Where They Stand

Personality, not politics, has dominated the 1980 presidential campaign. Environmental, economic, and social issues have taken a back seat to name-calling and virtual character assassination. Jimmy Carter thinks Ronald Reagan is a warmonger and John Anderson, a spoiler. Ronald Reagan thinks Jimmy Carter is a malicious backstabber, and John Anderson, a spoiler. Anderson thinks both major parties have failed the electorate but that he can provide the "difference."

Still, since this is a presidential election, the candidates have had to stake out positions, inconsistent as they've been on many of them. Republicans have focused on the diseased American economy, while Democrats claimed the major issue was war and peace. Both claimed Anderson was a liberal/conservative masquerading in conservative/liberal clothing to win the youth vote.

What follows are very brief summaries of the candidates' positions--short outlines to show where they agree and disagree. Voters should remember positions often change and that campaign promises frequently become presidential memories.

Foreign Policy

Anderson

*Supports SALT II.

*Would not supply arms to China but would maintain normalized ties.

*Would not establish official relations with Taiwan.

*Supported Panama Canal Treaties.

*Supports release of hostages through negotiation.

*Advocates a strong defense of Israel. Affirms Camp David accords.

*Opposes establishing an actual Palestinian state. Doesn't recognize PLO.

Carter

*Supports SALT II.

*Would maintain relations with China, but not supply military arms.

*No formal recognition of Taiwan.

*Completed ratification of Panama Canal Treaties.

*Does not believe U.S. should apologize to Iran. Favors patient negotiation.

*Architected the Camp David Accords.

*Opposes Palestinian state and PLO.

Reagan

*Does not support SALT II

*Would maintain ties with China.

*Would normalize economic ties with Taiwan.

*Opposed Panama Canal Treaties.

*Claims he has untested plans for hostage release.

*Wants to prevent extension of Soviet influence in Middle East.

*Does not recognize PLO.

Energy

Anderson

*Favors oil decontrol. Voted for Carter's standby gas rationing plan in May 1979.

*Supports windfall profits tax.

*Best known for his proposed 50-cents-a-gallon tax on gasoline. Supports development of solar power.

*Supports nuclear power, with reservations until safety conditions improve.

*Supports a separate Department of Energy.

*Does not support easing environmental restrictions to allow burning of higher sulfur coal.

*Would introduce national program of water conservation.

Carter

*Favors oil decontrol.

*Favors windfall profits tax.

*Has called energy crisis the moral equivalent of war" and favors higher gasoline tax by 10 cents a gallon as conservation move.

*Wants to minimize dependence on nuclear power and considers it a source of last resort.

*Established Department of Energy and increased funding for solar energy projects. Set up program to intensify research into synthetic fuels.

*Does not support easing environmental restrictions to allow burning of high sulfur coal.

*Favors preserving Alaska's wilderness.

*Supports trucking deregulation.

Reagan

*Favors oil decontrol.

*Opposes windfall profits tax.

*Believes U.S. has an abundance of energy.

*Supports use of nuclear energy through safe technology.

*Opposes Department of Energy as it currently exists.

*Believes environmental restrictions ot allow burning of higher sulfur coal should be eased.

Social Issues

Anderson

*Favors Equal Rights Amendment.

*Favors death penalty only in extreme circumstances.

*Favors gay rights legislation.

*Supports gun control.

*Does not believe in school prayer.

*Opposes national health insurance.

*Supports social security system but thinks it must be revamped. Favors expanding the eligibility for extended unemployment compensation.

*Supports federally funded abortion.

*Supports Department of Education.

*Does not believe welfare programs should be transferred back to the states.

Carter

*Favors Equal Rights Amendment.

*Thinks death penalty should be left to the states.

*Favors gay rights legislation.

*Favors handgun control.

*Does not support school prayer.

*Favors national health insurance.

*Strong support of social security system. Wants to expand unemployment compensation coverage.

*Does not support federally funded abortions, except to save the mother's life.

*Established Department of Education. Federal aid to education went up in first term.

*Does not believe welfare programs should be transferred to the states.

Reagan

*Does not support Equal Rights Amendment.

*Supports the death penalty.

*Opposes gay rights legislation.

*Opposes gun control.

*Believes that voluntary school prayer is proper.

*Opposes national health insurance.

*Wants to reform the social security system.

*Opposes federal funding of abortions.

*Wants to eliminate Department of Education.

*Believes welfare programs should be transferred to states.

Economy

Anderson

*Opposes a tax cut.

*Supports a balanced budget.

*Supports minimum wage.

*Opposes wage and price controls.

*Supports aid to large cities.

*Opposes tuition tax credits.

*Supports economy based on lower interest rates.

*Is committed to full employment.

*Supports grain embargo against Soviet Union.

*Did not support aid to Chrysler.

Carter

*Favors a tax cut.

*Favors a balanced budget.

*Supports minimum wage for all workers.

*Favors voluntary wage and price guidelines.

*Supports aid to cities and has assisted New York.

*Opposes tuition tax credits.

*Blames inflation increase on rising oil prices.

*Announced "economic revitalization program" in September.

*Declared grain embargo against Soviet Union.

*Bailed out Chrysler.

Reagan

*Favors a tax cut.

*Favors a balanced budget.

*Favors a separate minimum wage for teenagers to reduce youth unemployment.

*Opposes wage and price controls. Switched positions and now favors aid to cities.

*Favors tuition tax credits.

*Will call off Soviet grain embargo.

*Favors aid to Chrysler.

Defense

Anderson

*Opposes draft registration.

*Opposes MX missile.

*Favors increasing pay of volunteer forces.

*Supports strategy of mutual deterrence, improving command and control of strategic forces.

*Favors developing the neutron bomb.

Carter

*Initiated draft registration.

*Supports MX missile.

*Has proposed annual increase in defense spending.

*Has not considered reactivating B-1 bomber program.

Reagan

*Opposes draft registration.

*Favors MX missile.

*Will increase defense spending.

*Wants strategic superiority over the Russians.

*Believes the U.S. is vulnerable militarily and that Soviet Union is stronger.

*Advocates a defense build-up.

Others

Ed Clark, the Libertarian candidate, has run his party's most successful campaign to date, gathering much media attention and focusing his efforts enough that he may be able to finish second in one or two states.

A strong proponent of free enterprise, a non-interventionist foreign policy and civil liberties for all minorities, Clark has picked up support from both conservative business interests and leftists attracted by his strong anti-draft and pro-gay rights stands.

Clark's campaign book, A New Beginning, develops the thesis that too much government lies at the root of most American problems. Clark has maintained his defense of libertarianism down the line, a stance seen necessary to retain the support of members of the eight-year-old party.

Rarry Commoner, the Citizen's Party nominee, began the year in better shape than he will end it. The most prominent left candidate, Commoner's party figured to pick up a sizeable number of protest votes.

But John Anderson's Independent bid stole the media spotlight, and Commoner has had to resort to tactics like his "Bullshit" radio commercials to capture any attention.

A long time environmentalist and energy specialist, Commoner has focused attention on America's power shortage, recommending massive government spending to spur solar research and development as one solution.

On the ballot in more than 30 states, Commoner says he is satisfied with the Citizens Party in 1980, adding that he and others will not abandon the structure after Tuesday.

David McReynolds carries the banner of the most prominent left orthodox movement, the Socialist Party USA.

A founder of the War Resisters League and longtime gay rights activist, McReynolds is an old-line socialist, stressing the need for government ownership of all industry.

But he says he is an evolutionist, not a proponent of violent revolution, and that the presidential campaign is merely another way to push for change in the system. "Election day is the least important day of the year to a Socialist," he explains.

Gus Hall, the longtime chairman of the Communist Party, and running mate Angela Davis lead a pack of other leftists in the race. They include Deirdre Gristly of the Workers World Party and Andrew Pulley of the Socialist Workers Party.