Advanced Composition Portfolio
Presidential Election Issues
President Barack Obama
In every election there are controversial issues that define a candidate’s position. This election is no exception. Due to recent events the key issue in this election is how to rebuild our crumbling economy. Other important issues are health care, and the energy crisis. These key issues are the basis for the general population’s decision on which candidate to support. It is important to be well educated on such issues that will determine the future of this country.
A candidate’s values and personal background sculpt his political ideas. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was born to a white mother and black father. He was primarily raised by his single mother and grandparents in Hawaii. Obama received a degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Harvard where he was the first African American to be named president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. After law school he became a civil rights attorney in Chicago, entering politics a few years later as an Illinois state senator where he served eight years. From there he became a U.S. senator from the state of Illinois, where during his first term he decided to run for president. Currently he is married with two young daughters. Barack Obama is representing the Democratic Party which fits closely with his ideals.
John McCain was born on August 29, 1936 which makes him 72 years old. He was born to a naval officer father and was therefore raised in many places. For college he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1958 as a naval officer. He served as a pilot in the Vietnam War where he was shot down in 1967 and taken as a prisoner of war. In 1982 he was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Republican from Arizona, serving for four years. From there he went on to become a U.S. senator from 1986 until the present day. He too is currently married with 7 children. John McCain is representing the Republican Party, even though he has a reputation as a bi-partisan politician.
Domestic matters such as taxes, health care, the oil crisis, the environment, social issues and abortion rights are just a few of the pivotal problems currently being faced by our country. There are foreign concerns on which the candidates differ as well. Some of these are the war in Iraq, nuclear proliferation, global warming, the Middle East and terrorism. The candidates have debated all of these issues and more during the three nationally televised debates.
One of the most important issues facing these candidates is who to tax. Barack Obama wants to extend President Bush’s tax cuts for people earning under $250,000 per year but repeal the tax cuts for the people in the top two tax brackets. He also would like to increase capital gains and dividend taxes. He is proposing this in order to increase the taxes on the rich and keep the middle class’ taxes to a minimum. John McCain on the other hand would like to extend Bush’s tax cuts to all. On top of this he would like to cut the corporate income tax. John McCain believes that giving these breaks to the upper class and corporations will create jobs and spending and all of this will trickle down to the lower classes. Another very controversial issue is that of healthcare. Obama believes that every American should have health insurance. He would supplement employer insurance with a new government provided plan. McCain would like to give tax credits to individuals in order to help them purchase private insurance. He feels these tax credits would be sufficient because they would increase market competition and lower costs. Another concern being debated by these two candidates is how to decrease the amount of imported oil we use. Obama believes that the solution to this problem is that oil companies should exploit their pre-existing drilling areas before new ones are opened. He also suggests that alternative energy sources such as solar and wind, be developed so that our need for oil would be lessened. They both agree that drilling in the Alaska Refuge is off limits. However McCain believes that the immediate solution is to increase oil exploration on public land and offshore. He also proposes to build 45 new nuclear power plants which would reduce our use of foreign oil. Abortion rights are an issue that these candidates do not agree on. Obama believes that women should have the right to choose whereas McCain is against abortion and wants to reverse the Supreme Court decision Roe V Wade which initially gave women these rights.
Foreign issues such as the war in Iraq, nuclear proliferation, global warming, the Middle East and terrorism are also essential to each candidate’s campaign. With regard to the war in Iraq, Senator Obama, wants to drastically pull out our combat troops within 16 months of his inauguration. Senator McCain would like to increase troops there and stay as long as necessary to achieve victory. Barack Obama thinks that Afghanistan should be the main focus in our fight against terrorism. However McCain believes that Iraq is pivotal but would like to send more troops to Afghanistan as well. Pertaining to global warming both candidates would like to enact a cap and trade system which would set a limit to the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by companies. However the difference between the two is that Obama would like to sell these permits and use the proceeds to fund research into clean energy sources. McCain supports a market based system so companies can decide on the lowest cost options. On the subject of Nuclear Proliferation both McCain and Obama would halt the development of and decrease the number of nuclear weapons throughout the world.
If I were eligible to cast my vote for one of these candidates I would choose Barack Obama for many reasons. With regard to taxes I feel that he has the better policy because I do not agree with John McCain’s trickle down theory. The rich have proven to be too greedy and would not create the expected jobs for the lower classes. I do not support McCain’s choice of running mate because she does not have the experience necessary to assume the role of President should something happen to him. I also do not support the war in Iraq and agree with Obama’s plan to remove our troops as soon as possible. With regard to abortion, I agree with Obama and the democratic stand that women should have the right to choose. I am disappointed that I will not be partaking in such a historical election where either the first African American will be elected or a woman will be voted in to the second highest office in this country.
A candidate’s values and personal background sculpt his political ideas. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was born to a white mother and black father. He was primarily raised by his single mother and grandparents in Hawaii. Obama received a degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Harvard where he was the first African American to be named president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. After law school he became a civil rights attorney in Chicago, entering politics a few years later as an Illinois state senator where he served eight years. From there he became a U.S. senator from the state of Illinois, where during his first term he decided to run for president. Currently he is married with two young daughters. Barack Obama is representing the Democratic Party which fits closely with his ideals.
John McCain was born on August 29, 1936 which makes him 72 years old. He was born to a naval officer father and was therefore raised in many places. For college he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1958 as a naval officer. He served as a pilot in the Vietnam War where he was shot down in 1967 and taken as a prisoner of war. In 1982 he was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Republican from Arizona, serving for four years. From there he went on to become a U.S. senator from 1986 until the present day. He too is currently married with 7 children. John McCain is representing the Republican Party, even though he has a reputation as a bi-partisan politician.
Domestic matters such as taxes, health care, the oil crisis, the environment, social issues and abortion rights are just a few of the pivotal problems currently being faced by our country. There are foreign concerns on which the candidates differ as well. Some of these are the war in Iraq, nuclear proliferation, global warming, the Middle East and terrorism. The candidates have debated all of these issues and more during the three nationally televised debates.
One of the most important issues facing these candidates is who to tax. Barack Obama wants to extend President Bush’s tax cuts for people earning under $250,000 per year but repeal the tax cuts for the people in the top two tax brackets. He also would like to increase capital gains and dividend taxes. He is proposing this in order to increase the taxes on the rich and keep the middle class’ taxes to a minimum. John McCain on the other hand would like to extend Bush’s tax cuts to all. On top of this he would like to cut the corporate income tax. John McCain believes that giving these breaks to the upper class and corporations will create jobs and spending and all of this will trickle down to the lower classes. Another very controversial issue is that of healthcare. Obama believes that every American should have health insurance. He would supplement employer insurance with a new government provided plan. McCain would like to give tax credits to individuals in order to help them purchase private insurance. He feels these tax credits would be sufficient because they would increase market competition and lower costs. Another concern being debated by these two candidates is how to decrease the amount of imported oil we use. Obama believes that the solution to this problem is that oil companies should exploit their pre-existing drilling areas before new ones are opened. He also suggests that alternative energy sources such as solar and wind, be developed so that our need for oil would be lessened. They both agree that drilling in the Alaska Refuge is off limits. However McCain believes that the immediate solution is to increase oil exploration on public land and offshore. He also proposes to build 45 new nuclear power plants which would reduce our use of foreign oil. Abortion rights are an issue that these candidates do not agree on. Obama believes that women should have the right to choose whereas McCain is against abortion and wants to reverse the Supreme Court decision Roe V Wade which initially gave women these rights.
Foreign issues such as the war in Iraq, nuclear proliferation, global warming, the Middle East and terrorism are also essential to each candidate’s campaign. With regard to the war in Iraq, Senator Obama, wants to drastically pull out our combat troops within 16 months of his inauguration. Senator McCain would like to increase troops there and stay as long as necessary to achieve victory. Barack Obama thinks that Afghanistan should be the main focus in our fight against terrorism. However McCain believes that Iraq is pivotal but would like to send more troops to Afghanistan as well. Pertaining to global warming both candidates would like to enact a cap and trade system which would set a limit to the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by companies. However the difference between the two is that Obama would like to sell these permits and use the proceeds to fund research into clean energy sources. McCain supports a market based system so companies can decide on the lowest cost options. On the subject of Nuclear Proliferation both McCain and Obama would halt the development of and decrease the number of nuclear weapons throughout the world.
If I were eligible to cast my vote for one of these candidates I would choose Barack Obama for many reasons. With regard to taxes I feel that he has the better policy because I do not agree with John McCain’s trickle down theory. The rich have proven to be too greedy and would not create the expected jobs for the lower classes. I do not support McCain’s choice of running mate because she does not have the experience necessary to assume the role of President should something happen to him. I also do not support the war in Iraq and agree with Obama’s plan to remove our troops as soon as possible. With regard to abortion, I agree with Obama and the democratic stand that women should have the right to choose. I am disappointed that I will not be partaking in such a historical election where either the first African American will be elected or a woman will be voted in to the second highest office in this country.
