Assume the Position

Dave Gilson, Casey Miner, and Jonathan Stein

News: A quick guide to what the candidates actually stand for

Illustration By Peter Hoey

December 21, 2007

Debates, stump speeches, and websites notwithstanding, it often remains hard to sort out what the candidates stand for—whether they issue 80-page white papers like John Edwards or feel-good three-paragraph statements à la Fred Thompson. Below, a summary of where the major contenders stand on the big issues relative to each other and their respective party line. Instructions: Choose a party, then select an issue front the chart that will appear below



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Comments:

Where's Ron Paul for the the Republicans? MJ joins the MSM

Posted by:ddoddhs@dodgit.comDecember 23, 2007 12:37:07 PMRespond ^

If you guys are going to do this why don't you include everyone? No biases at MoJo huh?

Posted by:michelleDecember 24, 2007 9:34:15 PMRespond ^

Wheres Ron Paul? He has been rising in the polls so whats up here?

Posted by:WaltDecember 24, 2007 9:44:58 PMRespond ^

Include Thompson but exclude Ron Paul? That makes no sense.

Posted by:Ratha GrimesDecember 24, 2007 9:45:54 PMRespond ^

I see all the GOP's are in favor of free trade. This tells me how well they can relate to the life of the average factory worker! By the way, where is Ron Paul?

Posted by:GailDecember 25, 2007 9:13:28 AMRespond ^

I can't seem to find Ron Paul here...

Posted by:LucasDecember 25, 2007 10:16:27 AMRespond ^

You guys really suck. I liked you in the beginning because you used to represent progressives but you've changed a lot since. Not only do you exclude Kucinich and Gravel under the Democratic side by putting them in the "other Dems" but you also exclude Ron Paul under the Republicans. If you want to make a list like this do it right or don't do it at all.

Posted by:A real progressive...December 25, 2007 12:11:52 PMRespond ^

Where the heck is the leading republican of fund raising. Another media manipulation happening to persuade the public he is not a contendor. He is a frontrunner and will lead the poles if they are not rigged with more propoganda.

Posted by:tim kennedyDecember 25, 2007 7:00:35 PMRespond ^

I would also like to know why the best candidate, Ron Paul was excluded.

Posted by:AllenDecember 25, 2007 7:44:03 PMRespond ^

We should have ron paul information like everyone else is stating here.

Posted by:david shattoDecember 26, 2007 2:57:24 PMRespond ^

Ron Paul fans: The good doctor is against public education. Just like he is against lots of public programs, instead favoring the go it alone approach, which doesn't work if you look around.

Posted by:BrianDecember 28, 2007 12:13:25 PMRespond ^

When Ron Paul beats the majority of people on this page, how silly are you guys going to look?

Posted by:Vince BullingerDecember 28, 2007 1:49:12 PMRespond ^

He's against the department of education because it dumbs us down by design. Every time the government takes power away from teachers to do their jobs, the quality of teaching suffers. You are terribly uninformed.

Posted by:Vince BullingerDecember 28, 2007 1:51:16 PMRespond ^

WHERE IS RON PAUL?

Posted by:call me bwanaDecember 29, 2007 10:35:35 AMRespond ^

I think ron paul should be included here. I think I will be voting for him, but I'd love to see a side by side with some of the other candidates. also, it would be nice to compare dems to reps

Posted by:bradDecember 31, 2007 7:08:15 AMRespond ^

Why don't you go write for the New York Slime? How could MJ publish your article when you exclude the only DECENT candidates?? Kucinich and RON PAUL.

Posted by:DarbyJanuary 1, 2008 3:11:42 PMRespond ^

I am surprised that Mother Jones excluded Ron Paul from most of this research. Most of the mainstream media does as well. I am disapointed.

Posted by:brent cookJanuary 2, 2008 12:26:41 PMRespond ^

I'd love to see the full chart on these issues for ALL of the candidates on both sides of the aisle. It's disheartening when even Mother Jones decides not to provide full information on candidates other than the ones anointed as front-runners by the money-chase data and the corporate media.

Posted by:TMJanuary 2, 2008 1:09:55 PMRespond ^

I subscribe to your magazine, but think you should have included Ron Paul in here somewhere. Though I just got a new issue of Mother Jones and there is an entire article on Ron Paul that I have not read yet. Maybe there is some good stuff there.

Posted by:AmyJanuary 2, 2008 2:16:04 PMRespond ^

Although I think Kucinich is the best man for President, and the only one I trust to truly help the poor and middle-class, I think it's sad that you didn't put up any views, that I saw, of the best Republican candidate, Ron Paul. I don't like that he tows the line of "big government and social programs are the problem", instead of the size of the military-industrial complex,& our current voting methods.The fact is that the TV networks are a National Treasure, and every Presidential candidate should get the exact same amount of air (and debate) time, and for very little, if any, money. Congress could easily pass such a law, but doesn't because the people in power want to maintain their grip on power and the status quo...But this would be a way to stop a lot of the corruption, and get politicians who are truly concerned about the issues and what Americans want, instead of the special interests and corporations...With free advertising, they wouldn't need to become indebted to these corporate powers so much or as easily corrupted.

Posted by:AlanJanuary 2, 2008 2:45:52 PMRespond ^

What's up? I would expect much better from Mother Jones. Where's Kucinich and Ron Paul, the only two candidates with principles enough to oppose the Death Penalty. The remainder just pander to our fear based society by supporting the Death Penalty.

Posted by:richardJanuary 2, 2008 8:26:51 PMRespond ^

Why the fear of Ron Paul? It's time to return to the roots of our founding fathers. The five listed above are shills only looking to get even more rich than they already are.

Posted by:DanJanuary 3, 2008 1:47:59 AMRespond ^

"Other Dems" !? WTF!? All of these citizens, with the possible exceptions of Paul and Kucinich, are only running for the office of President to make money for themselves, their friends and families!! Just imagine if there were an oath of poverty attached to any oath of office? How many of these "I just want to serve to people" politicians would still be around? Not very many I suspect.

Posted by:DanJanuary 3, 2008 1:56:58 AMRespond ^

why are the positions interpreted by MJ? can't we get actual statements, details from the candidates? i appreciate parsing politico but the way the positions are stated suggests more spin, this time from MJ.

Posted by:maitriJanuary 3, 2008 8:23:51 PMRespond ^

Oh my God. Stop with the Ron Paul thing already! He's not going anywhere, so why bother listing him!

Posted by:BobJanuary 7, 2008 11:15:38 AMRespond ^

Can we update the "Other Dems" thing to just say "Kucinich"? All the other guys are out and Gravel's having health problems, which means he'll likely fold soon.

Posted by:Ken BurchJanuary 13, 2008 12:42:17 AMRespond ^

Giuliani says "9/11 convinced him he was wrong to push gun control? So he thought people could've shot those planes down in the Jersey 'burbs with assault weapons?

Posted by:Ken BurchJanuary 13, 2008 12:46:08 AMRespond ^

wheres my reeses?

Posted by:albertJanuary 18, 2008 9:18:04 AMRespond ^

i have ur reeses!!!

Posted by:herveyJanuary 18, 2008 9:19:23 AMRespond ^

Ill give u ur ron paul!

Posted by:ethanJanuary 18, 2008 9:31:55 AMRespond ^

Is this myspace?

Posted by:AmeliaJanuary 18, 2008 9:37:22 AMRespond ^

im so fast i make fast people look not fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by:victoriaJanuary 18, 2008 9:39:05 AMRespond ^

hervey ur a [deleted] face and [deleted] juice!!!!

Posted by:ameliaJanuary 18, 2008 9:39:58 AMRespond ^

Ron Paul? oh, right... "The Tastier Republican" kinda like "the Other White Meat". they do know their marketing, don't they? "Why vote for the Lesser Evil? Cthulhu in '08!"" ~~~ BlueBerry Pick'n can be found @ ThisCanadian.com "Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced"

Posted by:BlueBerry Pick'nJanuary 21, 2008 8:11:27 PMRespond ^

Finally, an anti-war candidate who isn't bought off by evil corporations, who has a large grassroots support, decent money, significant experience, and Mother Jones doesn't even mention him.

Posted by:Jack KennedyFebruary 9, 2008 8:00:44 PMRespond ^


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