors topic 15 Increase defense spending to at least 4% of GDP: Strongly Favors topic 15 Raise military spending to 4% of our GDP: Strongly Favors topic 15 Add 100,000 to the military without a draft: Strongly Favors topic 15 We need at least 100,000 more troops in our military: Strongly Favors topic 15 Use both military & diplomatic actions to defeat Jihadists: Favors topic 15 CC:Secure the grid against terrorism: Favors topic 15
Opposes topic 16: Make voter registration easier (-3 points on Social scale)	1994: campaign spending limits and the abolition of PACs: Favors topic 16 2002: publicly fund campaigns; 2008: repeal McCain-Feingold: Favors topic 16 1960s large donors avoided union influence in politics: Strongly Opposes topic 16 GovWatch: 1994: advocated spending limit on elections: Strongly Favors topic 16 McCain-Feingold hurt our party and hurt the First Amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 16 McCain-Feingold law prevents free speech in campaigns: Opposes topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-5 points on Social scale)	Abandonment of Kurds a "bloodstain" on American history: Opposes topic 17 Do whatever it takes to destroy ISIS-including ground troops: Strongly Opposes topic 17 ISIS: bad things happen as a result of inaction: Opposes topic 17 No military involvement in Syria; work with our allies: Opposes topic 17 Dissuade Iran from nukes by peaceful means, like sanctions: Opposes topic 17 It’s time for people of America to show a surge of support: Strongly Opposes topic 17 We should withdraw from Afghanistan after 2012: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Stay in Afghanistan until our generals say to leave: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Timetable for troop reduction ok; but not for withdrawal: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Leave 20,000 US troops in Iraq as an ongoing presence: Strongly Opposes topic 17 American resolve in Iraq counters jihad with fortitude: Opposes topic 17 $700B was well-spent to win freedom in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Iraq part of global jihadist effort to bring down the West: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Withdrawal from Iraq would be a mistake: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Bush gave inadequate rationale for Iraq war: Favors topic 17 CC:Keep alliance with Israel: Opposes topic 17 Rated President ok to use military force against Iran: Opposes topic 17
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Ending government leasing, Keystone pipeline costs jobs: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Obama cut in half the number of drilling permits/licenses: Strongly Opposes topic 18 No consensus on extent of global warming or human activity: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change is occurring, with SOME human contribution: Favors topic 18 No-regrets policy at home; reduce greenhouse emission abroad: Strongly Favors topic 18 Nuclear power is a win-win: no CO2 and no imports: Opposes topic 18 Opposes McCain-Lieberman bill due to $0.50/gal. gas tax: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Need worldwide global warming solutions; not CAFE or US tax: Opposes topic 18 Develop energy technology like nuclear or liquefied coal: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Develop alternative energy but also drill in ANWR: Opposes topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-5 points on Social scale)	We share cross-border drug problem with Mexico: Favors topic 19 Opposes legalization of recreational or medical marijuana: Strongly Favors topic 19 Mandatory sentence & higher penalty for repeat drunk driving: Favors topic 19 Combat the ruthless narco-terrorists in Colombia: Favors topic 19
Strongly Opposes topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (+5 points on Economic scale)	We need to cut taxes and reduce regulations for businesses: Strongly Opposes topic 20 2003: $500M budget cuts, including aid to cities: Opposes topic 20 I don't want to raise taxes in the middle of a recession: Opposes topic 20 Incentivize hiring jobless: cover $2000 in training costs: Strongly Favors topic 20 Apply Reaganomics to current recession: cut taxes & grow: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Make sure that we rein in spending: Opposes topic 20 Avoid recession with immediate middle-income tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Lowering taxes, like Bush tax cuts, grows the economy: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Reduce the tax burden on middle-income families: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Bailout program wasted money; let companies go bankrupt: Opposes topic 20 CC:Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment: Opposes topic 20

Mitt Romney is a Populist-Leaning Conservative
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