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Issues |
Sen. Joe Biden |
Gov. Sarah Palin |
| Iraq
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Co-authored a five-point plan to end the war in Iraq, partly by establishing a limited central government in Baghdad that would be in charge of border defense, oil production and distribution of oil revenue. In 2007, the Senate voted to endorse parts of the plan. During an April Congressional hearing Biden probed the Commanding General David Patraeus about the possibility of an immediate troop withdrawal. |
During a March 2007 interview she said, “I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq.” Palin declared her support of the Bush administration but asked about an exit strategy. |
| Civil Rights
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Supported a local hate crimes prevention act that would allow the Justice Department to assist local agencies in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. It would also expand the definition of hate crimes to include offenses based on sexual orientation, gender, or disability. The act passed a House vote last May. |
Opposes same-sex marriage
Opposes category of hate crimes, saying “all crimes are crimes of hate” During the race for governor, Palin’s campaign established an internal diversity |
| Defense/National Security
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In 2007, Biden successfully pushed to increase the Bush administration’s spending on armored military vehicles from $1.79 billion to $22.4 billion. He victoriously fought to keep his state’s Air National Guard Base open. He proposes to invest $10 billion a year for five years in homeland security, which includes increasing railway security and implementing 9/11 Commission recommendatio |
Commands the Alaskan National Guard
Palin has repeatedly cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as giving her insight Commands the Alaskan National Guard |
| Disabilities
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Has been a long supporter of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Backs efforts to allow Medicaid to provide home- and community-based support services |
Palin’s 5-month-old son has Down Syndrome.
During her RNC speech, Palin pledged to be an advocate for families with special-needs |
| Education
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In 2007 Biden introduced the College ACCESS Act providing a $3,000 refundable tax credit ó equivalent to a $12,000 deduction. The plan would also increase the Pell Grant maximum to $6,300. The bill has not been voted on. He would improve No Child Left Behind by giving schools greater flexibility in evaluating student performance and fully funding education. Biden says the Bush Administration underfunded the program by $85 million. |
In March, she signed legislation increasing public school funding including increasing per pupil spending by $100 to $5,480 for next year. In August, she congratulated 294 Alaska public schools that made adequate progress in language arts and math under the federal No Child Left Behind |