Bob McCarty Writes

Partnership for a Secure America, a group that recently gave the U.S. Government a “C” grade for its efforts to prevent a nuclear, chemical or biological terror attack on America, used a news release this morning to raise five questions (below) for Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain to answer.  Those questions appear below, with each followed by the answer each presidential candidate is likely to give based upon their published policy positions:

Q1:  As President, how would you strengthen international cooperation to prevent nuclear capabilities from falling into dangerous hands and turn [our current] failing grade into an “A”?

McCain A1: “I would demand certain types of cooperation from all countries in possession of nuclear capabilities and set a timeframe for that cooperation.  Those countries that do not comply with our terms — which I won’t divulge for national security reasons — will face sanctions, both economic and other.

Obama A1: “I will take the nuclear weapons and technology in our hands and negotiate treaties via which we can redistribute them to countries around the world until the nuclear playing field is level and the threat reduced.”

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Q2:  What alternative fuel, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction policies would you seek to implement nationally and internationally by the end of your first term as president in January 2013?

McCain A2: I’m an all-of-the-above guy. Let’s maximize use of natural gas, solar, coal and wind energy as well as new hybrid technologies.

Obama A2: I would require all Americans to carry on their persons a tire-pressure guage and ensure that our public schools teach our children how to use those guages.

* * *

Q3:  How will you elevate both the level and effectiveness of US government development spending to advance our national security and foreign policy goals?

McCain A3: I’ll shrink government, reduce federal spending, ensure competition in government contracts and not worry about seeking U.N. approval on important national security and foreign policy matters.

Obama A3: I’ll establish a bipartisan commission whose members will be selected by Democrats and Republicans alike.  I will work with those members to chart a course of change that I hope will result in a lasting world peace.

* * *

Q4:  How will you reaffirm America’s global leadership in promoting human rights and the rule of law around the world?

McCain A4: I will rely on the old axiom of leading by example.  The United States will, on my watch, return to being what Ronald Reagan once called a “shining city on a hill” admired by people around the world.

Obama A4: I don’t believe the United States needs to seek out the position of being leader of the world.  Instead, I believe in lifting up all people’s of the world, and I’ll do that by resurrecting my Global Poverty Act of 2007 (S.2433).

* * *

Q5:  As President, how will you actively engage China while encouraging it to become a stronger stakeholder in the international system?

McCain A5: For starters, I will demand that China lift tariffs on U.S.-made goods so tht we can enjoy more fair trade with the Chinese.

Obama A5: I would ask China for help in improving our public schools and infrastructure.  After all, they proved themselves to be far superior to the United States during the recent Olympics, didn’t they?

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