Comparisons between Obama and McKinney on Key Issues

(Compiled by Bruce Gagnon, member of Maine Greens and Mainers For Cynthia McKinney Committee.)

Impeachment: Cass Sunstein, an adviser to Barack Obama from the University of Chicago Law School, says that prosecuting criminal conduct from the Bush Administration. risks a “cycle” of criminalizing public service and Democrats should avoid replicating retributive efforts like the impeachment of President Clinton–or even the “slight appearance” of it. Cynthia McKinney, before leaving the Congress in 2006 introduced impeachment resolution against George W. Bush.

Afghanistan: Obama says we must add 10,000 troops and win in Afghanistan because it is the “right war.” McKinney is opposed to the Afghanistan war and wants us out right away.

FISA Bill: Sen. Obama voted in favor of the Bush FISA surveillance bill. Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was opposed to the bill.

Experience in Congress: Cynthia McKinney served 12 years in the US Congress. Barack Obama has been in Congress for 3.5 years. They both served in their state legislatures in their respective states.

Iraq: McKinney calls for a “quick and orderly” withdrawal of all U.S. forces and mercenaries now occupying Iraq. While in Congress she opposed funding for the occupation. Obama calls for a “responsible” and “honorable” withdrawal and has recently changed his withdrawal timeline to 16 months after elected. Obama also uses the term “redeploy” which means move many troops onto the big US permanent bases in Iraq and also move many to bases in nearby Kuwait so they can be sent back into Iraq when needed. Obama voted for most Iraq occupation appropriations.

Military Spending: Obama calls for increasing the military by at least 92,000 troops and supports increases in military spending. McKinney has long been an opponent of increased military spending and while in Congress often took on former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in House hearings demanding answers to her questions about what happened to the $2 trillion the Pentagon lost.

Public Financing of Elections: Obama recently changed his position and now refuses to participate in public financing of the national election. McKinney supports public financing.

Trade Issues: Obama’s economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee from the University of Chicago, last February urged the rightwing Canadian government not to pay too much attention to Obama’s campaign critiques of NAFTA, explaining that the candidate’s rhetoric was “more reflective of political maneuvering than policy.” McKinney opposes NAFTA, CAFTA and all the rest of the so-called “free trade” agreements, which are “anti-union” and institutionalize corporate profits and priorities.

Africa: Obama supports the creation of the new Pentagon Africa Command (AFRICOM) saying that the command will “facilitate” fighting terrorism on the continent. McKinney opposes the new command saying “the last thing Africa needs is AFRICOM, U.S. soldiers, or a School of the Americas-type relationship with Africa.”

Paid for by Mainers for Cynthia McKinney