By Euronews
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What are the political positions of the US presidential candidates on some the main campaign issues?
ADVERTISEMENTWhat are the political positions of the US presidential candidates on some the main campaign issues?
Donald Trump
- Businessman
- 70 years old
- Republican candidate for US presidency
Economy
For a major tax reform:
- mainly tax cuts (but fewer that Pence)
- mainly for middle classes
- cuts for businesses to avoid corporate inversions
- an end to death tax
- reducing deductions for richest
- reduce the debt, but with no programme defined
- high tariffs on goods coming from China, Mexico and other places
- renegotiations for better international trade deals but against TTP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)
- against raising the minimum wage
Health
- repeal of Obamacare but not of Medicare or Social security
- reform of Medicaid, essentially making it state-run, rather than at a federal level
- full competition for health insurance across states
- deregulation of the medicine market
- free market for imported drugs
Foreign policy
- supporter of Israel
- for tough interrogation measures in Guatanamo
- against the Iranian nuclear deal and for tougher sanctions against Iran
- for a revaluation of the financial participation of NATO members
- against the war in Iraq (2003)
Education
- for a decentralisation of education
- thinks too much money is spent on education for poor results
- against the “Common Core” programme
Immigration
- for building a fence at the Mexican border, paid for by Mexico
- for the deportation of immigrants convicted of a crime
- for detention and deportaion of illegal migrants caught crossing the border
- for increasing tracking and penalties of expired visas
- against citizenship for children born in the US to illegal migrants
Climate
- doubts climate change (notably because the winter was cold)
- for protecting fossil fuel energy (coal, oil, gas)
- against any CO2 emissions cut
- believes wind turbines are dangerous for birds
- has said: “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive”
Religion
- says he is Presbyterian (Protestant)
- thinks there is a “Muslim problem” and has said foreign Muslims should be banned from entering the US
Abortion
- was previously a supporter of pro-choice abortion rights, now against abortion, except in cases of rape, incest and threat to the life of the mother
- against subsidising Planned Parenthood
- in March 2016 he said that women who seek abortion should be punished somehow but later retracted this statement
LGBT
- has declared several times that he has many gay friends
- against legal rights, such as gay marriage, for LGBT people
- believes transgender people should be able to use whichever toilet they feel most comfortable with
- wants to protect LGBT individuals from radical Islam by stopping Muslim immigration
Tobacco and cannabis
- doesn’t consume drugs, alcohol or cigarettes
- against legalising and regulating cannabis use (used to be in favour of this in the 90s)
- for using cannabis for medical reasons and state legislation regarding cannabis
Guns
- for the carrying of arms, with restrictions for terrorists
Mike Pence
- 57 years old
- Indiana governor (since 2012)
- Member of the US House of Representatives for Indiana (2001-2012)
- Republican vice-president candidate
- Previously endorsed Ted Cruz
- Describes himself as: “A Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order”
Economy
- against raising the minimum wage
- for cutting tax
- for free trade and TTP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)
Health
- supported the extension of Medicaid, but spoke out against health programs while he was a member of the House of Representatives
- has cut the health budget in Indiana
ADVERTISEMENTForeign policy
- supporter of Israel
- for increasing the size of the military to build a strong America
- for tough interrogation measures in Guantanamo Bay detention camp
- has expressed support for the war in Iraq (2003)
Education
- against federal plans for education and for programs at a local level
- voted against No Child Left Behind Act (George W Bush)
Immigration
- for building a fence along the Mexico-United States border
- for deporting all undocumented individuals including children and sick people
- against automatic citizenship for children born on US soil to undocumented parents
Climate
- is a climate change denier, has called climate change a hoax
- against the Clean Power Plan
Religion
- Christian, devoutly religious
- passed the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Indiana, that could have allowed discrimination against LGBT people but later amended it
ADVERTISEMENTAbortion
- against abortion even when the fetus has a genetic abnormality
- pushed to cut funding for Planned Parenthood leading to the closure of small clinics
LGBT
- against same-sex marriage
- thinks homosexuality is an illness and backs medical treatment for homosexuals
- wanted to ban homosexuals from the army
Tobacco and cannabis
- claimed that “tobacco doesn’t kill” (1998)
- sees cannabis as a “gateway drug”
Guns
- for gun ownership and carrying a gun in public
- his political campaigns are financially supported by the NRA
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