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Clinton, Obama hold similar views, clash on strategy

With Super Tuesday come and gone, and the Wisconsin primary today, voters are taking a long, hard look at the views of the 2008 presidential candidates on several key topics, including Iraq, education and health care. Of the Democratic candidates, only Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama remain.

Although the platforms of the Democratic contenders are similar, and they hope to attain the same goals, closer inspection reveals the two candidates disagree on how specifically to reach them.

 

Iraq

One of the most contentious issues in this year’s election is U.S. involvement in Iraq, which has drawn flak from many students.

According to professor Barry Burden of the political science department, at first both candidates sound very different on the subject of Iraq, but essentially both want to take action within 60 days, which is how long it will take to develop a plan.

“Both candidates plan to have most of the troops out in around a year,” Burden said. “Both also plan on keeping some troops there for peace-keeping and humanitarian efforts.”

Clinton also plans to create a regional stabilization group composed of key allies, with the goals of mediation, non-interference and reconstruction funding.

Obama has promised to pull all combat brigades out in 16 months without maintaining any permanent bases. He also plans to press Iraq’s leaders to reconcile while providing at least $2 billion to Iraqi refugees.

 

Education

Education is also a big-ticket item, especially for college students.

Clinton’s education reform deals more specifically with plans for younger children, such as ending No Child Left Behind and promoting Head Start, which funds programs for economically disadvantaged children.

At the college level, Clinton plans to create a new $3,500 college tax credit, increase the maximum amount of federal Pell grants and create a graduation fund to increase graduation rates as well as promoting affordable loan programs.

Obama plans to create a tax credit to pay for the first $4,000 of college tuition for most Americans, cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public university and make community college tuition completely free for most students. He has said he will change the financial aid process by eliminating applications in favor of a box to check on tax forms.

 

Health care

On the issue of health care, yet again both candidates have the same foundational idea, but different specific plans on how to come to the same conclusion.

Both candidates want to provide universal health care coverage with affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles with similar benefit packages that Congress receives. They also want to strengthen Medicaid and children’s health insurance programs (CHIP and SCHIP). They both plan to help pay for this by eliminating President Bush’s tax cuts for those earning over $250,000.

Clinton’s health care reform is based around tax credits; one for private and public retiree health plans, another for small businesses and a third to prevent premiums from increasing above a percentage of family income. She also wants to mandate individual health insurance for all, not just children.

Obama’s promises include the creation of the National Health Insurance Exchange, a national watchdog group that will help reform private insurance companies by creating rules and standards that all companies must follow. He also wants to mandate coverage of all children up to age 25.