Obama, McCain agree on many once-divisive issues

[Psycho4Bud]

WASHINGTON -- For Amy Rick, the 2008 presidential election is a win-win situation. Both Barack Obama and John McCain support an expansion of stem-cell research that she has battled for in vain under President Bush.

"Both are very solid," said Rick, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research. "We are definitely looking forward with optimism to a change in policy in 2009."

John Isaacs, an arms control advocate, feels the same way, because both candidates have made nuclear nonproliferation a priority. "We'll have major progress on nuclear issues no matter who is elected," said Isaacs, executive director of the Council for a Livable World.

Stem-cell research and nuclear weapons are just two examples of a surprising but little-noticed aspect of the 2008 campaign: Democrat Obama and Republican McCain agree on a range of issues that have divided the parties under Bush.

On immigration, faith-based social services, expanded government wiretapping, global warming and more, Obama and McCain have arrived at similar stances -- even as they have spent weeks trying to amplify the differences between them on other issues, such as healthcare and taxes.

Even on Iraq, a signature issue for both candidates, McCain and Obama have edged toward each other.

The result is that in many areas of policy, the general direction of the next White House seems already set, even if the details are not.

The centrist consensus on many issues underscores an important dynamic in the 2008 political climate: At a time of growing frustration with gridlock and partisan bickering in Washington, politicians with a pragmatic, middle-course tack are thriving. In both parties, the more strident, ideological presidential candidates lost in the primaries.

This development also shows how this presidential election differs from the last. Whereas both political parties in 2004 focused on mobilizing their most ardent supporters, this campaign's battle is focusing on the political middle.

The convergence is in large measure a result of McCain's record of defying the GOP party line. But Obama too has been tacking to the center lately on a number of fronts, including trade, government wiretapping policy and the death penalty.

"It debunks the common view that Obama is the most liberal Democratic senator," Isaacs said. "And it debunks the view that McCain is really the third Bush term."

To be sure, a McCain presidency would look far different than an Obama presidency. The two candidates have starkly different approaches to healthcare, Social Security and Supreme Court nominations, among other issues. But this makes it all the more surprising that in many areas the rivals are more or less aligned.

Initially, the war in Iraq was one of the hot-button disagreements. Obama made his early opposition to the war a cornerstone of his candidacy; McCain's calling card has been his support for the war and last year's troop increase. But in the course of the campaign, their differences have narrowed over the choices facing the next president.

McCain has repeatedly opposed setting timetables for withdrawing U.S. forces, but more recently he has said he wants most troops out by 2013 -- the first time he has mentioned a specific date.

Obama has repeatedly said he would withdraw troops within 16 months of taking office, but he has hedged in ways that would give him wide latitude: He says he will listen to military commanders, will react to events on the ground and may "refine" his plan after his upcoming trip to Iraq.

In other areas of policy:

* Both McCain and Obama favor combating global warming with a "cap and trade" system. Under this plan, the government would set limits on emissions. Companies and others who emit gases below those limits would be able to sell credits to those unable to meet the targets.

* On the future of nuclear power, the candidates are in the same neighborhood. McCain has laid out a plan to build 45 nuclear power plants. Obama has offered more general support, along with the caveat that a nuclear power expansion be coupled with a resolution on how to safely dispose of waste.

* Both have parted ways with Bush and advocated stepped-up negotiations with Russia and other countries to reduce the world's nuclear arsenal.

* Both twice voted for legislation -- which Bush twice vetoed -- that would have eased federal restrictions on human embryonic stem-cell research.

* Obama voted in the Senate on Wednesday for a bill, bitterly opposed by many liberals, to expand the government's eavesdropping authority and to protect telephone companies that cooperate with the program from being sued. McCain was not present for the vote but has said he supported the bill.

* Both embrace the idea of continuing Bush's faith-based initiative, a program that funnels federal money to religious charities for social services.

Although those issues are not prominent in the campaign debate, the candidates are also converging on the major issue of immigration -- to the surprise and delight of immigrant advocates and businesses who depend on their labor.

"The best news all year is that after competitive presidential primaries in both parties, we end up with nominees on both sides who get it on immigration," said John Gay, an official with the National Restaurant Assn. who heads a business coalition favoring a legalization plan for undocumented immigrant workers. "That was by no means a certainty when the campaign got started."

Most of McCain's rivals for the GOP nomination had criticized the idea of legalization as amnesty, and many campaign ads played on growing concerns about illegal immigrants.

McCain had been an early supporter of a legalization program for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. During the primary, he distanced himself from that plan and said he had learned his lesson, that Americans want the border secured first.

But now McCain has shifted his emphasis again, indicating that as president he would push for broad legislation that tackles all of the country's immigration troubles, including the legalization question.

Obama speaks more directly to the idea of legalization, and McCain addresses it in subtle terms, but advocates say the position is essentially the same.

"Sen. McCain never really repudiated his [original] position," said Tamar Jacoby, who heads a business coalition called ImmigrationWorks USA. "Saying you're going to do it in phases doesn't mean you're not going to do it."
Obama, McCain agree on many once-divisive issues - Los Angeles Times

Typical politics...tell the people what they want to hear; that's untill after November elections.:wtf:

Have a good one!:s4:

Psycho4Bud Reviewed by Psycho4Bud on 07-13-2008. Obama, McCain agree on many once-divisive issues WASHINGTON -- For Amy Rick, the 2008 presidential election is a win-win situation. Both Barack Obama and John McCain support an expansion of stem-cell research that she has battled for in vain under President Bush. "Both are very solid," said Rick, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research. "We are definitely looking forward with optimism to a change in policy in 2009." John Isaacs, an arms control advocate, feels the same way, because both candidates have made Rating: 5

[Bong30]

I just hope He Picks Romney for VP. Maybe it will keep him to the right of most of those issues

Maybe not:wtf:

[daihashi]

I think this was a good article for man of the gung ho' Obama supporters who blindly follow him because he represents change. The same people who bash McCain with no backing for their attacks.

This article points out what I've been saying this entire election. That Obama and McCain agree on many many issues. I am still confused how people can label him a 3rd term Bush. McCain has so many liberal tendencies in him despite being a conservative. Which in my opinion I think is great. It gives him an opposing side in which he can play devils advocate and I feel that could help him make some very hard, but great choices for this country.

Obama has shown conservatism at times, but overall he just doesn't have the leadership skills needed or the experience. It takes more than being able to give impressive speeches to lead a nation. I think that if Obama continues to mature the way he does and starts to steer a little closer to the middle that he would be a great candidate in about 12-16 years once he get's more experience in office under his belt.

Either way, the article makes it pretty obvious. Both candidates have shown they are not that different on their stances. You can even find similarities in issues they differ on such as Taxes and Medical programs.

McCain isn't my ideal candidate but I feel he's probably the closest thing to what this country needs right now.

Either president is headed into hard times. It will be 4 years to remember; that I'm sure of.

[HerbalConfusion]

I just hope He Picks Romney for VP. Maybe it will keep him to the right of most of those issues

Maybe not:wtf:

ROMNEY LOL!!

[dragonrider]

I think this was a good article for man of the gung ho' Obama supporters who blindly follow him because he represents change. The same people who bash McCain with no backing for their attacks.

This article points out what I've been saying this entire election. That Obama and McCain agree on many many issues. I am still confused how people can label him a 3rd term Bush. McCain has so many liberal tendencies in him despite being a conservative. Which in my opinion I think is great. It gives him an opposing side in which he can play devils advocate and I feel that could help him make some very hard, but great choices for this country.

Obama has shown conservatism at times, but overall he just doesn't have the leadership skills needed or the experience. It takes more than being able to give impressive speeches to lead a nation. I think that if Obama continues to mature the way he does and starts to steer a little closer to the middle that he would be a great candidate in about 12-16 years once he get's more experience in office under his belt.

Either way, the article makes it pretty obvious. Both candidates have shown they are not that different on their stances. You can even find similarities in issues they differ on such as Taxes and Medical programs.

McCain isn't my ideal candidate but I feel he's probably the closest thing to what this country needs right now.

Either president is headed into hard times. It will be 4 years to remember; that I'm sure of.

Yes, they are not that far apart on some issues. McCain is far more of a moderate than Bush was, and I also think that is a very good thing. I also think that he is even more moderate than he is campaigning right now. If anything he has modified his messages to be more conservative than he really is in order to bring in more conservative voters.

I support Obama, but I do not think that McCain would be a complete disaster the way Bush was. It seems to me that most Democrsts see this election in a pretty positive light, because the Dems have a great candidate, but even McCain would be OK, because he is a fairly centrist moderate on a lot of issues. Whereas, Republicans see this election in a mostly negative light, because Obama is strong enought that McCain stands almost no chance, and even if McCain wins, he is more moderate than many Rebuplicans like. Democrats see a big upside and little downside in this electiosn, while Republicans see a big downside and little upside.

This is a good time to be a moderate Democrat.

[Psycho4Bud]

Democrats see a big upside and little downside in this electiosn, while Republicans see a big downside and little upside.

This is a good time to be a moderate Democrat.

How true....unless you bring up the FISA thing, or the so called withdrawl from Iraq in "09", or Rev. Wright, or William Ayres, or.........the list keeps on growing and I'm short on time.

Have a good one!:s4:

[daihashi]

Whereas, Republicans see this election in a mostly negative light, because Obama is strong enought that McCain stands almost no chance, and even if McCain wins, he is more moderate than many Rebuplicans like. Democrats see a big upside and little downside in this electiosn, while Republicans see a big downside and little upside.

I'm not sure this is necessarily true. Many democrats are distancing themselves from Obama. Combined with his current FISA stance and many recent changes in his idea of "change" has left democrats feeling a bit uneasy about this candidate. On top of Hillary Clinton who said right off the bat that she would not accept a VP ticket we also have the following whom have turned Obama down for the VP spot: Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, Gov. of Ohio Ted Strickland, .... and I feel I'm missing one other person here but I may be wrong so we'll just leave it at that.

For democrats that see this as a win/win situation it sure seems that no one is jumping to get the VP ticket. This leads me to believe that he is not as popular among his fellow democrats as previously anticipated.

I think that with some refining and pushing Obama more towards the middle that he would be a decent candidate in about 12-16 more years. With more experience I think he would be more able to make accurate assessments and be able to present more realistic proposals to the American people. Currently it feels like he's offering the world and people need to realize that this just isn't possible. In order to get something you have to give something. Currently all of Obama's plans focus on taking from the rich and large corporations and giving to the poor. In reality this Robin Hood style politics will still bear it's weight in the middle class and not on the corporations. I anticipate product prices to rise in addition to unemployment rates to go up under some of his plans.

I feel the same about his plans for Iraq. I agree with needing to go back to Afghanistan but I don't think we should act like 5 year olds with ADD who are torn between two different toys. Let's finish with one place before we go back to the other. Let's finish Iraq before we start looking at going back into Afghanistan. Which is a mistake we've made once before and I'd prefer not to make the same mistake again (we left Afghanistan to go into Iraq).

Personally though I'd like to see Colin Powell run. I think that man represents the balance we need in a leader. I can only hope one day he'll pick up the campaign and announce his candidacy. Maybe in 2012?

[dragonrider]

I'm not sure this is necessarily true. Many democrats are distancing themselves from Obama. Combined with his current FISA stance and many recent changes in his idea of "change" has left democrats feeling a bit uneasy about this candidate. On top of Hillary Clinton who said right off the bat that she would not accept a VP ticket we also have the following whom have turned Obama down for the VP spot: Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, Gov. of Ohio Ted Strickland, .... and I feel I'm missing one other person here but I may be wrong so we'll just leave it at that.

For democrats that see this as a win/win situation it sure seems that no one is jumping to get the VP ticket. This leads me to believe that he is not as popular among his fellow democrats as previously anticipated.

I don't think so. First of all, I'm not sure anyone has actually "turned Obama down for the VP spot." It has to be offered in order to be turned down, and I have not heard that the position has been offered to anyone, let alone offered and turned down. Let me know if you have heard otherwise. Pulliing yourself out of the running or saying you don't want it is a different matter from actually turning it down. Who knows why these people may have asked not to be considered or if they were actually being considered in the first place?

Anyway, I was talking about the rank-and-file Dems, not those who might be consedered for a position. And I don't see many rank-and-file Dems distancing themselves from Obama. They seem pretty enthusiastic. I do see rank-and-file Repubs lacking enthusiams over McCain, but Obama is not having that problem with Dems.

And it was also relatively moderate rank-and-file Dems I was talking about who view the election as relativley positive, with a good upside and only a small downside if McCain were to win. Elected Democrats or very partisan or very left-leaning democrats would probably not see it that way bacause they can't get past their partisanship. But I don't think moderate Dems generally see McCain as a disaster.

[daihashi]

I don't think so. First of all, I'm not sure anyone has actually "turned Obama down for the VP spot." It has to be offered in order to be turned down, and I have not heard that the position has been offered to anyone, let alone offered and turned down. Let me know if you have heard otherwise. Pulliing yourself out of the running or saying you don't want it is a different matter from actually turning it down. Who knows why these people may have asked not to be considered or if they were actually being considered in the first place?

Google is your friend. These people were being considered for the VP spot, and these people have said they WOULD NOT accept a nomination.


Virginia Sen. Jim Webb just issued a statement from his Senate office saying that -- "[u]nder no circumstances" -- does he want to be considered as Obama's veep.

"I have not sought and I will not accept any other opportunity," Warner told cheering convention delegates.

ABC News' Teddy Davis and John Santucci Report: Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) was Shermanesque on Tuesday in saying that he would "absolutely not" be Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., running mate even if asked to join the Democratic ticket.

Anyway, I was talking about the rank-and-file Dems, not those who might be consedered for a position. And I don't see many rank-and-file Dems distancing themselves from Obama. They seem pretty enthusiastic. I do see rank-and-file Repubs lacking enthusiams over McCain, but Obama is not having that problem with Dems.

Not All Democrats Want To Ride Obama's Coattails - WSJ.com

Poll: Some Clinton supporters still not embracing Obama - CNN.com

Backlash! 2 million angry Democrats reject Obama? Raise $10 million for Clinton campaign debt, urge her return

And here's something slightly unrelated that should be read and considered when you are considering what "iraqi's want". What people want and what they know is realistically possible are TWO different things:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/wo...voices.html?hp

And it was also relatively moderate rank-and-file Dems I was talking about who view the election as relativley positive, with a good upside and only a small downside if McCain were to win. Elected Democrats or very partisan or very left-leaning democrats would probably not see it that way bacause they can't get past their partisanship. But I don't think moderate Dems generally see McCain as a disaster.

I don't think Dems see McCain as a disaster either but I don't think there is strong organized support of Dems behind Obama is there like you suggest. Matter of fact I see it coming down more and more. Honestly it mostly feels like he's hyped up. Like seeing previews for a movie and being majorly let down when you see it.

Honestly I think the Democrats are desperate to get into office and get into power; however I don't believe that the rank and file dems are too happy about Obama being their candidate for commander in chief. Obama is young, full of energy and is expressing IDEALS... note that I say IDEALS.. of young Americans and Americans who rely on the popular News Media to get their research information on their candidates... aka: the ignorant.

I don't use ignorant in a condescending or negative way either. I simply feel that a good portion of people don't understand 'cause and effect'. It's a very simple idea that effects even the most complicated of situations. Being able to have the foresight to determine what the 'cause and effect' are of a suggested idea or plan are one of the great leadership attributes that come about with experience. Something that I think Obama lacks and is very dangerous for any candidate in political office; not just presidential.