News Warrior

I am a conservative, all of them are liberal so I can't vote for any of them.

What I think about items are in RED

Where some tax payer money goes.

2008 Congressional Pork Projects

11,610 projects at a cost of $17.2 billion in the 12 Appropriations Acts for fiscal 2008. A "pork" project is a line-item in an appropriations bill that
designates tax dollars for a specific purpose in circumvention
of established budgetary procedures.

Clinton Project Total 281----Dollar Total (millions) $296.2
Obama Project Total 53------Dollar Total (millions) $97.4
McCain Project Total 0-------Dollar Total (millions)$0.0
Many on Gun Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzMEI8RDABE

Senator Barack Obama on Gun Control

Keep guns out of inner cities--but also problem of morality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk9GwXJNM2c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoPJ1upppmA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEg1aq6Emo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhL8aeIsTEo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emFOX9CbrEY
I believe in keeping guns out of our inner cities, and that our leaders must say so in the face of the gun manfuacturer's lobby। But I also believe that when a gangbanger shoots indiscriminately into a crowd because he feels someone disrespected him, we have a problem of morality. Not only do ew need to punish thatman for his crime, but we need to acknowledge that there's a hole in his heart, one that government programs alone may not be able to repair.

Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.215 Oct 1, 2006

Ban semi-automatics, and more possession restrictions

Principles that Obama supports on gun issues:

Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons.
Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms.
Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.

Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.

A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES would:
Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime

Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect

Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was brought

Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations

Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety devices

Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005


On the Second Amendment,

Don’t Believe Obama!

The presidential primary season is finally over, and it is now time for gun owners to take a careful look at just where apparent nominee Barack Obama stands on issues related to the Second Amendment. During the primaries, Obama tried to hide behind vague statements of support for “sportsmen” or unfounded claims of general support for the right to keep and bear arms.

But his real record, based on votes taken, political associations, and long standing positions, shows that Barack Obama is a serious threat to Second Amendment liberties. Don’t listen to his campaign rhetoric! Look instead to what he has said and done during his entire political career.

FACT: Barack Obama voted to allow reckless lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearms industry.1


FACT: Barack Obama wants to re-impose the failed and discredited Clinton Gun Ban.2

FACT: Barack Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.3

FACT: Barack Obama has endorsed a complete ban on handgun ownership.2

FACT: Barack Obama supports local gun bans in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other cities.4

FACT: Barack Obama voted to uphold local gun bans and the criminal prosecution of people who use firearms in self-defense.5

FACT: Barack Obama supports gun owner licensing and gun registration.6

FACT: Barack Obama refused to sign a friend-of-the-court Brief in support of individual Second Amendment rights in the Heller case.

FACT: Barack Obama opposes Right to Carry laws.7

FACT: Barack Obama was a member of the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation, the leading source of funds for anti-gun organizations and “research.”8

FACT: Barack Obama supported a proposal to ban gun stores within 5 miles of a school or park, which would eliminate almost every gun store in America.9

FACT: Barack Obama voted not to notify gun owners when the state of Illinois did records searches on them.10

FACT: Barack Obama voted against a measure to lower the Firearms Owners Identification card age minimum from 21 to 18, a measure designed to assist young people in the military.11

FACT: Barack Obama favors a ban on standard capacity magazines.12

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory micro-stamping.13

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory waiting periods.2

FACT: Barack Obama supports repeal of the Tiahrt Amendment, which prohibits information on gun traces collected by the BATFE from being used in reckless lawsuits against firearm dealers and manufacturers.14

FACT: Barack Obama supports one-gun-a-month sales restrictions.9

FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on inexpensive handguns.9

FACT: Barack Obama supports a ban on the resale of police issued firearms, even if the money is going to police departments for replacement equipment.9

FACT: Barack Obama supports mandatory firearm training requirements for all gun owners and a ban on gun ownership for persons under the age of 21.9

1. United States Senate, S. 397, vote number 219, July 2, 2005. (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00219)

2. Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organization general candidate questionnaire, Sept. 9, 1996. The responses on this survey were described in “Obama had greater role on liberal survey,” Politico, March 31, 20087. (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/9269.html)

3. United States Senate, S. 397, vote number 217, Kennedy amendment July 2, 2005. (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00217)

4. David Wright, Ursula Fahy and Sunlen Miller, "Obama: 'Common Sense Regulation' On Gun Owners' Rights," ABC News' "Political Radar" Blog, http://blogs.abcnews.com, 2/15/08.
(http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/obama-common-se.html)

5. Illinois Senate, March 25, 2004 SB 2165, vote 20.

6. “Fact Check: No News In Obama's Consistent Record.” Obama ’08, December 11, 2007. (http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/12/11/fact_check_no_news_in_obamas_c.php)

7. “Candidates' gun control positions may figure in Pa. vote,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Wednesday, April 2, 2008, and "Keyes, Obama Are Far Apart On Guns," Chicago Tribune, 9/15/04. (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_560181.html)

8. 1998 Joyce Foundation Annual Report, p. 7. (http://www.joycefdn.org/pdf/98_AnnualReport.pdf)

9. “Obama and Gun Control,” The Volokh Conspiracy, taken from the Chicago Defender, Dec. 13, 1999. (http://www.volokh.com/posts/1203389334.shtml)

10. Illinois Senate, May 5, 2002, SB 1936 Con., vote 26.

11. Illinois Senate, March 25, 2003, SB 2163, vote 18.

12. “Clinton, Edwards, Obama on gun control,” Radio Iowa, Sunday, April 22, 2007. (http://learfield.typepad.com/radioiowa/2007/04/clinton_edwards.html)

13. Chicago Tribune blogs, “Barack Obama: NIU Shootings call for action,” February 15, 2008, (http://blogs.trb.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/barack_obama_comments_on_shoot.html)

14. Barack Obama campaign website: “As president, Barack Obama would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment . . .” (http://www.barackobama.com/issues/urbanpolicy/#crime-and-law-enforcement.)


Copyright 2008, National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action.This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=3991

Last week’s Grassroots Alert story on Barack Obama entitled “On The Second Amendment, Don’t Believe Obama!” received a great deal of attention. Amazingly, some people still don’t believe Obama is radically anti-gun, and some have gone so far as to claim that NRA was actually misrepresenting Obama’s anti-gun positions. Well, sometimes the truth hurts, and for those who continue to believe that Obama is a friend of gun owners, here is the proof he most definitely is not.
NRA-ILA has produced an expanded version of “On The Second Amendment, Don’t Believe Obama!” that includes complete citations for each item listed in Obama’s long anti-gun record. It has been posted on the NRA-ILA web site and can be found here:

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=3991.

A printable version that can be distributed to believers and non-believers alike can be found here:

http://www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/2008Obamafactsht.pdf.

We encourage everyone to use these documents to demonstrate the significant threat Barack Obama poses to our Second Amendment rights and to counter his ongoing, bogus claims of support for gun owners and sportsmen or for an individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms.


Joe Biden on the Issues

Joe Biden on Abortion
Allow women to choose, but no federal funding. (Jul 2007)
No public funding for abortion; it imposes a view. (Apr 2007)
Supports partial-birth abortion ban, but not undoing Roe. (Apr 2007)
Accepts Catholic church view that life begins at conception. (Apr 2007)
Nominees should agree on constitutional right to privacy. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Rated 36% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion. (Dec 2003)
Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
Joe Biden on Budget & Economy
Balancing budget is about priorities; GOP made wrong choices. (Dec 2007)
Save Pentagon spending by getting the troops out of Iraq. (Dec 2007)
More transparency for hedge funds and private equity funds. (Aug 2007)
Invest in new programs by ending war & eliminating tax cuts. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
Voted NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000)
Voted YES on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
Voted YES on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)
Joe Biden on Civil Rights
1978: opposed busing except for gov't-intended segregation. (Jul 2007)
1968: Wilmington riots failed at conversation between races. (Jul 2007)
Nobody asks if you're gay in a foxhole. (Jun 2007)
Civil unions ok; gay marriage is probably inevitable. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted NO on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks. (Dec 2005)
Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
Joe Biden on Corporations
We've yielded to corporate America on trade. (Dec 2007)
OpEd: beholden to corporations because so many based in DE. (Nov 2007)
Take burden off corporations so jobs stay in US. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
Rated 32% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Joe Biden on Crime
Bush is impediment to hate crimes legislation. (Dec 2007)
Biden Law of 1994 created several new capital offenses. (Nov 2007)
Supports sentencing guidelines to put away violent criminals. (Jul 2007)
Authored the Clinton crime bill & 100,000 cops on the street. (Jul 2007)
Authored crime bill to put 100,000 cops on street. (Jul 2007)
Voted YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program. (May 1999)
Voted NO on limiting death penalty appeals. (Apr 1996)
Voted NO on limiting product liability punitive damage awards. (Mar 1996)
Voted NO on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995)
Voted NO on repealing federal speed limits. (Jun 1995)
Voted NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. (May 1994)
Voted NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals. (May 1994)
Rated 71% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
Establish an FBI registry of sexual offendors. (Oct 1996)
Joe Biden on Drugs
Took lead on drug policy & narcotics control. (Nov 2007)
National ban on smoking would reduce chronic illnesses. (Sep 2007)
Absolutely do not lower drinking age from 21. (Sep 2007)
FactCheck: 40,000 babies with alcohol syndrome, not 300,000. (Sep 2007)
Increase penalties for dealing drugs near schools. (Sep 2007)
Most violent crime is related to drugs. (Jul 2007)
Divert drug offenders out of prison system. (Jun 2007)
Created nation's Drug Czar Office & drug courts. (Dec 2006)
Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control. (Jul 1996)
Joe Biden on Education
Hire more teachers and pay them for smaller classes. (Dec 2007)
Laid out a $30 billion plan over five years for education. (Nov 2007)
For longer school day & school year, & 16-year minimum. (Oct 2007)
$3000 tax credit for college for anyone earning under $150K. (Sep 2007)
There needs to be performance-based pay for teachers. (Aug 2007)
Teach sex ed in schools; including prevention methods. (Aug 2007)
Sent kids to private school after death of their mother. (Jul 2007)
Overcome racial achievement gap with early education. (Jun 2007)
Pay teachers more to get better educational results. (Apr 2007)
FactCheck: Japan pays teachers more, but not India & China. (Apr 2007)
NCLB needs more resources, but also is fundamentally flawed. (Feb 2007)
Princeton was last Ivy holdout to admit women & minorities. (Jan 2006)
Voting Record
Voting for No Child Left Behind was a mistake. (Jul 2007)
Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
Voted NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
Voted YES on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
Rated 91% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Joe Biden on Energy & Oil
The energy challenge take sacrifice and is a moral crusade. (Dec 2007)
FactCheck: Oil did not jump $18/bbl due to Iran Resolution. (Dec 2007)
Supports cap-and-trade for greenhouse gases. (Nov 2007)
Provide for emergency fuel assistance immediately. (Oct 2007)
Make every automobile sold be a flex-fuel automobile. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
Voted YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
Voted YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
Voted YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)
Voted YES on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
Voted NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
Voted NO on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
Voted NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline. (Aug 1994)
Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy. (Mar 2004)
Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances. (Feb 2005)
Sponsored bill raising CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018. (Jul 2006)
Rated 83% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness. (Nov 2007)
Joe Biden on Environment
America should guarantee Katrina reconstruction. (Jun 2007)
Take away the billions of subsidy to the oil companies. (Jun 2007)
Scored 80% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)
Voted NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Voted NO on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
Voted YES on transportation demo projects. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests. (Sep 1997)
Voted YES on continuing desert protection in California. (Oct 1994)
Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. (May 1994)
End commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat. (Jun 2001)
Rated 95% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
EPA must do better on mercury clean-up. (Apr 2004)
Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting. (Jan 2007)
Joe Biden on Families & Children
Fought for Family and Medical Leave, up to 12 unpaid weeks. (Sep 2007)
1990: authored the Violence Against Women Act. (Jul 2007)
Voted NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors. (May 1999)
Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Fund 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs in underserved areas. (Dec 1997)
Joe Biden on Foreign Policy
Doctrine of crisis prevention, not preemption. (Dec 2007)
Hold China accountable; it's capitulation, not competition. (Dec 2007)
Move from a Musharraf policy to a Pakistan policy. (Nov 2007)
Pakistani elections will be a sham if emergency not lifted. (Nov 2007)
Pakistan is potentially most dangerous country in the world. (Aug 2007)
China holds the mortgage on our house, to pay for war. (Aug 2007)
American troops on the ground in Darfur now. (Jul 2007)
US troops on ground in Sudan to end Darfur carnage. (Jun 2007)
Biggest threat to US is from North Korea, Iran, & Russia. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
Voted YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000)
Voted NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
Voted NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998)
Voted YES on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on ending Vietnam embargo. (Jan 1994)
Multi-year commitment to Africa for food & medicine. (Apr 2001)
Impose sanctions and an import ban on Burma. (Oct 2007)
Acknowledge the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s. (Mar 2007)
Urge Venezuela to re-open dissident radio & TV stations. (May 2007)
Joe Biden on Free Trade
No to tariffs; just enforce the law. (Dec 2007)
Built environmental and labor standards in trade agreements. (Dec 2007)
Toughest choice: rationalizing competition & trade policy. (Dec 2007)
Opposes fast-track to protect labor rights. (Nov 2007)
Shut down any imports of toys from China. (Oct 2007)
President's job is to create jobs, not to export jobs. (Aug 2007)
No trade agreements without workers' & environmental rights. (Jul 2007)
Voted NO on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on establishing free trade between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000)
Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000)
Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. (Nov 1997)
Voted YES on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market. (May 1995)
Rated 42% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
Joe Biden on Government Reform
Radical change to preserve family farmers. (Dec 2007)
As Judiciary Chair, rejected Bork and supported Thomas. (Nov 2007)
Would consider a Republican for head of DHS or Pentagon. (Aug 2007)
Pledges to stop no-bid contracts. (Aug 2007)
1988: led fight against nomination of Robert Bork. (Jul 2007)
The greatest sin is abuse of power. (Jul 2007)
Roberts & Alito have turned Supreme Court upside down. (Jul 2007)
History of racism was keeping black Americans from voting. (Jul 2007)
Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
Voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
Voted NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on funding for National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
Establish the United States Public Service Academy. (Mar 2007)
Joe Biden on Gun Control
Keep assault weapons ban; close gun show loophole. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)
Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)
Joe Biden on Health Care
Modernize, simplify & expand health insurance. (Nov 2007)
Help medical students find ways to finance their tuition. (Oct 2007)
Start paying for universal coverage with $100B in redundancy. (Sep 2007)
Rethink healthcare by focusing on prevention. (Sep 2007)
Start with catastrophic insurance and insuring all kids. (Aug 2007)
Got tested for AIDS after blood transfusion; no shame in it. (Jun 2007)
Voted NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare. (Feb 2008)
Voted YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility. (Nov 2007)
Voted YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998)
Voted NO on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)
Voted YES on blocking medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
Joe Biden on Homeland Security
Cut $350B in military programs, from Star Wars to F-22's. (Dec 2007)
Universal national service, in military or Peace Corps. (Dec 2007)
Talks about nations acquiring uranium are more complicated. (Oct 2007)
Commitment to never use torture; no part of our policy, ever. (Sep 2007)
Don't Ask Don't Tell is antiquated & unworkable. (Aug 2007)
Missile defense is perfect metaphor for neo-isolationism. (Jul 2007)
Urged Pres. Bush to return to Washington on 9/11. (Jul 2007)
Voted NO on cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army. (Apr 2008)
Voted YES on requiring FISA court warrant to monitor US-to-foreign calls. (Feb 2008)
Voted NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
Voted YES on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
Voted YES on allowing another round of military base closures. (May 1999)
Voted NO on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999)
Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training. (Jun 1998)
Voted YES on favoring 36 vetoed military projects. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on banning chemical weapons. (Apr 1997)
Voted NO on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty. (Jun 1996)
Voted NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations. (Sep 1995)
Rated 80% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
Give higher priority to rail security. (Jul 2005)
Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)
School assistance to survivors of injured federal police. (Oct 1996)
Joe Biden on Immigration
FactCheck: 67% of illegal aliens speak Spanish; not 40%. (Dec 2007)
H1-B visas only for jobs Americans can't do. (Dec 2007)
Americans will do any job if you pay them properly. (Dec 2007)
Oppose granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. (Nov 2007)
Supported Bush plan: both border fence & path to citizenship. (Nov 2007)
Sanctuary cities exist because feds can't enforce their laws. (Sep 2007)
It's impractical to deport 14 million illegal immigrants. (Jun 2007)
Voted for border fence, but to tackle drug trafficking. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program. (May 2006)
Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)
Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work. (Jul 1998)
Voted NO on visas for skilled workers. (May 1998)
Voted NO on limit welfare for immigrants. (Jun 1997)
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)
Joe Biden on Jobs
No job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Aug 2007)
Implement current recommendations on job safety. (Aug 2007)
FactCheck: His AFL-CIO rating of 85% is not best of all Dems. (Aug 2007)
Couldn't afford living at minimum wage; advocates raising it. (Jul 2007)
Bush tries to strip away 100 years of labor progress. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on terminating legal challenges to English-only job rules. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
Voted YES on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
Voted NO on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
Voted NO on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997)
Voted YES on replacing farm price supports. (Feb 1996)
Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003)
Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)
Joe Biden on Principles & Values
Focus on Iraq, ending torture, healthcare, and education. (Dec 2007)
Insulted Indian-Americans in attempt to compliment vibrancy. (Nov 2007)
Giuliani is truly not qualified to be president. (Oct 2007)
MoveOn.org has not changed politics. (Sep 2007)
Prayer gives you strength, but doesn't prevent crises. (Aug 2007)
Most decisive moment: engaging in civil rights movement. (Aug 2007)
Next president has no margin of error, post-Bush. (Aug 2007)
Politics is a noble calling. (Jul 2007)
Childhood stuttering strengthened me. (Jul 2007)
1970: won first election, to County Council, in GOP district. (Jul 2007)
1972: beat GOP incumbent; 2nd youngest Senator ever elected. (Jul 2007)
1972: Wife & child killed in pre-inauguration auto accident. (Jul 2007)
Remarried in 1977, willing to give up Senate for Jill. (Jul 2007)
1988: Presidential run intended as base-building for 1992. (Jul 2007)
1988: plagiarized law school paper, but not malevolently. (Jul 2007)
1988: suffered aneurysm requiring brain surgery. (Jul 2007)
Religion informs my values; my reason dictates outcomes. (Jul 2007)
His book "Promises to Keep" written before presidential race. (Jul 2007)
Apologized for saying Barack Obama was clean and articulate. (Apr 2007)
Embellishment forced withdrawal from 1988 presidential race. (Apr 2007)
Biggest mistake was thinking he could work with George Bush. (Apr 2007)
Knocked out of 1988 race due to plagiarizing a speech. (Oct 2005)
Plans to seek presidential nomination in 2008. (Jun 2005)
Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
Religious affiliation: Catholic. (Nov 2000)
Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation. (Dec 2006)
Joe Biden on Social Security
Raise the $97,500 cap, but don't raise retirement age. (Sep 2007)
Prevent senior fraud by educating seniors about caution. (Nov 2002)
Voted NO on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
Voted YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. (May 1998)
Voted NO on allowing personal retirement accounts. (Apr 1998)
Voted YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes. (May 1996)
Rated 89% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Joe Biden on Tax Reform
Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don't need them. (Dec 2007)
Take away $85B in annual tax cuts for 1% of top earners. (Jul 2007)
FactCheck: Top 1% only got $67B in 2007 tax cuts, not $85B. (Jul 2007)
Eliminate the tax cut just for those people in the top 1%. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M. (Feb 2008)
Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts. (Aug 2006)
Voted NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut. (Feb 2006)
Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Feb 2006)
Voted NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends. (Nov 2005)
Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
Voted YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000)
Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
Rated 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
Joe Biden on Technology
Proposed $980M for tunnel repair; others have dropped ball. (Aug 2007)
Voted NO on restoring $550M in funding for Amtrak for 2007. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on disallowing FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. (Sep 2003)
Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium. (Oct 1998)
Voted YES on telecomm deregulation. (Feb 1996)
Joe Biden on War & Peace

Third way: federalize Iraq; troops home; no chaos behind. (Nov 2007)
Iraq War
Iraq war is sucking up a $150B a year. (Dec 2007)
Post-colonial countries like Iraq need federal system. (Nov 2007)
Troops out by 2013 if no political reconciliation. (Sep 2007)
Patraeus report is wrong strategy; draw down troops now. (Sep 2007)
Changed mind on Iraq pullout, not about political solution. (Sep 2007)
Worth losing election to protect our troops. (Sep 2007)
Leaving Iraq will cause generation-long regional war. (Aug 2007)
Bush has lied for 7 years; tell truth on Iraq. (Aug 2007)
Voted for Iraq War resolution to avoid war in Iraq. (Jul 2007)
Bush invaded Iraq as the weakest of the Axis of Evil. (Jul 2007)
End neocon fantasy of remaking Iraq in our image. (Jul 2007)
We can't just pull out; one year to remove 160,000 troops. (Jul 2007)
Iraqi leaders unwilling & unable to accommodate with Sunnis. (Jul 2007)
Never de-fund a single soldier in Iraq. (Jul 2007)
Rather lose elections than to lose troops' lives. (Jun 2007)
Start to draw down troops immediately and all out by '08. (Jun 2007)
Fund the safety of the troops till 67 anti-war votes reached. (Jun 2007)
Start moving combat troops out of harm's way now. (Apr 2007)
Not micromanaging war to authorize & define mission. (Apr 2007)
Target date ok; deadline not ok; changing failed mission ok. (Apr 2007)
Think about the decade after Iraq, not just the day after. (Apr 2007)
There will be a residual force left in Iraq. (Apr 2007)
In 2002 Saddam posed a threat of purchasing a nuclear bomb. (Apr 2007)
US worse off than before Saddam because US lost credibility. (Apr 2007)
Partitioning Iraq is inevitable, as shown by history. (Apr 2007)
Change the fundamental premise of Iraq engagement. (Apr 2007)
Decentralize Iraqi government; local control over daily life. (Apr 2007)
Biden-Gelb plan: UN & Muslim powers to enforce Iraq unity. (Apr 2007)
Stop training thugs as the national Iraqi police force. (Apr 2007)
Decentralize Iraq to give people control over daily lives. (Feb 2007)
If Iraq metastasizes into regional war, it'll take decades. (Feb 2007)
Trouble Spots
Accept NIE conclusion that Iran stopped nukes in 2003. (Dec 2007)
Muslims don't like us because they do not trust us. (Dec 2007)
Strong US intervention in trouble spots around the world. (Nov 2007)
A military action resolution on Iran is a bad policy. (Oct 2007)
It's already US policy to go into Pakistan to get al Qaeda. (Aug 2007)
1995: pushed to lift arms embargo in Bosnia. (Jul 2007)
1995: pushed Clinton to bomb Serbia to free Kosovo. (Jul 2007)
Do away with the policy of regime change for Iran. (Jun 2007)
Replace pre-emption doctrine with prevention. (Apr 2007)
Voting Record
Regrets his war vote because Bush misused war authority. (Apr 2007)
Vote for war allowed war only after all else failed. (Apr 2007)
Introduced legislation barring US Military bases in Iraq. (Apr 2007)
Vote for Iraq War was mistake; assumed Bush competence. (Feb 2007)
Voted for Iraq war in 2002, but now a war critic. (Nov 2006)
Voted NO on designating Iran's Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. (Sep 2007)
Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Voted NO on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)
Voted YES on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)
Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
Move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. (Nov 1995)
Joe Biden on Welfare & Poverty
No faith-based initiative; it ain't broke, so don't fix it. (Oct 2007)
We're no longer certain our kids will be better off than us. (Feb 2007)
Voted YES on welfare block grants. (Aug 1996)
Voted YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps. (Jul 1996)
Voted NO on allowing state welfare waivers. (Jul 1996)
Voted YES on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
Fully fund AmeriCorps. (Jun 2003)
Develop a strategy to eliminate extreme global poverty. (Dec 2007

No public funding for abortion; it imposes a view: Opposes
Supports partial-birth abortion ban, but not undoing Roe: Opposes
Accepts Catholic church view that life begins at conception: Opposes
Rated 36% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion: Neutral
Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors
Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors
NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors
NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors
YES on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Opposes
NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Favors
NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors
YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors
NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors
YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors
1978: opposed busing except for gov't-intended segregation: Opposes
Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks: Favors
Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors
NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Favors
NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors
NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors
YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors
Nobody asks if you're gay in a foxhole: Strongly Favors
More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors
Rated 78% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors
YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes
YES on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors
YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Favors
YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors
NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors
Rated 16% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record: Strongly Opposes
Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes
NO on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Opposes
YES on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Favors
NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Favors
NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes
Biden Law of 1994 created several new capital offenses: Strongly Favors
NO on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Opposes
NO on limiting death penalty appeals: Opposes
Supports sentencing guidelines to put away violent criminals: Strongly Favors
Rated 71% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Opposes
NO on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Opposes
NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes
YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program: Opposes
YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes
Keep assault weapons ban; close gun show loophole: Strongly Opposes
Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes
NO on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Opposes
NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Opposes
YES on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Opposes
NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes
NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes
Start paying for universal coverage with $100B in redundancy: Strongly Favors
Start with catastrophic insurance and insuring all kids: Favors
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors
NO on allowing tribal Indians to opt out of federal healthcare: Strongly Favors
NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors
YES on blocking medical savings acounts: Favors
NO on Medicare means-testing: Favors
NO on limiting self-employment health deduction: Favors
YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Favors
NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors
YES on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors
YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors
YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors
YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors
YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors
YES on adding 2 to 4 million children to SCHIP eligibility: Favors
Privatize Social Security
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Rated 89% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes
YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Favors
YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors
NO on allowing personal retirement accounts: Opposes :
Parents choose schools via vouchers
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Voting for No Child Left Behind was a mistake: Opposes
Rated 91% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes
NO on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Opposes
YES on education savings accounts: Favors
YES on Educational Savings Accounts: Favors
YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes
YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes
YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes
Strongly Favors
Replace coal & oil with alternatives
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Make every automobile sold be a flex-fuel automobile: Strongly Favors
Rated 95% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Favors
Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors
Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors
Sponsored bill raising CAFE by a 4% per year until 2018: Strongly Favors
Rated 83% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors
Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors
NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors
YES on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Favors
NO on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Favors
NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards: Favors
NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Favors
NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors
YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors
YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors
YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors
YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors
YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors
YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors
YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors
YES on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China: Favors
YES on tax incentives for energy production and conservation: Strongly Favors
Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it
(-3 points on Social scale)
Took lead on drug policy & narcotics control: Favors
Increase penalties for dealing drugs near schools: Favors
Divert drug offenders out of prison system: Strongly Opposes
Created nation's Drug Czar Office & drug courts: Strongly Favors
YES on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Favors
NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Opposes
NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses: Opposes
Allow churches to provide welfare services
(-3 points on Economic scale)
No faith-based initiative; it ain't broke, so don't fix it: Strongly Opposes
YES on welfare overhaul: Favors
NO on allowing state welfare waivers: Opposes
YES on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Opposes
YES on welfare block grants: Favors:
Make taxes more progressive
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Take away $85B in annual tax cuts for 1% of top earners: Strongly Favors
Rated 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors
NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors
YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors
NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors
YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes
NO on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Favors
YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Opposes
NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors
YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors
YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors
NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors
NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Favors
YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors
NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Favors
NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors
NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors
NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors
NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors
Illegal immigrants earn citizenship
(+2 points on Social scale)
Oppose granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants: Opposes
It's impractical to deport 14 million illegal immigrants: Favors
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors
YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors
NO on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Favors
NO on visas for skilled workers: Opposes
YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Favors
YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors
YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors
YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors
YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes
YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral
NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors
YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors
Support & expand free trade
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Opposes fast-track to protect labor rights: Strongly Opposes
President's job is to create jobs, not to export jobs: Opposes
No trade agreements without workers' & environmental rights: Opposes
Rated 42% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues: Neutral
YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors
YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors
YES on expanding trade to the third world: Favors
YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors
YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors
YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors
NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Opposes
NO on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Opposes
NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes
NO on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Opposes
Expand the armed forces Rated 80% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes
NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Opposes




Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Gun Control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emFOX9CbrEY

Balance lawful gun ownership & keeping guns from criminals. (Apr 2008)
Give local police access to federal gun tracking info. (Apr 2008)
Let states & cities determine local gun laws. (Apr 2008)
Against illegal guns, crack down on illegal gun dealers. (Jan 2008)
Backed off a national licensing registration plan on guns. (Jan 2008)
Get assault weapons & guns off the street. (Jul 2007)
Background check system could prevent Virginia Tech massacre. (Apr 2007)
FactCheck: VA Tech shooter not declared a danger to others. (Apr 2007)
Congress' failure at Littleton response inspired Senate run. (Nov 2003)
Keep guns away from people who shouldn’t have them. (Sep 2000)
Limit access to weapons; look for early warning signs. (Sep 2000)
License and register all handgun sales. (Jun 2000)
Tough gun control keeps guns out of wrong hands. (Jul 1999)
Gun control protects our children. (Jul 1999)
Don’t water down sensible gun control legislation. (Jul 1999)
Lock up guns; store ammo separately. (Jun 1999)
Ban kids’ unsupervised access to guns. (Jun 1999)
Get weapons off the streets; zero tolerance for weapons. (Sep 1996)
Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers. (Jul 2005)
Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)
Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)

Keep guns away from people who shouldn’t have them
We need to stand firm on behalf of sensible gun control legislation. We have to enact laws that will keep guns out of the hand of children and criminals and mentally unbalanced persons. Congress should have acted before our children started going back to school. I realize the NRA is a formidable political group; but I believe the American people are ready to come together as a nation and do whatever it takes to keep guns away from people who shouldn’t have them.
Source: www.hillary2000.org, "Gun Safety" Sep 9, 2000

Limit access to weapons; look for early warning signs

We have to make sure that our schools are safe. Our schools need more help from parents and from communities, and we also need more social workers and counselors who are trained to see the early warning signs. No school security system or metal detector can keep out the culture of violence that dominates the lives of so many of our children. We have to address issues of culture, and we have to ensure that young people do not have easy access to weapons; not only firearms but bomb making material.

Source: www.hillary2000.org, "Safe Schools" Sep 9, 2000

License and register all handgun sales.

Hillary Rodham Clinton offered her support for a legislative proposal to license hand guns. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Charles Schumer, would require anyone who wants to purchase a gun to obtain a state-issued photo gun license. "I stand in support of this common sense legislation to license everyone who wishes to purchase a gun," Clinton said. "I also believe that every new handgun sale or transfer should be registered in a national registry, such as Chuck is proposing."

Source: CNN.com Jun 2, 2000

Tough gun control keeps guns out of wrong hands.

I think it does once again urge us to think hard about what we can do to make sure that we keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals and mentally unbalanced people. I hope we will come together as a nation and do whatever it takes to keep guns away from people who have no business with them.

Source: Press Release Jul 31, 1999

Gun control protects our children.

We will not make progress on a sensible gun control agenda unless the entire American public gets behind it. It is really important for each of you [kids] to make sure you stay away from guns. If you have guns in your home, tell your parents to keep them away from you and your friends and your little brothers and sisters.

Source: Forum at South Side Middle School in Nassau County Jul 15, 1999

Don’t water down sensible gun control legislation.

We have to do everything possible to keep guns out of the hands of children, and we need to stand firm on behalf of the sensible gun control legislation that passed the Senate and then was watered down in the House. It does not make sense for us at this point in our history to turn our backs on the reality that there are too many guns and too many children have access to those guns-and we have to act to prevent that.

Source: Remarks to NEA in Orlando, Florida Jul 5, 1999

Lock up guns; store ammo separately. If anyone did this more people would die because you can't defend yourself with a weapon with no bullets and we all know the attacker will not have an unloaded gun.

If you own a gun... make sure it’s locked up and stored without the ammunition. In fact, make it stored where the ammunition is stored separately. We’ve made some progress in the last several years with the Brady Bill and some of the bans on assault weapons, but we have a lot of work to do.

Source: ABC’s "Good Morning America" Jun 4, 1999

Ban kids’ unsupervised access to guns.

Q: What actions can students take to help gun control further? A: Young people, especially teenagers, [should pledge] to not give any child unsupervised access to a firearm; not to go into homes, or let your younger siblings go into homes where you know guns are and are not safely stored and taken care of. You guys are going to a party, make sure there are no guns around. If you own a gun or you know people who do, make sure it’s locked up and stored without the ammunition.

Source: ABC’s "Good Morning America" Jun 4, 1999

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers.

A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others. Voting YES would:
Exempt lawsuits brought against individuals who knowingly transfer a firearm that will be used to commit a violent or drug-trafficking crime

Exempt lawsuits against actions that result in death, physical injury or property damage due solely to a product defect

Call for the dismissal of all qualified civil liability actions pending on the date of enactment by the court in which the action was brought

Prohibit the manufacture, import, sale or delivery of armor piercing ammunition, and sets a minimum prison term of 15 years for violations

Require all licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers who engage in the transfer of handguns to provide secure gun storage or safety devices

Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S 397 ; vote number 2005-219 on Jul 29, 2005

Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence.

Vote to pass a bill that would block certain civil lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers of firearms and ammunition, mainly those lawsuits aimed at making them liable for gun violence. In this bill, trade groups would also be protected The bill would call for the dismissal of pending lawsuits against the gun industry. The exception would be lawsuits regarding a defect in a weapon or ammunition. It also would provide a 10-year reauthorization of the assault weapons ban which is set to expire in September 2004. The bill would increase the penalties for gun-related violent or drug trafficking crimes which have not resulted in death, to a minimum of 15 years imprisonment. The bill calls for criminal background checks on all firearm transactions at gun shows where at least 75 guns are sold. Exemptions would be made available for dealers selling guns from their homes as well as members-only gun swaps and meets carried out by nonprofit hunting clubs.

Reference: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act; Bill S.1805/H.R.1036 ; vote number 2004-30 on Mar 2, 2004

Senator John McCain on Gun Control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1c4Ko2KvEw
Ban cheap guns; require safety locks; for gun show checks

McCain favors outlawing cheaply made handguns called Saturday night specials, and favors mandating safety locks on certain guns. He said he is intrigued by new technology that electronically identifies a person handling a gun, allowing only the owner to fire it. McCain rallied Senate Republicans behind a Democratic measure requiring background checks at gun shows.

Source: Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press Aug 17, 1999

Supports ban on certain assault weapons

McCain said he was open to voting for an assault weapon ban, depending on the details.

Source: Los Angeles Times, "McCain Calls for Hearings" Aug 17, 1999


Voted against Brady Bill & assault weapon ban

McCain spoke generally of the need for some tighter gun controls on hardened criminals and children. In Congress, he pressured his colleagues to require background checks for buyers at guns shows, and he supported a requirement that trigger locks be sold with handguns. But the Senator opposed the two major gun-control measures of recent years, the 1994 ban on several types of assault weapons and the Brady Bill, which required a 5-day waiting period for handgun purchases.

Source: Todd S. Purdum, New York Times, p. A14 Aug 17, 1999

Guns are a problem, but so are violent web sites & videos

If you want to take every gun in and dump it in the ocean, I’ll still take you to a Web site where it teaches children how to build a pipe bomb. And I’ll take you to a Web site where the worst kind of hate language that is terribly offensive to all of us exists. I can take you to a video game being sold to our children where the object of the game is to kill police. I understand the importance of weapons, but to define that as being the major cause [of youth violence], there’s a whole lot of causes.

Source: Todd S. Purdum, New York Times, p. A14 Aug 17, 1999

Punish criminals who abuse 2nd Amendment rights

We need to focus on halting the spread of violent crime and punishing violent criminals who abuse their Second Amendment rights, while preserving those same rights for law-abiding Americans.

Source: www.mccain2000.com/ "Press Releases" May 10, 1999

Youth Violence Prevention Act restricts guns for kids

McCain has introduced the "Youth Violence Prevention Act."
The legislation would:

prevent juveniles from illegal access to weapons and punish those who would assist them in doing so prohibit juveniles who commit acts of gun violence from purchasing guns in the future
sentence juveniles convicted of violent crimes under adult guidelines
and punish juveniles who illegally carry or use handguns in schools.

Source: www.mccain2000.com/ "Press Releases" May 10, 1999

Repeal existing gun restrictions; penalize criminal use

McCain supports the following principles regarding gun issues:
Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms by law-abiding citizens.
Favor allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms.

McCain says, "There are penalties for criminals who use firearms."
Source: Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998
Voted YES on requiring licensing & background checks at gun shows.
Vote to table or kill a motion to require that all gun sales at gun shows be completed by federally licensed gun dealers. The amendment also requires background checks to be completed on buyers and requires gun show promoters to register with the Treasur
Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-111 on May 11, 1999


McCain-Reed Gun Show Bill:

Introduced, appropriately enough, on Halloween, the McCain-Reed-DeWine-Lieberman gun show bill--

S. 1807--masquerades as reform but imposes bureaucratic restrictions aimed at eliminating gun shows. It is based on the McCain-Lieberman bill (S. 890) from the 107th Congress, and like its parent, fails to address gun owners` most significant concerns and fails to fix real problems of the national instant check system.

S. 1807 is not about closing a "gun show loophole"--there is no "gun show loophole." Existing laws apply at gun shows just the same as any other place guns are sold. A tour of any gun show demonstrates that the overwhelming majority of guns offered for sale are from federally licensed dealers. Guns sold by private individuals (such as gun collectors selling a gun or two over the weekend) are the distinct minority. If someone claiming to be a gun collector is actually operating a firearms business and does not have a Federal Firearms License (FFL), he is guilty of a federal felony--every separate gun sale constitutes a separate federal felony.

S. 1807 is about eliminating gun shows. It would give any Second Amendment-hating Attorney General the power to effectively shut down gun shows, invade the privacy rights of American citizens, and impose many other restrictions that have nothing to do with conducting background checks on firearms purchases.

S. 1807 creates gun owner registration. "Special firearms event operators" would have to submit names of all "vendors" to the Attorney General both before and after the show--whether or not any of the vendors even sold a gun. A private citizen who enters a gun show hoping to sell or trade a firearm, does not make a deal and leaves with his own gun, would be on file in a U.S. Justice Department ledger forever as a "special firearms event vendor." Copies of the ledgers could be used for any future purpose.

S. 1807 turns casual conversations into "firearm transactions." A person who sees a gun offered for sale at a gun show, decides against buying it, then months or even years later changes his mind and contacts the seller, would still be subject to the background check requirement. This unworkable system would even apply to a gun that was discussed at a show without being exhibited. Any realistic, enforceable background check requirement must be limited to sales at an actual gun show, during the gun show, of guns that are present at the show.

S. 1807 imposes limitless regulations. The phrase "in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Attorney General" and similar language occurs throughout the bill. Show operators and vendors would have to comply with unknown regulations that could become as broadly restrictive as any future anti-gun administrator desires.

S. 1807 requires unnecessary new bureaucracy, creating "Special Firearms Event Operators," "Special Firearms Event Vendors" and "Special Firearms Event Licensees." And, there is no deadline for issuing the "Special Firearms Event License." In response to abusive gun dealer license enforcement, Congress has required that FFLs must be issued/denied within 60 days, and that the application may only be denied for a specific list of reasons. This basic due process protection is absent from McCain-Reed.

S. 1807 does not provide for true instant checks, and its "24-hour" wait is a smokescreen. The bill provides that the wait "may" be reduced to 24 hours--if a state applies for the privilege after improving its records. But with no real incentives for states or the federal government to improve records, there is no reason to think that the 24-hour check would ever be achieved. And with a three-business day period still allowed to check out-of-state records, a few large states could drag down the whole scheme for all transfers across the nation.

S. 1807 gives no priority to gun show checks. Gun show checks should be expedited over others, simply due to the temporary nature of the events and the distances both sellers and buyers travel to attend.

S. 1807 makes no instant check improvements. Unlike S. 890, the bill provides no funding for criminal history upgrades.
Most importantly, S. 1807 ignores the facts--multiple federal government studies prove gun shows are not a source of "crime guns."

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) 2001 report "Firearms Use by Offenders," the largest such study ever conducted by the government, found that less than 1% of U.S. "crime guns" come from gun shows.

A 2000 BJS study, "Federal Firearms Offenders, 1992-98," found only 1.7% of federal prison inmates obtained their gun from a gun show.
A National Institute of Justice 1997 study, "Homicide in Eight U.S. Cities," reported less than 2% of criminal guns come from gun shows.

S. 1807 isn`t about controlling crime; it is about controlling free speech. The attack on gun shows makes no sense as a crime control measure. It is strictly driven by an anti-gun political agenda. Closing gun shows means shutting down one of the most important venues for Second Amendment activists to communicate with other gun owners. That`s the real goal.


Senator Barack Obama on immigration and illegal aliens.


Extend welfare and Medicaid to immigrants

Obama supports the folowing principles regarding immigration:
Continue to extend state-funded welfare benefits for legal immigrants.
Use state funds to continue some Medicaid coverage for legal immigrants.
Source: 1998 IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1998


Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program.

Voting YES establishes a guest worker program with a path to citizenship for illegal aliens who have worked in the US for 5 years. The bill:
Increases border security and enforcement.
Makes it unlawful to knowingly hire, recruit, or refer for a fee an unauthorized alien.
Establishes a temporary guest worker program (H-2C visa) with a three-year admission and one additional three-year extension; and issuance of H-4 nonimmigrant visas for accompanying or following spouse and children;

Provides permanent resident status adjustment for a qualifying illegal alien, and family, for aliens who have been in the US and employed for five years.

Proponents of the bill say:

Our immigration system is broken and needs to be repaired. This bill is a strong step in the right direction. We need to protect our borders and look out for American workers, and we also need a responsible way to meet the need for temporary workers, particularly in the agricultural area, where they represent about 70 percent of the U.S. agricultural workforce, with a path to earned citizenship for hard-working, law abiding temporary workers. This bill, the product of bipartisan compromise, takes a commonsense approach to all of these issues.

Opponents of the bill say:

Our country has been built by immigrants. But the reason we have had quotas for immigration is the world has progressed in different parts of this globe at a very different rate. In some countries, the economies have lagged far behind.

There are jobs available in this country with rates of pay that are far in excess of those of Third World countries. We have on our southern border people who aspire to come to this country. In order to protect our way of life and our standard of living and to protect jobs, we have quotas.
Reference: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act; Bill S. 2611 ; vote number 2006-157 on May 25, 2006

Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.

Voting YEA would table (kill) the proposed amendment to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits. Voting NAY supports that prohibition, while voting YEA supports immigrants participating in Social Security. Text of amendment:

To reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve the integrity of the Social Security system, by ensuring that persons who receive an adjustment of status under this bill are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a result of unlawful activity.

Proponents of the amendment say to vote NAY because:

The Immigration Reform bill would allow people to qualify for social security based on work they did while they were illegally present in the US and illegally working in the US. People who broke the law to come here and broke the law to work here can benefit from their conduct to collect social security.

In some cases, illegal immigrants may have stolen an American citizen's identity. They may have stolen an American's social security number to fraudulently work. This amendment corrects this problem.

Opponents of the amendment say to vote YEA because:

Americans understand that for years there are undocumented workers who have tried to follow our laws and be good neighbors and good citizens, and have paid into the Social Security Trust Fund.
Once that person regularizes his or her status, and as they proceed down the path to earned citizenship, they should have the benefit after having followed the law and made those contributions. That is fairness.

We should not steal their funds or empty their Social Security accounts. That is not fair. It does not reward their hard work or their financial contributions.

The amendment proposes to change existing law to prohibit an individual from gaining the benefit of any contributions made while the individual was in an undocumented status. I oppose this amendment and believe it is wrong.
Reference: Preclusion of Social Security Credits; Bill S.Amdt.3985 to S.2611 ; vote number 2006-130 on May 18, 2006

Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship.

This amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act would prohibit H-2C nonimmigrants ("Guest Workers") from adjusting to lawful permanent resident status. Voting YEA on the motion to table (which would kill the amendment) indicates supporting a path to citizenship for guest workers. Voting NAY on the motion indicates opposing any path to citizenship. The amendment says:

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an alien having nonimmigrant status is ineligible for and may not apply for adjustment of status.''

Proponents of the amendment say to vote NAY because:

The Immigration Reform Act purports to create two different paths to citizenship for those, first of all, who are in the country living outside of the law in an undocumented status, and secondly, for those who are not yet present in the country but who want to come here at some future date to work.

We have given the somewhat misleading name of ''guest worker'' to the so-called future flow. A guest is not ordinarily defined as someone who moves in with you and never leaves.
These so-called guest workers could work here up to 6 years, after which they then apply for a green card. They then get on the path to American citizenship 5 years later.
It is important for us to debate this issue honestly. The amendment simply makes the point that a guest worker ought to be temporary.

Opponents of the amendment say to vote YEA because:

If this amendment should pass, that whole compromise is destroyed because a fundamental part of that compromise was that those who have been here for 2 to 5 years would be eligible for green card status and citizenship. This amendment would destroy that compromise.
We have examples today in Europe of having people living in your country with no hope to ever be a part of that society. No hope, no opportunity, no future, but we will let you work.
Reference: Kyl Amendment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act; Bill S.Amdt.3969 to S.2611 ; vote number 2006-135 on May 18, 2006

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on immigration and illegal aliens.


No official English, but keep common unifying language. (Feb 2008)
Introduce a path to earn citizenship in the first 100 days. (Feb 2008)
Consider halting certain raids on illegal immigrant families. (Feb 2008)
Border fence that cuts off a college campus is absurd. (Feb 2008)
Deploy technology & personnel, not a border fence. (Feb 2008)
Guest workers only for farms, to address labor shortage. (Feb 2008)
Don't turn local police into immigration enforcers. (Feb 2008)
Deporting all illegal immigrants is unrealistic. (Jan 2008)
Illegal immigrants with driver's licenses puts them at risk. (Jan 2008)
Exploitation of undocumented workers drives down wages. (Jan 2008)
Co-sponsored comprehensive immigration reform in 2004. (Jan 2008)
English unifies us; teach ESL but support other languages. (Dec 2007)
Crack down on employers who exploit undocumented workers. (Dec 2007)
Oppose granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. (Nov 2007)
FactCheck: Denied saying licensing illegals "made sense". (Oct 2007)
Immigrant license issue needs federal action on reform. (Oct 2007)
More border patrolling on both Mexican AND Canadian borders. (Sep 2007)
Immigration reform needs family unification as one goal. (Sep 2007)
Anti-immigrant bill would have criminalized Jesus Christ. (Sep 2007)
Sanctuary cities ok; local police can't enforce immigration. (Sep 2007)
Opposes illegal immigration, but doesn't vote to follow up. (Jun 2007)
Making English official imperils crises needing translators. (Jun 2007)
Comprehensive reform to get 12 million out of shadows. (Apr 2007)
Keep New York-Ontario border passport-free for tourism. (Oct 2006)
Adamantly against illegal immigrants. (Sep 2005)
Adamantly against illegal immigrants. (Sep 2005)
Voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities". (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)
Voted NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program. (May 2007)
Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program. (May 2006)
Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. (May 2006)
Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)
Sponsored bill covering child resident aliens under Medicaid. (May 2005)
Sponsored bill funding social services for noncitizens. (May 2006)
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance. (Dec 2006)

Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to kill border fence in 2006

Voted in favor of bill to increase immigration and grant amnesty to illegal aliens in 2006

Voted in favor of motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611 to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2006

Voted in favor of motion to invoke cloture on bill to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2006

Voted against amendment to cap employment-based visas in 2006

Voted in favor of amendment to limit proposed guestworker program in 2006

Voted against amendment to create additional guestworker visa categories in 2006

Voted to kill amendment to prevent guestworkers from getting greencards in 2006

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to postpone guestworker-amnesty program until borders secured in 2006

Voted on Senate floor against killing amendment to strike guestworker provisions from immigration bill 2006

Voted on Senate floor against killing amendment to cap guestworker visas in 2006

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to increase worker protections in 2006

Voted on Senate floor for amendment to weaken worker protections in 2006

Cosponsoring bill to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005-2006

Voted against amendment to strip foreign-worker increase in 2005

Voted to protect American workers by voting against foreign worker importation program in 2005

Voted in favor of amendment to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005

Sen. Clinton has taken no action to reduce the rewarding of illegal immigration by giving citizenship to anchor babies.

Voted in favor of border fence in 2006

Voted in favor of amendment to fund border fence in 2006

Voted against amendment to fund additional immigration investigators in 2006

Voted against amendment to extend border fence in 2006

Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to kill border fence in 2006

Voted in favor of amendment to make two million illegal aliens eligible for amnesty in 2006

Voted to authorize National Guard to assist in border patrol efforts in 2006

Voted on Senate floor in favor amendment to create border fence in 2006

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to remove amnesty provisions from immigration bill in 2006

Voted on Senate floor to kill amendment to prevent Social Security for illegal aliens in 2006

Voted against amendment to increase detention beds for illegal aliens in 2005

Cosponsoring bill to reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty in 2005-2006

Voted against amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol agents in 2005

Voted in favor of amnesty for agricultural workers in 2005

Voted in favor of amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol and ICE agents in 2005

Cosponsoring bill to create an amnesty for illegal agricultural workers in 2005-2006

Cosponsored S. 2381, a major amnesty for illegal aliens in 2004

Cosponsored bill to repeal the federal ban against granting illegal aliens in-state tuition and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2003-2004

Cosponsored bill to reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty in 2003-2004

Cosponsored legislation in 2002 that would assist illegal immigration by compromising immigration laws

Voted for comprehensive alien tracking and identification system in 2002

Co-sponsored border security and alien tracking and identification legislation in 2001

Cosponsored bill to create an amnesty for illegal agricultural workers in 2003-2004

Co-sponsored legislation in 2001 to extend Section 245(i) for one-year.

Senator John McCain on immigration and illegal aliens.


Make possible for immigrants to do a job Americans won't do

Things are terrible, and we've got to fix it. But we're not going to fix it until we have comprehensive immigration reform. When there's a demand, there's going to be a supply. There are jobs that Americans will not do, so we have to make it possible for someone to come to this country to do a job that an American won't do and then go back to the country from where they came.

Source: AZ Senate Debate, in Tucson Citizen Oct 16, 2004

Give everyone in the world an opportunity to come to America
Those who live closest are the ones who can get here. Everyone in the world should have the opportunity through an orderly process to come to this country.

Source: AZ Senate Debate, in Tucson Citizen Oct 16, 2004

No more ballot initiatives against immigration

Yes, we need to control our borders. No one argues with that. Just ask the recent immigrant who came here legally and is the first to be knocked off the ladder of opportunity by illegal immigrants. But we don’t need ballot initiatives that make people think we want them to abandon their hopes because some of us don’t believe the American Dream is big enough to share anymore.

Source: Landon Lecture at Kansas State University Mar 15, 1999

More help for legal immigrants when immigrating & once here

McCain supports the following principles regarding immigration:
Increase the eligibility of legal immigrants for certain social programs
Provide extra federal aid to states with higher numbers of immigrants for necessary medical and social services.

Prohibit states from passing laws that deny human services to illegal immigrants or their children

Increase the immigration quota for computer scientists and other information technology workers.

Source: Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998

Voted YES on establishing a Guest Worker program.

Voting YES establishes a guest worker program with a path to citizenship for illegal aliens who have worked in the US for 5 years. The bill:

Increases border security and enforcement
Makes it unlawful to knowingly hire, recruit, or refer for a fee an unauthorized alien.
Establishes a temporary guest worker program (H-2C visa) with a three-year admission and one additional three-year extension; and issuance of H-4 nonimmigrant visas for accompanying or following spouse and children;

Provides permanent resident status adjustment for a qualifying illegal alien, and family, for aliens who have been in the US and employed for five years.
Proponents of the bill say:

Our immigration system is broken and needs to be repaired. This bill is a strong step in the right direction. We need to protect our borders and look out for American workers, and we also need a responsible way to meet the need for temporary workers, particularly in the agricultural area, where they represent about 70 percent of the U.S. agricultural workforce, with a path to earned citizenship for hard-working, law abiding temporary workers. This bill, the product of bipartisan compromise, takes a commonsense approach to all of these issues.

Opponents of the bill say:

Our country has been built by immigrants. But the reason we have had quotas for immigration is the world has progressed in different parts of this globe at a very different rate. In some countries, the economies have lagged far behind.
There are jobs available in this country with rates of pay that are far in excess of those of Third World countries. We have on our southern border people who aspire to come to this country. In order to protect our way of life and our standard of living and to protect jobs, we have quotas.

Reference: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act; Bill S. 2611 ; vote number 2006-157 on May 25, 2006

Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security.

Voting YEA would table (kill) the proposed amendment to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits. Voting NAY supports that prohibition, while voting YEA supports immigrants participating in Social Security. Text of amendment:
To reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve the integrity of the Social Security system, by ensuring that persons who receive an adjustment of status under this bill are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a result of unlawful activity.

Proponents of the amendment say to vote NAY because:

The Immigration Reform bill would allow people to qualify for social security based on work they did while they were illegally present in the US and illegally working in the US. People who broke the law to come here and broke the law to work here can benefit from their conduct to collect social security.

In some cases, illegal immigrants may have stolen an American citizen's identity. They may have stolen an American's social security number to fraudulently work. This amendment corrects this problem.

Opponents of the amendment say to vote YEA because:

Americans understand that for years there are undocumented workers who have tried to follow our laws and be good neighbors and good citizens, and have paid into the Social Security Trust Fund.

Once that person regularizes his or her status, and as they proceed down the path to earned citizenship, they should have the benefit after having followed the law and made those contributions. That is fairness.

We should not steal their funds or empty their Social Security accounts. That is not fair. It does not reward their hard work or their financial contributions.

The amendment proposes to change existing law to prohibit an individual from gaining the benefit of any contributions made while the individual was in an undocumented status. I oppose this amendment and believe it is wrong.
Reference: Preclusion of Social Security Credits; Bill S.Amdt.3985 to S.2611 ; vote number 2006-130 on May 18, 2006

Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship.

This amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act would prohibit H-2C nonimmigrants ("Guest Workers") from adjusting to lawful permanent resident status. Voting YEA on the motion to table (which would kill the amendment) indicates supporting a path to citizenship for guest workers. Voting NAY on the motion indicates opposing any path to citizenship. The amendment says:

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an alien having nonimmigrant status is ineligible for and may not apply for adjustment of status.''

Proponents of the amendment say to vote NAY because:
The Immigration Reform Act purports to create two different paths to citizenship for those, first of all, who are in the country living outside of the law in an undocumented status, and secondly, for those who are not yet present in the country but who want to come here at some future date to work.

We have given the somewhat misleading name of ''guest worker'' to the so-called future flow. A guest is not ordinarily defined as someone who moves in with you and never leaves.
These so-called guest workers could work here up to 6 years, after which they then apply for a green card. They then get on the path to American citizenship 5 years later.
It is important for us to debate this issue honestly. The amendment simply makes the point that a guest worker ought to be temporary.

Opponents of the amendment say to vote YEA because:

If this amendment should pass, that whole compromise is destroyed because a fundamental part of that compromise was that those who have been here for 2 to 5 years would be eligible for green card status and citizenship. This amendment would destroy that compromise.
We have examples today in Europe of having people living in your country with no hope to ever be a part of that society. No hope, no opportunity, no future, but we will let you work.
Reference: Kyl Amendment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act; Bill S.Amdt.3969 to S.2611 ; vote number 2006-135 on May 18, 2006

Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work.

Vote to create a national registry containing names of U.S. workers who want to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural work, and to require the Attorney General to allow more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work under H-2A visas.
Reference: Bill S.2260 ; vote number 1998-233 on Jul 23, 1998

Voted YES on visas for skilled workers.

This bill expanded the Visa program for skilled workers. Status: Bill Passed Y)78; N)20; NV)2
Reference: The American Competitiveness Act; Bill S. 1723 ; vote number 1998-141 on May 18, 1998

Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants.

This amendment would have restored food stamp benefits to the children of legal immigrants Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)59; N)41
Reference: Motion to table Kennedy Amdt #429; Bill S.947 ; vote number 1997-111 on Jun 24, 1997

English immersion over bilingual education.

McCain adopted the Republican Main Street Partnership agenda item:
[The Republican Main Street Partnership supports giving priority to] examining new ways to increase the English fluency of limited English proficient students. Currently, priority is given to instruction programs that provide for bilingual education, which combines proficiency in the studentís native language with English instruction.

Recently, however, education research has suggested that English immersion -- not bilingual instruction -- may be the most effective way to help students become proficient in English. Native language requirements in current law must change to reflect this reality and new instruction methods must be pursued with an eye toward regular evaluation and improved English language acquisition.

Source: 2001 GOP Main Street Partnership Action Agenda for Education 01-RMSP1 on Jul 2, 2001

How many times they keep telling things and still say I just mis-spoke

Supported North American Free Trade Agreement "NAFTA"

Senator John McCain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86QwI-6TWic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5ZA4kPfTek
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (Until she started running for president)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YlTSYVZxuY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW4XPRA2jIk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BrPZYbCdJ4

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton



Defended outsourcing of US jobs to India.

In India, she defended American outsourcing of jobs--which benefits India enormously--and predicted that it would continue and grow. "Outsourcing will continue," Mrs. Clinton said in New Delhi. "There is no way to legislate against reality... We are not in favor of putting up fences." Hillary acknowledged the pressures to curb outsourcing: "I have to be frank," she said. "People in my country are losing their jobs, and the US policymakers need to address this issue." Source: Condi vs. Hillary, by Dick Morris, p.165 Oct 11, 2005

Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman.
Voted YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore.
Voted YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile.

Visited Bosnian war zone, but mistake to call it sniper fire

During her speech at George Washington University on March 17th 2008, Hillary Clinton described the dangers she faced during her trip to Bosnia, where she was met with immediate sniper fire and forced to race to safety. Video footage of her arrival there in 1996 clearly shows how harrowing this experience was for the former first lady.

Q: How do you reconcile your credibility when you've made
those misrepresentative comments about what happened
getting off the plane in Bosnia? [Clinton claimed to have
arrived under sniper fire, which was shown to be untrue by a
video from the event].

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLyFF5sES24

Audio from her March 17th 2008 speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2rtBUfc6YA

Senator Barack Obama
Obama Communist Flag In Office!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POkHs4Xwo5M

I revere the American flag; I don't refuse to wear flag pins

Q: I want to know if you believe in the American flag. I am not questioning your patriotism, but all our servicemen & policemen wear the flag. I want to know why you don't.

A: I revere the American flag, and I would not be running for president if I did not revere this country. There's no other country in which my story is even possible; somebody who was born to a teenage mom, raised by a single mother and grandparents from small towns in Kansas; who was able to get an education and rise to the point where I can run for the highest office in the land. I could not help but love this country for all that it's given me. I did wear a flag pin yesertday when a veteran handed it to me, on behalf of disabled veterans. I have never said that I don't wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag pins. This is the kind of manufactured issue that our politics has become obsessed with and distracts us from figuring out how we get our troops out of Iraq and how we make our economy better for the American people.
Source: 2008 Philadelphia primary debate, on eve of PA primary Apr 16, 2008

FactCheck: Yes, refused to wear a flag pin, last year
Obama did a bit of historical rewriting regarding his previous statements on wearing a U.S. flag pin in his lapel. Obama said, "I have never said that I don't wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag pins." Actually, in Oct. 2007, he said, "

Instead, I'm gonna try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism." In another interview, Obama said, "The truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security."

Conservative critics have attacked Obama repeatedly for these remarks and his lack of a flag pin. Recently, Obama accepted a lapel pin given to him a disabled Vietnam veteran. "It means a lot coming from you," Obama said.
Source: FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 Philadelphia primary debate Apr 16, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2La7lBKS6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccbPVMBKQpA

U.S. Code: Title 36 : Section 301National anthem

(a) Designation. - The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.(b) Conduct During Playing. - During a rendition of the national anthem - (1) when the flag is displayed - A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; and(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xV-HMmNZO8

Talking to a closed-door fundraiser in San Francisco:

"It’s not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigration sentiment or anti-trade sentiment," Senator Barack Obama from Illinois said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpo2GNGaOO4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ca0Szy3suQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTxXUufI3jA