With the Presidential Primaries quickly approaching, it’s time to decide who you will vote for! But I know how overwhelming it can feel to sort through each candidate and their stance on all the issues. So I’ve put together a few charts outlining some of the top Republican and Democrat candidates and their stance on 19 different issues. There was a lot of info to sort through (a lot — I hope you appreciate all this because I almost gave up several times) but here’s a quick rundown of how to navigate the charts.
Each of the charts falls into one of five main categories: Individual Rights, Domestic Issues, Economic Issues, Defense and International Issues, and Foreign Policy. At the end of each chart is a key-code with a broad definition of what the candidates’ stance translates to. At the bottom of each chart is a “NEXT” or “PREVIOUS” button that allows you to scroll through all the issues included in this section.
A few things I learned while going through the candidates:
- You will not agree with each candidate 100%, so don’t discount anyone just because you don’t agree on one or two issues. It will be important to prioritize which issues are most important for you and then find the candidate who you most agree with.
- These are complicated issues, so each candidate (for the most part) has elements of both sides of the coin. To help you understand how the candidate really feels about an issue, I’ve also included “What the Candidate Has Said” about this issue on most of the charts. This will help you get a better understanding of where the candidate stands on a particular issue.
- Just hearing bullet points is not enough; you must do your own research and dig further into the details of what the candidates really stand for (ex: gay marriage: “oppose gay marriage but not homosexuality)
- Once I started doing research into each of the candidates — and seeing what they had actually said on each issue — I was surprised to find that I agreed with some candidates more or less than I had previously thought.
- Here are two websites that have been very helpful to me as I researched the candidates.
This first website was probably the most useful for me and the one I’d recommend the most. It allows you to answer a series of questions which you can also rate on the level of importance to you and then tells you which candidate you tend to vote most like. It also breaks down your similarity percentage for each major candidate — including the ones`you disagreed with. https://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz
This second one allows the user to go issue-by-issue and see each candidate’s view on the issue. http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm
- For all the voters out there who think all politicians are corrupt and are looking for a Third Party candidate, I’ve included Roseanne Barr of the Peace and Freedom Party for your consideration <I hope you realize that I’m being sarcastic and have only included her to lighten this very dense subject. But she really is running as a Third Party candidate for President.>
Happy Hunting!
*NOTE: These charts are best viewed on a laptop or home computer, not a cell phone.*
Individual Rights
Abortion, Women & Minorities, Same-Sex Marriage, Religion (Keeping God in Public Sphere), EnvironmentCandidate | Position | What the Candidate Said |
---|---|---|
Jeb Bush | Opposes abortion rights. | Abortion ok when LIFE of mother at risk, not just her HEALTH. Defund Planned Parenthood, but not with federal shutdown. I defunded Planned Parenthood in Florida; do same federally. Parental consent; clinic regulation; pro-life counseling. Prevent use of public funds for stem cell research. Restrict abortions to incest, rape, & health. |
Ben Carson | Strongly opposes abortion rights. | Drugs OK to prevent conception in instances of rape & incest. Maybe exceptions for life of mother, not for rape or incest. No abortion for convenience. |
Chris Christie | Opposes abortion rights. | "Default pro-choice" until hearing 13-week fetal heartbeat. Ban abortions after 20 weeks, with exceptions. I'm pro-life with exceptions; take it or leave it. Put defunding of Planned Parenthood on the president's desk. Successfully defunded Planned Parenthood in New Jersey. 1994: Donated to Planned Parenthood; opposed public donation. 1996: partial birth procedure is reprehensible. |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly favors abortion rights. | Expand embryonic stem cell research. Keep abortion safe, legal and rare. Lift ban on stem cell research to cure devastating diseases. Must safeguard constitutional rights, including choice. NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims. Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. Supports parental notice & family planning. Voted liberal line on partial birth & harm to fetus. YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. |
Ted Cruz | Strongly opposes abortion rights. Ban taxpayer funding of abortion & partial birth abortion. Companies can deny insuring birth control. Opposes churches providing birth control. Opposes public abortion funding. Protect innocent human life with partial-birth ban. | |
Carly Fiorina | Opposes abortion rights. | Ban abortions 20 weeks after fertilization. Opposes both federal abortion funding & judicial activism. Opposes prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research. Sanctity of life, except in the case of rape and incest. Supports giving legal protection to unborn children. |
Rand Paul | Strongly opposes abortion rights. | Force a Senate vote on defunding Planned Parenthood. Fund community health centers instead of Planned Parenthood. Life begins at conception. Opposes federal abortion funding. Supports "Plan B" morning-after contraception. Supports religious freedom to deny contraceptive coverage. |
Marco Rubio | Strongly opposes abortion rights. | Abortion is complex issue; we must reduce the number of them. Pro-life, but understands that woman's right is the law. Abortion is complex issue; we must reduce the number of them. Ban abortion after 20 weeks. Consensus that life begins at conception; so no abortion. Expand birth control exemption for faith-based organizations. Supports prohibiting human embryonic stem cell research. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors abortion rights. | Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services. Ensure access to and funding for contraception. Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception. NO on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. |
Donald Trump | Opposes abortion rights. | Ban late abortions; exceptions for rape, incest or health. Defund Planned Parenthood. Favors abortion rights but respects opposition. I am now pro-life; after years of being pro-choice. I am pro-life; fight ObamaCare abortion funding. I changed my views to pro-life based on personal stories. Planned Parenthood is important, but abortions must stop. |
Roseanne Barr | Strongly favors abortion rights. | Abortion is a woman's right. |
Abortion Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | The right to abortion empowers women and is an important part of women's health rights and women's reproductive freedom. That right includes the right to a government subsidy for poor women who want an abortion. You believe in the 'Right to Choose' and are strongly pro-choice. | |
Favors | Restricting 'Partial-Birth Abortions' or other specific procedures is reasonable, but clinic access should be unfettered, since other women may choose differently than you. You are pro-choice, but believe that some restrictions are acceptable. | |
Opposes | The fetus is a human being who has rights independent of its mother's rights. You are "pro-life." While abortion under certain circumstances might be tolerated, the basic rights belong to the fetus, not the mother. | |
Strongly Opposes | Abortion is immoral because it kills a human being, and should never be tolerated. 'Roe v. Wade' should be overturned and we should protest abortion clinics as other forms of injustice are protested. | |
Jeb Bush | Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action. | Gay rights & feminism are "modern victim movements." Provide licensure exams in Spanish, for free. Dismantled Florida's affirmative action program. Replaced affirmative action with "One Florida" initiative. |
Ben Carson | Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action. | Underdog status is no longer determined by race. Political correctness undermines Black Lives Matter movement. Arrests for "Driving While Black" is common. |
Chris Christie | Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Neutral on affirmative action. | Black Lives Matter encourages cop killing. |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly favors legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Strongly favors affirmative action. | Equal pay is not yet equal. Human rights are women’s rights. Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. We’ve come a long way on race, but we have a long way to go. |
Ted Cruz | Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action. | Disallow Ku Klux Klan from participating in Adopt-A-Highway. Don't empower more lawsuits by demanding equal pay. Supports ending racial preferences for college admissions. NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. |
Carly Fiorina | Favors legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Favors affirmative action. | Hired by AT&T after court ordered them to promote more women. Named "Most Powerful Businesswoman", but lists are bad idea. U.S. will be better off when women have equal opportunity. Women professionals are not treated the same as men. |
Rand Paul | Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action. | Women won the "war on women": they're no longer downtrodden. Boycott countries that demonize women, like Saudi Arabia. Be aware of those who are missing out on American Dream. |
Marco Rubio | Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Opposes affirmative action. | Voted against Paycheck Fairness Act. Incentivize foreign language curriculum in elementary school. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors legally requiring hiring women and minorities. Strongly favors affirmative action. | Affirmative Action makes up for past injustice. Until blacks, women, and other minorities are proportionately represented in the upper classes of the economy and the workplace, society owes them a hand up. Government should actively enforce Affirmative Action laws in private companies. NO on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. |
Donald Trump | Opposes legally requiring the hiring of women and minorities. Neutral on affirmative action. | I'm "fine" with affirmative action, for now. Political correctness is country's problem, not my problem. |
Roseanne Barr | Require companies to hire more women & minorities. | |
Affirmative Action Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Affirmative Action makes up for past injustice. Until blacks, women, and other minorities are proportionately represented in the upper classes of the economy and the workplace, society owes them a hand up. Government should actively enforce Affirmative Action laws in private companies. | |
Favors | Under-represented groups should be favored, but perhaps basing results on formal quotas goes too far. Nevertheless, the government should prosecute companies which discriminate against women and minorities. | |
Opposes | Affirmative Action is a noble idea, but should not be enforced by government. Government should enforce an end to racial prejudice, period. | |
Strongly Opposes | Affirmative Action is better described as Reverse Discrimination. Quotas based on race and gender are wrong, whichever race or gender they favor. Under-represented groups should fend for themselves without government intervention. | |
Jeb Bush | Opposes same-sex marriage. | Don't create gays as another category of victims. Don't-ask-don't-tell ok if it doesn't affect policy. Let businesses express religious freedom against gays. Respect civil unions & same-sex lifetime commitments. |
Ben Carson | Opposes same-sex marriage. | Constitution protects gays equally, but not marriage. Give gays rights, but not marriage, because it's a choice. Legal binding relationship for gays to enjoy property rights. |
Chris Christie | Comfortable with homosexuality but opposes same-sex marriage. | Disagree with Supreme Court, but gay marriage is law of land. Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way. If my kids were gay, I'd give them a hug; but no marriage. Marriage is an institution between one man & one woman. |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly favors same-sex marriage. | Gays deserve domestic partnership benefits. I support gay marriage personally and as law. |
Ted Cruz | Strongly opposes same-sex marriage. | Most states can ignore Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage. One-man-one-woman marriage is building block of society. Opposes gay pride parades and opposes gay marriage. |
Carly Fiorina | Comfortable with homosexuality but opposes same-sex marriage. | Supreme Court overstepped by legalizing same-sex marriage. Supports Amendment to prevent same sex marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman; but civil unions ok. |
Rand Paul | Comfortable with homosexuality but opposes same-sex marriage. | Gay contracts ok, but gay marriage is offensive. Let states decide same-sex marriage; don't federalize it. Make federal benefits equal for gay couples. Opposes same-sex marriage. Redefining marriage leads to economic and moral problems. |
Marco Rubio | Strongly opposes gay marriage. | Strongly opposes gay marriage. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly agrees with same-sex marriage. | Neither governments nor corporations have any right to decide about sexual preferences. Give same-sex partners the same status as heterosexual partners, and give same-sex marriages the same status as traditional marriage. |
Donald Trump | Opposes same-sex marriage. | After Supreme Court vote, gay marriage is a reality. No gay marriage; no same-sex partner benefits. Same-sex marriage is a state issue. Tolerate diversity; prosecute hate crimes against gays. |
Roseanne Barr | Strongly favors same-sex marriage. | Support same-sex domestic partnership benefits. |
Same-Sex Marriage Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Neither governments nor corporations have any right to decide about sexual preferences. Give same-sex partners the same status as heterosexual partners, and give same-sex marriages the same status as traditional marriage. | |
Favors | Homosexuals should be treated with equal respect as other members of society, not treated as criminals. You acknowledge the diversity of our society by including same-sex partners in most or all benefits of heterosexual marriage partners, but civil unions are preferable to using the term 'marriage.' | |
Opposes | Homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, and therefore those who choose it should live by the consequences of their choice. Marriage between a man and a woman is the central institution of American society - we shouldn't do anything that perverts that concept or threatens that ideal. | |
Strongly Opposes | Homosexuality is immoral. You believe that the 'Gay Agenda' seeks to normalize homosexual activity and make it part of the mainstream as 'just another lifestyle.' We must draw the line so that homosexual values are not imposed upon our children. | |
Jeb Bush | Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere. | Don't restrict creationism discussion, but don't require it. Focus on abstinence. More government money to religious groups. School prayer OK if prayers are voluntary and student-led. |
Ben Carson | Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere. | All religions provide beliefs that make us reasonable. End the "war on God." Islam is inconsistent with the Constitution. National Day of Prayer is a suggestion, not a requirement. PC police make us afraid to say "Merry Christmas" |
Chris Christie | Opposes keeping God in the public sphere. | Catholicism informs who I am; but not my political decisions. No federal department to promote Judeo-Christian values. |
Hillary Clinton | Opposes keeping God in the public sphere. | Allow student prayer, but no religious instruction. Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record. Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation. Teach Bible as history & literature; not science or religion. *NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere. | Defend Judeo-Christian values against liberal fascism. Defend Ten Commandments and "under God" in the Pledge. Rated 100% by the AU, indicating opposition to separation of church & state. Stop IRS from asking: 'tell me the content of your prayers'. |
Carly Fiorina | No Data | No Data |
Rand Paul | Favors keeping God in the public sphere. | Rated 100% by the AU, indicating opposition to separation of church & state. Resist government imposing religious views of marriage. |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors keeping God in the public sphere. | Acknowledge God in everything we do & everywhere we go. Rated 100% by the AU, indicating opposition to separation of church & state. Silent on voluntary school prayer. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly opposes keeping God in the public sphere. | NO on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks. NO on responsible fatherhood via faith-based organizations. NO on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. Rated 0% by the AU, indicating support of separation of church & state. |
Donald Trump | Neutral/No Opinion | Neutral/No Opinion |
Roseanne Barr | Strongly opposes keeping God in the public sphere. | Oppose teacher-led prayer in public schools. |
Religion (Keeping God in Public Sphere) Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Judeo-Christian values are American values. Belief in God is what America was founded upon, so tax-funding religious organizations, or praying in school, does not violate the separation of church and state. Displaying the Ten Commandments is appropriate because they are the moral basis for Western law. The Pledge of Allegiance should continue to include the phrase "Under God." | |
Favors | We need to teach values in our schools and account for our religious values in providing social services. The more our children are exposed to prayer, the Ten Commandments, and other traditional values, the better off they are. | |
Opposes | Faith-based organizations and prayer in schools are inappropriate because they fail to recognize American pluralism and religious diversity. | |
Strongly Opposes | Separation of church and state precludes allowing school prayer, or providing funding for religious organizations. It also precludes other aspects of religion in government buildings, such as posting the Ten Commandments in public places. We should not violate the Constitutional principle in this case. | |
Jeb Bush | Opposes less environmental regulation. | |
Ben Carson | Favors less environmental regulation. | |
Chris Christie | Favors less environmental regulation. | |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly opposes less environmental regulation. | |
Ted Cruz | Favors less environmental regulation. | |
Carly Fiorina | Favors less environmental regulation. | |
Rand Paul | Strongly favors less environmental regulation. | |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors less environmental regulation. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly supports more environment regulation. | |
Donald Trump | Strongly favors less environmental regulation. | |
Roseanne Barr | Corporations befoul our food and water supply. |
Domestic Issues
Crime (Criminal Sentencing), Guns, Healthcare/ObamaCare, School Vouchers, Energy, DrugsCandidate | Position | What the Candidate Has Said |
---|---|---|
Jeb Bush | Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing. | Stricter penalties for drug, sex, & gun offenses. Supports death penalty. |
Ben Carson | Opposes stricter criminal sentencing. | Develop inner city resources to build alternatives to crime. Equip police with body cameras to avoid abusiveness. |
Chris Christie | Favors stricter criminal sentencing. | Bail reform: Keep dangerous criminals in jail until trial. Police officers are afraid to enforce the law. |
Hillary Clinton | Opposes stricter criminal sentencing. | Address the unacceptable increase in incarceration. Get body cameras on police; tackle mass incarceration. Give kids after-school activities to prevent gangs. Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance. |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing. | Supports the death penalty. Fully monitor sexual predators & bring them to justice. |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing. | Supports capital punishment for certain crimes |
Rand Paul | Strongly opposes stricter criminal sentencing. | REDEEM Act: seal non-violent criminal records to allow jobs. Justice cannot occur without a trial, especially minorities. Drones have executed people wrongfully, like death penalty. |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing. | Endless death row appeals hinder justice. Mandatory life sentence for repeat sex offenders. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly opposes stricter criminal sentencing. | Judicial discretion should not be diminished by formulaic sentencing like 'Three Strikes.' Let judges and juries decide what penalties to apply in each case. The death penalty should be abolished as "cruel and unusual punishment". |
Donald Trump | Strongly favors stricter criminal sentencing. | Black lives matter, but we need strong police presence. Capital punishment isn’t uncivilized; murderers living is. |
Roseanne Barr | Prison-military-industrial complex uses slave labor. | |
Crime Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Three Strikes' laws put dangerous repeat offenders where they belong - behind bars, for life. And the Death Penalty gets rid of them once and for all. Mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement make sure that judges don't let off criminals too easily. | |
Favors | Keep death penalty and 'Three Strikes' laws on the books because they seem to be effective, but consider ways to deal with special circumstances so we can avoid horror stories of inappropriate imprisonment. | |
Opposes | Strict enforcement of pre-determined sentencing threatens civil rights and should be used cautiously. Police, courts and prisons should focus on effective enforcement rather than strict enforcement. The death penalty should be used with extreme caution, if at all. | |
Strongly Opposes | Judicial discretion should not be diminished by formulaic sentencing like 'Three Strikes.' Let judges and juries decide what penalties to apply in each case. The death penalty should be abolished as "cruel and unusual punishment". | |
Jeb Bush | Favors gun rights. | Concealed carry OK; supports instant background check. Reduce gun violence and protect 2nd Amendment. Signed first-in-the-nation Stand-Your-Ground law. |
Ben Carson | Strongly favors gun rights. | 2nd amendment critical in guarding against tyranny. Law-abiding citizens have right to guns without registration. No limits to gun ownership, except in cases of insanity. Semi-automatic weapons ok in countryside, but not cities. |
Chris Christie | Limited gun rights. | Favors gun control measures from law-enforcement perspective. Gun laws ineffective; focus on mental health. Gun restrictions based on terror watch lists is a state issue. We already have too many firearms in our community. |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly opposes gun rights. | Background check system could prevent Virginia Tech massacre. Get assault weapons & guns off the street. Get weapons off the streets; zero tolerance for weapons. Gun control advocates see Clinton as an ally. |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors gun rights. | 2nd Amendment is ultimate check against government tyranny. NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly favors gun rights. | Let people on no-fly list purchase guns; it's poorly managed. Strong supporter of Second Amendment gun rights. |
Rand Paul | Strongly favors gun rights. | NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. Oppose laws which would limit the right to gun ownership. |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors gun rights. | 2nd Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy. Deal with gun violence, but do it constitutionally. |
Bernie Sanders | Opposes gun rights. | YES on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse. YES on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. |
Donald Trump | Strongly favors gun rights. | A very strong person on the Second Amendment. Dems and Reps are both wrong on guns. Gun ownership makes US safer, not more dangerous. Gun violence is inevitable; regulations won't help. |
Roseanne Barr | Strongly favors gun rights. | Supports absolute right to gun ownership. |
Gun Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | The right to bear arms is a basic Constitutional right and expresses the democratic principle of self-defense against tyrannical government. Leave gun rights as they are. | |
Favors | It's not the instrument, it's the morality. Gun ownership should not be restricted - most gun owners use them safely and responsibly. To reduce gun-related crimes, address the moral problems of society and other issues. | |
Opposes | The only "gun right" is to self-defense against criminals and the right to a secure home and a secure person. Tighten registration rules and keep guns away from kids. | |
Strongly Opposes | More guns mean more killing. Limit availability of guns by whatever means are effective. The 2nd amendment does not mean an unlimited right to any and all firearms. | |
Jeb Bush | Opposes ObamaCare. | ObamaCare is focused on access; should be focused on quality. Compromised on limiting medical malpractice awards. |
Ben Carson | Opposes ObamaCare. | Obamacare is about restriction and control. ObamaCare robs you of your ability to control your own life. Free medical care to fix primary care deficit. |
Chris Christie | Opposes ObamaCare. | Opposes ObamaCare. |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly favors ObamaCare. | Strongly favors ObamaCare. |
Ted Cruz | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare |
Rand Paul | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare |
Marco Rubio | Opposes ObamaCare. | Opposes ObamaCare. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors ObamaCare and its expansion. | Too few Americans have adequate health insurance. The government should make funds available for more complete coverage, or should expand existing government-run coverage to all citizens. A single-payer system would solve most healthcare problems. |
Donald Trump | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare | Strongly Opposes ObamaCare |
Roseanne Barr | More federal funding for health coverage. | |
Healthcare/ObamaCare Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Too few Americans have adequate health insurance. The government should make funds available for more complete coverage, or should expand existing government-run coverage to all citizens. A single-payer system would solve most healthcare problems. | |
Favors | The government should provide coverage or subsidize health insurance for at-risk groups such as children and the elderly. Society benefits when more people are covered. Universal health insurance is a good goal, although some market methods can work as well as government systems. | |
Opposes | While more thorough health coverage is a noble idea, further health coverage should be promoted through non-government means. | |
Strongly Opposes | Nationalized health care would entail a government takeover of a large portion of the economy and undue intrusions into our personal medical histories. Remove the federal government from the health care industry. | |
Jeb Bush | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Ben Carson | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Chris Christie | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly opposes school vouchers. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Rand Paul | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly opposes school vouchers. | |
Donald Trump | Strongly favors school vouchers. | |
Roseanne Barr | Supports parents choosing schools via vouchers. | |
School Vouchers Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | The government should not be in the business of running schools. State-funded vouchers should pay for privately-run education at private schools, parochial schools, charter schools, home-schooling, or whatever schools parents choose. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act sets the stage for terminating failing schools. | |
Favors | School choice helps the poor who would otherwise be stuck in failing schools. Why should only the elite be able to afford private school? Subsidize parents' school choices to foster equality, as long as the school respects separation of church and state, and meets basic state standards. Charter schools are a good compromise. | |
Opposes | Continue experimenting with charter schools, and with public school choice, but only as a limited experiment, and no vouchers. We should create pressure to improve our public schools, not abandon them. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act is an unfunded mandate. | |
Strongly Opposes | Public schools are an important component of American society. Improve public schools rather than destroying them with vouchers. More teachers, smaller classes, more funding - then parents will choose public schools. | |
Jeb Bush | Opposes green energy. | Opposes green energy. |
Ben Carson | Opposes green energy. | Climate debate is distracting and irrelevant. Petroleum independence would deprive terrorists of funding. |
Chris Christie | Favors green energy. | |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly favors green energy. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly opposes green energy. | |
Carly Fiorina | Opposes green energy. | Pass the Keystone Pipeline even if Obama vetoes it. Supports renewable energy tax credits. |
Rand Paul | Strongly opposes green energy. | |
Marco Rubio | Opposes green energy. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors green energy. | |
Donald Trump | Strongly opposes green energy. | |
Roseanne Barr | Replace coal & oil with alternatives. | |
Energy Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Overuse of fossil fuels causes serious problems that we should deal with immediately by raising carbon taxes, raising CAFE standards, federally funding research into alternative and sustainable energy resources, and push to implement the Kyoto Protocol. | |
Favors | We should establish a market-based solution for excess carbon emissions, and the problem will be solved. The Kyoto Protocol should require developing countries' participation to make the solution work. | |
Opposes | The cost of dealing with global warming is far higher than the potential damage, so we should do nothing. There's some evidence for global warming, but the effects are not certain. We should perhaps sign on to some international agreements, but make only minimal financial commitments for now. | |
Strongly Opposes | There's no such thing as global warming - it's all natural climatic variation. And if there is a problem, it won't affect us much, and we can deal with the problems as they arise. | |
Jeb Bush | Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug. | |
Ben Carson | Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug. | Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug. |
Chris Christie | Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug. | Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug. |
Hillary Clinton | Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug. | Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug. |
Ted Cruz | Opposes stricter drug laws and disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug. | Does not support the legalization of marijuana. |
Carly Fiorina | Opposes stricter drug laws and no opinion if marijuana is a gateway drug. | Believes legalization of marijuana should be left to states. |
Rand Paul | Strongly opposes stricter drug laws and strongly disagrees marijuana is a gateway drug. | |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors stricter drug laws and believes marijuana is a gateway drug. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly opposes stricter drug laws. | |
Donald Trump | Neutral on drug laws. | Yes to medical marijuana; otherwise, decide by state |
Roseanne Barr | Re-write drug laws to be sane and people based. | |
Drug Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Drug use is immoral and drugs poison our youth and our society. We should fight the Drug War using all reasonable means - Just Say No! | |
Favors | The Drug War is winnable if we invest enough resources. We should do whatever we have to do: More police, more border patrols, more intervention abroad, more prison terms, more prisons. | |
Opposes | We should have regulated decriminalization. Medical marijuana might be legalized, for example, as might clean hypodermic needles. Our drug policy should be reformed, with less criminal penalties and more drug abuse clinics. | |
Strongly Opposes | The Drug War should be ended. It has failed, condemning a 'Lost Generation' of blacks and Hispanics to prison and criminal records. End it now like we ended alcohol Prohibition, and organized crime and drug-related crime will decrease like it did when Prohibition ended. |
Economic Issues
Stimulus, Taxes, Immigration, Social SecurityCandidate | Position | What the Candidate Has Said |
---|---|---|
Jeb Bush | Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Ben Carson | Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Chris Christie | Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly favors stimulus policies and thinks stimulus is better than market-led recovery. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Rand Paul | Opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Marco Rubio | Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors stimulus policies and believes stimulus is better than a market-led recovery. | |
Donald Trump | Strongly opposes stimulus policies and thinks a market-led recovery is best. | |
Roseanne Barr | Federal Reserve stole our money and our future. | |
Stimulus Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | The federal government should inject as much funding as needed to recuperate from the Great Recession, including direct federal job creation. Nationalization of banks and companies is more appropriate than bailouts. | |
Favors | The federal government should institute incentives for private corporations for more hiring, to recuperate from the Great Recession. Funding to "bail out" private companies should be accompanied by rules for corporate behavior and repayment. | |
Opposes | Cutting taxes and reducing regulation is the means to recuperate from the Great Recession. | |
Strongly Opposes | The federal government caused the Great Recession, and keeping out of the economy will end it. | |
Jeb Bush | Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Ben Carson | Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Chris Christie | Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly favors higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Rand Paul | Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Marco Rubio | Strongly opposes higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors higher taxes, including on the wealthy. | |
Donald Trump | Favor higher taxes for wealthy. End corporate taxes. Lower individual rates. Consider a one-time tax on the wealthy to pay down the debt. | |
Roseanne Barr | 48% tax on high income earners is fair. | |
Tax Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | A progressive income tax is one of the cornerstones of modern society. Its premise is that the wealthy contribute proportionally more than those with lower incomes. That is the right way to run our tax system, and we should keep it that way. | |
Favors | Flatter taxes benefit the wealthy more than the lower and middle class. We should focus tax relief on the majority of taxpayers instead of on the richest few percent, while preserving important deductions like mortgage interest and charitable donations. | |
Opposes | A Flat Tax would simplify the entire tax system. It would get rid of loopholes that drive tax-avoiding behaviors. And it would remove most deductions and the special interests that come with them. In the meantime, tax cuts benefit the economy in both good economic times and bad economic times. | |
Strongly Opposes | Ideally, the income tax and the IRS should be abolished. Perhaps a national sales tax, like the FairTax, is a good replacement. Lower and flatter taxes are a good first step. | |
Jeb Bush | Favors immigration reform. | Create a legal status, not a path to citizenship, for undocumented residents. Limit family-related legal immigration. |
Ben Carson | Opposes immigration reform. | Allow undocumented residents access to a national guest worker program if they leave the country first. |
Chris Christie | Favors immigration reform. | I've never been opposed to tuition equality for illegals |
Hillary Clinton | Favors immigration reform. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly Opposes immigration reform. | End Obama's illegal amnesty via Congress' checks & balances. |
Carly Fiorina | Elements of both. | No comprehensive reform; but yes to DREAM Act. Opposes granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. |
Rand Paul | Favors immigration reform. | Legal status, but not citizenship, for illegal immigrants. See immigrants as assets, not liabilities. We will find a place for illegal immigrants in America. |
Marco Rubio | Elements of both. | GOP DREAM Act: visas for going to college or military. Green cards after 10 years; secure border; & e-Verify. Legal status, but not citizenship, to migrant's children. No amnesty in any form, not even back-of-the-line. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors immigration reform. | |
Donald Trump | Strongly opposes immigration reform. | |
Roseanne Barr | Supports illegal immigrants earning citizenship. | |
Immigration Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Immigration restrictions are basically racist because they keep out Hispanics and other non-whites. We should reform US immigration laws and use them to increase our diversity and cultural tolerance. Social services should be offered to all residents of the United States regardless of immigration status. Illegal aliens should be offered amnesty if they prove themselves as productive members of society. | |
Favors | The government should make few restrictions on immigration. If the number of immigrants is too high, establish an immigration fee and raise it until the number of immigrants is acceptable. Or change the immigration quotas by some other method. | |
Opposes | Maintain legal immigration while enforcing against illegal immigration. Tighten our borders - decrease substantially or stop all immigration so we can address domestic problems. | |
Strongly Opposes | We should strictly enforce our immigration laws by increasing border patrols, and we should crack down on illegal immigrants already in the US by deportation and by removing all their social benefits. In the long run, we should decrease immigration. | |
Jeb Bush | Favors privatizing Social Security. | |
Ben Carson | Strongly favors privatizing Social Security. | |
Chris Christie | Favors privatizing Social Security – but do away with it for wealthy. | |
Hillary Clinton | Strongly opposes privatizing Social Security. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors privatizing Social Security. | |
Carly Fiorina | Favors privatizing Social Security. | |
Rand Paul | Favors privatizing Social Security. | |
Marco Rubio | Opposes privatizing Social Security. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly opposes privatizing Social Security. | |
Donald Trump | Elements of both. | Let people invest their own retirement funds. Social Security isn't an "entitlement"; it's honoring a deal. Cannot change Medicare or Soc.Sec. and still win elections. |
Roseanne Barr | Oppose privatizing Social Security. | |
Social Security Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Our retirement funds should not be entrusted to the government. The entire Social Security system should be run instead as we currently run IRAs, Keogh plans, 401(k)'s, and other private pension plans. | |
Favors | The Trust Fund might be invested in the stock market or via some other private investment vehicle. Individuals should be given at least some control over how their retirement funds are invested. | |
Opposes | Social Security should remain under federal control, but you want reforms on how the Trust Fund is handled. In particular, the 'Lockbox Bill' is a good first reform, since it keeps the system secure while avoiding privatization. | |
Strongly Opposes | Social Security should remain forever under federal control to ensure that all Americans have a secure retirement. The Trust Fund should not be invested in anything like the stock market, since that would introduce undue risk. |
Defense & International Issues
Free Trade, Military, American ExceptionalismCandidate | Position | What the Candidate Has Said |
---|---|---|
Jeb Bush | Favors free trade. | |
Ben Carson | Opposes free trade. | Stop severe trade imbalance via stiff tariffs. |
Chris Christie | Neutral. | Supports free trade, but distrusts Obama's TPP agreement. Trade mission to Mexico doubles as foreign policy tour. |
Hillary Clinton | Elements of both. | Chief advocate for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Global trading system isn't up to standards of fairness. I absorbed new info and changed my mind to oppose TPP. |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors free trade. | Defended Chinese company on intellectual property theft. |
Carly Fiorina | Opposes free trade. | Change rules about outsourcing; current climate forces it. |
Rand Paul | Strongly favors free trade. | China trade improves economy AND makes fight less likely. |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors free trade. | Continue reducing barriers to free and fair trade. |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly opposes free trade. | |
Donald Trump | Elements of both. | Embrace globalization and international markets. Foreign companies are taking jobs from US. |
Roseanne Barr | Opposes expanding free trade. | |
Trade Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | Free trade is always in the people's interest. We should have open trade with every country in the world. The government has no right to make restrictions on imports or exports. NAFTA, GATT, and the WTO should be expanded and made less restrictive over time. Globalization is good. | |
Favors | Free trade is in our national interest because it provides economic growth and jobs. We should only restrict free trade when it poses a security risk. Including environmental and labor safeguards are acceptable if they can be successfully negotiated into trade agreements, but should not be used as a pretext to stop trade agreements. | |
Opposes | Free trade should be replaced by fair trade. Free trade is not in our national interest when it poses a risk to job security, causes humanitarian problems overseas, or results in environmental damage. Globalization should focus on benefiting people instead of benefiting multinational corporations. | |
Strongly Opposes | Americans should buy from other Americans because that creates American jobs. We should restrict trade with any country which costs us jobs or which creates a trade deficit. Globalization is just another means of corporate influence over our society. | |
Jeb Bush | Strongly favors robust military. | |
Ben Carson | Strongly favors robust military. | |
Chris Christie | Strongly favors robust military. | |
Hillary Clinton | Opposes robust military. | Balance lower military & higher diplomacy budget. |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors robust military. | |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly favors robust military. | |
Rand Paul | Somewhat favors robust military. | National defense is important, but no blank check. Put defense spending on the table for reducing budget. |
Marco Rubio | Strongly favors robust military. | |
Bernie Sanders | Opposes robust military. | Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan. NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses. NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill. |
Donald Trump | Strongly favors robust military. | |
Roseanne Barr | US out of Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
Military Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | We have an obligation as the leaders of the world to maintain a strong military. And we have an obligation to our service personnel to pay them adequately. | |
Favors | We should consider carefully before making more cuts - for example, base closings have hurt local economies, and reducing military personnel has put pressure on employment. | |
Opposes | Build smart, not necessarily big. Money is often better spent on issues other than defense. We should cut back on troops stationed abroad and focus on quality of our troops instead of quantity. | |
Strongly Opposes | Defense spending includes huge amounts of pork-barrel spending and should be reduced dramatically. We should change our Defense policy to one of defense, instead of one where we police the world. Pull US troops out of Europe, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. We are wrong to have a military that is as large as the rest of the world combined. | |
Jeb Bush | Elements of both. | We are leader among equals in community of nations. Supports economic cooperation between US and China. |
Ben Carson | Strongly favors American exceptionalism. | |
Chris Christie | Strongly favors American exceptionalism. | |
Hillary Clinton | Opposes American exceptionalism. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly favors American exceptionalism. | |
Carly Fiorina | Favors American exceptionalism. | |
Rand Paul | Elements of both. | No isolationism; but don't go abroad seeking enemies. Oppose the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty. |
Marco Rubio | Favors American exceptionalism. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly opposes American exceptionalism. | |
Donald Trump | Strongly favors American exceptionalism. | |
Roseanne Barr | We do need a little bit more socialism in America. | |
American Exceptionalism Position | Belief | |
Strongly Favors | The United Nations has too much power; the U.S. should withdraw, or restrict their actions. The same applies to other international institutions. | |
Favors | United States military forces should never serve under other countries' commands; but multinational forces are acceptable under U.S. command. In general, the U.S. should consider her own national interests first, and then act with other nations in accordance with those interests. | |
Opposes | We can best advance U.S. interests by building alliances and working with other countries on mutual interests. Multilateralism is more effective than unilateralism. | |
Strongly Opposes | The U.S. is just one country among hundreds; we are an important country but the opinions of others count too. We should not throw our weight around, but should use "soft power" and seek other non-military solutions. |
Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy, Israel & Iran, ISIS & IraqCandidate | Position | What the Candidate Has Said |
---|---|---|
Jeb Bush | Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Ben Carson | Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Chris Christie | Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Hillary Clinton | Opposes noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Ted Cruz | Strongly opposes noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Carly Fiorina | Strongly opposes noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Rand Paul | Strongly favors noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Marco Rubio | Strongly opposes noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Bernie Sanders | Strongly favors noninterventionist foreign policy. | |
Donald Trump | Elements of both. | Support Israel, our unsinkable Mideast aircraft carrier. Support Russia, but with strings attached. Opposed Iraq war in 2004 & predicted Mideast destabilization. No humanitarian intervention; only to direct threats. Iraq should pick up the tab for their own liberation. |
Roseanne Barr | Opposes expanding the armed forces. | |
Jeb Bush | Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran. | Cancel any nuclear deal President Obama reaches with Iran. Strengthen ties with Israel. |
Ben Carson | Supports Israel. Possible deal with Iran. | Congress must be involved in Iran deal. U.S. should listen to and consider Netanyahu’s words. |
Chris Christie | Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran. | End current negotiations with Iran. Strengthen ties with Israel. |
Hillary Clinton | Pro-Palestinian. Nuclear deal with Iran. | Work toward a two-state solution. Do not necessarily freeze settlement building. Support framework for nuclear deal. Continue diplomacy efforts and some sanctions. |
Ted Cruz | Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran. | Strong support for Israel. Increase and toughen sanctions. End current nuclear talks until Congress approves the outlines of a deal. |
Carly Fiorina | Pro-Israel. Possible deal with Iran. | Support Israel by breaking off nuclear talks. Verify actions before Iran sanctions are lifted. |
Rand Paul | Pro-Israel, for now. Diplomacy with Iran. | Supports aid to Israel but thinks it would be best to phase it out. Sanctions for Iran and diplomacy first. |
Marco Rubio | No Iran deal. | Toughen sanctions. Scrap proposed nuclear deal. |
Bernie Sanders | Pro-Palestinian. Nuclear deal with Iran. | Supports current talks with Iran. Critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
Donald Trump | Pro-Israel. No deal with Iran. | Calls for closer alliance with Israel. Walk away from nuclear talks. Increase sanctions. |
Roseanne Barr | "Pro-Israel." Pro-Palestinian. Supports deal with Iran. | Pro-Israel but anti Israel's right wing government. Self-determination and right of return for Palestinians. Stop the endless clamoring for war with Iran. |
Jeb Bush | Embed U.S. trainers with Iraqi troops. No decision yet on whether to send more ground troops. Build new U.S. base in Anbar province. | |
Ben Carson | The U.S. should step up its efforts to destroy the Islamic State militant group. Do not “tie” the military’s hands. | |
Chris Christie | Willing to send U.S. troops. Invading Iraq was a mistake. | |
Hillary Clinton | No boots on the ground. Use regional troops. | |
Ted Cruz | Don’t send U.S. ground troops, yet. | |
Carly Fiorina | Arm the Kurds. | |
Rand Paul | Arm the Kurds, declare war. Limited troops. | |
Marco Rubio | Increase the president’s power to combat. | |
Bernie Sanders | Opposed the Iraq war. Calls for troop withdrawal as soon as possible. | |
Donald Trump | Send a limited number of combat troops on the ground. | |
Roseanne Barr | No data |