OnTheIssues.org


Home Issues Leaders Recent Grid Archive Senate House VoteMatch_Quiz FAQs
 2024 Election:  Joe Biden's book Kamala Harris' book Donald Trump's book JD Vance's book  2024 Senate   Debates 

Books by and about 2024 presidential candidates
Hillbilly Elegy,
by JD Vance (2017)
Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015)
Fire and Fury,
by Michael Wolff (2018)
Trump Revealed,
by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher (2016)
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2016)
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017)
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden)
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019)
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010)
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018)
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018)
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017)

Book Reviews

(from Amazon.com)

(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)

Media coverage of political races in The New York Times, 2000-2009


(Click for external website)

 OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)
Abortion
    Al Gore: Personal struggle on abortion reflected in evolving view.
    Al Gore: Voted against federal funding for abortions in Congress.
    Al Gore: Would support RU-486, if proven safe.
    Bret Schundler: Condemns abortion.
    Dick Armey: Block research funding for embryonic stem cells.
    Gary Bauer: No compromise on Litmus Test for Supreme Court.
    Hillary Clinton: Remain vigilant on a woman's right to chose.
    J.C. Watts: Block research funding for embryonic stem cells.
    John McCain: Abortion OK if raped; and no testing for rape.
    Joseph Lieberman: Supported parental notification for minors; but pro-choice.
    Joseph Lieberman: Supports abortion rights within his faith, not despite it.
    Michael Steele: Pro-life, but we have to live with 33 years of reality.
    Ralph Nader: Threats to overturn Roe are "scare tactics".
    Rick Lazio: No Medicare funds for abortions; OK to fund privately abroad.
    Tom DeLay: Block research funding for embryonic stem cells.
    KT McFarland: Supports abortion rights.
Budget & Economy
    Al Gore: Spend $164B surplus on Medicare, tax cuts, & debt.
    Al Gore: Gore attack on Texas economy strikes nerve in Bush campaign.
    Al Gore: Economic plan is blueprint for American prosperity.
    Al Gore: Safeguard prosperity to reduce poverty.
    Al Gore: Enable more families to save, own homes, and pay less tax.
    Al Gore: Helping middle-class is goal of economic plan.
    Al Gore: Make hard choices to keep prosperity rolling.
    Al Gore: Bush’s policies made $4 trillion in surpluses disappear.
    Bill Bradley: Early supporter of simplifying taxes, cutting deficit & debt.
    Claire McCaskill: Take on sacred cows that gave us $8 trillion debt.
    George W. Bush: Spend $586B surplus on tax cuts, health, & defense.
    George W. Bush: Gore: Feds spend surplus; Bush: taxpayers spend it.
    George W. Bush: Don't let Gore bring back big government; 200 new programs.
    George W. Bush: Cut national debt by $2T in 10 years; leave $1.2T in debt.
    Gray Davis: Electricity deregulation a colossal and dangerous failure.
    Gray Davis: Buy wholesale electricity; build plants; conserve now.
    Jeff Sessions: Tighten bankruptcy rules; it costs society & is immoral.
    Joseph Lieberman: New economy will thrive on investment and trained workers.
    Joseph Lieberman: Democratic administration balanced budget and created growth.
    Pat Buchanan: Break up OPEC instead of Microsoft.
    Paul Wellstone: Bankruptcy is safety net; reform only helps big banks.
    Rick Lazio: Supported balanced budget amendment.
    Rick Lazio: Supported GOP budgets for "smaller decentralized govt".
    Spencer Abraham: No price caps on electricity; focus on reducing demand.
    Steve Forbes: Conservative economics: flat tax, less govt, Greenspan out.
    Thomas Kean Jr.: NJ has a net loss of $31B to Washington from federal taxes.
Civil Rights
    Al Gore: Latino values are America’s best values.
    Al Gore: Gore emphasizes long-term commitment to NAACP.
    Al Gore: Supports Vermont’s Civil Union law.
    Al Gore: Civil rights & Supreme Court are at stake in this election.
    Bill Bradley: Civil Rights Act & hate crime laws cover gays.
    Charles Schumer: Supports civil unions but not gay marriage.
    Elaine Chao: Affirmative Action discounts equal opportunity and merit.
    George W. Bush: Repudiates anti-Catholicism despite Bob Jones University.
    George W. Bush: Bush courageously speaks to NAACP, yet offers few specifics.
    Howard Mills: Supports equal rights minus the use of marriage for gays.
    John McCain: Leave Confederate flag decision to people of SC.
    Joseph Lieberman: Affirmative action divides us.
    Marilyn O`Grady: Supports a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages.
    Pat Buchanan: Homosexuality is "the love that will not shut up.".
    Rick Lazio: Racial preferences OK in college admissions.
    Rick Lazio: Ban gays in the military.
    Rudy Giuliani: Anti-Catholic art is disgusting; appoints decency council.
    Wesley Clark: Constitutional amendment against flag desecration.
    Wesley Clark: Constitutional Amendment against flag desecration.
Corporations
    Dick Cheney: Defends Halliburton’s success and retirement package.
    Ralph Nader: Help for ordinary people should replace corporate welfare.
    Ralph Nader: Corporate sponsorship turns debates into beer commercials.
Crime
    Al Gore: Third Way: Tough on crime prevention & tough on crime itself.
    Al Gore: Constitutional amendment for victim’s rights.
    Al Gore: Gore: Bush fosters recidivism; need more rehabilitation.
    George W. Bush: Bush is confident that none of 112 executed were innocent.
    George W. Bush: Death penalty clemency for bad process, not for repentance.
    George W. Bush: Push for prisons & sentencing reduced Texas crime rates.
    George W. Bush: 134 Texas executions are "fair and just".
    George W. Bush: Miranda should be waived in some situations.
    George W. Bush: Death penalty decisions are profound, but made in 15 minutes.
    Hillary Clinton: Tap into churches to avoid more Louima & Diallo cases.
    Michael Steele: Personally opposed to the death penalty.
    Rick Lazio: Limit death-row legal challenges.
    Rick Lazio: Tort Reform: Limit product liability damages.
    Rudy Giuliani: Giuliani backs police in Bronx killing.
    Sandra Day O`Connor: Questions whether death penalty is fairly administered.
Drugs
    Al Gore: Pot use in 60s was like moonshine in 20s.
    Al Gore: Mandatory weekly drug testing for state prisoners & parolees.
    Al Gore: Drug treatment programs for every addict who wants one.
    Al Sharpton: Never smoked marijuana, because he grew up in the church.
    Amy Klobuchar: More resources to fight the meth epidemic.
    Dennis Kucinich: Hasn’t smoked marijuana, but would decriminalize it.
    Elizabeth Dole: Double the Mexican border patrol to keep drugs out.
    Elizabeth Dole: End aid to Colombia until they wipe out narco-guerillas.
    George W. Bush: Full background checks on drug use for all appointees.
    George W. Bush: Quit drinking when alcohol started to compete with family.
    Howard Dean: Smoked marijuana in the past, as did other Dems.
    John Edwards: Admits having smoked marijuana.
    John Kerry: Admits having smoked marijuana.
    Joseph Lieberman: Apologizes for never having smoked marijuana.
    Ralph Nader: Legalize marijuana, and treat addiction as a health problem.
Education
    Al Gore: Education plan: $115B over 10 years.
    Al Gore: Use budget surplus for teacher bonuses & more pre-school.
    Al Gore: Voluntary school prayer is ok, if teachers aren’t involved.
    Al Gore: $170B on education over next 10 years.
    Al Gore: Bush’s vouchers are “educational roulette”.
    Bill Bradley: Education plan: $90B over 10 years.
    Bill Bradley: Use budget surplus for more teachers & more Head Start.
    Bill Bradley: Vouchers are not the solution to schools’ problems.
    Bret Schundler: Allow parental choice; weaken teacher tenure.
    Dick Cheney: Teach reading, writing, and values.
    Dick Cheney: Money from failed schools can be used as parents decide best.
    George W. Bush: Praise and reward successful schools; shame failures.
    George W. Bush: Link block grants & vouchers to student testing.
    George W. Bush: $400M more for after-school programs, via block grants.
    George W. Bush: $900M to improve Indian schools.
    George W. Bush: $310M for "impact aid" schools near military bases.
    George W. Bush: Education is most important campaign issue.
    George W. Bush: Improve education with local control, accountability.
    George W. Bush: If schools fail for 3 years, funding becomes "portable".
    Hillary Clinton: City schools are overcrowded and falling apart.
    Hillary Clinton: Scholarships for teachers who go to urban schools.
    Hillary Clinton: Increase resources to meet increased standards.
    Hillary Clinton: Opposes merit pay for individual teachers.
    Hillary Clinton: Supports merit pay for entire schools.
    Hillary Clinton: Fight with Gore for public schools; no voucher "gimmicks".
    John McCain: Unrestricted block grants--let states decide spending.
    John McCain: Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing.
    Joseph Lieberman: Non-sectarian moment of silence OK in public schools.
    Joseph Lieberman: Choice won't "ruin" schools; they're already in ruins.
    Mitt Romney: God created universe, but evolution created human body.
    Rick Lazio: $97 Billion Education Plan.
    Rick Lazio: Vouchers for private school tuition.
    Robert Reich: New economy skills not measured by standardized tests.
    Rudy Giuliani: Open schools on weekends for remedial catch-up.
Energy & Oil
    George W. Bush: Opposes Kyoto treaty, ESA, & other intrusive regulations.
    George W. Bush: OPEC will increase oil supply out of respect for Bush.
    George W. Bush: Natural gas is hemispheric; find it in our own neighborhood.
    Ralph Nader: Kyoto treaty is so watered down there's nothing to fight for.
    Richard Tarrant: Study & implement hydrogen cars & eco-friendly products.
    Rick Lazio: Support EPA and CWA; but allow drilling in ANWR.
    Rudy Giuliani: Open Strategic Petroleum Reserve to battle high oil prices.
    Thomas Kean Jr.: Wean America off of fossil fuels altogether.
Environment
    Al Gore: Kinship with Rachel Carson on environment.
    Al Gore: $10 billion for mass transit and open spaces.
    Al Gore: Will protect Chicago from being as polluted as Houston.
    Bret Schundler: Protect green spaces.
    Dale Groutage: Allow hunting on public lands, but not drilling.
    George W. Bush: Pushed voluntary compliance in Texas instead of mandates.
    George W. Bush: Houston leads US in smog, but Texas is getting cleaner.
    George W. Bush: $4.9B to repair "crumbling" national parks.
    George W. Bush: Cooperate with industry, instead of lawsuits & regulations.
    James Webb: More funding to reduce traffic congestion.
    Jeb Bush: Drilling in Gulf of Mexico hurts Florida tourism industry.
    John McCain: Repeal ban on new roads in wilderness due to bad process.
    John McCain: Use park visitor fees for park development bonds.
    Joseph Lieberman: Religion is the foundation of environmentalism.
    Ned Lamont: Vigilance in protecting Clean Water Act.
    Richard Tarrant: Promote environmentally friendly business practices.
    Thomas Kean Jr.: Supports the Polluter Pays Principle.
Families & Children
    Al Gore: Use family courts to resolve Elian case.
    Al Gore: Focus on “working families” via tax cuts & education.
    Al Gore: Hold entertainment industry accountable.
    Al Gore: Faith and family are America’s biggest strengths.
    George W. Bush: Decide Elian's case in Florida courts, not federal.
    George W. Bush: Troubled by use of force in Elian case.
    George W. Bush: $75M to support veterans to mentor youth.
    George W. Bush: Paying taxes hurts family time for middle class.
    Hillary Clinton: Leave politics out of Elian decision.
    Joseph Lieberman: With Bill Bennett, "Silver Sewer Awards" for immoral videos.
    Joseph Lieberman: Parents are losing children to culture's violence.
    Rick Lazio: Require companies to allow unpaid family leave.
Foreign Policy
    Al Gore: UN treaties are effective means for US to help Third World.
    Al Gore: Gore supports vigorous intervention abroad; Bush less so.
    Claire McCaskill: Active role for US in solving Israeli/Palestinian conflict.
    Elizabeth Dole: Russia: Work with policies, not personalities.
    Elizabeth Dole: N. Korea & other rogue regimes are not our equals.
    George Tenet: Study will focus on whether US overstated Iraqi threat.
    George W. Bush: Keep tradition of showing opposition to Castro.
    George W. Bush: Bush compromises between internationalists and isolationists.
    George W. Bush: No strategic ambiguity: US will defend Taiwan against China.
    Hillary Clinton: Keep Cuban embargo; pay UN bills.
    Hillary Clinton: Engage in world affairs, including human rights.
    Hillary Clinton: Human rights are central to our objectives abroad.
    John Kasich: Engage internationally but choose missions carefully.
    Joseph Lieberman: US must not withdraw troops and retreat into isolationism.
    Joseph Lieberman: Cuba Libre, Free Cuba!
    Pat Buchanan: Warns against unsustainable commitments of US forces abroad.
    Pat Buchanan: Protecting Poland from Hitler protected USSR for Communism.
    Pat Buchanan: American leaders obsessed with Jewish influence.
    Pat Buchanan: Hitler was no direct threat to the US after 1940.
    Pat Buchanan: Fighting Hitler & WWII was a noble cause.
    Pat Buchanan: End all sanctions that hurt innocent people.
    Pat Buchanan: Cuba: Siege mentality is pillar of power; end embargo.
Free Trade
    Elizabeth Dole: China: Two-track policy: Open markets + political reforms.
    George W. Bush: Against WTO on foreign sales corp (for offshore tax breaks).
    George W. Bush: No trade barriers from Alaska to the tip of Cape Horn.
    George W. Bush: Admit China to WTO.
    George W. Bush: Supports congressional vote for China NTR & WTO.
    Hillary Clinton: Supports MFN for China, despite concerns over human rights.
    John McCain: Against foreign sales corporations (offshore tax breaks).
    Mike Bloomberg: Staunchly for free trade and against protectionism.
Government Reform
    Al Gore: Presidents must focus on many things at once.
    Al Gore: $7B public campaign finance fund.
    Al Gore: I don’t ever want to see another era of big government.
    Al Gore: Begin second phase of reinvention: shrink federal govt.
    Al Gore: Promises weekly open meeting as President.
    Bill Clinton: Presidential pardon is absolute right; all Presidents use it.
    Bob Corker: Legislature should make law, not judges via consent decrees.
    Dale Groutage: Campaign finance reform to limit special interests.
    George W. Bush: Claim that Gore grows government not backed by history.
    George W. Bush: Gore would be "obstacle in chief" to reform.
    George W. Bush: Big government cannot be compassionate.
    John McCain: Lost Senate vote on soft-money ban.
    John McCain: No term limits; they throw away the good with the bad.
    Rick Lazio: Fully fund the National Endowment for the Arts.
    Rick Lazio: Ban soft money & issue ads.
    Rick Lazio: Supported a Term Limits constitutional amendment.
Gun Control
    Al Gore: Supports background checks at gun shows, in tie-breaker.
    Al Gore: Gore says Bush lets NRA make gun policy.
    Al Gore: Less rhetoric on gun control from Gore.
    Bret Schundler: Looser gun laws; allow concealed carry.
    Dick Zimmer: Endorsed by the NRA in 1990 and 1992.
    Elizabeth Dole: Limited right to bear arms.
    George W. Bush: Bush says Gore is more a member of NRA than Bush is.
    John McCain: Voted against Brady Bill & assault weapon ban.
    John McCain: Guns are a problem, but so are violent web sites & videos.
    Pat Buchanan: Columbine shootings due to Hollywood, not guns.
    Rick Lazio: Against gun registration; for sportsmen's rights.
    Rick Lazio: Require criminal background checks at gun shows.
Health Care
    Al Gore: Drug companies block generic drugs & cheaper sales.
    Al Gore: Against assisted suicide; but leave it to the states.
    Al Gore: Curb excess pharmaceutical profits made at consumer expense.
    Al Gore: Foster competition in drug research; companies misspend R&D.
    Al Gore: 1997 Medicare cuts went too far-put back $339B.
    Al Gore: Enforce HMO coverage of women’s cancer treatment.
    Al Gore: Private medical information should not be bought and sold.
    Al Gore: Stronger penalties for HMOs who drop seniors.
    Bill Bradley: Universal health care & health insurance coverage.
    Bill Bradley: Controlling smoking is key to health care reform.
    Gary Bauer: Allowing suing HMOs.
    George W. Bush: Government HMOs not the answer for Social Security.
    George W. Bush: Medicare & drug benefit plan reveal suspicion of government.
    George W. Bush: Invest $27B in NIH to cure Alzheimer's & other diseases.
    George W. Bush: Gore a hop, skip, & jump away from Hillary-care.
    Hillary Clinton: Health care initiatives are her first priority in Senate.
    Joseph Lieberman: Supports health insurance industry (based in Hartford CT).
    Joseph Lieberman: Voted to cut Medicare & raise age; now would not.
    Joseph Lieberman: Texas slow to register kids in federal health insurance.
    Ralph Nader: Opposes assisted suicide laws for terminally ill.
    Rick Lazio: Hillary's universal health care is "an abysmal disaster".
    Rick Lazio: Opposes allowing patient lawsuits against HMOs.
    Rick Lazio: Against allowing assisted suicide.
Homeland Security
    Al Gore: Appointees must ENFORCE allowing gays; not AGREE with policy.
    Al Gore: Nuclear unilateralism will hinder arms control.
    Al Gore: Disparaging military sends wrong message to world.
    Al Gore: No soldier should have to rely on food stamps.
    Bob Corker: Do more for intelligence gathering capability.
    Elizabeth Dole: Post-cold-war weapons buildup.
    Elizabeth Dole: Abandon ABM treaty & Test Ban treaty.
    George W. Bush: Lowest possible number of nukes consistent with security.
    George W. Bush: Make nuclear secrets (like Los Alamos) secure again.
    George W. Bush: Restore military's self-esteem with respect.
    George W. Bush: Increase military pay to increase morale.
    George W. Bush: Redefine how war is fought and won.
    George W. Bush: Listens to Europeans on SDI, but "intent on the right thing".
    Hillary Clinton: Supports funding research on missile defense.
    Howard Mills: Homeland security should not be normal pork-barrel spending.
    John McCain: Pres. needs experience more than briefing books.
    John McCain: Disagrees with Perot: No more POWs in Vietnam.
    Joseph Lieberman: More $ for weapons; including SDI recently.
    Robert Menendez: Battle terror without sacrificing our ideals.
    Thomas Kean Jr.: After Sept. 11th, do whatever it takes to protect America.
    KT McFarland: Challenging Clinton on a national security platform.
    KT McFarland: War on terror is more difficult than the Cold War.
Immigration
    Anthony Kennedy: No judicial limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    Antonin Scalia: No judicial limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    Clarence Thomas: No judicial limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    Dale Groutage: Define how immigrant become citizen in fair & timely manner.
    David Souter: 6-month limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    James Webb: Secure the border first; them deal with other aspects.
    Jesse Helms: Work with new Mexican government to reduce immigration.
    John Paul Stevens: 6-month limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    Ruth Bader Ginsburg: 6-month limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    Sandra Day O`Connor: 6-month limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    Stephen Breyer: 6-month limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
    Thomas Kean Jr.: Illegal migration is a significant national security concern.
    William Rehnquist: No judicial limit on detaining illegal immigrants.
Jobs
    Al Gore: Task force to study industrial needs.
    Al Gore: No timber sales in national forest roadless areas. Period.
    Bill Bradley: Raise minimum wage; more unions; low-income tax cuts.
    Bob Corker: Job growth by reducing taxation, litigation, and regulation.
    Dale Groutage: Create a more diverse workforce for future jobs.
    Joseph Lieberman: For minimum wage; against labor on free trade.
    Joseph Lieberman: Commitment to labor & working families stressed.
    Ralph Nader: Vote for a union supporter, not against Republicans.
    Ralph Nader: U.S. farm policy should focus on family farmers.
    Richard Tarrant: More support and advocacy for farmers.
    Rick Lazio: Disallow hiring scabs during union strikes.
    Rick Lazio: Tie minimum wage increase to business tax cut.
Principles & Values
    Al Gore: “Stay and fight!” invokes passion, loyalty, and purpose.
    Al Gore: Career in newspaper journalism before politics.
    Al Gore: Whose side are you on? The people’s or the powerful?
    Al Gore: Lieberman’s morality & Jewishness makes him a bold pick.
    Al Gore: Running on his agenda of last quarter century.
    Al Gore: Populist tone to commitment to fight for the people.
    Al Gore: Focus on “specifics” questions Bush & favors wonkishness.
    Al Gore: Gore’s favorite things: Wheaties, Beatles, & kissing Tipper.
    Al Gore: Voluntary school prayer is ok, if teachers aren’t involved.
    Al Gore: The purpose of life is to glorify God.
    Al Gore: Thanks for allowing Clinton and me to bring change.
    Al Gore: I intend to rejoin the national debate; 2004 options open.
    Bill Clinton: Opens post-Presidential office in Harlem.
    Bill Clinton: Rich pardon based on numerous foreign policy & legal reasons.
    Bill Clinton: Clinton disbarred from Supreme Court.
    Bret Schundler: Worked for Gary Hart as a Democrat in 1980.
    Clarence Thomas: People who stand up for beliefs are culturally intimidated.
    Dick Cheney: Cheney’s retirement package could be a conflict of interest.
    Dick Cheney: Personal charity is private and not a policy matter.
    Dick Cheney: Media distracts public with focus on trivia.
    Dick Cheney: Gore makes up stories to win votes.
    Gary Bauer: Legislating morality ok, if it's our best values.
    Gary Bauer: Return power from Wall Street to America's families.
    George W. Bush: Focus on human problems, not just economy.
    George W. Bush: No Gomorrah in America; no disdain of government.
    George W. Bush: Challenges the orthodoxy but is still a devout conservative.
    George W. Bush: Church-based charity assures nobody is left behind.
    George W. Bush: Pledges to return honor to office of the Presidency.
    George W. Bush: Bush came through for Religious right in Texas.
    George W. Bush: Good advisers better than knowing everything.
    George W. Bush: No regrets for spontaneous personality.
    George W. Bush: US chosen by God to be a model among nations.
    George W. Bush: Promises that there will be debates.
    George W. Bush: "RATS" TV ad not an intentional subliminal message.
    Joe Moakley: Enthusiastic about getting federal money for local purposes.
    John Hagelin: Alternative to Buchanan for Reform Party nomination.
    John Hagelin: Endorses Dennis Kucinich for President.
    John Kerry: Ready to lead America: I was there and I led the fight.
    John McCain: Public officials have failed to set example for society.
    John McCain: Give kids an example to emulate against cynicism.
    John McCain: Vote based on character, not issues.
    John McCain: Calls himself conservative who attracts political center.
    John McCain: Calls himself a "Reagan Republican".
    Joseph Lieberman: Reconsider overseas military ballots, even if imperfect.
    Joseph Lieberman: With GOP on defense & social issues; with Dems on budget.
    Joseph Lieberman: Clinton's affair was inappropriate, immoral, & harmful.
    Joseph Lieberman: Tries to strike balance between conservative and liberal.
    Joseph Lieberman: Continue to criticize Hollywood, but no Silver Sewer awards.
    Joseph Lieberman: Advocates civil religion, not religiously based policy.
    Joseph Lieberman: Religion fills "vacuum of values" & provides common ground.
    Joseph Lieberman: Will not drop out of Connecticut Senate race.
    Marilyn O`Grady: Plans to serve a full term.
    Max Kennedy: Non-profit lawyer; never held elective office.
    Pat Buchanan: Buchanan more spoiler than Nader, in state-based analysis.
    Ralph Nader: Gore defends record to the left to deter Nader supporters.
    Ralph Nader: One purpose of campaign is moving Democrats Left.
    Ralph Nader: Vote conscience rather than choosing between drab and dreary.
    Ralph Nader: Waited 16 years; Dems no different than GOP about power.
    Ralph Nader: Nader less spoiler than Buchanan, in state-based analysis.
    Ralph Nader: Decision on run to be based on Kucinich & Dean's standing.
    Rick Lazio: With Dems on social issues; with GOP on taxes & impeachment.
    Rick Lazio: Proud of his "mainstream record".
    Rudy Giuliani: Rudy discounts Bush's impact on Senate race.
    KT McFarland: Protege of Henry Kissinger & in Pentagon under Reagan.
    KT McFarland: Calls herself a moderate Reagan Republican.
Social Security
    Al Gore: Claim that Social Security will go bankrupt is misleading.
    Al Gore: Will Bush cut benefits or raise the retirement age?
    Gary Bauer: Opposes privatization of Social Security.
    George W. Bush: No specifics like: What age? What percentage?
    John McCain: Option to invest 20% of payroll taxes in private accounts.
    Joseph Lieberman: OK to invest in private markets, a little.
Tax Reform
    Al Gore: $250B over 10 years in targeted tax cuts.
    Al Gore: Bush’s tax plan is “economic snake oil”.
    Al Gore: Modest tax cuts will help the middle class.
    Al Gore: Too large a tax cut would wreck economy & military readiness.
    Al Gore: Yes, it’s your money-but it’s your programs too.
    Al Gore: Comparison of wealthy tax cut to middle class exaggerated.
    Al Gore: Bush’s tax plan is class warfare on behalf of billionaires.
    Bill Bradley: Veto $792B tax cut; surplus for health coverage & poverty.
    Bill Bradley: Tax breaks for health insurance, working poor, & child care.
    Bob Graham: Estate tax repeal hurts federal-state relations.
    Bret Schundler: Moral responsibility to get taxes down.
    Dick Cheney: Gore’s tax plan benefits interests, specific activities.
    Dick Cheney: Use tax cuts to return part of surplus to American people.
    Gary Bauer: Return power from Wall St. to America's families.
    George W. Bush: Lower tax rate for poor as well as rich.
    George W. Bush: It's the people's money, not the government's.
    George W. Bush: Biggest tax cuts to those who pay the biggest tax bills.
    George W. Bush: Cut taxes on income, children, & inheritance.
    George W. Bush: Tax cut for all is affordable and right thing to do.
    George W. Bush: Claims lower income people benefit more than rich; untrue.
    George W. Bush: Gore's convoluted "targeted cuts" exclude too many people.
    Jeb Bush: Supports estate tax repeal, but not at states' expense.
    John McCain: Middle-class tax cut: expand 15% tax bracket.
    John McCain: Tax plan: $238B over 5 years; $500B over 10 years.
    John McCain: Double child tax credit; add family incentives.
    John McCain: "Balanced approach", and starts a flat tax system.
    Rick Lazio: Supports a "significant tax cut".
Technology
    Al Gore: Triana satellite would inspire environmental consciousness.
    Al Gore: Online federal services: a “second American Revolution”.
    Bill Bradley: Improve schools to remedy “digital divide”.
    George W. Bush: Internet a tool, not a crutch.
    Howard Mills: Favors building a stadium for the New York Jets.
War & Peace
    Al Gore: Military’s role is nation building in Balkans and elsewhere.
    Al Gore: Maintain presence in Balkans; Bush would destabilize NATO.
    Al Gore: Palestine: Arafat should restrain protest violence.
    Claire McCaskill: Economic sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program.
    Claire McCaskill: Talk to North Korea to renounce nuclear program.
    Dale Groutage: Work toward a multi-nation solution in Iraq.
    George W. Bush: Israel's capital should be in Jerusalem.
    George W. Bush: Arafat should limit protests; terrorists should pay a price.
    George W. Bush: Revise NATO; US out of Balkans; Europeans in.
    George W. Bush: NATO: Europeans provide troops; US provides support only.
    George W. Bush: Focus on core mission by removing US troops from Balkans.
    George W. Bush: Seeking $87B and UN Aid for Iraqi War Effort.
    George W. Bush: Defeating terrorists in Iraq will require time and sacrifice.
    George W. Bush: Seeking $87B and UN Aid for War Effort.
    Hillary Clinton: Support Israel in finding a safe and secure peace.
    Hillary Clinton: Yugoslav involvement good on both moral & strategic grounds.
    James Webb: No patriotism question when Eisenhower questioned Korean War.
    Jim Gilmore: No troop increase without mission; but no timetable.
    John Kasich: Ground war not in humanitarian nor international interest.
    John Kasich: Goals should be: help refugees & regional development.
    John Kasich: Rambouillet goals breached sovereignty of Yugoslavia.
    John Kasich: Use neutral mediators; be flexible on post-war force.
    John Kerry: Condemned early Vietnam protests as "irresponsible".
    John Kerry: Kerry now fully engaged in fighting Swift Boat Veterans.
    John Kerry: Kerry releases Navy records to prove his version of Vietnam.
    John Kerry: Caught off-guard in 2004 by unexpected attacks on war record.
    John McCain: Authorize Clinton to send in ground troops in Kosovo.
    Joseph Lieberman: Co-sponsored breaking the UN embargo on Bosnia.
    Pat Buchanan: Iraq: Sanctions sow seeds of future terrorism.
    Pat Buchanan: War in Yugoslavia is none of our business.
    Pat Buchanan: End sanctions that hurt innocent Serbs.
    Rick Lazio: Follow Israel's lead on independent Palestine.
    Rick Lazio: Supported intervention in Kosovo.
    Rudy Giuliani: Iraq: More inspections; counter OPEC's oil production cuts.
    Rudy Giuliani: You are either with civilization or with terrorism.
    Rudy Giuliani: No need to understand reasons for terrorism-just stop them.
    KT McFarland: More troops should have been deployed in Iraq.
Welfare & Poverty
    Al Gore: Proposes sweeping Federal programs, $Billions, for needy.
    Al Gore: Build 180,000 low-income homes; subsidize 120,000 more.
    Al Gore: Investing in inner cities is good deed & good business.
    Al Gore: Second generation welfare: Responsibility and child support.
    Bill Bradley: Welfare should not require mothers to work.
    Bret Schundler: Seniors shouldn’t worry about homes & food.
    George W. Bush: Churches provide "armies of compassion" to help the poor.
    George W. Bush: 50% tax credits for 20,000 home rehabs per year.
    George W. Bush: Focus welfare on transition to work & responsibility.
    Mike Bloomberg: Count poverty based on all costs, minus welfare assistance.
    Ralph Nader: Message to Democrats: Don't take labor for granted.
    Rick Lazio: Allow food stamps for legal immigrants.
    Rick Lazio: Public housing: More work & service; less concentrated poor.


The above quotations are from Media coverage of political races in The New York Times, 2000-2009.

Political newspapers in each state:

AK -  AL -  AR -  AZ -  CA -  CO -  CT -  DE -  FL -  GA -  HI -  IA -  ID -  IL -  IN -  KS -  KY -  LA -  MA - 
MD -  ME -  MI -  MN -  MO -  MS -  MT -  NC -  ND -  NE -  NH -  NJ -  NM -  NV -  NY - 
OH -  OK -  OR -  PA -  PR -  RI -  SC -  SD -  TN -  TX -  UT -  VA -  VT -  WA -  WI -  WV -  WY - 

Additional larger state newspapers:
 

Political media other than newspapers:

Logo
All material copyright 1999-2022
by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org
Reprinting by permission only.

E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
Mail
Send donations or submit quotations to:
OnTheIssues.org
1770 Massachusetts Ave. #630
Cambridge, MA 02140



OnTheIssues.org
Home Page
Most recent quotations Archive of books & debates Candidate Matching Quiz

Page last edited: Feb 07, 2026