Mitt Romney vs Gary Johnson on the issues of the 2012 Presidential election

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

Gary Johnson: The federal government should not be involved in educationPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Education Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Education Source

Do you support affirmative action programs?

Their answers: 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 SourcePassion=1 Johnson has a very low passion score of 1 on Affirmative Action Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Affirmative Action Source

Do you support increased gun control?

Their answers: 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 SourcePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Gun Control Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Gun Control 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

Gary Johnson: No, industries should address their piracy issues instead of the governmentPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Internet Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 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

Gary Johnson: Yes, any restriction on campaign spending violates the first amendment Source

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

Their answers: 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 SourcePassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Foreign Intervention Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Foreign Intervention 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

Gary Johnson: Iran does not threaten our national security and there is no proof they are building a nuclear weaponPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Iran Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Iran Source

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

Their answers: 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 SourcePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on United Nations Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on United Nations 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

Gary Johnson: No, the government should not subsidize healthcarePassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Immigration Healthcare Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Immigration Healthcare Source

Should the federal government fund stem cell research?

Mitt Romney: 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 Source

Gary Johnson: No, leave funding and research to the private sectorPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Stem Cell Research Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Stem Cell Research 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

Gary Johnson: Deregulate and let the free market determine the best energy sourcesPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Oil Drilling Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 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

Gary Johnson: Let each state determine which areas to protectPassion=1 Johnson has a very low passion score of 1 on National Parks Conviction=2 Johnson 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?

Mitt Romney: 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 Engery

Gary Johnson: No, the government should leave the energy sector alone and end support for failed technologiesPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Alternative Engery Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Alternative Engery

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 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Medicare Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Medicare Source

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

Gary Johnson: No, open the markets so insurers can compete across state lines and drive down costsPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Healthcare Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Healthcare Source

What is your stance on abortion?

Mitt Romney: Pro-life, but allow in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother or child's healthPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Abortion Conviction=1 Romney has a very low conviction score of 1 on Abortion Source

Gary Johnson: Ban after the first trimesterPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Abortion Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Abortion Source

Should the government require health insurance companies to provide free birth control?

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

Gary Johnson: No, let the insurance companies decide instead of a government mandatePassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Government Mandates Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Government Mandates Source

Should gay marriage be allowed in the U.S.?

Mitt Romney: No, marriage should be defined as between a man and womanPassion=4 Romney has a high passion score of 4 on Gay Marriage Conviction=1 Romney has a very low conviction score of 1 on Gay Marriage Source

Gary Johnson: YesPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Gay Marriage Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Gay Marriage Source

Should the federal government allow the death penalty?

Mitt Romney: YesPassion=3 Romney has a moderate passion score of 3 on Death Penalty Conviction=1 Romney has a very low conviction score of 1 on Death Penalty Source

Gary Johnson: NoPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Death Penalty Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Death Penalty Source

Do you support the Patriot act?

Mitt Romney: 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 Source

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

Gary Johnson: Yes, and retroactively reduce sentences for those already serving time for drug usePassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Drug Policy Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Drug Policy 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

Gary Johnson: Yes. Legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana instead of criminalizing itPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Marijuana Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 on Marijuana 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

Gary Johnson: Yes, if they were born herePassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Immigration Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Immigration 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

Gary Johnson: Yes, create a simple path to citizenship for non-violent criminalsPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Immigrant Laborers Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Immigrant Laborers 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

Gary Johnson: Yes, and only approve future wars through CongressPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Afghanistan Conviction=5 Johnson has a very high conviction score of 5 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

Gary Johnson: No, we should not give aid to any foreign nationsPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Israel Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Israel 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

Gary Johnson: Do not get involvedPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Sudan Conviction=3 Johnson 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

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

Gary Johnson: Yes, give them a fair trial and shut down Guantanamo BayPassion=4 Johnson has a high passion score of 4 on Terrorism Conviction=3 Johnson 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

Gary Johnson: YesPassion=5 Johnson has a very high passion score of 5 on Military Spending Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Military Spending

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

Gary Johnson: No, the U.S. military does not have the right to fly unmanned aircraft over foreign countries without a Congressional declaration of war.

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

Gary Johnson: Regardless, we should incentivize the private sector to develop cleaner and efficient fuelsPassion=3 Johnson has a moderate passion score of 3 on Global Warming Conviction=4 Johnson has a high conviction score of 4 on Global Warming 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

Gary Johnson: YesPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Evolution Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Evolution Source

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

Mitt Romney: YesPassion=2 Romney has a low passion score of 2 on Space Exploration Conviction=3 Romney has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Space Exploration Source

Gary Johnson: Leave funding and research to the private sectorPassion=2 Johnson has a low passion score of 2 on Space Exploration Conviction=3 Johnson has a moderate conviction score of 3 on Space Exploration Source