The document summarizes the views of presidential candidates Obama, Santorum, and Romney on several issues including homeland security, foreign policy, social security, abortion, and contraception. On homeland security, Obama wants to reduce defense spending to fund domestic programs, Santorum opposes cuts to defense, and Romney believes in a strong military. Their views on other issues like social security, abortion, and foreign policy also differ between strong support, opposition, or moderate positions.

1. Presidential candidates and their
beliefs
By conor stellman

2. Obama homeland security
• homeland security:
• Take money from war budgets and fund
nation-building at home. (Jan 2012) Reduce
defense spending 1% in 2013; add 2% per year
after. (Jan 2012) New START treaty: more
secure & fewer nuclear weapons. (Jan 2011)

3. Santorum’s homeland security
Homeland security:
Privacy is in 4th amendment, but Patriot Act is
ok. (Jan 2012) Confront virulent threat of radical
Islam. (Jan 2012) Giving money to Iran rebels is
not enough. (Nov 2011) Don't cut one penny out
of defense spending. (Oct 2011)

4. Romney’s homeland security
• Military so powerful that no one thinks of
challenging it. (Jan 2012) Strong Economy;
Strong Military; Strong People. (Mar 2010)
Strengthen soft power because it is real
power. (Mar 2010) Our nuclear arsenal must
be updated comprehensively. (Mar 2010)
Allies must increase defense

5. Santorum foreign policy
• Foreign policy: Stand up for our friends in
Latin America, not leftists. (Jan 2012)
• Keep embargo on Cuba--the heart of cancer in
Latin America. (Jan 2012)
• Self-determination on statehood for Puerto
Rico. (Jan 2012)
• Iran's theocracy encourages use of nuclear
weapons. (Jan 2012)

6. Romney foreign policy
• Foreign policy:
• Critical time for American century vs. European
socialism. (Jan 2012)
• Unacceptable for Iran to become a nuclear nation.
(Sep 2011)
• No European-style solutions to an American problem.
(Feb 2011)
• Different countries' paths to decline came from
isolation. (Mar 2010)
• In long term, Chinese reforms lead to demanding
freedom. (Mar 2010)

7. Obama's foreign policy
• Foreign policy:
• Obama's international stances compared to
Paul's. (Jan 2012) Op-Ed: Claims "poverty
causes terrorism" but they're educated. (Nov
2010)
• I do not accept 2nd place for the USA. (Jan
2010)

8. Obama’s views of social security
• Social security: Eliminating FICA ceiling means
rich won't spend. (Apr 2010) Good health care
and tax reform will save entitlements. (Oct 2008)
2007: Raise income cap to avoid future shortfall.
(Aug 2008) What do we do with the losers of
privatizing? (Jul 2008) Raise cap on payroll tax for
3% of earners over $102,000. (Apr 2008) Raise
$97K cap on payroll tax exempting earnings
under $250K. (Apr 2008)

9. Santorum on social security
• Social security:
• Means testing: reduce benefits for wealthy
seniors. (Jan 2012)
• 1994: Proposed raising retirement age,
despite unpopularity. (Sep 2011)
• Supports privatization if voluntary. (Sep 2006)

10. Romney’s views of social security
• Social security:
• Version 2.0: Lower benefit rate for wealthy.
(Jan 2012)
• 1-year payroll tax cut is a band-aid; make
permanent changes. (Oct 2011)
• System is federal responsibility, not state
governments. (Sep 2011

11. Obama on abortion
• abortion
• Opposed born-alive treatment law because it
was already law. (Oct 2008) Supports Roe v.
Wade. (Jul 1998) Voted NO on defining
unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on prohibiting minors crossing state
lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)

12. Santorum
• States have the right to ban contraception,
but shouldn't. (Jan 2012)
• No abortions even in cases of rape; one
violence is enough. (Aug 2011)

13. Romney
• Abortion
• Defining mistake: supported abortion law
despite opposing it. (Aug 2007) Would
welcome overturning Roe v. Wade. (Mar
2007) Committed to not change law on
abortion as Gov., and did not. (Mar 2007)
Opposes Roe v Wade, but won’t tamper with
abortion laws. (Dec 2006)

14. My candidate
• The candidate that I agree with the most
would have to be Mitt Romney due to the fact
that he has a better view on the issue of
homeland security than the other candidates.

15. The end