Presidential Debates
Education
1. Mr. Romney support school voucher and President Obama does not. Romey argues that a system would student choice and improve school accountability. President Obama opposes the use srguing the policy hollow out the public education system becausse lwss money would go toward public schools if students opted out of them.
2. 25,000 in debt.
3. Yes because there are teachers losing their jobs. No teachers means no learning.
4. A system of federal grants designed to reward schools that meet curtain education benchmarks and reform.
Environment
1. After China, the U.S are the largest emitter of carbon dioxide.
2. Repubican Presidents have sought to frame business and the enviornment as opposing interest, and have tended to favor business in a battle. Democratic presidents have sought solutions that benefit both the enivionment and business, and have been more willing to regulate buiness in the interest of environment protection.
3. Alot.
4. No.
5. Because he's going green.
Marriage Equality
1. Yes. First he was neutral, now he is for it.
2. It defines that marriage as union between a man and women. A president could advocate for and sign a law making same-sex marriage legal throughout the U.S.
3. Yes. Think about the 1960s. The government gave rights to the African American community. In the beginning tension between different races were not good, but as time went along the situation got better.
4. A- Couples can get married in their home state. D- Couples had have to get travel in order to get married.
5. Very converstial in the U.S.
6. Yes. People should marry who they want without the government telling otherwise.
Healthcare Reform
1. 1912- Health insurance, 1950s- employer-based health insurance, 1965- Medicare and Medicaid, 1973- HMO, 1986- all hospitals to treat all emergency room patients- allowed people to keep their employer’s insurance for 18 months after losing their job, 2010- Patient Protection Affordable Act.
2. Those who can afford healthcare should have it.
3. They argued it was unconstitutional because it required all citizens to purchase a good.
4. Reduce federal power in the healthcare system.
5. Yes.
Public Safety and Civil Liberties
1. The U.S incarnates a higher percentage of it’s population than any other country.
2. President Obama supports drug courts and sentencing offenders to drug treatment programs rather than jail. Governor Romney supports more punitive strategies such as “3-strikes and you’re out” law, mandatory sentences for people who have committed 3 offenses.
3. What.?
4. I don’t. Have you ever heard of someone being high on weed and getting into an accident. No.
5. To address large-scale demand for drugs in the U.S.
6. Yes. Now people carry at free-will allowing them to kill as they please. If it was tougher,less crimes would happen.
Immigration
1. 10 to 12 million.
2. What.?
3. It’s a matter of opinion.
4. Yes.
5. No. He would not step in unless it was fit to do so.
6. Huh.?
National Debt
1. The debt is tied to government spending, taxes, the stimulus bills, national defense and social security.
2. Because owning people, being in debt, is like not paying your bills.
3. Balance Obamacare, eliminate nonessential government spending, while extending the Bush taxes and leaving the defense budget untouched.
4. Increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans and biggest American businesses.
5. Romney says taxpayers ought to use their money how they see fit and the country must bring an irresponsible government under control or face financial catastrophe. Obama says the little vs. the selfish and irresponsible business culture that caused the economic crash of 2008. Obama.
6. Cutting taxes.
Taxes
1. Military.
2. Reducing the deficit by about 3.2 trillion in the next ten years.
3. Yes.
4. I think that it doesn’t add up.
5. They drive right to the crux of their political ideologies, and relate to their positions on other political issues.
Unemployment
1. By counting the number of people who do not have a job but have looked for one in the last 4 weeks, the dividing the number the of people with jobs.
2. Not meeting the basic survival needs to afford.
3. Create more jobs.
4. Increasing the size of the carbon-based energy economy will create more jobs.
5. They cannot find a job.
Unions and Public Employees
1. Only unions give workers the ability to bargain collectively with their employer.
2. Because they benefit from tax dollars, and more government employees, or better government employee salaries and benefit higher taxes and a larger government.
3. Democrats- Union help increase economy and decrease the number of jobs. Republicans- Harm economy decrease the number of jobs.
4. Weaker unions are less able to help Democratic campaigns.
5. It propelled unions into the national spotlight and set the stage for a national conversation about the right of public sector unions.
Afghanistan
1. 9/11 attacks, before 9/11 Taliban took over government, Al Qaeda was discovered.
2. A lot. Because it affects everyone. People are worried about their safety and the soldiers lives.
3. It’s going to play well. Americans want their soldiers back home.
4. No. Who gave you the obligation to help them. You can’t change people who don’t want to change.
5. No. It’s the UN job as well as others.
China
1. Because presidential candidate tend to change their positions once they reach the White House.
2. Presidential candidates have a decades of old traditions of attacking sitting presidents for their policy toward China.
3. Reassure America’s Southeast Asian allies that they can count on the U.S support against China.
4. He didn’t do much.
5. I think I will increase.
Executive Power in Foreign Policy
1. Refers to the executive branch’s ability to make decisions without the permission or direction of the legislative branch.
2. Congress opposed the policies of these executive orders, and has added clauses to defense bills prohibiting the transfer of detainees, effectively blocking the shuttering of the facility.
3. If elected, President Obama is going to keep Guantanamo Bay open and active.
4. Less causalities.
Foreign Aid and Development
1. Yes.
2. Romney wants to cut foreign aid expenses and stop borrowing money from China. While Obama opposed cutting aid and wants to increase foreign assistance to make investments to combat terrorism, corruption, transnational crime among other things.
3. No.
4. Because that’s what the government says and that’s what they see.
5. No, because we need to worry about us first. But yes to keep the allies we have.
Iran
1. Protection but limited.
2. Yes. It was stated.
3. Romney has stated that if Iran ceases it nuclear bomb program, he will take action.
4. They are both willing to take action.
5. Bad. A nuclear war might break out.
Russia
1. Engagement with Moscow can produce win-win outcomes. US can seek cooperation with the Russian government while strengthening ties with Russian civil society. Afghanistan and Iran with concerns over Russia’s human right abuses. Undemocratic system of government.
2. It has improved, but concerns are the middle east.
3. Severely. Russia is an important ally to Syria.
4. No. Who has the real oil/gas advantage. The middle east.
