Official 2008 Standardized Test for Democrats (STD)

Section 1: Diplomacy and War FISA: Pilloried the administration's international terrorist wiretapping program Immunized the telcos from lawsuits regarding the international terrorist wiretapping program Meeting with Iran's leaders without preconditions: Favors meeting Iran's leaders without preconditions Requires conditions before meeting with Iran's leaders The Surge in Iraq: Opposed the Surge until it was obvious to everyone that it had worked Admitted the Surge worked but did not admit he erred in opposing it Cuba Embargo Opposes the Embargo, saying it "utterly failed" Favors the Embargo, calling it "an important inducement for change" Section 2: Terrorism and the Middle East Guantanamo Bay: Favors giving terrorist POWs full rights of US citizens in the civilian court system Claims he does not want to grant terrorist POWs the rights of criminal suspects in the US Patriot Act: Opposed Patriot Act Voted for Patriot Act Palestinian Elections: Opposes holding elections with Hamas on the ballot Favors holding elections with Hamas on the ballot Jerusalem: Favors an undivided Jerusalem Favors a divided Jerusalem Section 3: Economy NAFTA: Hammered the administration's support for free trade Said his anti-NAFTA rhetoric was "overheated" Clean coal: Favors coal-to-fuel programs Oppposes coal-to-fuel programs Illegal Immigration: Favors cracking down on employers abusing immigration laws Opposes cracking down on employers abusing immigration laws Fannie Mae: Pillories the administration for loosely regulating Fannie Mae Hires the disgraced CEO of Fannie Mae, three months before its fails, to lead his VP search Section 4: Education and Social Issues School Vouchers: Told reporters he favored local voucher programs Announced his intention to quash local voucher programs Welfare Reform: Favors welfare reform in his ads Opposed the largest welfare reform effort in the last two decades Faith-based initiatives: Favors public grants for faith-based initiatives Opposes public grants for faith-based initiatives Gay Marriage: States should decide gay marriage California's attempt to decide gay marriage for itself is 'divisive' Second Amendment: Believed the DC Handgun Ban was constitutional Agreed with the Supreme Court striking down the DC Handgun Ban Abortion Believes “mental distress” should qualify as a health exception for late term-abortions Believes “mental distress” should not qualify as a health exception for late term-abortions Death Penalty Opposes the death penalty Favors the death penalty Section 5: Politics Publicly financed elections: Promised to "aggressively pursue" a publicly financed general election Broke his promise to "aggressively pursue" a publicly financed general election On the question of Union contributions constituting "special interests": Describes union money as "special interest" contributions Describes union money as simply funds provided by "working people" Wearing a U.S. flag pin: After 9/11, does not wear a flag pin because it represents a substitute for "true patriotism" Once the general election begins, wears a flag pin Pastor and spiritual mentor the Reverend Jeremiah Wright: Can no more disown Wright than his "white grandmother". Disowns Wright after he becomes a huge political liability Serving as Chairman of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC, run by terrorist Bill Ayers) In his first run at Congress, points to the CAC as his central qualification Omits the CAC from his resume in his run for the presidency

The beautiful thing about this test is this: there are no wrong answers, as Obama has expressed every opinion listed herein. It's all about judgment and core convictions. Oh, and nuance!

Especially for: Jon.