Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found.
Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria are listed last.

Pro (Yes)

Con (No)

Baldwin, Chuck (Cst) - Con Chuck Baldwin, Founder and Minister of the Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL, issued the following statement through his Communications Director, Mary Starrett, in an Aug. 18, 2008 email to ProCon.org: "Journalists should have no special privileges denied to other citizens of the United States." Aug. 18, 2008 Chuck Baldwin

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Barr, Bob (Lib) - None Found ProCon.org emailed the Barr campaign on July 22, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Aug. 22, 2008.

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McCain, John (R) - Pro John McCain, US Senator (R-AZ), stated in an Apr. 14, 2008 article titled "Remarks by John McCain to the Associated Press' Annual Meeting" on the USA Today website: "I want to address quickly an issue I know is important to you, the so-called 'shield law' pending before Congress. I have had a hard time deciding whether to support or oppose it. To be very candid, but with no wish to offend you, I must confess there have been times when I worry that the press' interest in getting a scoop occasionally conflicts with other important priorities, even the first concern of every American -- the security of our nation. I take a very, very dim view of stories that disclose classified information that unnecessarily threatens or makes it more difficult to protect the physical security of Americans. I think that has happened before, rarely, but it has happened... The shield law would give great license to you and your sources, with few restrictions, to do as you please no matter the stakes involved and without fear of personal consequences beyond the rebuke of your individual consciences. It is, frankly, a license to do harm, perhaps serious harm. But it also a license to do good; to disclose injustice and unlawfulness and inequities; and to encourage their swift correction. The First Amendment is based in that recognition, and I am, despite the criticism of campaign finance reform opponents, committed to that essential right of a free society. I know that the press that disclosed security secrets that should have remained so also revealed the disgrace of Abu Ghraib, a disgrace that made it much harder to protect the American people from harm. Thus, despite concerns I have about the legislation, I have narrowly decided to support it. I respect those of my colleagues who have decided not to; appreciate very much the concerns that have informed their position, and encourage further negotiations to address those concerns. But if the vote were held today, I would vote yes. By so doing, I and others, on behalf of the people we represent, are willing to invest in the press a very solemn trust that in the use of confidential sources you will not do more harm than good whether it comes to the security of the nation or the reputation of good people." Apr. 14, 2008 John McCain

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	McKinney, Cynthia (Grn) - None Found
	ProCon.org emailed the McKinney campaign on Apr. 22, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of July 25, 2008.

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	Nader, Ralph (Ind) - None Found
	ProCon.org emailed the Nader campaign on Apr. 22, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of July 25, 2008.

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Obama, Barack (D) - Not Clearly Pro or Con

Barack Obama, US Senator (D-IL), cosponsored S. 2035, the "Free Flow of Information Act of 2007" on Sep. 10, 2007, which stated: "Prohibits a federal entity (an entity or employee of the judicial or executive branch or an administrative agency) from compelling a covered person to testify or produce any document relating to protected information unless a court makes specified determinations by a preponderance of the evidence, including that all reasonable alternative sources have been exhausted, that the testimony or document sought is essential, and that nondisclosure would be contrary to the public interest, taking into account both the public interest in compelling disclosure and the public interest in gathering news and maintaining the free flow of information. Defines 'covered person' as a person engaged in journalism, including their supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate. Excludes from the definition foreign powers and their agents and certain terrorist organizations and individuals. Defines 'protected information' as information or records a covered person obtained as part of engaging in journalism on a promise of confidentiality. Requires the content of compelled testimony or documents to be limited and narrowly tailored." Sep. 10, 2007 Barack Obama

CANDIDATES WHO HAVE WITHDRAWN OR WHO NO LONGER MEET OUR CRITERIA      Biden, Joe (D) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 3, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Brownback, Sam (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Oct. 19, 2007; no position found as of that date Top      Clinton, Hillary (D) - None Found   Suspended campaign on June 7, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Dodd, Chris (D) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 3, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Edwards, John (D) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 30, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Gilmore, Jim (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Aug. 14, 2007; no position found as of that date Top      Giuliani, Rudy (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 30, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Gravel, Mike (Lib) - None Found   Withdrew on May 27, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Huckabee, Mike (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Hunter, Duncan (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 19, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Imperato, Daniel (Ind) - None Found   No longer met ProCon.org's criteria as of Mar. 21, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Keyes, Alan (Ind) - None Found   No longer met ProCon.org's criteria as of June 23, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Kubby, Steve (Lib) - None Found   No longer met ProCon.org's criteria as of Mar. 21, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Kucinich, Dennis (D) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 25, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      McEnulty, Frank (Ind) - None Found   No longer met ProCon.org's criteria as of Mar. 21, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Paul, Ron (R) - None Found   Withdrew on June 12, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Richardson, Bill (D) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 10, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Romney, Mitt (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Feb. 7, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Smith, Christine (Lib) - None Found   No longer met ProCon.org's criteria as of Mar. 21, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Tancredo, Tom (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Dec. 20, 2007; no position found as of that date Top      Thompson, Fred (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Jan. 22, 2008; no position found as of that date Top      Thompson, Tommy (R) - None Found   Withdrew on Sep. 12, 2007; no position found as of that date Top      Vilsack, Tom (D) - None Found   Withdrew on Feb. 23, 2007; no position found as of that date