* 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 had a 100 percent rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council due to his consistent voting in favor of abortion rights, family planning services, and having female contraceptives covered by health insurance. Since his election to the United States Senate Obama has maintained a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood (as of 2007) and NARAL (as of 2005). While serving in the Illinois State Senate, Obama opposed legislation that required "medical care for aborted fetuses" because the legislation's wording defined the fetus as a child -- a measure he said would "essentially bar abortions."

* In "The Audacity of Hope", Obama advocates responding to the "precarious budget situation" by eliminating "tax credits that have outlived their usefulness", closing corporate tax loopholes, and restoring the PAYGO policy that prohibits increases in federal spending without a way to compensate for the lost revenue.

Economy - (From the South Carolina Democrat Debate of January 2008)
" . . . unfortunately, we have not made the kind of progress that we need in having a balanced economy, and George Bush has made it worse. George Bush has consistently skewed our tax code to the wealthy. He has squandered billions of dollars in a war that I believe should never have been authorized and should have never been waged.
We have not made the investments that are needed in our school system."
" . . . we've got to get tax cuts into the pockets of hard-working Americans right away. And it is important for us to make sure that they are not just going to the wealthy. They should be going to folks who are making $75,000 a year or less, and they should be going to folks who only pay payroll tax, but typically are not paying income tax. If we do that, then not only can we stimulate the economy, those are the folks who are most likely to spend money right away."
When asked what a good number was for a tax rebate, his response was: ”I think that we are going to have to get some immediate money. What I do is I say, for a typical family, $500 for a tax rebate per family. But also, for senior citizens, get a supplement to their Social Security check, because they get that every month. We know exactly how to do it. And that would provide seniors all across the country right away some money to help pay for their heating bills and other expenses that they've got right now."

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb 19, 2008 — Obama Discusses Plan to Protect Homeownership, Crack Down on Predatory Lenders at San Antonio Roundtable

PROTECTING HOMEOWNERSHIP & CRACKING DOWN ON MORTGAGE FRAUD IN TEXAS

In his first major stop of the Texas primary campaign, Senator Barack Obama sat down with San Antonio-area residents this afternoon to discuss his commitment to cracking down on lenders who take advantage of working families.

The implosion of the subprime lending industry threatens to bring foreclosure to over two million households nationwide, and is spreading devastating impacts to the economy as a whole. Texans filed nearly 150,000 home foreclosures last year, with one out of 106 homes falling into foreclosure. The foreclosure epidemic has struck every part of the state, with 49,133 foreclosures in Dallas last year, 39,220 in Houston, 25,050 in Fort Worth, 13,699 in San Antonio, 10,100 in Austin, and 2,317 in El Paso. Over the past several years, while predatory lenders were driving low-income families into financial ruin, ten of the country’s largest mortgage lenders were spending more than $185 million lobbying Washington to let them get away with it.

Barack Obama recognizes that the real victims in the subprime mortgage crisis are not the lenders, but the millions of borrowers who followed the rules and whose only crime was taking out mortgages that lenders told them they could afford. Normally, these borrowers could avoid foreclosure by refinancing their mortgages or selling their homes. Today’s borrowers lack the refinancing and selling protections that used to help out families during a tough period. Too many families are unable to refinance because no one will lend to them, and they are unable to sell their homes because the housing market has fallen. As president, Obama will fight to ensure more Texas families can achieve and protect the dream of home ownership.

Obama's Plan to Protect Hownownership in Texas

Combat Mortgage Fraud and Subprime Loans: Disingenuous lenders have used adjustable-rate subprime mortgages as "teasers," attracting homebuyers struggling to make ends meet with artificially low payments. Subprime mortgages, which helped fuel a surge in homeownership by providing loans to those who might not otherwise qualify, are now part of the problem because they are far more likely to go into delinquency. In Texas, subprime loans made up 18 percent of mortgages, but they accounted for about 45 percent of Texas foreclosures in 2006. In another tactic, appraisers artificially inflate the value of homes so that owners qualify for subprime mortgages. Barack Obama has been monitoring this situation for years, and introduced comprehensive legislation over a year ago to fight mortgage fraud and protect consumers against abusive lending practices. Obama’s STOP FRAUD Act provides the first federal definition of mortgage fraud, increases funding for federal and state law enforcement programs, creates new criminal penalties for mortgage professionals found guilty of fraud, and requires industry insiders to report suspicious activity. This bill also provides counseling to homeowners and tenants to avoid foreclosures.

Create Fund to Help Texas Homeowners Avoid Foreclosures: Barack Obama will help Texans currently facing foreclosure through no fault of their own. There is mounting evidence that the rise in mortgage delinquency and foreclosures was led by aggressive and all too often abusive lending practices of many in the mortgage industry. And in communities where there are many foreclosures, property values of innocent homeowners are often also negatively impacted, driving them toward foreclosure, too. Obama will create a Foreclosure Prevention Fund to help people facing foreclosure stay in their homes and renegotiate with their lenders or sell their homes. The Fund will not help speculators, people who bought vacation homes or people who falsely represented their incomes. Given the downturn in the economy, Obama has called for immediate creation of this $10 billion fund as part of his economic stimulus package. The Fund will:

• Dramatically increase emergency pre-foreclosure counseling resources.
• Allow families facing foreclosure to responsibly refinance their mortgages by working through the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Resources will also be provided to these agencies to develop new loan products that are more flexible and enable distressed borrowers to refinance on terms that enable them to keep their homes.
• Assist individuals who purchased homes that are simply too expensive for their income levels to sell their homes. The fund will help offset the costs of selling a home, including by helping low-income borrowers get additional time and support to pay back any losses from the sale of their home, and waiving certain state and local income taxes that result from an individual selling their home to avoid foreclosure.
• Partner with state governments, community organizations and loan providers to ensure fair loan modifications can be made in a timely manner that avoids the need for foreclosure or bankruptcy.

LGBT Issues *

Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment which would have defined marriage as between one man and one woman, but believes that marriage is defined as a religious bond between a man and a woman. He supports civil unions that would carry equal legal standing to that of marriage for same-sex couples, but believes that decisions about the title of marriage should be left to the states.

Obama stated on 15 March, 2007, that "I do not agree...that homosexuality is immoral." During the 23 July, 2007 CNN/Youtube debate, Obama further stated that "... we've got to make sure that everybody is equal under the law. And the civil unions that I proposed would be equivalent in terms of making sure that all the rights that are conferred by the state are equal for same-sex couples as well as for heterosexual couples."

Stem Cell Research *

Obama supports embryonic stem cell research and was a co-sponsor[60] of the 2005 Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act which was passed by both houses of Congress but vetoed by President George W. Bush. Obama condemned Bush's veto, saying "Democrats want this bill to pass. Conservative, pro-life Republicans want this bill to pass. By large margins, the American people want this bill to pass. It is only the White House standing in the way of progress - standing in the way of so many potential cures." He also voted in favor of the 2007 bill for embryonic stem cell research that was passed but was also vetoed by President Bush.

* On April 20, 2007, Obama introduced in the Senate a bill (Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act - S. 1181) requiring public companies to give shareholders an annual nonbinding vote on executive compensation, popularly called "Say on Pay." A companion bill introduced by Rep. Barney Frank passed the House the same day. Several corporations voluntarily have begun to give shareholders such a vote because of concerns about excessive CEO salaries. Some critics have said that the federal law would interfere with the traditional state oversight over corporate governance.

* As a state legislator in Illinois, Obama supported banning the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic firearms, increasing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms and requiring manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms. He sponsored a bill in 2000 limiting handgun purchases to one per month. He also voted against a 2004 measure allowing a self-defense exception for people charged with violating local weapons bans by using a gun in their home.
Obama was also a board member of the Joyce Foundation which funds and maintains several gun control organizations in the United States.
He supported several gun control measures, including restricting the purchase of firearms at gun shows and the reauthorization of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
While in the US Senate, Obama has voted against legislation protecting firearm manufacturers from liability.

Death Penalty *

Obama believes the death penalty is used too frequently and inconsistently. However he is still in favor of it for cases in which "the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage." Speaking as a state senator about the Illinois legislature's constant additions to the list of factors that render a defendant eligible for the death penalty, Obama said, "We certainly don't think that we should be... have this laundry list that does not make any distinctions between the run-of-the-mill armed robbery that results in death, and systematic killings by a terrorist organization. And I think essentially what the reduction of aggravating factors does is it says, 'Here's a narrower set of crimes that we think potentially at least could deserve the death penalty.'"

Voting Record

• First Senate bill: increase Pell Grant from $4,050 to $5,100. (Aug 2007)
• Sponsored legislations that recruit and reward good teachers. (Sep 2004)
• Voted YES on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
• Voted YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
• Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)

* 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.

* In a July, 2007 address to the National Education Association, Obama supported merit pay for teachers, to be based on standards to be developed "with teachers." Obama also called for higher pay for teachers.

Feb 16, 2008 - Senator Obama’s comprehensive agenda to strengthen America’s community colleges includes: (Senator Obama’s plan is available online on his website at: Obama’s comprehensive agenda to strengthen America’s community colleges)

Create The American Opportunity Tax Credit: Obama will make tuition at community college completely free for most Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is free. The credit will be available to families at the time of enrollment by using the prior year’s tax data to deliver the credit at the time the tuition is due. Recipients of this credit will be required to conduct 100 hours of public service a year, either during the school year or over the summer months.
Create A New Community College Partnership Program: Obama will create a Community College Partnership to strengthen community colleges by providing grants to (a) conduct thorough analysis of the types of skills and technical education that are in high demand from students and local industry; (b) implement new associate of arts degree programs that cater to emerging industry and technical career demands; and (c) reward those institutions that graduate more students and increase their numbers of transfer students to four-year institutions.
Support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Programs: Obama will support the authorization of the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program at $100 million, a critical program that that has helped support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs in community colleges.
Make it Easier to Apply for Financial Aid: Obama will simplify the financial aid process by eliminating the FAFSA and its complicated calculations altogether. Instead, aid would be based on a much simpler yet equally accurate formula, so that students can predict their eligibility well in advance. The aid process will be streamlined by enabling families to apply simply by checking a box on their tax form, authorizing their tax information to be used and eliminating the need for a separate application.
Expand Pell Grants For Low Income Students: Obama will work to ensure that the maximum Pell Grant award is increased for low income students by ensuring that the award keeps pace with the rising cost of inflation.
Reauthorize The Workforce Investment Act: Obama supports reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act with a focus on providing high-quality education and training services and creating pathways to skills and credentials that have value in the labor market. There must be a shift in focus from adult education to postsecondary education, which could include remediation, GED preparation and English-language training. Obama believes we must make clear that WIA supports this transition training.
Increase Workforce Development Funding: Obama will ensure that the Perkins Vocational Program is adequately funded. Community colleges depend on workforce development funding from these grants that are used for innovative occupational education curricula; helping students meet challenging academic, vocational, and technical standards; training first responders and public safety officers; purchasing equipment; supporting professional development; and strengthening important links between the institutions and businesses.
Promote Life-Long Learning In Partnership With Organized Labor: Obama will direct his Department of Labor to expand its support for and partnership with organized labor on its programs for life-long learning, including successful programs that seek to reach untapped pools of talent among women, people of color, older workers, individuals with disabilities and disadvantaged communities.

* Obama and other Senators introduced the BioFuels Security Act in 2007. "It's time for Congress to realize what farmers in America's heartland have known all along - that we have the capacity and ingenuity to decrease our dependence on foreign oil by growing our own fuel," Obama said. In a May 2006 letter to President Bush, he joined four other midwest farming state Senators in calling for the preservation of a $0.54 per gallon tariff on imported ethanol.

* Regarding the domestic use of nuclear energy, Obama has expressed support: "...it is reasonable – and realistic – for nuclear power to remain on the table for consideration."

* Barack Obama's first major speech on foreign policy was delivered on April 23, 2007 to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. He identified the problems the current foreign policy has caused, and the five ways America can lead again, focused on "common security", "common humanity", and remaining "a beacon of freedom and justice for the world":

• "Bringing a responsible end" to the war in Iraq and refocusing on the broader region.
• "Building the first truly 21st century military and showing wisdom in how we deploy it."
• "Marshalling a global effort" to secure, destroy, and stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
• "Rebuild and construct the alliances and partnerships necessary to meet common challenges and confront common threats," including climate change.
• "Invest in our common humanity" through foreign aid and supporting the "pillars of a sustainable democracy – a strong legislature, an independent judiciary, the rule of law, a vibrant civil society, a free press, and an honest police force."

* During the speech Obama called for an expansion of the United States Armed Forces "by adding 65,000 soldiers to the Army and 27,000 Marines", an idea introduced by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

* In an address on national security to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars on August 1, 2007, Obama stated that as President he would consider military action in Pakistan in order to attack al-Qaeda, even if the Pakistani government did not give approval. Obama said, "I will not hesitate to use military force to take out terrorists who pose a direct threat to America." He also said "As President, I would deploy at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan to re-enforce our counter-terrorism operations". Tariq Ali, an acclaimed British-Pakistani historian, criticized Obama for his comments regarding attacking Pakistan and stated "Were the United States to start bombing raids inside Pakistan, there would be a massive increase of support for the jihadi fundamentalist groups in that country, and it would weaken not just secular political groups, it would weaken even the moderate religious parties who are not associated with that."

Free Trade - (From the South Carolina Democrat Debate of January 2008)
“ NAFTA was an enormous problem. The permanent trade relations with China, without some of the enforcement mechanisms that were in there was also a significant problem. And we've got to all move forward as Democrats to make sure that we've got trade deals that work for working people and not just for corporate profits"

* As a state legislator in Illinois, Obama supported banning the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic firearms, increasing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms and requiring manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms. He sponsored a bill in 2000 limiting handgun purchases to one per month. He also voted against a 2004 measure allowing a self-defense exception for people charged with violating local weapons bans by using a gun in their home.
Obama was also a board member of the Joyce Foundation which funds and maintains several gun control organizations in the United States. He supported several gun control measures, including restricting the purchase of firearms at gun shows and the reauthorization of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.
While in the US Senate, Obama has voted against legislation protecting firearm manufacturers from liability.

Universal Health Care - (From the South Carolina Democrat Debate of January 2008)
The question was asked if his plan covered the estimated 12 million or so illegal immigrants in the country? His response was:
"It does not. I think we've got limited resources. And it is important for us that, when we've got millions of U.S. citizens that aren't yet covered, it's important for us to make sure that they are provided coverage. I do think that we have an obligation to make sure that children are covered. And we want to make sure that they are not sick in the emergency room."
"The only way we're going to be able to overcome the insurance companies, and the drug companies, and the HMOs who are profiting from the current system is if we are having all these negotiations in a public setting, we are very clear about who's carrying water for the drug companies and the insurance companies, and who is looking out for the families who, day to day, are struggling."
With respect to universal coverage ". . . understand what this debate is about. And this is a legitimate policy debate. And I respect the positions that John and Hillary have taken. They have decided that we should mandate coverage for all adults. I believe that the problem -- and understand what that means. A mandate means that, in some fashion, everybody will be forced to buy health insurance. Now, John has been honest that that may mean taking money out of people's paychecks in order to make sure that they're covered. Senator Clinton has not been clear about how that mandate would be enforced. But I believe the problem is not that folks are trying to avoid getting health care; the problem is they can't afford it."
"And that's why my plan emphasizes lowering costs, not only setting up a government plan so that people who don't have health insurance can buy into it and will get subsidized, but also making sure that those who have health insurance -- because, keep in mind, we've got millions of Americans all across the country who have health insurance, but are struggling with rising co-payments, deductibles, premiums. Under George Bush, families are paying 78 percent more on health care than they were previously. We put in a catastrophic re-insurance plan that will help reduce those premiums for families by an average of about $2,500 per year."
" . . . every expert that's looked at this has said there is not a single person out there who's going to want health care who will not get it under my plan. And it's true that some people could game the system by just waiting until they get sick and then they show up. But keep in mind that my plan also says children will be able to stay on the parents' plan up until the age of 25. And so I don't believe that there are a whole bunch of folks out there that will not get coverage."

* On January 24, 2007 Obama spoke about his position on health care at Families USA, a health care advocacy group. Obama said, "The time has come for universal health care in America ... I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country." Obama went on to say that he believed that it was wrong that forty-six million Americans are uninsured, noting that taxpayers already pay over $15 billion annually to care for the uninsured.

* On immigration reform, Obama has said that he "will not support any bill that does not provide [an] earned path to citizenship for the undocumented population." Obama supports a guest worker program.
In September 2006, Obama voted for the Secure Fence Act, authorizing the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the United States–Mexico border.

After a visit on Feb 18, 2008, to Niles, Ohio, to tour a titanium plant, RTI International Metals Inc., and to meet with workers about job security and the state of the economy in Northeast Ohio, Senator Obama outlined his plan to help employers retain and create good jobs in Ohio and across the U.S.
"Patriot Employer" plan to fight outsourcing and encourage companies to invest in their American workforce.
"In the last year alone, 93 plants have closed in this state. And yet, year after year, politicians in Washington sign trade agreements that are riddled with perks for big corporations but have absolutely no protections for American workers," Senator Obama said. "It’s bad for our economy, it’s bad for our country, and it will not happen when I am President."
Too many American companies are off-shoring good paying U.S. jobs—including many manufacturing jobs—and many are using overseas tax havens to avoid paying taxes here in the U.S. In 2006 alone Ohio lost 32,337 manufacturing jobs and 93 plants, according to the Manufacturers Directory. Rather than providing incentives for employers to outsource and expand their operations overseas, Barack Obama believes we should encourage corporations to be patriot employers that create good jobs with good benefits for American workers.
End Tax Breaks That Reward Companies for Shipping Jobs Overseas: Our current tax system provides incentives for U.S. multinational corporations to invest their profits overseas rather than here in America. The tax code allows these companies to defer paying taxes on the profit they make in foreign countries for as long as they keep the money abroad. Barack Obama will work to change this rule so companies can't avoid paying taxes by keeping their profits overseas indefinitely. Obama has also called for cracking down on abusive tax havens and increasing enforcement powers.
Reward Companies that Create Good Jobs Here at Home: The revenue raised from ending tax breaks that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas will be used to reduce the corporate tax rate for companies that invest in the U.S. and its workers. Obama’s "Patriot Employers" plan puts the tax code on the side of companies that treat American workers best. His proposal will reward companies that:

• Maintain their headquarters in the United States
• Maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in the United States relative to full-time workers outside of the United States
• Provide an adequate level of health coverage for all employees
• Maintain neutrality in employee organizing drives
• Provide full differential salary and insurance benefits for all National Guard and Reserve employees called to active duty
• Provide all employees with a certain level of compensation and retirement benefits

Campaign Themes

• Washington can change if we say: Yes we can. (Mar 2007)
• Source of his book title "Audacity of Hope" was a sermon. (Feb 2007)
• On cover of Time magazine, about his book & presidency. (Oct 2006)
• Progressives should recognize common morality with religion. (Oct 2006)
• "Audacity of Hope" to change politics to reflect common good. (Oct 2006)
• Offer real hope-not blind optimism-to the American people. (Jul 2004)
• I'm living my parents' dreams and the American dream. (Jul 2004)
• We are one people all defending the United States of America. (Jul 2004)
• Want common-sense solutions, not liberal-conservative labels. (Jul 2004)

Personal History

• Traces ancestry to Jefferson Davis, President of Confederacy. (Feb 2007)
• Born in Hawaii; lives on Chicago's South Side. (Nov 2006)
• Raised secular, but with working knowledge of world religion. (Oct 2006)
• Baptized as an adult in the Trinity United Church of Christ. (Oct 2006)
• First black president of the Harvard Law Review. (Jul 2004)
• Ryan quits Senate race amid sex scandal allegations. (Jun 2004)
• Mother attacked for playing with a black girlfriend. (Aug 1996)
• Poverty of political organizers was proof of their integrity. (Aug 1996)
• Spent time in both Muslim and Catholic schools. (Aug 1996)

Racism & Race

• Convention keynote speech highlights party's black targeting. (Jul 2004)
• America's race and class problems are intertwined. (Aug 1996)
• Biracial heritage has caused identity crisis. (Aug 1996)
• There is some hope of eventual reconciliation between races. (Aug 1996)
• Racism wasn't merely the cruelty involved, but arrogance too. (Aug 1996)

Voting Record

• Biggest mistake was intruding in Terri Schiavo case. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
• Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)

* Obama spoke out in June 2006 against making recent, temporary estate tax cuts permanent, calling the cuts a "Paris Hilton" tax break for "billionaire heirs and heiresses." Speaking in November 2006 to members of Wake Up Wal-Mart, a union-backed campaign group, Obama said: "You gotta pay your workers enough that they can actually not only shop at Wal-Mart, but ultimately send their kids to college and save for retirement."

Iraq War

• The US government should continue to fund the Iraq war but the United States should require Iraqi’s to meet political, economic and military benchmarks. (Dec 2007)
• Believes we need to set a date for withdrawing most US combat troops. (Dec 2007)
• Believes the United States never should have gone into Iraq. (Dec 2007)
• No good options in Iraq--just bad options & worse options. (Aug 2007)
• Be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in. (Jul 2007)
• Troops not dying in vain; but we need plans for success. (Jul 2007)
• We live in a more dangerous world because of Bush's actions. (Jun 2007)
• Case for war was weak, but people voted their best judgment. (Jun 2007)
• Increase ground forces in Iraq to decrease troop rotations. (Apr 2007)
• Open-ended Iraq occupation must end: no military solution. (Apr 2007)
• Open dialogue with both Syria and Iran. (Apr 2007)
• Withdraw gradually and keep some troops in Iraq region. (Mar 2007)
• Iraq 2002: ill-conceived venture; 2007: waste of resources. (Feb 2007)
• Longtime critic of Iraq war. (Nov 2006)
• Saddam did not own and was not providing WMD to terrorists. (Oct 2004)
• Initial military was extraordinarily successful in Iraq. (Oct 2004)
• Invading Iraq was a bad strategic blunder. (Oct 2004)
• We must make sure that Iraq is stable having gone in there. (Oct 2004)
• Advance the training speed and get the reconstruction moving. (Oct 2004)
• Democratizing Iraq will be more difficult than Afghanistan. (Oct 2004)
• Never fudge numbers or shade the truth about war. (Jul 2004)
• Set a new tone to internationalize the Iraqi reconstruction. (Jul 2004)
• Iraq war was sincere but misguided, ideologically driven. (Jul 2004)
• Not opposed to all wars, but opposed to the war in Iraq. (Jul 2004)
• International voice in Iraq in exchange for debt forgiveness. (Jul 2004)

Mideast/Asia/Afghanistan

• Deal with al Qaeda on Pakistan border, but not with nukes. (Aug 2007)
• Get al Qaeda hiding in hills between Afghanistan & Pakistan. (Aug 2007)
• Military action in Pakistan if we have actionable intel. (Aug 2007)
• FactCheck: Yes, Obama said invade Pakistan to get al Qaeda. (Aug 2007)
• Focus on battle in Afghanistan and root out al Qaeda. (Jun 2007)
• Bush cracked down on some terrorists' financial networks. (Jun 2007)
• Iraq has distracted us from Taliban in Afghanistan. (Apr 2007)
• Iran with nuclear weapons is a profound security threat. (Apr 2007)
• We are playing to Osama's plan for winning a war from a cave. (Oct 2006)
• Terrorists are in Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iran. (Oct 2004)
• Problems with current Israeli policy. (Jul 2004)
• Engage North Korea in 6-party talks. (Jul 2004)
• Use moral authority to work towards Middle East peace. (Jul 2004)

Voting Record

• Late to vote against war is not late to oppose war. (Jun 2007)
• Would have voted no to authorize the President to go to war. (Jul 2004)
• Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008. (Mar 2007)
• Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)

Arab-Israeli conflict *

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." At a meeting with Palestinian students two days later, Obama stated opposition to Hamas in favor of rival party Fatah, noting his desire to "consolidate behind a single government with a single authority that can then negotiate as a reliable partner with Israel." In a comment aimed at Hamas, he said that "the US will always side with Israel if Israel is threatened with destruction."

Obama was also a cosponsor of the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which in part calls on "members of the international community to avoid contact with and refrain from financially supporting the terrorist organization Hamas until it agrees to recognize Israel, renounce violence, disarm, and accept prior agreements, including the Roadmap." However, on March 11, 2007, Obama said that "if we could get some movement among Palestinian leadership, what I'd like to see is a loosening up of some of the restrictions on providing aid directly to the Palestinian people."

He defended Israel's response to the Zar'it-Shtula incident on August 22 in an interview with Tim Russert, saying, "I don't think there is any nation that would not have reacted the way Israel did after two soldiers had been snatched. I support Israel's response to take some action in protecting themselves." A month earlier he said, "I don't fault Israel for wanting to rid their border with Lebanon from those Katyusha missiles that can fire in and harm Israeli citizens, so I think that any cease fire would have to be premised on the removal of those missiles."

Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on 2 March 2007, Obama called Israel "our strongest ally in the region," and stated: "We must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs." On the Palestinian Authority's new unity government, Obama said: "We should all be concerned about the agreement negotiated among Palestinians in Mecca last month."

Obama has also discussed in general terms some thoughts about Palestinians vis-a-vis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On March 11, 2007 Obama said: "Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people." On June 4, 2007 Obama stated that "resolution [to the conflict] and a better life for all people" "is something that can be achieved, but it's going to require some soul-searching on the Palestinian side. They have to recognize Israel's right to exist; they have to renounce violence and terrorism as a tool to achieve their political ends; they have to abide by agreements. In that context, I think the Israelis will gladly say, 'Let's move forward negotiations that would allow them to live side by side with the Palestinians in peace and security.'"

Iran *

During his 2004 Senate campaign, Obama stated that he had not ruled out military action against Iran. In a meeting with the Chicago Tribune editorial board, Obama stated: "The big question is going to be, if Iran is resistant to these pressures, including economic sanctions, which I hope will be imposed if they do not cooperate, at what point are we going to take military action, if any?" Obama stressed that he would only resort to force as a last resort. Obama has not declared a change in this stance since the 2004 campaign. In 2006, he called on Iran to "take some ownership for creating some stability" in Iraq.

In an interview with Tim Russert on October 22, 2006 Obama said, "I think that military options have to be on the table when you're dealing with rogue states that have shown constant hostility towards the United States. The point that I would make, though, is that we have not explored all of our options...We have not explored any kind of dialogue with either Iran or North Korea, and I think that has been a mistake. As a consequence, we have almost no leverage over them."

Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on 2 March 2007, Obama stated that 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." Diplomacy would include "more determined U.S. diplomacy at the United Nations," "harnessing the collective power of our friends in Europe who are Iran's major trading partners," and "a cooperative strategy with Gulf States who supply Iran with much of the energy resources it needs."

Iraq *

Senator Obama was an early opponent of Bush administration policies on Iraq, when other Democratic leaders supported the legislation that led to the war. Obama was not in the United States Senate, and was therefore unable to vote during the Iraq Resolution of 11 October 2002, authorizing the use of force against Iraq. During a fall 2002 anti-war rally at Chicago's Federal Plaza, while still an Illinois State Senator, and in a speech alongside Jesse Jackson, Obama stated: "I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. . . . You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings." He also speculated about the sectarian violence in Iraq after the fall of Saddam, and talked about the need for a strategy to stabilize Iraq and hand over power to the Iraqis in an interview in 2002. Speaking before the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2006, he said: "The days of using the war on terror as a political football are over. . . . It is time to give Iraqis their country back, and it is time to refocus America's efforts on the wider struggle yet to be won." In his speech Obama also called for a phased withdrawal of American troops starting in 2007, and an opening of diplomatic dialog with Iraq's neighbors, Syria and Iran.

* On January 30, 2007, Obama introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 into Congress. Among other things, the Act calls for capping the level of troops in Iraq at January 2007 levels, and for commencing a phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq "with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008, a date that is consistent with the expectation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. Announcing the act on the Senate floor, Obama stated that "no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else's civil war."