Presidential Election

fter a long primary season and grueling presidential campaigns, Americans have the opportunity to choose their next president. Here are the candidates' stances on the issues, in their own words and with their own records.

Economy

"The middle class need a rescue package. That means tax cuts for the middle class. It means help for homeowners. It means we are helping state governments set up projects that keep people in their jobs."

Voted NO on $40 billion in reduced federal overall spending.

Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness. (March 2007)

"I have a plan to fix this problem, and it has to do with energy independence. We've got to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don't like us. We have to keep Americans' taxes low - all Americans' taxes low."

Voted YES on $40 billion in reduced federal overall spending. (December 2005)

Voted NO on making national debt reduction more important than tax cuts. (April 2000)

Education

"A highly educated and skilled work force will be the key not only to individual opportunity but to the overall success of our economy as well. We cannot be satisfied until every child in America - and I mean every child - has the same chances for a good education that we want for our own children."

Voted YES on $5 billion for grants to school districts. (October 2005)

Voted YES on shifting $11 billion from corporate tax loopholes to education. (March 2005)

"Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice. Let's remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work."

Voted NO on $5 billion for grants to school districts. (October 2005)

Voted NO on shifting $11 billion from corporate tax loopholes to education. (March 2005)

Energy

"We can't drill our way out of the problem. That's why I've focused on putting resources into solar, wind, biodiesel, geothermal."

Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40 percent by 2025. (June 2005)

"I traveled all over the world looking at the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Now, what's the best way of fixing it? Nuclear power. Sen. Obama says that it has to be safe or disposable or something like that. Nuclear power is safe, and it's clean."

Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40 percent by 2025. (June 2005)

Health Care

"Well, I think (health care) should be a right for every American. In a country as wealthy as ours, for us to have people who are going bankrupt because they can't pay their medical bills . there's something fundamentally wrong about that."

Supports uninsured receiving the same coverage members of Congress have. (September 2007)

"I think it's a responsibility, in this respect, in that we should have available and affordable health care to every American citizen, to every family member.. But government mandates I'm always a little nervous about. But it is certainly my responsibility. It is certainly small-business people and others, and they understand that responsibility."

Against mandated universal system and mandated insurance coverage. (June 2006)

Iraq

"The lesson is we should never hesitate to use military force - and I will not, as president - in order to keep the American people safe. But we have to use our military wisely. We did not use our military wisely in Iraq."

Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (July 2007)

Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (June 2006)

Voted YES on investigating contracts given to companies to work in Iraq and Afghanistan. (November 2005)

"I intend to win the war and trust in the proven judgment of our commanders there and the courage and selflessness of the Americans they have the honor to command.. The costs in lives and treasure we would incur should we fail in Iraq will be far greater than the heartbreaking losses we have suffered to date. I will not allow that to happen."

Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (July 2007)

Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (June 2006)

Voted NO on investigating contracts given to companies to work in Iraq and Afghanistan. (November 2005)

Source: OnTheIssues.org

~ Michael Westervelt

Presidential Election

Lobo athletes score top honors in Mountain West conference awards

PHOTO STORY: ‘Alebrijes and Nahuales’ brings Downtown to life

Isotopes clip Bees’ wings in tied series