| Abortion, Stem Cell & Cloning Issues |
* Barack Obama - D
 |
Ralph Nader - I
 |
Chuck Baldwin - CON
 |
| Abortion, a General Statement |
Obama: One of the things that I've always said is that abortion is a deeply moral issue. And those who would deny that there is a moral component to it I think are wrong. The reason that I make a decision to support the choice position is not because I don't think it's a moral issue but because I trust women to make a prayerful decision about this issue.
Source: "Obama on Gay Marriage, Abortion," The Brody File, CBNnews.com Date: 11/07/2007 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Life Beginning at Conception |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Criminalizing Out-of-State Abortions |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Parental Notification |
Obama: I oppose spousal notification or consent [to obtain an abortion]. Regarding parental notification, I would oppose any legislation that does not include a bypass provision for minors who have been victims of, or have reason to fear, physical or sexual abuse.
Source: "IVI-IPO 2004 U.S. Senate Questionnaire," Independent Voters of Illinois Date: 01/05/2004 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Pro-Life and Pro-Choice |
Obama: For almost a decade, Obama has been a leader in the Illinois legislature in the battle to protect a woman's right to choose and promote equal economic rights and opportunities.
Source: ObamaForIllinois.com Date: 05/02/2004 |
Nader: The Nader Campaign affirms that these are issues of life and death for women, not mere matters of choice. We support access to safe and legal abortion, to effective birth control, to reproductive health and education. We oppose attempts to restrict these rights through legislation, regulation (like the gag rule) or Constitutional amendment.
Source: Candidate Website Date: 10/04/2008 |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Roe v. Wade |
Obama: Abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade.
Source: IL State Legislative National Political Awareness Test Date: 07/02/1998 |
Nader: No.
Source: Candidate Website Date: 10/04/2008 |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Abortion Protesters |
Obama: [An abortion protester at a campaign event] handed me a pamphlet. "Mr. Obama, I know you're a Christian, with a family of your own. So how can you support murdering babies?"
I told him I understood his position but had to disagree with it. I explained my belief that few women made the decision to terminate a pregnancy casually; that any pregnant woman felt the full force of the moral issues involved when making that decision; that I feared a ban on abortion would force women to seek unsafe abortions, as they had once done in this country. I suggested that perhaps we could agree on ways to reduce the number of women who felt the need to have abortions in the first place.
"I will pray for you," the protester said. "I pray that you have a change of heart." Neither my mind nor my heart changed that day, nor did they in the days to come. But that night, before I went to bed, I said a prayer of my own-that I might extend the same presumption of good faith to others that had been extended to me.
Source: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama, p.197-8 Date: 10/01/2006 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Right to Life Constitutional Amendment |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Access to Contraception |
Obama: Barack Obama is an original co-sponsor of legislation to expand access to contraception, health information and preventive services to help reduce unintended pregnancies. Introduced in January 2007, the Prevention First Act will increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and safe sex methods. The Act will also end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception, and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims.
Source: www.barackobama.com Date: 12/10/2007 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| The Morning After Pill (Plan B) |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Partial-birth Abortions |
Obama: I think that most Americans recognize that this is a profoundly difficult issue for the women and families who make these decisions. They don't make them casually. And I trust women to make these decisions in conjunction with their doctors and their families and their clergy. And I think that's where most Americans are. Now, when you describe a specific procedure that accounts for less than 1% of the abortions that take place, then naturally, people get concerned, and I think legitimately so. But the broader issue here is: Do women have the right to make these profoundly difficult decisions? And I trust them to do it. There is a broader issue: Can we move past some of the debates around which we disagree and can we start talking about the things we do agree on? Reducing teen pregnancy; making it less likely for women to find themselves in these circumstances.
Source: South Carolina Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Date: 04/26/2007 |
Nader: We oppose all attempts to restrict abortion rights.
Source: Candidate Website Date: 10/04/2008 |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Federal Funding for Abortion |
Obama: Sen. Barbara Boxer's (D.-Calif.) amendment to a foreign aid spending bill to repeal what is known as the "Mexico City Policy" passed 53-41 Thursday evening. The final bill passed 81-12 later that night. The "Mexico City Policy" forbids nongovernmental organizations from performing or promoting abortion for family planning purposes as a condition to receive U.S. federal money. The policy was originally enacted by President Ronald Reagan during the 1984 United Nations International Conference in Mexico City. It permits non-governmental organizations to provide abortion in cases of rape, incest or to preserve the life of the mother, but does not approve of abortion as method of contraception. President Bill Clinton suspended the policy during his term and President Bush reinstated it in 2001. Boxer's amendment attracted twelve cosponsors, including two Republicans senators - Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Susan Collins (Maine). Three Democratic senators campaigning for their party's nomination for president also cosponsored Boxer's amendment: Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Chris Dodd (Conn.) and Barack Obama (Ill.).
Source: www.orthodoxytoday.org/blog/2007/09/08/ Date: 09/08/2007 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Unborn Victims of Violence Act |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Child Custody Protection Act |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Abortion for Rape and Incest |
Obama: I understand that abortion is a divisive issue, and respect those who disagree with me. However, I have been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women's rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President. I oppose any constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in that case.
Source: South Carolina 2007 Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Date: 04/26/2007 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Stem Cell Research, a General Statement |
Obama: I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the stem cell bill before us today ["Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005" (H.R. 810)]. This bill embodies the innovative thinking that we as a society demand and medical advancement requires.
By expanding scientific access to embryonic stem cells which would be otherwise discarded, this bill will help our nation's scientists and researchers develop treatments and cures to help people who suffer from illnesses and injuries for which there are currently none. But the bill is not without limits; it requires that scientific research also be subject to rigorous oversight. I realize there are moral and ethical issues surrounding this debate. But I also realize that we're not talking about harvesting cells that would've been used to create life and we're not talking about cloning humans. We're talking about using stem cells that would have otherwise been discarded and lost forever - and we're talking about using those stem cells to possibly save the lives of millions of Americans...
Americans are looking for that kind of leadership today. All over the country, patients and their families are waiting today for Congress and the President to open the door to the cures of tomorrow.
Source: Barack Obama's U.S. Senate website Date: 07/17/2006 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Stem-cell Research for Medical Advancements |
Obama: Barack Obama believes we owe it to the American public to explore the potential of stem cells to treat the millions of people suffering from debilitating and life threatening diseases. Stem cells hold the promise of treatments and cures for more than 70 major diseases and conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, spinal cord injuries, and diabetes. As many as 100 million Americans may benefit from embryonic stem cell research. As president, Obama would:
Promote Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Support Medical Advancement and Innovation
Expand the Number of Stem Cell Lines Available for Research
Ensure Ethical Standards
Source: BarackObama.com Date: 08/26/2007 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Using Embryos in Stem Cell Research |
Obama: Allows federal funding for research that utilizes human embryonic stem cells, regardless of the date on which the stem cells were derived from a human embryo, provided such embryos:
have been donated from in vitro fertilization clinics;
were created for the purposes of fertility treatment;
were in excess of the needs of the individuals seeking such treatment and would otherwise be discarded; and
were donated by such individuals with written informed consent and without any financial or other inducements.
Source: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act; Bill S.5 & H.R.3 ; vote number 2007-127 Date: 04/11/2007 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research |
Obama: I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the stem cell bill before us today ["Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005" (H.R. 810)]. This bill embodies the innovative thinking that we as a society demand and medical advancement requires. By expanding scientific access to embryonic stem cells which would be otherwise discarded, this bill will help our nation's scientists and researchers develop treatments and cures to help people who suffer from illnesses and injuries for which there are currently none. But the bill is not without limits; it requires that scientific research also be subject to rigorous oversight.
I realize there are moral and ethical issues surrounding this debate. But I also realize that we're not talking about harvesting cells that would've been used to create life and we're not talking about cloning humans. We're talking about using stem cells that would have otherwise been discarded and lost forever - and we're talking about using those stem cells to possibly save the lives of millions of Americans.
Americans are looking for that kind of leadership today. All over the country, patients and their families are waiting today for Congress and the President to open the door to the cures of tomorrow.
Source: Barack Obama's U.S. Senate website Date: 07/17/2006 |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Cloning, a General Statement |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Animal Cloning |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Human Cloning |
Obama: No Response |
Nader: No Response |
Baldwin: No Response |
| Abortion, Stem Cell & Cloning Issues |
Bob Barr - L
 |
John Mccain - R
 |
| Abortion, a General Statement |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: There is no greater nobility than to sacrifice for a great cause and no cause greater than protection of human dignity. Decency, human compassion, self-sacrifice and the defense of innocent life are at the core of John McCain's value system and will be the guiding principles of a McCain Presidency. McCain supports the following statements:
Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.
Prohibit the late-term abortion procedure known as “partial-birth” abortion.
Prohibit public funding of abortions and public funding of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
Source: www.johnmccain.com Date: 12/05/2007 |
| Life Beginning at Conception |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Criminalizing Out-of-State Abortions |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Parental Notification |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: [D]espite the fact that 23 States require a minor to receive parental consent prior to obtaining an abortion, these important laws are being violated. Today, minors, with the assistance of adults who are not their parents, are being transported across State lines to receive abortions without obtaining parental consent. We must end this circumvention of State laws and, more importantly, the consequences such actions have on life.
Source: Congressional Record, Library of Congress, THOMAS website Date: 09/29/2006 |
| Pro-Life and Pro-Choice |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: The fight for life will be one of courage and compassion - the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level.
Source: www.johnmccain.com Date: 12/05/2007 |
| Roe v. Wade |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat. However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion - the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level. As John McCain has publicly noted, 'At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level.
Source: John McCain's official candidate website Date: 11/29/2007 |
| Abortion Protesters |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Right to Life Constitutional Amendment |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Access to Contraception |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education and contraceptives. Vote to adopt an amendment to the Senate's 2006 Fiscal Year Budget that allocates $100 million for the prevention of unintended pregnancies.
Source: Bill S.Amdt. 244 to S Con Res 18 ; vote number 2005-75 Date: 03/17/2005 |
| The Morning After Pill (Plan B) |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Partial-birth Abortions |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: McCain sponsored the effort to overturn President Clinton's veto of a bill banning late-term procedures called "partial birth" abortions.
Source: Associated Press Date: 08/24/1999 |
| Federal Funding for Abortion |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: McCain was asked whether he would reinstate the Reagan era rule that prevents international family planning clinics that receive federal funds from discussing abortion. “I don’t believe they should advocate abortion with my tax dollars,” McCain said.
Source: New York Times, p. A17 Date: 01/25/2000 |
| Unborn Victims of Violence Act |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime.
Source: Bill S.1019/HR.1997 ; vote number 2004-63 Date: 04/25/2004 |
| Child Custody Protection Act |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Abortion for Rape and Incest |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: On “Meet the Press,” McCain said he had “come to the conclusion that the exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother are legitimate exceptions” to an outright ban on abortions. “I don’t claim to be a theologian, but I have my moral beliefs.” If Roe v. Wade is overturned and abortion outlawed, McCain said he believes doctors who performed abortions would be prosecuted. “But I would not prosecute a woman” who obtained an abortion.
Source: Boston Globe, p. A9 Date: 01/31/2000 |
| Stem Cell Research, a General Statement |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: John McCain opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes. To that end, Senator McCain voted to ban the practice of 'fetal farming,' making it a federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from an embryo created for research purposes. Furthermore, he voted to ban attempts to use or obtain human cells gestated in animals. Finally, John McCain strongly opposes human cloning and voted to ban the practice, and any related experimentation, under federal law. As president, John McCain will strongly support funding for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and adult stem cell research and other types of scientific study that do not involve the use of human embryos. Where federal funds are used for stem cell research, Senator McCain believes clear lines should be drawn that reflect a refusal to sacrifice moral values and ethical principles for the sake of scientific progress, and that any such research should be subject to strict federal guidelines.
Source: John McCain's official campaign website Date: 11/30/2007 |
| Stem-cell Research for Medical Advancements |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: As president, John McCain will strongly support funding for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and adult stem cell research and other types of scientific study that do not involve the use of human embryos.
Source: www.johnmccain.com Date: 12/05/2007 |
| Using Embryos in Stem Cell Research |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines.
Signed letter to President to expand embryonic stem cell research.
John McCain opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes. To that end, Senator McCain voted to ban the practice of "fetal farming," making it a federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from an embryo created for research purposes. Furthermore, he voted to ban attempts to use or obtain human cells gestated in animals. Finally, John McCain strongly opposes human cloning and voted to ban the practice, and any related experimentation, under federal law.
Source: Bill S.5 & H.R.3 ; vote number 2007-127 Date: 04/11/2007 |
| Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: Where federal funds are used for stem cell research, Senator McCain believes clear lines should be drawn that reflect a refusal to sacrifice moral values and ethical principles for the sake of scientific progress, and that any such research should be subject to strict federal guidelines.. "I believe that we need to fund this. This is a tough issue for those of us in the pro-life community. I would remind you that these stem cells are either going to be discarded or perpetually frozen. We need to do what we can to relieve human suffering. It's a tough issue. I support federal funding."
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC Date: 05/03/2007 |
| Cloning, a General Statement |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Animal Cloning |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: No Response |
| Human Cloning |
Barr: No Response |
Mccain: Voted YES on banning human cloning.
Source: Bill S. 1601 ; vote number 1998-10 Date: 02/11/1998 |