America's Next President (Election '16, Part 3)
- Alexandra Feldman
- Jan 24, 2016
- 21 min read
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
You wanna know who it might be, don't you?
Candidates for the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election
This overview does not include those candidates who are currently out of the race and/or have experienced the least publicity. The candidates are organized only by political party. Remember, more candidates might enter the race later on.
Democrats
Martin O'Malley
Bernie Sanders
Hillary Clinton
Republicans
Donald Trump
Chris Christie
Marco Rubio
Ted Cruz
Ben Carson
Jeb Bush
Rick Santorum
Carly Fiorina
Rand Paul
John Kasich
Mike Huckabee
To jump to one of the candidates, use the Find command: if you're on a Mac computer, press [command] + [F], type in one of the candidates' names, and hit [enter]. If you're on a Windows computer, press [control] instead of [command].
I am covering some of each candidate's stances on the following issues:
Society
Environment
Foreign Policy
Education
Healthcare
Economy
Immigration
You could use Find to type in the name of the issue, then jump between candidates to see how their stances might differ.
To read more about a politician's actions and views: ontheissues.org
Reflection questions and activity ideas are near the bottom of this page.
This is a starting-out guide, and it doesn't have to be read from top to bottom. Use it however you want!
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Democrats
Martin O'Malley, Former Governor of Maryland
Credit: Flickr
Martin O'Malley served as mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, from 1999-2007. He focused on the city's crime by implementing a tracking system; the crime rate reportedly decreased. After his time as mayor, O'Malley served as Maryland's governor until 2015. During this time, he pushed for stricter gun laws. His signature legalized gay marriage in Maryland. In 2015, he was selected to be a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University. He's played guitar for an Irish rock band since the 1980s.
Stances
Society: same-sex marriage should be legal; abolish death penalty; stricter background checks for gun control + more use of "smart gun" technology; no gov. restriction on abortion; more funding for stem cell research
Environment: by 2050, adopt 100% clean electric grid; pass more regulations to limit vehicle emissions (Clean Car Act); give more funding to support green building; encourage growth in renewable energy jobs
Foreign Policy: America should accept 65,000 refugees fleeing ISIS; don't allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons; stay out of Syrian no-fly zone
Education: give children who are illegal immigrants access to in-state college tuition; encourage growth of public charter schools; create an income-based plan so all students can repay loans
Healthcare: gov-funded healthcare is the way to go; it should be a right + affordable for all; increase funding for National Institutes of Health
Economy: neither capitalism nor socialism will work alone; we should raise minimum wage to $10 (Maryland was 1st to raise to $10.10); more support for local businesses
Immigration: Support the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act; Maryland has passed its own version which gives in-state college tuition to undocumented students; "our symbol is the Statue of Liberty, not a barbed wire fence"
"Progress is a choice. Job creation is a choice. Whether we give our children a future of more or a future of less - this, too, is a choice." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#J8Z8G8YfBV8O1TTC.99
Sources:
Rodrick, Stephen. "Why Martin O'Malley Could Be the Future of the Democratic Party."
Rolling Stone. N.p., 06 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Martin O`Malley on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Bernie Sanders, Vermont Senator
Credit: Flickr
Bernie Sanders served four terms as mayor of Burlington, Vermont, from 1981-1989. For the next 16 years, he served in the House of Representatives. In 2007, he was elected to the Senate, and reelected in 2012. He is the longest-serving independent in the history of the U.S. Congress, though he caucuses (attends conventions) with the Democrats. He describes himself as a Democratic Socialist. Of all the candidates running, he has had the most experience serving as an elected official.
Stances
Society: same-sex marriage should be legal; expand access to safe, legal abortion, and prevent it by addressing root causes of unwanted pregnancies; more funding for stem cell research; employers should be required to give equal pay for equal work regardless of sex; treat drug addiction "as a disease, not a crime"
Environment: more protection for national parks; increase regulations on greenhouse gas emissions (esp. for businesses); increase funding to develop greener technologies; 25% of America's energy needs should be met by renewables by 2025
Foreign Policy: strongly against the Iraq War; we should not wage war on ISIS; however, focus on ISIS most of all; accept Syrian refugees
Education: make public university free by taxing Wall Street and increasing taxes primarily on the wealthiest 1%; get rid of No Child Left Behind Act (mandates standardized testing) and promote more individualized schooling
Healthcare: move toward single-payer government-funded healthcare to make healthcare affordable for all; expand support for mental illness
Economy: minimum wage should be $15/hr; increase taxes, mainly on the wealthiest, to fund services such as healthcare; break up wealthiest Wall Street firms and largest banks; limit maximum pay for CEOs
Immigration: support DREAM Act and don't ever deport immigrants who are being aided by it; no need for a fence between America and Mexico
"You've got the top 400 Americans owning more wealth than the bottom 150 million Americans. Most folks do not think that is right." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/bernie_sanders.html#Gg8jybZRWrRdR9pB.99
Sources:
"About Bernie." Sen. Bernie Sanders. U.S. Senate, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Bernie Sanders on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Hillary Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of State
Credit: Flickr
From the late 70s to the early 90s, Hillary Clinton was a lawyer in Arkansas, and was named one of the "100 Most Powerful Lawyers in America" by the National Law Journal. She was First Lady when her husband, Bill Clinton, was in presidential office from 1993-2001. She was a senator from 2001-2009, and ran for the presidency in 2007. Barack Obama won. He appointed Clinton as Secretary of State, a position she held from 2009-2013. Some have criticized her for changing her political views depending on the audience.
Stances
Society: don't take away right to abortion, but give more support to foster care + adoption to help lessen abortion; must be equal pay for equal work; let states decide if same-sex marriage is legal; death penalty works; stricter penalties for rape; body cameras on police
Environment: promote hydrogen-fueled vehicles; run on 25% renewables by 2025; create and train for more renewable energy jobs
Foreign Policy: help Latin America's income inequality; accept 65,000 screened Syrian refugees; be tougher on Putin (Russia's president)
Education: we need arts education; we need character education (self-discipline etc); make after-school activities more accessible; make community college free; Common Core works
Healthcare: fight epidemics in other countries; get all American kids health insurance; take "small steps" to reform healthcare
Economy: use bigger % of tax revenue to improve infrastructure (buildings, roads, etc.); more gov regulation of businesses; minimum wage should be $12/hr
Immigration: more support for foreign language speakers; make the path to citizenship easier; build a fence between Mexico and America
"What we have to do... is to find a way to celebrate our diversity and debate our differences without fracturing our communities." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/author/h/hillary_clinton.html#PDr1RmDSLGqHut9C.99
Sources:
Biography.com Editors. "Hillary Clinton Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Hillary Clinton on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
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Republicans
Donald Trump, Real Estate Mogul
Credit: Flickr
Donald Trump grew up in a wealthy household in New York and went into real estate, like his father. He first got involved with the business in 1970s Manhattan, later opening the Grand Hyatt Hotel in 1980 and propelling himself [more] into the public eye. He has developed a variety of projects named after himself. He is also the host of "The Celebrity Apprentice", a reality show. After fact-checking what he's claimed during the runoffs so far, PolitiFact awarded his statements 2015's Lie of the Year. Trump says Politifact is too left-wing to be accurate. Hmm.
Stances
Society: defund Planned Parenthood (family planning); "political correctness is not my problem"; create tougher anti-crime policies; death penalty works; legalize medical marijuana; guns make us safer and we don't need gun control; food stamps/welfare should be temporary, not permanent solution
Environment: "climate change is a hoax"; cut funds on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); we have enough fossil fuels to last for a while
Foreign Policy: increase military budget; get along better with Russia; China is our enemy; threaten the North Korean dictatorship w/ nukes; don't accept Syrian refugees; wage war on ISIS
Education: get rid of teacher unions; drastically cut funds on the Department of Education and Common Core; teach citizenship; create a more comprehensive education
Healthcare: abolish Obamacare; address mental health issues; restrict public assistance for teen moms
Economy: 20% tax on all imports; don't raise the minimum wage, but create more opportunities, especially local jobs
Immigration: increase border security; deport as many illegal immigrants as possible; build wall between Mexico and America; ban Muslims from entering the United States, and keep a database of all Muslim refugees; make legal immigration more difficult
"That's one of the nice things. I mean, part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich. So if I need $600 million, I can put $600 million myself. That's a huge advantage. I must tell you, that's a huge advantage over the other candidates."
Sources:
"Donald Trump's File." Politifact, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Biography.com Editors. "Donald Trump Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Donald Trump on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey
Credit: Flickr
Chris Christie was a freeholder (registered voter who owns local property) on the board for Morris County, NJ, from 1995-1997, and became director of the board in 1997. As the U.S. District Attorney for NJ from 2002-2008, he put much of his attention on battling public corruption. He has been governor of New Jersey since 2010. He is known for his "aggressive" approach in dealing with the state's economic and educational difficulties. NJ's economy has reportedly improved. After Hurricane Sandy tragically struck New Jersey, his administration took on efforts to rescue and rehabilitate victims.
Stances
Society: defund Planned Parenthood; ban abortion after 20 weeks pregnancy; drug addiction is disease, not crime; we need an ID system for gun control; we need to focus on mental health issues to combat gun crime, instead of increasing gun control
Environment: promote initiatives to increase energy efficiency; increase funding to develop greener technologies; less offshore oil drilling
Foreign Policy: replace Russia as a dominant military force in Middle East; arm natives in Middle East before sending our troops; ignore Cuba until they stop protecting fugitives of the law; be ready to send our troops to fight ISIS
Education: reduce college cost, but free college is a ridiculous idea; regrets signing NJ onto Common Core
Healthcare: a federal single-payer system is bad idea, as is Obamacare; all kids should be vaccinated
Economy: promote initiatives to increase energy efficiency (saving money); limit property tax (in NJ, there is a 2% cap); cut taxes on businesses; more small business support; make better-paying jobs instead of raising minimum wage
Immigration: put up electronic wall between Mexico and America, but no mass deportation of illegal immigrants (update technology to track them); don't give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, but give them in-state college tuition
"Higher taxes is the road to ruin. We must and we will shrink our government, and that means making some tough choices, tightening our belts." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#WFVLXqH8htHs0IM5.99
Sources:
"Governor Christie." Office of the Governor. State of New Jersey, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Chris Christie Biography." Childhood, Accomplishments and Timeline. TheFamousPeople, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Chris Christie on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Marco Rubio, Florida Senator
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Marco Rubio grew up in West Miami and is the son of Cuban immigrants who, as he says, "earned their way to the middle class working humble jobs". His path in politics went from being West Miami's city commissioner, to being elected to the FL House of Representatives in 2000, to becoming FL Speaker of the House in 2006. He was elected to the Senate in 2010, serving on committees for Science and Transportation, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Commerce, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations.
Stances
Society: ban abortion after 20 weeks and reduce it as much as possible; same-sex marriage shouldn't be legal; businesses should have the right to discriminate due to religious belief; better enforce laws against sexual trafficking; don't ever legalize recreational marijuana; improve state-funded services for kids with disabilities
Environment: humans have nothing to do with climate change; we don't need to grow our "clean energy" industry; more incentives to use energy-efficient appliances; don't regulate greenhouse gas emissions
Foreign Policy: North Korea is not a legitimate government; the Russian gov is full of liars and trying to recreate Soviet era; we need to promote democracy and topple dictatorships in other countries; we need to give more foreign aid; help Jordan fight ISIS and be ready to send troops if necessary
Education: more focus on vocational education (plumbing, carpentry, etc.); increase foreign language curriculum for elementary schools; more local control of education; Common Core doesn't work
Healthcare: kids' vaccination should be mandatory (with some exceptions); federal single-payer healthcare and Obamacare don't work
Economy: don't raise minimum wage; cut tax on corporations to 25%
Immigration: change from system allowing immigration based on family status, to one based on skills; give undocumented kids in-state college tuition; approach immigration more as a human issue
"People have a right to be a Democrat. People have a right to be wrong. I know they're the same thing." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#KBKhM6CydUOJWE6p.99
Sources:
Rubio, Marco. "About Marco: Biography." Marco Rubio | U.S. Senator for Florida. U.S. Senate, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Marco Rubio on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Ted Cruz, Texas Senator
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Ted Cruz was born in Canada, to a Cuban-immigrant father and American mother, and grew up in Texas. He was an award-winning debater throughout high school and university. After law school, he first worked as an attorney, then served as an advisor for George W. Bush's presidential campaign in 2000. Three years later, he became Texas' solicitor general. In 2012, he was elected to the Senate, where he gave a 21-hour-speech -- filibuster, really -- to persuade his peers to cut Obamacare funding. He was first to announce his candidacy for president.
Stances
Society: defund and criminalize Planned Parenthood; create an anti-same-sex marriage amendment; oppose "unrelenting assault on traditional marriage"; we don't need excessive regulations on guns; guns are "ultimate check against government tyranny"
Environment: no need to protect ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems; don't put too much emphasis on renewable energy; climate change is real, but Cruz is skeptical about "global warming alarmists"
Foreign Policy: we need to bomb ISIS; arm the Kurds to fight ISIS; we need to defend our values abroad (by deploying our troops); in the Crimean conflict, put sanctions (penalties) on Russia and support Eastern Ukraine with weapons
Education: locally-controlled education instead of Common Core; abolish Dept. of Education; support choice of homeschooling, private and charter schools for all
Healthcare: repeal Obamacare; health insurance should be market-based, not federal
Economy: remove Departments of Commerce & Energy; more unemployment benefits can only bring more unemployment and dependency; don't raise minimum wage
Immigration: make our border patrol 3x larger; wall between Mexico and America; don't allow illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, "because it is unfair to legal immigrants"
"When my father came over here penniless with $100 sewn into his underwear, thank God some well-meaning liberal didn't come put his arm around him and say, 'Let me take care of you.'" Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#dJVFGHYXMMq2aV7j.99
Sources:
Biography.com Editors. "Ted Cruz Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Ted Cruz on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Ben Carson, Retired Neurosurgeon
Credit: Flickr
Ben Carson grew up in poverty, found his way into a top tier school, and in his 30s, became America's youngest chief of pediatric neurosurgery. After successfully separating conjoined twins, he attracted a lot of publicity. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor for his medical accomplishments. Since retiring, he has used his fame -- and the appeal of his life story -- to share his conservative views, often rooted in religious belief.
Stances
Society: ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy; same-sex marriage shouldn't be legal; all police should wear body cameras; intensify war on drugs (crack down more on drug offenses, e.g. marijuana); reduce blood alcohol limit to .02; an immoral lifestyle is leading to our decline; only limit on guns should be in cases of insanity
Environment: climate change is irrelevant; we need to tap more local petroleum resources (offshore and Alaskan); it is logical to protect the environment
Foreign Policy: don't go to war with Russia over Ukraine; our poverty pales in comparison to that in India and Africa, and we need to do more to help them; do more to counter Chinese cyber attacks; "confront radical violent elements of all religions"
Education: "private schooling is better than Common Core public schooling"; creationism should be taught alongside evolution; emphasize math; teach "values"
Healthcare: "ObamaCare is the worst thing since slavery"; vaccines should be mandated
Economy: cut every federal agency's spending by 10%; we need a free market and better bank regulation
Immigration: don't give illegal immigrants path to citizenship; many immigrants are criminals; create a guest worker program instead of deporting skilled immigrants
"I'm not a politician. I don't want to be a politician, because politicians do what is politically expedient. I want to do what's right." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#hu3PSgzdfZm4Ufma.99
Sources:
Terris, Ben, and Stephanie Kirchner. "The Story of the Surgery That Made Ben Carson Famous." Style. The Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Ben Carson on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Jeb Bush, Former Florida Governor
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
If Jeb Bush won, he would be the third American president from his family. In high school, he taught English in Mexico through an exchange program. In the 1980s, he worked as a real estate developer, then moved through political rankings until he became Florida's governor in 1998. He served until 2007. Since leaving office, he has been outspoken about his political views, and, of course, decided to run for president.
Stances
Society: abortion is fine when the mother's life is at risk, but not health; don't give funds to stem cell research; businesses should be able to deny service based on religious belief (e.g. not serve gay people); death penalty needs reform; build more prisons and give longer sentences; don't legalize medical marijuana; current poverty programs don't work
Environment: "I'm a skeptic about global warming"; set goal of 25% reliance on renewable energy by 2025; more offshore oil drilling; limit environmental restrictions
Foreign Policy: send more troops to Syria and Russia; give more aid to developing countries; support America-China economic cooperation; arm the Kurds to fight ISIS; increase defense spending
Education: "class size reduction does not improve student achievement"; Common Core works, but allow opt-out if states make their own standards; emphasize STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math); we need to close the minority achievement gap; allow creationism to be taught in science class; cut funds on Dept of Education
Healthcare: vaccines should be mandatory for kids; Obamacare doesn't work
Economy: free market is the way to go; minimum wage should be decided by states, not federal gov; give more money to religious groups
Immigration: put military on both sides of border between Mexico and America, plus a wall; be more compassionate in dealing with illegal immigration, but strictly enforce laws
"The GOP should be the GSP: the Grand Solutions Party. It should be about solutions, not talking points." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#TEKoEB1eDEqHRdPz.99
Sources:
Biography.com Editors. "Jeb Bush Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Jeb Bush on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Rick Santorum, Former Pennsylvania Senator
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Rick Santorum is a lifelong Republican. He started out as a lawyer and was elected to the House of Representitives in 1990. He became known for his criticism of perceived corruption in the House, his aggressive, confrontational style, and his fiercely traditional views on social issues. From 1994-2006, he served in the Senate. After that, he continued working as a lawyer, and regularly appeared on Fox News. In 2012, he ran for president, losing the Republican nomination to Mitt Romney.
Stances
Society: same-sex marriage and abortion should both be banned; businesses should have right to deny service to gays; "diversity is a challenge, not necessarily a virtue"; marijuana should never be legalized, including medical type; less separation of church and state, especially in school; loosen background checks for guns; Patriot Act did not cause invasion of privacy
Environment: nothing we do can affect global warming; defund renewable energy; build more roads in the middle of forests
Foreign Policy: strengthen embargo (ban on trade with U.S.) in Cuba; enlarge NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to include Eastern Europe; never cut defense spending
Education: "common sense instead of Common Core"; get rid of Department of Education; creationism should be taught on equal grounds as evolution
Healthcare: ObamaCare is "biggest threat facing the American Dream" and "will crush economic freedom"
Economy: America needs to be #1 in manufacturing and more competitive than China; remove all Obama regulations in process (in all categories)
Immigration: reduce legal immigration by 25%; veto the DREAM Act; make English our official language; build a fence between Mexico and America; keep out unskilled illegal immigrants
"I'm always told that what I say is controversial. Why is it controversial? Because I speak from a tradition that has now fallen out of favor with the dominant media in this country. And so when I say things like marriage should be between one man and one woman, I'm called a bigot." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#Aof6XQk7AQcrQPlc.99
Sources:
Biography.com Editors. "Rick Santorum Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Rick Santorum on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Carly Fiorina, Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard
Credit: Flickr
After Carly Fiorina dropped out of law school, she moved up the corporate ladder in the network communications field, and in 1999 became the CEO of Hewlett-Packard (HP), making her the first female CEO of a Fortune 100 company. Though she was named the most powerful woman in the business world, her accomplishments have since been criticized, or seen as overstated, by some. In 2005, she resigned from HP over a dispute. She is outspoken about her views on technology, leadership, and women in business. In 2010, she lost her run for California's Congress.
Stances
Society: defund Planned Parenthood; overturn Roe v. Wade; women and men should be paid the same for equal work; no same-sex marriage, but allow civil unions; leave marijuana laws to the states; don't restrict the right to bear arms
Environment: EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) thinks that "a fish is more important than thousands of jobs", so weaken EPA; environmental regulations will destroy jobs/industries; we can't act alone on global warming; pass the Keystone Pipeline
Foreign Policy: arm Kurds, Emiratis, and others, to fight ISIS; we need to send our troops to fight ISIS; China needs to isolate North Korea's dictator, Kin Jung Un; no need to fix Guantanamo Bay (military prison); put sanctions on Iran
Education: less federally and more locally controlled education
Healthcare: invest in drug rehabilitation; repeal Obamacare
Economy: more support for small businesses; simplify the tax code and close loopholes; never increase taxes; post federal budgets on the Internet for public commentary
Immigration: DREAM Act needs to stay; make path to legal immigration, but not full citizenship
"2016 is going to be a fight. A fight between conservatism and a Democrat Party that is undermining the very character of our nation." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#H3f120BeBShAbflS.99
Sources:
Biography.com Editors. "Carly Fiorina Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Carly Fiorina on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Rand Paul, Kentucky Senator
Credit: Flickr
Rand Paul is the son of Ron Paul, a U.S. Representative who ran for president in 2008. He first worked as an opthalmologist. When his father ran for president in 2008, Rand Paul campaigned for him, taking on similar political views. Once elected to the Senate in 2010, he became the first senator to serve alongside a parent in Congress. In 2014, he sued Obama and other government officials in 2014, over the National Security Agency's (NSA's) ability to track metadata (basic information) about phone calls. Rand Paul is very vocal about his desire for limited government.
Stances
Society: allow insurance companies to refuse to cover birth control "for moral reasons"; defund Planned Parenthood, and fund community health centers instead; same-sex marriage is offensive, but leave it up for states to decide; make federal benefits equal for same-sex couples; feminism is no longer needed in our country; give non-violent felons the right to vote; substance abuse is a disease, not a crime; don't over-criminalize marijuana, but don't promote it; never limit right to gun ownership
Environment: repeal energy regulations; don't subsidize solar companies; don't let EPA regulate pollution; don't protect ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems; environmental safety needs to be balanced with businesses' needs
Foreign Policy: aid children of Guatemala; stay out of the Middle East; boycott countries where women are treated as inferior; aim to eliminate all foreign aid and focus on our own country; lift the embargo on Cuba; Israel is an important ally
Education: Common Core doesn't work; abolish the Dept. of Education and fund other programs (in all categories) instead
Healthcare: vaccines should be encouraged, with exceptions "for religious reasons"; Obamacare is unconstitutional; federally-funded healthcare doesn't work
Economy: don't increase tax on the rich, because "it makes the poor lose their jobs"; lower taxes; trade with China improves our economy; cut Social Security benefits
Immigration: secure Mexican-American border and remove sanctuary cities; allow skilled immigrants to get work visas, but remove pathway to citizenship
"I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat, there is something profoundly un-American about using the brute force of government to bully someone." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#jlECokxG0cgoyFtB.99
Sources:
Biography.com Editors. "Rand Paul Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Rand Paul on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
John Kasich, Governor of Ohio
Credit: Flickr
From 1979 to 1983, John Kasich served in Ohio's Senate (at the time, the youngest Ohio senator ever). He then served as a U.S. Representative until 2000, when he unsuccessfully ran for president. From 2001 to 2007, he was a regular contributer to Fox News, even hosting his own program. He was elected governor of Ohio in 2010. He is known for his somewhat moderate philosophy, which has brought mixed feedback from fellow Republicans.
Stances
Society: defund Planned Parenthood; "I support traditional marriage, but it's time to move on [and support same-sex marriage ruling]"; end all racial profiling; death penalty works; build more prisons; never legalize marijuana; separating church and state is "goofy"
Environment: balance use of green and nonrenewable energy; climate change is an issue, but "extent unproven"; "we should not worship environment"
Foreign Policy: don't take any more Syrian refugees; send troops to fight ISIS; stop sending economic aid to Russia; cut diplomatic relations with Cuba and Vietnam
Education: "I like the ideas in Common Core, but not the program"; "Bible stories are historical facts" and should be taught; teach character values; our public school system is "beyond fixing" and we need to focus on charter, private schools, etc.
Healthcare: says Obamacare doesn't work, but some public programs do; expand healthcare for veterans
Economy: Wall Street is vital to our nation, but can be greedy; convert prisoners to taxpayers; let states decide minimum wage; don't allow strikes for public employees
Immigration: it's silly to deport all illegal immigrants; we need to "keep families together"; seal the American-Mexican border; support guest workers + legal immigrants
"My elections are really not about campaigns. I tell my people that these are about a movement. And a movement to do what? To restore common sense. A movement to do things like provide economic growth. And a movement not to let anybody be behind." Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/search_results.html#Yc9WOHrlCiMWew55.99
Sources:
"John Kasich." Ballotpedia, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"John Kasich on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
Mike Huckabee, Former Governor of Arkansas
Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Mike Huckabee gave his first church sermon as a teen, and was the first in his family to graduate from high school. The issues of the 1960s -- like the Vietnam War -- provoked him to go into public service. In 1989, he became head of Arkansas' Baptist State Convention, then unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate. In 1998, he was elected governor of Arkansas. He ran for president in 2008, losing the Republican nomination to John McCain. Since then, he has been a talk show host on Fox News.
Stances
Society: outlaw abortions nationwide; death penalty works; overturn Supreme Court's legalization of same-sex marriage; "don't force children to accept transgender choice by others"; stop "criminalization of Christianity"; end racial profiling; "purpose of marriage is loving relationship, not happiness"; don't make it harder to buy guns
Environment: climate change predictions are inaccurate, so address bigger issues instead; "the earth is the Lord’s, and we are merely its caretakers"; explore nuclear power
Foreign Policy: export our energy to weaken Iran and Russia; keep the Cuban embargo; it is not our role to do anything about democracy in Afghanistan; all Muslim nations must fight ISIS - those that don't, must be sanctioned; support Israel, but respect Palestine; increase military and CIA spending to fight terrorism; "Guantanamo prisoners are treated very well"
Education: Common Core doesn't work; focus on "music AND math" to make a well-rounded education (more science and more arts); teach creationism alongside evolution; teach character values; raise teacher salaries
Healthcare: focus on curing four biggest chronic diseases (Alzheimer's, cancer, heart disease and diabetes); insurance should reward for avoiding tobacco, alcohol, and obesity; "we don’t have a health-care system but a disease-care system"
Economy: Wall Street executives should have been jailed during the recession; support small businesses, and limit regulations on them; we need free AND fair trade
Immigration: don't take in Syrian refugees -- take care of unemployed Americans instead; allow scholarships for illegal immigrants' children; "illegal immigrants must go home and start over"
"If the Democrats want to insult women by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it."
Sources:
Biography.com Editors. "Mike Huckabee Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
"Mike Huckabee on the Issues." On the Issues. The SpeakOut Foundation, n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2016.
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Reflection
This year, there are many more Republicans running than Democrats. Why do you think this is the case?
What differences do you notice between the Republicans and Democrats? Are they always obvious?
Which candidate’s views most resemble your own? Least? Is that what you expected?
Do you think you would vote differently if you had limited information about the candidates?
Do you think something can be considered "controversial" in politics, but "matter-of-fact" in another field, like business or science?
Spend a whole day pretending to be a candidate. (Maybe not a whole day...)
What would happen if we got rid of the Department of Education, or stopped regulating greenhouse gas emissions, or accepted a bunch of refugees, or...?
What would you do if you were president?
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This article is part of a three-post series. Here's Part 1 (Election Day) and Part 2 (political parties).
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Related Social Studies Standards
SS.7.C.2.2
Evaluate the obligations citizens have to obey laws, pay taxes, defend the nation, and serve on juries.
SS.7.C.2.4
Evaluate rights contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.2.5
Distinguish how the Constitution safeguards and limits individual rights.
SS.7.C.3.6
Evaluate Constitutional rights and their impact on individuals and society.
SS.7.C.3.12
Analyze the significance and outcomes of landmark Supreme Court cases including, but not limited to, Marbury v. Madison, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. the Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, Miranda v. Arizona, in re Gault, Tinker v. Des Moines, Hazelwood v. Kulmeier, United States v. Nixon, and Bush v. Gore.
SS.7.C.2.8
Identify America`s current political parties, and illustrate their ideas about government.
SS.7.C.2.9
Evaluate candidates for political office by analyzing their qualifications, experience, issue‐based platforms, debates, and political ads.
SS.7.C.2.10
Examine the impact of media, individuals, and interest groups on monitoring and influencing government.
SS.7.C.2.11
Analyze media and political communications (bias, symbolism, propaganda).
SS.7.C.2.12
Develop a plan to resolve a state or local problem by researching public policy alternatives, identifying appropriate government agencies to address the issue, and determining a course of action.
SS.7.C.2.13
Examine multiple perspectives on public and current issues.
SS.7.C.4.1
Differentiate concepts related to United States domestic and foreign policy.
SS.7.C.4.2
Recognize government and citizen participation in international organizations.
SS.7.C.4.3
Describe examples of how the United States has dealt with international conflicts.
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