Issues

Abortion is such a hot topic that many refer to it as the “one-issue” factor; meaning many people will vote for or against a candidate simply based on where they stand on the issue. The well-known Supreme Court case – Roe v. Wade – essentially legalized abortions throughout the country. Pro-Choice advocates favor the right of a woman to choose whether or not to have an abortion.

So, should gays be allowed to get married? Sounds like a pretty straightforward "yes" or "no" answer. You either think it's okay or you don't. But the issue of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage throws a kink in it. Less than 30 times has our Constitution been amended - in more than 200 years. And this debate has raised the question of whether the federal government should even be involved in who can, or can't, get married.

Opinions about gay marriage are divided. Many are just fine with it, but other are strongly opposed. The whole issue of civil unions, however, opens a whole other can of worms. Just what exactly is a "civil union," and, more importantly, how valid is it?

The war in Iraq is yet another divisive topic that often turns into a one-issue vote. Like abortion, voters could very well pick a candidate who agrees with their position – and those positions run the gamut. Some opposed going into Iraq in the first place, others are calling for an immediately withdrawal, another group is pushing for a phased withdrawal.

In an effort to stem the tide of illegal immigration coming up from Mexico, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed the “Secure Fence Act of 2006,” which was signed by President Bush. The bill calls for the construction of about 700 miles of fencing along the Mexico-U.S. border.

Strengthening our nation's borders to prevent the influx of illegal immigrants - building walls, increasing the number of border agents, or whatever - is one thing. But what do we do about the estimated 12 million illegals here now?

With one of the world’s largest oil supplies, just about everyone is questioning why Iran is pursuing a nuclear program. While Iran claims it will be used generate electricty, but many do not believe this.

Embryonic stem cells are derived from excess embryos created in the course of infertility treatment. Current law allows for the use of federal funds in this type of research from stem cells that existed at that time. Opponents argue such research could lead to human cloning and as many are Pro-Life, oppose any research on human embryos.