Candidate Responses
Favors abortion rights
In a statement to NARAL Pro-Choice America, Edwards said, "A woman's decision about whether to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions that she can face. She should be able to make it with her family, her doctor, and consistent with her religious and moral values. Government and politicians should not make it for her."
Edwards has said in several interviews he supports civil unions, but not gay marriage. However he opposes a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Edwards said, "Civil Unions? Yes. Partnership benefits? Yes. But it's a jump for me to get to gay marriage. I haven't yet got across that bridge."
Supports same-sex civil unions
Earlier this year, Edwards said, "New Hampshire's decision to recognize civil unions and grant gay and [filtered word] couples the same rights granted to heterosexual married couples is an important step in the fight for justice. This is an issue of fundamental fairness, and by passing this law, New Hampshire's leaders chose fairness over discrimination."
Favors immediate withdrawal of 40,00 to 50,000 troops. Supported war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Opposed Bush plan to send additional troops to Iraq.
"The first step is to control our borders and stop illegal trafficking. At the same time, it is unrealistic to think that we can deport more than 12 million people," he said on his campaign web site
Supports path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who speak English and meet other conditions
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, and also with Syria
Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Says Bush's tax policies increased the tax burden borne by the middle class. Supports eliminating tax cuts for oil companies and wealthiest Americans. Opposed 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts.
Edwards would require all Americans to get health insurance, which would be subsidized by employers and the government. He would create regional “health care markets” that would offer choices among competing insurance plans. Employers would pay for workers’ insurance or contribute to those costs through the health markets. Edwards would pay for his plan primarily by eliminating the tax cuts enacted by Bush for those making more than $250,000.
