Issue Briefs
This web page represents the collective work of the University of Northern Iowa's Fall 2004 Political Communication class. As a group, we have selected over 100 core issues that we believe play a role in this year's presidential election. We have researched Senator John F. Kerry's and President George W. Bush's stances on these issues, describe those stances, and provide direct quotations from the candidates. We also have done research on what non-party affiliated groups think about the candidate's stances. When available, we have provided links to these sources should you want to access additional information.
For each issue, a one page brief is provided. To find a candidate's position on an issue, go to the issue, and click on the candidate's name to access the brief. Links to the other candidate's issue brief on the same issue are provided at the end of each brief.
On the basis of these briefs, we will be conducting a presidential debate on October 19, 2004, from 7:30-9:00 in the University of Northern Iowa's Union Ballrooms A & B. All are welcome to attend, and half the debate will be devoted to a town hall format, in which audience members can ask questions.
If we have not covered an issue, please check out the following locations for additional information:
the Kerry/Edwards campaign web page linkthe Bush/Cheney campaign web page link
CNN's issue web page link
for local and state level elections, Vote-Smart.org provides summaries of candidates' positions, developed in response to a survey. Neither presidential candidate has participated in this survey, but the site will still provide access to voting records, etc. link
FactCheck.org also is an excellent cite, providing detailed assessments of candidates' ads and speeches link. For a balanced assessment of candidates' claims, this is by far the best site.
This site will be updated as research is completed on additional briefs. Last updated: October 19, 2004.
Issues (in alphabetical order)
9/11 Commisssion, see Terrorism
Americans with Disability Act Bush Kerry
ANWR (Alaska National Wildlife Refuge) Drilling: Bush Kerry see also Energy Independence
Campaign Finance Reform see 527s
Children and Families Bush Kerry
Church/State Separation Bush Kerry
Clean Air Act/Clean Skies Act Bush Kerry see also Environment
Climate change: see Kyoto Protocol
College Education/Pell Grants Bush Kerry
Commander in Chief Bush Kerry see also War Powers
Director of Intelligence Bush Kerry see also Terrorism
the Draft: see Military Draft
Education: pre-K/Head Start Bush Kerry
Education: post-secondary: see Pell Grants
Electoral Reform: see Voting Reform
Energy Independence Bush Kerry see also Renewables
Environment Bush Kerry see also Kyoto Protocol and Clean Air Act
Faith Based Initiative: see Church/state separation
Hazardous Waste Site (Yucca) Bush Kerry
Head Start: see Education pre-K
Homeland Security Bush Kerry see also Terrorism, 9/11 Commission
Housing and Urban Development: Bush Kerry
International Criminal Court (ICC) Bush Kerry
Iran Bush Kerry
Jobs: see Unemployment
Judical Nominations Bush Kerry
Judicial Nomination Process Bush Kerry
Kyoto Protocal on Global Warming Bush Kerry see also Environment
Marijuana, legalization of Bush Kerry
Media Consolidation Bush Kerry
Mexican Americans: see Latino/a community
Mexico/US relations Bush Kerry
Military Combatants Bush Kerry
Nuclear Proliferation Bush Kerry
Prescription Drug Prices Bush Kerry
Renewables Bush Kerry see also Energy Independence
Space exploration: see NASA
Sudan: see Darfur
Terrorism, 9/11 Commission Bush Kerry see also Director of Intelligence
United Nations, U.S. relationship with Bush Kerry
Vice-Presidential Running Mates Bush Kerry
Yucca see Hazardous Waste Sites
Weapons of Mass Destruction: see Nuclear Proliferation
World Trade Organization (WTO) Bush Kerry
If you encounter any problems with this page, or with the links attached to the issue brief, please email Prof. Catherine Palczewski.