Barack Obama



Politics 2008
With the 2008 election now decided it is important to look at our new president, Barack Obama's stance on many important issues that will affect America in the next four years. These are Obama’s stance on many important issues.
Abortion
Should abortion remain a legal option in America?
"One of the things that I've always said is that abortion is a deeply moral issue. And those who would deny that there is a moral component to it I think are wrong. The reason that I make a decision to support the choice position is not because I don't think it's a moral issue but because I trust women to make a prayerful decision about this issue."
“Should parental consent be required for pregnant minors?
I oppose spousal notification or consent [to obtain an abortion]. Regarding parental notification, I would oppose any legislation that does not include a bypass provision for minors who have been victims of, or have reason to fear, physical or sexual abuse."
Cuba
“Should the US continue to support an embargo against Cuba?”
That's why, when I'm President, I will grant Cuban-Americans unrestricted rights to visit families and send remittances to the island. Because that's the way to bring about real change in Cuba. Through strong and smart diplomacy, not just tough love...As President I am not going to take off the embargo, it's an important inducement for change because we know that Castro's death will not automatically guarantee freedom."

Economy
“Should the US include mandatory regulations for labor rights in free trade agreements?
"And I'll also oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement if President Bush insists on sending it to Congress because the violence against unions in Colombia would make a mockery of the very labor protections that we have insisted be included in these kinds of agreements. So you can trust me when I say that whatever trade deals we negotiate when I'm President will be good for American workers, and that they'll have strong labor and environmental protections that we'll enforce."
“Has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had an overall benefit for the US?”
We can't keep passing unfair trade deals like NAFTA that put special interests over workers' interests...
“Should the federal government bail out failing US private corporations like it did with Bear Stearns of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac at taxpayers expense?”
"This is no longer just a Wall Street crisis - it' an American crisis, and it's the American economy that needs this rescue plan...
This is not a plan to just hand over $700 billion of taxpayer money to a few banks. If this is managed correctly, and that's an important if, we will hopefully get most or all of our money back, and possibly even turn a profit on the government's intervention - every penny of which will go directly back to the American people. And if we fall short, we will levy a fee on financial institutions so that they can repay for the losses they caused."
“Do labor unions provide an overall benefit to workers in the US?”
"...[A]s I look out on this crowd and as I travel across this country, the one thing I know for certain is that labor unions are still mobilizing. Labor unions are still organizing. And you're still fighting to give America's working people a voice in Washington.
I'm tired of playing defense. I know the AFL-CIO [American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization] is tired of playing defense. We're ready to play some offense. We're ready to play offense for a decent wage. We're ready to play offense for retirement security...
We're ready to play offense for organized labor. It's time we had a President who didn't choke saying the word 'union.' A President who knows it's the Department of Labor and not the Department of Management. And a President who strengthens our unions by letting them do what they do best - organize our workers. If a majority of workers want a union, they should get a union."
Education
“Is the increasing cost of college and university tuition pricing America’s middle class out of higher education?”
"And so, as I stood in those Illinois colleges listening to students tell me about their problems, I started thinking, when did the cost of college stop becoming our problem? When did the headlines about skyrocketing tuition start getting crowded out by Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart, and when did this national priority start playing second fiddle to the latest partisan food fight in Washington? I'm not sure, but I do know that I've met enough good citizens who think about the other guy and want to change this. And I believe there are enough members of both parties who want to start this country down the path of making college affordable and accessible for every American...I believe it's time for Congress to follow your lead. This week, I'm introducing the Higher Education Opportunity through Pell Grant Expansion Act - the HOPE Act. This bill will make college more affordable for 430,000 Americans by increasing Pell Grant awards."
Energy
“Should the US tap into its emergency oil reserves to help bring down the price of gasoline?”
"I agree with the President's decision to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help replenish supply shortages resulting from Hurricane Katrina. Nearly all oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut down
Environment
“Are humans substantially responsible for global climate change today?”
"Global warming is real, is happening now and is the result of human activities. The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years. Glaciers are melting faster; the polar ice caps are shrinking; trees are blooming earlier; oceans are becoming more acidic, threatening marine life; people are dying in heat waves; species are migrating, and eventually many will become extinct."

Health Care
“Should all Americans have a right to government or employer subsidized basic health care?”
"...I also believe that every American has the right to affordable health care. I believe that the millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have that right....My plan begins by covering every American.If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change for you under this plan is the amount of money you will spend on premiums. That will be less...If you are one of the 45 million Americans who don't have health insurance, you will have it after this plan becomes law...If you cannot afford this insurance, you will receive a subsidy to pay for it...To help pay for this, we will ask all but the smallest businesses who don't make a meaningful contribution today to the health coverage of their employees to do so by supporting this new plan. And we will allow the temporary Bush tax cut for the wealthiest Americans to expire."
Iraq war
“Has the Iraq war made America safer?”
"Perhaps the saddest irony of the Administration's cynical use of 9/11 is that the Iraq War has left us less safe than we were before 9/11. Osama bin Ladin and his top lieutenants have rebuilt a new base in Pakistan where they freely train recruits, plot new attacks, and disseminate propaganda. The Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan. Iran has emerged as the greatest strategic challenge to America in the Middle East in a generation. Violent extremism has increased. Terrorism has increased. All of that is a cost of this war."
Marriage
“Should there be a Constitutional amendment or federal law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman?”
"Today, we take up the valuable time of the US Senate with a proposed amendment to our Constitution [the Federal Marriage Amendemnt] that has absolutely no chance of passing...Now, I realize that for some Americans, this is an important issue. And I should say that personally, I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman...I agree with most Americans, with Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Cheney, with over 2,000 religious leaders of all different beliefs that decisions about marriage, as they always have, should be left to the states."

Synthesis
Obama being elected has changed the moral of the American people. America needed a change after the past eight years. Obama's views will hopefully help with America's foreign policy and change how other countries view America.

Resources
ProCon.org