Works Cited!!!

All information is accredited to CNN and the personal websites of the candidates.

"Election Center 2008: Candidates." CNN. 10 DEC 2007. CNN. 11 Dec 2007. <http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/>.

Clinton, Hillary. "HillaryClinton.com - Issues." Hillary for President. 11 Dec 2007 <http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/>.

Obama, Barack. "On the Issues." Obama08. 11 Dec 2007 <http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/>.

Giuliani, Rudy. "JoinRudy2008 :: Issues." JoinRudy2008. 11 Dec 2007 <http://www.joinrudy2008.com/issues/>.

Thompson, Fred. "Friends of Fred Thompson." Fred '08. 11 Dec 2007 <http://www.fred08.com/Principles/PrinciplesSummary.aspx>.

McCain, John. "John McCain 2008." John McCain for President. 11 Dec 2007 <http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/>.

Hillary Clinton - Democrat

Currently leading the polls at: 40%

Current Job: United States Senator of New York

Education: B.A. from Wellesley College in 1969; J.D. from Yale University Law School in 1973.

Religion: Methodist

Family Status: Married to Bill Clinton (1975-present); has a daughter named Chelsea (1980)

Claim To Fame: First woman to run for Presidential candidacy in U.S. history as well as currently leads the political polls.

The war in Iraq: Hillary states that "Our message is clear. It is time to begin ending this war -- not next year, not next month -- but today."
-She plans to begin phase redeployment within her first days in office.
-She also plans for quality health care to be extended to all service members
-In order to end the "propping up" of the Iraqi government, she proposes that aid be given to the governmental and nongovernmental groups within Iraq as well as appointing a high level United Nations representative as has been done in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
-Hillary also plans to "form a group of key allies, other global powers, and all of the states bordering Iraq. The mission of this group would be to develop and implement a strategy to create a stable Iraq."
-The goals of this organization includes:
-Non-interference in which the group would ask Iraq's neighbors from becoming involved in the Civil War.
-Mediation among the different sectarian groups in Iraq
-The pledging of funding to Iraq.

Health Care Policy: Hillary plans to make health care available, reliable, and affordable for every citizen.
-She will begin a system of tax credits for working families in order to be sure that they are paying the lowest rates.
-Hillary will attempt to end health care discrimination.
-You will have complete choice in what health care plan you receive.

Political Policy: Hillary is offering her own ten point plan for reforming our government. These points include:
-The banning of Cabinet officials from lobbying a Hillary Clinton administration.
-A strengthening of whistle blower protections.
-Creation of a public service academy.
-An end to the abuse of no-bid government contracts and future posting of all contracts online.
-A cutting of 500,000 government contractors.
-The restore of the Office of Technology Assessment.
-Publishing of budgets for every government agency.
-The implement of the Results America Initiative to track government effectiveness.
-A tracking and elimination of corporate welfare.
-An expansion of voting access and safeguard of voting machines.

Same-sex Marriage: Hillary opposed same-sex marriage but rejects a constitutional ban on them as well as supports civil unions.

Abortion: Clinton is Pro-Choice

Immigration: Clinton supports the movement towards the construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border as well as pushes for increased border control and a legal path for some illegal immigrants to gain citizenship.

Things To Consider: Are we ready for a female President? Has Hillary been in the political game for too long? Is she too militaristic about her plans? Are her plans even possible?

Barak Obama - Democrat

Poll Ranking: Currently at 2nd place in the Democratic polls at 30%

Current Occupation: United States Senator of Illinois

Education: B.A. from Columbia University in 1983; J.D. from Harvard in 1991.

Religion: Christian

Family Status: Marries to Michelle Robinson (1992-present) with 2 daughters, Natasha (2001) and Malia Ann (1999)

Claim to Fame: Black candidate; Supported by the fresh prince of Bel-air!

Iraq: Obama is opposed to the use of military force in Iraq. He voted for war a spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Barack also supports phased redeployment of U.S. troops.

Health Care: He plans to create a national health insurance program for those who do not have employer-provided or qualify for current federal programs. This will make it so that citizens have a choice in between public or private provided health care. Employers who do not provide health care will also be forced to pay into the national insurance program. Children under the age of 25 will be allows to be covered through their parents plans are well.

Political Policy: Barack Obama plans for an ethics reform within the government. He plans to promote and open government, remove government waste by allowing for a search engine to be created that will allow citizens to track down funding, and plans to enforce ethics for the first time in congress by creating an independent ethics committee which will take complaints.

Same-sex Marriage: Obama is against same-sex marriage but rejects a constitutional ban on them as well as supports civil unions.

Abortion: Pro-choice

Immigration: Supports an increase in funding and improved border security technology. He is also for a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants and voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Things to Consider: Are we ready for a Black president? Will Obama act as a Black or White president once in office? What about his history of drug use? Does he have enough experience?

Rudy Giuliani- Republican

Polls: Currently leading the Republican polls at: 24%

Current Employment: Lawyer and Consultant

Education: A.B. from Manhattan College in 1965; J.D. from New York University Law School in 1968.

Religion: Roman Catholic

Family: Married Judith Nathan (2003-present), Donna Hanover (1984-2002, divorced), and Regina Peruggi (1968-1982, annulment). He has step daughter Whitney (1986), Caroline (1989), and Andrew (1986).

Claim to Fame: Was Mayor of New York city during 9/11

Iraq: Mr. Giuliani opposes the idea of setting a timetable for troop withdrawal and has supported Bush's plan to send additional troops to Iraq. Giuliani wants to make sure that the war on terror has been won by the U.S.

Health Care Policy: Rudy opposes government universal health care but rather supports market-based approaches in the attempt to improve the quality of health care while lowering costs. He hopes to reduce the rates of those without employer provided coverage by offering income exclusion and expanding the use of health savings accounts.

Same-sex Marriage: Proposes to define marriage of that of between a man and a woman but is for domestic partnerships and the legal benefits that go along with such a title.

Abortion: Giuliani is Pro-choice.

Immigration: He supports the 700-mile fence to be built along the U.S.-Mexico border, pushes for the ability of illegal immigrants to become citizens but not ahead of those in the system legally. He also wishes to have illegal immigrants pay back-taxes, learn English and American history.

Things to Consider: Did even really do a good job during 9/11? Is he more than 9/11? Is a Mayor qualified to run a country? Why not establish a time table for Iraq?

Fred Thompson - Republican

Polls: In the Republican polls at 10%

Current Occupation: "Law and Order" Actor

Education: B.S. Memphis State University (1984), J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School (1967)

Religion: Protestant

Family: Married to Jeri Kehn Thompson (2001-present), Divorced to Sarah Knestrickin 1985.

Claim to Fame: Actor; sells Fred'08 football jerseys.

Iraq: States that the U.S. enter too few troops into Iraq initially and with the wrong strategy. He is for an American reputation of power; if we are going to fight, we have to win.

Health Care Policy: Fred supports market-based approaches to lower costs by advocating health care competition and consumer choice. He also rejects any governmentally mandated health care and is pushing for improved medical technology and prevention programs.

Political Policy: Mr. Thompson believes that our government is outdated and wasteful. He plans to attract the best Americans to work for the government while making sure that they are given the ability to complete their plans and are rewarded for their work. He also plans to adjust government accounting so that tax dollars can be spent more effectively and that all Americans are able to track what they are being spent on. Fred also wants to make it so that government agencies must reach their goals on time and within their budget.

Same-sex Marriage: Mr. Thompson opposes same-sex marriage and although he personally opposed civil unions, he believes the issue should be left up to the states.

Abortion: Fred opposes abortion rights and Roe vs. Wade entirely.

Immigration: Thompson supports expanding a visa program for skilled workers and extending a path towards citizenship for some illegal immigrants. He also supports strengthening the enforcement of current immigration laws.

Things to Consider: Is it in our best interests to put another actor in office? How can a man chose what is right for a woman's body? Why is he so scary looking?

John McCain - Republican

Currently in the polls at: 13%

Current Occupation: U.S. Senator of Arizona

Education: B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958, Graduated from the U.S. War College in 1972.

Family: Married to Carol Shepp (1965-1980; divorced), Married to Cindy Hendley (1980-present.) He has 7 children: Doug (1959), Andy (1962), Sidney (1966), Meghan (1984), Jack (1986), Jimmy (1988), and Bridget (1991).

Claim to Fame: Possibly crazy.

Iraq: Mr. McCain plans on increasing the number of troops in Iraq. He also plans to gain the favor of the citizens for continuation of the war. He also hopes to build an Iraqi army.

Political Policy: John McCain pushes for an ethics reform within the government. He wants increased transparency within the government and a prevention of the giving of gifts form Lobbyists to political officials. He states that "Democracy is not for sale."

Health Care Policy: McCain is against the possibility of government mandated universal coverage. He hopes to promote the use of current Child heath insurance programs. He also supports malpractice reforms, an increase in electronic record keeping, and the promotion of health care savings accounts.

Same-sex Marriage: John is against the definition of marriage being anything but that of between a man and a woman but nor does he support a constitutional ban on such. He supports the legal benefits of same-sex marriage and believes that this issue should be decided by the states.

Abortion: McCain opposes abortion rights except for in the cases of rape, incest, or in cases in which it must be done to save the life of the mother.

Immigration: John plans to tighten border security and sees it as the heart of national security. He wants to increase not only the security of entry and exit of people but the screening of cargo as well. He believes that all immigrants should learn English, American history, and civics as well.

Thing to Consider: Is there a reason why he is the only candidate stressing the importance of more troops in Iraq this much? Why are you avoiding making any decision about same-sex marriage yourself? Is he too old and senile to become president?