On the Issues: Where the potential VPs stand

by Rebecca Wetherbee

Pendulum Online

 

Sarah Palin: 

Courtesy of the Alaskan gubernatorial Web site

Background: 
• Born in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Feb. 11, 1964
• Graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1987
• Became first female governor of Alaska in 2006
• Started work on $40 billion natural gas pipeline, which will become the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history
• Started Adoption Awareness month in November 2007

Abortion/Stem Cell Research:
• Is pro-life, even in instances of rape  
• Believes upholding Roe v. Wade should be the responsibility of the states
• Opposes stem cell research

Economy: 
• Believes predatory lenders are responsible for the subprime lending meltdown
• Is skeptical of the efficacy of the $700 billion bailout

Education: 
• Prioritizes increased pay for teachers
• Does not oppose teaching evolution in science classes
• Supports increasing need-based aid by as much as $20 million for Alaskan college students

Energy: 
• Supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• Emphasizes accessing domestic reserves of oil and natural gas throughout the country

Environment: 
• Does not believe climate change is entirely manmade
• Supports advancing clean coal technology and capping carbon emissions

Health Care: 
• Supports giving families a $5,000 tax credit to buy their own health care
• Supports free-market competition among health insurance companies to keep costs down

Iraq War: 
• Does not support retreat from Iraq
• Believes last year’s surge of troops was effective

Joe Biden: 

Courtesy of Joe Biden's senatorial Web site

Background: 
• Born in Scranton, Pa., on Nov. 20, 1942
• Graduated from the University of Delaware with degrees in history and political science in 1965 and from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1968
• Elected as U.S. senator from Delaware in 1972
• Passed College Affordability and Creating Chances for Educational Success for Students Act in 2007

Abortion/Stem Cell Research: 
• Does not support overturning Roe v. Wade
• Does not support federal funding for abortion
• Does not support partial-birth abortion
• Supports federal funding for stem cell research

Economy: 
• Emphasizes growing middle class
• Disagrees with widespread deregulation
• Believes funds should be redistributed from the military to other government programs such as education and health care

Education: 
• Prioritizes increased pay for teachers and smaller class sizes
• Supports increased tax credits for college students
• Believes in either eliminating or overhauling No Child Left Behind

Energy: 
• Voted to ban drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• Believes the standards for automobile mileage should be increased
• Supports increased usage of flex-fuel automobiles

Environment: 
• Believes climate change is manmade
• Supports advancing clean coal technology and capping carbon emissions
• Hopes to create jobs by building more sources for wind and solar power

Health Care:
• Supports universal health coverage, especially full coverage for children
• Repeatedly voted to decrease costs of prescription drugs and to let Medicare cover prescription drug costs  

Iraq War: 
• Supports Obama’s plan to withdraw troops on a timeline of about 18 months
• Does not believe last year’s surge of troops was effective