2008 SelectSmart.com Presidential Candidate Selector Candidate Positions Cynthia McKinney (born March 17, 1955) is a former United States Congresswoman and the 2008 Green Party nominee for President of the United States. McKinney served as a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, and from 2005 to 2007, representing Georgia's 4th Congressional District. - Green Party

IRAQ WAR: In 2006, I voted no on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date. I consistently opposed every regular and supplemental appropriation meant to fund the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have participated in International War Crimes Tribunals (in Brussles, Spain and Malaysia) designed to bring to justice the Bush-Cheney administration. I was targeted by AIPAC and others for my opposition to the Israeli occupation of and genocidal policies toward Palestine.

BALANCING CIVIL LIBERTIES & SECURITY: I opposed the Patriot Act and its re-authorization. Favors protecting and expanding civil rights.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Voted for the Social Security Lockbox bill to require that any budget surplus cannot be spent until the solvency of Social Security and Medicare is guaranteed.

EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH: In May 2005 I voted to support human embryonic stem cell research.

SCHOOL CHOICE: Voted against school vouchers for parents in Washington, D.C.

GAY & LESBIAN ISSUES: I opposed efforts to ban gay adoptions in Washington DC.

TRADE ISSUES: In 1999, I voted to oppose Most Favored Nation status for China; and to condition trade with China on an improved human rights record. In 2000, I voted yes to support U.S. withdrawal from the World Trade Organization. In 2005, I voted in opposition to implementing Central America Free Trade Agreement.

TAXES & GOVERMENT SERVICES: Greens support providing services for those in need and taxing those who are able pay.

THE DEFICIT: There is enough money to supply those under-funded and unfunded [programs]. When the Pentagon spends $60 million buying Tamiflu, at a time when the Secretary of Defense owns stock in the company that makes Tamiflu, and Tamiflu doesn't even prevent bird flu because it mutates; When the Pentagon spends $700 billion, and the Pentagon admits that they lost $2.3 billion; There is no dearth of money, it is a question of political will. -2008 Green Presidential Debate Jan 13, 2008

BUSINESS & LABOR: I authored the No Tax Breaks for Runaway Plants bill in Congress that would take tax breaks away from corporations that moved their plants overseas. I authored the TRUTH Act, which required disclosure of the whereabouts of subsidiaries of US corporations operating overseas because addresses were often hidden to prevent access by observers. I authored the Corporate Responsibility Act to force US corporations operating overseas to abide by US environmental and labor standards.

ABORTION: In 1999, I voted NO on barring the interstate transportation of minors to get an abortion. I supported funding contraception and UN family planning. I voted NO to oppose banning partial-birth abortions. In 2001, I voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad and NO on a new federal crime for harming a fetus while committing other crimes. In 2005, I voted NO on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: In 1994, I voted to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment in the Federal Criminal Statutes. In 1995 I voted in opposition to making federal death penalty appeals more difficult. In 1996, I voted to maintain the right of habeus corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. In 2001, I voted to support a moratorium on the death penalty; and for funding for DNA testing; as well as to require DNA testing prior to any federal executions.

MARIJUANA: In 1999, I voted to oppose prohibiting needle exchange and medical marijuana in the District of Columbia. In September 2001, (in the early days following the 9-11- 2001 attacks) I voted in opposition to military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism.

GUN CONTROL: Sides with gun control advocates.

MINIMUM WAGE: I Authored a living wage bill in the 109th Congress.

HEALTH CARE: In Congress, I was a cosponsor of every bill to create a national system for universal access to health care under a single payer model.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: I supported a prescription drug bill that was within Medicare, allowed people to choose their pharmacies, with no gap in coverage, and that reduces out-of-pocket costs. And perhaps most importantly, the bill I supported, provided for the Secretary of HHS to negotiate the price of prescription drugs for the entire nation. Not only would this plan save our seniors and others money, but it would save the nation money too. Source

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: The United States can no longer hide its truculence under the mask of weather fluctuations or unclear science, Islands are disappearing; indigenous ways of life are threatened; indeed the world as we know it is at risk if the United States continues to do nothing. Therefore, a drastic cut in emissions is necessary. This can be accomplished by using the tax code to incentivize behavior. From retrofitting buildings, demanding new standards for all new construction, utilizing existing technologies and developing new ones, to subsidizing infrastructure rehabilitation, energy generation, and mass transit, not only can the United States reverse its deadly inaction, but it can become a world-class leader.

LEGAL/ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: In 1998, I voted NO on issuing more immigrant visas for skilled workers. In 2001, I voted YES on extending Immigrant Residency rules. In 2006 I voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border.

SLAVE REPARATIONS: I have long advocated for reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans.

Campaign website