1. Election of 2008 Comparing the Candidates

2. Candidates biographies

3. John McCainJohn McCain

4. John McCain’s Early Life/Schooling Spent childhood moving between naval bases in America and abroad H.S., Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA, 1954 College, Naval Academy (Annapolis),1958; flight school,1960

5. McCain’s Military Service Volunteered for Vietnam War – POW from October 26, 1967 to March 14, 1973 – Received Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross

6. McCain’s Political History Introduction to politics in 1976 – Navy ’ s liaison to the U.S. Senate Elected to House of Representatives on November 2, 1982 Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 Ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000

7. McCain’s Family Married Carol Shepp on July 3, 1965 – Adopted her 2 young children and they had a daughter together – she died April 1980 Married Cindy Lou Hensley May 17, 1980 – 4 children- Meghan (b. 1984), John IV (Jack, b. 1986), James (Jimmy, b. 1988), Bridget (b. 1991 in Bangladesh, adopted by McCains in 1993) –Religious Affiliation: Episcopalian but attends Baptist church

8. McCain Committee Assignments Ranking Member –Armed Services Member – Commerce, Science & Transportation – Indian Affairs – Subcommittee on Aviation Operations Safety and Security – Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety – Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism – Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation – Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security

9. Barack ObamaBarack Obama

10. Barack Obama Early Life/Education –Lived in Hawaii and Jarkarta, Indonesia; attended Punahou Academy, 1979; attended Occidental College; BA, Columbia University, 1983; JD, Harvard Law School, 1991

11. Obama’s Family Married Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, 1988 City Administrator, Chicago; Two Children Malia (b. 1998) Sasha (b. 2001) Religious Affiliation Nondenominational Christian

12. Obama’s Work Experience Community Organization – Chicago, 1985 – Sidley & Austin Attorney Author – Dreams From My Father : A story of Race and Inheritance, (1995), –The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (2006) Lecturer Professor –Constitutional Law

13. Political Experience Senator, Illinois State Senate 1996-2004; IL Senator, 2005-present, Keynote Speaker, 2004 Democratic National Convention Committees (member): –Foreign Relations –Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions –Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs –Veterans' Affairs.

14. Obama’s Committee Assignments Subcommittees –Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of African Affairs –Children and Families –East Asian and Pacific Affairs –Employment And Workplace Safety –European Affairs (chair)

15. Obama’s Committees Cont. Subcommittees (cont.) –Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security –International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection –State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Interrogation.

16. Sarah Palin Biography Born: February 11, 1964 in Sandpoint, Idaho Education: B.S., University of Idaho,1987 Religion: Protestant (Assembly of God) Family: Married Todd Palin, 1988; sons Track,19, and Trig Paxson Van,6 months; daughters Bristol,17, Willow,14, and Piper,7. Private first class track Palin is going to Iraq with the Army ’ s 25 th Infantry Division in the next few weeks.

17. Sarah Palin Political: Governor of Alaska, elected 2006; Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, 1996-2002; Wasilla City uncil, 1992-96 Professional & political career: Sarah has worked as a TV sportscaster and as a commercial fisherman, helping her husband with the family business. Ran for public office first in 1992 and won at the age 26, in 1996 she became mayor of Wasilla, and in 2006 she became governor of Alaska.

18. Sarah Palin Beliefs: Sarah is pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-gun and supports oil drilling both on and offshore and in ANWR. Personal: Her husband Todd Palin is from Alaska and is native, and works in the oil industry, he is a production operator, and is a four time winner of the iron dog snow machine race. She gave birth to Trig Palin, Track Palin, Bristol Palin, Willow Palin, and Piper Palin.

19. Joe Biden Biography Born: Nov. 20, 1962, PA Home: Wilmington, DE Religion: Roman Catholic Early Life/Education: Grew up in New Castle, Delaware; H.S., Archmere Academy, 1961; B.A., University of Delaware, 1965; J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 1968. Work/ Military Experience: Attorney in Wilmington, DE, 1968-1972

20. Joseph Biden Political Experience: Elected to the Senate in 1972 at age of 29. Chairman of the Sen. Foreign Relations Committee Respected Democratic Voice on Foreign Affairs with strong commitment to bipartisan support of Foreign Policy. C haos in Iraq; has five-point plan to end the war. Also working to bring stability to the Balkans and end Genocide in Darfur, Sudan Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee: working for tougher drug and crime policy. Sponsored the Violence Against Women Act, Biden Crime Bill that put 100,000 more policemen on the street and 2007 Biden Crime Bill

21. Joseph Biden Unsuccessful bid for Democratic Presidential Nomination in 1988. Family: Married (2nd wife) Jill Jacobs - Educatior, 1977; Sons Joseph (Beau), 39, and Robert, 38 with first wife, Neilia who died in 1972 car accident with infant daughter, Naomi; daughter Ashley. Captain Beau Biden, Judge Advocate General with DE National Guard and State's Attorney General has been deployed to Iraq this fall.

22. Social Issues Abortion Health Care Social Security Education Environment Energy

23. Abortion McCain Against abortion –Unless in the cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. –Voted for the bill that required parents to be notified when children under 18 request out- of-state abortions. Obama voted against it. Obama For Abortion on demand –Voted to expand access to teen pregnancy- preventions programs designed to reduce the number of abortions. McCain voted against it.

24. Health Care McCain –Does not believe in universal health care –believes insurance reform will bring affordable health care to all Americans. –Places an emphasis on personal responsibility to prevent chronic illnesses, like high blood pressure and diabetes, and adverse affects from smoking and obesity Obama –New national health program that includes all, allows individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health care, and provides subsidies on premiums for low-income individuals. –Save a typical American family up to $2,500 a year, improve access to preventive care, improve health information technology, and reduce costs.

25. Social Security McCain Supports Bush ’ s plan to allow workers to divert some social security payroll taxes to private retirement accounts. Obama Believes Social Security can be protected and strengthened and opposes Bush ’ s plan allowing workers to divert some Social Security payroll taxes into private retirement accounts. Wants to make sure seniors have retirement security with high-quality healthcare and plans to eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000. Economic Issues

26. Education McCain –Schools of choice –Vouchers –Increased charter schools. –No Child Left Behind needs reform. Obama –No Child Left Behind needs reform –Expand early childhood education –Improve educator quality and salaries –Increase federal college aid\ –increase minorities and women in the science and technology fields

27. Environment Barack Obama reduce U.S. oil consumption by at least 35% or 10 million barrels a day, by 2030. wants to invest $150 billion over 10 years for biofuels, renewables, and efficiency. wants all the new buildings in the U.S. to be built of carbon neutral by 2030 John McCain Believes in an effective and sustainable climate policy that must also support rapid economic growth climate policy should be built on scientifically sound mandatory emission reduction targets and timetables

28. Environment Cont. Barack Obama He wants to cut U.S. carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 Auctioning emissions permit $30 billion and $50 billion a year toward developing and deploying clean energy technology 25% of U.S. electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025 30% of federal governments John McCain Permitting banking and borrowing of permits so that emission reductions may be accelerated or deferred to more economically efficient periods Would like to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions while encouraging the development of low cost compliance options

29. Environment Cont. Barack Obama Encourage more fuel efficient vehicles - 40 mpg cars and 32 mpg trucks wants to promote green technologies reduce mercury and lead use protect the great lakes and our national parks and forests John McCain Integrating U.S. trading with other international markets, providing access to low cost permit sources Establishing a strategic carbon reserve as a national source of permits during periods of economic duress

30. Energy Plan Obama Put 1 million plug in cars-cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon- on the road 2015. wants to improve energy efficiency by 50% by 2030 Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025. McCain Toughen the CAF É standards Force all automakers to have vehicles all switched over to flex fuel Offer a 300 million cash prize to who ever can develop a battery powered automobile Wants to open up off shore drilling in Florida

31. Economic Issues Housing Crisis Job Crisis Government Spending

32. Housing Crisis McCain “Home Plan” –He believes there is nothing more important than keeping alive the American dream of owning a home Obama Protect homeownership Crack down on mortgage fraud –Make sure homebuyers have honest and complete information about their mortgage options

33. Housing Crisis (cont.) McCain To provide timely and targeted help to those hurt by the housing crisis Every deserving homeowner will be offered the opportunity to trade a heavy mortgage Holders of sub prime taken after 2005 can meet the terms of a new 30 year fixed rate mortgage on their house Obama Create universal mortgage options –10% universal mortgage credit for homeowners who do not itemize tax relief. His “Stop Fraud Act” will increase funding for federal and state law enforcement program

34. Job Crisis McCain Supports free trade –Promises to keep workers who lose their jobs on overseas plants and said he’ll create 45 new nuclear plants creating 700,000 new jobs Co-sponsored the family friendly workplace act –Flexible work arrangements can help families strike the right balances Obama Create new jobs training programs for clean technology –Increase funding for federal workforce training programs with emphasis on green technologies to retain stable and high paying jobs Boost renewable energy sector –Reguire 25% of electricity be from renewable sources by 2025 creating thousands of new jobs

35. Government Spending Barack Obama –He will raise the “ capital gains ” because he thinks that it is unfair, that the top 50 hedge fund managers, who made 29 billion dollars last year are paying less taxes then their secrateries –He is going to cut the income taxes –Obama sponsored in 2006 the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act which makes it easier for people to track Government spending. John McCain –John McCain will permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Families will save an average of over 2,700$. –Keep Tax Rates Low to encourage entrepreneurship. –Make It Harder To Raise Taxes: John McCain believes it should require a 3/5 majority vote in Congress to raise taxes. –Cut The Corporate Tax Rate From 35 To 25 Percent.

36. Obama –High-income taxpayers would pay more in taxes, while everyone else's tax bill would be reduced. –Those who benefit the most - in terms of reducing their taxes as a percentage of after-tax income - are in the lowest income groups. McCain –Low taxes on dividends and capital gains promote saving. –Allow First-Year Deduction, Or “ Expensing ”, Of Equipment And Technology Investments –veto every pork-laden spending bill and make their authors famous. As President, he will seek the line-item veto. –McCain wants Lower Medicare Premiums. Government Spending Cont.

37. Iraq War Obama –He is going to end this war, –Remove the troops within 16 month –Will improve national security and make America safer. –Will give his Secretary of Defense and military commanders a new mission in Iraq: ending the war. McCain –Supporter of the U.S. war in Iraq. –Does not believe that a precise timeline for the removal of troops. –supports achieving benchmarks that include defeating Al Qaeda in Iraq. –Believes that Iraq has to have functioning government and economy. –wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and North Korea mean that America requires a larger and more capable military. –Reforming defense spending and efficient expenditure of taxpayer dollars. –Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard be reconfigured to meet these new global challenges