Barack Obama- Democratic Presidential Nominee

Editor’s Note: All information comes from Barack Obama’s campaign website.

In light of the current economic crisis, what needs to happen to ensure American economic stability in the future?

“Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama and Biden will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama and Biden will create a new “Making Work Pay” tax credit of up to $500 per person or $1,000 per working family. The “Making Work Pay” tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.”

Can the United States achieve energy independence? If so, what steps do we need to take for that to happen, and how long do you think it will take?

“The Obama-Biden comprehensive New Energy for America plan will:

Provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump … Help create 5 million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future … Within 10 years, save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined … Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars — cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon — on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America … Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025 … Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.”

With tuition costs rising, what, if anything, would you do to make college more affordable?

“Obama and Biden will make college affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. Recipients of the credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of community service.”

What is your stance on gay marriage?

Barack Obama's campaign website does not specify his stance on gay marriage.

What is your stance on abortion?

“Barack Obama understands that abortion is a divisive issue, and respects those who disagree with him. However, he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as president. He opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.”

What, if anything, would you change about the health care system?

“The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system and uses existing providers, doctors and plans to implement the plan. Under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats … The Obama-Biden plan will promote public health. It will require coverage of preventive services, including cancer screenings, and increase state and local preparedness for terrorist attacks and natural disasters … Barack Obama will pay for his $50 [billion] to $65 billion health care reform effort by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $250,000 per year and retaining the estate tax at its 2009 level.”

How should the United States address the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

“Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe we must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in. Immediately upon taking office, Obama will give his secretary of defense and military commanders a new mission in Iraq: ending the war. The removal of our troops will be responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Military experts believe we can safely redeploy combat brigades from Iraq at a pace of one to two brigades a month that would remove them in 16 months. That would be the summer of 2010 – more than seven years after the war began.”