2008 Election ProCon.org Notices Archive

5/29/2009 - UPDATED: Books and Articles about Using Controversial Issues to Stimulate Critical Thinking:  Take a look at our list of 16 publications, including 15 full text articles, on this important educational topic.

5/19/2009 - Our Volunteer Program – created on Feb. 9, 2009 – has been a great success.  We thank all the volunteers who have helped us so far, and we encourage others to consider becoming a ProCon.org volunteer or intern.

4/10/2009 - UPDATED: How Schools Are Using ProCon.org – 411 schools (73 elementary and middle schools, 148 high schools, and 190 colleges and universities) in 45 states and 11 countries use ProCon.org content in their classrooms.

4/10/2009 - UPDATED: In the News - 113 mainstream media--the most recent including Washington Post, Guardian, and CBS News--have referenced ProCon.org’s websites.

4/7/2009  - NEW: Join ProCon.org on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

4/2/2009 – NEW DESIGN – Whether you are visiting for the first time or coming back for the 100th time, we’d love to know: What do you think of our new website design?

4/2/2009 - NEW: Survey for Teachers and Librarians - Please take our 2-minute survey so we can learn how to make our sites more useful to educators.

3/23/2009 - UPDATED: In the News – We added 10 more media references and surpassed 100 mentions in the press for the first time in our history. 103 mainstream media outlets have now referenced ProCon.org.

3/9/2009 - UPDATED: How Schools Are Using ProCon.org – See how 66 elementary and middle schools, 133 high schools, and 176 colleges and universities in 45 states and eight countries use ProCon.org content in their educational materials.

3/2/2009 – NEW PROCON.ORG WEBSITE! – Can alternative energy effectively replace fossil fuels? – Our 17th issue website has over 200 pro and con responses from more than 175 experts on energy topics such as oil, solar, wind, nuclear, ethanol, biofuels, hydrogen vs. electricity, subsidies, and more.

2/25/2009 - Articles about Using Controversial Issues to Stimulate Critical Thinking – Attention educators.  We have compiled over a dozen published articles on why and how to develop critical thinking skills by teaching controversial topics in the classroom.

2/25/2009 - UPDATED: In the News - Our list of media references has grown to 93.  See the latest additions from Popular Science magazine, Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN), two radio stations, and more.

2/6/2009 - UPDATED: How Schools Are Using ProCon.org - See how 352 schools in 45 states and eight countries use ProCon.org content in their educational materials.

2/2/2009 - ProCon.org was honored to receive the 2008 “Best Non-Profit to Work For” award in a national competition. ProCon.org was one of five winners in its class of “non-profits with an operating budget of under $2.5 million.” There were 15 winners total. There are roughly 1,000,000 nonprofit organizations in the United States.

1/12/2009 - NEW TOPIC SURVEY - Select the topic you would most like ProCon.org to cover next.

1/9/2009 - NEW: Quotes About Critical Thinking – Read twelve stimulating quotes about critical thought.  We share these statements as part of our mission to promote critical thinking.

12/31/2008 - UPDATED: See How Schools Are Using ProCon.org: 50 elementary and middle schools, 100 high schools, and 116 colleges and universities (that we know of) have used ProCon.org in their teaching materials.

12/29/2008 - NEW PROCON.ORG WEBSITE! - Should performance enhancing drugs (such as steroids) be accepted in sports? Read over 250 pro and con responses from more than 200 experts on nearly 30 subjects related to drugs in sports at our 17th website, sports.procon.org.

12/3/2008 - Big Three auto makers compared to Toyota and Honda by ProCon.org – We explore the question “Should the Big Three auto makers be bailed out by the US government?” in our first ever “mini” site. See the 144-point comparison chart and read statements from Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Paul Krugman, and many others.

11/18/2008 - NEW: ProCon.org for Teachers - Lesson plan ideas, natl. teaching standards, articles about teaching controversial issues, teachers' comments, and students' comments.

11/5/2008 - NEW: 2008 Election Results - Obama wins the presidency. See our breakdown of electoral votes, popular votes, states won, and more.

11/4/2008 – ProCon.org was referenced in the media six times last week.  See our In the News page for the Swedish, Russian, and four US publications that mentioned ProCon.org.

11/3/2008 - UPDATE: Rumors and Rebuttals: Did McCain call his wife the "C-word"? Is there a tape of Michelle Obama using the word "Whitey?"  Read about these rumors and others, and see what the candidates' campaigns and third party sources say to challenge those accusations

10/31/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Speech Transcripts – Review hundreds of speeches from the 2008 US presidential candidates.

10/31/2008 - NEW: Rumors & Rebuttals - Read six rumors about Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain and see what the candidates' campaigns and other sources say to challenge those accusations.

10/31/2008 - NEW: Do labor unions provide an overall benefit to workers in the US? - Read the candidates' positions on ProCon.org’s 75^th and final question of the 2008 election year.

10/31/2008 UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Videos – Watch video clips of the candidates making statements on the issues covered by ProCon.org.

10/30/2008 - NEW: Read responses from the 2008 presidential candidates to our two most recent questions:

1. Should the Vice-President of the US be considered part of the Executive Branch and thus be subject to the laws and rules governing that branch?
2. Should Intelligent Design be taught as science in schools?

10/30/2008 – NEW: Take the 2008 Candidate Survey – Our new online quiz finds the presidential candidate who best matches your views. Answer one or all 74 questions to find your closest match.

10/24/2008 - UPDATED: Candidate Finances – Obama and McCain campaigns have spent over $810 million total so far.  Baldwin, Barr, McKinney, and Nader campaigns spent $4.5 million combined.  See details on how much money the candidates have raised, spent, and still have available.

10/23/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Candidate Survey - Take our 74 question survey to see how your views on the issues match with the presidential candidates' views.

10/22/2008 - UPDATED: See Ralph Nader’s current positions on over 20 issues ranging from abortion to the War on Terror.

10/20/2008 - NEW: Vice-Presidential Candidates on 23 Issues: A Side by Side Comparison - See a summary of Joe Biden and Sarah Palin's positions on issues such as ANWR, gun control, and the death penalty.

10/17/2008 - NEW: Read the candidates' positions on two new questions:

   1. Should the US be involved in direct negotiations with Iran?
   2. Should the government continue to fund the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)?

10/15/2008 - ProCon.org welcomes its newest Board Member, Mr. A Searle Field, JD.

10/14/2008  - UPDATED: In the Classroom - 256 schools in 42 states and five countries reference ProCon.org in their K-12 and university level lesson plans and resource lists.

10/10/2008 - NEW: Read responses from the 2008 presidential candidates to our two most recent questions on the economy:

1. Should the federal government bail out failing US private corporations like it did with Bear Stearns or Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac at taxpayers expense?
2. Should any federal taxes be increased?

10/9/2008 - ProCon.org received four more media references in the last three days.  See our coverage at Slate, National Catholic Reporter, and others in our growing In the News page.

10/3/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Candidate Survey - Answer a series of questions to find the right 2008 presidential candidate for you.

10/3/2008   - UPDATED: Candidate Debates - Read the transcript from the first and only multi-party 2008 vice-presidential candidate debate.

10/3/2008 - ProCon.org User Survey passes 1,000 responses.  See the survey results so far. 

10/2/2008  - UPDATED: Cynthia McKinney - Read the Green Party nominee's current positions on seven issues including abstinence, obesity, and social security.

9/30/2008  - NEW: Read the candidates' positions on three new questions:

1. Should the US permit more offshore drilling to increase domestic energy supplies?
2. Should the US build additional nuclear plants?
3. Should the private ethanol industry be subsidized by the federal government?

9/30/2008 – ProCon.org received two more media mentions last week.  Visit our In the News page to see our latest media references.

9/25/2008  - UPDATED: US Political Parties - Read the 2008 platforms, history, and mission statements of six United States political parties.

9/23/2008  - NEW: How to Register to Vote – Learn how to register and find answers to seven frequently asked questions about voter registration before it is too late to vote on Election Day this Nov. 4, 2008.

9/18/2008 - UPDATED: Read Sarah Palin and Joe Biden's position statements on 24 issues including abortion, death penalty, gun control, Iran, Iraq, and waterboarding.

9/12/2008  – UPDATED: Candidate Positions on 65 Issues: A Side by Side Comparison – This summary chart includes current views from Obama, McCain, and third party/independent presidential candidates.

9/5/2008 - NEW: Joe Biden and Sarah Palin, the Democratic and Republican Vice-Presidential nominees, are now featured on ProCon.org.

9/5/2008 - UPDATED: Should the election campaigns of candidates for public office be publicly financed?

9/3/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Videos - Watch over 100 videos of the candidates making statements on the issues covered by ProCon.org.

8/26/2008 - NEW: ProCon.org received four more media references in the last 30 days.

8/25/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Speech Transcripts - Read more than 450 transcripts of speeches from the 2008 presidential candidates.

8/25/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Candidate Survey - See how your views match the views of the 2008 presidential candidates by taking our latest survey - now with 65 questions and updated positions for all of the candidates.

8/21/2008 - UPDATED: Candidate Debates - Read the transcript from the first multi-party 2008 presidential candidate forum.

8/21/2008 - UPDATED – 2008 Presidential Candidate Summary – Side by side comparison of Obama, McCain, Baldwin, Barr, McKinney, and Nader on 65 issues in this printable chart.

8/20/2008 - NEW – Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party nominee) and Bob Barr (Libertarian Party nominee) biographies feature their pro and con positions on 65 issues.

8/8/2008  - UPDATED: Candidate Finances - see how much the candidates have raised and spent as of June 30, 2008.

7/31/2008 - NEW WEBSITE: Death Penalty ProCon.org – “Should the death penalty be abolished?” Read pros, cons, stats, news, bios, and more great information related to this perennially controversial topic. Explore our 15th issue website at ProCon.org and let us know what you think.

7/25/2008 NEW: Read the candidates' positions on eight new questions:

1. Should felons, who have completed their jail time and probation and paid all their fines, be allowed to vote in elections?
2. Should the US develop programs that focus more on rehabilitation than punishment in order to reduce its rate of incarceration?
3. Should the US build its missile defense shield in former Soviet states despite objections from Russia?
4. Should the District of Columbia become the 51st US state?
5. Should sex education in our schools be based on abstinence only?
6. Are fast food companies responsible in any way for America's obesity problems?
7. Should journalists be shielded from prosecution for protecting their sources?
8. Should the US mandate military service or civil service like the Peace Corps?

6/30/2008  - We are proud to announce the new ProCon.org sites that became available Monday June 30, 2008. See over 10 new features in a new design and layout that took over 25 people nearly 2 years and 9,000 hours to complete. If you like what you see, please tell your friends.

6/13/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Videos - Watch over 100 videos of the candidates making statements on the issues covered by ProCon.org.

6/13/2008 - Ron Paul ends his candidacy for President on June 12, 2008.

6/10/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Speech Transcripts - Read nearly 400 transcripts of speeches from the 2008 presidential candidates. 

6/9/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Candidate Survey - Take the latest survey - now with 57 questions - to compare your views to the 2008 presidential candidates' views.

6/9/2008 - Hillary Clinton suspends her presidential campaign, throws support to Democratic opponent Barack Obama.

6/5/2008 - UPDATED: The Summary Chart comparing all the candidates and their views now includes seven new positions from Clinton, Obama, and McCain on issues ranging from gas prices to Iran to religion.

6/4/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - Obama wins Montana. Clinton takes South Dakota. See the results of the state elections that end the primary season.

5/30/2008 - NEW WEBSITE: Insider Trading ProCon.org – Should "insider trading" by Congress continue to be legal? Read pros, cons, and general reference information in the debate over whether Congressional representatives should be allowed to trade stocks based on material nonpublic information that they acquire during their normal Congressional duties.

5/29/2008 - NEW: Read the candidates' positions on five new questions:

1. Should federal or state government be allowed to use eminent domain laws to take private property for non-public use?
2. Should there be a national identification card?
3. Should the unitary executive theory apply to the US President?
4. Has the USA PATRIOT Act had an overall benefit for the US?
5. Should telecommunication companies receive immunity for allowing the government to conduct past warrantless wiretaps?

5/28/2008 - UPDATED: Glossary - Includes 10 new words ranging from education vouchers to warrantless wiretapping.

5/28/2008 - UPDATED: Candidate Finances - The eight candidates on this website have raised $552,088,701 in campaign finances of which $103,042,893 remains.

5/28/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - John McCain wins Idaho nominating contest. Obama extends superdelegate lead over Clinton. See the latest results and which four primary elections are left.

5/23/2008 - ProCon.org Referenced in the Los Angeles Times and the Social Studies Professional – The number of media references to ProCon.org increased to 50 this week with favorable coverage by two respected publications.

5/21/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - Obama wins Oregon. Clinton takes Kentucky. See the official results from those May 20, 2008 elections and find out which five remaining states have primaries.

5/14/2008 5/14/08 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - Clinton wins West Virginia but not Nebraska where third parties also held primaries.

5/7/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - Clinton wins Indiana by 2%, and Obama wins North Carolina by 14%. See which 10 primaries and caucuses remain.

5/6/2008 - NEW: Candidate Finances - Track how much money has been raised and spent to date in the 2008 election and view the candidates' financial disclosure reports.

4/23/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - Clinton and McCain win the Pennsylvania primaries. See the state and national results so far as well as which state primaries are up next.

4/21/2008 - NEW: 2008 Candidate Survey - Compare your views to the 2008 presidential candidates' views by taking our 52 question survey.

4/17/2008 - NEW: User Survey - Please help us by taking our 1-2 minute survey on your experience at ProCon.org. Your feedback will help us to improve.

4/17/2008 - NEW: User Survey – Please help us by taking our 1-2 minute survey on your experience at ProCon.org. Your feedback will help us to improve.

4/16/2008 - Alan Keyes leaves the Republican Party, considers Constitution Party bid.

4/11/2008 - UPDATED: US History of Waterboarding Prosecutions: Historic photos and summaries of court cases involving waterboarding prosecutions in the United States. This document provides additional context for the question we asked the candidates about whether or not waterboarding should be legal.

4/11/2008 - NEW: Responses for candidates Alan Keyes, Cynthia McKinney, and Ralph Nader on our 52 questions. The Candidates Summary Chart has also been updated to compare their positions to the other presidential candidates.

4/7/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Speech Transcripts - Read over 300 speeches from the US presidential candidates.

4/3/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results features results of eight third party primaries.

3/28/2008 - UPDATED: Did You Know? - Read 12 little known facts about US Presidential elections.

3/27/2008 - Democratic Senator Mike Gravel switches to the Libertarian Party.

3/21/2008 - NEW: Read responses from the 2008 presidential candidates to the five most recent questions we asked them:

1. Has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had an overall benefit for the US?
2. Should the US tap into its emergency oil reserves to help bring down the price of gasoline?
3. Are humans substantially responsible for global climate change today?
4. Should the US have supported Kosovo's independence?
5. Should Turkey be able to enter Iraq or other countries unilaterally in search of its enemies?

3/13/2008 - NEW: Election History "Did You Know?" section added with 11 fascinating facts about presidents and elections.

3/5/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - See the Mar. 4, 2008 primary election outcomes from Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

2/29/2008 - NEW: Subscribe to our free RSS feed and automatically receive the latest news and notices from our 13 ProCon.org websites. To subscribe, click on the RSS button in the top right of the homepage and follow the instructions provided on the screen. It takes a few seconds, and you can unsubscribe whenever you want.

2/29/2008 - NEW: Read the candidates' positions on five new questions:

1. Should parental consent be required for pregnant minors to have abortions?
2. Should the federal government fund school voucher programs?
3. Should the election campaigns of candidates for public office be publicly financed?
4. Should there be an independent Palestinian state?
5. Should the US President's powers be expanded to include a line item veto?

2/29/2008 - NEW: Subscribe to our free RSS feed and automatically receive the latest news and notices from our 13 ProCon.org websites. To subscribe, click on the RSS button in the top right of the homepage and follow the instructions provided on the screen. It takes a few seconds, and you can unsubscribe whenever you want.

2/19/2008 - NEW: History of Waterboarding Prosecutions: Our PDF memo provides additional context for the question we asked the candidates about whether or not waterboarding should be legal.

2/15/2008 - UPDATED: Delegates - Guide to understanding the who, what, where, when, why, and how of Democratic, Republican, and Third Party primary and caucus delegates.

2/14/2008 - NEW: Presidential Election History from 1789 to 2004 - The presidential candidates and their political parties, number of electoral and popular votes received, and vice presidential candidates for every election in US history.

2/8/2008 - UPDATED: The Glossary of Terms has been updated to include 11 new words ranging from Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to Winner Take All Primary/Caucus.

2/6/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - Includes the election outcomes of 24 states from Super Tuesday 2008, the biggest coast-to-coast presidential nominating contest in history.

2/5/2008 - UPDATED: Candidate Summary Chart - See all the candidates' positions on 42 different issues presented in this printable chart that can be useful especially during primaries. (Also available as a 2-page PDF document.)

2/4/2008 - NEW: Read the candidates' positions on ten new questions:

1. Is competence more important than honesty in a President?
2. Should the US impose economic sanctions on China as an incentive to improve its human rights policies?
3. Is outsourcing jobs to other countries good for America?
4. Has the No Child Left Behind Act been effective at improving public education?
5. Are illegal immigrants a net gain to the US economy?
6. Should illegal aliens receive any of the rights or benefits that lawful permanent residents enjoy?
7. Was it a mistake to attack Iraq in 2003?
8. Should Israel continue to receive the current level of military and economic aid from the US?
9. Should the federal government stop raids against people for using medical marijuana in states where medical marijuana use is legal?
10. Should openly gay people be allowed to serve in the US military?

1/28/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - See how many votes and delegates the US presidential candidates received in the most recent primaries and caucuses.

1/23/2008 - UPDATED: The 2008 Presidential Election Debate Transcripts page has been updated to include the last 11 debates that occurred between Nov. 2007 to Jan. 2008

1/18/2008 - NEW: 2008 State Primary and Caucus Results - See how many delegates and votes each candidate has received from each state.

1/18/2008 - UPDATED: The Summary Chart comparing all the candidates and their views on 42 issues has been updated with new questions and put into a new format. AOL users should no longer have problems accessing the latest version of this document. Also, we asked the candidates 10 more questions, and we expect to post their responses by Feb. 4, 2008 or sooner if possible.

1/17/2008 - UPDATED: 2008 Presidential Candidate Speech Transcripts - Updated with recent speeches from the candidates.

1/14/2008 - NEW: Read the candidates' positions on nine different issues: China, Darfur, the Economy, Election Reform, the Environment, Health Care, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, National Service, and the War on Terror.

Compare the candidates' positions on these issues on the updated Candidate Summary Chart (please note that some AOL users may still see an older version of this chart due to caching issues with AOL).

1/8/2008 - NEW: Candidate Videos - See over 80 videos of the candidates addressing key issues.

1/4/2008 - NEW: Personal Financial Disclosure Reports - Read the candidates' official financial reports from the Federal Election Commission.

12/31/2007 - NEW: See the presidential candidates' positions on Immigration, Infidelity, and the Bush tax cuts.

12/12/2007 - NEW: US Political Parties - See the history, mission statements, and platforms for the current major US political parties.

12/12/2007 - NEW WEBSITE: 2008 Election ProCon.org – Read pro and con statements from the 2008 presidential candidates on several issues including abortion, education, environment, gun control, Iran, Iraq, religion, social security, and many more. Decide for yourself which candidate would make the best US President.

11/29/2007 - ProCon.org participated in the YouTube Republican Debate contest by creating seven questions for the 2008 Republican Presidential candidates. Of the nearly 5,000 entries, none of our questions were picked. Visit the ProCon.org YouTube page to see what we asked.

11/27/2007 - NEW: 2008 Presidential Election Debate Transcripts

11/26/2007 - NEW: 2008 Presidential Election Speech Transcripts

11/26/2007 - NEW WEBSITE: Immigration ProCon.org – What are the solutions to illegal immigration? ProCon.org explores the debate over illegal immigration with 50 questions, 200+ sources, and over 350 pro, con, and general reference responses.

10/24/2007 - NEW: Glossary with the definitions of 50 words, from Air Force One to the White House, that relate to the US Presidency.

10/23/2007 - NEW: How to Become US President: A Step-by-Step Guide - Learn about the official role, the entry process, the primaries, the conventions, and the electoral college in our basic tutorial.

9/28/2007 - NEW WEBSITE: Milk ProCon.org - Is drinking milk healthy for humans? We investigate health claims about milk using over 100 experts. The results of our research show conflicting data on milk's effect on cancer, heart disease, weight loss, diabetes, children's development, and other health issues. Visit our newest website and tell us what you think.

6/26/2007 - 2008 Presidential Election Poll - Visit our parent website ProCon.org and vote on the issues you want us to ask the U.S. Presidential candidates. Poll will close on July 15th.

5/14/2007 - New ProCon.org website:

• ProCon.org launched its 10th website today, Prostitution ProCon.org, which explores the core question “Should prostitution be legal?” The site features over 200 expert sources from Presidential hopefuls Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton to Ann Landers, Heidi Fleiss, Susan B. Anthony, and the ACLU.

5/1/2007 - New ProCon.org website:

• ProCon.org launched its 9th website today, Felon Voting ProCon.org (www.felonvotingprocon.org), on the heels of Florida and Maryland making historic changes to their felon voting laws. The 150 pro, con, and general reference statements focus around the core question: Should felons be allowed to vote?

1/30/2007 - Our comprehensive search engine (top right on the homepage) allows visitors to quickly find a word or phrase on the Under God ProCon.org website. The search function at www.procon.org allows visitors to simultaneously search all ProCon.org websites.

1/8/2007 - Euthanasia ProCon.org, our newest website, was launched today. It features nearly 600 pro, con, and general reference arguments in 80 questions. Visit the site today and decide for yourself: "Should euthanasia be legal?"

4/8/2005 - April ProCon.org Poll - Visit our parent site www.ProCon.org and help us select the best slogan for the organization.