Candidate Research - Barack Obama (D-Ill)

Personal Profile
Birth: Aug 4, 1961
Religion: Congregationalist

On the Issues
Abortion: Protect a woman's right to choose
Stem Cell Research: Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill
Budget & Economy: Bush's economic policies are not working
Civil Rights: Marriage not a human right non-discrimination is
Gay Marriage: Supports gay marriage
Corporations: Close tax loopholes for U.S. companies relocation abroad
Death Penalty: Battles legislatively against the death penalty
Drugs: Understand why youngsters want to use drugs
Education: Sponsored legislations that recruit and reward good teachers, free public college for any student with B-average
Energy & Oil: Conserve, develop alternative fuels, increase efficiencies
Environment: Pro-environment
Foreign Policy: Never has U.S. had so much power and so little influence to lead, U.S. should promote democracy and human rights
Free Trade: Fair trade should have tangible benefits for U.S.
Gun Control: Ban semi-automatics and more possession restrictions
Health Care: Allow seniors to bulk purchase will save taxpayers' money, believes health care is a right not a privilege, lead global fight against AIDS
Immigration: Extend welfare and Medicaid to immigrants, Guest Worker program is OK
Jobs: Raise the minimum wage, tax incentives to create jobs at home instead of offshore
Social Security: $2000 tax credit for Working Families Savings Accounts
Tax Reform: Bush tax cuts help corporations but not middle class
Technology: Invest on transportation and clean coal technology projects
War: Not opposed to all wars but opposed to the war in Iraq

Voting Record
Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives
Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage
Voted YES on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore
Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies
Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education
Voted YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025
Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers
Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics
Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act
Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship
Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security
Voted YES on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25
Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007
Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan