Civil+Rights

=(Scroll down for WOMEN'S RIGHTS!)=

Gay Marriage & Women's Rights!
= Kasey, Jon & Rachel = =Gay Marriage     = =  I. **What is the issue**? = = =  = = =     II. **What are the specific policies being discussed in the campaign**? = = = The issue on [|__same sex marriage__] is very important in this election this year, McCain says that marriage is between a man and a women and same sex marriage laws should be up to the states. Whereas [|__Obama__] says that he personally believes that "marriage is between a man and a woman" but also says that equality is a moral imperative for gay and lesbian Americans. Obama also said that we should reexamine the don't ask, don't tell policy. There is also a lot of controversy and debating about whether or not gay people should be allowed to marry each other, and share the same rights as heterosexual couples. McCain, on the other hand, granted a law to ban gay marriage because he said it ruins the society. McCain also said, "I’m proud to have led an effort in my home state to change our state constitution and to protect the sanctity of marriage as between a man and woman." ( [|__McCain__] ) He says he follows the military's thing on "don’t ask, don’t tell" and to hopes not to bring this issue back up. <span style="COLOR: #4dd8ea; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="COLOR: #15e56a; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"> =<span style="COLOR: #4dd8ea; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif"><span style="COLOR: #15e56a; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">     <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> = =<span style="COLOR: #d520b2; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 20px; COLOR: #9717d3; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif">III. What are the candidates positions? ** <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">™    [|McCain]  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> says that gay marriage should be     <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">the states' descision. John McCain is against  [|same sex marriage] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> and so is Barack Obama. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> Obama also agrees with John McCain on how  [|same sex marriage] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> should be determined by the states. ...  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">He supports granting civil unions for gay couples ([|Obama]) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Like I said, Obama and McCain both agree it is right to leave it to the states. Obama personally says that marriage is what a man and woman share if they love each other. He thinks that there should not be laws that discriminate against gays or lesbians. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">McCain on the other hand, granted a law to ban gay marriage because it ruins the society. McCain also said, "I’m proud to have led an effort in my home state to change our state constitution and to protect the sanctity of marriage as between a man and woman." ([|McCain]) He says he follows the military's thing on "don’t ask, don’t tell" and to hopefully not bring this issue back up. He b<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">elieves there shouldn’t be a law that [|discriminates] <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"> against gay rights. He b  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">elieves gay marriage is tearing up our society. He b  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">elieves that gay marriage should be the states' choice. He i  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">s okay with California making gay marriage legal. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Thinks that gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed AT ALL. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Is open about the topic. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> Avoids t  <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> alking about gay marriage any more. media type="youtube" key="A7addd1-SY8" height="344" width="425"= = = =Women's Rights=
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">Same sex marriage isn’t just about gay people who are getting married. Yes, it is about gays but it’s also because two people love one another deeply and they are of the same sex and they’re committed to each other and they’re ready to take the next step. Many people are hoping that gay marriage is going to be legal and others are hoping it stays as it is. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive">What is same sex marriage? It is when two people of the same sex are married. More than half of all people in the United States are illegally with gay marriage, many people thinking that gays are promiscious but they're more than that. Another big question is who should be allowed to make laws about gay marriage? Should the states be allowed to, or the federal government? Same sex marriage in the U.S. is illegal except in California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts ([|US News]). **

I. **What is the issue**? There are many women’s issues in our world today. There are women’s health concerns such as HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and other cancers. There are also other important issues like abortion, domestic violence, and pay equality. These issues affect women's lives in a very negative way, sometimes even involving death. ([|Obama], [|State]) There used to be even more women's issues. Women couldn't vote and they just weren't thought of as equal to men. Women are treated much better now, but there are still some issues that need to be resolved. ([|WomensIssues 2])

II. **What are the specific policies being discussed in the campaign**? These issues are important for the candidates to address because they need female voters. Women are important in this year's election ([|McCain]). Also, female organizations can donate money to the candidates campaign. "The majority of the population of the United States of America are women, and so we have to do whatever we can to encourage the participation of women," said John McCain. ([|LATimes])
 * **Abortion –** Abortion is ending a pregnancy after conception. There is a lot of controversy whether it is right or wrong because it involves killing the undeveloped embryo. ([|CivilLiberty)]
 * **Domestic Violence –** Domestic violence is an abusive conflict between family/household members involving physical harm, sexual assault, or fear of either of those. ([|ClarkProsecutor)] About 1,400 women per year die of domestic violence in the United States and 132,000 reported as victims of a rape. ([|Obama)]
 * **Pay Equity –** Pay equality is a way of stopping women from getting paid less than men for doing the same amount of work. ([|Doer)] In 2007, women were only paid 77 cents for each dollar men made. The Supreme Court ruled that Lily Ledbetter, who was underpaid, could not sue for unfair pay for being a female. After this, Congress stepped in and passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, but got stopped again when it got to the Senate. ([|NWLC)]

III. **What are McCain and Obama's positions on the issue**? Barack Obama and John McCain have very different opinions on women's issues. John McCain thinks abortion is wrong, and wants Roe v. Wade overturned. Barack Obama feels that there shouldn’t be too many abortions but women should have the choice, and believes Roe v. Wade should be upheld. ([|Sltrib]) Obama voted in favor of the Women’s Equality Amendment, Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and giving $100 million dollars toward pregnancy/abortion prevention. McCain voted against all of those. ([|NWPC], [|Obama], [|OnTheIssues1], [|OnTheIssues2])


 * **Barack Obama** || **John McCain** ||
 * Introduced legislation to combat domestic violence. He co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Act. ([|NWPC]) || Supports the Violence Against Women Act, but voted against funding the act in 2007. He introduced the Restoring Safety to Indian Women Act. ([|NWPC]) ||
 * Obama “supports a woman’s right to choose”. He says that as president, preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade is a priority of his. ([|Obama], [|GOP]) || McCain is pro-life. He voted “yes” on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life (in 2003). In 1999 he said he wanted Roe v. Wade “made irrelevant, but would not repeal it.” Now he has made it quite clear that he supports repealing it. ([|WomensIssues]) ||
 * Obama voted for the Illinois Equal Pay Act, and voted in favor of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He states that he will continue to “promote paycheck equality and close the wage gap between men and women.” ([|Obama], [|NWPC]) || John McCain says that he’s “committed to making sure that there’s equal pay for equal work.”, but is opposed to the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. ([|NWPC]) He also said that he didn’t think making the wages equal would do “anything to help the rights of women.” ([|ThinkProgress]) ||
 * He voted for giving $100 million toward pregnancy/abortion prevention. ([|OnTheIssues 2]) || He voted against giving $100 million to “expand access to preventive health care services that reduce unintended pregnancy (including teen pregnancy), reduce the number of abortions, and improve access to women’s health care.” ([|OnTheIssues1]) ||