Political Profiles
John McCain
The 71-year-old Republican candidate is most known for his efforts in campaign finance reform. McCain has been an active member of the legislature since 1982, when he was elected house representative by the state of Arizona. After serving two terms he was later elected as state senator, and then re-elected in ‘92, ‘98 and ‘04. A medaled survivor of Vietnam with more than five years spent as a prisoner of war, McCain is opposed to “rough interrogation” and he considers himself to be a “traditional Republican.” The term “maverick” is thrown around quite a bit when describing McCain’s political reputation, mostly referring to his authorship of the McCain-Feingold Act, but also to his stance on illegal immigration as well. An atypical move as a Republican candidate, McCain showed his support for the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, which called for increased border protection and greater opportunity to legalize illegal aliens. This was very likely the reason for his inability to raise sufficient funds for his campaign in mid-2007, but McCain has now risen once again as a top candidate for the Republican nomination, especially with his early win in New Hampshire and South Carolina. McCain is a father of seven, a grandfather of four and is currently residing in Arizona with his wife Cindy, whose family owns a beer distribution company.
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, plays the bass guitar in a rock ‘n’ roll band called Capital Offense which has opened for Willie Nelson and played at the New Orleans House of Blues. He’s written five books, completed four marathons, is the father of three children, has performed at two presidential inauguration balls and is one very hopeful candidate for the Republican primaries. A staunch Baptist and an ordained minister, Huckabee considers himself to be both “preacher and politician.” In 2005 Huckabee was recognized as one of Time magazine’s five best governors in America, though this past December the Judicial Watch labeled him as one of the "10 Most Wanted Corrupt Politicians" in 2007. Huckabee was governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007, and in that time he helped support ARKids First (to provide health insurance to state children), welfare reform, increased charter schools and signed the first broad-based tax cut in Arkansas' history. Huckabee was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes in 2003 and has been promoting a healthy lifestyle ever since, even making it the subject matter of his latest book.
Barack Obama
Fighting opposition head-on, he’s made a triumphant leap from Illinois senator to major presidential contender. Born in Hawaii in ‘61, Obama spent his early childhood on that island state until moving to Indonesia. Obama has served as senator of Illinois since 2004 and has supported many bills and proposals such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, providing tax cuts to families statewide and serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee. Obama, his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Sasha and Malia, live on the south side of the city where Obama has worked hard to make progress. Michelle Obama has been an avid supporter of her husband along with many notable celebrities and politicians like Oprah Winfrey and John Kerry. Obama graduated from Columbia University and then later Harvard Law School. He moved to Chicago and afterward, according to his Web site, “became a community organizer to help improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment.” Obama is a great believer in the need for change and has centered his campaign on health care for all, closure of the war in Iraq and social security reform.
Hillary Clinton
Born and raised by a “middle-class family in the middle of America,” Hillary Clinton is nowhere near middling as a presidential candidate. A forerunner in the Democratic primaries, Clinton has garnered much support for her campaign and places a large emphasis on ending the war in Iraq, reforming health care and strengthening the middle class. Health care is not a new subject for Clinton, who during her husband’s time as president fought to implement a better form of health care. This New York senator isn’t without her celebrity supporters either—besides the obvious, her husband of course, she has BET founder and billionaire Robert Johnson at her back. Clinton has fought to hone her image as a champion for health care, families at home, women's rights and human rights around the world.
