Presidential Scorecard on Progressive Issues
Press Action
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
http://www.pressaction.com/news/weblog/full_article/wilhelm07272004/
By Rick Wilhelm
How do Republican George W. Bush, soon-to-be Democratic nominee John Kerry, Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb, and Ralph Nader stand on progressive issues? Visit the Democratic Socialists of Central Ohio’s website to get the score.
I have not included in this draft of the scorecard the Socialist Party USA candidate but I have contacted the SPUSA. Each issue is 10 points for scoring. Some issues, such as NAFTA, Fast Track, are combined into one issue as far as scoring, 5 points each.
The issues used are the Welfare Reform bill of 1996, The Iraq War, (current one) the Patriot Act, Governmental Surveillance Act, NAFTA, Fast Track, Repeal of Taft-Hartley, Universal Health Care, Increasing the Minimum Wage to at least $8.85 per hour (which is the poverty rate, according to the government, for a family of four in 2003), Israeli Prime Minister Sharon’s plan to make settlements permanent, the Millionaire Tax Cut bill, and Reproductive Rights.
Using this chart, it is easy to compare the candidates, and easy to see the little real difference between Bush and Kerry.
The Democratic Socialists of Central of Ohio’s scorecard is available on its website at http://dsco1.tripod.com/issues.htm.
Rick Wilhelm manages the DSCO website.