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The Republicans, Democrats, and Minor Parties
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The Democratic Party: Also Known As
“The Left” Liberal Symbol – Donkey The story behind the Donkey and the Elephant Andrew Jackson – 1st Official Democrat President
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The Republican Party: Also Known As
GOP- “Grand Old Party” “The Right” Conservatives Symbol: Elephant Abraham Lincoln – first Republican President in 1860 Founded in 1854 – originally anti-slavery
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Thomas Nast first used the donkey in an 1870 Harper's Weekly cartoon to represent the "Copperhead Press" kicking a dead lion, symbolizing Lincoln's Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, who had recently died. Nast intended the donkey to represent an anti-war faction with whom he disagreed, but the symbol caught the public's fancy and the cartoonist continued using it to indicate some Democratic editors and newspapers.
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1874 Nast cartoon depicted GOP as an elephant demolishing the flimsy planks of the Democrats.
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Democratic Ideology Tax the rich
Government involvement in economy - stimulus Protect civil liberties Support same sex marriage Pro-Choice on abortion Government provided health insurance Believe in global warming/climate change Environmentalists More critical of Afghanistan/Iraq War Terrorists attack us because we are “over there” Investment in infrastructure Affirmative action Less strict on immigration Pro gun control
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Republican Ideology Less government involvement in economy
Strong National Defense Get the terrorists “over there” before they get us here Lower Taxes on rich Free Market / free enterprise Let the market decide Gun ownership rights Personal responsibility over welfare Skeptical on global warming School choice Pro-Life on abortion Against gay marriage More strict on immigration (“Govt. is not the solution to our problem. Govt. is the problem” – Ronald Reagan)
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Stereotypes of Democrats
Tree huggers/hippies/environmentalists Anti-war Will increase your taxes Party for the minorities Hollywood types Lazy – on welfare Soft on defense Socialist Well intentioned but ineffective (“They're the kind of people who'd stop to help you change a flat, but would somehow manage to set your car on fire.”)
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Stereotypes of Republicans
White Male Rich Heterosexual or homophobic Anti-minorities Racist Uncaring Support big business, not the common man Anti-poor Big Oil Wanting war Religious
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Democratic Factions Liberal – Farthest left; push for civil liberties (same sex marriages), less militaristic Progressive – oppose Iraq War, support universal health care, most critical of Republicans Centrist – more supportive of military force; more willing to reduce welfare (Bill Clinton) Labor Unions – (teachers, AFL-CIO)
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Republican Factions - Conservatives
Fiscal Conservatives – believe in prudence in govt. spending and debt Evangelicals – “Religious Right” – Bush elected with support in 2004 Social Conservatives – traditional values and morals – oppose divorce, same sex marriage, abortion. Like the Religious Right but not religious Neoconservatives – “Neocons” – Strong patriotism; aggressive foreign policy
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Republican Factions – Moderates, Liberals, and Others
Libertarians– free market; oppose most taxes/spending; for gay rights, stem cell, abortion Moderates – fiscally conservative (ex: lower taxes, balanced budget) and socially centrist/liberal (ex: pro gay rights, pro abortion rights) (Sometimes called RINOs) Log Cabin Republicans – Gay Republicans – at odds with Religious Right Tea Party –new movement of extreme right; protesting size of govt and taxes; (Sarah Palin)
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Supporters of Democrats
Planned Parenthood NOW (National Organization for Women) ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) NEA – National Education Association (teacher union) Unions Younger Americans NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People)
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Groups Supporting Republicans
NRA (National Rifle Association) Chamber of Commerce Pro-life groups Businesses Military Older Americans
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Current Prominent Democrats
Bernie Sanders (VT Senator) Nancy Pelosi (House Minority Leader) Harry Reid (Senate Minority Leader) Hilary Clinton (2016 candidate) Elizabeth Warren (Secretary of State) Joe Biden (Fromer VP, 2020 candidate?)
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Prominent Republicans (Current)
Mike Pence (VP) Paul Ryan (Speaker of the House) Sarah Palin (Former Gov. Alaska – Tea Party spokesperson) Rush Limbaugh (conservative radio talk show host) Mitch McConnell (Senate Majority Leader)
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2018 Kansas Candidates 4th District Congress Ron Estes (R)
Kris Kobach(R) Governor: James Thompson (D) Laura Kelly (D)
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Kansas Republican Leaders
Jeff Colyer (Governor) Pat Roberts (Senator) Jerry Moran (Senator)
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Possible Candidates for 2016 President?
Republicans Democrats Paul Ryan Marco Rubio Chris Christie Rand Paul Hillary Clinton Joe Biden Elizabeth Warren Andrew Cuomo
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Similarities of Dems/Reps
Both say they want to improve the state of the United States, they just disagree on how. Terrorism Economy Education Etc.
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Red States Vs. Blue States
Red = Republican Blue = Democrat 2000 Presidential Election 2004 Presidential Election 2008 Presidential Election
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2016 Election
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Estimated Registered Voters 2011
Democrats – 31% Republicans – 24% Independents – 42% More Independents leaned toward Republicans Overall (including leaners) – 46% Dem, 39% Rep According to 2017 Gallup Poll
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115th Congress: Senate
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115th Congress: House of Representatives
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Minor Parties Just a few of the many minor parties! Constitution Green
Libertarian Reform Socialist Prohibition Independent Just a few of the many minor parties!
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Libertarian 330,000 registered voters (3rd Largest party)
Received 4.5 million popular votes in 2016 Pres. election (3.27%) Libertarian 1988- Ron Paul Gary Johnson – 2016 Pres. Candidate. Governor New Mexico (R) Bob Barr 2008 Pres. Candidate 330,000 registered voters (3rd Largest party) Fastest growing party Reduce govt. role in economy Reduced taxes Abolition of laws against victimless crimes Foreign policy of free trade and non-interventionism Pro-gun rights Strong civil liberties positions (freedom of speech, sexual freedom) *Overall – reduce government’s role in everything
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Green Party 4th largest party (250,000 registered voters in )
*Environmentalists Nonviolence Social Justice Respect for diversity Jill Stein – 2012 Pres. Candidate (1.4 million votes – 1.07% popular vote Cynthia McKinney
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Constitution Party 5th largest party
Virgil Goode – 2012 Pres. Candidate. Former GOP Congressman (VA) 5th largest party Tries to reflect principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights Stricter on immigration Reduce role of federal government Opposes abortion, pornography & same sex marriage Combined with American Independent Party, which added 370,000 registered voters Darrell Castle – 203,000 votes – 0.1% popular vote Chuck Baldwin
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Chuck Baldwin – KS Reform Candidate
(Founded in 1995 by Ross Perot) Reform Party Jesse Ventura – Gov of MN 1998 Maintaining a balanced budget Campaign Finance Reform Enforcement of existing immigration laws Term limits on Senators and Representatives Direct election of the President by popular vote. Avoid taking stands on social issues (abortion, gay rights) because they are divisive Ted Weill candidate Rocky De La Fuente – 33,000 votes Chuck Baldwin – KS Reform Candidate Frank McEnulty
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Socialist Party Opposed to capitalism and authoritarian communism
Yes, there is a Socialist Party in the U.S.! Opposed to capitalism and authoritarian communism Establish a classless society Production for use instead of profit Mimi Soltysik– Pres. Candidate 2016 – 2700 votes (all write-ins)
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Prohibition Party Wants to prohibit use of beverages containing alcohol Oldest minor party still in existence 1869 Received 643 votes in 2008 Presidential election James Hedges – 5617 votes
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Independent Sometimes referred to someone not Republican nor Democrat
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A Listing of other Presidential Candidates in the 2016 election!
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Importance of minor parties
First developed national conventions Spoiler role – pulls votes away from major party Critic and innovator – take clear cut stands on issues and draw attention to issues major parties ignore
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Websites Republican National Committee - http://www.gop.com/
Official Democratic Party Website - It’s interesting to see what each has to say about the other!
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