Top Issues

International Relations

John McCain
McCain long has been an advocate of promoting democracy in Africa and the Middle East. He has spoken critically or Russia during the country’s conflict with Georgia.. He recently welcomed the resignation of Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf and said it is critical that the United States continue its partnership with the country. McCain supports the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Accord as a “means of strengthening our relationship with the world’s largest democracy.”

Barack Obama
Obama says that he is “willing to meet with the leaders of all nations, friend and foe.” He recently welcomed the resignation of Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf . He supports the United States providing aid to Georgia and believes Americans should help the country rebuild its economy. Obama voted for the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Accord.

Learn More:
• Candidate McCain Aims to Revitalize U.S. Global Standing
• Obama Emphasizes Multilateral U.S. Foreign Policymaking
• Next U.S. President Unlikely to Alter U.S. Latin America Policy

  

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Iraq

John McCain
McCain says he does not want to keep troops in Iraq “a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there.” McCain says he believes that "a precipitous U.S. withdrawal would condemn Iraq to civil war” and energize al-Qaida. He says “the lasting advantage of a peaceful and democratic ally in the heart of the Middle East could still be squandered by hasty withdrawal and arbitrary timelines.”

Barack Obama
Obama is a critic of the Iraq war, saying it diverts attention from fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan. He supports withdrawing combat troops immediately at the rate of one to two brigades per month so that most U.S. troops would be out of Iraq within 16 months of the U.S. presidential inauguration. "The best way to press Iraq's leaders to take responsibility for their future is to make it clear that we are leaving," Obama says. He also wants to work with Iraq's neighbors to discuss Iraq's security and stability. If elected, Obama says he will provide at least $2 billion to expand humanitarian aid to Iraqi refugees.

Learn More:
• John McCain, Barack Obama Debate War Policies
• The War in Iraq and 2008 Election (Podcast)
• McCain Says War in Iraq Will End By 2013 (Blog)

  

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Security

John McCain McCain says that “in a dangerous world, protecting America’s national security requires a strong military.” McCain says the U.S. Army must be enlarged and modernized with more advanced weapon systems to ensure it can meet a diverse set of security challenges. He supports the development and deployment of national missile defenses and says they are essential to protect the United States from rogue regimes.

Barack Obama Obama says that the “gravest danger to the American people is the threat of a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon and the spread of nuclear weapons to dangerous regimes.” He pledges to lead a global effort to secure all nuclear weapons and nuclear material now housed at vulnerable sites within four years. Obama says the U.S. military and its alliances such as NATO need to be transformed to meet today's needs.

Learn More:
• Presidential Candidates’ Foreign Policy Advisers a Diverse Group
• U.S. Security Policy Subject of Debate in Presidential Election
• Presidential Candidates’ Foreign Trips Matter

  

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Energy and Climate Change

John McCain
McCain says that "ensuring clean air, safe and healthy water, sustainable land use, ample greenspace … is a patriotic responsibility." He supports developing clean-coal technologies, using nuclear energy and drilling for oil off U.S. shores to reduce the need to import oil. Believing “there must be a global solution to global climate change,” McCain says he would discuss environmental efforts with allies.

Barack Obama
Obama says fighting climate change is one of the “greatest moral challenges of our generation.” Obama has proposed a plan that would invest $150 billion over 10 years to advance biofuels and promote renewable energy. He says he will improve energy efficiency 50 percent by 2030, in part by creating a competitive grant program to award jurisdictions constructing energy-efficient buildings. Obama says that he would create a Global Energy Forum that would bring together the largest energy-consuming nations to discuss environmental issues.

Learn More:
• With Gas Prices Rising, Candidates Consider Energy Alternatives
• Energy Policy Critical Presidential Campaign Issue (Podcast)

 

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Immigration

John McCain McCain says his top immigration priority is to secure U.S.borders. He believes it is important for immigrants to learn English, American history and civics. McCain says he will implement a “secure, accurate and reliable” employment verification system to ensure individuals are hiring legal workers and temporary worker programs that will reflect the labor needs of certain U.S. business sectors.

Barack Obama Obama proposed legislation to create a new employment-eligibility system with which companies could verify that their employees are legal residents. Obama supports allowing illegal immigrants who have not committed crimes to stay in the United States if they pay a fine and learn English. He wants to add additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the U.S. borders and ports of entry.

Learn More:
• Immigration Remains Important Campaign Issue in United States
• Immigration Policies Generate Passionate Debate in United States (Podcast)

  

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The Economy

John McCain
In his 15-page economic plan, McCain says he has a comprehensive economic plan that will create millions jobs and bring relief to consumers. He says he will balance the government’s budget by the end of his first term by reducing the costs of large government programs. McCain has called for tax credits for research and development to encourage companies to be innovative while saving money.

Barack Obama
In his 48-page plan for “strengthening the middle class,” Obama says he would provide an immediate $250 tax cut for workers and their families. Obama proposed a fund to help people refinance their mortgages to avoid foreclosure and provide tax credits to help pay mortgages. He supports raising the minimum wage and increasing job training programs that would help Americans find work in occupations related to clean energy.

Learn More:
• Economics Continues to Dominate Presidential Campaign
• Tax Policy Source of Debate in U.S. Politics (Podcast)

    

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Trade

John McCain
McCain is a supporter of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). McCain also supported the U.S.-Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) and free trade with Oman, Singapore, Chile and the Andean nations. He voted for normalizing trade with Vietnam and China and supports expanding trade to developing countries. McCain has called for improvements to job training and education programs so those Americans who lose jobs when their companies go overseas can find new jobs that “take advantage of trade and innovation.”

Barack Obama
Obama says that, if elected, he would ensure that “every [trade] agreement that we sign has the labor standards, the environmental standards and the safety standards that are going to protect not just workers, but also consumers.” Obama opposed the U.S.-Dominican Republic Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) based on labor and environmental concerns. A long opponent of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Obama says he will act forcefully, including a potential withdrawal from the treaty, to ensure labor and environmental sidebar agreements are enforced effectively. He also supports setting labor and human rights standards for trade with China trade.

Learn More:
• NAFTA Challenged by Presidential Candidates

  

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Education

John McCain
McCain says he will provide more funding to recruit better teachers and pay bonuses to teachers who agree to work in troubled schools. He also wants more federal funds to support development of online courses. He believes that students should have the option of switching public schools in order to receive the best education and that “all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing schools.”

Barack Obama
Obama says, if elected, he would improve funding for the No Child Left Behind program. He also says he would “make math and science education a national priority” and increase recruitment of teachers in these subjects. In order to better recruit teachers, Obama proposes providing four-year scholarships to those in college who will teach for at least four years after graduation. He pledges to implement a $4,000 tax credit for those attending college.

Learn More:
• Education Unlikely to Be Predominant Campaign Issue

   

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Health Care

John McCain
For those who do not receive health insurance through their employer, McCain says he will offer $2,500 tax credits to individuals and $5,000 tax credits for families to help make health insurance more affordable. He also seeks to allow Americans to keep their health insurance when switching jobs or moving between states. McCain says health care costs can be lowered by encouraging greater competition among providers.

Barack Obama
Obama’s health care plan would require all children to have health insurance and all employers to contribute to their employees’ health insurance costs. Americans who do not have insurance provided through their employer will have the option to pick from a number of private and government options. To lower health care costs, Obama says he would require health care providers to publicly report on their expenses.

Learn More:
• U.S. Health Care System Major Issue for Presidential Candidates (Podcast)
• Health Care Ranks Among U.S. Voters' Top Domestic Concerns