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November, 2008: Student Voter Guide for the 2008 Presidential Election

American Justice

Views on National Security from the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Views on The Economy from the 2008 Presidential Candidates

Views on Government Services from the 2008 Presidential Candidates

American Justice: The national government has a key role in combating crime that cannot be dealt with by the states alone, such as drug trafficking. But is there also a role in gun control and Civil Rights enforcement? There certainly is a role specific to the President: choosing candidates to be Supreme Court justices. Each candidate for the 2008 Presidential race must address several issues with each area of Justice. Criminal justice and law enforcement include issues on the war on drugs, illegal immigration and gang violence. Civil rights includes gender equality and affirmative action. The Supreme Court would address cases on abortion, gun control, and the interpretation of the Constitution.

Below are the issues we looked at associated with American Justice. We have analyzed these issues to develop our views on the two leading presidential candidates, specifically John McCain and Barack Obama. Along side this list of issues, we have provided a section on "What We Think" about the issue and the best candidate to address these issues over the next 4 years. The highlighted issues link to a side-by-side comparison between the two candidates on the key issues that separate them.

Crime

• Three (3) strikes

• Illegal immigration

• The war on drugs

• Gangs

The Supreme Court

• Overturning Roe v. Wade

• Guns and the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution

• Judicial interpretation — Should justices be "strict constructionists?"

Civil Rights

• Equal pay for women

• Affirmative action

• Same-sex marriage

What We Think:
American Justice

We believe that Roe v. Wade and the abortion debate is a highlight issue in this election. Senator McCain opposes Roe v. Wade and is pro-life; Senator Obama supports Roe v. Wade and is pro-choice. When the opportunity arises to choose a new Supreme Court justice, the choice of a candidate by the new president may be the deciding factor as to whether the law of the land is pro-choice or pro-life.

We also find that in the issue of immigration, there is a difference in the views of the two men. Senator McCain's focus will be on securing the borders; Senator Obama's priority will be to provide illegal immigrants with a path to citizenship.

There is also a deep difference in addressing the issue of crime. Senator Obama supports more resources aimed at returning convicted felons to constructive citizenship. Senator McCain wants to expand the death penalty, build more prisons, and take other measures to make people safer.

These are decisive issues. On other issues, such as gun control, affirmative action, and fighting the war on drugs, the differences are not big.

Our Choice: Barack Obama

Approach: We set out to develop a Student Voter Guide for the 2008 Presidential Election based on what the government of the United States should do for us, the American citizens. By researching the presidential candidates' views and record for each government responsibility, we submit that you, THE VOTER, will have a relatively objective body of information upon which to make an informed decision on Election Day.

— Current Events & Economics Class, Thomas A. Edison High School, Alexandria, Virginia

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Candidate Comparison

Role of Government: American Justice

Issue: War on Drugs

Barack Obama	John McCain
Direct quote: "We can assume that with lawful work available for young men in the drug trade, crime in any community would drop." [Vote Gopher]	Direct quote: "For first time drug users, however, Senator McCain supports an Arizona program to give them treatment and a clean record. He wants this policy to be adopted nationwide, saying that "we have too many first-time drug offenders in prison." [Vote Gopher]
Candidate's stand: • Expand drug courts, help prisoners with substance abuse. [On The Issues] • Supports drug rehabilitation rather than prison for first-time, nonviolent offenders. • Supports ending the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, and says the two drugs should be treated the same way. • Senator Obama supports keeping marijuana illegal. [Vote Gopher]	Candidate's stand: • Introduced the "Addiction Free Treatment Act." Sponsored drug testing for pro sports. Sponsored bill for grants to Indian tribes to fight meth addiction. [On The Issues] • All drugs should remain illegal and that drug dealers must be fought. Strict sentencing requirements and drug law enforcement for dealers and repeat offenders. Apply the death penalty for drug kingpins. [Vote Gopher] • Mexico should extradite drug dealers to the United States.
Party platform: "...work together to combat drug crime..." [Democratic platform]	Party platform: "We will continue the fight against producers, traffickers and distributors... We support the work of those who help those individuals struggling with addiction..." [Republican platform]

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Candidate Comparison

Role of Government: American Justice

Issue: Illegal Immigration

Barack Obama	John McCain
Direct quote: "The time to fix our broken immigration system is now. We need stronger enforcement on the border and at the workplace... I will work to pass comprehensive reform that protects our borders, bolsters our economy, and preserves America's tradition as a nation of immigrants..." [Washington Post]	Direct quote: "I will secure the border. I will restore the trust Americans should have in the basic competency of their government. A secure border is an essential element of our national security." [Washington Post]
Candidate's stand: • Fix the dysfunctional immigration bureaucracy. • Increase the number of legal immigrants; keep families together and meet the United States employment needs. • Bring people "out of the shadows" — allow undocumented immigrants in good standing the chance to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line: a "path to citizenship." [Barack Obama]	Candidate's stand: • Use biometrics to better track foreign travelers. • No amnesty: it would encourage illegal immigration. • Deport two million aliens who committed crimes. [John McCain]
Party platform: • Promote economic development in migrant-sending nations. • Secure the borders with better technology. • Crack down on employers who hire undocumented workers (but make sure they have access to accurate information) • Make a way for illegal immigrants to become legal immigrants. [Democratic platform]	Party platform: • We oppose amnesty. • Border security is essential; we must be able to track who is entering and leaving our country. • Must deport criminal aliens without delay. [Republican platform]

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Candidate Comparison

Role of Government: American Justice

Issue: Roe v. Wade

Barack Obama	John McCain
Direct quote: "I think that most Americans recognize that this is a profoundly difficult issue for the women and families who make these decisions. They don't make them casually. And I trust women to make these decisions, in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy..." [Democratic debate, 4/26/07]	Direct quote: "I do not support Roe v. Wade. I think it should be overturned." [South Carolina, 2/17/07]
Candidate's stand: • Said he supports Roe v. Wade. • Said he could support a ban on late-term abortions, as long as there is no threat to the life of the mother. [Final debate]	Candidate's stand: • Wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, but has supported it in the past. [New York Times] • Supported the Supreme Court decision upholding a ban on partial birth abortions...as we move forward, it is critically important that our party continues to stand on the side of life. [4/18/07]
Party platform: Pro-choice [Democratic platform]	Party platform: Pro-life [Republican platform]