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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Dan Quayle: Overturn Roe v. Wade; litmus test for appointments.     Donald Trump: Favors abortion rights but respects opposition.     Gary Bauer: Cut funding for Planned Parenthood.     George W. Bush: Would support - but not pursue - a pro-life Amendment.     George W. Bush: No funds to international groups that offer abortion.     John McCain: Nominate justices based on experience, and values.     Lamar Alexander: Supreme Court should interpret Constitution literally.     Orrin Hatch: No litmus tests: no one issue should define appointments.     Steve Forbes: Supports litmus test for Supreme Court appointments.     Francis Suarez: Supports a 15-week federal abortion ban, not yet for 6-week.

Civil Rights     Gary Bauer: Restrict the ‘addictive blight' of legalized gambling.     Gary Bauer: The law recognizes and encourages heterosexuality.     George W. Bush: Reach out to minorities, but without quotas.     George W. Bush: English-plus, not English-only.     George W. Bush: Affirmative access means a fair shot for everyone.     John McCain: Indian gambling OK; lottery is not.     Orrin Hatch: Gays support Democrats, but no intolerance.     Orrin Hatch: Homosexuality is contrary to the Bible, but no intolerance.     Rocky De La Fuente: Successfully challenged ballot access laws and regulations.

Crime     Al Gore: Use DNA techniques to make death penalty more fair.

Education     Al Gore: Supports Goals 2000 & standards-based movement.     Bill Bradley: Measure performance; close lowest-performing schools.     Gary Bauer: Vouchers for home-schooling as well as private schools.     George W. Bush: More state and local control over education.     George W. Bush: Freedom & flexibility in return for high standards & results.     John McCain: Internet access, with filters, at every school & library.     John McCain: Merit pay & competency testing for teachers.     John McCain: Enlist retirees for tutoring.     John McCain: Against nationally imposed standards & funding strings.     John McCain: Tax-funded vouchers for private schools or charter schools.     John McCain: $5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers.

Energy & Oil     Al Gore: $150B Energy Security and Environment Trust Fund.     Al Gore: Renewable energy instead of nuclear power.     George W. Bush: Remove federal impediments to states' clean energy.     George W. Bush: Make Amtrak more efficient and competitive.     George W. Bush: Clarify rules to allow for more nuclear power generation.

Environment     Al Gore: Major commitment to build high-speed Amtrak rail systems.

Families & Children     Al Gore: Abstinence Ed in the context of comprehensive Sex Ed.     Al Gore: Fiscal discipline helps single people as well as families.     Dan Quayle: TV causes problems facing American families.     George W. Bush: Tax cut plan helps single people as well as families.

Foreign Policy     Al Gore: Vietnam: Trade will improve human rights & help with MIAs.     Dan Quayle: We must face China as our biggest challenge.     George W. Bush: Vietnam: Trade better for human rights than sanctions.     Steve Forbes: Russia: We spent billions to support a corrupt elite.     Steve Forbes: Russia: No aid to kleptocrats until they pay workers.     Steve Forbes: Do not permit use of force in Taiwan or Tibet.

Free Trade     Al Gore: More Latin American trade, with labor & enviro protections.     Donald Trump: World views US trade officials as ‘saps’.     George W. Bush: Add Chile, Brazil, Argentina, & others to NAFTA.     Pat Buchanan: Tariffs on wheat imports to equalize costs & protect farms.

Government Reform     Elizabeth Dole: Judicial appoinments: No legislating from the bench.     George W. Bush: Judges should interpret Constitution, not legislate.     Orrin Hatch: Soft money gets out the vote; against banning it.     Orrin Hatch: Soft money is free speech; daily disclosure is better.     Steve Forbes: Independent outsider is the way to reform campaigns.     Perry Johnson: Voter ID will be mandatory; won't suppress votes.

Gun Control     Dan Quayle: Enforce existing gun laws before making new ones.     John McCain: Ban cheap guns; require safety locks; for gun show checks.     Orrin Hatch: Trigger locks, gun show restrictions, import restrictions.

Health Care     Al Gore: Expand Children’s Health Insurance Program for working poor.     Al Gore: 25% tax credit for health insurance; HMO appeals.     Al Gore: Medicare option at age 55; more Rx coverage.     Al Gore: Opposes Medical Savings Accounts; they segment out the sick.     Donald Trump: FactCheck: No massive prices cuts for prescription drugs.     George W. Bush: HMOs should cover emergency room; & gynecology directly.     George W. Bush: Use Texas model for Bill of Rights: access; choice; appeals.     George W. Bush: Medical Savings Accounts part of affordable access & choice.     John Hagelin: 80% reimbursement for Medicare prescriptions.     John Hagelin: 100% reimbursement for preventive health care.     Joseph Lieberman: Patient Bill of Rights: access; choice; privacy; appeals.     Orrin Hatch: Reform Medicare by medical experts; more tax incentives.     Ralph Nader: Medicare prescriptions covered under universal health care.     Ralph Nader: Price restraints on drugs; limit profiteering.     Steve Forbes: More Rx support, to avoid cross-border drug buying.     Tim Walz: Shuttered businesses and schools during COVID-19 pandemic.

Homeland Security     Al Gore: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is unfair & hasn’t worked.     George W. Bush: Gays in military OK; "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" OK.     John Hagelin: Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a recipe for discrimination.     John McCain: Feds should pay for veterans' health care benefits.     John McCain: Raise military pay to avoid military draft.     John McCain: Military personnel on food stamps is a national disgrace.     Ralph Nader: Don't Ask, Don't Tell is discriminatory against gays.     Steve Forbes: Under-funded military not ready to handle conflicts.

Immigration     Al Gore: English is our language, but “English-Only” divides us.     George W. Bush: Respect other languages, but teach all children English.     George W. Bush: Guest workers, maybe; citizenship waiting period, yes.     Pat Buchanan: Make English our official language.     Steve Forbes: Toughen rules on illegal immigration.     Francis Suarez: Connect immigration to employment, declining birth rate.

Jobs     Al Gore: Kill Freedom to Farm Act: keep price supports.     Donald Trump: Foreign companies are taking jobs from US.     Elizabeth Dole: Tax breaks & financial aid for farmers.     George W. Bush: Keep Freedom to Farm Act: cut price supports.     John McCain: Ethanol subsidy is outdated; use funds for education.

Principles & Values     Elizabeth Dole: Crusade for a rebirth of our values.     Joseph Lieberman: Endorses Republican John McCain for President.     Katherine Harris: Separation of church and state is a lie.     Katherine Harris: Non-Christian legislators legislate sin, like gay marriage.     Ralph Nader: Plans to be on 50 ballots & make a 4-party race.     Ralph Nader: Opposes concentration of power & monied interests.

Social Security     Dan Quayle: 30% privately invested won’t affect Social Security system.     Steve Forbes: Use surplus to fund personal retirement accounts.

Tax Reform     Orrin Hatch: Simplify the "IRS monster".

Technology     Al Gore: Unhealthy concentrations of power snuff out competition.     Al Gore: Online federal services: a “second American Revolution”.     Al Gore: Electronic Bill of Rights protects personal information.     Al Gore: Internet self-regulation OK: privacy policy on all web sites.     George W. Bush: Make the Internet a duty-free zone.     George W. Bush: Bush would be more friendly toward Microsoft.     George W. Bush: Privacy is a fundamental right; ensure it on the Internet.     George W. Bush: Privacy is a fundamental right; ensure it on the Internet.     George W. Bush: Ban identity theft & safeguard genetic information.

War & Peace     Pat Buchanan: Kosovo conflict is illegal and unconstitutional.     Wesley Clark: Retracts yes vote on Iraq: no imminent threat.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Al Gore Democrat Bill Bradley Democratic Senator (Former) New Jersey Dan Quayle Donald Trump Republican former President Elizabeth Dole North Carolina Former Cabinet Member (Labor Sec'y) and Senator Francis Suarez Florida Miami mayor; GOP presidential challenger (withdrew Oct.2023) Gary Bauer George W. Bush Republican John Hagelin John McCain Republican Joseph Lieberman Democrat Katherine Harris Republican challenger (2006); Former US Representative Florida Lamar Alexander Republican Sr Senator (retiring 2020) Tennessee Orrin Hatch Republican Sr Senator (retiring 2018) Utah Pat Buchanan Reform Perry Johnson Michigan CEO & Republican gubernatorial challenger Ralph Nader Green Rocky De La Fuente Alliance / Reform Party nominee Steve Forbes Tim Walz Minnesota DFL Governor & V.P. nominee Wesley Clark Democrat