2008 Presidential Candidates: The Big Issues

Don't let celebrity endorsements cloud your judgment. Deciding who to vote for as the next President of the United States of America has to be YOUR decision. You have to know the facts about each candidate. One thing I don't agree with are those who vote entirely based on a candidate's political party. Party voters, as they are called, don't care about the issues. They care about the title.

When a candidate runs a campaign based on spreading more intolerance, more hate, more pain and suffering then that person does not deserve to be voted in as President of the United States. Now candidates get help from celebrities in order to gain votes. Oprah is supporting Barack Obama, Chuck Norris is supporting Mike Huckabee, and Barbara Streisand is supporting Hillary Clinton.

Here are the major issues that Candidates have already made their stance on.

1. Gay Marriage

Against It - Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, Mitt Romney, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson. I could not find where John McCain, and Ron Paul stand on Gay Marriage. However, John McCain does state that it should be a state issue not a government one. Which in my opinion is his way of saying "I don't want to risk losing votes by speaking my true feelings on the issue."

For It - Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, and I am unsure of the standings on Gay Marriage of Hillary Clinton, and Dennis Kucinich.

2. Abortion

Against it - Rudy Giuliani, Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Tom Tancredo. Yet again John McCain fails to give his actual standing on the issue and simply states that he feels it should be a state issue not a government one.

For it - Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Bill Richards. I can't seem to find where the rest of the Democratic party stands when it comes to abortion. I've heard Hillary Clinton say during speeches that she's Pro-Choice. That a person's right to choose parenthood should be their own. But I don't want to just say she's for abortion if I can't find that on her site to show you.

3. Environmental Protection (Global Warming) - Stopping pollution, reducing green house gasses, saving energy, etc.

Against It - I can't imagine anyone would be against preserving the planet, making life easier for everyone including the planet and more. However, most republicans have not taken a position on Global Warming or the Energy Crisis we are facing today. Possibly because many Republicans have money invested in oil, chemical companies and more. Supporting the Global Warming facts and trying to save the environment and energy would lose them a lot of money.

For It - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson.

4. Health care (Creating Universal Health care and affordable Heath care)

Against Improving It - I can't imagine anyone being against improving health care, but I have to say among the Republicans I'm seeing a trend where they don't feel universal health care would work. Even though it works in Canada and many other nations. When choosing who you want to vote for please remember that Health care has been an issue during many Presidential Campaigns. And have we really seen any difference? It's time to stop believing what someone's saying and pushing for them to do what they're promising.

For Improving It - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Alan Keyes, Tom Tancredo, and Fred Thompson.

There are many more issues but I've given you some of the biggest and who stands where on those issues. Personally my vote will go for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. I'm waiting to hear more speeches from them on their positions as it stands with certain issues I'm concerned with.

But they are the two people I feel are more likely to follow through with their standings and promises than anyone else. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat but I have to admit I lean more Democrat than anything else. I've seen the good work Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have done for their country already, and I know they'll continue to do a lot of good.

If you take anything from this article let it be the video speech Barack Obama gave. Click on his name in any of the issue lists above to see the video. It's 39:45 minutes long but it's worth listening to. Seriously. Especially if you're worried that him being Pro-Choice and for Gay Marriage means he's not a Christian or a bad one.

I'm not Christian, but he is. But he understands that this country is not Christian. It's filled with people of many different faiths and it's a pluralistic society. He understands that means he has to be fair in his decisions and he has to make decisions that are fair for everyone. Whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, Pagan or any other denomination. And that's why he's at the forefront of my choices for the next President of the United States of America.