Parties

Question 1

Which initiative of Franklin Roosevelt (FDR) encapsulates the Democrat preference for bigger government and more spending?

Answer 1

The New Deal.

Question 2

Historically, the Republicans were the anti-slavers and the Democrats in favour. What changed?

Answer 2

FDR’s New Deal and the civil rights legislation of JFK and LBJ (all Democrats) caused many voters to switch sides.

Question 3

Which party is more likely to support abortion, gun control, more leniency towards immigrants, and pro-environmental policy?

Answer 3

The Dems.

Question 4

Complete this quotation from Nancy Pelosi, and explain its significance: “Of course it’s possible to be pro-life…`

Answer 4

…and a Democrat.” This shows that the parties are broad church - they encompass a range of beliefs.

Question 5

What did Susan Collins (Rep Senator for Maine) vote against in 2017 which showed her independence?

Answer 5

Trump’s repeal of Obama-era regulations against drilling on public land.

Question 6

Massachusetts, NY and California pretty much always vote for which party?

Answer 6

Dems

Question 7

Give three reasons for the rise of partisanship.

Answer 7

Here are four:

1. Reagan. He wooed right-leaning Dems away from their party, and made it harder for moderates to remain in the Republicans;
2. The collapse of the USSR ended the foreign policy consensus based around a common enemy;
3. Partisan presidents who don’t govern from the centre: Reagan, GWB, Obama, Trump.
4. Echo chambers largely caused by social media.

Question 8

Name three liberal, or progressive, Dems.

Answer 8

Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandra Occasio-Cortez

Question 9

Name two moderate Dems.

Answer 9

Chuck Schumer (Senate minority leader), Diane Feinstein (Senator for CA)

Question 10

Which Democrat House faction represents the right of the party, and give an example?

Answer 10

Blue Dog Democrats. Kirsten Gilibrand, NY Senator and Dem presidential nomination candidate, was a Blue Dog.

Question 11

What would a fiscal conservative favour?

Answer 11

Reducing the size and cost of government, and greater freedom for individuals and businesses.

Question 12

What would a social conservative favour?

Answer 12

Tighter laws on abortion, drugs, homosexuality and probably the promotion of religion.

Question 13

Which 1972 book by David Broder suggested that the main parties were in near-terminal decline?

Answer 13

The Party’s Over.

Question 14

Since 2004, what percentage of the popular vote in presidential elections have the Reps and Dems, combined, achieved?

Answer 14

99

Question 15

“The era of big government is over.” So said whom, and why is it surprising?

Answer 15

Bill Clinton; because Dems are usually in favour of bigger government.

Question 16

What is surprising about GWB’s “No child left behind” policy?

Answer 16

Republicans usually prefer states’ rights over big government, but the policy extended federal reach into education.

Question 17

In 1997, how did the Washington Post describe the similarities between the two parties?

Answer 17

“The country has two Republican parties, separated by the issue of abortion.”

Question 18

Why could the US be said to have not a two party system but a 50 party system?

Answer 18

Because parties have no national leader, and attitudes within and between states vary hugely.

Question 19

Some say the Tea Party is so called because Tea is an acronym. Of what?

Answer 19

Taxed enough already.

Question 20

What’s a RINO?

Answer 20

Republican In Name Only - a term used by more right wing Reps to describe their more centrist colleagues.

Question 21

Name three Republican politicians to have received Tea Party support.

Answer 21

Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz (both Senators, both candidates for the 2016 presidential nomination), Donald Trump

Question 22

When was the last presidential election in which a majority of women voted Republican?``

Answer 22

1984

Question 23

By what percentage did women voters prefer Clinton to Trump?

Answer 23

12 - 54% to 42% (abut the same as in 2012 and 2008, so having a female candidate against an opponent who boasted of his sexual exploits didn’t seem to make much difference)

Question 24

Why might more women vote Dem than Rep?

Answer 24

Dems usually have more women-friendly policies and more female candidates.

Question 25

What percentage of Latino voters did Clinton win in 2018?

Answer 25

66% (v similar to 2008, but less than 2012’s 71%)

Question 26

Conservative analyst Charles Krauthammer has written that Hispanics should vote Rep. Why, and why don’t they?

Answer 26

They tend to be a socially conservative community which strives to better themselves. However, they prefer the Dems on a range of other issues, including immigration and healthcare.

Question 27

In 2008, Obama had a 91 point advantage among black voters over John McCain, and 87 point advantage over Romney in 2012. What was Clinton’s over Trump?

Answer 27

80.

Question 28

What was a key driver of voting intention in 2016 which had not previously been so evident?

Answer 28

Education. College graduates backed Clinton by a 9% margin, and those without a degree backed Trump by 8% - by far the widest gap since 1980.

Question 29

Roughly what percentage of all Protestants vote Rep?

Answer 29

55-60

Question 30

Roughly what percentage of evangelical Christians vote Rep?

Answer 30

75-80

Question 31

Roughly what percentage of Catholics vote Dem?

Answer 31

Just over half, but it was only 45% in 2016. Decline seems to be linked to support for abortion.

Question 32

Why might you expect Jewish voters to choose the Reps? Do they?

Answer 32

Reps tend to be more strident in support of Israel. But Jewish voters are solidly Dem: 71% in 2016. This is because they tend to be pro-choice, gay marriage and higher taxes.