VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (7 points on Social scale)	Pro-choice, but ban partial birth abortion: Favors topic 1 Favors abortion rights bur respects opposition: Favors topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Require companies to hire more women & minorities (5 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 3: Sexual orientation protected by civil rights laws (7 points on Social scale)	Tolerate diversity; prosecute hate crimes against gays: Favors topic 3
Favors topic 4: Permit prayer in public schools (2 points on Social scale)	Teach citizenship; stop “dumbing down”: Favors topic 4 End “creative spelling,” “estimating,” & “empowerment”: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (0 points on Economic scale)	We must have universal health care: Strongly Favors topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (7 points on Economic scale)	Pay off debt; put $3T interest savings into Trust Fund: Opposes topic 6 Let people invest their own retirement funds: Strongly Favors topic 6 No government investment of retirement funds: Strongly Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (10 points on Social scale)	Bring on the competition; tear down the union walls: Favors topic 7 School choice will improve public schools: Strongly Favors topic 7
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (0 points on Social scale)	Capital punishment isn’t uncivilized; murderers living is: Strongly Favors topic 8 Death penalty deters like violent TV leads kids astray: Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (2 points on Social scale)	Hold judges accountable; don’t reduce sentences: Favors topic 9 For tough anti-crime policies; not criminals’ rights: Favors topic 9
Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (2 points on Social scale)	Dems and Reps are both wrong on guns: Neutral on topic 10 For assault weapon ban, waiting period, & background check: Opposes topic 10
Opposes topic 11: Decrease overall taxation of the wealthy (2 points on Economic scale)	Repeal the inheritance tax to offset one-time wealth tax: Favors topic 11 Simplify tax code; end marriage penalty & other hidden taxes: Favors topic 11 Opposes flat tax; benefits wealthy too much: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Personally avoids sales tax, but knows many people like it: Favors topic 11 One-time 14.25% tax on wealth, to erase national debt: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Predicts 35% boost to economy from eliminating national debt: Opposes topic 11 Tax assets over $10 million, paid over 10 years: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Strongly Opposes topic 12: Immigration helps our economy-encourage it (0 points on Economic scale)	Control borders; even legal immigration should be difficult: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Limit new immigration; focus on people already here: Strongly Opposes topic 12
Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (2 points on Economic scale)	Renegotiate tougher & fairer trade agreements: Opposes topic 13 President should be nation’s trade representative: Favors topic 13 World views US trade officials as ‘saps’: Opposes topic 13 Foreign companies are taking jobs from US: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 14: Link human rights to trade with China (0 points on Social scale)	China: lack of human rights prevents consumer development: Favors topic 14 Be tougher on China-we’re too eager to please: Strongly Favors topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: More spending on armed forces (0 points on Economic scale)	3% of GNP for military is too low: Strongly Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Reduce spending on missile defense (Star Wars) (0 points on Economic scale)	Missile defense is inappropriate; focus on terrorism: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Seek UN approval for military action (2 points on Economic scale)	Criticized Buchanan’s view on Hitler as appeasement: Favors topic 17 Post-Cold War: switch from chess player to dealmaker: Strongly Favors topic 17 Support Russia, but with strings attached: Favors topic 17 Support Israel, our unsinkable Mideast aircraft carrier: Strongly Favors topic 17 No humanitarian intervention; only to direct threats: Opposes topic 17
No opinion on topic 18: Reduce use of coal, oil, & nuclear energy (5 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (5 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (0 points on Social scale)	Let “saints” help teen moms; restrict public assistance: Strongly Favors topic 20