Mitt Romney vs Barack Obama – Election 2012

Red versus Blue, Donkey versus Elephant, Democrat versus Republican! This election is going to be one for the history books, perhaps the most aggressive and polarized one in recent history. (Yes, even more than the last two. Hard to believe, isn’t it?) If you’ve insulated yourself to the political process through apathy, disgust, or just a general lack of awareness, this article will help you figure out which side of the aisle you rest on. Let’s focus on the big ticket items, starting with the largest one of the moment: taxes.

Romney (on the subject of the Bush Tax Cuts): “The tax cuts should be permanent. We shouldn’t be raising taxes now and then.”

Obama: “I just believe that anybody making over $250,000 a year should go back to the income tax rates we were paying under Bill Clinton. Back when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs, the biggest budget surplus in history, and plenty of millionaires to boot.”

So, to put it simply; Romney wants tax cuts for all. Obama wants tax cuts for all…except for the wealthiest one percent of Americans.

What about that hot button and instantly blood-boiling topic of gay rights?

Romney (on the subject of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell): “I think particularly at a time of conflict, as we’re experiencing in Iraq and Afghanistan, this is not the time to be putting in place a major change in policy and trying to accommodate all of the adjustments that that would require.”

Obama: “I know there are differences on same-sex marriage. But surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and live lives free of discrimination.”

Romney, partially by virtue of his faith, partially by virtue of his party, is against the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as well as for the Defense of Marriage Act (which would define marriage as between one man and one woman), while the Obama administration has taken some steps toward increasing gay rights.

Finally, the last hot button topic to address is that of immigration.

Romney: “The children of those that came here illegally, I want to make sure they have a permanent answer to what their status will be. And I’ve indicated in my view that those who serve in the military or have advanced degrees would certainly qualify for that kind of permanent status.”

Obama: “Passions may fly on immigration, but I don’t know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child.”

The two candidates have different approaches to how to handle the problem of illegal immigration in this country. Romney prefers an approach that gets rid of what he calls “magnets,” aspects that allow illegal immigrants to enter and then naturalize without going through the immigration process. Obama, meanwhile wants to help those who are already in the country nationalize and become citizens, using programs such as the DREAM act. However, he feels that the best way to thwart illegal immigration is to institute harsher punishments on those who would hire them for cheap labor, removing one reason to come.

Keep in mind this is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are plenty of other issues to look at; from the military to the economy to our global diplomatic policy. However, this should be enough to give you a good starting look at the candidates and their parties.