Arlingtonian Student Newsmagazine

Candidate Profiles

Posted on 23. Oct, 2012 by Matias Grotewold in Features

Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates’ platforms outlined

By Matias Grotewold, ‘13

Barack Obama: Democrat Presidential Incumbent

• Graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School

• Served three terms in the Illinois State Senate from 1997 to 2004

• Served as Illinois Senator from 2004-2008

• Defeated Republican John McCain in the 2008 presidential campaign

• Bailed out the American automobile industry

• Passed the federal health care law

• Repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy in 2010 and openly supported same-sex marriage in 2012

• Ordered raid that killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden

Mitt Romney: Republican Presidential Candidate

• Graduated from Brigham Young University and from Harvard University

• Active member of the Mormon Church and served as bishop of his church near Boston from 1981 to 1986

• Served as Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007

• As governor, enacted health care legislation that later served as the foundation of the national health care act, Obamacare

• Attempted a presidential run in 2008, but lost the Republican nomination to John McCain

• Although formerly pro-choice, he is now against abortion except under particular circumstances

• Against same-sex marriage

• In favor of an increased American global military presence

Joe Biden: Democrat Vice Presidential Incumbent

• Graduated from the University of Delaware in Newark and Syracuse University’s College of Law

• Elected to U.S. Senate to represent Delaware in 1973 and was re-elected six times until resigning in 2008

• Attempted unsuccessful presidential runs in 1988 & 2008

• Very experienced with foreign policy because of his position as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee

• In favor of same-sex marriage

• In favor of middle-class tax cuts

• Against American military involvement in the

Middle East

• In favor of increasing domestic jobs and decreasing the number of outsourced jobs

Paul Ryan: Republican Vice Presidential Candidate

• Graduated from Miami University

• Elected from Wisconsin to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998 and served as the chairman of the House Budget committee

• Voted in favor of Obama’s automobile industry bailout

• Voted against Obamacare

• Against abortion

• Against same-sex marriage

• In favor of increased American involvement in the Middle East

• Against human stem cell research

• In favor of stricter immigration laws and a fence along the border with Mexico

• In favor of sanctions to end Iran’s nuclear program

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