In preparation for the 2004 Presidential Election, the Cougar Clause will be keeping its readers informed on the key presidential candidates and their views on crucial subject. The Political Corner will be published in the first three issues of the Cougar Clause. We will be tackling a different topic per issue. Our first focus will be on abortion. Though some people may not be interested in politics, we urge you to stay informed. We as Americans have the power to determine the future of our country; and we must embrace the responsibility.

Name: George Walker Bush

Party: Republican

Birth date: July 6, 1946

Education: BA from Yale University, MBA from Harvard University

Career: Founder/CEO of oil and gas company, managing general partner of Texas Rangers baseball team

Elected office: Texas governor, President of the United States of America

Family: Wife Laura, two daughters

Bush opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or to save a woman’s life. The President signed the Partial Birth-Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which marked the first time that government has restricted a particular method of abortion since its legalization in the 1973 Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade. Partial-birth abortion refers to a method of abortion that typically occurs during the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy. The ban does not permit women to have an abortion after the second trimester. Many birth defects, however, cannot be detected until well into the second trimester and many women choose to have an abortion after a birth defect is found. The law also does not make exemptions in situations where the woman’s health is in danger. The President stated, “I believe banning partial-birth abortion would be a positive step toward reducing the number of abortions in America.” In addition to this, the President also advocates parental notification before minors can have an abortion. If the physician fails to notify the minor’s parents he or she can be fined up to $10,000.

Name: John Forbes Kerry

Party: Democrat

Birth date: December 11, 1943

Education: BA from Yale, Law degree from Boston College

Career: Assistant district attorney, attorney

Elected office: Massachusetts’s lieutenant governor, US senator

Family: Wife Teresa Heinz, (first marriage ended in divorce), two daughters from first marriage and three stepsons from second marriage

Senator Kerry adamantly supports abortion rights. He resists restrictions on abortion such as the Partial Birth-Abortion Act. In fact, Senator Kerry voted against this act because he felt it took way from the liberties of women. When asked if he supported the new legislation, he replied. “I don’t support the President’s law because it doesn’t allow the exception for situations where the health of a woman is at risk. I believe this is a dangerous effort to undermine a woman’s right to choose, which is a constitutional amendment I will always fight to protect.” Senator Kerry also voted against parental notification for teenage abortion and for the distribution of contraceptives in schools without parental knowledge. In order to decrease the number of abortions, Kerry favors a family planning program.

Name: Ralph Nader

Party: Independent

Birth date: February 27, 1934

Education: BA from Princeton, law degree from Harvard

Career: lawyer, college lecturer, consumer advocate, author, 2000 Green Party presidential nominee

Elected office: none

Family: unmarried

Nader fully supports a woman’s right to an abortion. When asked to elaborate on his views on abortion rights, he responded, “I don’t think government has the proper role in forcing a woman to have a child or forcing a woman not to have a child. And we’ve seen that around the world. This is something that should be privately decided with the family, woman, and other private factors of it, but we should work toward preventing the necessity of abortion.”

shapeType202fFlipH0fFlipV0lTxid65536hspNext1026fLayoutInCell1POLITICS AT A GLANCE



Many people believe that there are only two political parties—Democrats and Republicans. However, there are over 54 other political parties known as third parties. In the upcoming election, 13 third-party candidates are seeking the position of president. Some of those running include: the Constitution Party, the Green Party, the Independence Party, the Natural Law Party, The Libertarian Party, the Reform Party, and the Socialist Party.

For more information visit:

www.georgebush.com

www.votecobb.org

www.FactCheck.org

www.issues2000.org

www.johnkerry.com

www.votenader.org

www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004



POLITICS AT A GLANCE



Many people believe that there are only two political parties—Democrats and Republicans. However, there are over 54 other political parties known as third parties. In the upcoming election, 13 third-party candidates are seeking the position of president. Some of those running include: the Constitution Party, the Green Party, the Independence Party, the Natural Law Party, The Libertarian Party, the Reform Party, and the Socialist Party.

For more information visit:

www.georgebush.com

www.votecobb.org

www.FactCheck.org

www.issues2000.org

www.johnkerry.com

www.votenader.org

www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004



Name: David Cobb

Party: Green Party

Birth date: 1963

Education: BA and law degree from University of Houston

Career: construction worker, lawyer, General Counsel for the Green Party

Elected office: none

Family:

David Cobb is a staunch supporter of a woman’s right to have an abortion. He firmly stated, “ We stand for the full reproductive freedom for women and programs to address the issue of violence against women and children, including domestic violence, rape, incest, and sexual harassment”