A Look at John Edwards' Political Platform for the 2008 Presidential Race

John Edwards has surprised all the pundits by edging out Hillary Clinton to win second place in Iowa. As my state's democratic primary is coming up soon, I thought I should take his candidacy seriously and investigate for myself where John Edwards stands on the issues that are the most important to me. This article explains what I have found in my research using the website OnTheIssues.com, and why I would consider voting for John Edwards.

John Edwards on Abortion: John Edwards has a great record on Pro-Choice issues from 1999-2007. According to information I found on OnTheIssues.com, he unequivocally supports a woman's right to choose and proves so with his Pro-Choice voting record during his time in the US Senate. He also supports publicly funded family planning, on his website he says that if elected he will overturn the "gag rule" imposed by the Bush administration.

John Edwards on the Budget and Taxes: According to information I found on OnTheIssues.com, John Edwards says he will roll back the Bush administrations tax cuts for the richest Americans. He also believes in balancing the budget, by using the tax cut money, while maintaining the necessary funds for much needed social programs.

John Edwards on Corporate Subsidies: According to information I found on OnTheIssues.com, John Edwards vows to get rid of the billions of dollars in corporate subsidies given every year and tax breaks that encourage corporations to move overseas and export American jobs which is destroying the middle class.

John Edwards on GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Trans-gender) Issues: According to information I found on OnTheIssues.com, although John Edwards does not support gay marriage (which does bother me), he does support and fight for almost every other Pro-GLBT issue out there. He openly supports civil unions that would grant all the same rights given to heterosexual married couples. He also supports the right of a states sovereignty to allow the voters decide for themselves whether to legalize gay marriage.

Showing further support of GLBT citizens John Edwards while in the US Senate voted twice, in 2000 and 2002, to add sexual orientation to the definition of hate crimes. He believes its OK to introduce elementary school children to age appropriate books that depict the life of same sex couples. He would repeal DOMA, the "don't ask don't tell policy", and would allow gay people to serve in all branches of the military. He also publicly approves of a trans-gender persons right to a sex change and has publicly stated that he sympathizes with their difficult situation.

John Edwards and Crime in America: According to information I found on OnTheIssues.com, John Edwards, thankfully, supports the end of mandatory minimum sentencing, which would enable judges once again the ability to make a penalty decision on a case-to-case basis. He also supports rolling back the penalties for possession that differentiate between powder and crack cocaine that disproportionately discriminate against black people.

John Edwards on Marijuana and Hemp: When talking about recreational use, John Edwards has admitted to smoking pot, points for honesty, and he has some progressive views on marijuana and hemp. But unfortunately he stated very recently this past October 2007 that he opposes decriminalization. However, he supports special drug courts that offer alternatives to incarceration and while in the Senate he voted no on increasing the penalties for narcotic substance offenses. The Vote-Hemp coalition give him a rating of "B", which indicates that he has a pro-hemp voting record.

As far as his stance on medical marijuana, John Edwards has changed his mind on this issue this year, 2007. Thankfully, pandering to public sentiment, he publicly stated that, "What I will do as president is, we will not be going in and raiding the use of marijuana for medical purposes in states that have legalized it. I think where democracy has worked, where voters have decided this should be legalized, I will not as president go in and run contrary to the will of the people in those states where it has been legalized." This is a switch from his position four years ago, when he stated that it would be "irresponsible" to end the raids

John Edwards and Education: According to information I found on OnTheIssues.com, unlike the current president, John Edwards sends all of his children to public schools. He also supports the right of every American to have the opportunity to go to college, with programs that give free tuition in return for part-time work.