Hillary Clinton On the Issues
Since I took out a microscope to look at John McCain on a few defining issues that are important to me, I thought it was only fair that I look at Hillary Clinton's stand on the same issues.
First, hard core social issues. Specifically, gay marriage and abortion.
Gay marriage: Hillary Clinton seems to be strongly in favor of "gay rights" while attempting to avoid just going all the way and stating she is in favor of "gay marriage". She tiptoes all the way up to that line without actually crossing it. In other words, she wants to give homosexuals all the rights of marriage but just call it by another name.
Abortion: Hillary Clinton is a pro-choice extremist. No room for ANY compromise on this issue because she voted against the ban on partial birth abortions. Now in my opinion, she has given a "reasonable" justification for her position even if I disagree with the position she has taken. Included in her response to the question: Are there circumstances when the government should limit choice? which was posed to her in the New York Senate campaign debate held in Manhattan in 2000, she responded (speaking about the partial birth abortion procedure): "Of course it’s a horrible procedure. No one would argue with that. But if your life is at stake, if your health is at stake, if the potential for having any more children is at stake, this must be a woman’s choice." To further illuminate her position; included in comments to NARAL (National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws) in January 1999 are these statements: "[Our] core beliefs and values can guide us in reaching our goal of keeping abortion safe, legal and rare into the next century." And: "Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is trusting the individual to make the right decision for herself and her family, and not entrusting that decision to anyone wearing the authority of government in any regard." She seems to attempt to split the hair on the issue by wanting to be "pro-choice" without being "pro-abortion". She seems motivated to attempt to define her (to me) unreasonably uncompromising position the same way her husband did during his administration that abortions should remain "safe, legal and rare". Only problem with this is that during her husband's administration, everything was done to defend the "safe, legal" aspects and nothing was done about the "rare" portions of this position.
On gun control: From what I have been able to dig up, Senator Clinton never saw any aspect of proposed gun control legislation she did not like.
On taxes and the budget deficit: Here at least Senator Clinton seems to gain some traction with me. For a defining vote during her serving as New York's Jr Senator, we need only look at her vote against making the repeal of the "death tax" permanent. I am firmly in favor of a progressive tax code for my nation and the so-called "death tax" is amongst my most favorite of taxes (as long as it continues to only affect the wealthiest of estates) so her being against making the repeal permanent, while adopting such a position makes her an easy target for the so called "tax reform" crowd, wins her strong points with me. She has also spoken strongly and loudly against the mounting federal budget.
So, it appears that if both of my favorite candidates from each party were nominated to run, I would be looking at a difficult choice. Here's the scoreboard:
Gay marriage: John McCain
I do not particularly care for either candidate's position, but McCain's position is the least offensive.
Abortion: Hillary Clinton
Again, I do not particularly like either candidate's position, however if forced to choose, I would choose Hillary's "unreasonable" position over John's "unreasonable" position.
Gun Control: John McCain
Not even close. John McCain's uncompromising position wins hands down.
Taxes and the budget deficit: Hillary Clinton
Again not even close.
Seems we have ourselves a horse race. Of course, Senator McCain's efforts to win the Republican nomination seem to be disappearing in a cloud of dust while Hillary maintains front runner status in her race for the Democratic nomination (although Barack Obama could overtake her).
First, hard core social issues. Specifically, gay marriage and abortion.
Gay marriage: Hillary Clinton seems to be strongly in favor of "gay rights" while attempting to avoid just going all the way and stating she is in favor of "gay marriage". She tiptoes all the way up to that line without actually crossing it. In other words, she wants to give homosexuals all the rights of marriage but just call it by another name.
Abortion: Hillary Clinton is a pro-choice extremist. No room for ANY compromise on this issue because she voted against the ban on partial birth abortions. Now in my opinion, she has given a "reasonable" justification for her position even if I disagree with the position she has taken. Included in her response to the question: Are there circumstances when the government should limit choice? which was posed to her in the New York Senate campaign debate held in Manhattan in 2000, she responded (speaking about the partial birth abortion procedure): "Of course it’s a horrible procedure. No one would argue with that. But if your life is at stake, if your health is at stake, if the potential for having any more children is at stake, this must be a woman’s choice." To further illuminate her position; included in comments to NARAL (National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws) in January 1999 are these statements: "[Our] core beliefs and values can guide us in reaching our goal of keeping abortion safe, legal and rare into the next century." And: "Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is trusting the individual to make the right decision for herself and her family, and not entrusting that decision to anyone wearing the authority of government in any regard." She seems to attempt to split the hair on the issue by wanting to be "pro-choice" without being "pro-abortion". She seems motivated to attempt to define her (to me) unreasonably uncompromising position the same way her husband did during his administration that abortions should remain "safe, legal and rare". Only problem with this is that during her husband's administration, everything was done to defend the "safe, legal" aspects and nothing was done about the "rare" portions of this position.
On gun control: From what I have been able to dig up, Senator Clinton never saw any aspect of proposed gun control legislation she did not like.
On taxes and the budget deficit: Here at least Senator Clinton seems to gain some traction with me. For a defining vote during her serving as New York's Jr Senator, we need only look at her vote against making the repeal of the "death tax" permanent. I am firmly in favor of a progressive tax code for my nation and the so-called "death tax" is amongst my most favorite of taxes (as long as it continues to only affect the wealthiest of estates) so her being against making the repeal permanent, while adopting such a position makes her an easy target for the so called "tax reform" crowd, wins her strong points with me. She has also spoken strongly and loudly against the mounting federal budget.
So, it appears that if both of my favorite candidates from each party were nominated to run, I would be looking at a difficult choice. Here's the scoreboard:
Gay marriage: John McCain
I do not particularly care for either candidate's position, but McCain's position is the least offensive.
Abortion: Hillary Clinton
Again, I do not particularly like either candidate's position, however if forced to choose, I would choose Hillary's "unreasonable" position over John's "unreasonable" position.
Gun Control: John McCain
Not even close. John McCain's uncompromising position wins hands down.
Taxes and the budget deficit: Hillary Clinton
Again not even close.
Seems we have ourselves a horse race. Of course, Senator McCain's efforts to win the Republican nomination seem to be disappearing in a cloud of dust while Hillary maintains front runner status in her race for the Democratic nomination (although Barack Obama could overtake her).
posted by Little David at 4/22/2007 07:28:00 AM
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