Barack Obama
Current Offices Contending For: Democratic U.S. President,
Political Biography:
Barack Obama currently serves as a U.S. Senator. He has held this position since 2005. He also was a Senator in Illinois from 1996 to 2004.
Obama belongs to several different organizations. Some of which include the following: Trinity United Church of Christ and the Center for Neighborhood of which he is a member, the Joyce Foundation of which he is a Board Member.
He also serves on educational committees, such as the Woods Funds of Chicago and Leadership for Quality Education.
Barack Obama’s View on Select Issues:
He has taken the 1998 National Political Awareness Test provided by Vote Smart.com. According to that test, he has provided his answers to questions related to various political issues.
Regarding abortion, he has not stated specifically what his stand on it was. He did not check on the Political Awareness test that he was against abortion.
Nor did he say he was for it in certain situations. He had mentioned he was undecided regarding the issue of public funding being granted to clinics.
He has stated that he supports affirmative action at the college level as well as on the job and in state contracting. He also supports this action in various other areas unspecified.
As far as crime is concerned, he would like to see alternative penalties besides incarceration (put in jail or prison) for people who commit non-violent crimes. He also believes in inmate rehab and education, and supports public funding for this purpose. He also supports a “boot camp” type sentencing for first-time juvenile felons.
In addition, he supports low-interest loans for persons starting businesses. He also supports low-interest loans for expansion and relocation. Likewise, he supports job training programs.
Along with job training, Obama supports the increase of funding for the professional development of public school teachers and administrators. He also favors charter schools that can receive state authorization and funding to start new schools.
In the area of energy use he supports the burning of cleaner fuels. He also (while serving in Illinois) supports funding for state recycling programs. He also supports “right-to-know” environmental laws. More specifically, when he was still in office in Illinois he supported improvement of the Illinois River.
For health, he supported as of 1998 the Patient’s Bill of Rights. He thought as of this time that patients had the right to choose there medical care and that they should receive the health care that they need.
In addition, Barack Obama supports teen pregnancy prevention education. He also supports Head Start funding increase. He also has in the past supported the movement to add sexual orientation to the federal anti-discrimination laws.
He believes as of 1998 that K-12 education, health care, and welfare spending should increase. He believed that funding for college education should stay the same. Obama was satisfied with spending in other areas such as highway-building, law enforcement, and agriculture.
Voting Records:
Abortion
In 2007, Barack Obama did not place a vote on issues regarding the funding of abortion or on funding for coercive abortions. He does, however, support the Unintended Pregnancy Amendment.
This is a piece of legislation that if passed would reduce the number of abortions. This is also legislation that would increase funds to family planning services-for service that does not necessarily include abortion.
Economics and Taxes
Obama did not provide a response to bills such as the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, or the Economic Stimulus Package, or the Defense Authorizations Bill.
He did, however, speak out about poverty. (view source) He also made a declaration to end the Iraqi war. He wanted to see the cost of education reduced so more low income people would be able to climb the ladder of success. He also supports increase in provision of transportation to jobs.
He did, however, vote no for a Tax Reconciliation Bill in 2006. He also voted for the Environmental Natural Resources and Funding Amendment in 2006.
Family Issues
He voted no to the Child Custody Protection Act in 2006. He voted for CHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) Re-authorization in 2007, though. He did not vote for several bills, including the Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Bill.
Education
Barack Obama voted for an increase in Pell Grants for those pursuing a college education. He also voted for additional funding for persons with disabilities.
Immigration
He voted for allowing permanent resident of certain undocumented immigrants. This bill would cover those who enter the U.S. as children, long-term residents and so on.
Personal Biographical Information
Barack Obama has a wife named Michelle and two children named Malia and Sasha. He was born in Hawaii and now lives in Illinois. One of his favorite books is The Autobiography of Malcolm X. He also enjoys The Song of Solomon by Toni.
He wrote publications such as the following: It Takes a Nation: How Strangers Became Family in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina" (2006) and "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" (2006).
He also wrote Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" (1995). His father is no longer living today. His mother is also deceased.
Awards Won by Barack Obama
He has won many awards over the past several years. For instance, he received the Best Spoken Word Album Grammy Award in 2006. He also received a Chairman’s Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He was also recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People of the World by Time Magazine.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Barack Obama (Democrat)
Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democrat)
Current Offices Contending For: Democratic U.S. President,
Political Biography:
Hillary Clinton was the first lady to President Bill Clinton from 1992 to the year 2000. She was also the first lady to Clinton in Arkansas from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1982 to 1992. She currently serves as a U.S. Senator in the Junior Seat.
She has been involved in quite a few organizations over the years. Some of these include Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families of which she is the Co-Founder. She also is a board member of the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and (interestingly enough to many people) is a board member of Wal-Mart.
She also is a member of several caucuses such as the Chair, Arkansas Educational Standards Committee and the Democratic Policy Committee. In addition, she is a member of the Environmental and Public Works committee and the Armes Services committee as well as others.
Hillary Clinton’s View on Select Issues:
She believes in the woman’s right to have an abortion. However, she also believes that abortions should happen very rarely. (view source). She also advocates women’s reproductive health and is for programs to prevent unintended pregnancy.
She also has expressed in one of her public statements that people should be allowed to have affordable, accessible health care. She wants to push for health care for all Americans, and she also wishes for veterans to receive the best of care. (view source)
In addition, Hillary Clinton would like to see the middle class of American strengthened. She has mentioned that Americans are working a lot harder for a lot less money. (view source)
Moreover, she wants to see the War in Iraq end. Along with that, she has supported the Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007. She also supports energy independence, meaning that she believes in America releasing its tight grip and dependence on foreign resources such as oil.
Furthermore, Mrs. Clinton would like to see a restoration of American’s reputation as viewed by the rest of the world. She says she wants America’s respect restored.
She also supports the return of the government back to a system of checks and balances. Moreover, she wants to see government updated to meet the needs of the 21st century.
Voting Record Overview:
Abortion
Hillary Clinton did not vote on the 2007 bill which would prohibit funding to groups that perform abortions. She also did not vote on the 2007 bill which would have prohibited coercive abortions, but she did vote yes on the Unintended Pregnancy Amendment.
She strongly believes women have the right to decide if they are going to have an abortion. However, she believes it should be rare. (view source)
Civil Rights
Hillary Clinton Voted for the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007. If this law had been passed, D.C. would have been granted a voting representative, and D.C. would have been made in to a voting district.
Mrs. Clinton has no record of voting on the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 during the 2/13/208 session. This bill would have increased governmental intelligence on a global level. She has, however, voted yes to the English as a Common Language Amendment.
Family
In 2006, Hillary Clinton voted no to the child custody protection act. In that same year, she also voted no to the Federal Marriage Amendment which stressed the point that marriage is between one man and one woman.
She did vote yes to the Teen Pregnancy Education Amendment of 2006. In addition, she also voted for an enhancement of the Amber Alert Bill in 2003.
Taxes and Budget
Hillary Clinton did not provide a vote regarding the Economic Stimulus Package Bill on 2/7/2007. She has made a statement, however, that she wants to see the middle class of America strengthened. (view source)
Furthermore, as of 1/24/2007 Clinton has stated that she will advocate a larger tax rebate for working families. She wants to see lower-income Americans receive a greater amount of tax refund. (view source)
She was also happy to see the stimulus package go forward.
Background Information about Hillary Clinton:
Hillary Clinton’s husband is the former U.S. President William (Bill) Clinton. She also has one child named Chelsea. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and now lives in New York.
Awards Won:
Mrs. Clinton has won many awards over the years including the following:
The -Humanitarian Award given by the Elie Wiesel Foundation, Women Who Make A Difference Lifetime Achievement Award from Family Circle, and the President's Award, which she received from the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Maurice Robert (Mike) Gravel
Current Offices Contending For: Democratic U.S. President,
Political Biography:
Maurice (Mike) Gravel is currently a candidate for U.S. President. In addition, he served in the U.S. Senate from 1969 to 1981. He was also a candidate for the House of Representatives in 1969, and served as a House member for Arkansas in 1963 to 1966.
He is the founder and president of The Democracy Foundation, Direct Democracy, and Philadelphia II. In addition, he has had professional experience in the U.S. army from 1951 to 1954 and also served in the U.S. Army on Wall Street.
In addition, Mr. Gravel has had writing and lecturing experience, and served on the Alaskan Railroad. He also took on a cab driving job in his lifetime. He was educated at Columbia University with a degree in economics.
Mike Gravel’s View on Select Issues:
He has taken the 2008 Political Courage Test provided by Vote Smart.com. According to that test, he has provided his answers to questions related to various political issues.
For instance, he indicated that abortions should always be legal. He also thinks that spending in the areas such as of public health, environment, and education should be greatly increased.
Gravel believes that Homeland Security spending should decrease. He is satisfied with the level of spending in other areas, such as United Nations funding, as well scientific research spending, and space exploration funding.
He also does not recommend increase spending in intelligence (spy) operations. In addition, he believes in decreasing greatly the spending of national defense. In addition, he thinks that the budget on development and research of new weapons should decrease.
On the other hand, he does support citizens’ rights to bear arms with a license. (Gravel believes in educated use of.
Furthermore, he supports job training programs for those who want to better them selves. In addition, he advocates for a federal minimum wage increase and workers’ right to unionize.
In addition, Mike Gravel believes that taxes should be eliminated for those who make $12,000 or less. In addition, he believes that alcohol, cigarette, and similar excise taxes should remain the same.
He supports a universal health care program for all Americans. Mike Gravel also supports the importation of prescription drugs into the country.
As far as immigration is concerned, Mr. Gravel expressed that he supports temporary work programs for them. He is not for the decrease of number of immigrants coming to America.
He supports amnesty for immigrants already living in the United States. However, he believes they should be given a way to be a citizen of the country. Furthermore, he believes in international aid outside of the country when necessary (in extreme cases).
Mike Gravel also supports personal rights, such as same-sex couples’ right to marry. He does not support the definition of the One-Man, One-Woman Marriage Amendment.
He also believes that homosexuality should be included in federal anti-discrimination laws. For instance, he wants to see gays not be discriminated against in the workplace. He does not, however, support affirmative action in college admissions.
Voting Records:
Mike Gravel has not served in politics for quite some time so he does not have any current voting records. Very little information about this record has been publicized.
However, word is out that Mike Gravel was instrumental in the release of The Pentagon Papers. This documented Vietnam War failures. Also, he is documented as being strongly pro-choice, so chances are he has voted pro-choice on any bill or almost every bill related to abortion.
Personal Biographical Information
Mike Gravel has a wife names Whitney. He also has two children called Martin and Lynne. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Besides the Pentagon Papers, Mike Gravel has written other documents including Jobs and More Jobs in 1968 and Citizen Power, a People’s Platform.