Obama and Romney: Where do they stand?

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney listens as President Barack Obama makes a point during the final presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida on Monday, October 22, 2012. Bob Schieffer was the moderator. Photo courtesy of MCT Campus.

LGBT Rights

Obama:

Barack Obama recently changed his platform and now supports same-sex marriage. He also supported the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” for American soldiers of the LGBT community.

“President Obama's views on gay marriage have changed over his first term in office, and I applaud him for being open about his change of heart. He took a large, scary step in announcing his support for marriage equality, especially in an election year. I think that President Obama is finally on the correct side of history.” – Brandon Stephens, sophomore political science major and Pride! Vice President

Romney:

Mitt Romney does not support same-sex marriage as he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman. He also does not support civil unions that resemble marriage in structure. He does support basic domestic partnership benefits and situational benefits such as hospital visitation rights.

“I think it’s kinda hard because gay marriage is such a personal thing. It’s not like facts and figures, not like taxes where you have a slew of numbers to back up your opinion. It’s a personal thing. It’s not something you can look at and quantify. It’s something you have to look within yourself and decide what is right.” – Stephen Daweson, senior political science major and College Republicans President

Healthcare

Obama:

Barack Obama supports the universal healthcare he created with the Affordable Care Act, commonly called “Obamacare.” This allows students to stay on their parents’ insurance plans until they are 26, doesn’t allow insurance companies to deny people coverage for pre-existing conditions and has no lifetime limit caps on insurance.

“Healthcare was a big one. I think one of the biggest reasons I voted (for Obama) in 2008 was because of healthcare.” – Bryan Staul, senior political science major and College Democrats President

Romney:

Mitt Romney does not support Obama’s healthcare reform and, if elected, will attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act after giving all states the choice to waive the Act and restore the decisions of healthcare to the States.

“(I think Obamacare) is unconstitutional. I know the Supreme Court kinda came out and said, ‘You know it’s OK because it’s a tax.’ Well, OK, let’s play that game. Let’s say that we accept that’s OK because it’s a tax. Well then the Federal Government then has the power the Supreme Court says to tax you for anything you don’t buy.” – Stephen Daweson, senior political science major and College Republicans President

Women’s rights

Obama:

Barack Obama is pro-choice and supports a woman’s right to choose. He has also worked to make contraception available to women through the Affordable Care Act. Barack Obama supports the Democratic view of following the guidelines of Roe v. Wade (1973). In turn Barack Obama supports a woman’s right to choose abortion before the fetus is viable outside the womb. Fetal viability usually is considered to be at 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy with the terms of abortion after that period belonging to the states, which must allow abortions in cases of the health and well-being of the mother.

On Obama’s pro-choice support: “Well that’s what I agree with. That’s a bold statement to make; it’s very controversial, and I think that’s a woman’s choice.” – Emily Gardner, junior human development and family studies major

Romney:

Mitt Romney is pro-life and does not support abortions. He has said, however, that he is supportive of abortions in cases of incest, rape and health issues for the mother. He supports the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court in order to give all abortion legislation to the states. Romney also finds the contraception availability from the Affordable Care Act against religious organizations and churches.

“I’m pro-life. I’m going to school to be a midwife so that’s very important for me personally.” -Leah Wilson, freshman nursing major

The Economy (and how it affects students)

Obama:

Barack Obama wants to raise tax rates for households with an income of more than $250,000 a year. With this he wants to rid of the tax breaks that allow the wealthy to pay less in taxes and does not support supply side economics. In an attempt to boost the economy, plans have been rather vague except the ideas of government work programs. Obama also has a large emphasis on education with trying to increase Pell Grants to help make college education more affordable to low-income students.

“I think that when Obama is accentuating the ups we are gonna see a much more broad based economy. A new economy like an American Dream 2.0. So we are gonna have a greater focus on energy, we are gonna have new roads and bridges, better schools, more police officers and firefighters on the streets, we are gonna give teachers choice and better training. So we are gonna build these things to give short-term jobs to get us out of the current economic situation we are in.” – Bryan Staul, senior political science major and College Democrats President

Romney:

Mitt Romney wants to cut all tax rates, which support the supply side economics currently in place and allow the wealthy to pay less taxes. The idea with supply side economics is that the wealth will “trickle down” to the middle and lower class through investments and company jobs and raises provided by the wealthy. Mitt Romney has stated he would like to fund grants based on inflation rates and has controversially stated borrowing money from parents is a good way to help pay for school. Like Obama, Romney’s actual economic plan for jobs are quite vague, but he promises the American people more jobs.

On Romney’s borrowing money for school and business: “I think what he was trying to get across is the work ethic. There is nothing wrong if your parents have done well. There’s nothing wrong that your parents can help provide for your education, but I don’t think he was telling low-income people to go ask their parents for more money.” – Stephen Daweson, senior political science major and College Republicans President