Mitt Romney vs Virgil Goode on the issues of the 2012 Presidential election

Do you support the Patriot act?

Their answers: YesPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Patriot Act Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Patriot Act SourcePassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Patriot Act Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Patriot Act Source

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

Mitt Romney: YesPassion=5 Romney has a very high passion score of 5 on Education Conviction=1 Romney has a very low conviction score of 1 on Education Source

Virgil Goode: The federal government should not be involved in educationPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Education Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Education Source

Do you support affirmative action programs?

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Affirmative Action Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Affirmative Action Source

Virgil Goode: No, and laws should be passed prohibiting minority groups from receiving any favorable treatmentPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Affirmative Action Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Affirmative Action Source

Do you support increased gun control?

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Gun Control Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Gun Control Source

Virgil Goode: No, and the federal government should pass national “stand your ground” lawsPassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Gun Control Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Gun Control Source

Are you in favor of decriminalizing all drugs?

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=5 Romney has a very high passion score of 5 on Drug Policy Conviction=5 Romney has a very high conviction score of 5 on Drug Policy Source

Virgil Goode: No, we should pass tougher drug lawsPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Drug Policy Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Drug Policy Source

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

Mitt Romney: No, the government should prosecute copyright violators but not regulate the internetPassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Internet Conviction=5 Romney has a very high conviction score of 5 on Internet Source

Virgil Goode: No, and enact legislation preventing any level of government policing the internetPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Internet Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Internet Source

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

Mitt Romney: YesPassion=5 Romney has a very high passion score of 5 on Campaign Finance Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on Campaign Finance Source

Virgil Goode: Yes, any restriction on campaign spending violates the first amendmentPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Campaign Finance Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Campaign Finance Source

Is Global Warming a threat to the environment?

Mitt Romney: No, global warming and cooling are natural cycles beyond our controlPassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Global Warming Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on Global Warming Source

Virgil Goode: NoPassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Global Warming Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Global Warming Source

Should we expand our offshore oil drilling?

Mitt Romney: YesPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Oil Drilling Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on Oil Drilling Source

Virgil Goode: Deregulate and let the free market determine the best energy sourcesPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Oil Drilling Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Oil Drilling Source

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

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on National Parks Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on National Parks Source

Virgil Goode: No, there is no reason for the government to own so much landPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on National Parks Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on National Parks Source

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

Their answers: No, traditional energy sources including oil, coal and nuclear power will be reliable energy sources for many years to comePassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Alternative Engery Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Alternative EngeryPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Alternative Engery Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Alternative Engery

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

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=5 Romney has a very high passion score of 5 on Economic Stimulus Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on Economic Stimulus Source

Virgil Goode: No, and enact legislation preventing any future administration from passing a stimulusPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Economic Stimulus Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Economic Stimulus Source

Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?

Mitt Romney: Leave it up to the states to decidePassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Minimum Wage Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Minimum Wage Source

Virgil Goode: No, eliminate all federal wage standardsPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Minimum Wage Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Minimum Wage Source

Should Congress raise the debt ceiling?

Their answers: NoPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Debt Ceiling Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on Debt Ceiling SourcePassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Debt Ceiling Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Debt Ceiling Source

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

Their answers: NoPassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Financial Regulation Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on Financial Regulation SourcePassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Financial Regulation Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Financial Regulation Source

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

Their answers: Yes, adults who receive government benefits should be required to work SourcePassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Welfare Conviction=2 Goode has a low conviction score of 2 on Welfare Source

Should children of illegal immigrants be granted citizenship?

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=3 Romney has a moderate passion score of 3 on Immigration Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Immigration Source

Virgil Goode: No, all illegal immigrants should be deportedPassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Immigration Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Immigration Source

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

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Immigration Healthcare Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Immigration Healthcare Source

Virgil Goode: No, deport illegal immigrants seeking healthcarePassion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Immigration Healthcare Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Immigration Healthcare Source

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

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Immigrant Laborers Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Immigrant Laborers Source

Virgil Goode: No, remove them from the U.S.Passion=5 Goode has a very high passion score of 5 on Immigrant Laborers Conviction=5 Goode has a very high conviction score of 5 on Immigrant Laborers Source

Should the federal government fund stem cell research?

Their answers: NoPassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Stem Cell Research Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Stem Cell Research SourcePassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Stem Cell Research Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Stem Cell Research Source

Should we expand or dismantle our Medicare program?

Their answers: ReformPassion=3 Romney has a moderate passion score of 3 on Medicare Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Medicare SourcePassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Medicare Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Medicare Source

Should marijuana be legalized in the U.S.?

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Marijuana Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on Marijuana Source

Virgil Goode: No, and increase penalties for all non-violent drug offendersPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Marijuana Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Marijuana Source

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

Mitt Romney: Scale back our current involvementPassion=3 Romney has a moderate passion score of 3 on United Nations Conviction=4 Romney has a high conviction score of 4 on United Nations Source

Virgil Goode: No, and remove the U.N. headquarters from the U.S.Passion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on United Nations Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on United Nations Source

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

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

Virgil Goode: Yes

Should the U.S. intervene in the affairs of other countries?

Mitt Romney: Only if there is a direct threat to our national securityPassion=3 Romney has a moderate passion score of 3 on Foreign Intervention Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Foreign Intervention Source

Virgil Goode: No, we have more important domestic issues to worry aboutPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Foreign Intervention Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Foreign Intervention Source

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

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

Virgil Goode: Yes, and only approve future wars through CongressPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Afghanistan Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Afghanistan Source

Should the U.S. continue to support Israel?

Mitt Romney: YesPassion=5 Romney has a very high passion score of 5 on Israel Conviction=5 Romney has a very high conviction score of 5 on Israel Source

Virgil Goode: No, cut all support and aidPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Israel Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Israel Source

How should the U.S. deal with Iran?

Mitt Romney: Isolate through trade embargoesPassion=3 Romney has a moderate passion score of 3 on Iran Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Iran Source

Virgil Goode: Ignore their threats and cease all contactPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Iran Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Iran Source

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

Mitt Romney: Support a NATO effort to contain the Sudanese militaryPassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Sudan Conviction=2 Romney has a low conviction score of 2 on Sudan Source

Virgil Goode: Do not get involvedPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Sudan Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Sudan Source

Should the United States end its trade embargo and travel ban on Cuba?

Mitt Romney: NoPassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Cuba Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Cuba Source

Virgil Goode: Yes, end embargoes with all countries and allow U.S. businesses to do business with any countryPassion=2 Goode has a low passion score of 2 on Cuba Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Cuba Source

Should foreign terrorism suspects be given constitutional rights?

Mitt Romney: No, they are not U.S. citizens and should be subject to enhanced interrogation methods Source

Virgil Goode: Yes, just like U.S. citizens, terrorists should be given a fair trial in federal courtsPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Terrorism Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Terrorism Source

Should the government cut military spending?

Mitt Romney: Increase the military budgetPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Military Spending Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Military Spending

Virgil Goode: YesPassion=1 Goode has a very low passion score of 1 on Military Spending Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Military Spending

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

Mitt Romney: Yes, I support a majority of the plan but not all aspectsPassion=5 Romney has a very high passion score of 5 on Healthcare Conviction=1 Romney has a very low conviction score of 1 on Healthcare Source

Virgil Goode: No, open the markets so insurers can compete across state lines and drive down costsPassion=3 Goode has a moderate passion score of 3 on Healthcare Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Healthcare Source

Do you believe the theory of Evolution?

Mitt Romney: Yes, and I believe it is a part of CreationismPassion=1 Romney has a very low passion score of 1 on Evolution Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Evolution Source

Virgil Goode: No, and it should not be taught in public schoolsPassion=4 Goode has a high passion score of 4 on Evolution Conviction=3 Goode has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Evolution Source