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This article compares the presidential candidates in the United States' 2012 presidential election:

Presidential candidate	Party	Running mate	Campaign site
Mitt Romney (campaign)	Republican	Paul Ryan	MittRomney.com
Barack Obama (campaign)	Democratic	Joe Biden	BarackObama.com
Rocky Anderson	Justice Party	Luis J. Rodriguez	www.justicepartyusa.org
Virgil Goode	Constitution Party	Jim Clymer	www.constitutionparty.com
Gary Johnson	Libertarian Party	Jim Gray	Libertarian Party
Jill Stein	Green Party	Cheri Honkala	Green Party

Biographical data

	Mitt Romney	Barack Obama
Age	65	51
Party	Republican Party	Democratic Party
Profession	70th Governor of Massachusetts 2003-2007, Businessman, Investor	President of the United States 2009-2012, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Armed Forces, U.S. Senator, Ill. State Senator, Law Professor, Associate Attorney, Consultant and Instructor, Community Organizer, Research Associate
Undergraduate education	B.A. Brigham Young University (English with Highest Honors, a title specific to BYU) 1971. Giving commencement addresses to both the College of Humanities and to the whole of BYU.	B.A. Columbia University (Political Science, International Relations) 1983
Graduate education	Joint Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Harvard Law and Harvard Business 1975, cum laude from the law school and named Baker Scholar for graduating in the top five percent of his business school class.	JD Harvard Law 1991, magna cum laude
Honorary Degrees and Awards	Honorary Doctorate in Business from University of Utah 1999, Honorary Doctorate in Law from Bentley College 2002; Honorary Doctorate in Public Administration from Suffolk University Law School 2004; Romney's efforts to assist Massachusetts servicemen were recognized by the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, which presented him with the Pro Patria Award and the 2006 U.S.Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award; Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Hillsdale College 2007; Shared with his wife the Canterbury Medal from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, for "refusing to compromise their principles and faith" during that year's presidential campaign, May, 2008; Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Liberty University, 2012	Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2009; Time magazine's Person of the Year 2008, Honorary Doctorate of Law from Knox College 2005, Honorary Doctorate of Law from Wesleyan University 2008, Honorary Doctorate of Law from Notre Dame 2009, Honorary Doctorate of Law from University of Michigan 2010, Honorary Doctorate of Law from Hampton University 2012
Last political office	Governor of Massachusetts 2003-2007	U.S. Senator 2005–2008
Other political experience		Illinois State Senator (1996–2004)
U.S. Senate committee memberships		Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Foreign Relations; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Veterans' Affairs
Employment/Positions Held/Management/Corporate experience	Boston Consulting Group, Management Consultant 1975-1977; LDS Church, Counselor to the President of the Boston Stake (LDS Equivalent of a Diocese in other Christian Churches) 1977; Bain & Company, Vice-President, then President 1977-1984; LDS Church, Bishop of the Ward (LDS Equivalent of Bishop), Belmont, Massachusetts 1981-1986; Bain Capital, Co-Founder, President, Managing Senior Partner, Managing Director and CEO 1984-1990; LDS Church, President of the Boston Stake (Includes more than a dozen Wards in Eastern Massachusetts) 1986-1994; Bain & Company, CEO 1991-1992; Bain Capital, CEO 1992-1993; Bain Capital, CEO 1994-1999; 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games Organizing Committee, President and CEO 1999-2002, Investor 2002-2012	Business International Corporation, Research Associate 1983; Developing Communities Project, Community Organizer 1985-1988; Gamaliel Foundation, Consultant and Instructor; Sidley Austin, Associate 1989; Hopkins & Sutter, Associate 1990; Harvard Law Review, Editor then President 1989-1991; University of Chicago Law School, Visiting Law and Government Fellow, Lecturer then Senior Lecturer 1991-2004; State of Illinois, State Senator 1997-2004; Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, Associate then Counsel 1993-2004 (Law license inactive as of 2007); United States Senate, Illinois Junior Senator 2005-2008; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2009; United States, President 2009-2012
Teaching experience	In addition to LDS Home Teaching (a responsibility of priesthood holders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), as Bishop of the Ward, formulated Sunday services and classes using LDS scriptures to guide the congregation.	Lecturer in Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School (1993–2004)
Net worth (with spouse)	Between $190 and $250 million	Betweeen $2.8 and $11.8 million
Spouse	Ann Romney (m. 1969)	Michelle Obama (m. 1992)
Spouse’s undergraduate education	Stanford University; University of Grenoble, France; A.L.B.Harvard University Extension School, 1975; B.A. Brigham Young University (concentration in French), 1975	Princeton University
Spouse's graduate education		Harvard Law School
Spouse's Honorary Degrees and Awards	Honorary Degree from Mount Ida College, 2005; MS Society Inspiration Award from the Central New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2006; Lifetime Achievement Award from Salt Lake City-based Operation Kids, 2006; Shared with her husband the Canterbury Medal from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, for "refusing to compromise their principles and faith" during that year's presidential campaign, May, 2008
Spouse’s positions held/work/profession	LDS Church, Missionary 1963-1966, Brigham Young University, Academic Affairs Office Volunteer 1967; Township of Belmont, Massachusetts, Town Meeting Representative 1977; New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Board Member 1998-2012; Best Friends Children's Charity, Director 2002; Families First of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Board Member 2002; United Way of Massachusetts, Volunteer then Board Member 2002; Mother Caroline Academy of Boston, Massachusettes, Volunteer Instructor of Middle School Girls 2002; 2002 Winter Olympics, Olympic Aid Charity, Co-Chair 2002; First Lady of Massachusetts 2003-2007; Ebeling's Equestrian Moorpark California Stables, Partner, Equestrian and Horse Owner 2002-2012; United States Dressage Federation, Silver Medalist Equestrian Grand Prix Level 2005; United States Dressage Federation, Gold Medalist Equestrian 2006; 2012 London Summer Olympics, Co-Owner of the Horse Rafalca August, 2012	Sidley Austin, Associate 1988-1993 (Law license voluntarily inactive since 1993); City of Chicago, Assistant to the Mayor and Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development 1991-1992; Public Allies, Executive Director 1993-1997; University of Chicago, Associate Dean of Student Services 1996-2002; University of Chicago Hospitals, Executive Director of Community Affairs then Vice President of Community and External Affairs 2002-2008; First Lady of the United States, 2009-2012

Economic issues

Tax policy

Further information: United States federal budget

Analyzing tax policy requires understanding revenue and deficit changes relative to a baseline. The "current policy" baseline from the Congressional Budget Office assumes the Bush tax cuts are extended indefinitely and the Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) is not allowed to impact more taxpayers. Combined with a series of assumptions about spending, the current policy baseline is projected to add approximately $10 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. The deficit impact of alternate tax policies is generally discussed versus this current policy baseline, although various assumptions are sometimes made by those analyzing candidate proposals. Neither Romney nor Obama is proposing reducing the national debt, only the rate at which the debt increases (the annual deficit).

For example, CBO reported that allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire on schedule at the end of 2012 would avoid $3.2 trillion of the $10 trillion projected increase, resulting in a net $6.8 trillion increase over the next decade. The U.S. is also facing a series of other tax cut expirations and spending cuts called the "fiscal cliff" that would eliminate most of the projected debt increase over the next decade, if current laws are allowed to take effect.

Corporate after-tax profits were at record levels during 2012. U.S. corporations paid 1.2% GDP in income taxes in 2011, versus the 2.0% GDP average for 1972-2011 and versus 2.7% in 2007 pre-crisis.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
During his 2012 presidential campaign, Romney said he would seek income tax law reforms that he says would help lower federal deficits and would stimulate economic growth. Among the series of tax changes he has proposed are: reducing individual income tax rates across the board by 20 percent; maintaining the Bush administration-era tax rate of 15 percent on investment income from dividends and capital gains (and eliminating this tax entirely for those with annual incomes less than $200,000); cutting the top tax rate on corporations from 35 percent to 25 percent, and eliminating the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax. Romney has proposed that the impact of these rate cuts would be offset by reductions to tax expenditures (exemptions and deductions) although he has not specified which will be cut. Major tax expenditures relate to health insurance paid by employers for workers, home mortgage interest, pension and retirement account contributions, state and local property taxes, and municipal bond interest. The Tax Policy Center estimated that the tax rate reduction elements of the plan would increase the debt by $5 trillion over a decade. Romney has promised that the loss of government revenue from these tax cuts would be offset by closing loopholes and reining in tax deductions and credits available to taxpayers with the highest incomes, so that his tax plan would not raise federal deficits. Non-partisan analyses of Romney’s tax plan have estimated that it could add more than $3 trillion to the federal debt over a decade, and would favor the highest-earning Americans, possibly raising annual taxes on middle-class earners by as much as $2,000. Romney and supporters of his tax plan have said that such analyses are unreliable because they have been based on assumptions about specific measures that are not detailed in the plan and have not adequately accounted for the positive effects on economic growth that Romney says his plan would generate. Romney has not specified which tax expenditures (deductions and exemptions) he would cut but has discussed an idea in which all deductions would be limited to $17,000-25,000 per taxpayer. Romney's proposal incorporates an extension of the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts. Romney's website does not clarify whether his 20% individual income tax rate reductions are from the pre- or post- Bush tax cut rates. Romney has proposed reducing the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 25%. The Tax Policy Center estimated this would add $1 trillion to the debt over a decade. Romney-Campaign Website-Tax Policy Page		Obama's tax approach is to ask "those better off to pay a little bit more" to help reduce the deficit and help fund some "nation building at home" such as infrastructure investment. Obama proposes extending the Bush tax cuts for low- and middle-income families, while letting taxes go back up (to Clinton-era rates) for individuals earning over $200,000 or couples earning over $250,000. Reverting to Clinton-era tax rates for these taxpayers would mean increases in the top rates to 36% and 39.6% from 33% and 35%. This would raise approximately $850 billion in revenue over a decade. A bill to this effect passed the Senate but was rejected in the House. It would also mean raising the tax rate on investment income, which is highly concentrated among the wealthy, to 20% from 15%. Obama has also proposed the Buffett Rule which sets a minimum effective tax rate of 30% for individuals earning over $1 million, creating about $30-50 billion per year in revenue or $400 billion over a decade. Obamacare includes approximately $800 billion in tax increases over a decade. Obama described in recent Presidential debates that he supports tax code changes that would reduce the incentive for corporations to move factories and offices overseas, but has not specified how these would work. In response to the recession, Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 shortly after taking office. The law featured large amounts of infrastructure spending, funding for states, tax cuts, and other stimulative measures. After the 2010 midterm elections, he signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 which extended the Bush tax cuts for all incomes, temporarily cut the payroll tax, and reduced a number of other taxes. President Obama announced a 10-year (2012–2021) plan in September 2011 called: "Living Within Our Means and Investing in the Future: The President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction." The plan included tax increases on the wealthy, along with cuts in future spending on defense and Medicare. Social Security was excluded from the plan. The plan included a net debt avoidance of $3.2 trillion over 10 years. If the Budget Control Act of 2011 is included, this adds another $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction for a total of $4.4 trillion.The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) evaluated the President's 2012 budget against several alternate proposals, reporting it had revenues relative to GDP similar to the Domenici-Rivlin and Bowles-Simpson expert panel recommendations but slightly higher spending. Obama-Campaign Website-Tax Policy Page

Financial crisis and bailout

Further information: Economic crisis of 2008 and Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

The Subprime mortgage crisis started in 2007 and resulted in the collapse or bailout of the largest U.S. investment banks in 2008. The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission blamed a culture of lax regulation and inappropriate risk taking for the crisis, among many other causes. As a result of the crisis, the Dodd-Frank Act was passed in July 2010 to provide additional regulation to the banking sector. The law is complex and implementation will require several years. Its stated goals include ending "too big to fail" and ensuring that major financial organizations have a "living will" or structured method of winding-down operations in a bankruptcy. Research indicates recovery from financial crises can be protracted, with lengthy periods of high unemployment and substandard economic growth.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Supported financial sector bailout measures, such as TARP. Opposes Dodd-Frank Act. Advocated a managed bankruptcy process for the auto industry, with government financial support via loan guarantees, although he was critical of the plan ultimately executed.		Supported financial sector bailout measures, such as TARP. Advocated and signed Dodd-Frank Act into law. Presided over a government-financed and controlled bankruptcy process for the auto industry.

Trade

Further information: Free trade and United States free trade agreements

The United States had a trade deficit (i.e. the cost of imports exceeded the price of exports) of $560 billion for 2011, with a goods deficit of $738 billion partially offset by a services surplus of $178 billion. Projecting the June 2012 year-to-date trade deficit of $292 billion for the full year yields a figure of $584 billion for 2012.

The US trade deficit with China was $295 billion in 2011 and increasing in 2012. The Chinese currency (Yuan or Renminbi) is "pegged" by the Chinese government relative to the dollar, as opposed to being allowed to "float" freely. It has appreciated/strengthened approximately 22% relative to the dollar since late 2005. A stronger Chinese currency in theory would reduce the US trade deficit with China by making Chinese goods more expensive in dollar terms, but the trade deficit has risen.

A trade deficit requires borrowing (capital inflow) to finance it; this is referred to as the "balance of payments identity." Further, a trade deficit is a reduction to GDP by definition. Advocates of free trade argue that it can create more jobs globally and lower prices for goods, while critics argue it can create higher unemployment and wage stagnation in the US and contributed to the housing bubble as the inflow of capital was diverted to housing. Between 2000 and the present, the U.S. manufacturing employment declined from 17 million to 12 million. The Economic Policy Institute estimated that the trade deficit with China cost the US approximately 2.7 million jobs between 2001 and 2011.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney has advocated branding China a "currency manipulator" and applying tariffs if necessary to ensure a level playing field if China does not freely float its currency.		Obama supports expanding trade only if the United States' trade partners place labor and environmental standards on their industries to "level the playing field" for American interests. If elected President, Obama plans to renegotiate NAFTA to include stricter labor and environmental standards for Canada and Mexico. He has criticized the current agreement for not including such standards, and he also voted against and criticized the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) for similar reasons.

Budget deficit

See also: United States federal budget and Taxation in the United States

The CBO has reported that the federal government is facing a series of important financing challenges. In the short-run, tax revenues have declined significantly due to a severe recession and tax policy choices, while expenditures have expanded for wars, unemployment insurance and other safety net spending. In the long-run, expenditures related to healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are projected to grow faster than the economy overall as the population matures.

During FY 2012, CBO's preliminary estimates indicate the federal government collected approximately $2.45 trillion in tax revenue or 15.7% GDP, up $148B since 2011, with tax receipts rising across all major categories. Tax revenues remained below 2008 levels of $2.5 trillion.

During FY 2012, CBO's preliminary estimates indicate the federal government spent $3.54 trillion or 22.6% GDP, down $60 billion since 2011, with spending falling across all major categories except Social Security and Medicare. Spending has increased 4.4% annually on average since 2008 (most of the increase was 2008 to 2009 and relatively flat since) versus 6.6% annually under President Bush and 3.5% annually under President Clinton.

From 2000 to 2011, defense spending grew an average of 8.2% per year while non-defense discretionary spending grew by 6.6% per year.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Revenue: Romney has proposed reducing individual and corporate tax rates and tax expenditures in a deficit-neutral manner. Refer to the Taxation section above. Expense: Romney has proposed not allowing the expense cuts in the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) to take effect. According to the CBO, this represents approximately $550 billion more defense spending over a decade than specified in the BCA, roughly $55 billion per year. Romney would repeal Obamacare, which CBO estimates would add $109B to the debt over a decade.		Obama's 2013 budget and Budget Control Act together avoid approximately $4 trillion of the $10 trillion debt increase projected if the U.S. continues to follow current policy. This $4 trillion figure summarizes the effect of the revenue and expense items discussed below and in the Taxation section. Revenue: Obama has proposed raising tax rates and setting minimum effective tax rates for high-income earners. Obamacare also includes taxes that mainly affect higher-income taxpayers. Refer to the Taxation section above. Expense: Obama enacted the Budget Control Act of 2011 which reduces the growth rate in defense and non-defense spending considerably, essentially freezing these categories in real (inflation adjusted) terms for the 2013-2022 period. This represents a $550 billion cut over a decade, roughly $55 billion per year relative to the current policy baseline. Obamacare includes reducing future expense increases in Medicare by $700B over a decade, mainly payments to service providers. Payments on behalf of individuals are not cut.

Jobs and economy

See also: United States economy and Unemployment in the United States

The U.S. economy was severely impacted by the subprime mortgage crisis. The U.S. unemployment rate rose steadily from 5% in January 2008 to a peak of 10% in October 2009. It has since fallen to 7.8% in September 2012. The number unemployed rose from 7.6 million in January 2008 to a peak of 15.4 million in October 2009. It has since fallen to 12.1 million in September 2012.

The U.S. economy created between 18-21 million jobs in each of the three decades from 1970-2000, an average of approximately 165,500/month during that span. From January 2000 to January 2008 (the pre-recession peak), job creation averaged 77,000 jobs/month. Excluding the early 2000's recession, from January 2003-January 2008 the U.S. created 128,000 jobs/month. During the Great Recession, 8.5 million jobs were lost from the peak in early 2008 to the trough in February 2010. Since then, approximately 4.3 million jobs have been added. During 2011 and 2012, job creation averaged 153,000 and 146,000 jobs/month respectively. Approximately 90,000 net new jobs per month are required to keep up with population growth.

Real GDP (measured in "2005 chained dollars" to adjust for inflation) peaked at $13.3 trillion in Q1 2008 and fell to a trough of $12.7 trillion by Q2 2009 before rising to $13.5 trillion by Q2 2012. Research indicates recovery from financial crises can be protracted, with lengthy periods of high unemployment and substandard economic growth. The International Monetary Fund is predicting U.S. nominal GDP growth will average 3% over the 2013-2016 period. Both households and the financial sector have significantly reduced their debt burdens, but several more years of similar improvements will be required to return to historical norms.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney has proposed a five point plan: Achieve energy independence on this continent by 2020. America’s economy will boom when the billions of dollars we send overseas for our oil are kept here at home instead. Trade that works for America. Mitt believes that trade can offer enormous opportunities for American businesses and workers, but only if they are given a level playing field on which they can compete and win. That is why he will work to open new markets for American goods and services, while also confronting nations like China that cheat on trade and steal American jobs. Provide Americans with the skills to succeed through better public schools, better access to higher education, and better retraining programs that help to match unemployed workers with real-world job opportunities. Cut the deficit, reducing the size of government and getting the national debt under control so that America remains a place where businesses want to open up shop and hire. Champion small business. Small businesses are the engine of job creation in this country, but they will struggle to succeed if taxes and regulations are too burdensome or if a government in Washington does its best to stifle them. Mitt will pursue comprehensive tax reform that lowers tax rates for all Americans, and he will cut back on the red tape that drives up costs and discourages hiring.		President Obama's plan is titled: "The New Economic Patriotism: A Plan for Jobs & Middle Class Security." It's elements include: Reviving American Manufacturing. The President’s plan will create 1 million new manufacturing jobs by 2016. Energy Made in America. Dependence on foreign oil hurts our economy and imperils national security, which is why President Obama has set a goal of cutting our net oil imports in half by 2020 and his plans to expand domestic energy production will support more than 600,000 jobs in the natural gas sector alone. Growing Small Businesses. President Obama has invested in entrepreneurs and small business owners by cutting taxes, helping them expand into markets overseas and working to ensure they can get the capital they need to invest and grow. Quality Education. President Obama will strengthen our schools by recruiting 100,000 math and science teachers, training 2 million workers for real jobs at community colleges, and cutting tuition growth in half. Cutting The Deficit By More Than $4 Trillion. Putting YOU in Charge of Your Health Care. President Obama passed a landmark law to expand access to affordable insurance, letting young adults stay on their parents’ plan until age 26, eliminating lifetime coverage limits, ending denials based on pre-exisiting conditions, and eliminating cost sharing and other out-of-pocket costs for recommended preventive care. Protecting Retirement Security. The President will cut the deficit $4 trillion, without ending guaranteed benefits in Medicare or slashing Social Security. President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law during 2009, a major economic stimulus bill that contained both spending and tax cuts. President Obama proposed the American Jobs Act during 2011. At roughly $450 billion, it was approximately half the size of ARRA. The bill included infrastructure and other forms of stimulus spending as well as tax cuts. It was stopped by the Senate with a few Democrats siding with Republicans against the bill. Attempts to parse the bill into several smaller bills that were funded by tax hikes on the wealthy were also defeated in the Senate. President Obama convened a task force to guide the bailout of the U.S. auto industry.

Social Security

Further information: Social Security debate (United States)

The Social Security Administration projects that an annual increase in payroll taxes equivalent to 1.8% of the payroll tax base or 0.6% of GDP would be necessary to put the Social Security program in fiscal balance for the next 75 years. Over an infinite time horizon, these annual shortfalls average 3.3% of the payroll tax base and 1.2% of GDP.

Because of the mandatory nature of the program and large accumulated surplus in the Social Security Trust Fund, the Social Security system has the legal authority to compel the government to borrow to pay all promised benefits through 2036, when the Trust Fund is expected to be exhausted. Thereafter, the program under current law will pay approximately 75%-78% of promised benefits for the remainder of the century.

The CBO identified a series of policy options and quantified their impact on closing the projected gap between program revenues and expenses.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney has advocated gradually raising the retirement age to account for increases in longevity and reducing the growth rate in benefits for wealthier retirees. Mitt Romney Campaign Website - Social Security		Obama has said that Social Security's funding problem is "real but manageable." He has proposed to fund Social Security by applying payroll taxes to individual income above $250,000 per year, and says that these high-income earners should "pay their fair share." When asked if he would consider raising the retirement age or cutting benefits, Obama did not rule these approaches out entirely, saying, "everything should be on the table." However, he has said that he would not push for either of those approaches, and says that an increase in tax revenue is necessary to stabilize the system. Obama opposes adding personal accounts to Social Security. His website indicates: "[Barack Obama] believes that no current beneficiaries should see their basic benefits reduced and he will not accept an approach that slashes benefits for future generations. The President also stands firmly opposed to privatization and rejects the notion that the future of hard-working Americans should be left to the fluctuations of financial markets." Barack Obama - Social Security

Monetary policy

Further information: Federal Reserve System and Monetary policy

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama

NASA and space exploration

Further information: NASA

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney said before committing to a particular space program, he will take advice from experts in the field. He expressed doubts of a moonbase if the costs are on the order of $550 billion. He received the endorsement of Michael D. Griffin and Eric C. Anderson, among others.		The space policy of the Barack Obama administration was announced by U.S. President Barack Obama on April 15, 2010, at a major space policy speech at Kennedy Space Center. He committed to increasing NASA funding by $6 billion over five years and completing the design of a new heavy-lift launch vehicle by 2015 and to begin construction thereafter. He also predicted a U.S. crewed orbital Mars mission by the mid-2030s, preceded by an asteroid mission by 2025. In response to concerns over job losses, Obama promised a $40 million effort to help Space Coast workers affected by the cancellation of the Space Shuttle program and Constellation program. The Obama administration's space policy was made subsequent to the final report of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee, which it had instituted to review the human spaceflight plans of the United States in the post-Space Shuttle era. The NASA Authorization Act of 2010, passed on October 11, 2010, enacted many of the Obama administration's space policy goals.

Foreign policy

Afghanistan

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney has joined other Republicans in criticizing the fixed date Obama has given for withdraw of American forces and said that he would depend on the advice of military commanders.		President Obama added 30,000 troops to Afghanistan early in his presidency with the intent to start withdrawing them in 2012. In an address at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on May 2,2012, he reiterated that the intent is to draw down the number of troops starting in July 2012. 10,000 troops would leave by the end of 2012 and 33,000 by July of 2013. Additionally, he commented on the longerterm objective of handing over security to the Afghanistan security forces: "Our mission will change from combat to support. By 2014, this process of transition will be complete, and the Afghan people will be responsible for their own security."

Arab-Israeli conflict

Further information: Arab–Israeli conflict and Israel

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
In October 2011, during his 2012 presidential campaign, Romney said, "I believe our relationship with Israel, a nation which shares our values and is our best friend in the Middle East, should be of support and confidence rather than criticism and blame." In December 2011, Romney said, “I will travel to Israel on my first foreign trip [as president]. I will reaffirm as a vital national interest Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. I want the world to know that the bonds between Israel and the United States are unshakable." On the question of whether the U.S. Embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv should be moved to Jerusalem, Romney said in October 2011, "The actions that I will take will be actions recommended and supported by Israeli leaders. I don’t seek to take actions independent of what our allies think is best, and if Israel’s leaders thought that a move of that nature would be helpful to their efforts, then that’s something I’ll be inclined to do. But again, that’s a decision which I would look to the Israeli leadership to help guide. I don’t think America should play the role of the leader of the peace process, instead we should stand by our ally. Again, my inclination is to follow the guidance of our ally Israel, as to where our facilities and embassies would exist." Regarding the Arab–Israeli conflict, in a January 2012 Republican debate, Romney said, "Well, the reason that there’s not peace between the Palestinians and Israel is because there is — in the leadership of the Palestinian people are Hamas and others who think like Hamas, who have as their intent the elimination of Israel. And whether it’s in school books that teach how to kill Jews, or whether it’s in the political discourse that is spoken either from Fatah or from Hamas, there is a belief that the Jewish people do not have a right to have a Jewish state." Romney added, "There are some people who say should we have a two state solution, and the Israelis would be happy to have a two state solution. It's the Palestinians who don't want a two state solution, they want to eliminate the state of Israel. And I believe America must say the best way to have peace in the Middle East is not for us to vacillate and appease, but it is to say we stand with our friend Israel. We are committed to a Jewish state in Israel. We will not have an inch of difference between ourselves and our ally Israel." Despite his pessimism about a two-state solution being achieved in the short term, Romney has defended the two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict as an ideal that ought to be included in the Republican Party platform. Romney has stated that his approach to the conflict will be wait and "hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it". In response to President Obama's pledge to maintain Israel's "Qualitative Military Edge" over the other countries in the region, Romney has said he would do "the opposite from Obama". Romney would also reverse the long standing practice of criticizing Israel publicly, presumably in the State Department reports of human rights abuses by Israel. Romney has complained that the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act's affirmation of Obama's support for Israel does not go far enough, because it does not declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Mitt Romney supported an international campaign to hold one minute of silence at the 2012 London Olympics to remember the Israeli athletes killed in the 1972 Munich Massacre at the Olympics by the Palestinian terrorist organization Black September. In this regard, his position was the same as that of President Barack Obama. In July 2012, Mitt Romney said that the U.S. and Israel hold shared interests and shared values. Romney recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying that every nation has the capacity to choose its own capital. Romney also said that he would move the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but "I would only want to do so and to select the timing in accordance with the government of Israel."		Obama supports a two-state solution. Referring to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in January 2006, Obama denounced Hamas while praising former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. At a meeting with then Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on the eve of Hamas' sweeping election victory, Obama stated that Sharon's role in the conflict had always been "absolutely important and constructive."

Iraq

Further information: Iraq and Iraq War

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney supported the invasion of Iraq and the "troop surge". He criticized mismanagement of Iraq post-invasion, stating that both diplomatic and military efforts should be used to achieve success in the region. In his 2007 speech announcing that he would run for president in 2008, Romney said, "so long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population." He stated that instability in Iraq could lead to civil war and that "Iraq's Sunni region could become a base for al-Qaeda; that its Shia region could be seized by Iran; that Kurd tension could destabilize Turkey" and that the broader Middle East and the United States could be drawn into conflict. In a 2007 Republican presidential debate, Romney mistakenly said that the Iraq war could have been avoided if Saddam Hussein had allowed IAEA inspectors into the country. Media Matters pointed out that Hussein did in fact allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq, and they found "no evidence or plausible indication of the revival of a nuclear weapons programme in Iraq." In October 2011, Romney criticized the Obama administration's announcement that all American combat troops had been withdrawn from Iraq calling the withdrawal either “naked political calculation or simply sheer ineptitude.”		President Obama completed the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of 2011, leaving only a small force of trainers in accordance with an agreement with the Iraqi leadership. Prior to his Presidency, Obama opposed the Iraq war as early as 2002 and pledged a responsible, phased withdrawal.

Iran

Further information: Iran and Iran–United States relations

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
In a June 2007 Republican debate, Romney was asked about "the use of tactical nuclear weapons" to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb and responded that "You don't take options off the table, but what you do is stand back and say, 'What's going on here?' You see what's happening in Sudan and Afghanistan, in Iraq and Iran." In 2007 he also stated he would use "blockade, bombardment and surgical military strikes" against Iran if necessary. In September of that year he protested Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking at the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, stating that the invitation should be revoked and he should instead be greeted with an indictment under the Genocide Convention for threats against Israel. He stated that failure to act should lead the United States to reconsider its level of support and funding for the United Nations. In 2011, Romney advocated both overt and covert means to get Iran to stop its nuclear weapons development program. He said that “Ultimately, regime change is what’s going to be necessary.” In 2012 he called on President Obama “to impose crippling economic sanctions on the Iranian regime, support the Iranian dissidents, and convey through actions – not just words – that the military option is very real and very credible.” In June 2012, Romney said "I can assure you, if I'm President, the Iranians will have no question but that I would be willing to take military action if necessary to prevent them from becoming a nuclear threat to the world." In his July 2012 trip to Israel he said that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear "capability" should be America's "highest national security priority." Romney has said of using military force against Iran, "I don't believe at this stage, therefore, if I'm President, that we need to have war powers approval or a special authorization for military force."		Obama stated he regards Iran's government as "a threat to all of us," stating that the US "should take no option, including military action, off the table. Sustained and aggressive diplomacy combined with tough sanctions should be our primary means to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons."

Nuclear weapons

Further information: Nuclear weapons and the United States and Nuclear warfare

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney has opposed ratification of New START, a bilateral nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation, in part because he wishes to deploy defensive missiles on submarines. He has written that the idea of the abolition of nuclear weapons put forward by Ronald Reagan may not be realistic.		Obama has spoken out against nuclear proliferation. According to his campaign website, Obama will "crack down on nuclear proliferation by strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." Obama has also vowed to stop the development of new American nuclear arms, pursuing an ultimate goal of "a world without nuclear weapons."

North Korea

Further information: North Korea, Nuclear program of North Korea, and North Korea–United States relations

North Korea's two nuclear tests since 2006, rising hostilities with South Korea, and questions over Pyongyang's leadership transition all feed U.S. concerns over North Korea.

In January 2011, then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates said North Korea was within five years of being able to strike the United States with an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
As president, Mitt Romney will commit to eliminating North Korea’s nuclear weapons and its nuclear-weapons infrastructure		The Obama administration has won expanded UN Security Council sanctions--financial and weapons-related--against the North Korean regime and has reinforced U.S. sanctions several times. In October 2011, the administration resumed talks with North Korea on returning to the Six-Party process and appointed two top envoys (ForeignPolicy) for North Korea policy. However, the North Korean regime, led by Kim Jong-un, unsuccessfully attempted to launch a rocket in April 2012, undermining the engagement strategy.

Pakistan

Further information: Pakistan and Pakistan–United States relations

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
On July 7, 2007, Romney said, "In places like Pakistan, America needs to work not just on a military front." He said he would send in his proposed "Special Partnership Force", a team of Central Intelligence Agency agents and Army special forces that would work with the local population to aid in military support, gun supplies, and "to help make sure that they have the rule of law, water projects, bridges built." In 2007, Romney criticized then-candidate Barack Obama for stating that, as President, he would launch military strikes against "high-value terrorist targets" in Pakistan, even without the Pakistani government's approval. In 2011, after such a strike resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, Romney said that, if he had been President, he would have done "exactly the same thing."		President Obama ordered the mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011. Bin Laden was residing in Pakistan. On August 1, 2007, Obama had declared in a foreign policy speech that the United States must be willing to strike al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan, with or without the consent of the Pakistani government. He claimed that if elected, "If we have actionable intelligence about high value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will".

Extrajudicial prisoners

See also: Guantanamo Bay detention camp and Unlawful combatant

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney supports continued operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, and use of enhanced interrogation techniques against suspected terrorists.		Obama stated he was against the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and later voted to restore habeas corpus to those detained by the U.S. (which had been stripped by the Military Commissions Act). He has advocated closing the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, but has not supported two specific bills that would have done so. Obama opposes the use of torture.

Armenian genocide

Further information: Armenian Genocide

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Mitt Romney... has no evident public record on Armenian issues from his four-year tenure as Governor or his two campaigns for the White House		On January 19, 2012 Obama announced that as a U.S. Senator, he has stood with the Armenian American community in calling for Turkey's acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide, and supports its recognition. In 2006, Obama criticized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for firing United States Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, after he used the term "genocide" to describe Turkey's killing of hundreds of thousands of Armenians. On June, 2012 Obama restated his commitment to U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide in a letter to ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. Obama supported House Resolution 106 which recognized the killings as genocide.

China

Further information: China and People's Republic of China–United States relations

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney has accused China of "cheating" and "stealing American jobs". He warned China that if he is elected to the White House, there will be consequences for unfair trade, saying: "Unless China changes its ways, on day one of my presidency I will designate it a currency manipulator and take appropriate counteraction." and "A trade war with China is the last thing I want, but I cannot tolerate our current trade surrender." At the press conference, Romney was asked whether the China's abuses of human rights troubled him. "I am not an expert on the practices of other countries, and don't consider myself sufficiently qualified to characterize the practices of any one country," Romney said. In July 2012, Romney said, "We face another challenge in a rising China. China is attentive to the interests of its government, but it too often disregards the rights of its people. It's selective in the freedoms it allows."		Obama appealed to China on grounds of co-operation and increased friendship following Obama's election victory on November 4, 2008. On November 8, 2008, Hu Jintao and Barack Obama had a phone conversation in which the Chinese President congratulated Obama on his recent election victory. During the conversation both parties agreed that the development of US-China relations is not only in the interest of both nations, but also in the interests of the world.

Russia

Further information: Russia and Russia–United States relations

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
In 2012 Romney said that Russia is "without question, our number one geopolitical foe. They - they fight every cause for the world's worst actors." He called President Vladimir Putin "a real threat to the stability and peace of the world." Romney wants to "deter Russian ambitions" to its south by enhancing diplomatic ties, increasing military training and assistance, and negotiating trade pacts and educational exchanges with Central Asian states." Romney has opposed ratification of New START, a bilateral nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation, in part because he wishes to deploy defensive missiles on submarines. He has written that the idea of the abolition of nuclear weapons put forward by Ronald Reagan may not be realistic.		Despite U.S.-Russia relations becoming strained during the Bush administration, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama struck a warm tone at the 2009 G20 summit in London and released a joint statement that promised a "fresh start" in U.S.-Russia relations. The statement also called on Iran to abandon its nuclear program and to permit foreign inspectors into the country. In March, 2009, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov symbolically pressed a "reset" button. The gag fell short as the Russian on the button was wrongly translated by the State Department as "overcharge" instead of "reset". After making a few jokes, they decided to press the button anyway. On March 24, 2010 the United States and Russia reached an agreement to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons. The new nuclear arms reduction treaty (called New START) was signed by President Obama and President Medvedev on April 8, 2010 in Prague. The agreement cut the number of long-range nuclear weapons held by each side to about 1,500, down from the current 1,700 to 2,200 set by the Moscow Treaty of 2002. The New START replaced the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which expired in December 2009. In 2010, it was acknowledged that the "rapprochement" with Russia was one of the biggest foreign policy achievements of Barack Obama's presidency so far. Obama's approach to Russia has been described as "pragmatic", and "he refuses to cast Russia as an enemy".

Foreign aid

See also: Foreign policy of the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney supports foreign aid, including to Pakistan.		Obama would double foreign aid to $50 billion by 2012.

United Nations

Further information: United Nations and United States and the United Nations

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney called the United Nations an extraordinary failure and said he would support a new coalition of the free nations of the world. In a February 2012 speech, Romney said he would cut off money to the UN Population Fund, which he says supports China's one-child policy.		Obama is an advocate for the organization. President Obama reiterated his support for the mission of the United Nations in his annual addresses to the UN General Assembly in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Energy and environmental issues

The environment

Further information: Environmental issues in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
In August 2012, during a week of heavy fundraising from oil company executives, Romney put forward what he called a comprehensive energy plan that he said would allow North America to become independent of foreign oil imports within a decade. Romney’s energy proposal called for aggressively expanding drilling for fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas, by easing federal regulations. The plan would seek to increase offshore drilling along the coasts of states like Virginia and the Carolinas, as well as in previously restricted areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and would give states more control over energy development on federal lands within their borders (Romney noted that oil companies currently wait an average 307 days for drilling permits from the federal government, while the state of North Dakota takes only 10 days to issue permits to drill on state-owned land). Additionally, the plan called for expansion of coal mining and nuclear energy production. Romney reiterated in the proposal that as president he would approve the Keystone XL pipeline, to carry oil sands crude from western Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast for refining. (During the campaign, Romney had promised that he would approve the pipeline project by executive order on his first day in office as president.) Romney’s written energy policy proposal made no mention of climate change, and made little mention of plans to improve energy conservation. During the campaign Romney opposed the EPA’s requirement that the average fuel efficiency of cars be doubled by 2025. Romney had previously expressed opposition to federal aid for renewable energy development, and his August 2012 energy policy plan proposed eliminating government support in the form of loan guarantees and subsidies for development of renewable types of energy, sources of energy that Romney had said the Obama administration has been over-reliant on.		Obama has a 'New Energy for America' plan and he has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 by forcing a market-based cap-and-trade system, recommitting federal resources to public mass transportation and carbon sequestration (incentives to plant trees, restore grasslands or undertake farming practices). Obama also has plans for improving air and water quality through reduced carbon emissions. Obama worked as a member of the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works during the 109th Congress. At least 30 percent of federal government's electricity would come from renewable sources by 2020. Also, he wants to create a 'Global Energy Forum' of the largest energy consuming nations (G8+5). The League of Conservation Voters has given Obama the highest lifetime rating of anyone currently running for president.

Energy

Further information: Energy in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Mitt Romney proposes to "make America an energy superpower, rapidly and responsibly increasing our own production and partnering with our allies Canada and Mexico to achieve energy independence on this continent by 2020. This will require genuine support for increased energy production, a more rational approach to regulation, and a government that facilitates private-sector-led development of new energy technologies by focusing on funding research and removing barriers, rather than chasing fads and picking winners and losers." He proposes a variety of alternatives to: Empower states to control onshore energy development Open offshore areas for energy development Approve the Keystone XL pipeline, establish a new regional agreement to facilitate cross-border energy investment, promote and expand regulatory cooperation with Canada and Mexico and institute fast-track regulatory approval processes for cross-border pipelines and other infrastructure. Restore transparency and fairness to permitting and regulation. Streamline the gauntlet of reviews, processes, administrative procedures, and lawsuits that mire so many new projects in red tape. Facilitate private-sector-led development of new energy technologies Mitt Romney Campaign Website - Energy Policy		Obama advocates an "all of the above" strategy for achieving energy independence. He argues that American oil production is at an eight-year high, and we are less reliant on foreign oil than at any time in the last 16 years. New fuel efficiency standards will nearly double the fuel economy of cars and light trucks to 54.5 mpg by 2025, reducing oil consumption by 2.2 million barrels a day. Obama has presented a 'New Energy for America' plan to achieve a low carbon economy, subsidizing 5 million new green jobs. He proposes $150 billion over 10 years to accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial scale renewable energy (establishing a 100% federal RPS to require that 10 percent of electricity be derived from renewable sources by 2012 and 25% in 2025), encourage energy efficiency, advance the next generation of biofuels (requiring 60 billion US gallons (230,000,000 m3) by 2030) and fuel infrastructure, and begin transition to a new digital electricity grid (smart metering, demand response, distributed generation and electricity storage systems). He also plans to reduce overall U.S. oil consumption by at least 35%, or 10 million barrels (1,600,000 m3) per day, by 2030 to offset imports from OPEC nations. Obama and other Senators introduced the BioFuels Security Act in 2006. Regarding the domestic use of nuclear power, Obama declared himself flatly opposed to building a nuclear waste repository in Nevada and has called for the facility's closure. However, Obama voted for the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which allocated $4.3 billion in tax credits to the nuclear energy sector. Obama and other Senators introduced a bill in 2007 to promote the development of commercially viable plug-in hybrids and other electric-drive vehicles in order to shift away from petroleum fuels and "toward much cleaner – and cheaper – electricity for transportation". In his plan, related with transportation, he proposes increase fuel economy standards 4 percent per each year, specific focus on R&D in advanced battery technology and a $7,000 tax credit for the purchase of advanced technology vehicles as well as conversion tax credits and $4 billion retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers; the entire White House fleet would be converted to plug-ins and half of cars purchased by the federal government will be plug-in (hybrids or all-electric) vehicles by 2012. Barack Obama Campaign Website - Energy Policy

Domestic issues

Judiciary

Further information: Courts of the United States and Supreme Court of the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
		Barack Obama was 1 of 22 Senators to vote against the appointment of Justice Roberts.

Same-sex marriage

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
In July 2011, Romney refused to sign a pledge opposing gay marriage, a pledge that was being circulated by "The Family Leader", a conservative Christian group in Iowa. On August 4, 2011, a month later, Romney signed the 2012 Presidential Pledge sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage. He has expressed support for gay adoption.		Obama stated he was against the Federal Marriage Amendment which would have defined marriage as between one man and one woman, but personally believes that marriage is a religious bond between a man and a woman. In May 2012, Obama became the first sitting U.S. President to support same-sex marriage.

Abortion

See also: Roe v. Wade and Abortion in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Church employee birth control violates religious conscience. (Feb 2012) MA churches can choose to not provide morning-after pills. (Feb 2012) Courts added tax-paid abortions to RomneyCare; not me. (Jan 2012) I had no litmus test for appointing judges, but I'm pro-life. (Jan 2012) Scientifically, life begins at conception. (Jan 2012) 1990: As church leader, urged at-risk mom against abortion. (Jan 2012) 1994: Supported abortion rights but personally opposed. (Jan 2012) 2002: No to new abortion law; yes to emergency contraception. (Jan 2012) States shouldn't ban contraception; and no state wants to. (Jan 2012) 1993: Morning-after pill could make abortions obsolete. (Nov 2011) Contraception is a personal choice; but advocate abstinence. (Nov 2011) Firmly pro-life; including Court nominations. (Jun 2011) Abortion decision should recognize TWO lives involved. (Mar 2010) OpEd: baroque circumlocutions on evolving abortion stance. (Aug 2009) Supreme Court had said feds should stay out of abortion. (Dec 2007) I took action as governor to preserve the sanctity of life. (Dec 2007) No punishment for women who have partial birth abortions. (Dec 2007) Two-step process: overturn Roe; then change hearts & minds. (Sep 2007) Firmly in the “legal but rare” camp. (Aug 2007) Following in Reagan’s footsteps in converting to pro-life. (Aug 2007) Absolute good day for America when Roe v. Wade is repealed. (May 2007) Personally pro-life, but government should not intrude. (May 2007) Was effectively pro-choice until cloning changed his opinion. (May 2007) Breach of Constitution for justices to adjust Constitution. (Mar 2007) Now firmly pro-life, despite 2002 tolerance for abortion. (Dec 2006) Anti-abortion views have “evolved & deepened” while governor. (Jul 2005) Personally against abortion, but pro-choice as governor. (Mar 2002) For safe, legal abortion since relative’s death from illegal. (Oct 1994)		In his write-in response to a 1998 survey, Obama stated his abortion position as: "Abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade." While serving in the Illinois Senate, Obama was against bills that included partial birth abortion bans. In the presidential debate of October 16, 2012, he argued that partial birth abortions were already illegal, and he does not support the practice in accordance with Illinois law. He has received a 100 percent rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council Insurers must provide contraception, but not employers. (Feb 2012) Catholic Bishops rejected segregated abortion funds. (May 2010) 2007 bill: discount contraceptives at college health clinics. (Nov 2009) No litmus test; nominate to Court based on their fairness. (Oct 2008) 1990: Wrote law article that fetus cannot sue mother. (Aug 2008) FactCheck: Abortions HAVE gone down under Pres. Bush. (Aug 2008) 1997: opposed bill preventing partial-birth abortion. (Aug 2008) Opposed legislation protecting born-alive failed abortions. (Aug 2008) Ok for state to restrict late-term partial birth abortion. (Apr 2008) We can find common ground between pro-choice and pro-life. (Apr 2008) Undecided on whether life begins at conception. (Apr 2008) Teach teens about abstinence and also about contraception. (Apr 2008) GovWatch: Obama’s “present” votes were a requested strategy. (Feb 2008) Expand access to contraception; reduce unintended pregnancy. (Feb 2008) Rated 100% by NARAL on pro-choice votes in 2005, 2006 & 2007. (Jan 2008) Voted against banning partial birth abortion. (Oct 2007) Stem cells hold promise to cure 70 major diseases. (Aug 2007) Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion. (Apr 2007) Extend presumption of good faith to abortion protesters. (Oct 2006) Constitution is a living document; no strict constructionism. (Oct 2006) Moral accusations from pro-lifers are counterproductive. (Oct 2004) Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill. (Jun 2004) Protect a woman’s right to choose. (May 2004)

Gun control

Further information: Gun politics in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney continued to argue against any new gun control legislation during the 2012 presidential campaign, telling the NRA’s national convention that if elected president, he would “enforce current laws, not create new ones that only serve to burden lawful gun owners.” In the wake of a mass-shooting of unarmed civilians in Aurora, Colorado in July 2012, Romney maintained in a series of interviews that he opposed any new gun control measures. Referring to the alleged perpetrator of the Aurora massacre, Romney said, “This person shouldn't have had any kind of weapons and bombs and other devices, and it was illegal for him to have many of those things already.... But he had them. And so we can sometimes hope that just changing the law will make all bad things go away. It won't.” (However, as reported by The Denver Post, authorities said that the suspect had passed the required background checks and had broken no laws when purchasing an assault-style rifle, a shotgun, and Glock handgun.)		During a February 15, 2012 press conference, Obama stated, "I think there is an individual right to bear arms, but it's subject to commonsense regulation." He supports the right of local municipalities to determine gun laws. Obama has also stated that he will work to reintroduce the expired Federal Assault Weapons Ban and to make it permanent. In Illinois, he backed changes to state law that included a ban on assault weapons sales and limiting handgun sales to one a month. In Congress, voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to lawsuits for actions committed by third-parties. Obama has proposed outlawing types of ammunition Obama has stated he does not believe states should be allowed to issue concealed carry licenses.

Death penalty

Further information: Capital punishment in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
As Governor of Massachusetts, Romney announced plans to file a death penalty bill in early 2005. The bill, filed April 28, 2005, sought to reinstate the death penalty in cases that include terrorism, the assassination of law enforcement officials and multiple killings. Romney's legislation required the presence of scientific evidence such as DNA to sentence someone to death and a tougher standard of "no doubt" of guilt for juries to sentence defendants. This differs from the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in traditional criminal cases. The legislation called for a pool of certified capital case lawyers to ensure proper representation for the accused and allowed jurors who do not personally support the death penalty to serve in the guilt phase of the trial. The bill was defeated in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by a vote of 100-53.		Obama favors the death penalty for cases in which "the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage." On June 25, 2012, Obama condemned United States Supreme Court decision Kennedy v. Louisiana, which outlawed the death penalty for a child rapist when the victim was not killed. He said that states have the right to consider capital punishment, but cited concern about the possibility of unfairness in some sentences.

Immigration

Further information: Immigration to the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney favors increased legal immigration to the United States and opposes illegal immigration, but he would respect the work permits to younger illegal immigrants that President Obama had granted. In 2006, Romney said he would like to see undocumented immigrants register with the government, pay taxes, and apply for citizenship, but that they should not be given any priority or special treatment over immigrants who have applied for citizenship legally. During the 2008 presidential primary campaign, he embraced the support of Arizona's Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for his very tough stance on immigration. Arpaio served as honorary chair of Romney's Arizona campaign organization and as a campaign surrogate for Romney on immigration. During the 2012 presidential election primary campaign, Romney called Arizona’s approach to illegal immigration “a model for the nation.” He vowed that on his first day in office as president, he would bring an end to the lawsuits the Obama Administration’s Justice Department had brought challenging Arizona’s immigration policy. He also praised the anti-illegal immigration efforts of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a law professor who had drafted much of Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration enforcement law and similar measures around the country. Campaigning with Kobach in January 2012, Romney said, “We need more conservative leaders like Kris willing to stand up for the rule of law. With Kris on the team, I look forward to working with him to take forceful steps to curtail illegal immigration and to support states like South Carolina and Arizona that are stepping forward to address this problem.” When the Supreme Court struck down parts of Arizona's SB 1070 in June 2012, a Romney campaign spokesman said that Romney supports the rights of states to make their own immigration laws when the federal government has failed to address illegal immigration. To help combat illegal immigration across the border with Mexico, Romney has said that the U.S. must erect a fence along the entire 2,600 mile border, equipped with technology to detect attempts to breach the barrier, and outfitted with adequate numbers of border patrol agents. Romney also said during the primary campaign that he would seek to make the U.S. a much less hospitable place for undocumented immigrants by eliminating what he called the magnets that attract them. An example of a magnet, he said, would be offering to undocumented immigrants the same tuition discounts that are offered to legal residents who attend public colleges in their states, a benefit that rival candidate Governor Rick Perry supported for Texas students who had been brought as children to the U.S. by their undocumented immigrant parents. Romney similarly said that he opposed all forms of amnesty because he regards amnesty as another magnet for illegal immigration. He vowed that as president he would veto the DREAM Act (legislation which would allow individuals who had been brought to the U.S. as children when their families immigrated illegally an opportunity to qualify for permanent residency if they met certain qualifications), because he considered it yet another magnet for illegal immigration. Romney has argued that a key step to reducing illegal immigration would be to reduce the job opportunities available for undocumented immigrants. He has said that requiring employers to confirm each worker’s immigration status using an E-Verify-type database, such as in Arizona, and punishing employers who hire workers lacking proper documentation, would lead employers to stop hiring undocumented immigrants, with the result that fewer immigrants would choose to come to the U.S. illegally, and many of those who are already in the U.S. would "self-deport."		Obama's plan: 1) Improve border security; 2) Crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants; 3) Enable immigrants in the country illegally to voluntarily pay a fine, learn English, and get in line for legal citizenship; 4) Fix the immigration bureaucracy; and 5) Provide additional economic assistance to Mexico. Obama also supports issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants to prevent unlicensed drivers from creating a public safety hazard.

Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research

Further information: Stem cell controversy

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney strongly advocated stem-cell research, and he promised to lobby then-President George W. Bush to embrace it. During Romney's 2008 presidential campaign, he renounced his prior position and said that he agreed with Bush's decision to ban federal funding for research on excess embryos. He said that his views had been drastically altered in 2004 after discussing stem cell research with Douglas Melton, a stem cell researcher at Harvard University. The Harvard Stem Cell Institute was planning research that would have involved therapeutic cloning. According to Romney, Melton declared that the research "is not a moral issue because we kill the embryos at 14 days." "I looked over at Beth Myers, my chief of staff, and we both had exactly the same reaction, which is it just hit us hard," recalled Romney. "And as they walked out, I said, 'Beth, we have cheapened the sanctity of life by virtue of the Roe v. Wade mentality.'" During his 2012 presidential campaign, Romney opposed research using cloned embryos created by implanting human DNA into donated eggs.		Obama supports federal funding for embryonic stem cell research and was a co-sponsor of the 2005 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act which was passed by both houses of Congress but vetoed by President George W. Bush.

Education

Further information: Education in the United States and No Child Left Behind

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
He will take the unprecedented step of tying federal funds directly to dramatic reforms that expand parental choice, invest in innovation, and reward teachers for their results instead of their tenure		President Obama enacted Race to the Top during 2009, in which states are awarded points and funds for satisfying particular standards. Many states changed their standards to pursue these goals. During an October 2004 debate, Obama stated that he opposed education vouchers for use at private schools because he believes they would undermine public schools. Obama whittled down ‘No Child Left Behind’ law through waivers to 33 states. The law expired in 2007. Despite a few attempts, Congress has failed to rewrite it. After Congress missed Obama's fall deadline for refreshing the law, the administration began offering states relief from its toughest parts.

Patriot Act

Further information: USA PATRIOT Act

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney supports the Patriot Act,		Obama called for the repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act in 2003. He voted for the reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act in 2006. He supported recent FISA legislation giving telecommunications corporations immunity for cooperating with warrantless surveillance programs.

Health care

Main article: 2012_U.S._Presidential_Election § Health_care

Further information: Health care in the United States and Health care reform in the United States

CBO estimated in March 2011 that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the controversial healthcare legislation passed in 2010 also known as "Obamacare," is expected to reduce the deficit $210 billion total between 2012-2021, with revenues of $813 billion partially offset by outlays of $604 billion. CBO updated its estimate in July 2012, indicating a repeal of PPACA would add $109 billion to the deficit between 2013-2022.

CBO estimates that PPACA includes reductions in Medicare of over $700 billion during the 2013-2022 period, mainly through slightly reducing the trajectory of spending increases expected prior to PPACA. Individual beneficiaries are not directly impacted; most of the cost savings comes from reducing future payments to hospitals and other service providers relative to previous baseline estimates. In other words, PPACA "bends the curve" on Medicare costs down somewhat. Further, since PPACA reduces Medicare payouts, the position of the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund is significantly improved. PPACA extended the life of the Medicare HI Trust Fund by 8 years and reduced the 75-year annual shortfall from 3.88% of the U.S. payroll tax base to 1.35%.

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Key proposals include a "repeal and replace" strategy for PPACA / Obamacare; no changes to Medicare for those in or near retirement; and Medicare vouchers ("premium assistance") for younger people. Mitt Romney Campaign Website - Healthcare		Obama's health care plan (PPACA/Obamacare) was enacted in 2010 and is designed to expand health insurance access to nearly all Americans. It prohibits excluding individuals due to pre-existing conditions and allows young people to remain on their parents' insurance until age 26. It funds a variety of pilot programs to identify cost savings opportunities. The plan is expected to cover up to 30 million additional Americans under healthcare insurance. Elements of the law roll-out over several years. Barack Obama Campaign Website – Healthcare

Network neutrality

Further information: Network neutrality and Network neutrality in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney is against "Net Neutrality" - "...Specifically, the FCC’s “Net Neutrality” regulation represents an Obama campaign promise fulfilled on behalf of certain special interests, but ultimately a “solution” in search of a problem..."		Obama is "a strong supporter of Net neutrality," saying that regulations are required to prevent the telecom companies from changing "the internet as we know it." Promoting net neutrality would be a priority in his first continued year as president.

Lobbying

Further information: Lobbying in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
Romney’s transition team is mulling whether to lift the ban on federal lobbyists that President Obama ordered at the start of his administration		Obama does not take contributions from federally registered lobbyists or PACs, though he does accept money from non-federal lobbyists and unregistered lobbyists.

Transportation

Further information: Transportation in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama

Labor

Further information: Labour economics and Labor unions in the United States

Mitt Romney		Barack Obama
The Romney campaign's labor site states: "...[L]abor unions reduce investment and slow job growth. Right-to-Work states have added millions of jobs over the past decade while states with pro-union policies have shed nearly a million jobs. In a recent Gallup poll, a majority of Americans said that labor unions “mostly hurt” the American economy. Yet as unionization becomes less and less popular—union membership in the private sector has declined from 36 percent in the 1950s to less than 7 percent today—Big Labor is fighting harder and harder to maintain its power. The question is: whose interests should come first, those of workers and businesses or those of organized labor?" Romney has been critical of former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union. During a campaign speech in Michigan on June 9, 2011, he was quoted as saying "They're out there working very hard for their friend, Barack Obama," he added. "I think the union folks basically bought and paid for his last campaign, so he's taking care of them and they're taking care of him." Romney opposes the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would add penalties for labor violations and would allow union recognition based on signed requests from a majority of the workers. He has called for "cutting off funding" for the National Labor Relations Board.		Obama supports the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that adds penalties for labor violations and which would circumvent the secret ballot requirement to organize a union. Obama promises to sign the EFCA into law. He is also a cosponsor of the "Re-empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradesworkers" or RESPECT act (S. 969) that aims to overturn the National Labor Relations Board's "Kentucky River" 532 U.S. 706 (2001) decision that redefined many employees lacking the authority to hire, fire, or discipline, as "supervisors" who are not protected by federal labor laws.

See also

• Democratic Party (United States) presidential candidates, 2012
• Republican Party (United States) presidential candidates, 2012
• United States third party and independent presidential candidates, 2012
• Political positions of Mitt Romney
• Political positions of Barack Obama
• Political positions of Joe Biden
• Political positions of Paul Ryan
• United States federal budget
• Comparison of United States presidential candidates, 2008

External links

• ontheissues.org
• 2012 Presidential Candidate Positions on 68 Issues
• Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney on the issues of the 2012 Presidential election
• Candidate comparison