issues

=**Explore the Issues**=



=**//Economy//**= The economy, unemployment, taxes and how to manage the federal government's $14 trillion debt will be leading issues in the 2012 White House race. With the near-collapse of the U.S. banking and financial system hitting late in the 2008 race, President Obama's tenure in the Oval Office is being defined, in many ways, by economic and fiscal policy issues. And the tea party movement - the conservative wing of the Republican party -- has been hammering Obama's economic and fiscal policy since 2009, pushing GOP candidates to hold firm on pledges not to raise taxes and to cut spending.


 * Obama:** Obama made a series of reforms to crack down on Wall Street practices and instituted programs to help small-business owners and consumers. His stimulus plan, which temporarily helped boost the economy, has failed to significantly drop the record-high unemployment rate of 9.1%. Obama, who came into office facing the fiscal crisis, says economic recovery will need years to fully kick in. That's why, his campaign says, he needs to be re-elected.
 * Gingrich:** Gingrich would like to make the Bush-era tax cuts permanent. He would also like to eliminate capital gains taxes, lower the corporate tax rate, and eliminate the estate tax. He would like to repeal or reform several major pieces of banking and financial regulation and to make major changes to how the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration operate.
 * Paul:** Paul is a longstanding critic of U.S. fiscal and monetary policy. In particular, he has criticized the Federal Reserve, which he would like to eliminate altogether. Paul recently voted against two bills increasing the U.S. debt ceiling. He also would like to return the U.S. to the gold standard, to do a thorough audit of the Fed's books and to audit all of U.S. gold holdings at Fort Knox.
 * Romney:** On the campaign trail, Romney frequently touts his mix of experience in the public and private sectors. Romney has also expressed support for the "cut, cap and balance" approach to curbing federal deficit spending that has been championed by tea party activists and some conservative lawmakers in Congress.

= = = = =**//Health Care//**= America's health care system faces the daunting problems of escalating costs and millions of uninsured. After a year of discussion and debate, Congress passed historic health insurance reform legislation, and President Obama signed The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010. One might have expected that the health care debate was over. In fact the unwieldy legislation, dubbed "ObamaCare" by critics, was a major contributing factor to Democrats' mid-term election losses. Now, even as the Administration is implementing the legislation, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear challenges to the law, and it will certainly be a major issue in the 2012 campaign.


 * Obama:** When the history books are written, health care reform will be at the top of the list of Obama's accomplishments. Despite facing heavy opposition from congressional Republicans, Democrats passed the Affordable Health Care Act in March 2010, a sweeping set of reforms aimed to help more Americans get insured. But things have not gone swimmingly. Various courts have ruled parts of the law unconstitutional; something opponents say has been the case all along.
 * Gingrich:** Gingrich would like to "repeal and replace (the Democratic health care reform bill) with a pro-jobs, pro-responsibility health plan that puts doctors and patients in charge of health decisions instead of bureaucrats." Gingrich's vision for reforming the health care system includes: allowing health insurance to be sold across state lines, changing the tax treatment for health insurance premiums, making some substantial changes to Medicare and Medicaid, making Health Savings Accounts more available, and passing medical malpractice reform.
 * Paul:** Paul wants to repeal the Democratic health care reform bill, and he voted to that effect in January 2011. He also favors allowing insurance to be sold across state lines and expanding access to health savings accounts.
 * Romney:** Romney would like to repeal the health care reform bill championed by President Barack Obama and passed by Congress, then controlled by Democrats. The former Massachusetts governor has said that if he's elected, he will issue waivers to all 50 states allowing them to opt out of the federal plan on his first day in the Oval Office.



=Same Sex Marriage=

Whether or not same-sex couples have the right to civil union is a topic of much debate in the upcoming election. While some support change in the country, others ingrained beliefs spark controversy and debate. The Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 gained a majority of support when it was first proposed but 15 years later the scenario is vastly different. Currently the country is divided on the issue with a 53% majority in favor of legalization and 45% strongly opposing. Candidate opinions on this major issue can garter or lose large portions of their voting pools and effect election results.


 * Obama**: Obama has expressed his support for civil unions but has never fully endorsed same-sex marriage. Obama believes that marriage is defined as a union between man and women, but has supported the California court’s decision repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. This Act defines marriage as between a man and a woman and keeps same-sex couples from marrying.
 * Gingrich**: Gingrich strongly believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. He believes that homosexuality is a combination of genetics and environment but not predetermined at birth. He feels it is an individual’s choice and that homosexuals are imposing their beliefs upon the public. In the same debate, Gingrich said that should the law -- which is now being challenged in court -- be overturned, he favors an amendment to the Constitution that would specify the same traditional definition of marriage
 * Paul**: Paul strongly believes in the traditional notions of marriage between a man and a woman. However he feels that the federal government shouldn’t be involved in the issue of marriage.
 * Romney**: Romney favors a federal, nationwide definition of marriage. He believes that marriage between a man and a woman is a sacred act and that our laws should reflect that. Romney has been quoted saying "I believe we should have a federal amendment in the Constitution that defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman”

=**//Foreign Policy//**=

The U.S. foreign policy, also known as a foreign relations policy, is the way it interacts with other nations to work out problems, interests, and to keep organizations running strong. The officially stated goals of the foreign policy of the United States, as mentioned in the Foreign Policy Agenda of the U.S. Department of State, are "to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community."


 * Obama**: Inherited wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, developing U.S. policy in a Middle East where Iran is a potential nuclear threat, coaxing along a stalled peace plan when Israel and the Palestinians are still fierce adversaries, and encouraging popular voices to stand up against oppressive regimes in the Middle East and North Africa through democratic uprisings, a movement known as the Arab Spring. He had a major success with the discovery and death of notorious terrorist Osama bin Laden, the face of al Qaeda for the past decade. He also thinks that we should leave Iraq and Afghanistan in a responsible way.


 * Gingrich**: Gingrich believes that U.S. foreign policy lacks a comprehensive vision for one of the key challenges of the past several years. "I think we need to rethink everything in the region. I think we need to rethink Afghanistan, we need to rethink Iraq, and I think we need to recognize that right now Iran is on offense and our troops are in danger everywhere in that region." Gingrich has also been critical of U.S. involvement in Libya.


 * Paul**: Paul has been an outspoken critic of the U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and, more generally, he is a critic of an expansionist approach to foreign policy. Recently, Paul voted in favor of a trio of proposals intended to put limits on U.S. involvement in Libya. He also believes the U.S. policy against Iran has been overblown.


 * Romney**: Romney has been critical of Obama's approach to foreign policy. "Instead of apologizing for America abroad and 'leading from behind," Romney said he will "pursue a strategy of American strength," according to the Romney campaign site.



= = =//**Immigration**//=

The issue of immigration is one of the most important and prevalent issues facing the candidates this year. Concerns about cross-border violence from Mexico and efforts by some states, especially those on the border, to try to enforce federal immigration laws have been high since Obama took office in 2009.


 * Obama:** On deportations, Obama has said that while he must "uphold the laws on the books," he understands the "real pain and heartbreak that deportations cause." He has also criticized Republicans for not supporting the DREAM Act, which would offer illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. before they turned 16 the chance to become lawful permanent residents if they meet certain conditions.


 * Gingrich:** In an August 2011 GOP presidential debate, Gingrich stressed the need to control the country's southern border; said he favors making English the official language of the U.S; and reiterated his proposal to use local citizen boards to decide which undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country.


 * Paul:** During an August 2011 GOP presidential debate, Paul laid out his views on immigration. He said he opposes requiring businesses to verify employees' immigration status and opposes amnesty for undocumented immigrants already in the country. Paul also said he doesn't believe in giving entitlements to undocumented immigrants or mandating that states do so.


 * Romney:** Romney expressed support for giving green cards to highly educated workers who hold doctorates to meet the needs of employers. He also said America's borders need to be secured and that the government should crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers.