cwpac.org - Core Issues by Party

The mission of Concerned Women for America (CWA) is to protect and promote Biblical values among all citizens -- first through prayer, then education, and finally by influencing our society -- thereby reversing the decline in moral values in our nation.

CWA's Core Issues	National Democrat Platform	National Republican Platform
Family	Family	Family
CWA believes that marriage consists of one man and one woman. We seek to protect and support the Biblical design of marriage and the gift of children.	Opposes Defense of Marriage Act Supports equitable alignment of benefits Supports the full inclusion of "gay" and lesbian families in the life of the nation Opposes "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"	Calls for a Constitutional Amendment that fully protects marriage as a union between one man and one woman Recognizes the importance of having a married father and mother in the house Enacted the Defense of Marriage Act while in the majority in Congress, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex "marriages" licensed in other states Opposes initiatives that erode parental rights
Sanctity of Human Life	Sanctity of Human Life	Sanctity of Human Life
CWA supports the protection of all innocent human life from conception until natural death. This includes the consequences resulting from abortion.	Strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade Supports a woman's right to choose a "safe and legal abortion" at taxpayer expense, and opposes any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right Strongly supports access to comprehensive, affordable family planning services Strongly supports age-appropriate sex education, which supposedly empowers people to make informed choices and live healthy lives Supports embryonic stem-cell research and wishes to lift the current Administration's ban on using federal funding for embryonic stem cells	Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence Affirms that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed Helped enact the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act Definition of abortion: "fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life." Supports a human life amendment to the Constitution Endorses legislation to clarify the Fourteenth Amendment's protections applying to unborn children Opposes the non-consensual withholding of care or treatment from people with disabilities, as well as the elderly and the infirm Opposes euthanasia & assisted suicide Will not fund organizations involved in abortion
Pornography	Pornography	Pornography
CWA endeavors to fight all pornography and obscenity.	Wishes to protect children from violence and neglect Will continue to increase funding to domestic violence and sexual assault prevention programs Will give parents tools to block the content that they find objectionable, both online and on television Supports the Violence Against Women Act	Supports the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 Believes that the executive branch must carry the fight overseas to where the evil is perpetrated Believes Congress should expand the range of companies required to report the existence of child porn
Religious Liberty	Religious Liberty	Religious Liberty
CWA supports the God-given rights of individuals in the United States and other nations to pray, worship and express their beliefs without fear of discrimination or persecution.	Will empower grassroots faith-based and community groups to help meet challenges like poverty, ex-offender re-entry, and illiteracy Doesn't believe that faith-based groups are a replacement for government or secular non-profit programs Ensures that partnerships with faith-based groups do not endanger the First Amendment protections because there is no conflict between supporting faith-based institutions and our Constitution	Believes in the constitutional free exercise of religion Believes the Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state-sponsored creed Balance between these two ideals has been distorted by judicial rulings which attempt to drive faith out of the public arena Supports the right of students to engage in student-initiated, student-led prayer in public schools, athletic events, and graduations Rejects the claim that the public display of the Ten Commandments violates the Constitution, believing that it accurately reflects the Judeo-Christian heritage of our country Deplores attacks against religion
Education	Education	Education
CWA supports reform of public education by returning authority to parents.	Solely government controlled, on a federal level Believes that "strong public schools are the foundation of democratic community life" Put kids in school, ages zero-five Supports and funds English Language Learner classes Supports the "No Child Left Behind" Act Promotes summer school Works to increase public school spending in hopes that the school system will improve Makes science, technology, engineering, and math education a national priority Supports comprehensive and affordable family planning services and age-appropriate sex-education Promotes after school care learning activities Supports minority serving institutions	Education is a parental right, a state and local responsibility, and a national strategic interest Supports values accountability for student academic achievement. Supports periodic testing on the fundamentals of learning, math, reading, history, and geography Supports parental involvement as well as classroom discipline Recognizes and appreciates the importance of homeschooling, and opposes over-reaching judicial decisions which deny children access to such environments Supports dual-credit programs as well as child care tax credit that helps parents choose the best care Calls for the enforcement of laws designed to protect family rights and privacy in education Opposes school-based clinics that provide referrals, counseling, and abortion-related services Opposes federally-regulated schools, opting instead for schools regulated by the state governments as well as local government Opposes the hiring, firing, tenure, and promotion practices at universities that discriminate on the basis of political or ideological belief Supports the right of college students to engage in ROTC on their own campus instead of being segregated elsewhere
National Sovereignty	National Sovereignty	National Sovereignty
CWA believes that neither the United Nations nor any other international organization should have authority over the United States in any area. We also believe the United States has the right and duty to protect and secure our national borders.	Works to regain a partnership with Afghanistan Works to regain a partnership with Pakistan Works to regain a partnership with NATO Will seek to strengthen and broaden strategic partnership with Turkey Continues to support a close U.S. relationship with states that seek to strengthen ties to NATO and the West, such as Georgia and the Ukraine Pursues effective collaboration on pressing global issues among all major powers, such as China, India, Russia, Brazil, Nigeria, and South Africa Builds on close relationship with Israel Will work together with other countries to advance common interest	Believes that international organizations must never serve as a substitute for principled American leadership Believes the U.N. must reform its scandal- ridden and corrupt management and become more accountable and transparent in its operations and expenses. Believes American forces must remain under American control Believes that discrimination against Israel at the U.N. is unacceptable