Candidate Responses
Favors abortion rights, although previously opposed them.
"The most personal, and often the most difficult decision a woman can make is the decision to terminate her pregnancy. Though not an easy choice, it is a legally guaranteed and protected one. And it should remain so,"he said in a statement to NARAL Pro-Choice America. That organization ranked his position on Pro-Choice as 100 percent from 2003 to 2006; 25 percent in 2002 and 0 percent in 2001.
Kucinich opposed a law allowing same-sex marriage when he ran for Congress in 1996. His position has changed and he now supports gay marriage and opposes the constitutional amendment banning it.
"And with respect to those who happen to be gay, [filtered word], bisexual, transgendered, these are God's children," he said on CNN's Paula Zahn show in 2007. "They should have the same rights. Our constitution does not provide any - for any differences to be established.
Favors civil unions for same-sex couples.
"I support the right of gay, [filtered word], bisexual and transgendered persons to have the full protections and rights afforded under civil law including the right to marry the person of their choice," he said on his web site
Opposed using military force in Iraq. Supports ending war funding and opposed Bush plan to send additional troops to Iraq
"Border security is a job for state and local authorities, not soldiers or vigilantes," he said on his campaign web site.
Legalize "hard-working, tax-paying" illegal immigrants.
Says the U.S. should negotiate directly with Iran.
Supports relaxing restrictions on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Opposed 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and opposed extension through 2010. Supports restoring tax rates in place during Bill Clinton's adminstration.
The congressman has introduced legislation to create health care for all Americans through a not-for-profit, single-payer health care system. He argues that health care is a “basic right,” and not a “privilege.”
Kucinich would pay for his plan by increasing the income tax on the top five percent of wage earners, a progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income and by taxes on stock and bond transactions
