Clinton, Obama similar on policy
2008-04-11 15:13
Washington - Democrats just cannot decide whether Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton would make a better presidential nominee, and there is some good reason for that. When it comes to policy, they are closely aligned.
"The differences between Barack and I pale in comparison to the differences that we have with Republicans," Clinton said at a debate earlier this year.
Stephen Hess, a presidential scholar at the Brookings Institution, said their policy agreements ironically have added to the tension in their campaign.
"There is simply no doubt that when two candidates virtually agree, you have to find other reasons to find an argument about why you should be for one rather than the other," he said.
Issues of character
"That's why suddenly the issues in this campaign are issues of character rather than position. And once they are issues of character, they can get very personal."
Both want to provide health care for all Americans and end the Iraq war. They want to increase tax credits for college tuition, protect abortion rights and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement to strengthen labour and environmental standards.
They want to reform immigration in largely the same way and both have energy plans that would cost $150bn over 10 years.
Here are some of the most significant points of contention between Clinton and Obama.
Heath care
Both say they have a goal of providing universal coverage and will try to lower costs to make it more affordable. The biggest difference is that Clinton would require everyone to get health insurance while Obama would not. Clinton says her plan is the only one that is truly universal because it legally requires people to get health insurance, and offers government help if they cannot afford it. Obama says people will get insurance only if they can afford it.
Housing
Both want to help homeowners facing foreclosure, but Clinton's plan includes a five-year freeze on interest rates for all subprime mortgages, which often go to borrowers with the poorest credit. Obama disagrees with the proposed freeze, saying it will drive up interest rates and keep other people from getting mortgages.
Both candidates also support legislation to help homeowners with "underwater mortgages" - meaning their homes are worth less than the mortgage. That legislation would provide government guarantees for their mortgages, but Clinton wants to go one step further than Obama. She wants the federal government to buy underwater mortgages and reduce payments to a level homeowners can afford.
Foreign policy
The debate over whether the president should directly negotiate with rogue leaders has been one of the most prominent issue differences in the campaign. Obama says he would meet with heads of state in places like Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Clinton says those meetings could be used for propaganda and her first response will be outreach through other diplomatic channels.
Immigration
Another much-discussed division: whether to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Obama says yes, for safety reasons. Clinton says no.
Taxes
Both candidates would repeal Bush's tax cuts on wealthy Americans to pay for their programs. Obama also has a plan for across-the-board tax cuts for most workers. Clinton doesn't support Obama's plan because of it $80bn cost and because it would apply to families with significant incomes. Obama's campaign says it would begin a phase-out for households that earn around $150 000.
- AP