VOTING questions - 1/28/08

[Smartmarriages]

- CAN'T FIND THE QUESTIONS!!

> Dear Diane, 
> I was distressed, just now, when I tried to vote for the Democratic
> questions.  I went through 13 pages and found none.  I only found them on
> the Republican lists, close to the front.........and through to pages 7,8 or
> so.
> 
> Were they only written on the Republican list of questions?
> 
> Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

Thanks for your willingness to participate!  Sorry you're stymied as to how
to find the Marriage Education questions.

The key to finding the questions, once you're at the list of questions, is
to CLICK ON THE "MOST POPULAR" TAB.  Since our questions are relatively near
the top, out of the more than 4000 questions submitted, you'll find them
relatively easily.  Currently, in the Republican list, our questions are 32,
38, 43, 46, 48, 56, 62, 64, 72.  In the Democratic list, the questions are
20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32.

Patty Howell

#####################
- VOTING FROM AROUND THE WORLD?

> I am in Canada, but must let you know I just went online and voted for those
> questions to the candidates.  I really believe that what happens in the U.S.
> affects us north of the border.
>  
> Well done!
>  
> Janice
>  
####################

Susan--

Thanks for your willingness to participate in voting and I'm sorry you've
been stymied in doing so.  Diane has forwarded your email to me for help in
accessing the questions.

Once you're at www.politico.com <http://www.politico.com>  , go to the
"Home" page, if you don't land there automatically.  Then scroll down about
1/2 way down the page until you see the box that says "Upcoming Presidential
Debates" and click on that.

Then you'll get to a page where about 1/2 way down you'll see where it says
"Vote for Questions Now".  Click on that and you'll get to a choice where
you can vote for Republican questions and vote for Democratic questions.
Click on one of those (but remember to vote in both categories, no matter
which one you start with!!!).  That will take you to the list of questions,
and from there, click on the tab at the top that ways "MOST POPULAR" and
then you'll be able to find our questions in the top 70 or so on the list.
They are all listed under the "SOCIAL ISSUES" category.  However, not all
Social Issues questions are Marriage Education ones, so you'll have to scan
them once you come to a Social Issues question.

Since our questions are "popular", you'll find them relatively quickly.
Currently, in the Republican list, our questions are 32, 38, 43, 46, 48, 56,
62, 64, 72.  In the Democratic list, the questions are 20, 23, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30, 32.   Remember to vote in both lists!

Hope you succeed this time - we need to keep our questions at the top of the
list.  Also, please forward this info to your contacts, if you haven't done
so already--we need all the help we can get!

Here again, are the questions to look for.  Remember they're repeated more
than once on each list.  Vote for them each time you see them:

> 1)  It has been estimated that divorce in America today costs state and
> Federal governments more than $100 billion annually in an array of social
> services needed as a result of marital breakdown.  If you are elected
> President, what steps will you take to invest this money in preventive
> approaches for helping couples build healthy marriages and families?
> 
> 2)  Since marital success is correlated with many measures of social
> stability--such as better mental and physical health, higher productivity in
> the workplace, lower crime and less violent crime--and since Marriage
> Education skills are known to correlate with marital success, what innovative
> measures would you propose as President to make these relationship skills part
> of the birthright of every American?
> 
> 3)  In an attempt to address the decades-long breakdown of families and
> provide solutions to strengthen marriage and family relationships in our
> nation's poorest and most desperate communities, Presidents Clinton and Bush
> have supported back-to-back initiatives (Responsible Fatherhood Initiative and
> Healthy Marriage Initiative).  As President, how will you continue and/or
> expand upon these programs that break the cycle of poverty by strengthening
> marriages and families in impoverished communities?
> 
> 4)  Both parties speak about the importance of family values.  Yet, this often
> fails to result in action that benefits children and families.  Since we know
> the primary reason families break apart is that the relationship between the
> parents breaks apart, and we know that Marriage Education and Relationship
> Skills training helps couples build strong relationships, what will you do to
> increase access to these programs?
> 
> 5)  Data show that parents' marital stability is correlated with a variety of
> positive outcomes for their children--including higher academic achievement,
> lower teen pregnancy rates, lower rates of delinquency, drug and alcohol
> abuse, and better overall health.  We also know that Marriage Education
> fosters marital stability.  As President of the country, what initiatives
> would you propose to make Marriage Education readily available?
> 
> As I used to type in my 9th grade typing class, now is the time for all good
> men (and women) to come to the aid of their party!  And, for those of us who
> see the big picture about Marriage Education, I believe there has never been
> such an important time to come to the aid of both parties!  Please join now to
> raise visibility about the important work we do to help strengthen couples and
> families! 


Thanks very much.

Patty Howell