Stymied by the rhetoric? Confused by the waffling? Or just too busy to keep up with the changing rhythms of this year's electoral groove? Nirali investigates how the presidential candidates stack up on a variety of issues that directly concern you.

Abortion
George Bush
The Rhetoric: In 2003, Bush declared January 19 "National Sanctity of Human Life Day." "Every child is a priority and a blessing, and I believe that all should be welcomed in life and protected by law—My administration has championed compassionate alternatives to abortion, such as helping women in crisis through maternity group homes, encouraging adoption, promoting abstinence education, and passing laws requiring parental notification and waiting periods for minors."

The Record: Last year, Bush signed into law the ban on partial-birth abortions. Immediately after taking office, Bush also imposed what is known as the "global gag rule." This measure restricts non-governmental organizations receiving American aid from using even their own, non-US money to fund abortions or to provide information regarding abortions except in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother. Bush has also been vocal in opposing embryonic stem-cell research.

John Kerry
The Rhetoric: A practicing Roman Catholic, Kerry stirred up controversy recently at a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, when he said, "I don't like abortion. I believe life begins at conception. But I don't take my Catholic beliefs, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant, on a Jew, or an atheist, who doesn't share it. We have separation of church and state in the United States of America." Kerry also states that he will support embryonic stem-cell research.

The Record: NARAL, the leading association advocating the right to an abortion, reports that Kerry has voted in favor of pro-choice bills more than 100 times during his tenure in the Senate. Planned Parenthood gives him a 100 on its abortion scorecard.

The War in Iraq
George Bush
The Rhetoric: Just this past July, Bush defended his decision to go to Iraq. "Although we have not found stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, we were right to go into Iraq. We removed a declared enemy of America who had the capability of producing weapons of mass murder and could have passed that capability to terrorists bent on acquiring them. In the world after September 11, that was a risk we could not afford to take."

The Record: Of course, Bush and his administration were the ones who decided to go to war. The Bush administration also articulated the "pre-emption doctrine" which states that terrorists and other enemy groups pose such an immediate threat that it is permissible for the US to launch attacks against any country or group that it suspects, with the proper intelligence, to be an imminent threat to American interests, before any such threat has been carried out.

John Kerry
The Rhetoric: "He [the President] misled Americans in Congress about how he was going to go to war. About what he would do. About why. We now have a new rationale for having gone to war—I would have brought countries to our side through effective diplomacy, by being patient, by using up their excuses, by working through the international objections, so that if we needed to go to war we went to war with other countries on our side that shared the cost. I have been 100 percent consistent. Saddam Hussein was a threat, he needed to be held accountable to the UN resolutions, but it needed to be done in the right way. George Bush did it in the wrong way, and broke his promises to Americans." (Interview with USA Today)

The Record: While Kerry opposes the war now, he voted in favor of the war in 2003. He declared in January: "Am I prepared as president to go get them before they get us if we locate them and have the sufficient intelligence? You bet I am." However, Kerry states that he would be try to be sure of the intelligence before launching any pre-emptive strikes. He also hasn't completely ruled out a unilateral approach: "I will never allow any other country to veto what we need to do and I will never allow any other institution to veto what we need to do to protect our nation." On the other hand, Kerry voted against a bill that would have provided 87 billion dollars in funding for the Iraq war.

Immigration
George Bush
The Rhetoric: "Immigration is not a problem to be solved. It is the sign of a confident and successful nation. And people who seek to make America their home should be met in that spirit by representatives of our government. New arrivals should be greeted not with suspicion and resentment but with openness and courtesy." (Speech to naturalized immigrants.)

The Record: In January, Bush proposed giving illegal immigrants, particularly those from Mexico, legal, three-year work permits. The measure was defeated in Congress. Bush has also asked for an increase in the number of green cards issued annually.

John Kerry
The Rhetoric: "In my first 100 days as president, I will send a comprehensive immigration reform bill to Congress that does justice to this issue," Kerry promised a supportive crowd in Arizona. In San Antonio, Kerry also reflected his views on immigration: "It is time to fulfill the promise of America, so that those who work hard and take responsibility can build a better life for themselves and their families—We, all of us, we are a nation of immigrants."

The Record: While recently Kerry voted against expanding the H-1B visa program for skilled workers, he has generally been pro-immigration. He voted against amendments that would limit chain migration (the process by which immigrants can sponsor other relatives for immigration), and along with Bush, is also in favor of granting some kind of amnesty to currently working illegal residents.

Education and No Child Left Behind
George Bush
The Rhetoric: "We don't need people making excuses for educational failures in America, we need change. If you expect nothing from a child—don't be surprised by what you get," Bush told a crowd in Arkansas.

The Record: Bush is the president who pushed through the No Child Left Behind Act. The controversial measure requires all students in grades three through eight to be tested annually and ties federal funding for the schools to test scores—low-achieving schools get their funding cut.

John Kerry
The Rhetoric: "I will fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act, and I will change it so that it reflects a respect for teaching, a respect for the flexibility you need at the local level, to be able to have accountability but not create a one-size-fits-all testing factory—so we don't make a whole school of failure."

The Record: Kerry, too, voted for the No Child Left Behind Act when it was first passed. Recently, however, he has criticized Bush for not fully funding the program and for being too punitive with schools that don't produce the appropriate test scores. Kerry has also proposed a tax credit for families with students in school.

The War on Terror and the Patriot Act
George Bush
The Rhetoric: In this year's State of the Union, Bush emphasized the importance of the Patriot Act: "We must continue to give law enforcement personnel every tool they need to defend us. And one of those essential tools is the Patriot Act, which allows federal law enforcement to better share information, to track terrorists, to disrupt their cells and to seize their assets. Key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year. The terrorist threat will not expire on that schedule. Our law enforcement needs this vital legislation to protect our citizens. You need to renew the Patriot Act." As for other aspects of the fight to combat terrorism, he continued, "Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people. 28 months have passed since September 11, 2001—over two years without an attack on American soil—and it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable and comforting—and false. The killing has continued in Bali, Jakarta, Casablanca, Jerusalem, Istanbul and Baghdad. The terrorists continue to plot against America and the civilized world. And by our will and courage, this danger will be defeated."

The Record: Bush created a new cabinet-level position, the Department of Homeland Security, during his tenure in office. The 9/11 Commission distributed blame to both the Clinton and Bush administrations for not adequately preparing for the threat. Since the attacks, the Bush administration is the one that pushed for the passing of the Patriot Act. The Bush administration is also pushing to make parts of the Patriot Act permanent. (The Patriot Act, in its current form, expires next year.)

John Kerry
The Rhetoric: "We deserve a president of the United States that doesn't make homeland security a photo opportunity and the rhetoric of a campaign. We deserve a president that makes America safer," Kerry proclaimed in Seattle earlier this year. "And I think I can wage a more effective war on terror than George Bush is waging. As long as I'm involved in it, terrorists will never shut down the democracy or the ability to function in this country. Never. That's what they want, and they'l never do it. Period." As for the Patriot Act, Kerry says,"John Ashcroft. That's the problem with the Patriot Act. Ninety-five percent of the Patriot Act is good and strong and helpful to us in fighting the war on terror."

The Record: Kerry supports creating a Director of Central Intelligence to whom all other intelligence agencies would report. Kerry plans on convening an emergency summit if he becomes president. He also favors a "neighborhood watch" system in case of attack. Local volunteers would help with emergency response. Finally, he proposes getting training for Americorps and National Guard volunteers so that they too, can handle the aftermath of any attacks at the local level. Kerry, too, voted for the Patriot Act. He is now co-sponsoring a measure, along with several Democrats and Republicans, that would limit some of the provisions of the current Patriot Act, such as undisclosed searches, wiretapping and access to personal records.

Health Care:
George Bush
The Rhetoric: "Our goal is to ensure that Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best fits their individual needs," Bush declared in the State of the Union. However, he opposes federal health coverage: "A government-run health care system is the wrong prescription. By keeping costs under control, expanding access and helping more Americans afford coverage, we will preserve the system of private medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world."

The Record: Bush's Medicare prescription-drug plan has been the centerpiece of his health-care policy. The plan offers a variety of discount cards to seniors under the plan, giving them discounts on prescription drugs. The plan debuted to mixed reviews. Bush also plans to introduce tax credits that could be used to purchase health insurance.

John Kerry
The Rhetoric: "When I'm president, America will stop being the only advanced nation in the world which fails to understand that health care is not a privilege for the wealthy, the connected and the elected—it is a right for all Americans," Kerry announced at the DNC in July.

The Record: Kerry wants to reduce the tax cuts on those making more than 200,000 dollars a year to where they were pre-Bush. He would then use this money to fund healthcare for the un- and under-insured. For example, he would use the money to create a federal fund that would reimburse business up to 75 percent of healthcare costs that are more than 50,000 dollars.

Jobs and the Economy
George Bush
The Rhetoric: On outsourcing: "A lot of talk about jobs going overseas,but the best way to deal with that in my judgment is to make sure that America remains the best place in the world to do business, so that our job base will expand. The more vibrant the small business sector, the more likely it is somebody is going to find work. The more vibrant the business sector, the more likely it that jobs will stay right here at home." Bush is similarly optimistic about the economy: "Interest rates are low, inflation is low, home ownership rates are the highest in history. Manufacturing activity is up."

The Record: Bush broke with the Republican view (free-trade) and imposed tariffs on foreign steel to protect US steelworkers several years ago. Bush may be on his way to being the first president since Herbert Hoover (in the early 1930s) to have jobs decline during his term in office—by nearly 1.1 million jobs. Bush also enacted sweeping tax cuts for all economic classes. Bush wants to focus more on domestic oil production to reduce gas prices.

John Kerry
The Rhetoric: "I'm not insensitive to the jobs. I'm desperately concerned about those jobs. But you don't fix them by pandering to people and telling them you're going to shut the door. You have to grow jobs. We need to increase our commitment to science in America, to venture capital, to the kinds of incentives that draw capital to the creation of jobs. Democrats can't love jobs and hate the people who create them. We need to encourage job creation and trade, but fair trade, and I've shown how that can happen." Kerry is more vocal in his opposition to outsourcing than Bush is: "By no stretch of the imagination should any hardworking American be asked to subsidize and reward a company that decides to take the jobs overseas and goes abroad. We're going to stop that."

The Record: Kerry favors other energy alternatives to oil. He also plans to reinstate taxes for those making more than 200,000 dollars a year, and he claims his job plan will produce 10 million jobs in five years.