ProCon.org 2008 Election
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Should the US have supported Kosovo's independence?

Candidates' positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found.
Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position.
(Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by party; black & white photos indicate candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria.)

Democratic Party (D)
Candidate
Position
  Obama, Barack
Not Clearly Pro or Con
  Biden, Joe
(Withdrew on
Jan. 3, 2008)
None Found
  Clinton, Hillary
(Suspended campaign
on June 7, 2008)
Pro
  Dodd, Chris
(Withdrew on
Jan. 3, 2008)
None Found
  Edwards, John
(Withdrew on
Jan. 30, 2008)
None Found
  Kucinich, Dennis
(Withdrew on
Jan. 25, 2008)
None Found
  Richardson, Bill
(Withdrew on
Jan. 10, 2008)
None Found
  Vilsack, Tom
(Withdrew on
Feb. 23, 2007)
None Found
Republican Party (R)
Candidate
Position
  McCain, John Pro
  Brownback, Sam
(Withdrew on
Oct. 19, 2007)
None Found
  Gilmore, Jim
(Withdrew on
July 14, 2007)
None Found
  Giuliani, Rudy
(Withdrew on
Jan. 30, 2008)
None Found
  Huckabee, Mike
(Withdrew on
Mar. 4, 2008)
None Found
  Hunter, Duncan
(Withdrew on
Jan. 19, 2008)
None Found
  Paul, Ron
(Withdrew on
June 12, 2008)
None Found
  Romney, Mitt
(Withdrew on
Feb. 7, 2008)
None Found
  Tancredo, Tom
(Withdrew on
Dec. 20, 2007)
None Found
  Thompson, Fred
(Withdrew on
Jan. 22, 2008)
None Found
  Thompson, Tommy
(Withdrew on
Aug. 12, 2007)
None Found
3rd Parties / Independents (3rd/I)
Candidate
Position
 Baldwin, Chuck
 (Cst)
Not Clearly Pro or Con
 Barr, Bob
 (Lib)
None Found
 McKinney, Cynthia
 (Grn)
None Found
 Nader, Ralph
 (Ind)
None Found
  Gravel, Mike
(Withdrew on
May 27, 2008)
None Found
  Imperato, Daniel
(No longer met criteria
on Mar. 21, 2008)
Not Clearly Pro or Con
  Keyes, Alan
(No longer met criteria
on June 23, 2008)
None Found
  Kubby, Steve
(No longer met criteria
on Mar. 21, 2008)
Con
  McEnulty, Frank
(No longer met criteria
on Mar. 21, 2008)
Pro
  Smith, Christine
(No longer met criteria
on Mar. 21, 2008)
None Found


ISSUES
Abortion
1. Legal option
2. Parental consent
Character
3. Honesty vs. competence
China
4. Threat to US?
5. Human rights

Criminal Justice
6. Felon voting
7. Rehab vs. incarceration
Cuba
8. Embargo
Darfur
9. Genocide

Death Penalty
10. Legal option

Defense
11. Missile defense shield

District of Columbia
12. Statehood

Economy
13. Outsourcing jobs
14. Free trade regulations
15. NAFTA

Education
16. No Child Left Behind
17. Increasing costs
18. School vouchers
19. Abstinence only

Election Reform
20. Paper trails
21. Campaign contributions
22. Public financing

Eminent Domain
23. Non-public use

Energy
24. ANWR drilling
25. Price of US gasoline

Environment
26. International agreements
27. Fuel efficiency
28. Global climate change

Gun Control
29. Federal regulations

Health Care
30. Subsidized care
31. Prescription options
32. Fast food and obesity

Immigration
33. Net impact on economy
34. Rights and benefits
35. US-Mexico fence

Iran
36. US military force

Iraq War
37. Was the attack a mistake?
38. Is America safer?
39. Withdrawal timetable

Israel
40. Military and economic aid

Israeli-Palestinian conflict
41. Hamas
42. Palestine

Kosovo
43. Independence

Marriage
44. Constitutional amendment
45. Infidelity

Media
46. Protecting sources

Medical Marijuana
47. Legalization
48. Raids

National ID
49. National ID card

National Service
50. Draft
51. Gays in the military
52. Mandatory service

Presidential Power
53. Line item veto
54. Unitary executive theory

Religion
55. Faith-based funding
56. Importance to voters

Social Security
57. Privatizing

Stem Cells
58. Federal funding

Taxes
59. Bush tax cuts

Turkey
60. Entering Iraq

US Constitution
61. Alteration

War on Terror
62. Waterboarding
63. Guantanamo Bay
64. PATRIOT Act
65. Warrantless wiretapping



Should the US have supported Kosovo's independence?

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) - Not Clearly Pro or 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. 11, 2008 email to ProCon.org:

"The US should not be involved or determining negotiations between foreign governments or organizations.

We must disengage this nation from the international entanglements which generate foreign hatred of these United States, and are used as the excuse for terrorist attacks on America and its people."
Aug. 11, 2008 Chuck Baldwin


Top
         Barr, Bob (Lib) - None Found

ProCon.org emailed the Barr campaign on July 19, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Aug. 22, 2008.
 

Top
    McCain, John (R) - Pro

John McCain, US Senator (R-AZ), in a Feb. 18, 2008 press release titled "Senator McCain Welcomes Kosovo's Independence," stated:

"With its declaration of independence, Kosovo and the Balkans with it has taken a major step out of the 1990s and into the 21st century. Eleven years ago, that region was in flames, characterized by ethnic cleansing and widespread violence. Today, for the first time, the region is poised to move forward. The people of Kosovo should be commended for the great strides they have made and the bright future that lies ahead.

The United States and the rest of the international community can help solidify these gains by quickly recognizing Kosovo's independence."
Feb. 18, 2008 John McCain


Top
          McKinney, Cynthia (Grn) - None Found  
 
ProCon.org emailed the McKinney campaign on Mar. 26, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Apr. 11, 2008.
 


Top
          Nader, Ralph (Ind) - None Found  
 
ProCon.org emailed the Nader campaign on Mar. 26, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Apr. 11, 2008.
 


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

Barack Obama, US Senator (D-IL), stated in a Feb. 17, 2008 article titled "Statement by Barack Obama on the Independence of Kosovo" on his official candidate website:

"Today's announcement of independence by the leadership of Kosovo ends a chain of events that began with the bloody break-up of the former Yugoslavia. Kosovo's independence is a unique situation resulting from the irreparable rupture Slobodan Milosevic's actions caused; it is in no way a precedent for anyone else in the region or around the world.

Kosovo's independence carries with it important responsibilities. The international community has devoted enormous resources to Kosovo's political, economic and social development for nearly a decade, with results not always meeting expectations. I hope that Kosovo's government and people act with urgency to ensure that Kosovo becomes a positive example of democratic governance and the rule of law."
Feb. 17, 2008 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) - Pro

Hillary Clinton, US Senator (D-NY), stated at the Feb. 21, 2008 Democratic Presidential Debate held in Austin, TX:

"I supported the independence of Kosovo because I think it is imperative that in the heart of Europe we continue to promote independence and democracy."
Feb. 21, 2008 Hillary Clinton


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
 
 
ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Mar. 11, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Mar. 21, 2008.

 

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) - Not Clearly Pro or Con

Daniel Imperato, an Independent candidate and business entrepreneur, stated in a Mar. 11, 2008 telephone interview with ProCon.org:

"The Kosovo independence I have to study because it is something that is, in my opinion, I believe that there was a grave mistake supporting the war from the Middle Eastern communities and not supporting the Christian communities."
Mar. 11, 2008 Daniel Imperato


Top
 
    Keyes, Alan (Ind) - None Found
 
 
ProCon.org emailed the Keyes campaign on Mar. 26, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Apr. 11, 2008.
 

Top
   Kubby, Steve (Lib) - Con

Steve Kubby, a Libertarian candidate and founder of the American Medical Marijuana Association, stated in a Mar. 12, 2008 email to ProCon.org:

"No. The US has no business dictating political affairs in the Balkans, or anywhere else outside its borders."
Mar. 12, 2008 Steve Kubby


Top
     Kucinich, Dennis (D) - None Found  
Withdrew on Jan. 25, 2008; no position found as of that date


Top
   McEnulty, Frank (Ind) - Pro

Frank McEnulty, an Independent candidate and President of Our Castle Homes, in a Mar. 19, 2008 email to ProCon.org, stated:

"Yes, all people should have the right to establish their own independence as they see fit."
Mar. 19, 2008 Frank McEnulty


Top
 
    Paul, Ron (R) - None Found
 
 
ProCon.org emailed the Paul campaign on Mar. 26, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Apr. 11, 2008.
 

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  
   
ProCon.org emailed the Smith campaign on Mar. 11, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Mar. 21, 2008.

 

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