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WORLD & NATION
With the 2008 presidential primaries heating up, many are still left wondering whom to vote for. Following a poll of
Guilford students, several issues came up that were deemed crucial to deciding on a candidate.
See where each
candidate stands,
and decide before
North Carolina’s
primaries on May 6.
By Paddy Lehane
Staff Writer
Hillary Clinton plans, on her first day in of^e, to Her plan would provide universal healthcare,
assemble a meeting of the Toint.^^fs. Secjgfiiilk of while giving people with insurance more choices
Defense, and national securib/^^ers t^ creat^ in their healthcare plans. Working families would
viable withdrawal plan withiii 60 d^jS. ' J get a tax credit and insurance premiums would be
based on a percentage of income.
Would end No Child Left Behind. She plans to
cut the minority K-12 dropout rate by 50 percent.
Proposes a $3,500 college tax credit and would
give $500 million to community colleges across the
nation.
John Edwards Advocates withdrawal from Iraq in Has a structured plan for universal healthcare. Would "radically -oyerhaul" the No
nine to 10 months and clarifying the illegality of Would i^eateLtaX; credits Ao?! working families,, , behind Act anJ would increase salary
the No Child Left
clarifying the illegality of Would i^eateLtaX; credits ^Lof working families/,'- Behind Act and would increase salary for teachers
the war. Edwards is against the surge and would wo^dexpand;govemjnent progratns, and|feform,^ih high-poverty schools'by up to $15,000. "College
immediately withdraw 40,000r50,000 troops. Vinsurance iai^s’He would ^g5geJ>usinesses.^j^Or^ for Evi^one" imti^dve would provide tuition
Edwards also calls for direct talks with Iran and ^^.healthcare for thdr. workers or contribute tu..wstance and money for books in public universi-
Syria and other neighbors as well as for a regional the national healthcare plan, ties in exchange, for students working part-time,
peace conference.
Barack Obama sould immediately begin with
drawal of troops beginning with one to two bri
gades per month. All troops would be out within
16 months, except for those guarding the American
embassy. He also advocates regional diplomacy,
including talks with Iran and Syria.
Would provide healthcare for many through use Would reform and fully fund No Child Left Behind,
of subsidies for low-income families who don't Advocates a form of merit pay for high-perfor-
qualify 'for Medicaid or SCHIP. He calls for manda- mance teachers. Proposes a $4,000 tax credit for
tory coverage of children and force employers who college,
don't provide healthcare to contribute a percentage
to the national healthcare plan.
John McCain is an ardent and consistent sup
porter of the war and a poster-boy for the "stay
the course" mentality. Supports and praises the
troop surge, is against withdrawal, and is in favor
of doing whatever it takes to win the war. This
includes sending more soldiers to Iraq, if needed.
Opposes universal healthcare. Proposes creating
more awareness of current government programs,
such as SCHIP and Medicaid, and would give tax
credits to low-income Americans. Advocates medi
cal malpractice reform as an effective way to keep
costs down.
Calls state of preparation for American children's
integration into the global economy "deplorable"
and advocates school choice. Supports basic tenets
of NCLB, and encourages high-performing schools
to compete for the best teachers. McCain advocates
merit pay for public school teachers.
Rudy Giuliani is in favor of the surge ah^Kpports EqiS^ unr^^l healthcare wi^aCS^zed medi- to e^ablish a federal school voucher pro-
a continued military presence in heLq, Gitem^ils >cme.“C^ls for mi^-ba^redtictibnsto cc^ an4 gram and ^pand charter schools to give parents
a timetable for withdrawal a huge mistake ifc J will give tax credits ^^^w-income American^ more choi^^e looks at school choice as a way to
would lead to further destabilization in the regiOT.X would also create more health savings accounts,’ guarantee t^er education.
He favors staying the course ai|d complefing the _ ——
job.
Mike Huckabee supports the troop surge, calling
it "the military means to achieve the political end
of sectarian resolution," and isf against Congress'
efforts to put a cap on American troops in Iraq.
Calls Iraq a "battle in our generational, ideologic^
war on terror." Argues withdrawal could lead to
more conflict.
Opposes universal healthcare, and a federally
managed healthcare system, but would encour
age the private sector to come up with a plan that
would lower costs while providing quality health-
scare. Advocates fighting medical malpractice suits
lo keep healthcare prices down.
Admires NGLB but advocates more room for states
to set their own benchmark. Huckabee is a strong
supporter of arts and music programs, referring
To them as "Weapons of Mass Instruction," and
Iwould continue funding these programs in public
schools.
Mitt Romney opposes setting a timetable for Against universal healthcare, advocates decreas- Advocates school choice, such as charter schools
withdrawal. He supports rapidly deploying more ing costs by deregulating state markets. While and home schools. He would create a home school
troops into Baghdad and Anbar Province while Massachusetts governor, however, he signed a tax credit, will improve NCLB by looking at indi
making it clear to the Iraqi government that the universal healthcare law that required all residents vidual student progress as opposed to the school,
U.S. will eventually pull out. fo have coverage. and advocates merit psy for higher performing
teachers.