Democratic Party on VoteMatch

VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (+5 points on Social scale)	Invest in stem cell and other medical research: Favors topic 1 Pursue embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Support right to choose even if mother cannot pay: Strongly Favors topic 1 Put science ahead of ideology in research and policymaking: Favors topic 1 Choice is a fundamental, constitutional right: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Racial and religious profiling is wrong: Favors topic 2 Support affirmative action to redress discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 2 Police should have zero tolerance of racial profiling: Neutral on topic 2 Democrats lead fight for ERA and equal employment: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+5 points on Social scale)	Keep marriage at state level; no federal gay marriage ban: Strongly Favors topic 3 Pass hate crime legislation including gays: Favors topic 3
Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-3 points on Social scale)	Character education is an important aspect of education: Favors topic 4
Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-3 points on Social scale)	Tougher punishments, including the death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 8 DNA testing & post-conviction reviews in death penalty cases: Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (+2 points on Social scale)	Fight crime with prevention, community police: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Reauthorize assault weapons ban, close gun show loophole: Opposes topic 10 Strengthen gun control to reduce violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (-5 points on Economic scale)	Make sure everyone has access to affordable health care: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand coverage and cut healthcare costs: Favors topic 5 Every American should have affordable health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 Add prescription drug benefit to Medicare: Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Protecting the promise of Social Security is absolute: Strongly Favors topic 6 Oppose privatization and oppose raising retirement age: Strongly Opposes topic 6 Strengthen Social Security for Baby Boomers: Opposes topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (-3 points on Economic scale)	Charter schools OK, vouchers not: Favors topic 7 U.S. needs public school accountability, not vouchers: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-5 points on Economic scale)	Transfer billions in oil & gas subsidies to alternative R&D: Strongly Favors topic 18 We cannot drill our way to energy independence: Favors topic 18 Develop renewable energy and efficient vehicles: Favors topic 18 Invest in technology & transportation friendly to earth: Strongly Favors topic 18 Encourage open space and rail travel: Strongly Favors topic 18 We do not have to choose between economy and environment: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-3 points on Social scale)	Crack down on gangs and drugs: Favors topic 19 Bring to justice those bringing drugs to America: Favors topic 19 Drugs in prison: get clean to get out: Favors topic 19 Dry up drug demand via more enforcement plus more treatment: Favors topic 19 Fight drugs and economic hopelessness that fuels it: Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+2 points on Economic scale)	Harness power of faith-based organizations PLUS govt: Favors topic 20
Strongly Favors topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (-5 points on Economic scale)	Cut taxes for middle class, not the wealthy: Strongly Favors topic 11 G.O.P. creates debt, Dems create surpluses: Neutral on topic 11 Democrats will eliminate publicly held debt by 2012: Favors topic 11 Cut taxes for working families, not richest 1%: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+5 points on Social scale)	Path for undocumented aliens to earn citizenship: Favors topic 12 Reform the INS; reduce immigrant backlog: Favors topic 12 Protect immigrants from exploitation by employers: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-3 points on Economic scale)	Create jobs that stay in America: Opposes topic 13 Knock down barriers to free, fair and balanced trade: Opposes topic 13 Free trade with safeguards will benefit all: Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Add 40,000 new soldiers and keep military all-volunteer: Favors topic 15 Equip military for new threats and missions: Strongly Favors topic 15 Encourage military careers with better pay & benefits: Favors topic 15 Prepare military with advanced military and technology: Strongly Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Meaningful campaign finance reform to restore public trust: Strongly Favors topic 16 Support McCain-Feingold bill for campaign finance reform: Favors topic 16
No opinion on topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 17: US out of Iraq (+5 points on Social scale)	New vision for America: strong at home, respected abroad: Favors topic 17 Internationalize Iraqi military and political presence: Favors topic 17 Forward Engagement must guide proactive foreign policy: Strongly Favors topic 17 Work to close gap between richest and poorest nations: Favors topic 17 Commitment to Israel is unshakable: Strongly Favors topic 17