1. American Political Parties
REPUBLICANS VS. DEMOCRATS

2. History
Opposing political parties first appeared during the debate over ratifying the Constitution
Federalists vs. Anti-Fed.
Tradition Continues
Platforms have changed
Jefferson (Democrat but Republican today)
Civil Rights Movement
Two party domination continues today
Republicans vs. Democrats

3. Third Party?
American history has seen brief formations of third parties
Populist Party
Progressive Party
Bull Moose Party
None of them have stuck
3rd Parties today
Green Party
U.S. Marijuana Party
Libertarian Party
Tea Party

4. Party Platform
A political party platform is a list of actions which a party supports in order to appeal to a general public for the purpose for having their candidate voted into office
Often deals with controversial topics
Each topic is called a plank
Abortion, Defense spending, etc.

5. So…What’s the difference?
Republican Elephant
Democratic Donkey

6. The Republican Platform (GOP)
Social Conservatives
Laissez-Faire economics
Fiscal Conservatism
Lower taxes for ALL
Personal responsibility over welfare programs
Notable Republicans
Ronald Reagan
George Bush (both)
Dwight Eisenhower
Rush Limbaugh & Glenn Beck (TV/Radio)
Voter Base
Financial Sector, low black vote, high income, military, higher ed. but few professors, older, straight, church goers, South, Midwest, Mountain West.

7. The Democratic Platform
Social Liberalism
Social Democracy
Greater Federal Gov’t Intervention
Progressive Taxation
Different tax rates for different tax brackets
Larger government to serve people’s needs
Notable Democrats
Bill Clinton
Franklin Roosevelt
John F. Kennedy
Keith Olbermann & Rachel Maddow (TV)
Voter Base
Young professionals, academia, organized labor, working class, women, LGBT, Minorities, Northeast, Great Lakes, and West Coast

8. Media Bias
Media has power to set cultural standards and shape political discourse
Media has challenge to be accurate and fair
Determining Bias
Sources?
Diversity?
Who’s point of view?
Double Standards?
Unchallenged Assumptions?
Loaded Language?

9. News Reporter vs. News Commentator
Present the news
Little Bias because they give no opinion
Ex: Walter Cronkite, Local News, Ron Burgandy
News Commentator
Presents news from certain view point
Mixes opinion into coverage
Not necessarily their opinion
May use propaganda (stats and info to influence people to support position)
Entertainers
Ex: Bill O’Reilly,, Keith Olbermann, Rush Limbaugh