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Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin is the presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee for the 2008 United States presidential election. The following is a summary of her positions on certain central political issues.
Social issues
Abortion and contraception
Palin is pro-life and a prominent member of Feminists for Life. A 2006 article in the Anchorage Daily News refers to her as "pro-contraception," but does not go into detail on the subject.
Education
While running for Governor of Alaska and asked about the teaching of creationism in public school science classes, Palin answered that she thought it was healthy for both creationism and evolution to be taught together; although she clarified the next day that she meant that open debate between the two ideas should not be prohibited if it came up in discussion, but that creationism did not need to be part of the curriculum. She also added that she would not appoint State Board of Education members based on their opinions on evolution, creationism, or religion. Since her election she has appointed three of the seven Board members, who serve five-year terms: Patrick Shier, Phillip Schneider, and Geraldine Benshoof. None of these appointments attracted criticism on this issue.
Gay rights
Palin has said she has good friends who are gay, opposes same-sex marriage, but complied with an Alaskan state Supreme Court order and signed an implementation of same-sex benefits into law, stating that legal options to avoid doing so had run out. She supported a non-binding referendum for a constitutional amendment to deny benefits to homosexual couples. Alaska was one of the first U.S. states to pass a constitutional ban on gay marriage, in 1998, along with Hawaii. Palin has stated that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment.
Palin's first veto was used to kill a bill that would have barred the state from granting benefits to the partners of gay state employees. She made her decision after she determined from Alaska's attorney general that it was unconstitutional. In effect, her veto granted State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couples, as was required by law.
Energy and environment
As governor Palin has strongly promoted oil resource development in Alaska, including opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. She has also helped pass a tax increase on oil company profits. Palin has announced plans to create a new sub-cabinet group of advisors to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Alaska. After she was announced as McCain's presumptive running mate, she stated that she does not believe that climate change is man-made.
In 2007, Palin agreed with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to allow Alaska state biologists to hunt wolves from helicopters as part of a "predator control" program which was allowed under a provision in a 35 year-old federal ban on the practice granting 700 permits to the state of Alaska. The program was heavily criticized by Defenders of Wildlife and predator control opponents, and prompted California State Representative George Miller to introduce a federal bill making the practice illegal.
Gun rights
Palin is a life-time member of the National Rifle Association, and is popular among gun rights activists. Sandra Froman, a member of the NRA Board of Directors, described McCain's selection of Palin as "outstanding". An avid hunter herself, she is a strong proponent of the Second Amendment, and supports gun-safety education for kids.
Foreign policy
According to Time magazine, Palin's foreign policy positions were not clear at the time she was picked, but she has been critical of the lack of a long-term strategy on the war in Iraq.
References
- Steven Ertelt (August 29, 2008). "John McCain Selects Pro-Life Champion Sarah Palin for Vice Presidential Slot". LifeNews.com. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- Steven Ertelt. "Sarah Palin's Feminists for Life Membership Points to Pro-Woman, Pro-Life View", Lifenews.com, August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
- Ruth Rosen. "Sarah Pahlin and Feminists for Life", TPMCafe, August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
- Kyle Hopkins. "Same-sex unions, drugs get little play", Anchorage Daily News, August 6, 2006.
- ^ Kizzia, Tom (October 27, 2006). "'Creation science' enters the race". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ Hopkins, Kyle (August 6, 2006). "Same-sex unions, drugs get little play". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- McAllister, Bill (December 20, 2006). "Gay partners of state employees win benefits". KTUU News. KTUU-TV. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ "Alaska governor won't block partner benefits". Gay.com. December 29, 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
- Demer, Lisa (December 21, 2006). "Palin to comply on same-sex ruling". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- Vestal, Christine (March 1, 2007 (updated March 6, 2008)). "Gay marriage decisions ripe in two courts". Stateline.org. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "State of the State Address Jan 17, 2007". January 17, 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- Quinn, Steve (2007-05-10). "Alaska governor balances newborn's needs, official duties". Associated Press.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Barnes, Fred (July 16, 2007). "The Most Popular Governor". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- Kizzia, Tom (April 12, 2007). "State aims to reduce emissions". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- Coppock, Mike (August 29, 2008). "Palin Speaks to Newsmax About McCain, Abortion, Climate Change". Newsmax. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ Bolstad, Erika (2007-09-26). "Lawmaker seeks to ban wolf hunting from planes, copters". Oakland Tribune.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - Davis, Susan (2008-08-29). "Conservative Activists Praise Palin as McCain's VP Pick". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- Braiker, Brian (2008-08-29). "On the Hunt". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- Grunwald, Michael (2008-08-29). "Why McCain Picked Palin". Time. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
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