2008 SelectSmart.com Presidential Candidate Selector Candidate Positions Sen. Chuck Hagel - Republican (Born October 4, 1946) President/chief executive officer, newscaster/talk show host, army sergeant

Iraq War Issues: Hagel supported the 2002 resolution to authorize military action in Iraq, but he has emerged as a strong skeptic of the Bush administration's handling of the war. In his speech, he called for a regional security conference to help invest Iraq's neighbors in the effort to stabilize the country. Source Hagel calls Bush’s latest “troop surge” the “biggest foreign policy blunder since Vietnam.” Source

Security/liberties: Hagel voted for all versions of the PATRIOT Act. Hagel supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 36 percent in 2005-2006. Source

Social Security: Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves. Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government. Source

Stem cell research: Voted against a bill that allows for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research that uses human embryonic stem cells. Source

Same sex issues: Voted for an amendment to the Constitution to define a marriage as a union between only a man and a woman. Source

Trade issues: Hagel supported the interests of the free trade advocating CATO Institute--Center for Trade Policy Studies 82 percent in 2003-2004. Source

Budget issues: For 2001-2002, the balanced budget advocating Concord Coalition gave Senator Hagel a rating of 12 percent. Source

Business & labor issues: Senator Hagel supported the interests of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 94 percent in 2005. Source Senator Hagel supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 7 percent in 2005. Senator Hagel supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 14 percent in 2005. Source

Abortion issues: Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered. Source

Capital punishment: Supports the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. Source

Marijuana: Hagel supports the increase penalties for selling illegal drugs. Supports mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. Supports expanding federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs. Opposes decriminalization of the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Source

Gun control: While I strongly support an individual's Second Amendment rights, I believe licensing citizens to carry concealed weapons is an issue most appropriately handled at the state level. Source

Minimum wage: Opposes raising the minimum wage. Source

Health care: Does not agree with the following statements: "Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government." or "Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income." Source

Prescription drugs: Voted against an amendment that would allow the Health and Human Services Secretary to negotiate with prescription drug manufactures for the best possible prescription drug prices. Source

Environmental issues: Opposes strengthening the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Supports opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration. Source

Immigration issues: I support provisions that allow the adjustments of status for certain, qualified immigrants with employment or family-based ties to U.S. citizens. I do not support amnesties for undocumented immigrants. Source
Supports amnesty/permanent legalization for illegal aliens and temporary legalization for illegal aiens as guestworkers Source

Education issues: Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any publicly-funded school. Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any participating school: public, private or religious. Source

Link to voting records and special interest group ratings. (If available).

Senate website