Clinton - Obama supporters: What are the significant differences in platforms

[Zorra]

between the two candidates?

Their websites reveal platforms that seem to be relatively similar to me, and the DU primary page looks more like a forum for an American Idol catfight than it does a place for discussion of serious discourse as to who the Democratic nominee should be.

So, in your opinion, how do these two candidates significantly differ on proposals as to how to solve the problems we face as a nation?

Thanks.

[JuniperLea]

1. BEST THREAD TODAY!!

Excellent question, perfectly framed! This is what we should be discussing!

:yourock:



Edited for...



:popcorn:

[sandnsea]

2. Obama is bottom up

His stimulus plan used FICA rebates and social security so that EVERYBODY was included. He doesn't mandate health insurance without the details of the costs. He helps young fathers as well as young mothers. He thinks of those at the bottom FIRST.

That's it in a nutshell and those of us who understand how these policies really work in action, know the difference.

[Zorra]

6. Thanks, good stuff. n/t

[laconicsax]

3. They don't.

I supported Kucinich, then Edwards and I've tried really hard to get excited about either of them. I spent a few hours on their campaign websites yesterday and the only thing I found is how uninspired I am about either of them. There really aren't any major differences between them--they both advocate the same things with the same implementation timetables. I read Obama's "Blueprint for Change" and found no significant difference in it to Clinton's positions on the same issues.

They both have the same policy goals and only have minor differences in how they would go about achieving it.

[lvx35]

4. The differences between them are about 5% of the differences between either and a republican.

So you've made a good observation, and the people here SCREAMING about either one really are idiots, that's completely correct.

Let me just say the one thing I personally like best about each: I prefer Hillary's health care plan, I think it takes us closest to single payer. I really like Obama's push toward government transperancy, I think its innovative as hell and will help level the playing field.

[leftofthedial]

14. damn, that is so true

ALL the candidates seem clustered around about the 70th percentile (with cheney being at 100%)

[xultar]

5. nothing.

[sandnsea]

9. Hey

I just posted differences directly to you. Don't pretend you have no candidate when you continuously dump on Obama threads. You have an agenda, there's no doubt about that.

[Jed Dilligan]

7. Hillary's healthcare mandates scare me

I'm uninsured, but I would rather stay that way than pay premiums that someone in DC decided I could afford.

[Writer]

8. There's not much difference at all between the two.

Which is why some of us are focusing on other aspects of their candidacies.

[Occam Bandage]

10. There are very, very few. Why do you think we're fighting over stupid shit?

[Zorra]

13. Heh, that got a laugh out of me. n/t

[Proud2BAmurkin]

11. Krugman: If Obama gets nomination, universal health care "just won't happen"

[Extend a Hand]

12. still working on my reply

I know the thread will be dead before I'm done. But it's been a useful exercise for me in any event.

[LordJFT]

15. obama supports lifting the cap on social security taxes

Hillary doesn't. Obama opposes legislation banning flag-burning, Hillary has sponsored such legislation. Hillary supports companies that move jobs overseas, Obama has vowed to end tax breaks for such companies. Obama wants to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, Hillary doesn't. Obama says he'll meet unconditionally with hostile leaders, Hillary says she won't. Hillary supported Kyl-Lieberman, Obama opposed it.

[Extend a Hand]

16. deleted

ooops wrong spot.

[Extend a Hand]

17. wikipedia has very good summaries of candidate postitions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama#Civil_liberties
Iraq war- has pledge to start bringing troops home with 60 days of taking office, intoduced the Iraq War De-escalation act of 2007.
supports decriminilization of marijuana feels war on drugs is a failure
voted for the Vitter ammendment (prohibits confiscation of guns during an emergency or national disaster)
supports net neutrality (we currently have net neutrality, the cable / dsl providers want to start charging based on content)
Has signed American Freedom Agenda pledge (to restore the constitution)

voting scorecards:
Naral rating 100%*
NRLC (National Right to Life Committe) 0%
ACLU scorecard 80%
Human Rights Campaign (LGBT scorecard) 89%
League of Conservation Voters 96%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Hillary_Rodham_Clinton
Iraq war- has pledge to start bringing troops home with 60 days of taking office, has recently called on bush to renounce permanent bases in Iraq
does not support decriminilization of marijuana
voted against the Vitter ammendment (prohibits confiscation of guns during an emergency or national disaster)
supports net neutrality
Has not signed the American Freedom agenda pledge to restore the constitution

voting record scorecards:
Naral rating 100%
NRLC (National Right to Life Committe) 0%
ACLU scorecard 67%
Human Rights Campaign (LGBT scorecard) 89%
League of Conservation Voters 90%


http://action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?congress=110&location=S&page=congScorecard
http://www.hrc.org/documents/HRCscorecard2006.pdf * (109th congress)
http://www.americanfreedomagenda.org/About/default.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama#Civil_liberties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Hillary_Rodham_Clinton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_candidates,_2008
http://www.lcv.org/voterguide/