Here is a break-down of whereboth presidential candidates stand on some of the issues at hand:
Abortion
Bush: Opposesabortion, except for in cases where a woman’s life is in danger, and in casesof rape or incest. Has cited that he favors Supreme Court justices who opposeabortion rights.
Kerry: Supportsabortion rights. Says he will favor judges who support abortion rights.
DeathPenalty
Bush: Supports.
Kerry: Opposes,except for terrorists
Economy
Bush: Opposes a minimum wageincrease.
Kerry: Favors a minimum wageincrease. Wants to increase it $7 from $5.15 by 2007 and then indexing it toinflation.
Education
Bush: Supportsvouchers financed by taxpayers for tuition and parochial and private schools.Opposes making preschool available to all 4-year-olds. Signed a law thatprovided tax breaks for college tuition that the administration says savedstudents and their parents $9 billion.
Kerry: Opposesprivate-school vouchers; says it is a drain on public school resources. Favorsa tax credit for college tuition costs.
GayRights
Bush: Opposes.Supports a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between aman and woman, but says states should decide whether to allow civil unions forgay couples. Continued Clinton policy allowing gays to serve in the military ifthey are not open about their sexual orientation.
Kerry: Does notoppose gay marriage, but opposes an amendment to ban it and says states shoulddecide, individually. Supports right to civil union. Would ban jobdiscrimination against homosexuals and extend hate-crime protections to gays.Would let gays serve openly in military.
GunControl
Bush: Wants togrant gun makers immunity from civil law suits arising from wrongful use ofweapons. Supports renewing ban on assault-type weapons and requiring backgroundcheck at gun shows, but let 10-year-old
Kerry: Opposesgranting gun makes immunity from lawsuits.
HomelandSecurity and Defense
Bush: Argues thatillegal immigrants without known links to terrorist groups can be detainedindefinitely. Began redeployment of troops from South Korean and Europe.Pledges he will not reinstate the draft.
Kerry: Proposes anincrease active-duty forces by 40,000 and double Army Special Forces. Wouldplace National Guard under Homeland Security. Opposes a draft.
HealthCare
Bush: Opposesimportation of lower-cost drugs; says that the government cannot guaranteetheir safety. Proposes a $1,000 tax credit to help four million uninsuredAmericans buy health insurance.
Kerry: Proposes thatall children and 95 percent of adults are health-insured. Proposes a 75 percenttax credit to help pay for insurance. Favors easier importation of drugs fromCanada.
SocialSecurity
Bush: Has not ruledout raising retirement age.
Kerry: Opposesraising retirement age or reducing payments
