Where she stands politically:

America

THE ISSUES:

IRAQ:

Palin, while supportive of America’s presence in Iraq, wants to develop an “exit strategy” for combat troops.  Track Palin, her 18-year-old son, is in the Army and slotted to go to Iraq in September. Palin has also visited with members of the Alaska National Guard in Kuwait, to personally witness the conditions in their base camps. “I respect our military personnel and understand the importance of Alaska’s National Guard. As I watched our military men and women being deployed, I recognized how important it is for their families to know how much Alaska and America support them.”

FOREIGN POLICY:

From The Center for Global Engagement: As governor, Palin worked to expand partnerships with Alaska companies overseas. During her first year in office, Alaska exported to 100 foreign destinations exports, reaching $3.9 billion worth of exports, the second highest export level in Alaskan history. Palin has also hosted delegations from all over the world, including a delegation of Chinese officials to observe the delivery of rural health care in Alaska and a delegation of Canadian officials to promote economic cooperation and trade. “We live in an increasingly interconnected world and improving global literacy among our citizens contributes significantly to our nation’s foreign policy economic competitiveness and national security.”

EDUCATION:

From Alaska Business Monthly (2006): “I think we have to get kids excited about school, which means refocusing some of our priorities. Right now, we cater, if you will, to about 30 percent of the kids who graduate, go on to get a liberal arts degree in college, and then come back here to work. I think we also have to cater to the other 70 percent by providing them with educational opportunities that will get them ready for the work force. I’d like to see public schools teach skills and provide job-training opportunities in a broader sense — to see a vo-tech curriculum in high schools.”

ENVIRONMENT:

From her former website, PalinForGovernor.com: “I believe in protecting Alaska’s environment through fair enforcement of our environmental laws. Having a clean record on environmental regulation is critical to getting ANWR open and maintaining our fisheries mining, timber, and tourism industries. We can be good partners with out-of-state companies, yet still make sure that what we do is best for Alaska. I believe that we can balance the needs of the environment and the subsistence way of life while fulfilling this mandate. Alaska’s environment has provided me with many opportunities, and I want to perpetuate those opportunities for others.”

HEALTH CARE:

According to her gubernatorial campaign web site, Palin was supportive of flexibility in government regulations that allow competition in health care. She expressed her belief that, flexibility will drive down health care costs and reduce the need for government subsidies. Palin said she believes health care reforms are necessary, beginning with patients having full access to their own medical billing information.

2nd Amendment:

In her own words: “I am a lifetime member of the NRA, I support our Constitutional right to bear arms and am a proponent of gun safety programs for Alaska’s youth. I grew up hunting and fishing in Alaska, and I am proud to raise my children with this same uniquely Alaskan heritage. Anti-hunting groups who oppose hunting and fishing rights will be the winners if we allow them to pit us against ourselves. As an Alaskan with strong beliefs on this issue, I am confident in my ability to build consensus among diverse user groups and reconcile the many competing interests …”

ABORTION:

She’s pro-life and opposes federal funding of sex-education in high school.