Political Parties Flashcards
Democratic Party Platform (2012)
Moving America Forward - Endorsed full equality for women, a right to an abortion “regardless of ability to pay,” same-sex marriage, regulation on gun ownership, raising the minimum wage, affordable healthcare for all, renewable energy, protection of civil liberties, and the importance of maintaining international alliances.
Democratic Factions - Congressional Progressive Caucus
69 declared members (2014) - on the left of the Democratic Party - advocates for economic justice, protection of civil liberties, promotion of global peace, and protection of the environment as its key aims - also favours universally affordable healthcare, increased welfare spending and progressive taxation.
Democratic Factions - New Democratic Coalition
46 declared House members - composed of Clinton-style centrists, advocating pragmatic public policy. Often accuse overly progressive Democrats of damaging the party’s electability. Criticised from the left for failing to properly address issues of social justice and poverty. It has been suggested that some in the caucus are merely closeted Blue Dogs, wishing to avoid the DINO label.
Democratic Factions - Blue Dog Coalition
14 declared members, traditionally strongest in the South. The most conservative grouping of Democrats - tend to be pro-life, pro-gun and fiscally conservative. Members are often labelled “DINOs” - Democrats In Name Only. Since 1995, 8 Blue Dogs have switched allegiances to the GOP.
Decline of the Blue Dogs
Prior to the 2010 midterms, the group had 54 members - this was more than halved to 26 after those elections. Further fell to 14 in 2012, due to a combination of primary challenges from liberal Democrats and general election defeats, though 5 joined before the next election. Fell again to 14 after the 2014 midterms. Often run in states whose legislature is controlled by the GOP, and as such can be targeted by Gerrymandering - e.g. Georgia Democrat John Barrow, who was the Blue Dogs’ co-chair until his defeat in 2014, forced to move house 3 times to stay in his district.
Democratic Internal Divisions
Left: Elizabeth Warren - Senator for Massachusetts - has spoken out in favour of a more progressive tax system and greater regulation of Wall Street banks. Has pushed for legislation allowing for cheaper student loans. Pushed for improved LGBT rights, greater access to affordable healthcare, and a transition to renewable energy.
Right: Henry Cuellar - Representative for Texas, member of Blue Dogs. Pro-gun and pro-life, advocates for bipartisan legislation.
Democratic Interest Groups - Democratic Leadership Council
Founded in 1985, offering a centrist alternative to the party’s increasingly left-wing policies. Was very influential during the Clinton presidency, but has since declined - Obama specifically distanced himself from the group, which dissolved in 2011. Evidence of the decline of centrism in the party.
Democratic Interest Groups - EMILY’s List
Pro-choice PAC which has worked to elect 100 pro-choice Dem women to the House, 19 to the Senate, and 10 governors since 1985, most notably in 1992, which was dubbed “The Year of the Woman” by media figures. This has coincided with party policy - 2012 platform explicitly endorsed Roe v. Wade.
Democratic Interest Groups - MoveOn.org
Both a research group and a PAC, which donates to candidates it identifies as “progressive.” Successfully encouraged all Democratic presidential primary candidates to boycott a debate on Fox News.
Democratic Interest Groups - Centre for American Progress
More centrist group, though not necessarily to the extent of the DLC. Chairman John Podesta was instrumental in the formation of the Obama administration - evidence for the enduring influence of centrism.
Evidence for Excessive Democratic Partisanship
According to Gallup polls, 29% of Democratic voters identify as pro-life, compared to less than 3% of Congressional Democrats - not enough ideological diversity in the party to aptly represents its voters.
Obama - Progressivism
- Obamacare achieved near-universal affordable healthcare
- Fiscal Stimulus (2009) showed fiscal progressivism - spent $831bn, sustaining 2.1m private sector jobs.
- Dodd-Frank Act (2010) increased federal regulation of financial institutions
- Executive Order on immigration (2014) granted temporary legal status to 5m illegal immigrants
- Executive order to raise minimum wage for federal contractors to $10.10 (2014)
Obama - Pragmatism
- Extended the Hyde Amendment to ensure that no Obamacare subsidies were used to fund abortions - done in order to secure support of Blue Dog Bart Stupak.
- Compromises with House GOP during gov’t shutdown (2013) - resulted in spending cuts, and fiscal cliff (2013).
- Failure to close Guantanamo Bay
HOWEVER some contend that any perceived centrism on his part in a result of an inflexible Republican Congress - e.g. strongly advocated increased gun control, which was defeated with universal opposition for the GOP - “shame on us.”
Bush - Conservative
- In general, taxes were reduced
- Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act (2003) restricted Roe v. Wade
- Opposed gay marriage
Bush - Not That Conservative
Domestic government spending ballooned - Medicare Modernisation Act (2003) increased Medicare spending by $531bn, TARP (2008) bailed out Wall Street banks at a cost of $450bn. Overall, federal spending increased by 88%, although much of this may be attributed to the expense of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - nevertheless, domestic spending increased as a percentage of GDP by 5.5% - under Clinton it fell by 0.8%. No Child Left Behind (2001) greatly increased the influence of the federal gov’t over the education system.
GOP Party Platform (2012)
We Believe in America - supports a pro-life amendment to the Constitution, as well as one to enforce a balanced budget each year, and another to outlaw same-sex marriage. Opposes tax increases and restrictions on campaign finance. Strongly favours 2nd amendment rights, and the repeal of Obamacare.
Republican Factions - Republican Study Committee
170 declared members in the House - 73% of House Republicans are members (2014). Pushes for cuts in gov’t spending - has proposed an alternative budget in every year since 1995. Favour a limited role for the federal gov’t, and support 2nd amendment rights, as well as “traditional family values.”
Republican Factions - Main Street Partnership
69 declared members (65 in the House) - pursue a pragmatic, centrist agenda, and are “open to bipartisan legislative results.” Represents the party’s moderate wing.
Republican Factions - Liberty Caucus
36 declared members - a group of libertarian Republicans - very much on the right of the GOP, as evidenced by the fact that its founding members found the RSC to be too moderate. Call for significant cuts in spending and taxation, as well as strict protection of personal freedoms.
Republican Factions - Tea Party
Highly socially and fiscally conservative - founded in 2010 after the success of the tea party movement, which advocated a far smaller role for the federal government. Focused much of its energy into opposing Obamacare. Was, at its height (60 members), considered a powerful force in Congress, but has not met in around 2 years and is generally considered defunct.
Decline of the Tea Party
GOP leadership decided that it was not in its interests to maintain the group, which was seen as coming into conflict with the party’s rebranding effort. Michele Bachmann’s train-wreck campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 severely damaged the group’s image. Several high-profile members, e.g. Sens. Rand Paul and Marco Rubio have been accused of “selling out” to the GOP - both are considered presidential hopefuls, which may have influenced their decision. However, still shows signs of life - backed candidate David Brat defeated senior incumbent House Majority Leader (the first time a sitting majority leader has ever been defeated in a primary) Eric Cantor in a primary challenge in 2014, in spite of the fact that Cantor had a very conservative voting record - damaged by a picture of him talking to Obama.
Republican Internal Divisions
Left: Susan Collins - Senator for Maine. Member of the Main Street Partnership. Favours environmental protection, is pro-choice, and is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights group - voted in favour of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act (2010). At times, her voting record has been centre-left, leading to the application of the label “RINO.” In the minority in the GOP.
Right: Ted Cruz - Senator for Texas. Pro-life, except when there is a danger to the life of the mother. Opposes same-sex marriage, strongly supports gun rights - threatened to filibuster any gun control bill in the aftermath of Sandy Hook. Endorsed by Tea Party Express and Heritage Foundation. Filibustered a vote on the budget for Obamacare during the 2013 shutdown for 21 hours - 4th longest speech in history. Opposed any bipartisan compromise to end the shutdown - conduct criticised by Senate leader Mitch McConnell.
