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Huckabee, McCain present opposition stances
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Also by Alex Brousseau:
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- Sports restaurant opening Aug. 1 (December 5, 2007)
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by Alex Brousseau
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Unlike the Democratic candidates, the Republican candidates’ stances vary greatly, from the moderate John McCain to the conservative Mike Huckabee. Their diverging ideas provoke examination into each of the candidate’s stances on divisive issues: Iraq, immigration, education, abortion and same-sex marriage.
Iraq
On the issue of Iraq, each candidate has a different view.
While Huckabee and McCain both agree the U.S. needs to stay in Iraq, their
methods about how to handle the situation differ.
McCain, a military man by profession, has a detailed plan of
how to win in Iraq, including the implementation of a counterinsurgency
strategy, strengthening Iraqi armed forces and pressuring Syria and Iran into
changing destructive behavior toward Iraq.
“All of the reports say the plans are working, they just
need more time,” College Republicans Chair Sarah Mikolajczak said. “If we pull
out, we risk anarchy and chaos in the Middle East, and we’ll have to go back.
We should stay there until the region is stable. If it takes 100 years, it
takes 100 years.”
Huckabee has not presented as detailed a plan on Iraq. He
has said withdrawing troops would have disastrous effects, as would setting
timetables. The best way to succeed is to continue the military surge while
also hosting a regional summit to get Iraq’s neighbors financially and
militarily committed to Iraq’s success, according to Huckabee.
“John McCain is the most vocal supporter of the surge,
saying that it works, has been successful and that we need to stay there,”
University of Wisconsin political science professor Barry Burden said. “Defense
and staying the course in Iraq is the top of his agenda, whereas for Huckabee,
this plays a smaller role because social issues are at the top of his agenda.”
Immigration
McCain’s approach to immigration is centered on providing a
path toward citizenship for illegal immigrants through a fine and a requirement
to learn English. He also believes building a better alliance with Mexico and
Latin American will help with this goal.
“McCain has been much quieter on immigration because he’s
been running into trouble with the Republican Party,” Burden sad. “He is much
more moderate, and his views are similar to President Bush’s, which doesn’t sit
well with social conservatives.”
Huckabee strongly opposes open borders, amnesty, sanctuaries
and driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. If elected president, he has
promised to push through $3 billion for border security with which to provide
more agents, drone planes, vehicle barriers, radar and camera towers and a
700-mile fence. He also supports detaining and deporting illegal immigrants.
Mikolajczak agrees with McCain. “We as Americans and
Republicans need to swallow our pride and realize we’re not going to deport all
here illegally. We also need to make it easier for people to come here legally.
This country was founded on legal immigration, and to say anything against
immigration would be un-American,” Mikolajczak said.
Education
McCain’s main idea behind education is if the schools will
not change, then the students should be able to change schools. He promotes
putting the parents and students at the center of the education process.
Huckabee’s unique policy for education reforms focuses on
“Weapons of Mass Instruction,” a program to promote arts and music education,
which he has said are just as important as math and science. As president, he
has also promised to work towards a distinction between federal and state
powers of education.
Abortion and same-sex marriage
On the topic of abortion, both candidates believe Roe v.
Wade should be overturned and partial-birth
abortions should also be banned following the Supreme Court ruling on Gonzales
v. Carhart.
“McCain doesn’t talk about these issues unless directly
asked, whereas for Huckabee, these are his main priorities,” Burden said.
Huckabee also supports a constitutional amendment to protect
the sanctity of life. McCain hopes to achieve his goal by nominating judges who
will not legislate from the bench.
In regard to same-sex marriage, both candidates agree marriage should be reserved as a union between a man and a woman. McCain, though, believes if measures are to be taken against same-sex marriage, it should be done at the state level, not federal. Huckabee, however, supports a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
Anonymous (February 19, 2008 @ 1:06pm):
Mike Huckabee is the best person for the job!
Time magazine recently named Huckabee as being of the top 5 governors in America!
Why? Because Huckabee took their school system that scored almost last in the union to almost first! Wow! And trucker's magazine named his State as having the best roads in America! Thanks Mike!
Mike cares about the common man on main street, not just the rich men on wall street.
Mike Huckabee is an authentic conservative and a authentic human being!
There is only 1 way to vote. HUCKABEE!!!!!!
Anonymous (February 19, 2008 @ 2:30pm):
Mike Huckabee would be a better President - with better leadership to get important things done. Better for America & the future generations.
Don't depend on foreign oil, vote Huckabee to "really" reach energy independence.
McCain is too Old and does not have enough years ahead to face the music for not being able to get things done.
VOTE HUCKABEE.
Do NOT miss the opportunity.
Anonymous (March 6, 2008 @ 2:38pm):
Amen to everyone above!
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