Ron vs Barack Obama on the issues of the 2012 Presidential election

Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?

Ron Paul: No, eliminate all federal wage standardsPassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Minimum Wage Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Minimum Wage

Barack Obama: NoPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Minimum Wage Conviction=1 Obama has a very low conviction score of 1 on Minimum Wage Source

Should able-bodied, mentally capable adults who receive welfare be required to work?

Ron Paul: Yes, and eliminate welfare all together as it is not authorized in the ConstitutionPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Welfare Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Welfare

Barack Obama: YesPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Welfare Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Welfare Source

Do you support affirmative action programs?

Ron Paul: NoPassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Affirmative Action Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Affirmative Action

Barack Obama: YesPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Affirmative Action Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Affirmative Action Source

Do you support increased gun control?

Ron Paul: NoPassion=3 Paul has a moderate passion score of 3 on Gun Control Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Gun Control

Barack Obama: No, only for assault weapons Passion=1 Obama has a very low passion score of 1 on Gun Control Conviction=2 Obama has a low conviction score of 2 on Gun Control Source

Should the federal government regulate the internet to deter online piracy?

Ron Paul: No, industries should address their piracy issues instead of the governmentPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Internet Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Internet

Barack Obama: No, the government should prosecute copyright violators but not regulate the internetPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Internet Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Internet Source

Should corporations and unions be permitted to fund broadcast advertisements backing political candidates through political action committees (Super PACS)?

Ron Paul: Yes, any restriction on campaign spending violates the first amendmentPassion=1 Paul has a very low passion score of 1 on Campaign Finance Conviction=2 Paul has a low conviction score of 2 on Campaign Finance

Barack Obama: YesPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Campaign Finance Conviction=1 Obama has a very low conviction score of 1 on Campaign Finance Source

Should the United States increase our space exploration efforts and budget?

Ron Paul: Regardless, we should only use government funds for national defense purposes and leave exploration to the private sectorPassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Space Exploration Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Space Exploration

Barack Obama: NoPassion=3 Obama has a moderate passion score of 3 on Space Exploration Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Space Exploration Source

Should illegal immigrants be given access to government-subsidized healthcare?

Ron Paul: NoPassion=2 Paul has a low passion score of 2 on Immigration Healthcare Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Immigration Healthcare

Barack Obama: No, but their children should have accessPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Immigration Healthcare Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Immigration Healthcare Source

Should we expand our offshore oil drilling?

Ron Paul: Deregulate and let the free market determine the best energy sourcesPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Oil Drilling Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Oil Drilling

Barack Obama: YesPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Oil Drilling Conviction=2 Obama has a low conviction score of 2 on Oil Drilling Source

Should we expand or dismantle our Social Security program?

Ron Paul: DismantlePassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Social Security Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Social Security

Barack Obama: Expand and increase the payroll tax on individuals making more than $250K to make up for the budget shortfallPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Social Security Conviction=2 Obama has a low conviction score of 2 on Social Security Source

Do you agree with President Obama's 2009 Stimulus Plan?

Ron Paul: No, I'm against any type of federal stimulusPassion=3 Paul has a moderate passion score of 3 on Economic Stimulus Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Economic Stimulus

Barack Obama: YesPassion=5 Obama has a very high passion score of 5 on Economic Stimulus Conviction=5 Obama has a very high conviction score of 5 on Economic Stimulus Source

Do you believe the 2001 and 2003 George W Bush tax cuts should be extended?

Ron Paul: Abolish all income taxesPassion=2 Paul has a low passion score of 2 on Taxes Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Taxes

Barack Obama: Extend only for those making less than $250,000Passion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Taxes Conviction=1 Obama has a very low conviction score of 1 on Taxes Source

Should the federal government subsidize U.S. farmers?

Ron Paul: NoPassion=2 Paul has a low passion score of 2 on Farm Subsidies Conviction=1 Paul has a very low conviction score of 1 on Farm Subsidies

Barack Obama: YesPassion=1 Obama has a very low passion score of 1 on Farm Subsidies Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Farm Subsidies Source

Should Congress raise the debt ceiling?

Ron Paul: No, cut spendingPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Debt Ceiling Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Debt Ceiling

Barack Obama: Offset the debt by raising taxes on the rich and reduced spendingPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Debt Ceiling Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Debt Ceiling Source

Should the U.S. have bailed out the major banks during the financial crisis of 2008?

Ron Paul: No, remove the federal reserve and go back to the gold standardPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Financial Regulation Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Financial Regulation

Barack Obama: Yes, but with more restrictionsPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Financial Regulation Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Financial Regulation Source

Should the federal government fund stem cell research?

Ron Paul: No, leave funding and research to the private sectorPassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Stem Cell Research Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Stem Cell Research

Barack Obama: YesPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Stem Cell Research Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Stem Cell Research Source

Do you believe the theory of Evolution?

Ron Paul: NoPassion=1 Paul has a very low passion score of 1 on Evolution Conviction=2 Paul has a low conviction score of 2 on Evolution

Barack Obama: YesPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Evolution Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Evolution Source

Should children of illegal immigrants be granted citizenship?

Ron Paul: NoPassion=2 Paul has a low passion score of 2 on Immigration Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Immigration

Barack Obama: Yes, but it should not grant their parents citizenshipPassion=5 Obama has a very high passion score of 5 on Immigration Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Immigration Source

Should illegal immigrants working in the U.S. be granted temporary amnesty?

Ron Paul: NoPassion=2 Paul has a low passion score of 2 on Immigrant Laborers Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Immigrant Laborers

Barack Obama: YesPassion=1 Obama has a very low passion score of 1 on Immigrant Laborers Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Immigrant Laborers Source

Should we expand or dismantle our Medicare program?

Ron Paul: DismantlePassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Medicare Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Medicare

Barack Obama: ExpandPassion=3 Obama has a moderate passion score of 3 on Medicare Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Medicare Source

Do you support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?

Ron Paul: No, open the markets so insurers can compete across state lines and drive down costsPassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Healthcare Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Healthcare

Barack Obama: YesPassion=5 Obama has a very high passion score of 5 on Healthcare Conviction=5 Obama has a very high conviction score of 5 on Healthcare Source

Should marijuana be legalized in the U.S.?

Ron Paul: Yes, and immediately free all citizens jailed for drug offensesPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Marijuana Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Marijuana

Barack Obama: NoPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Marijuana Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Marijuana Source

Is Global Warming a threat to the environment?

Ron Paul: Regardless, we should not devote government resources to prevent itPassion=2 Paul has a low passion score of 2 on Global Warming Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Global Warming

Barack Obama: YesPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Global Warming Conviction=2 Obama has a low conviction score of 2 on Global Warming Source

Should U.S. National Parks and Forests continue to be preserved and protected by the federal government?

Ron Paul: No, there is no reason for the government to own so much landPassion=3 Paul has a moderate passion score of 3 on National Parks Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on National Parks

Barack Obama: Yes, and expand the government’s domain to protect more landPassion=3 Obama has a moderate passion score of 3 on National Parks Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on National Parks Source

Should the federal government continue to give tax credits and subsidies to the wind power industry?

Ron Paul has not given a stance on this issue

You: Yes, the wind power industry is an important alternative to coal and natural gas

Should the U.S. end the war in Afghanistan?

Ron Paul: Yes, and only approve future wars through CongressPassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Afghanistan Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Afghanistan

Barack Obama: No, not until all U.S. military leaders are confident the mission has been accomplishedPassion=3 Obama has a moderate passion score of 3 on Afghanistan Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Afghanistan Source

Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?

Ron Paul: No, we should not give aid to any foreign nationsPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Israel Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Israel

Barack Obama: YesPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Israel Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Israel Source

How should the U.S. handle the genocide in Sudan?

Ron Paul: Do not get involvedPassion=3 Paul has a moderate passion score of 3 on Sudan Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Sudan

Barack Obama: Support a NATO effort to contain the Sudanese militaryPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Sudan Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Sudan Source

Should the U.S. maintain a presence at the United Nations?

Ron Paul: No, and remove the U.N. headquarters from the U.S.Passion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on United Nations Conviction=3 Paul has a moderate conviction score of 3 on United Nations

Barack Obama: YesPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on United Nations Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on United Nations Source

Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?

Ron Paul: Yes, give them a fair trial and shut down Guantanamo BayPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Terrorism Conviction=4 Paul has a high conviction score of 4 on Terrorism

Barack Obama: No, they should be tried in military tribunals but not subject to torturePassion=1 Obama has a very low passion score of 1 on Terrorism Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Terrorism Source

Should the government cut military spending?

Ron Paul has not given a stance on this issue

You: Do not change current military budget

Should the U.S. military fly unmanned drones over foreign countries to gain intelligence and kill suspected terrorists?

Ron Paul has not given a stance on this issue

You: Yes, the U.S. needs to use all means necessary to combat terrorism

Do you support the Patriot act?

Ron Paul: No, and pass strict laws prohibiting any government surveillancePassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Patriot Act Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Patriot Act

Barack Obama: Yes, but limit the scope of the government’s powersPassion=2 Obama has a low passion score of 2 on Patriot Act Conviction=4 Obama has a high conviction score of 4 on Patriot Act Source

Should we limit federal funds to public schools that do not meet performance standards?

Ron Paul: The federal government should not be involved in educationPassion=5 Paul has a very high passion score of 5 on Education Conviction=5 Paul has a very high conviction score of 5 on Education

Barack Obama: NoPassion=4 Obama has a high passion score of 4 on Education Conviction=5 Obama has a very high conviction score of 5 on Education Source

Are you in favor of decriminalizing all drugs?

Ron Paul: Yes, and retroactively reduce sentences for those already serving time for drug usePassion=4 Paul has a high passion score of 4 on Drug Policy Conviction=2 Paul has a low conviction score of 2 on Drug Policy

Barack Obama: NoPassion=1 Obama has a very low passion score of 1 on Drug Policy Conviction=3 Obama has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Drug Policy Source