Obama Intelligencer 2008 November 13

Environment and Foreign Affairs: Canada, Cuba, Iran, Israel, Russia
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon announced that, with the coming of the Obama administration, his government will place a renewed emphasis on reaching a climate and emissions deal with the U.S. The agreement would focus on creating a common carbon market (Canada eyes climate deal with Obama). American environmentalists hope Obama will act as check against movements in Congress to ease the way for drilling in what are now protected areas (Rascoe).

Some have speculated that Obama’s promise to ease relations with Cuba could weaken the position of its Communist dictator, Raul Castro. Much of the Castro regime’s power and influence, beginning with Castro’s brother and predecessor, Fidel, has been fueled by its defiant stance toward the U.S. (Snow).

Israeli leaders have expressed concern over Obama’s suggestion that he will open relations with Iran. Israel was one of the few countries where McCain was viewed more favorably during the campaign (Defner).

Russia is carefully eyeing an Obama presidency. There aren’t signals of major policy changes toward Russia, but Obama’s worldwide popularity could signal a more sympathetic reception of America’s opinion on issues of interest to Russia (Cornwell).

Unusual
Fanciers of the Peruvian Hairless, Peru’s national dog, have offered a pup to the Obamas. One of the president-elect’s daughters is allergic to dogs, so the hairless (and sometimes toothless) dog, may be a good fit (Wade). The Obama’s have expressed an interest in adopting a shelter dog if they can find one that is suitable.

Sources
Canada eyes climate deal with Obama. (2008 Nov. 6). Associated Press on CBS. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/tech/livinggreen/main4577673.shtml?source=RSSattr=SciTech_4577673, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Cornwell, S. (2008 Nov. 10). Obama careful in response to mixed Kremlin signals. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSTRE4A97PN20081110, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Defner, L. (2008 Nov. 7). In Israel, some anxious about Obama. U.S. News & World Report. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/11/07/in-israel-some-anxieties-about-obama.html, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Rascoe, A. (2008 Nov. 10). Environmentalists look to Obama to limit drilling. Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE4A97OB20081110, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Snow, A. (2008 Nov. 9). Analysis: Obama changes could test Castros' grip. Associated Press. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j5E57Ht_Oz6aUvha4i_xGwM_HbDgD94ASGMO2, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Wade, T. (2008 Nov. 10). Peru offers bald dog of Incas to Obama family. Reuters UK. http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUKTRE4A97H820081110, accessed 2008 Nov. 13.

Major Candidate Comparison

(Updated 2008 Oct. 30)

Abortion

McCain
-Opposes with limited exceptions.

Obama
-Favors.

Energy

McCain
-Generally opposes subsidy and tax credit programs, seeing them mainly as favors to special interests
-Favors allowing market solutions to energy problems
-Favors development of nuclear power
--Called for construction of 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030
--Favors Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage plan
-Has supported allowing new offshore drilling for oil, but has not been consistent in this position

Obama
-Favors federal government investment in alternative fuels and energy technologies
--Has close ties to ethanol producers, particularly corn ethanol
-Proposes funding of alternative fuels programs
-Favors development of nuclear power contingent on development of safer ways to dispose of waste
--Opposes Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage plan
-Initally opposed offshore drilling for oil, but later made provisions for it in energy plan

Environment

McCain
-Air & Climate
--Long supported climate change measures
--Favors 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2050
--Supports nuclear power development as part of climate change response
--Favors incentives for development of hybrid and other low-emissions automobiles

Obama
-Air & Climate
--Favors 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2050
--Favors cap and trade proposals
--Favors incentives for development of hybrid and other low-emissions automobiles

Health Care

McCain
-Proposes tax credit for health care for individuals and families.

Obama
-Aims for universal coverage through employer supplemented programs providing benefits similar to those received by federal employees.
-Proposes a tax credit for small businesses for up to 50 percent of the premiums they pay on behalf of their employees.

Iran

McCain:
-Opposes direct talks.
-Supports sanctions.

Obama:
-Supports direct diplomatic contact; scaled back from early position of face-to-face talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Taxes

McCain
-Previously opposed Bush tax cuts, now proposes to make them permanent.
-Calls for 25 percent cut in corporate taxes.
-Calls for balanced federal budget.

Obama
-Calls for increased taxes for some, tax breaks for others.

Trade

McCain
-Free trade supporter.
-Supports free trade agreement with Colombia.

Obama
-Proposes to renegotiate NAFTA to include environmental and labor standards.
-Opposes proposed free trade agreement with Colombia,

War in Iraq

McCain:
-Supported war.
-Critical of Bush handling.
-Opposes troop withdrawal.
-Early proponent of surge.
-Anticipates long-term American presence in Iraq, eventually as peacekeepers.

Obama:
-Consistently opposed war.
-Opposed surge.
-Calls for withdrawal by end of 2009.

Resources
Bender, M. (2008 June 21). Crist risks gree, bipartisan monikers with drilling stance. Palm Beach Post. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/state/epaper/2008/06/21/m1a_oil_0622.html, accessed 2008 June 24.

Chozik, A. (2008 August 4). Obama offers support for offshore drilling. Wall Street Journal, p. A4. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121769917863707497.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_topbox, accessed 2008 August 5.

Fahys, J. (2008 Oct. 17). McCain and Obama’s environmental policy differences a matter of degree. Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_10710346, accessed 2008 Oct. 30.

Hertsgaard, M. (2008, June 8). Taking climate change seriously—finally. CBS News (The Nation). http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/06/opinion/main4160120.shtml, accessed June 9, 2008.

How do McCain and Obama match up? (2008, June 9). Dallas Morning News (Trail blazers blog). http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/06/how-do-mccain-and-obama-match.html, accessed June 9, 2008.

Nasaw, D. (2008 June 23). U.S. elections: McCain plugs in to electric cars. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/23/johnmccain.uselections2008, accessed 2008 June 24.

Nasaw, D. (2008 June 23). U.S. elections: Where McCain and Obama stand on environmental issues. The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/23/johnmccain.barackobama, accessed 2008 June 24.

Power, S. (2008, June 9). In energy policy, McCain, Obama, differ on role of government. Wall Street Journal, p. A2. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121296676181055711.html?mod=googlenews_wsj, accessed June 9, 2008.

Rescue the trade deal. (2008 June 5). [Editorial]. Palm Beach Post. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/07/05/a10a_colombia_edit_0705.html, accessed 2008 June 7.

Rhee, F. (2008, June 23). Obama, McCain go after each other on energy. Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/06/obama_mccain_go.html, accessed 2008 June 24.

Rohter, L. (2008 June 23). Obama camp closely linked with ethanol. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/us/politics/23ethanol.html?_r=2&th=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&adxnnlx=1214215415-yB7fDlhMP0kFgLEGHZ7f8Q&oref=slogin, accessed 2008 June 24.

Rosetta, L. (2008 Oct. 18). Health care: Utahns see good, bad and risky in McCain and Obama plans. Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_10710537, accessed 2008 Oct. 30.

Roug, L. (2008 July 14). Obama proposes health care tax credits for small businesses. Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-campaign14-2008jul14,0,7130939.story, accessed 2008 July 15.

Watt, N. (2008, June 9). Globalization needs America. America needs globalization. Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/09/economics.useconomy, accessed June 9, 2008.