Candidate Responses
Favors abortion rights
"I am pro-choice and will continue to support abortion rights and medical privacy for women," he said on his web site. "I am the only candidate explicitly committing to appoint only judges who consider Roe v. Wade settled law."
Opposes same-sex marriage, but supports domestic partnerships or same-sex civil unions. As governor of New Mexico, he has fought for a domestic partnership bill there. He has said in recent interviews he would support civil unions nationally.
Supports civil unions but not same-sex marriage.
"As President, he will continue to fight for full and equal rights for all domestic partners, including gay and [filtered word] families," his web site states.
Supports withdrawing all troops from Iraq by 2007. Opposed Bush veto of bill that would have withdrawn most troops by March 2008 and president's plan to send additional troops to Iraq. Voted against authorizing the first Gulf War in 1991.
On his campaign web site, Richardson said, "Securing the border must come first - but we must understand that building a fence will not in any way accomplish that objective. No fence ever built has stopped history and this one wouldn't either."
Supports comprehensive immigration reform, including more border patrol agents and a plan to provide legal status for some illegal immigrants.
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran, and also with Syria.
Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Opposed Bush tax cuts because they were not offset by additional revenue. However, as governor signed into law cuts in capital gains taxes and income taxes in his first term.
Richardson would require all Americans to get health insurance and allow anyone to opt into the plan offered for federal employees. He would cover all children under the age of 5 by expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which gives government subsidies to families earning too much for Medicaid.
He has said he would not raise taxes to pay for his plan, but that costs would be split among governments, individuals and employers.
