Presidential Race Voter Guide
Where Do The Candidates Stand?
"When we were working on the document 'Faithful Citizenship', and the issue of whether or not a person's adamant pro-abortion position was a disqualifying condition, the general sense was 'yes that is a disqualifying condition'."..."The conditions under which an individual may be able to vote for a pro-abortion candidate would apply only if all the candidates are equally pro-abortion."Â --Baker Oregon Bishop Robert Vasa
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A Side by Side Comparison of Important Issues for Catholics |
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ISSUE
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JOHN MCCAIN |
aBORTION pOLICY
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BARACK OBAMA |
Opposes "I will be a pro-life president, and this presidency will have pro-life policies." "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned." |
Roe V Wade
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Supports "I have consistently advocated for reproductive choice (abortion) and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President." "Throughout my career, I've been a consistent and strong supporter of reproductive justice, and have consistently had a 100% pro-choice rating with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America." |
Opposes Voted to ban partial-birth abortion |
Partial Birth Abortion
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Supports Criticized Supreme Court decision that upheld ban on partial-birth abortions. |
| Supports | Funding for Pro-Life Crisis Pregnancy Centers
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Opposes |
| Supports | Parental Notification Law Requires a parent be notified before a minor girl obtains an abortion |
Opposes |
| Opposes | Lower age restrictions for over- the-counter Emergency Contraception (Plan B - current age is 18) |
Supports |
| Opposes | Abortion as part of Health Plan Coverage |
Supports |
| Opposes | Taxpayer Funding of Abortion |
Supports |
| Supports | Born Alive Infant Protection Act Requires protection for an infant born alive after a failed abortion |
Opposes Obama voted against this protection in Illinois state senate |
| Opposes | Freedom of Choice Act This bill would eliminate every single state law limiting or regulating abortion, including the federal ban on partial birth abortion. |
Supports When speaking to Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Obama stated, "The first thing I'd do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act" |
Stem Cell Research |
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Opposes McCain opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes. |
Human Cloning |
Supports In 2005 co-sponsored a bill to allow cloning of human embryos for research but does not allow implanting in womb. |
| SUPPORTS: Voted to support funding on embryonic stem cell research however more recently said "skin stem cell research has every potential very soon of making" the issue of embryonic stem cell research "academic." | Federal Funding for Embryonic Stem Cell Research |
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Opposes Believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman. Endorsed ballot initiative amendments in CA and AZ protecting traditional marriage. |
Same-Sex Marriage |
Supports Says he would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Stated he opposes ban on same-sex marriage on Nov ballot in CA after previously saying it should be left to the states. |
Education |
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Abstinence Funding
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Opposes: Will prohibit federal funding for abstinence-only education. Favors comprehensive sexuality education. Stated some sex education was appropriate in kindergarten. |
| Supports | School Vouchers |
Opposes |
Opposes Voted with a unanimous Senate to help save Terri Schiavo. |
Assisted-Suicide Euthanasia |
Supports Barack Obama said during a Democratic presidential debate that his biggest mistake was siding with a unanimous Senate to help save Terri Schiavo. |
McCain has promised that his Supreme Court nominees will have 'a proven record of excellence in the law, and a proven commitment to judicial restraint. He supported Roberts and Alito. "It is reflected in my consistent opposition to the agenda of liberal judicial activists who have usurped the role of state legislatures in such matters as dealing with abortion and the definition of marriage." |
Judges |
Voted against Roberts and Alito. Cited Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and David Souter as examples of justices he would appoint to the Supreme Court. Speaking at the Planned Parenthood conference in DC, Obama had harsh words for conservative Supreme Court justices and said he intended to appoint justices with "empathy." |
| McCain sponsored the 2006 bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S., work and apply to become legal residents once learning English, paying fines and back taxes and clearing a background check. He supports a border fence and now says he would secure the border first. | Immigration |
Obama voted for the 2006 bill which gave legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions, including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines. He voted for border fence. |