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THE ISSUES / WESLEY CLARK
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About Wesley Clark:
A retired four-star general and former supreme commander of NATO, Wesley Clark entered the race for the Democratic nomination on September 17, 2003. He won the Oklahoma primary but didn't fare as well in other races and dropped out on February 11, 2004, after third-place finishes in Tennessee and Virginia. The West Point graduate, Rhodes Scholar and former CNN military analyst led U.S. and allied forces in the 1999 air war in Kosovo. The race marked Clark's first attempt at elected office.
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Editor's note: This chart features brief summaries of candidates' viewpoints on some issues, based on their statements and records. Most candidates have offered more comprehensive explanations of their positions on these and other issues. More information may be found on their campaign Web sites.
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TOPIC
POSITION
Affirmative Action
Supports affirmative action policies
Gay marriage
Backs civil unions with full rights; leave "marriage" label for states
Gays in the military
End "don't ask, don't tell"; touts UK ban on all sexual misconduct
Gay adoption
Notes diversity of families; for equal rights for same-sex couples
Hate crime legislation
Bolster federal protections against hate crimes; ban discrimination
Compare this with all candidates
TOPIC
POSITION
National Missile Defense
Questions NMD; would invest in research and development
Increase size of Army
Consider increasing size of armed forces
Program budgets
Boost benefits, pay for members of "over-committed" military
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TOPIC
POSITION
Drilling in ANWR
Opposes oil exploration in Arctic refuge
Alternative fuels
Favors 20% of electricity generated by renewable energy by 2020
Energy policy
Update electrical grid; diversify energy sources; engage other nations
Gas mileage requirements
Bolster fuel efficiency standards; promote hybrid vehicles
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TOPIC
POSITION
Drug costs
Allow purchase of low-cost prescription drugs from Canada
Medicare solvency
Competitive bidding for services; cheaper drugs to lower costs
Prescription drugs benefit
For comprehensive, meaningful, affordable benefit for seniors
Nationalized health care
Insurance for all through 22; make it cheap to buy federal insurance
Sue HMOs
Against subsidizing HMOs by forcing people to join, lose options
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TOPIC
POSITION
Enemy combatants
Allow to have lawyers; prosecute in international criminal courts
Patriot Act
Says act goes too far; calls for thorough, open review
Immigration
Says he's "very pro-immigration," bring in world's elite to spur U.S.
Intelligence agencies
Do not mix intelligence, policy; conduct thorough reviews
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TOPIC
POSITION
War in Iraq
Slams unilateralism, poor planning; empower Iraqis, other nations
Iraqi reconstruction
Invest time, resources so reconstruction, reform succeeds
Pre-emption policy
Reserve right to strike, but military action always last resort
Afghanistan
Resolve "unfinished business" militarily, economically
Middle East
Enhance role of Egypt, Jordan, other neighboring nations in talks
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TOPIC
POSITION
Abortion
Supports a woman's right to an abortion
Death penalty
Re-evaluate every death row case; states have right to impose
Drug policy
Against decriminalizing marijuana
Gun control
Close gun show loophole; ban assault weapons; use gun-buying data
Education reform
Universal preschool; invest in teachers, facilities; tuition grants
Supreme Court
Lauds Breyer; says he would appoint moderate justices
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TOPIC
POSITION
Social Security
No specific plan; opposes increasing retirement age
State fiscal crisis
Give immediate help to local governments facing fiscal crises
Tax cuts
Calls Bush cuts for rich irresponsible; would close corporate loopholes
Budget deficits
Balance budget; lower long-term public debt
Job creation
Incentives to keep jobs in U.S.; target manufacturing, high-tech
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NOTE
• AG: Attorney General; ANWR: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; CAFÉ: Standards that provide tax and other incentives for consumers to purchase and alternative fuel vehicles; COPS: Community Oriented Policing Program; DOMA: Defense of Marriage Act; GLBT: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered; NCLB: No Child Left Behind; NMD: National Missile Defense.
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