John Edwards 2004 On The Issues

Supporting Civil Rights And Equal Opportunity For All Americans

Senator Edwards grew up in the South, in a small town in rural North Carolina. He knows how important it is that we not go backwards in the cause for civil rights. He was brought up to believe in an America where we embrace and lift up everybody, no matter who you are, no matter who your family is, no matter what the color of your skin.

Edwards' Agenda On Civil Rights

Ensuring Fair Admissions To Colleges And Universities. Edwards has fought Bush administration efforts to weaken affirmative action programs, and personally signed a brief that urged the United States Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action at the University of Michigan. At the same time, Edwards has encouraged colleges and universities to make college admissions fairer by eliminating legacy admissions that favor the wealthy.
Fighting For Judges Who Will Support Our Civil Rights Laws. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Edwards has questioned, and later opposed, judicial nominees who would put their personal views above the law, including Charles Pickering, Bill Pryor, and Miguel Estrada.
Improving Voting Rights Enforcement. Edwards exposed the Bush Administration's weak efforts to enforce voting rights laws after the 2000 election fiasco in Florida. He supports funding the Election Reform Bill to enable more people to vote and make sure their votes are counted.
Opposing Racial Profiling In Law Enforcement. Recognizing the wrong of arrests for "driving while black," Edwards supports efforts to ban racial profiling in law enforcement.
Fighting For Pay Equity. Too often in America today, women still are paid less than men for the same work. This is unacceptable. Edwards supports strengthening penalties and remedies under America's pay equity laws.
Punishing Hate Crimes. Edwards supports legislation to punish crimes motivated by hatred of people based on their race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
Protect equal rights for all Americans. Edwards has sponsored legislation to strengthen America's anti-discrimination laws including the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would bar workplace discrimination against gays and lesbians.
Ensuring America Is Strong And Free. Edwards believes that we don't have to sacrifice our liberties or our equal rights in order to preserve our security. America cannot allow this administration and John Ashcroft to use the war on terrorism to take away our civil rights, take away our liberties, and take away our freedom.
Fighting To Create Equal Opportunity For All Students. Edwards believes it is wrong that America still has two school systems, one for the "haves" and one for the "have nots." To give every child the same opportunity, he would attract high-quality teachers to the most disadvantaged school districts by offering scholarships and increased pay. He would also increase support for partnerships between colleges and disadvantaged schools that offer mentors and special help to at-risk students. And Edwards will say to America's young people: we will pay for your first year of college tuition at a public university or community college, if you will do your part in school and work at least 10 hours a week.
Providing Equal Economic Opportunity: Tax Reform To Help Working Families Own Homes And Save For Retirement. While setting a new capital gains tax rate for the wealthiest 1% of Americans, Edwards will reduce taxes to encourage poor and working-class families to own a home or save for retirement. These measures are particularly critical for African-American and Latino communities, which tend to have lower levels of home ownership and lower levels of participation in private pensions.
Honoring Our Responsibility To Cover Every Child And Fighting Health Disparities. Edwards will make it affordable and easy for parents to get health insurance with refundable tax credits and automatic enrollment. In return, parents will have a responsibility to insure their children. In addition, Edwards believes that the color of a person's skin should never affect the quality of their health care. He supports a national medical translation center, increased research into medical disparities, and a new office at the Department of Justice dedicated to preventing discrimination in health care.

Source: John Edwards for President 2004 Web Site