VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Partial birth ban ok if exceptions made for woman’s health: Favors topic 1 An issue of human rights, not of Catholic doctrine: Strongly Favors topic 1 Let a woman and her doctors decide about reproductive health: Strongly Favors topic 1 Women deserve access to birth control & reproductive choice: Strongly Favors topic 1 I am pro-choice: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Exposed early to prejudice, so supports affirmative action: Strongly Favors topic 2 Eliminate wage gap for women: Strongly Favors topic 2 End glass ceilings for women: Favors topic 2 Supports affirmative action; acknowledges racial discrim.: Strongly Favors topic 2 Supports University of Michigan’s affirmative action plan: Strongly Favors topic 2 Supports affirmative action, including in college admissions: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Same sex couples should have same rights as heterosexuals: Strongly Favors topic 3 Equal opportunity for homosexuals in armed forces: Favors topic 3 Gays deserve the same rights as everyone else: Strongly Favors topic 3 Come up with something better than “Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell”: Favors topic 3 Homosexuality is not a sin: Favors topic 3 Talk about gays in military, but don’t open the door: Opposes topic 3 Replace “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” with Don’t Misbehave: Favors topic 3 Welcome gays into the military because they’re already there: Strongly Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	Constitutional amendment against flag desecration: Favors topic 4 Separation of church and state is fundamental: Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Transition toward some form of single payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5 Transition toward some form of single payer system: Strongly Favors topic 5 Insure children & make all coverage more affordable: Favors topic 5 Build on existing programs and stretch them: Favors topic 5 Does not support single-payer healthcare: Opposes topic 5 Supports universal health coverage: Strongly Favors topic 5 Promote good health through public health measures: Favors topic 5 Healthcare safety net works in the army: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Protect Social Security system to ensure senior income: Opposes topic 6 Stock market is for individuals, not for Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Strengthen retirement security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Public pre-school across America: Opposes topic 7 Public pre-school across America: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Oppose vouchers and all measures that weaken public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Supports charter schools and national testing standards: Favors topic 7 No vouchers for private schools: Opposes topic 7 Fund Elementary & Secondary Education Act and more: Strongly Opposes topic 7 More high school vocational programs: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Society bears cost of pollution (+5 points on Social scale)	Reinvigorate EPA action on environmental justice: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Will enforce Clean Air Act, and no net loss of wetlands: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Balance commercial exploitation with respect for nature: Opposes topic 8 Environment is a legacy to our children: Strongly Opposes topic 8 All that matters 100 years out is Constitution & environment: Strongly Opposes topic 8
No opinion on topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (0 points on Social scale)	Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes: Favors topic 9 Death penalty ok, but needs DNA and equal justice: Favors topic 9 Concerned about Three Strikes & emphasis on lockup: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	Enforce existing laws & close gun show loophole: Strongly Favors topic 10 Renew ban on assault weapons, & hold gun makers accountable: Strongly Favors topic 10 Supports ban on assault weapons: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports the Second Amendment and uses guns himself: Strongly Favors topic 10 People who like assault weapons should join the Army: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Families First tax plan: fair,progressive,simple,responsible: Favors topic 11 Balance budget by repealing tax cuts to wealthiest Americans: Strongly Favors topic 11 Repeal tax cut on top 2%--make tax code progressive: Strongly Favors topic 11 Tax cut is a cut in essential services: Strongly Favors topic 11 Middle- & working-class tax cuts are an economic-growth tool: Strongly Favors topic 11 Tax relief for middle class, not for the rich: Strongly Favors topic 11 $5T tax cuts for the rich are legalized theft: Strongly Favors topic 11 Irresponsible to borrow to give tax cuts to wealthy: Strongly Favors topic 11 Minimize taxes but enough to meet people’s needs: Favors topic 11 Bush tax cuts were unfair; use progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Tighten borders post-9/11, but allow earned citizenship: Favors topic 12 I am very pro-immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12 Immigration is vital to prosperity: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	China’s development imperils our economic security: Opposes topic 13 Labor rights are human rights: promote free and fair trade: Opposes topic 13 Stop rewarding companies that shift jobs overseas: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Free trade will work if terms are fair for labor: Favors topic 13 Reciprocal trade with enforcement against dumping: Strongly Opposes topic 13 Address shifts in production that come with free trade: Opposes topic 13 I believe in fair trade, not free trade: Opposes topic 13 Prosperity depends on open borders: Favors topic 13 Free trade areas depend on international cooperation: Favors topic 13
No opinion on topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Establish “Civilian Reserve” for times of military need: Favors topic 15 Consider cutting defense spending: Opposes topic 15 Yes to Iraqi $87B if Bush makes exit strategy: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Public taxpayer funding for federal candidates: Strongly Favors topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	Fundamental revision of Iraq policy, including redeployment: Strongly Favors topic 17 Iraq war is a path to nowhere: Strongly Favors topic 17 Avoid Bush’s unilateralism and work with our allies: Favors topic 17 Exit strategy in Iraq won’t work if we invade its neighbors: Strongly Favors topic 17 Invest 3% of GDP on development assistance abroad: Strongly Favors topic 17 Shared risks, shared burdens, shared benefits: Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	De-carbonize energy production for national security: Strongly Favors topic 18 Incentives for energy efficiency & alternative fuels: Strongly Favors topic 18 Drilling ANWR doesn’t help with energy independence: Favors topic 18 Establish redline of protection in places like ANWR: Favors topic 18 Protection outweighs benefits from drilling in Alaska: Favors topic 18 Renegotiate Kyoto Agreement rather than reject it: Favors topic 18 Don’t rule out nuclear, but focus on solar & wind power: Strongly Favors topic 18 All that matters 100 years out is Constitution & environment: Favors topic 18 Disappearing glaciers make global warming obvious: Favors topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-5 points on Social scale)	More drug treatment and more border security: Favors topic 19 Against decriminalizing marijuana: Strongly Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Short-term deficit ok in recession, but not long-term: Strongly Favors topic 20 Balance the budget & reduce long-term debt: Opposes topic 20 Jobless recovery: need policy to create 1.3M jobs per year: Favors topic 20 Stimulate economy without creating huge deficit: Opposes topic 20 Bush tax cuts didn’t stimulate economy or jobs: Strongly Favors topic 20