We’ve all seen the political ads for the upcoming election, but luckily this Tuesday we won’t have to sit through commercials bashing former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama, or any of the local men and women running for office. We’ll be free from these combative ads.
But not before we vote.
For a lot of students at St. Ambrose, this is the first year we can vote in a presidential election and lot of us are registered to vote on campus. It’s exciting. We have the power to let our voices be heard; we have the power to tell the United States how we want our country to be run and what we believe in. It’s also nerve-wracking. There are so many issues to consider, so many different opinions being fed to us, and we want to be informed voters.
Here’s a breakdown of where Mitt Romney and President Obama stand on a few issues:
Abortion and Contraception:
Obama: Supports women’s right to abortion and contraception. Requires workplaces to provide healthcare to cover contraception and birth control.
Romney: Opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest or threat to women’s life. Believes state laws should dictate abortion access and wants to reverse the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade. Wants to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood.
Health Care:
Obama: Passed health care law that bans insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing illnesses. Small businesses are helped when offering insurance, and taxes will help subsidize premiums.
Romney: Wants to repeal Obama’s health care law. Believes states should formulate their own policies for the uninsured. People who have been continuously covered will be safe from losing their insurance if they get sick or lose/leave their job.
Gay Rights:
Obama: Supports legalization of same-sex marriage. Repealed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” and allowed for people who identify as gay to serve openly in the military.
Romney: Opposes legalization of same-sex marriage and believes it should be banned with a constitutional amendment. Opposes civil unions for same-sex marriage but believes these rights should be determined by the state.
Education:
Obama: A $10,000 college tax credit over four years from congress was gained for increasing Pell Grants and financial aid.
Romney: Believes federal student aid drives tuition up and wants federal student loan program to be funded by private lenders.
Immigration:
Obama: Immigrants brought illegally into the United States as children exempt from deportation and can be granted work permits. A record number of immigrants have been deported under the Obama Administration.
Romney: Opposes education benefits for illegal immigrants and wants to build a border fence between the United States and Mexico.
War:
Obama: Plans to remove troops from Afghanistan by 2014 and decrease size of Army and Marine Corps to cut military spending over the next decade.
Romney: Wants to increase military spending, adding almost $100 billion to the Pentagon budget by 2016. Supports plan to withdraw from Afghanistan by 2014.
United States District 2 Representatives for Scott County:
Dave Loebsack (Democratic): Supports women’s right to abortion, gay rights, affirmative action, medical marijuana, universal health care coverage, extending unemployment benefits. Against the death penalty.
John Archer (Republican): Against Obama’s health care plan, abortion, increase in taxes for any income level, gay marriage. Does not support illegal immigrants returning to their own country before they can apply for citizenship.
For more information on candidates visit votesmart.org and remember to vote this Tuesday.