Are Democrats more United than Divided? Flashcards
Introduction? Stance? Points?
More United than divided.
Ideological factions outweighed by overall party unity.
Looking at social, foreign, economic policy.
Foreign Policy: Bowman?
DIVISION
Takes extreme stance: Says US must accuse of Israel of Genocide and/ or must also stop supporting them in the war against Hamas. –> Members willing to speak out against establishment.
Foreign Policy: Sanders?
DIVISION
“Not another nickel for Netanyahu.” + Voted against $14bn being sent to Israel. –> Divisions not just symbolic, also reflected in legislation.
Counter for Foreign Policy?
BOWMAN: His stance only held by 7% of candidates.
SANDERS: Democrats continue to vote in blocks, only 2 opposing in the Senate.
Foreign Policy: China?
UNITED.
See as a threat: E.g Rep. Raskin comments how “Democrats in Congress have taken a strong stand for democracy against the CCP.”
–> Cross-faction consensus to address growing influence and threat of China to US interests.
FOREIGN POLICY: Ukraine?
Only 13% of Democrats say that the US is providing too much support for Ukraine (such as part of a $95bn foreign package).
–> Largely shared commitment to certain core values such as standing against authoritarian aggression.
Economic Policy: Build Back Better Act (2021)?
DIVISIONS:
Provisions for infrastructure, climate change and healthcare. . Scaled down $2.2T from $3.5T due to concerns from Democrats like Manchin and Sinema due to the size of the project and potential impact on national debt.
–> General agreement in action such as investing in climate change is outweighed for some Democrats by concerns over fiscal responsibility, leading to party division.
Economic Policy: American Rescue Plan (2021)?
DIVISIONS:
Had to be watered down due to opposition from Manchin where Biden had to agree to have direct payments phased out for high-income taxpayers.
–> Divisions make it only possible for parts of legislative aims to be achieved.
Counter for Economic Policy?
American Rescue Plan → Ignores overwhelming party support, with all Senate Democrats voting in favour for the bill.
Build Back Better Act → Whilst it may have been scaled down, the eventually successful negotiations actually show the strength in the unity of the Democrat party who are willing to overcome any divisions through continual discussion and compromise.
Economic Policy: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)?
UNITY
Aimed to reduce tax for the wealthy (corporations and individuals). → No Democrats voted in the Senate for it.
–> United towards taxation for wealthy.
Economic Policy: Inflation Reduction Act (2022)
UNITY
Aimed to reduce budget, also promoting clean energy and lowering prescription prices. Passed in the Senate all along party lines, with all Democrats voting for and VP casting tie-breaking vote.
–> Favour controlling inflated prices, more money for ordinary citizens.
Social Policy: Laken Riley Act (2025).
DIVISION
Mandates federal detention of illegal immigrants who commit crimes. → 12 more centrist Democrats joined Republicans in passing this bill.
–> Some factions of the party find more common ground and agreement with the main opposition party.
Social Policy: Defund the Police.
UNITY
Progressives such as AOC and Cori Bush have protested for defunding of the police in favour of alternative policing methods or funding better spent on other areas such as transportation. This starkly opposes Democrats such as Pelosi and Biden in favour of funding.
–> So significant impacted legislative success of party: Pelosi in 2022 forced to pull back in police funding due to opposition from progressives/ black congressional caucus.
Counter for social policy?
Laken Riley Act: Symbolic gesture due to shock as the act was in response to murder of Laken Riley. Other immigration related policies such as support from Democrats in overturning Trump’s ‘Muslim Travel Ban’ shows wider agreement on immigration.
Defund the Police: Primarily a response to the national movement of BLM, with the slogan only popularised after the murder of George Floyd, rather than as a justification for party divisions.
Social Policy: Dobbs v Jackson
Establishment Democrat Biden called the decision a “tragic error” with progressives like Warren worrying about the impact on the “poorest women.”
–> Fundamental rights of individuals to make decisions about their own bodies.
Social Policy: Safer Communities Act (2022)
Implemented changes to gun control and school safety including background checks. First federal gun control legislation in 28 years. → All 50 Democrat Senators voted in favour.
–> Consistently united view in tackling a pressing national issue, especially with the rise of school shootings in the US.
Conclusion?
Despite the party being a spectrum, largely this does not impede on party unity, often reconciling differences and voting in a block to pass major legislation in all areas (foreign, social and economic) showing how they are able to come to a broad consensus with one another to achieve party aims.
