Published: April 15, 2008 09:20 am            

Tribune-Democrat 2008 Voters Guide: U.S. President

United States President



Voters in Pennsylvania have the opportunity to express their preference for a presidential nominee of their party. They may write in the name of their choice if it is not listed on the ballot. The results of the Presidential preference Primary are not binding on any delegate to the national nominating conventions. (League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania)

The following names will appear on the Pennsylvania primary ballot. (Information obtained from candidate statements and Web sites.)



(Vote for one)



Democratic



Barack Obama

Personal: Born Aug. 4, 1961, in Hawaii to Barack Obama Sr. and Ann Dunham. ... Graduated from Columbia University in 1983, and moved to Chicago in 1985. ... In 1991, graduated from Harvard Law School, where he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review.

Professional: U.S. senator from Illinois ... Serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. ... Member of the Foreign Relations Committee. ... Serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee. ... In 2005 and 2006, he served on the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Platform: According to his Web site, key issues include “Economy ... ensure that America can compete in a global economy, and ensure the middle class is thriving and growing.”; “Energy and environment

... pushing for a comprehensive national energy policy and has introduced a number of bills to get us closer to the goal of energy independence.”; “Foreign policy ... tackled problems such as preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and stopping the genocide in Darfur.”; “Health care .. bring together businesses, the medical community, and members of both parties around a comprehensive solution to this crisis”; “Iraq ... said that it was wrong in its conception.”; “Technology ... set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to succeed.”

Campaign Web site:

www.barackobama.com



Hillary Clinton

Personal: Born Oct. 26, 1947 in Chicago, the daughter of Dorothy Rodham and the late Hugh Rodham. ... Graduate of Wellesley College and Yale Law School. ... She is married to former President William Jefferson Clinton. They have one daughter, Chelsea. ... Author of best-selling books, including her autobiography, “Living History”; “It Takes A Village: and Other Lessons Children Teach Us”; “Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids’ Letters to the First Pets”; and “An Invitation to the White House.”

Professional: U.S. senator from New York ... The first first lady of the United States elected to public office and the first woman elected independently statewide in New York State. ... Serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; the Special Committee on Aging. ... First New Yorker ever to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Platform: According to her Web site, key areas include “Strengthening America’s middle class”; “Providing affordable and accessible health care – nearly 47 million Americans, including 9 million children, don’t have health insurance.”; “Ending the war in Iraq ... roadmap out of Iraq, the Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007, is a plan to end the war before the next president takes the oath of office.”; “Promoting energy independence and fighting global warming”; “Improving our schools”; “Fulfilling our promises to veterans ... they not only deserve our country’s gratitude and support, they deserve the gold standard in health care and benefits when they return home.”; “Comprehensive government reform.”

Campaign Web site:

www.hillaryclinton.com



Republican



Ron Paul

Personal: Born and raised in Pittsburgh. ... Graduated from Gettysburg College and the Duke University School of Medicine. ... Served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the 1960s. ... He and his wife, Carol, moved to Texas in 1968, where he began his medical practice in Brazoria County. ... Specialist in obstetrics/gynecology; has delivered more than 4,000 babies. He and his wife reside in Lake Jackson, Texas, are the parents of five children and have 17 grandchildren.

Professional: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the late 1970s and early 1980s. ... In 1976, he was one of only four Republican congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan for president. ... Served on the House banking committee. ... Returned to Congress in 1997 to represent the 14th District of Texas. ... Serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Platform: According to his Web site, believes in “limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies.” ... “Never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution.” ... “Strong advocate for sound monetary policy and an outspoken critic of the Federal Reserve’s inflationary measures.” ... “Advocate of pro-life and pro-family values.”

Campaign Web site:

www.ronpaul2008.com



John McCain

Personal: Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958. ... began his career as a Naval aviator. ... Has seven children and four grandchildren. ... He and his wife, Cindy, live in Phoenix.

Professional: Elected to Congress in 1982, representing the 1st Congressional District of Arizona. ... Elected to the Senate in 1986, replacing Barry Goldwater. ... Currently the senior senator from Arizona. ... In 2000, ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for president. ... Currently the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. ... Serves on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Platform: According to his Web site, key issues include “Economic stimulus plan”; “Tax cut plan

... believes taxes should be low, simple, and fair and has a track record of commitment to these principles.”; “Health system reform

... address the fundamental problem: the rapidly rising cost of U.S. health care.”; “Believes that one of the greatest threats to our liberty and the Constitutional framework that safeguards our freedoms are willful judges who usurp the role of the people and their representatives and legislate from the bench.”; “Lobbying and ethics reform

... leadership devoted to the public interest, not the special interest.”; “Strategy for victory in Iraq ... Failure in Iraq will endanger America for generations to come.”; “Second Amendment rights ... ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens.”

Campaign Web site:

www.johnmccain.com.



Mike Huckabee

Personal: Enjoys playing bass guitar in his rock ’n’ roll band, Capitol Offense, which has opened for artists such as Willie Nelson and the Charlie Daniels Band. ... Has played the House of Blues in New Orleans, the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver and for two presidential inauguration balls.

... He and his wife, Janet, live in North Little Rock, Ark. ... They have three grown children: John Mark, David and Sarah.

Professional: Governor of Arkansas from 1996-2006.

... Became governor in July 1996 when his predecessor resigned, one of the youngest governors in the country at the time. .... Elected to a full four-year term as governor in 1998, and re-elected to another four-year term in November 2002. ... Elected Arkansas lieutenant governor in a 1993 special election; elected to a full four-year term in 1994. ... Youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. ... Past chairman of the National Governors’ Association and chairman of the Education Commission of the States.

Platform: According to his Web site, key issues include his “Secure America Plan ... nine-point strategy for immigration enforcement and border security.”; “Sanctity of life” ... supports passage of a constitutional amendment, believes Roe

v. Wade should be overturned.; supports “Going Out of Business sale” for the Internal Revenue Service. ... “running to completely eliminate all federal income and payroll taxes.”; “War on terror ... Radical Islamic fascists have declared war on our country and our way of life. ... will fight the war on terror with the intensity and single-mindedness that it deserves.”; “Health care

... system in this country is irrevocably broken ... we don’t need universal health care mandated by federal edict or funded through ever-higher taxes.”; “Energy independence”; “Second Amendment rights – Founding Fathers ... wanted us to be able to defend ourselves”

Web site:

www.mikehuckabee.com

        

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