[Culled from various sources]

• Supports affirmative action
• Supports gay partnership benefits, but would like to leave same-sex marraige legislation up to individual states
• Wants to cut research and development funding for oil companies
• Supports creation of new domestic intelligence agency
• Supports a woman’s right to an abortion
• Supports death penalty
• Opposes privatizing Social Security

John Edwards on taxes:

“I voted against the Bush tax cuts. I believe we should repeal the tax cuts for those that earn over $200,000 a year. I would not raise taxes on middle Class working families because I believe they are the engine of our economy and it would be a mistake and would inhibit long-term economic growth. I would reduce further the taxes on middle class working families by helping them make a down payment on their first home, creating incentives for them to invest and become part of the investor class and helping them save by matching savings up to dollar for dollar up to $1000 per family per year.”

On education:

“I think that we still have two public school systems in America, one for the haves and one for the have-nots. What I’d like to do are several things. One is lead a national initiative to provide support for teachers and teacher pay so we attract good people and keep good people. Give bonus incentive pay to good teachers who are willing to teach in schools in less-affluent areas. I think we need a national commitment to both early childhood programs to make certain that kids have the right kind of start when they begin kindergarten, they start on a relatively level playing field. And second, to after-school programs, which I have had some personal experience with.”

Edwards, during a 2003 debate, on homeland security:

Q: As president, what would be the least popular, most right thing you would do?

EDWARDS: I know the American people are worried about their safety and security. But we can’t ever forget what it is we’re supposed to be fighting for. And in this effort to protect ourselves and fight our war on terrorism, we cannot allow people like John Ashcroft to take away our rights, our freedom and our liberties. Those things are under assault. After September 11th, it’s much harder to stand up for those things.

Edwards on his policy experience, from a 2003 debate:

First, what people are looking for in a president is someone who has the qualities of leadership: strength, character, conviction, good judgment. I’m happy to have people judge me on that basis.
Second, they want somebody who understands their lives. I come from a family where my dad worked in a mill. My mother worked in the post office. I was the first in my family to go to college, and I spent almost 20 years after I worked my way through college and then law school fighting for the same people that I had grown up with.
This is what I have done my entire life, fight for working people, the people I’ve known all my life. I did it first for 20 years as a lawyer and an advocate, and I’ve been doing it in the US Senate, and I will be a champion for those very same people in the White House. And the American people want somebody who will stand up for them and stand up to big corporate America.

• His favorite song is John Cougar Mellencamp’s Small Town.