Reply #39: Sorry, Mairead, not buying it [View All]

He is a liberal and not a conservative. No Kucinich, I give you that. But never a conservative. He believes in being strong on national security and respecting the flag.

But what's weasely and "very conservative" and "Bush-Lite" about his policies?

I believe that law enforcement should have access to all necessary tools to deal with the problems of terrorism, which is why I'm calling for an immediate $40 billion investment in homeland security. But I don't believe that we can win a war on terror if we give up the essence of who we are as Americans. That's why I think that Congress should fully review the so-called USA PATRIOT Act - and repeal the provisions that go too far.

The USA PATRIOT Act was jammed through Congress in a matter of weeks, when the country was still in shock from the horrific attacks of September 11th. It wasn't carefully drafted and it wasn't fully debated. More troubling is that, in just two years, the Act has grown the tentacles that many feared. Last month, a Justice Department report admitted that the John Ashcroft has actually expanded the substantial reach of the Act, using it to snoop in secrecy for evidence of crimes that have nothing to do with terrorism.

Reproductive freedom. Every woman deserves complete information about and access to birth control so that families can be planned and so that every child is a wanted child. I will oppose measures that interfere with the ability of a woman and her doctors to make choices about her reproductive health.

Affirmative action. Throughout my career, I have seen the meaning, consequence, and importance of affirmative action firsthand. I was proud to join a group of retired military officers who filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of affirmative action at the University of Michigan. I think such policies are necessary to facilitate diversity within, and thus the legitimacy of, the nation's leadership. And the Supreme Court agreed on the importance of diversity, relying on the successes of the military model. America cannot be a great nation without the leadership of our very best - of all races, from all parts of the country. Affirmative action ensures that future leaders who might otherwise never get a chance are brought to the forefront. As a result, Americans - all Americans - benefit.

Voting rights. I am concerned that so many Americans who are legally entitled to vote have had their right to vote impaired or their ballot ignored. I am astonished that the votes of thousands and thousands of African-American ballots were discarded in Florida. I was proud to lead a multilateral force in Bosnia and Kosovo, seeking to restore free and fair elections to the Balkans; what many Americans - and many African Americans - put their lives on the line for in Europe simply must be guaranteed here at home. I will fight to make sure that African Americans are never again unlawfully disenfranchised. In addition, I would encourage the states to look at the laws that strip voting rights from those who have served their time. Many thousands of these citizens are veterans who have also served their country, and disproportionate numbers are African Americans. When the right to vote - the basis of government - is at stake, the states should reexamine their answers to the hard questions: who is excluded, why they're excluded, for how long they're excluded, and whether the law as it stands serves justice for all.

Ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. We should make sure that the Civil Rights Act bans discrimination based on race, religion, sex, national origin, and sexual orientation.

Strengthen federal protections against hate crimes. No one in this country should be the target of violence because of their appearance, religion, or sexual orientation.

Protect all families. Families in the United States come in many shapes and sizes. Currently, most of our laws extend rights and responsibilities only to heterosexual families and explicitly exclude same-sex couples from enjoying those same rights and responsibilities. It is in the best interest of our country to promote stable communities and families - this includes both heterosexual and same-sex families. Accordingly, I believe that same-sex couples should not be denied rights to pensions, health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits, and other basic legal protections that all families and children need.

Source: Clark Policy Statements