Political American Idol?

So apparently Hillary can’t decide on a campaign song so she’s letting the people choose for her. I gotta hand it to her - that a pretty good idea. I found this after reading CNN’s Election Center and I became increasingly interested in each of the candidates positions on various issues.

As with most elections there are “the issues” where most Americans see which candidates align most to their own beliefs. In the past I didn’t really review much and just picked one (although I was sure not to choose the one that was elected anyway, but oh well). This year, I’ve decided to do a little more research in an effort to, not only learn more about what our country’s concerns are, but to make a more educated decision about a vote in which affects me in more ways that just one. So far, I’ve only run across the six issues that CNN’s Election Center posted: Abortion, Immigration, Iraq, Same-Sex Marriage, Social Security, and Taxes. I’m sure there are many more out there, this is just my initial opinion on these six main issues. Also, I’m primarily following the top 5 candidates: Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain. Seemingly, the rest have too low of a rating for me to give a sh*t. At least for now. ;-) Hopefully I can gain a better understanding of all of this and how it relates to my life and our country over the months leading up to our 2008 election.

I wish to explicitly use the term “opinion” because that is what this is… my opinion. If you disagree, I welcome your intelligent debate; however, please provide something more than just abusive criticism. I know that Politics can be a touchy subject in the GLBT community. I am all for discussing a subject, but not when it turns to an outright quarrel.

Abortion Rights:

• For It - Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Giuliani
• Against It - McCain
• My Opinion: As I am neither straight, nor a woman, there isn’t much I could say here other than a pure personal opinion to the subject. I personally believe that abortion is wrong. All to common is the argument: what if they were raped? I can understand how that is a traumatic event and the product of that event would serve as a reminder to what happened to her - but there are many individuals who live today whom were “products of rape” and have gone on to contribute countless positives to our society and bring untold amounts of joy and happiness to those who raised them. The other argument is that a woman’s body is her’s to do with what she chooses. This I agree with; however, the body of the child’s is not her’s to destroy. That child has the right to live the moment it is conceived - fetus, or full grown. If the woman is not willing to care for the child, there are hundreds and hundreds women who are not able to have children of their own who would undoubtedly adopt the child.

Immigration:

• For It - Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Giuliani, McCain
• Against It - None
• My Opinion: Although the above five candidates are for providing a path for citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the US, I fully support Giuliani’s stance on this issue more than the others’. It’s not fair for those who are already in the system, who have learned English, and taken the legal steps to acquire citizenship, to have to wait even longer than the immigrants who are here illegally and are pushed to the front of the line to get them legalized faster just because they’re already here.
  

  Giuliani: Supports providing a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants, but not ahead of those in the system legally. Says that illegal immigrants must pay back-taxes, penalties, and learn English and American history before gaining citizenship. Supports a high-tech fence at the U.S.-Mexican border. Supports short-term use of the National Guard to help secure the U.S.-Mexican border and long-term increases in border patrol personnel. Supports creating a tamper-resistant ID system to verify legal status.

Iraq:

• For It - Giuliani, McCain
• Against It - Clinton, Edwards, Obama
• My Opinion: So the Republicans want to stay in the war, and the Democrats want out. A Political Splitter. Well, seeing as how I think this entire situation has become way out of control - I believe we should start thinking of a better way to handle the situation rather than just invading. To be honest, I think that’s pretty much what we did - and to the opposition of the UN. Of course Giuliani is all for war… it was his city that was hit. I’m all for patriotism and being a proud American, but I don’t think that gives us the right to just storm into another country and take over. If you watch The View, you’ll have undoubtedly either seen or watched the clips of Rosie O’Donnell and Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s heated argument over the war and a statement that Rosie had made the episode before. Taken from the transcript of the May 17th airing of The View:
  

  O’DONNELL: … I just want to say something. 655,000 Iraqi civilians are dead. Who are the terrorists?
  HASSELBECK: Who are the terrorists?
  O’DONNELL: 655,000 Iraqis — I’m saying you have to look, we invaded –
  HASSELBECK: Wait, who are you calling terrorists now? Americans?
  O’DONNELL: I’m saying if you were in Iraq, and the other country, the United States, the richest in the world, invaded your country and killed 655,000 of your citizens, what would you call us?
  HASSELBECK: Are we killing their citizens or are their people also killing their citizens?
  O’DONNELL: We’re invading a sovereign nation, occupying a country against the U.N.

  Quite a strong conversation. I do agree with O’Donnell in the aspect that she’s looking at the situation from the other side. What if we were the country where we had lost over 600,000 citizens? I don’t think we’d be looking at the other country in a very favorable light. Perhaps her choice of the word “terrorist” was a bit ill-chosen; but she does have a point. I think that even though the efforts made in Iraq are in response to an attack made on U.S. soil, that they are very much so drawn out way beyond what they should have been and not handled in the best fashion. But then again, look who is running the show.

Same-Sex Marriage:

• For It - None
• Against It - Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Giuliani, McCain
• My Opinion: The majority here - opposition to Same-Sex Marriage. My Opinion? I agree. Yes, I know. You’re thinking - but he’s gay - why would he disagree?! Well, here’s why. I disagree for the basic fact that it’s further infringement on the separation between Church and State. Marriage, as defined through the existence of such a word, is “the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.” Note the reference to “religious ceremonies”. I truly believe that marriage is a religious institution which is defined as a union between a man and a woman; however, even though I believe it should remain that way, a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is just a waste of time and an insult to our society. Marriage is already defined; leave it alone. Same-Sex couples shouldn’t even be pursuing such a notion.
  

  On his website Alexander Coburn tries to introduce nuance into the discussion of same-sex marriage:

  Why rejoice when state and church extend their grip, which is what marriage is all about. Assimilation is not liberation, and the invocation of “equality” as the great attainment of these gay marriages should be challenged. Peter Tatchell, the British gay leader, put it well a couple of years ago: “Equality is a good start, but it is not sufficient. Equality for queers inevitably means equal rights on straight terms, since they are the ones who dominate and determine the existing legal framework. We conform — albeit equally — with their screwed up system. That is not liberation. It is capitulation.”

  Oh how I couldn’t agree more. Tax Benefits, Medial, Parenting, Legal… all these are very important to myself. These are rights afforded to any two individuals who believe in entering into a union among the state. It shouldn’t be horded for only those whom religion deems them worthy. No to Gay Marriage - but yes to civil unions which provide equal benefits and protections under the law as those afforded by “married people”.

Social Security:

• For It - Giuliani
• Against It - Clinton, Edwards, Obama, McCain
• My Opinion: Privatizing Social Security is so not a good idea. Why allow millions of Americans to dwindle away their retirement and end up homeless in 30 years with no one to support them? I believe in surplussing your retirement with 401(k) and IRA’s and the like - but Social Security payroll taxes should remain right where they are, in Social Security (even if they are using it to bail out the banks *rolls eyes*).

Tax Cuts:

• For It - Giuliani
• Against It - Clinton, Edwards, Obama, McCain
• My Opinion: Taxes - well - we could all use less taxes; but only one of my candidates is for tax cuts. I suppose I may be bias on this just because I always feel like I never have enough money and when I see the amount of money swallowed up by the government it instills a slight hatred for the IRS. Some reform is needed though. Mostly I agree with Obama here - re-examine the tax benefits for the top 1% of earners. Our taxes work on a bracket system - the more you make, the more taxes you pay. That seems fair… until you get to those millionaires who make more than that bracket system is designed for. What happens then? Do they have their wages taxed accordingly to the tax brackets that would be in place? No. They pay whatever the highest is on the brackets, even if that’s only half of what they should owe. In addition, I think the marriage penalty is just ridiculous. Why should two people have to pay more taxes just because they’re married. The only reason I could see behind this would be that they pay more because they’re pooling their resources… but that still just doesn’t make sense. Seems like just another way to get more money.

Whew! That was tiring. It’s a lot to digest all at once; but one thing’s for sure. I know a lot more now about it all than I did before I started this post. Feel free to comment. As I said before, I welcome intelligent disputes and opinions.