Below is a short synopsis of the stances taken by Mitt Romney and John McCain on issues that are particularly relevant to Florida coming into the primary on January 29. The issues and their opinions were taken from Project VoteSmart and OnTheIssues, both of which keep large numbers of quotes and portions of ads from candidates to help voters better understand their positions.
Budget priorities
McCain - Would keep current spending steady on agriculture, and slightly decrease spending on the space program. Space research and aeronautics is a significant part of the economy in east-central Florida, and supports a wide range of science programs through the state.
Romney - The former Massachusetts governor has said that he supports continuing domestic support for agriculture.
Defense
McCain - After the USS John F. Kennedy was decommissioned, Jacksonville’s historically military-based economy was left without an aircraft carrier based at Mayport. McCain has stated that he feels that Jacksonville would be a good host for the USS George H.W. Bush, but that he would not commit to advocating for it outright, as this would be micromanaging the issue.
Romney - Supports expanding the current US military by at least 100,000 troops, but has not elaborated on what sections may receive additional soldiers, or be reactivated. Romney generally supports a strong military, but did not himself serve in any branch of the armed forces. He recently apologized for comparing his sons’ service on his campaign to military service.
Education
McCain - Supports the continuation of voucher programs for children already active in Florida and would increase available funds for federal programs such as Pell and Stafford. Education spending has become a critical issue in Florida, as a state budget crunch has put pressure on universities and colleges to increase tuition, leaving some students scrambling for money.
Romney - Supports voucher programs. Although he at one time supported the abolishment of the Department of Education, the former Massachusetts governor has now changed his tune to supporting the controversial standards-based No Child Left Behind Act, and much of the testing that goes along with it. Romney has also expressed support for English-based immersion language learning.
Immigration
McCain - Has indicated in the past that he would favor increasing the number of visas for agricultural workers and using Z-visas to legalize illegal immigrants, an issue important to Florida’s extensive citrus industry.
Romney - Believes that permanent Z-visas amount to “amnesty in fact”, encouraging further illegal immigration on the grounds that existing illegals are eventually processed as citizens. Also favors enforcing the law as it exists now, rather than changing to address agricultural needs.
Healthcare
McCain - Would support expanding coverage for prescription drugs under the existing Medicare model, but not admit those between the ages of 55 and 65 to enter the Medicare program.
Romney - Introduced a highly controversial requirement on all Massachusetts residents that they obtain healthcare, or lose their personal exemption on their state income taxes. How this would be applied to the elderly is unclear. Romney has emphasized that he doesn’t plan to propose this plan for the nation as a whole.
Environment
McCain - Forest fires have ravaged Florida’s brush areas in recent years, causing significant losses in life and property. McCain has indicated that he would support a Healthy Forests law, reducing the amount of underbrush in forests that are close to populated areas.
Romney - While he supports research into alternative fuels, Romney does not think that we should “have the rest of the world skate by without having to participate in this effort”. However, he does support unilateral energy independence, which includes drilling in ANWR. Fuel is a particularly important issue for Florida, which has few non-petroleum driven forms of public transportation, and increasingly sprawling cities that demand mobility.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:08 am
This is not factual! Stephen you are obviously using this article to puff up your candidate. You have misrepresented Romney’s views on these respective issues and I pray that people see right through your claims in this article. All one has to do is watch a debate to understand that you have cherry picked your “facts” about Romney’s views on all of these issues, often inserting your opinions instead of the facts! Please watch the next debate on Wed. Jan. 30th, and/or go to MittRomney.com and do the research for yourself!
January 28th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Romney is right, Mccain is wrong. Reason is the path that Mccain want to follow bring just bring more illegal immigration, perhaps he is to indebted to special interests and big business. I don’t want to be taxed more to support a newly legalized cheap subsidized labor force that businesses benefit from and taxpayers support. And Mccain says he is against raising taxes but it is okay for states that will have to support them.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:24 am
Kudos to you, and ditto to that, Joshua.
If McCain gets in I will not vote at all.
Romney/Rice is the best ticket for the White House.
They are both brilliant, and they will compliment each other to be one of the best in history; just like Reagan/Bush, Bush/Cheney, Romney/Rice will be outstanding.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Actually, there are plenty of areas where McCain is not shown in the best light - such as Budget Priorities and Immigration. Also, getting a guarantee from McCain on a JFK replacement has been a top priority for many in the Jacksonville area, and is a reason why many here went with Giuliani, who did say that he thought the George H.W. Bush should be stationed at Mayport.
Pro-McCain people could also point to this and claim that it’s anti-McCain.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:35 am
I love the Romney/Rice idea, Bill!
I also hope people will research carefully! Too many people in this country cast their votes not knowing what they’re voting for.
Romney would equal McCain’s strengths and blow away McCain’s weaknesses.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:45 am
We each seem to have our own major issue(s) that make their choice for President seem like the best one. The economy is a big one for me. McCain did not know about the “Working Group on Financial Markets” in the last debate. This is VERY scary if he is elected. My question is: Would someone tell me why we should NOT elect Ron Paul?
Ron Paul has raised more money than the rest in the 4th quarter & is spending it! $20 million in the 4th quarter. $3.5 million so far this quarter. And it was all from individual donations averaging less than $100. No PACs. Unlike the others he is beholding to nothing but the Constitution.
The rest, with Richardson and Kucinich out, seem to be talking crazy talk (or did last week, who knows what the Democrats will say next week!) about our military adventures in the Middle East. Military spending is connected to our current economic mess. Additionally, no one else seems to understand the problems with the economy, inflation, and out of control deficit spending. Inflation is going to eat us alive, as it has already started to do so. Do you really believe that the REAL inflation rate last year, the rate that was used by the government for Social Security check increases this month, was 2.3%? Just look at the price of gold up 30% in 2007, now at an all time high and getting higher!
One can not talk about tax cuts without ALSO talking about cutting spending. We have a $9 trillion debt (nearly double since 2000) that must be paid so we can afford Social Security and Medicare. The interest payments will go sky high when we begin to fight inflation with higher Federal Reserve bank rates.
And we must stop inflation or everyone’s life savings will go down the tubes, along with the middle class, like what has happened to the middle class in most countries south of our border. And do not forget Universal Health Care, which is coming down the tracks right at us, unless Republicans begin to understand the seriousness of runaway deficits and inflation. And start educating the country. A Democratic President will surely not fight inflation like Volcker and Reagan did!
Please vote Ron Paul and save the country from bankruptcy abroad and at home!
January 28th, 2008 at 3:47 am
>I also hope people will research carefully! Too many people in this country cast their votes not knowing what they’re voting for.
You can say that again. As in… “If you vote for any of the possible Republican candidates in 2008, you must not know what your voting for” I like the fact that all the Republican candidates want to continue a war of choice in Iraq, spend $150 billion dollars a year over there, *and* lower taxes.
Its a sure fired success story should we elect Republicans for another four years, let me tell you.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
20 reasons not to vote for Juan McAmnesty:
January 28th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
http://davidkfuller.blogspot.com/2008/01/20-reasons-not-to-vote-for-juan.html