John Edwards on Abortion

• Gov’t should not decide for women on partial-birth abortion. (Apr 2007)
• Ad: compassion, truth, and hope over fear-mongering. (Jul 2004)
• Right to abortion is constitutionally protected. (Jan 2004)
• Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
• Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
• Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
• Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)

John Edwards on Budget & Economy

• We need bold solutions for people who can’t wait months. (Jan 2008)
• Washington is out of touch with what’s happening in country. (Jan 2008)
• Stimulus package: focus on long-term investments. (Jan 2008)
• Allow bankruptcy courts to restructure mortgage loans. (Jan 2008)
• $100B economic stimulus package for green infrastructure. (Jan 2008)
• Long-term growth come from strengthening middle class. (Jan 2008)
• National predatory lending law, including payday lending. (Jan 2008)
• Get rid of structural deficiencies in American economy. (Dec 2007)
• Savings & Credit Commission to regulate abusive credit. (Nov 2007)
• Need home rescue fund for those worried about losing homes. (Aug 2007)
• Asset gap: Poorest 25% of Americans have negative net worth. (Apr 2007)
• Federal budget is a moral document to end American poverty. (Jun 2005)
• More funds for education, health care, and defense. (Mar 2004)
• Roll back the Bush tax cuts and address real priorities. (Jun 2003)
• Voted NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000)

John Edwards on Civil Rights

• Subprime mess is also an issue of race. (Jan 2008)
• Equal housing policy and economic policy for all. (Jan 2008)
• Ok to read about same-sex couples to second-graders. (Sep 2007)
• Get rid of DOMA; get rid of don’t-ask-don’t-tell. (Aug 2007)
• Support transgendered people publicly while transitioning. (Aug 2007)
• Mistake to say my faith makes me oppose same-sex marriage. (Aug 2007)
• On journey about same-sex marriage, but does not support it. (Aug 2007)
• No reparations for slavery; but plenty more we can do. (Jul 2007)
• Better advocate for women than Hillary Clinton. (Jul 2007)
• Opposes gay marriage due to his religion; but conflicted. (Jul 2007)
• Racial inequality is at heart & soul of my campaign. (Jun 2007)
• Support all partnership benefits for same-sex couples. (Jun 2007)
• Equal opportunity needs to be active principle, not passive. (Apr 2007)
• Ten Commandments in courthouses cause more trouble than good. (Mar 2007)
• Let gays serve in the military. (Feb 2007)
• No gay marriage, but no discrimination & civil unions. (Feb 2007)
• Allow gay couples to visit each other in the hospital. (Oct 2004)
• Raising the minimum wage is a working women’s issue. (Aug 2004)
• Embrace equal opportunities for all, like I had. (Jul 2004)
• Talk about race everywhere and to every American. (Jul 2004)
• Enormous strides for gays and lesbians without gay marriage. (Jan 2004)
• Flag burning is despicable, but not a constitutional issue. (Jan 2004)
• Let each state decide about civil unions and gay marriage. (Jan 2004)
• Fund the Help America Vote Act. (Jan 2004)
• Remove Confederate flag from South Carolina state house. (Nov 2003)
• Most southerners don’t drive around with Confederate flags. (Nov 2003)
• PATRIOT Act removes liberties that it’s supposed to protect. (Sep 2003)
• Governments don’t belong in bedrooms, including gay bedrooms. (May 2003)
• PATRIOT Act ok, if watchdogs protect civil liberties. (May 2003)
• Affirmative Action needed 40 years ago & still needed today. (May 2003)

  Voting Record

• Opposes DOMA because states already can ignore gay marriages. (Feb 2004)
• Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
• Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
• Voted YES on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
• Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
• Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business. (Mar 2004)

John Edwards on Corporations

• Some corporations lobby against people, but not all are bad. (Jan 2008)
• Big multinationals account for all current economic growth. (Jan 2008)
• No cut in corporate tax rates; change incentives instead. (Jan 2008)
• Trade policy caters to interests of big corporate America. (Dec 2007)
• Corporate interests have taken over democracy. (Dec 2007)
• I was wrong to vote for Bankruptcy Reform Act. (Dec 2007)
• Oil windfall tax is most serious blow against wealthy. (Nov 2007)
• Worked for hedge fund in 2006, but close hedge fund loophole. (Oct 2007)
• Eliminate all tax breaks for outsourcing jobs. (Jun 2007)
• Hedge fund investors help figure out and reduce poverty. (Apr 2007)
• Record corporate profits don’t benefit tenuous middle class. (Apr 2007)
• Support organized labor against mistreatment by corporations. (Feb 2007)
• FactCheck: Halliburton fined for actions while Cheney CEO. (Oct 2004)
• We can stop the job losses, by closing loopholes. (Jan 2004)
• Product liability suits attack corporate indifference. (Jan 2004)
• Howard verdict forced trucking companies’ safety training. (Dec 2003)
• Tax incentives to companies to keep jobs in America. (Sep 2003)
• Crack down on CEO pay; and require honest accounting. (Aug 2003)
• Address moral crisis: Shareholder & Worker Bill of Rights. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
• Rated 15% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

John Edwards on Crime

• Our justice system is not color-blind. (Jun 2007)
• We shouldn’t take away the right of severely injured victims. (Oct 2004)
• Put more responsibility on the lawyers, not the victims. (Oct 2004)
• Eliminate mandatory minimums for non-violent crimes. (Mar 2004)
• Death penalty OK despite flaws, on state-by-state decision. (Feb 2004)
• Capital punishment needed-some crimes deserve ultimate. (Feb 2004)
• Death penalty for heinous crimes, but applied fairly. (Jan 2004)
• Supports the death penalty. (Jan 2004)
• More DNA testing to reduce wrongful capital convictions. (Jan 2004)
• Voted YES on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program. (May 1999)
• Rated 63% by CURE, indicating mixed votes on rehabilitation. (Dec 2000)
• More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
• Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)

John Edwards on Drugs

• Reduce sentencing disparity for crack cocaine retroactively. (Dec 2007)
• Oppose decriminalizing marijuana; it sends wrong signal. (Oct 2007)
• Supports national ban on smoking in public places. (Sep 2007)
• Do not lower drinking age from 21 to 18. (Sep 2007)
• Help convicts with drug counseling & job counseling. (Jun 2007)
• Supports drug courts and alternatives to incarceration. (Mar 2004)
• Disparity in penalty for crack vs. powder is not justified. (Jan 2004)
• Admits having smoked marijuana. (Nov 2003)
• Voted NO on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
• Rated B- by VOTE-HEMP, indicating a pro-hemp voting record. (Dec 2003)

John Edwards on Education

• Provide work-study programs for students to afford college. (Jan 2008)
• Need universal pre-K, child care, and second chance schools. (Jan 2008)
• Provide continual education for those in the work force. (Dec 2007)
• A comprehensive plan to improve education. (Dec 2007)
• Should have universal pre-Kindergarten for all 4-year-olds. (Oct 2007)
• Make community colleges & public universities free. (Sep 2007)
• Think of education as a birth-to-death experience in America. (Sep 2007)
• Teach in public school that we embrace same-sex parents. (Aug 2007)
• Sent all four kids to public schools. (Jul 2007)
• College for Everyone: tuition paid, for 10 hrs/week work. (Jun 2007)
• Invest in rural community colleges as practical job training. (Apr 2007)
• College for Everyone pilot: $300,000 to 80 N.C. students. (Apr 2007)
• Create “Second Chance” schools to get dropouts back on track. (Apr 2007)
• Supports individual school prayer, not teacher-led prayer. (Mar 2007)
• FactCheck: NCLB might be under-funded, but it grew 58%. (Oct 2004)
• No Child Left Behind is much underfunded. (Oct 2004)
• Give public schools the resources that they need. (Jul 2004)
• Higher teacher pay in low-income schools. (Mar 2004)
• Two public school systems: one for rich, one for others. (Feb 2004)
• When schools fail, bring in expertise and resources. (Feb 2004)
• Private school vouchers drain resources from public schools. (Jan 2004)
• Two school systems: one for the have’s, one for have-not’s. (Sep 2003)
• Pay for college tuition in exchange for part-time work. (Aug 2003)
• New Deal for Teachers: more pay & scholarships. (Aug 2003)
• Free first year of college for all willing to work for it. (Jun 2003)
• Appoint judges with backbone to desegregate schools. (Jul 2007)
• Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
• Voted NO on Educational Savings Accounts. (Mar 2000)
• Voted YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools. (May 1999)
• Voted NO on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
• Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

John Edwards on Energy & Oil

• FactCheck: Changed to anti-Yucca before forged documents. (Jan 2008)
• Investigate the oil companies and ask for conservation. (Oct 2007)
• Give up SUVs & other sacrifices, to deal with climate crisis. (Sep 2007)
• No on developing more nuclear power in the US. (Sep 2007)
• No new nuclear power plants; no liquified coal either. (Jul 2007)
• 80% greenhouse emissions reductions by the year 2050. (Jun 2007)
• Bold transformation to stop importing 12M bbl of oil per day. (Apr 2007)
• Cap carbon emissions & invest in carbon sequestration. (Apr 2007)
• Store nuclear waste near nuclear plants, not in Yucca Mt. (Feb 2007)
• Supports real increases in CAFE standards. (Jan 2004)
• Convert agricultural waste into energy products. (Aug 2003)
• Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
• Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
• Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
• Voted NO on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
• Voted YES on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
• Voted YES on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
• Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases. (Aug 2000)
• Keep climate change in EPA "State of the Environment" report. (Jun 2003)
• Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy. (Mar 2004)

John Edwards on Environment

• Opposed to Yucca Mountain and new nuclear power plants. (Jan 2008)
• Need a moratorium on any more coal-fired power plants. (Jan 2008)
• Deal with energy independence in a serious way. (Dec 2007)
• Pay New Orleans residents to rebuild from Katrina. (Jun 2007)
• Victims in New Orlean’s Ninth Ward were “shaming of America”. (Jun 2007)
• Investigate & enforce clean air laws against the refineries. (Jun 2007)
• Katrina gave a face to millions in poverty. (Apr 2007)
• Protect ANWR, lead in global warming battle. (Mar 2004)
• Voted NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
• Voted NO on more funding for forest roads and fish habitat. (Sep 1999)
• Rated 37% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment. (Dec 2003)
• EPA must do better on mercury clean-up. (Apr 2004)

John Edwards on Families & Children

• Talked to his kids about sex abuse & inappropriate touching. (Jul 2007)
• Our nation was built on institution of strong families. (Apr 2007)
• Invest in proven programs to reduce teen pregnancy. (Apr 2007)
• End marriage penalty for absent poor fathers. (Apr 2007)
• Relief for working parents via taxes & schools. (Aug 2003)
• Voted NO on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors. (May 1999)
• Give parents tools to balance work and family. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)

John Edwards on Foreign Policy

• Belligerence and selfish policy turn people against the US. (Jan 2008)
• President empowered to unilaterally withdraw from treaties. (Dec 2007)
• US has ignored China because of obsession with terrorism. (Dec 2007)
• Edwards Doctrine: long term vision over ad hoc policy. (Dec 2007)
• Aid should go to Pakistan, not to Musharraf. (Nov 2007)
• Cosponsored 2002 Iraq War Resolution. (Nov 2007)
• Our Latin America policy is either disengaged or bullying. (Sep 2007)
• We need country-of-origin labeling for China trade safety. (Aug 2007)
• Meet with enemy leaders after diplomacy first. (Jul 2007)
• Make primary school available to 100M kids in Africa. (Jul 2007)
• No-fly zone in Darfur; but also social spending in Africa. (Jun 2007)
• Russia has moved from democracy to autocracy. (Apr 2007)
• Lead international effort on economic development. (Apr 2007)
• The Israelis do not have a partner for peace right now. (Oct 2004)
• Strengthen the sanctions on Iran. (Oct 2004)
• America should lead by extending a hand, not a fist. (Aug 2004)
• Reorient US aid to support open societies. (Mar 2004)
• UN-led peacekeeping, but US forces under US command. (Mar 2004)
• Target Castro’s regime but help people of Cuba. (Mar 2004)
• More funds for AIDS prevention in Africa. (Mar 2004)
• Haiti is in crisis because Bush stayed disengaged. (Feb 2004)
• Bring UN, allies and friends to Iraq. (Nov 2003)
• Need multilateral solutions for world’s problems. (Sep 2003)
• Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include Eastern Europe. (May 2002)
• Voted YES on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000)
• Voted NO on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
• Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence. (Aug 2000)

John Edwards on Free Trade

• Enforce country-of-origin labeling laws to deal with China. (Dec 2007)
• Human rights should be central to the US trade policy. (Dec 2007)
• Opposes trade with Colombia, South Korea, and Peru. (Nov 2007)
• Hold China responsible for their trade obligations. (Nov 2007)
• Trade agreements now focus on profits for big multinationals. (Aug 2007)
• NAFTA is perfect example of bigger need for change. (Aug 2007)
• FactCheck: NAFTA did not cost US a million jobs. (Aug 2007)
• We need smart trade, not fair trade vs. free trade. (Feb 2007)
• Globalization means more education needed for success. (Feb 2007)
• Renegotiate NAFTA rather than cancel it. (Feb 2004)
• Require labor and environmental standards plus right-to-know. (Jan 2004)
• Against NAFTA, against Chile trade, against Singapore trade. (Jan 2004)
• Level the playing field for American workers. (Nov 2003)
• I supported steel tariffs, but now ease off. (Sep 2003)
• National venture capital fund for those hurt by trade. (Sep 2003)
• Against Fast Track--not enough for US workers. (Jul 2003)
• Voted for China trade, but Bush has not enforced obligations. (Nov 2007)
• Voted NO on establishing free trade between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
• Voted NO on establishing free trade between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
• Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
• Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
• Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000)
• Voted NO on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000)
• Build a rule-based global trading system. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record. (Dec 2002)

John Edwards on Government Reform

• I should not have voted for that bankruptcy law. (Jan 2008)
• No use of signing statements as back-door vetoes. (Dec 2007)
• Bush damages constitution by increasing power of presidency. (Dec 2007)
• Use signing statements as in the past, unlike Bush. (Dec 2007)
• Let’s all pledge not another dime from Washington lobbyists. (Aug 2007)
• Money from trial lawyers OK because they don’t push policy. (Aug 2007)
• Public campaign finance would reduce length of campaigns. (Aug 2007)
• Democrats should say no to all insider lobbyist money. (Aug 2007)
• Big change means take power from Big Oil & Big Drugs. (Jul 2007)
• Vigorously prosecute voter suppression efforts. (Jul 2007)
• Supports public financing of elections. (Mar 2004)
• Day 1: Order limits on lobbyists & special interests. (Jan 2004)
• Ban lobbyist campaign donations and disclose activities. (Jan 2004)
• Judge’s philosophy matters-juries rely on trust. (Dec 2003)
• Hold attorneys accountable for frivolous lawsuits. (Nov 2003)
• Put forward an agenda that stands up for all Americans. (Jun 2003)
• $50B aid to states to avoid municipal layoffs. (May 2003)
• Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
• Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
• Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations. (Apr 2001)
• Voted YES on funding for National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
• Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000)

John Edwards on Gun Control

• Against gun licensing but support the assault weapons ban. (Jan 2008)
• In rural America, hunting and gun ownership is a way of life. (Sep 2007)
• Don’t need AK-47 to hunt; renew assault weapons ban. (Jul 2007)
• Right to bear arms protected by Second Amendment, with rules. (Mar 2004)
• Hunting is fine, but criminals & kids should have limits. (Jan 2004)
• Leading Dems distance themselves from divisive gun debate. (Oct 2003)
• Guns are about independence-don’t mess with that. (Oct 2003)
• Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
• Voted NO on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
• Voted NO on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
• Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology. (Aug 2000)

John Edwards on Health Care

• No one is not worthy of health care. (Jan 2008)
• Critics call plan backdoor to a single payer system. (Nov 2007)
• Don’t spend another decade arguing; get it done. (Nov 2007)
• Provide incentives for students to go to nursing school. (Oct 2007)
• Exactly the same healthcare rights for same-sex couples. (Aug 2007)
• Fully fund finding a cure for AIDS. (Jun 2007)
• Mental health parity: treat it just like physical health. (Jun 2007)
• End Bush’s tax cuts to pay for health care. (Jun 2007)
• Medicare: invest in preventive care & better chronic care. (Feb 2007)
• America’s seniors & children victimized by healthcare cuts. (Jun 2005)
• Double the funding to fight the global AIDS epidemic. (Oct 2004)
• Support allowing prescription drugs into the US from Canada. (Oct 2004)
• Health care should be viewed in larger context of poverty. (Feb 2004)
• Cap on damages for personal injuries is discriminatory. (Jan 2004)
• Med-mal cases are about accountability for mistakes. (Dec 2003)
• Campbell verdict empowered nurses & informed consent. (Dec 2003)
• Bush works for big HMOs and big pharma; I stand up for you. (May 2003)
• Health care crisis requires fighting big corporations. (May 2003)
• More help to those who fall through the cracks of the system. (Aug 2004)

  Universal Coverage

• For universal coverage for kids in ‘04; now coverage for all. (Nov 2007)
• Taking away Congress’ healthcare intended to shake things up. (Nov 2007)
• AdWatch: Universal health care by July 2009. (Nov 2007)
• FactCheck: President cannot remove Congress’ health care. (Nov 2007)
• $90B-$120B per year for healthcare, by ending Bush tax cut. (Sep 2007)
• If not universal coverage, which people wouldn’t be covered? (Sep 2007)
• Let people choose between private plan and single-payer. (Sep 2007)
• Take on insurance & drug companies, who have blocked reform. (Sep 2007)
• Comprehensive coverage costs $90B to $120B a year. (Sep 2007)
• FactCheck: Plan costs $106B-$146B per year, not $90B-$120B. (Sep 2007)
• 2004: universal coverage irresponsible; but US has changed. (Sep 2007)
• Congress grants healthcare to all, or give up their own. (Sep 2007)
• For universal coverage, must mandate everyone be covered. (Jul 2007)
• FactCheck: Medicaid already covers treatment for HIV/AIDS. (Jun 2007)
• Obama’s health plan will leave about 15 million uncovered. (Jun 2007)
• Require employer coverage for every single American. (Apr 2007)
• Dysfunctional health care system needs bold, dramatic change. (Mar 2007)
• Universal coverage makes US business more competitve abroad. (Mar 2007)
• Not possible to get universal coverage without raising taxes. (Mar 2007)
• Job-based insurance can be accomplished, not single-payer. (Mar 2007)
• Silence is betrayal about universal healthcare-we can’t wait. (Feb 2007)
• Expand Medicaid & create health markets to cover uninsured. (Feb 2007)
• Increase taxes to pay for universal insurance. (Feb 2007)
• We need universal health insurance. (Feb 2007)
• It is morally wrong to leave so many Americans uninsured. (Aug 2004)
• Start providing health insurance for every child in America. (Aug 2004)
• Provide a bonus for states to get children insured. (Aug 2004)
• Cover every child and vulnerable adults. (Mar 2004)
• Cover 3m Hispanic kids & have National Translation Center. (Sep 2003)

  Voting Record

• Require health insurance for every child. (Aug 2003)
• Voted NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
• Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
• Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
• Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
• Voted NO on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
• Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
• Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations. (May 2003)
• Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
• End government propaganda on Medicare bill. (Mar 2004)

John Edwards on Homeland Security

• Appropriate to talk to Musharraf after Bhutto assassination. (Jan 2008)
• Provide medical care and job training for veterans. (Jan 2008)
• Colleges must allow military recruiters for ROTC on campus. (Jan 2008)
• End Bush’s illegal spying on American citizens. (Dec 2007)
• Bush created a national embarrassment at Guantanamo. (Dec 2007)
• Torture does not work & undermines our moral authority. (Dec 2007)
• I think we need a president who asks Americans to sacrifice. (Dec 2007)
• Don’t-ask-don’t-tell is discriminatory & bad for military. (Aug 2007)
• Close Guantanamo; end torture; comply with Geneva. (Jun 2007)
• President is not above law; no spying on Americans. (Jun 2007)
• Require deployed troops to be fully trained and equipped. (Apr 2007)
• End $250 registration fee for veterans getting healthcare. (Mar 2007)
• Iraq/Afghan soldiers shouldn’t beg or pay for benefits. (Jun 2005)
• Cannot sacrifice rights & freedoms that define America. (Nov 2004)
• Attention to bin Laden was diverted because of Iraq. (Oct 2004)
• Important things haven’t been done to make America safe. (Oct 2004)
• Bush opposed a 9/11 commission and a Homeland Security Dept. (Oct 2004)
• We weren’t attacked by Saddam Hussein. (Oct 2004)
• Cast a global net for terrorists. (Aug 2004)
• Improve intelligence capabilities to counter terrorism. (Aug 2004)
• Cut off terrorists funds. (Aug 2004)
• Prevent Afghanistan & others from becoming terrorist havens. (Aug 2004)
• Individual Ready Reserve call-up is used as a backdoor draft. (Aug 2004)
• Expand active duty and Army’s forces to security peace. (Aug 2004)
• Offer a military modernization plan for the troops. (Aug 2004)
• Ensure Americans in uniform receive benefits they deserve. (Aug 2004)
• Make better use of the National Guard. (Aug 2004)
• Keep our promises to American veterans. (Aug 2004)
• We must and we will treat our veterans better. (Jul 2004)
• Protect our country without sacrificing rights and freedoms. (Mar 2004)
• Americans are safer at home when we are respected abroad. (Aug 2003)

  Nuclear Proliferation

• Lead a long-term effort to rid the world of nuclear weapons. (Nov 2007)
• No hypothetical nuke talk in Pakistan; eliminate all nukes. (Aug 2007)
• Concerned about Iran, but alternatives over military strike. (Feb 2007)
• Ad-hoc proliferation policy does not work over the long-term. (Jan 2006)
• Serious threats about terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons. (Jan 2006)
• No connection between the attacks of 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. (Oct 2004)
• Secure Russian loose nukes from getting to rogue nations. (Jul 2004)

  Voting Record

• Supports a new homeland intelligence agency, with safeguards. (Aug 2003)
• Voted YES on adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. (Oct 1999)
• Voted NO on allowing another round of military base closures. (May 1999)
• Voted NO on cutting nuclear weapons below START levels. (May 1999)
• Voted YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP. (Mar 1999)
• Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999)
• Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)
• Rated 40% by SANE, indicating a mixed record on military issues. (Dec 2003)
• Hiding sources made post-9-11 analysis impossible. (Jul 2004)
• CIA depends too heavily on defectors & not enough on HUMINT. (Jul 2004)
• Administration did not pressure CIA on WMD conclusions. (Jul 2004)

John Edwards on Immigration

• Health plan does not cover illegal immigrants. (Jan 2008)
• Create a path to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants. (Jan 2008)
• Loss of middle-class jobs drives down wages, not immigrants. (Dec 2007)
• No short-term solution; need comprehensive reform. (Dec 2007)
• H1-B visas only for jobs Americans can’t do. (Dec 2007)
• End immigrant raids that separate parents from children. (Dec 2007)
• No driver’s license unless immigrants on path to citizenship. (Nov 2007)
• Oppose granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. (Nov 2007)
• More technology at the border, but address underlying causes. (Sep 2007)
• Undocumented workers deserve same rights as American workers. (Sep 2007)
• Enforce borders & employers, and allow earning citizenship. (Sep 2007)
• Roadmap to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. (Jan 2004)
• Differentiate terrorists from the immigrants. (Jan 2004)
• Welcome immigrants with earned legalization program. (Jan 2004)
• Hard working immigrants earn right to citizenship. (Sep 2003)

John Edwards on Jobs

• Trade policy should look out for manufacturing jobs. (Dec 2007)
• We need a president who’s willing to say the word “union”. (Dec 2007)
• Create a million “stepping stones” jobs at minimum wage. (Nov 2007)
• Change law so people can’t be fired legally for being gay. (Aug 2007)
• Treat CEO pensions exactly as we treat every other worker. (Aug 2007)
• Would accept minimum wage as president. (Jul 2007)
• Strong unions can make services foundation of middle class. (Apr 2007)
• Grow the union movement; unions made great jobs great. (Mar 2007)
• Make joining unions easier; ban firing strikers. (Feb 2007)
• Increase minimum wage at state level, since feds won’t do it. (Nov 2006)
• Labor unions are vital for the future of American workers. (Jun 2005)
• FactCheck: 1.6 million jobs lost ignores federal employment. (Oct 2004)
• Keep tax cuts for middle class and pay down the debt. (Oct 2004)
• Get rid of tax cuts for companies sending jobs overseas. (Oct 2004)
• Provide tax breaks for companies that keep jobs in America. (Jul 2004)
• Greater protection for unionization. (Mar 2004)
• Raise minimum wage to at least $6.65. (Jan 2004)
• Help bring jobs to where they are most needed. (Nov 2003)
• Stand by our farmers-but end millionaire farmer subsidies. (Sep 2003)
• Ban hiring permanent replacement workers for strikers. (Sep 2003)
• Fair trade deals & closing corporate loopholes creates jobs. (Aug 2003)
• Invest in rural America. (Aug 2003)
• Increase the minimum wage again. (Jul 2003)
• Support unions; ban striker replacements. (Jul 2003)
• Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
• Voted NO on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
• Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003)
• Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)

John Edwards on Principles & Values

• Campaigning on equality & ending poverty that King stood for. (Jan 2008)
• Focus on the Iraq War, healthcare, and global warming. (Dec 2007)
• Op-Ed: more populist or perhaps more redistributionist. (Nov 2007)
• Positioning as a populist who stands with struggling masses. (Nov 2007)
• Founding member of the Senate New Democrat Coalition. (Nov 2007)
• The government should help those hit by natural disasters. (Oct 2007)
• We can’t negotiate change; must take from those in power. (Aug 2007)
• Stand up to hate-mongering by Republicans. (Aug 2007)
• Don’t change one group of insiders for different insiders. (Aug 2007)
• Doesn’t want your vote if you won’t vote for blacks or women. (Jul 2007)
• Doing something about the two Americas is cause of my life. (Jul 2007)
• Biggest professional mistake was voting for Iraq War. (Apr 2007)
• We must fight multiple causes of poverty in US. (Feb 2007)
• We need a new spirit of activism and leadership. (Dec 2006)
• Campaign slogan: “Tomorrow begins today”. (Dec 2006)
• One America PAC about Raising the States. (Nov 2006)
• Maintains PAC, One America Committee. (Jun 2006)
• Take on the special interests to bring about change. (Jan 2006)
• Judge values based upon deeds, not words. (Jul 2004)
• Ensure tomorrow will always be better in our one America. (Jul 2004)
• Lawyers help people, lawmakers help many people. (Dec 2003)
• Every person should get opportunity they’re entitled to. (Sep 2003)
• Government should honor values that built America. (Aug 2003)
• Fight for values of people and workers over privilege. (May 2003)
• Career spent fighting for the working people. (May 2003)

  2004 campaign

• I’m the same as in 2004; America & world have changed. (Oct 2007)
• We shouldn’t use the Constitution to divide the country. (Oct 2004)
• Halliburton paid millions in fines for false financial data. (Oct 2004)
• The Bush administration has flip-flopped on many issues. (Oct 2004)
• Halliburton got a $7.5 billion no-bid contract in Iraq. (Oct 2004)
• Would consider an Edwards-Kerry ticket. (Feb 2004)
• Two Americas: one does the work, the other reaps the reward. (Dec 2003)
• Make America an ownership society. (Dec 2003)
• Democrats should address values of ‘guns, God, and gays’. (Dec 2003)
• Son of a mill worker can beat son of a president. (Sep 2003)
• Will not seek Senate re-election, to focus on presidency. (Sep 2003)
• Never hesitate to question Bush about any issue. (Jun 2003)
• Give this White House back to the American people. (May 2003)

  Personal Life

• Prays daily; but prayer doesn’t prevent bad things. (Aug 2007)
• Decisive moment: father self-educating by watching public TV. (Aug 2007)
• In it for the duration, despite wife’s breast cancer. (Mar 2007)
• Mill-town job persuaded him to get college education. (Dec 2003)
• On birth of 1st son, thanked wife for what he always wanted. (Dec 2003)
• Makes most speeches from notes, not a prepared text. (Dec 2003)
• Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with his teenage son. (Dec 2003)
• Lost teenage son in a traffic accident. (Dec 2003)
• Favorite song: John Cougar Mellencamp, “Small Town”. (Sep 2003)
• Religious affiliation: Methodist. (Nov 2000)
• Supports Hyde Park Declaration of "Third Way" centrism. (Aug 2000)
• New Democrat: "Third Way" instead of left-right debate. (Nov 2000)
• Member of the Senate New Democrat Coalition. (Jan 2001)
• Member of Democratic Leadership Council. (Nov 2007)

John Edwards on Social Security

• Raise the cap on Social Security taxes. (Jan 2008)
• Don’t privatize; reduce benefits; nor raise retirement age. (Nov 2007)
• Buffer zone from $97K to $200K, then lift cap above $200K. (Nov 2007)
• Raise cap with “protective zone” from $97K to $200K. (Sep 2007)
• We can’t grow our way out of Social Security crisis. (Sep 2007)
• Social Security has lifted 13M seniors out of poverty. (Apr 2007)
• Maybe raise the cap from $90,000, or eliminate the cap. (Feb 2007)
• We have social contract to not raise retirement age. (Feb 2007)
• Don’t divert payroll taxes to private accounts. (Mar 2004)
• Keep stock market out of Social Security. (Sep 2003)
• Federal match for every dollar put into savings. (Sep 2003)
• Voted NO on using the Social Security Surplus to fund tax reductions. (Jul 1999)
• Voted NO on Social Security Lockbox & limiting national debt. (Apr 1999)
• Create Retirement Savings Accounts. (Aug 2000)
• Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)

John Edwards on Tax Reform

• Get rid of the tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. (Dec 2007)
• Repeal Bush tax cuts to pay for universal health care. (Jun 2007)
• Shift burden from taxing work to taxing wealth. (Apr 2007)
• Progressive tax credit for first-time homebuyers. (Apr 2007)
• EITC lifted 4.4M out of poverty and helped 22M others. (Apr 2007)
• Bush has made millionaires pay a lower tax rate than others. (Oct 2004)
• For more tax cuts for middle class, not multimillionaires. (Oct 2004)
• Offer tax cuts that will help the middle class families. (Aug 2004)
• New tax cuts to 95% of Americans. (Jan 2004)
• AdWatch: claims millionaires pay more than cops-not really. (Dec 2003)
• Repeal tax cuts for earners over $200,000. (Nov 2003)
• Federal match for middle-class savings up to $1000 per year. (Nov 2003)
• Shift tax burden from taxing work to taxing wealth. (Sep 2003)
• Revise the capital gains tax rate. (Sep 2003)
• Tax cuts to working people-stop Bush’s War On Work. (Sep 2003)
• Millionaires should not pay lower taxes than nurses. (Aug 2003)

  Voting Record

• More tax cuts and tax credits for 98% of Americans. (Jul 2004)
• Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
• Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"). (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
• Rated 22% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)

John Edwards on War & Peace

• There has been no meaningful political progress in Iraq. (Jan 2008)
• Stop the neocons march to war with Iran. (Dec 2007)
• Muslim dislike from Bush’s bullying abusive behavior. (Dec 2007)
• Iran military resolution enables Bush to invade Iran. (Oct 2007)
• Keep Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. (Oct 2007)
• All combat troops out of Iraq in the first year in office. (Oct 2007)
• GOP candidates are Bush on steroids; Dems would all end war. (Aug 2007)
• The War on Terror is just a bumper sticker slogan. (Jun 2007)
• Drive wedge between Iranian people & radical leader. (Jun 2007)
• Get bin Laden, period, even if in Pakistan. (Jan 2006)
• We were attacked by Osama bin Laden, not Saddam Hussein. (Oct 2004)
• Cheney keeps suggesting a connection between Iraq and 9/11. (Oct 2004)
• America cannot be safe without help and respect of allies. (Jul 2004)
• Implement 9/11 Report; focus on al Qaeda. (Jul 2004)
• Work with allies to shut down North Korea’s nuclear program. (Mar 2004)
• Don’t negotiate with Arafat, but build trust with envoy. (Jan 2004)
• Leadership means standing up for what you believe in. (Oct 2003)
• Negotiating with North Korea would make world safer. (Oct 2003)
• Work with other nations in war on terror. (Jul 2003)
• Bush’s preemption doctrine is unnecessary and unwise. (Jun 2003)

  Iraq War

• Have all combat troops out in 2009. (Jan 2008)
• Keep troops at embassy & border, but out of civil war. (Oct 2007)
• End combat missions & focus on removing all combat troops. (Sep 2007)
• 40,000 troops out by 2009, but no pledge for all out by 2013. (Sep 2007)
• Focus on political progress in Iraq. (Sep 2007)
• Congress has a mandate to defund war to force Bush out. (Sep 2007)
• Troops not dying in vain if they do their duty. (Jul 2007)
• 2006 elections were mandate to Congress to end the war. (Jun 2007)
• Insist a funding bill with a troops withdrawal timetable. (Jun 2007)
• Did not read pre-war NIE, but was fully informed. (Jun 2007)
• No more debate; end war by Congress defunding it. (Apr 2007)
• End no-bid contracts & war profiteering in Iraq. (Apr 2007)
• Citizens should speak out for immediate action to end war. (Apr 2007)
• Draw down 40,000 to 50,000 troops right now. (Feb 2007)
• I accept responsibility for the huge price of war on America. (Feb 2007)
• Not naive to think that Iraq can become a democracy. (Feb 2007)
• No funding for the surge, but continue funding the troops. (Feb 2007)
• Stop escalation of war & restore US’s moral leadership. (Feb 2007)
• Pull 40,000 to 50,000 troops out in 1st year as President. (Jan 2006)
• Stop propping the Sunni and Shia up with American lives. (Jan 2006)
• FactCheck: US portion of coalition losses is 88%, not 90%. (Oct 2004)
• Cheney has no answer for the failure to have adequate troops. (Oct 2004)
• Reports say there are not enough troops to secure Iraq. (Oct 2004)
• Never fight a war without enough troops and a plan to win. (Aug 2004)
• Iraq war has cost America dearly. (Jul 2004)
• Immediately get NATO involved in Iraq. (Mar 2004)
• Supporting Iraq war OK, but how war was conducted not OK. (Feb 2004)
• Saddam’s trial will reveal atrocities, but won’t end terror. (Jan 2004)
• Partial yes on $87B-irresponsible to not support troops. (Sep 2003)
• Allies in Iraq would reduce burden on troops & taxpayers. (Sep 2003)
• Irresponsible to not fund troops; also to fund Halliburton. (Sep 2003)
• Problems in Iraq are because Bush has not led. (Sep 2003)
• Supported Iraq invasion because of WMD threat. (Jul 2003)

  Voting Record

• Apologized for Iraq war vote; others must search conscience. (Apr 2007)
• Wrong on Iraq war vote about WMDs and about Bush’s lead-up. (Feb 2007)
• Got war vote wrong based on bad intel & Bush incompetence. (Feb 2007)
• Made mistake in voting for Iraq war resolution. (Dec 2006)
• Voted for Iraq war in 2002, but now recants his vote. (Nov 2006)
• On voting for Iraq War: “I was wrong”. (Nov 2005)
• Voted for war in Iraq but against $87B-and it’s consistent. (Jan 2004)
• Voted NO on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
• Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
• Voted YES on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
• Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999)
• Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
• CIA mischaracterized Iraq WMD & abused intelligence position. (Jul 2004)
• Iraq-al-Qaida contacts, but no complicity or assistance. (Jul 2004)
• CIA knew State of the Union Iraq-Niger connection was false. (Jul 2004)
• Iraq was not reconstituting its nuclear program. (Jul 2004)
• Iraq was not developing its biological weapons program. (Jul 2004)
• Iraq was not developing its chemical weapons program. (Jul 2004)
• Iraq was developing missiles, but not to reach the US. (Jul 2004)

John Edwards on Welfare & Poverty

• A comprehensive, detailed plan to end poverty. (Jan 2008)
• Ending poverty is the single most important cause in my life. (Jan 2008)
• 37 million Americans live in poverty. (Jan 2008)
• The minimum wage should be at least $9.50 an hour. (Jan 2008)
• Criticized for personal extravagances after poverty lectures. (Nov 2007)
• Morally wrong that full time workers are still in poverty. (Nov 2007)
• Poverty in America is the cause of my life. (Jun 2007)
• A million new Section 8 vouchers; let poor move freely. (Jun 2007)
• Despite mistake on $400 haircut, understands poverty. (Apr 2007)
• Give poor a stake with “automatic 401k” & kids’ savings. (Apr 2007)
• Principles against poverty:work, opportunity, thrift, family. (Apr 2007)
• Housing vouchers, not housing projects. (Apr 2007)
• 37M in poverty is a plague on America. (Apr 2007)
• Poverty is America’s greatest challenge--for citizens & govt. (Apr 2007)
• Poverty is such low priority, we have no accurate statistics. (Apr 2007)
• 30-year goal: Ending poverty in America. (Apr 2007)
• EITC is a well-run gov’t program that decreased poverty. (Nov 2006)
• Raise the minimum wage and training fund to help the poor. (Aug 2004)
• Moral responsibility to help 35 million Americans in poverty. (Jul 2004)
• Raise minimum wage so full-time workers are out of poverty. (Jul 2004)
• We need to talk about 35 million who live in poverty. (Jan 2004)
• Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit. (Jan 2004)
• My “Cities Rising” plan is to help urban America. (Oct 2003)
• Bush honors wealth while we honor work. (Jun 2003)
• Finish welfare reform by moving able recipients into jobs. (Aug 2000)
• Fully fund AmeriCorps. (Jun 2003)