Research by Gwynne Watkins, Sarah Harrison and Lela Moore.

KERRY ON ABORTION/FAMILY PLANNING

OFFICIAL POSITION: Pro-choice. "We Democrats want to protect the constitutional right of privacy and make clear that at the center of this struggle is our commitment to have a Supreme Court that will protect the equal rights, the civil rights, and the right to choose in this nation." (Source: Keynote speech to Massachusetts Democratic Issues Convention, 6/7/04)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: While in Congress, Kerry voted against criminalizing the death of a fetus during the commission of another crime; he voted against maintaining a ban on military-base abortions; and he wrote a letter to President Bush asking for the expansion of stem-cell research. (Source: Vote-Smart.org.) Kerry was an original sponsor of the Women's Health Equity Act. He plans to nominate only pro-choice judges to the Supreme Court. (Source: johnkerry.com.)

SOUNDBITE: ''I oppose abortion, personally. I don't like abortion. I believe life begins at conception. But I don't take my Catholic beliefs, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant, on a Jew, or an atheist, who doesn't share it. We have separation of church and state in the United States of America." (Source: The Boston Globe, 7/18/04)

VICE SQUAD: "I support a woman's right to choose and believe this that right is constitutionally protected. I also support funding for family planning." While in Congress, Edwards voted against the ban on federally funded military-base abortions; he voted against making it a crime to kill a fetus during the commission of another violent crime; he voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion; and voted to expand stem-cell research. (Source: vote-smart.org; Presidential National Political Awareness Test, 1/8/04.)

BUSH ON ABORTION AND FAMILY PLANNING

OFFICIAL POSITION: Pro-life.

LET THE RECORD SHOW: In 2001, in one of his first actions after becoming president, Bush blocked US funds to international groups that provide abortions. "The President does not support using taxpayer funds to provide abortions." (Source: Associated Press, 1/22/01)

SOUNDBITE: " … A caring society will value its weakest members, we must make a place for the unborn child." (Source: acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, 9/2/04)

VICE SQUAD: Cheney consistently voted for restrictions on abortion rights while in Congress in the 1980s. He voted against federal funding for abortions with no allowances for the mother's health. By 2000, he was using different phrasing: "What we’d like to be able to do is to look for ways to reach across the divide between the two points of view and find things that we can do together to reduce the incidence of abortion. We look at such things as promoting adoption as an alternative, encouraging the parental notification, and we also think banning the horrific practice of partial-birth abortions is an area where there could be agreement." (Source: vice-presidential debate, 10/5/00)

KERRY ON GAY MARRIAGE

OFFICIAL POSITION: Kerry is opposed to gay marriage but supports civil unions; he opposed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Proposes repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" legislation passed by President Clinton so that gays and lesbians could serve openly in the military. (Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5993610/?GT1=5100&score=2#anc_elex04_bush_kerry_comparo)

"John Kerry believes that same-sex couples should be granted rights, including access to pensions, health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits, and other basic legal protections that all families and children need. He has supported legislation to provide domestic partners of federal employees the benefits available to spouses of federal employees. He was one of 14 Senators — and the only one up for reelection in 1996 — to oppose the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)." (Source: johnkerry.com)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Kerry introduced into the Senate a bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He has supported legislation to give domestic partners of federal employees spousal benefits. Voted against the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

SOUNDBITE: "I believe the best way to protect gays and lesbians is through civil unions. I believe the issue of marriage should be left to the states ..." (Source: speech, 2/24/04).

VICE SQUAD: Edwards says he opposes gay marriage but believes the issue should be left up to the states. "The Defense of Marriage Act specifically said that the federal government is not required to recognize gay marriage even if a state chooses to do so. I disagree with that. I think states should be allowed to make that decision. And the federal government shouldn't do it." (Source: Democratic primary debate at USC, 2/26/04)

BUSH ON GAY MARRIAGE

OFFICIAL POSITION: Bush opposes gay marriage and has called for an constitutional amendment to ban the practice. "Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman." (Source: GeorgeBush.com)

Believes homosexuality "incompatible" with military service but would uphold "don't ask, don't tell" legislation. (Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5993610/?GT1=5100&score=2#anc_elex04_bush_kerry_comparo)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Encouraged Federal Marriage Amendment. "An amendment to the Constitution is never to be undertaken lightly. The amendment process has addressed many serious matters of national concern. And the preservation of marriage rises to this level of national importance." (Source: Speech at White House, 2/24/04)

SOUNDBITE: "If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment. The union of a man and woman is the most enduring human institution  . . .  honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith." (Source: The New York Post, 2/25/04)

VICE SQUAD: "With the respect to the question of relationships, my general view is freedom means freedom for everyone. People ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to... My own preference is as I've stated, but the President makes policy for the administration. (Source: The San Francisco Chronicle, 8/24/04)

KERRY ON HIV/AIDS

OFFICIAL POSITION: "As president, John Kerry will ensure that the United States truly leads the international community's effort to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic not only through words but through deeds — through increased resources, programs driven by science not ideology, and tangible and meaningful support for multilateral efforts, particularly the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria." (Source: johnkerry.com)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Kerry co-authored the most comprehensive AIDS bill to date to pass through the Senate. The Kerry-Frist bill, passed in 2002, authorized $4.5 billion for global AIDS prevention and research. (Source: http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/cfm/record.cfm?id=184741)

VICE SQUAD: "Well, first, with respect to what's happening in Africa and Russia and in other places around the world, the Vice President spoke about the $15 billion for AIDS. John Kerry and I believe that needs to be doubled. And I might add, on the first year of their commitment, they came up significantly short of what they had promised. (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/debatereferee/debate_1005.html)

BUSH ON HIV/AIDS

OFFICIAL POSITION: "HIV/AIDS can be beaten. We're committed to ending the plague. America is committed to continue to leading the world in ending the plague." (Source: georgebush.com)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: In 2001, Bush decided to maintain the government AIDS panel established during the Clinton era. (Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/aids/2001-07-20-bush-aids-panel.htm) During his 2003 State of the Union address, Bush proposed a massive five-year, $15 billion plan to fight AIDS. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, the program suffers from lack of guidance and has been difficult to implement. (Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-07-13-bush-aids_x.htm)

SOUNDBITE: "One reason why one would go to Uganda is to make sure that people around the world, and particularly on the continent of Africa, understand that dealing with HIV/AIDS is possible. In other words, you can deal with it in a positive way, and it's a remarkable record of Mr. Museveni and his government in dealing with the pandemic of AIDS. It's essential that — we're fixing to spend $15 billion — I believe Congress will respond and keep the pressure on as, you know — and that this trip will also help create an awareness of the issue in America." (Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030703-5.html)

VICE SQUAD: Said Cheney: "I have not heard those numbers with respect to African-American women. I was not aware that it was — that they're in epidemic there, because we have made progress in terms of the overall rate of AIDS infection, and I think primarily through a combination of education and public awareness as well as the development, as a result of research, of drugs that allow people to live longer lives even though they are infected — obviously we need to do more of that. " (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/debatereferee/debate_1005.html)

BUSH ON IRAQ

OVERVIEW: On March 19, 2003, U.S. forces began bombing Iraq. A little over two months later, on May 1, 2003, President Bush announced an end to major combat missions there; the country would be governed by the Coalition Provisional Authority and reconstruction would begin. The U.S. approved $18.4 billion for the rebuilding effort in November of 2003. On June 28, 2004, the CPA transferred power to an Iraqi government made up of a president, two Vice Presidents, a prime minister and twenty-six department heads. Reconstruction efforts have been thwarted by insurgents who view the United States as a hostile occupying force. Violence rules in many parts of the country.

In early September of this year, the administration announced that it would transfer $3.5 billion intended for power, water and sewage projects to beef up security throughout the region. Elections are scheduled for January. In September, newspapers revealed that a classified National Intelligence Estimate prepared in late July concluded that the situation in Iraq was in bad shape. The report suggested three possible scenarios for Iraq through the end of 2005. The best was that the situation would remain fragile; the worst was that civil war would break out. At the beginning of October, Charles Duelfer, the chief weapons inspector in Iraq, said in a definitive report that Saddam Hussein's weapons programs were destroyed in the first Gulf War, and although he may have wanted to, he did not rebuild them.

The Bush administration views the war in Iraq as part of a global war on terror. In his RNC acceptance speech, the president promised that"We will help new leaders to train their armies, and move toward elections, and get on the path of stability and democracy as quickly as possible. And then our troops will return home with the honor they have earned." But, he cautioned, "We cannot rely exclusively on military power to assure our long-term security. Lasting peace is gained as justice and democracy advance." Although classified July intel report was pessimistic, Bush did not change his position on the situation in Iraq. The President continues to say that reconstruction efforts are going well and that Iraq is moving toward democracy.

LET THE RECORD SHOW: In his 2002 State of the Union address, Bush declared Iraq part of the "axis of evil" along with North Korea and Iran. Congress gave Bush the permission to use force against Iraq. On March 19, 2003 Bush began bombing Iraq. On May 1, 2003, Bush declared the mission accomplished.

SOUNDBITE: "There is hard work to do. I think it's an unrealistic expectation to say that Iraq was going to be a free society instantly — or not instantly — nearly instantly after Saddam Hussein had been removed from power." (Source: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0408/12/lkl.00.html)

When asked if he thought the Iraqi's would fight for their freedom: "People want to defend their country. I believe that. You know why I believe that, and this is really important, it's because I believe everybody yearns to be free. I believe Muslims yearn to be free. And this is tough. Look, no question, it's tough times. But if we send mixed signals, if we waver, the times will be tougher. That's what the terrorists are watching, they're watching us like hawks." (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133712,00.html)

VICE SQUAD: On the ties between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's Iraq: "There clearly was a relationship. It's been testified to. The evidence is overwhelming. It goes back to the early '90s. It involves a whole series of contacts, high-level contacts with Osama bin Laden and Iraqi intelligence officials. The press, with all due respect, (is) often times lazy, often times simply reports what somebody else in the press said without doing their homework." (Source: http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/18/cheney.iraq.al.qaeda/)

KERRY ON IRAQ

OFFICIAL POSITION: At the beginning of September, Kerry outlined a four-point plan to deal with Iraq: generate international support for the rebuilding effort; train Iraqi security forces; devise a reconstruction plan; and make sure elections take place. Kerry has said that under his watch, U.S. forces will withdraw from Iraq within four years. He also promises to tell the American people the truth about what is going on in Iraq; Kerry has criticized the president for downplaying the level of insurgency and continuing to insist that Iraq is on the right track. Although not detailed in his four-point plan, on his campaign website Kerry has also proposed forgiving Iraqi debt and organizing a conference of Middle Eastern countries to elicit a pledge of respect for Iraq's borders and domestic matters. (Source: http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_security/iraq.html)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Kerry voted to allow President Bush to use force against Iraq and against a resolution that would provide $86.5 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Source: http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=S0421103)

The Bush campaign, and especially Dick Cheney, has criticized Kerry for "flip-flopping" his stance on the war: He voted to give the president the authority to invade Iraq, but he voted against the $86.5 billion to provide additional finances. Kerry says that he voted to give the President the authority to enter Iraq under certain conditions that the President disregarded: with international support, with the approval of the U.N., and as a last resort. As for the $87 billion, Kerry co-sponsored an amendment to the appropriation, which the Senate rejected, that would have rolled back some of Bush's tax cuts in order to provide the funding. (Source: http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=155;http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/03/17/kerry_blasts_bush_on_protecting_troops/; http://www.issues2000.org/2004/John_Kerry_War_+_Peace.htm)

SOUNDBITE: "We must have a great honest national debate on Iraq. The President claims it is the centerpiece of his war on terror. In fact, Iraq was a profound diversion from that war and the battle against our greatest enemy, Osama bin Laden and the terrorists. Invading Iraq has created a crisis of historic proportions and, if we do not change course, there is the prospect of a war with no end in sight." (Source: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0920.html)

VICE SQUAD: "I've consistently argued that disarming Saddam Hussein, even if it meant the use of force, was necessary to defend America's security. Last fall, I co-sponsored and voted for the congressional resolution to authorize force against Iraq. One thing I would have done differently is plan better for a post-Saddam Iraq — something this administration clearly did not do well." (Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-edwardsqa25may25,1,4423289.story)

KERRY ON TERRORISM/HOMELAND SECURITY

OFFICIAL POSITION: Kerry's plan for homeland security focuses on five areas: intelligence, borders, potential terrorist targets, preparedness and the civil liberties in the Patriot Act. He would strengthen intelligence by creating a Director of National Intelligence, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission. The post would be a cabinet-level position and have authority over budget and personnel. Kerry promises to secure our borders by increasing inspection on incoming cargo, overhauling airport security, and boosting border patrol funding and staff. The Kerry-Edwards administration would protect specific terrorist targets, including nuclear, chemical and weapons plants, trains and subways. The new administration would enforce existing but unimplemented state and local standards of readiness in case of attack, would raise financing for firefighters, EMTs and police, and would expand AmeriCorps so citizens could participate in protecting their country.To ensure safety during a bioterrorism attack, Kerry promises to appoint a person to coordinate bioterrorism defenses, and to create a Medical Arsenal of Democracy to create drugs and vaccines. Kerry says he will take a good look at the Patriot Act, reversing that parts that take away civil liberties, while strengthening other components. Over four years Kerry would expand active duty forces by 40,000, double special forces, and increase by 50% troops trained in post-conflict reconstruction. The Kerry-Edwards campaign has published a PDF book on their website called "Our Plan for America." (Source: http://www.johnkerry.com/plan/)

"I will immediately reform the intelligence system so policy is guided by facts, and facts are never distorted by politics. And as president, I will bring back this nation's time-honored tradition: The United States of America never goes to war because we want to, we only go to war because we have to." (Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/29/politics/campaign/29TEXT-KERRY.html?pagewanted=3&ei=5070&en=879e6c19a410613f&ex=1095393600)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: In 2002, Kerry voted to increase the Defense Department's 2003 budget by $21 billion over the previous year's budget, including $7.4 for ballistic missile defense, and a 4.1% pay increase for the military. He also voted to increase the 2002 budget to include $14.5 billion more for the DOD, $6.7 billion for homeland security programs, and $5.5 billion for NYC September 11 recuperation projects. In 2002 Kerry voted to require passenger ships and airplanes to provide a list of foreign passengers, so the United States could compile a list of suspected terrorist that officials would use to screen visa applicants. In 2002, he voted to create the Department of Homeland Security and to make its overseer part of the cabinet. In 2001, Kerry voted to allow the federal government to take over airport screening, and to make airport baggage screeners federal employees. (Source: http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=S0421103)

In 2001 he voted for the Patriot Act.

BUSH ON TERRORISM/HOMELAND SECURITY

OFFICIAL POSITION: The Bush Cheney campaign has published a document outlining their goals for the next four years. It's available to read online or in PDF http://www.georgebush.com/Agenda/. The fourth chapter is titled "Defending American Lives & Liberty." The administration would slow the spread of WMDs by working with International Atomic Energy Agency and implementing the Proliferation Security Initiative; overhaul the military and continue to redeploy troops around the world; create and employ a missile defense system; protect our borders by executing biometric identification (fingerprinting foreigners who come in to arrest those with outstanding criminal warrants); fund project BioShield to defend against biological, chemical, nuclear or radiological attacks; and finally, to renew and strengthen the Patriot Act. In August Bush announced that he would create the National Counter-Terrorism Center to act as a the government's "knowledge bank" of known and suspected terrorists. Bush has proposed tripling the Homeland Security budget. The 2005 budget includes more money for the FBI.

LET THE RECORD SHOW: President Bush created the department of Homeland Security in March of 2003, which pulled together 180,000 personnel from twenty-two organizations on a federal, state and local level, making it the biggest government restructuring since the beginning of the Cold War. He re-organized the FBI so it focused more on terrorism and he created the Terrorist Threat Integration Center to combine foreign and domestic terrorism information and to improve communication between the CIA and the FBI. He enacted the Patriot law which, according to the administration "took existing legal principles and retrofitted them to preserve the lives and liberty of the American people." The Patriot Law increased government access into citizen's affairs, including fewer restrictions on wiretaps, expanded limits on search warrants, and an almost unlimited access to business records, like library, doctor, universities and ISPs. The Patriot Act has been called unconstitutional by various organizations, including the ACLU, who claim that its powers are too far reaching: for instance, businesses that disclose information about a citizens are prohibited from telling the suspect that the organization provided that information; the law also allows for indefinite detention of foreign citizens. (Source: http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12263&c=206)

President Bush was at first resistant to implementing the suggestions of the 9/11 commission, but he has relented, and is acting on 34 out of the 41 recommendations, including creating a National Intelligence Director. The NID would be appointed by the president and approved by the Senate, would not have budget control, and, although the 9/11 Commission recommended it, would not be part of the cabinet. (Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040802-2.html 4)

SOUNDBITE: Talking with CNN's Larry King about the concept of a National Intelligence Director:

KING: Shouldn't that man or woman have a lot of power?

G. BUSH: Yes, absolutely. There's no need to have a position if that person doesn't have the capacity to make important decisions. The person should not be in the Cabinet and will not be in the Cabinet.

KING: Because?

G. BUSH: Well, because I think you want this person to be independent from the administration to a certain extent, separate from the administration is a better way to put it, not independent... (CROSSTALK) G. BUSH: You bet. Not independent in the sense that the person can't be fired. I think the president ought to have the right to name and nominate, with the consent of the Senate, and have the ability to fire the person. But I really don't think it makes sense to have the intelligence director sitting around a Cabinet table as we discuss, you know, agricultural matters or health matters. I think this person needs to be — independent is the wrong word, separate from the administration, with powers.

VICE SQUAD: "The biggest danger today is having nuclear weapons fall into terrorist hands." A line from the Cheney stump speech. (Source: http://www.sweethomenews.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=4098)

OFFICIAL POSITION: Kerry has consistently supported environmentally friendly policies. He has been endorsed by many environmental groups, including The Sierra Club and The League of Conservation Voters, a non-profit non-partisan national environmental group which has been tracking candidates records for 34 years. The LCV has given him a lifetime score of 92 out of 100. (Source: http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=1961&c=4)

If elected, he promises to overturn the Bush administration's changes to the Clean Air Act, raise standards for clean water, protect public lands and lower mercury and global warming emissions. (Source: http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/environment/)

He opposes storing nuclear waste at the Yucca mountain (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54586-2004Aug10.html) and he is against drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife refuge (Source: http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/4907260p-4841999c.html).

LET THE RECORD SHOW: In 2003 Kerry voted against drilling in Alaskan national wildlife preserve. In 2002, he voted to limit the ability to store nuclear waste in the yucca mountain in Nevada. In 1996, Kerry voted to authorize $7.6 billion for communities to maintain clean water as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act. He voted not to continue the ban on adding animals to the endangered species in 1996. In 1993, Kerry voted to establish a cabinet level Department of Environment, although the bill passed, the department was not established. (Source: http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=S0421103)

SOUNDBITE: "George Bush is the kind of politician who would cut down a tree and then climb on its stump to give a speech about conservation,'' Kerry said. (Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/10/07/MNG31950V01.DTL)

VICE SQUAD: John Edwards has fought against the Bush administration's "New Source Review," which would let power plants bypass standards of the Clean Air Act. (Source: http://edwards.senate.gov/press/testimony2-20-04.pdf)

Like John Kerry, Edwards opposes drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife preserve. He voted for storing nuclear waste in the Yucca Mountain, which Kerry voted against. (Source: http://edwards.senate.gov/issues/environment.html)

The League of Conservation Voters gives him a lifetime score of 63, and calls his record "solid." (Source: http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=1955 )

OFFICIAL POSITION: The Bush administration believes that their environmental laws must be reliable and efficient. The president doesn't want to rely on un-proven policies that might be costly or that would hinder the growth of the economy. Laws that restrict industry, such as pollution control specifications for power plants, go against the Bush agenda. The administration also believes that private companies should take part in maintaining a healthy environment.
President Bush's top environmental priorities for the coming term are:
- The Clear Skies Initiative, which will reduce production of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury by seventy percent.
- The Clean Air Interstate Rule to lower emissions.
- The Mercury Rule, which will recude by seventy percent mercury produced by power plants.
- The Farm Bill Conservation Program, $40 million to protect wetlands and other conservation areas.
- He will drill in one percent of the Alaskan Wildlife National Refuge, which will produce 1 million barrels of oil a day for twenty years.
(Source: http://www.georgebush.com/Environment/)

The Bush administration has been criticized by many environmental groups. The League of Conservation Voters gave him a score of F, saying, "the Bush administration, at the behest of its corporate allies, has worked systematically to dismantle and subvert fundamental environmental protections while obscuring their actions with 'green' rhetoric." (Source: http://www.lcv.org/Campaigns/Campaigns.cfm?ID=1944&c=4)

LCV has published a confidential memo written by Frank Luntz saying that, "The environment is probably the single issue on which Republicans – and President Bush in particular – are most vulnerable," and advising republicans on how to talk about environmental policy. (Source: http://www.lcv.org/Files/OpenFile.cfm?id=947)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: The Bush administration enacted these environmental laws:
- The Clear Skies Initiative, August of 2003, detailed above;
- 2002 legislation to clean up brownfields;
- 2003 Healthy Forest Initiatives to reduce wildfires by promoting logging.
Bush has promised $4.9 billion over five years for national parks. He signed the Farm Bill in 2002, to improve farm conditions and restore wetlands. Bush approved dumping nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. (Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/environment/key_bush_environmental_accomplishments.pdf)

Bush did not sign for the Kyoto treaty, saying it was unrealistic and would damage the U.S. economy. He proposed an alternate plan that would have companies voluntarily cut greenhouse gasses. (Source: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/globalwarming/)

VICE SQUAD: Cheney was a House rep from Wyoming for six terms before serving as the first President Bush's defense secretary.
In 1887 Cheney voted to delay penalties on cities whose standards didn't meet the Clean Air Act. In 1988 he voted against transferring $400 million from NASA to housing and environmental programs. (Source: http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=BWY44812)

The Supreme Court upheld Cheney's wish to block access to documents from The National Energy Policy Development Group, a group he headed in 1991, whose recommendations seemed to favor industry. (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1988-2004Jun24.html)

OFFICIAL POSITION: Plans to cut the federal budget deficit in half in four years. Plans to create ten million new jobs in four years, in part by offering employers in fields like manufacturing tax credits as incentive. Plans to raise taxes for those in the highest income bracket. (Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5993610/?GT1=5100&score=2#anc_elex04_bush_kerry_comparo)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Voted against the fiscal 2004 budget proposed by President Bush. Voted against reducing taxes in fiscal 2004. (Source: vote-smart.org)

In 2003, voted to slash by half the tax cuts proposed by Bush and allocate some of that money to Social Security. (Source: www.aflcio.org)

In 2003, voted to give small businesses tax credits to fund health care for employees. (Source: New York Times, 3/26/04)

Bush criticizes Kerry for his lackluster voting record, on the economy and other issues, in the Senate over the last year. Kerry did not vote on the fiscal 2005 budget this year.

SOUNDBITE: "But our plan calls or a fair playing field-because if you give the American worker a fair playing field, there's nobody in the world the American worker can't compete against. We're going to return to fiscal responsibility because it is the foundation of our economic strength. Our plan will cut the deficit in half in four years by ending tax giveaways that are nothing more than corporate welfare." (Source: Speech to Democratic National Convention, 7/29/04)

I don't — listen, the American people want the truth and they want real leadership here. My voting record is clear. I voted for Gramm-Rudman-Hollings for the deficit reduction law. I voted for the balanced budget. I voted in 1993 without one Republican vote for the Deficit Reduction Act of '93, and I voted in '97 to close the deal with the compromise that we put together to balance the budget.  So my voting record when it was tough and we had to make those choices is very clear. If they want to play games adding up individual votes and try to muddy the waters, let the Republicans do that. (Source: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0404/07/ip.01.html)

VICE SQUAD:  You know why Americans think many Democrats want to spend too much money? They do. You know why Americans think many Republicans are too close to corporate interests?  They are.   We have to do better, and we can. We don't have to look to Wall Street or Washington to find the principles we need. We can find those principles in the way millions of small business owners, factory workers, office workers, salespeople, and secretaries live their lives every day... Our challenge is to get our government and our economy back in line with our values. (Source: http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/edwards/edw111202sp.html)

BUSH ON THE ECONOMY

OFFICIAL POSITION: "The economy is strong and growing stronger." (Source: georgebush.com)

Bush has a six-point plan for increasing jobs and strengthening the economy: making health care costs more affordable and predictable; reducing the burden of frivolous lawsuits on our economy; ensuring an affordable, reliable energy supply; streamlining regulations and paperwork requirements; and opening new markets for American products and services. Finally, the President proposes making the tax cuts permanent to enable families and businesses to plan for the future with confidence and certainty." (Source: georgebush.com)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Alan Greenspan stated in 2003 that the tax cuts were having a positive effect on the economy: Economic activity perked up in late spring and then accelerated further this summer as tax cuts provided a substantial boost to the disposable incomes of households.” (Source: http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=101) 

Yet Bush's economic policies have sustained a great deal of criticism.  During his Meet the Press”interview with Bush, Tim Russert asked why the nation should support the president's economic policies, citing a loss of 2.2 million jobs, a $521 budget deficit, and a $7 trillion national debt, as well as a report from the General Accounting Office declaring the current financial policy unsustainable.”  Bush responded optimistically, saying that his administration had initiated an economic recovery during difficult times, and the current upturn in the economy is a direct result. (Source: Meet the Press, 2/8/04)

VICE SQUAD: "You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don't matter. We won the midterms (congressional elections). This is our due."— Cheney's alleged words to former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, as quoted by Reuters news service, January 2004 (Source: (http://www.issues2000.org/2004/Dick_Cheney_Budget_+_Economy.htm)

"The President's tax policy [has] put money back into the pockets of the people who earn it. We think that's been vital to avoiding an even deeper recession. We think it's been crucial, as well, to getting the recovery underway. We've been able to cut rates. We've been able to reform the double-taxation of dividends and improve the treatment of capital gains, significant expensing for small businesses. That's where all the jobs get created. Those reforms are key to long-term economic growth." (Source; http://www.issues2000.org/2004/Dick_Cheney_Budget_+_Economy.htm)

KERRY ON EDUCATION

OFFICIAL POSITION: John Kerry and John Edwards have a vision for American education: every child should be held to high standards, and every school should have the resources and the responsibility to meet those standards. Every classroom should have a great teacher. Every young person should graduate from high school, and every young person who works hard and wants to go to college should be able to afford it. And all Americans should be able to get the skills they need to succeed throughout their lives. Today, our country is not realizing that vision. Schools do not have the resources they need to succeed, Washington is not working to make reform succeed and children are losing out.” (Source: www.johnkerry.com)

Kerry has proposed a National Education Trust Fund, an after-school initiative called School's Open Til Six,” state aid to support low college tuition, and continued reforms in line with the No Child Left Behind Act.  (Source: www.johnkerry.com)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Kerry voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, but has written that the Bush administration began welshing on its side of the bargain almost before the ink was dry on the bill, undermining education funding as part of a larger strategy of directing every available school dollar toward tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.”  (A Call to Service by John Kerry, October 2003) 

In 2001, Kerry voted to fund smaller classes and student testing instead of private tutors; in 1994, he voted to establish national education standards.  (Source: www.ontheissues.org)

SOUNDBITE: …What's happening under the Bush administration is that they are disrespecting teachers, they're making it punitive. The way they're applying the adequate yearly progress standard, that you can have a few kids who enter the school and may have language difficulties that year, and they could drag the whole school into a status of failure. It's so arbitrary that it's destroying morale of the school systems. I want standards and accountability. But you cannot do it without the resources, and you also can't do it in a way where you turn schools into testing factories.” (Source: Democratic primary debate at USC, 2/26/04)

VICE SQUAD: We not only have two Americas because of the people who are doing very well financially and the rest of America, I think we've got two public school systems in this country. We've got one for the most affluent communities and one for everybody else. It's wrong.” (Democratic 2004 primary debate at USC Feb 26, 2004)

Edwards' Democratic primary agenda included a free first year of college for any young person willing to work for it.”  (Source: MoveOn.org interview Jun 17, 2003)

BUSH ON EDUCATION

OFFICIAL POSITION: Bipartisan education reform will be the cornerstone of my Administration.”(Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/reports/no-child-left-behind.pdf)

Bush has proposed a national education reform program to supplement his No Child Left Behind Act.  The initiatives for the 2005 budget include $100 million for the Striving Readers Initiative, $120 million for the Mathematics and Science Partnership Program, $28 million to expand Advanced Placement programs in low-income schools, $40 million for math and science teachers, and enhanced Pell Grants and increased financial aid for college students. (Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/education/)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Bush's No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law in January 2002.  According to a July 2004 report by the Education Commission of the States, all 50 states had met or were partially on track to meeting half of the 40 NCLB requirements being tracked by ECS.”  The ECS acknowledges that there still are complaints that NCLB is yet another unfunded mandate, providing neither the flexibility nor the resources that states will need to meet its requirements; that it fails to adequately take into account the fundamental differences between urban and rural schools and districts… and that its emphasis on testing will have a deleterious effect on teaching and learning.”  However, the ECS states that the NCLB can be viewed as a historic opportunity,” and they conclude that the overall picture is encouraging.”

SOUNDBITE: No, I think the school can improve. If you set high standards and high expectations, and you hold people accountable, people will rise to the challenge. Because you see, I believe that poor people can learn. I don't condemn children to failure because of their economic status. This mindset that says, "Oh, Bush's plan will take money from public schools," automatically assumes children can't learn. Because what I've said is, "Obviously, we're going to continue to fund Title I programs. But we expect children to learn."  (Source: An interview with PBS' Frontline during the 2000 election)

VICE SQUAD: In his Congressional days, Cheney voted against creating the U.S. Department of Education.  In  a June 2003 speech, he referred to the No Child Left Behind Act as a milestone reform,” saying the days of excuse-making are over and we are bringing high standards, accountability and regular testing to every public school in America. (Source: Remarks from the Vice President at the Bush-Cheney 2004 Reception.)

KERRY ON RELIGION

OFFICIAL POSITION: Kerry is a practicing Catholic who considers his faith to be more personal than public. He entered the Navy to serve God and country, went through a brief crisis of faith upon his return from Vietnam, and now describes Catholicism as "an important part of getting through tough periods in my life… a bedrock of values…about who I am, where we all fit, what our role is on this planet." (Source: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/150/story_15043_1.html)

In "A Call to Service," Kerry described the three political implications of his Catholicism as: a commitment to love God and each other (the first commandment), a directive to fight for social justice (the second commandment), and a belief in the separation of church and state. (Source: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/149/story_14928_1.html)

Though Kerry regularly fields questions about his religious beliefs, the contrast between Kerry’s reserved New England approach and Bush’s Southern religious zeal has caused unfavorable comparisons in the media.

LET THE RECORD SHOW: Kerry has sparked controversy in the Catholic church for supporting legal abortion and gay rights, both of which are opposed by the Vatican. However, his record shows support for the social justice issues (i.e., education and health care funding for low-income children) that he has described as a part of his Christianity. (Source: http://www.ontheissues.org/John_Kerry.htm)

In his hometown, Kerry attends mass regularly and participates in the charity work of his parish. He met his wife, Teresa Heinz, at a Catholic service in Brazil; when they married, he had his first marriage annulled by the Catholic church so that he could continue to take communion. On the campaign trail, Kerry is said to carry a rosary, a prayer book, and a St. Christopher medal (the patron saint of travelers). (Source: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/150/story_15043_1.html)

SOUNDBITE: "Well, if you're a person of faith, as I am, it's your guidepost, your sort of moral compass, your sustaining force if you will, in everything that you do. But I think that even as that is true, I've always — maybe it's a little bit the New Englander in me or something — you wear it in your heart and in your soul, not necessarily on your sleeve. And I think there is always a sense of what's right and what's wrong, and there are all the lessons of a lifetime of my relationship as a person of faith, but not something that I think you ought to push at people every single day in the secular world." (Source: http://www.interfaithalliance.org/Files/OpenFile.cfm?id=5102)

VICE SQUAD: John Edwards was raised Southern Baptist and converted to the Methodist faith in his college years. He believes that it is his Christian responsibility "to provide help to others who can't take care of themselves," which he has done through faith-based community organizations like the Urban Ministries program. (Source: http://www.interfaithalliance.org/news/NewsPrint.cfm?ID=5072&c=89)

In a CBS News interview, Edwards stated that "It is not the job of the president of the United States to decide what the religion of America is or what the religion of the world should be." (Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/07/60minutes/main627965.shtml)

BUSH ON RELIGION

OFFICIAL POSITION: George W. Bush is a converted Methodist whose values of "compassionate conservativism" are derived, at least in part, from his faith. Bush is often identified as an evangelical or born-again Christian; however, he has never used either phrase to refer to himself. The actual tenants of Bush’s faith are unclear, and don’t necessarily adhere to the "four core beliefs" of evangelism ("the Bible is without error, salvation comes through faith in Jesus and not good deeds, individuals must accept Jesus as adults and all Christians must evangelize." (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24634-2004Sep15.html)

Bush’s public persona is largely based on his reputation as a man of faith. Some prominent Bush supporters, such as General William Boykin, even believe that he is president by divine intervention: "Why is this man in the White House? The majority of America did not vote for him. He's in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this." Bush himself reportedly told the Reverend James Robison that "God wants me to run for president." (Source: http://slate.msn.com/id/2106590/)

LET THE RECORD SHOW Bush’s "faith-based initiatives," which offer funding for religious charities, are the most obvious intersection between religion and politics on his Presidential record. His support of abstinence education, the partial birth abortion ban, and the federal Marriage Amendment are likely rooted in his religious beliefs. In the past, Bush has stated that creationism should be taught alongside evolution in public schools, and he once declared a "Jesus Day" (June 10, 2000) in Texas. (US News & World Report, 2000, referenced in http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24634-2004Sep15.html, Interfaith Alliance report, http://www.interfaithalliance.org/Programs/Programs.cfm?ID=4986&c=14)

Privately, Bush is a practicing Christian who "rises early each morning to read the Bible" and gave up both drinking and smoking when he found Jesus. (Source: Cooperman, "Openly Religious…" Washington Post, and Hanna Rosin, "Applying Personal Faith to Public Policy, Washington Post, July 24, 2000)

SOUNDBITE: You can't separate your faith from your life. I make decisions on what I think is best for the country but my faith is important to me and a lot of times my faith comes up because I thank people for their prayers and I mean people from all religions. But, no, I think the church ought to be separate from the state, the state separate from the church but I don't see how you can separate your faith as a person and my faith is an integral part of my life. (Source: http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0408/12/lkl.00.html)

VICE SQUAD: Dick Cheney is a Methodist, but has never spoken publicly about his faith. (http://www.adherents.com/misc/adh_presidents_bush.html) He did send out Christmas cards last year, which contained the following Ben Franklin quote: ""And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?" (Source: Nicholas D. Kristoff, "The God Gulf," New York Times, 1/7/04; http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40611FC3B550C748CDDA80894DC404482)

KERRY ON HEALTH CARE

OFFICIAL POSITION: Kerry's website details an extensive plan of health care reform.  His most ambitious goal is to provide health care to every child in the U.S. He also supports affordable prescription drugs, a patients' bill of rights, financial support for businesses to provide employee health care, and malpractice insurance reform.  The plan, according to an independent analysis” posted on the John Kerry website, would cost $653 billion over ten years and would provide health care coverage to nearly twenty-seven million Americans who were previously uninsured, while making health care affordable for millions of others.”(Source:http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/health_care/health_care.html)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: In the Senate, Kerry has voted yes on propositions to: allow importation of Rx drugs from Canada (2002), allow patients to sue HMOs, collect damages (2001), and include prescription drugs under Medicare (2000).  He voted No on Bush's Medicare reform bill in April 2001. (Source: http://www.ontheissues.org/John_Kerry.htm)

SOUNDBITE: "Health care just has this unlimited ability to keep going up every year, and people can't keep up with it. President Bush for four years has had an opportunity to try to deal with this, and he has no plan at all… Five million people have lost their health insurance under George Bush. America can do better." – From a roundtable discussion in Des Moine, Iowa, September 9, 2004 (Source: http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040909_1661.html)

VICE SQUAD: John Edwards is a career supporter of bipartisan health care reform.  He co-wrote the Patients' Bill of Rights with John McCain, and has drafted a bill to allow generic drugs to enter the market sooner, thus lowering prescription costs.  Edwards has said in no uncertain terms that health care will be the first item on the Kerry-Edwards agenda, should they be elected. On August 22nd, he told a West Virginia crowd that Bush is standing up with the HMOs and the drug companies. We need a president who will stand up for you." (Source: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2004/August/22/LNtop1.htm; http://edwards.senate.gov/issues/health.html)

BUSH ON HEALTH CARE

OFFICIAL POSITION: President Bush believes all Americans should have access to affordable, quality health care. President Bush is working to address the root causes of rising health care costs, rather than shifting the costs to taxpayers or forcing Americans into an inflexible, one-size-fits-all bureaucratic system. The President's plan reduces the rising cost of health care; provides affordable coverage to those who need it most - low-income children and families, small businesses, the self-employed, and people who do not get health benefits through their job; and improves health care information, quality, and safety.” (Source: http://www.georgewbush.com/HealthCare/) 

Bush plans to launch a "Cover the Kids” campaign to insure children, issue tax credits to businesses and individuals without health care, allow shopping for health coverage across state lines, open health centers in poor communities, reduce red tape by improving the use of technology in the industry, and expand senior drug benefits.  Interestingly, his health care plan also includes a Helping Parents Keep Children Safe” initiative, for which the President will promote abstinence education, increase drug test funding, and fight internet pornography. (Source: http://www.georgewbush.com/agenda/chapter.aspx?ID=2)

LET THE RECORD SHOW: During his presidency, Bush instituted a Medical Prescription Drug Benefit for seniors, extended state eligibility for Medicate and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, expanded community and rural health centers, took measures to drive down the cost of name-brand drugs, and established tax-free Health Savings Accounts for American citizens.   (Source: www.georgewbush.com)

However, according to an August 22nd article in the Washington Post, the number of Americans without health insurance has climbed by 4 million, to nearly 44 million, since Bush took office. "Part of the reason more people were covered is the economy got so bad that people lost income," the Post's consultant theorizes. "There were more low-income people under Bush than previously, so they became eligible for public programs." (Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21929-2004Aug21.html)

SOUNDBITE: I'm absolutely opposed to a national health care plan. I don't want the federal government making decisions for consumers or for providers. I remember what the administration tried to do in 1993. They tried to have a national health care plan, and fortunately it failed. I trust people; I don't trust the federal government. I don't want the federal government making decisions on behalf of everybody." (Source: www.issues2000.org)

VICE SQUAD: At the Republican convention, Cheney expressed his belief that "Our nation has the best health care in the world, and President Bush is making it more affordable and accessible to all Americans." He is an advocate of medical liability reform, so the system serves patients and good doctors, not personal injury lawyers." (Source: Cheney speech text, Washington Post, 9/2).  Cheney strongly believes in limiting the government's role in health care, and he has chosen to focus on the issue of medical malpractice:  "This problem doesn't start in the waiting room. It doesn't start in the operating room. The problem starts in the courtroom." (Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001983678_malpractice20.html)