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Lindsey Graham exits race; Bobby Jindal exits race: Dec. 21, 2015
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13 major candidates remaining in GOP field
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham bowed out of the presidential race after failing to attract any significant support,
despite his passionate commitment to pushing a hawkish foreign policy agenda.
"I was hoping not to have to make this call, but I think the time has come for me to suspend my campaign," he said.
--Politico.com, December 21
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Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced he was ending his campaign for president. "This is not my time," Jindal said.
"So I've come here to announce that I am suspending my campaign for president of the United States."
--CNN, November 17
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Sources: OnTheIssues archives; CNN (Nov.17); Politico.com (Dec. 21).
Click for more excerpts from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) or Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA).
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Third Democratic primary debate: Dec. 19, 2015
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At Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire
Sources: OnTheIssues archives
Click for more excerpts from Third Democratic primary debate.
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CNN/Salem Republican primary debate: Dec. 15, 2015
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Fifth debate of the Republican primary season: in Las Vegas
The CNN/Salem Republican presidential primary debate took place on Dec. 15, 2015, as usual with "two tiers".
Shortly after this debate, Sen. Lindsey Graham dropped out of the race, pending the deadline for withdrawal in his home state of South Carolina
(in other words, he chose not to risk a bad showing on his home turf; Graham has been in the second tier of all debates so far).
Some excerpts from this debate:
Sources: Fox Business Two-Tier 2015 GOP primary debate
Click for more excerpts from the Fox Business/Wall Street Journal debate.
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John Bel Edwards wins governor's race: Nov. 22, 2015
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Sen. David Vitter loses, and withdraws from 2016 Senate race
John Bel Edwards (D) won the runoff election for Louisiana Governor.
Louisiana is generally considered a "red state" but the Democrat won handily.
Senator David Vitter lost the runoff election, and as a result, announced his retirement from the U.S. Senate (he is up for re-electcion in Nov. 2016).
Louisiana has a "runoff election" of the best two finishers from the "jungle primary" (non-partisan vote), which took place in October.
Sources: OnTheIssues archives
Click for more excerpts from Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards.
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Second Democratic primary debate: Nov. 14, 2015
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Three major candidates remain
Sources: OnTheIssues archives
Click for more excerpts from Second Democratic primary debate.
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Fox Business/WSJ Republican primary debate: Nov. 10, 2015
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Fourth debate of the Republican primary season
The Fox Business/Wall Street Journal Republican presidential primary debate took place on Nov. 10, 2015, as usual with "two tiers".
The ongoing debates have become television successes: this debate garnered 13.5 million viewers on a TV station that averages 100,000 viewers er day.
Even for the second-tier segment, 4.7 million viewers tuned in. Previous debates have set even higher records on more mainstream TV stations.
Some excerpts from this debate:
Sources: Fox Business Two-Tier 2015 GOP primary debate
Click for more excerpts from the Fox Business/Wall Street Journal debate.
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Gubernatorial election results: Nov. 3, 2015
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Republicans win governor's seat in Mississippi and Kentucky
Two states elected governors on Tuesday: Mississippi and Kentucky; results below. One state, Louisiana, still has a gubernatorial election pending in 2015.
Sources: OnTheIssues Archives
Click for excerpts from the pending gubernatorial election in Louisiana.
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Two Democrats drop out: Sept. 2 & Oct. 23, 2015
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Gov. Lincoln Chafee out; Prof. Larry Lessig out
Former Governor Lincoln Chafee withdrew his candidacy after a poor performance in the previous Democratic debate.
Harvard Prof. Larry Lessig withdrew his candidacy after being barred from the next Democratic debate.
Sources: OnTheIssues archives
Click for more excerpts from Linc Chafee and Larry Lessig.
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John Boehner exits; Paul Ryan sworn in: Oct. 29, 2015
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New Speaker of the House was former Vice Presidential nominee
Speaker John Boehner left Congress effective today.
After much negotiating that Rep. Kevin McCarthy would take over, with Ryan's endorsement, McCarthy withdrew from the race and Ryan got the nod.
As new Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan was sworn in on Oct. 29, 2015.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the Speaker of the House is 3rd in line for the presidency (after Vice President Joe Biden).
Sources: OnTheIssues archives.
Click for more excerpts from Speaker Paul Ryan or Speaker John Boehner.
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CNBC Republican primary debate: Oct. 28, 2015
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Third debate of the primary season
The CNBC Republican "Your Money/Your Vote" presidential primary debate on Oct. 28, 2015 at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
The issue that emerged in this debate was the bias of the moderators in asking poorly-considered "gotcha" questions and overriding candidate answers.
The candidate campaigns met after this debate to re-define the rules for the future debates,
and the Republican National Committee broke its contract with CNBC for another debate in early 2016.
Sources: CNBC Two-Tier 2015 GOP primary debate
Click for more excerpts from the CNBC University of Colorado debate.
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Hillary Clinton testifies on Benghazi: Oct. 23, 2015
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House Select Committee on Benghazi questions Clinton for 11 hours
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before Congress about the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, which took place on Sept. 11, 2012.
We summarize two historical fact lists below:
History of attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities during George W. Bush's presidency:
Governor Jeb_Bush claimed that Benghazi was "the first deadly assault on a U.S. diplomat since 1979."
Most Republicans would accept that as fact, so we fact-checked and found...
- 1/22/2002. U.S. Consulate in Calcutta, India: 5 killed.
- 6/14/2002. U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan: 12 killed.
- 2/28/2003. U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan: 2 killed.
- 5/12/2003. U.S. Compound in Riyadh, Arabia: 36 killed (9 Americans).
- 7/30/2004. U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan: 2 killed.
- 12/6/2004. U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 9 killed.
- 3/2/2006. U.S. Consulate Karachi, Pakistan (again): 4 killed (one Diplomat).
- 9/12/2006. U.S. Embassy in Damascus, Syria: 4 killed.
- 3/18/2008. U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen: 2 killed.
- 7/9/2008. U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey: 6 killed.
- 9/17/2008. U.S. Embassy Sana’a, Yemen (again): 16 killed.
- We exclude attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq because they would overwhelm this list.
| History of Benghazi investigations:
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy claimed "Many questions remain unanswered" about Benghazi.
During the Benghazi hearings, Democratic members responded that questions had been answered at 21 previous hearings on Benghazi, which cost an estimated $20 million so far.
A partial list of Benghazi investigations:
- State Department Accountability Review Board report on December 20, 2012
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs report on December 31, 2012
- Five House Committees joint interim report on April 23, 2013 (interim report by Republicans only)
- FBI report on May 2, 2013 (investigation still ongoing)
- U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on January 15, 2014
- U.S. House Select Committee on Benghazi: three hearings and 29 witnesses since its creation on May 8, 2014 (interim progress report released on May 8, 2015)
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Sources: OnTheIssues archives
Click for more excerpts from Hillary Clinton.
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Webb drops out; Biden opts out: Oct. 20 & Oct. 21, 2015
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Hillary Clinton left with large lead against Bernie Sanders
Former Sen. Jim Webb withdrew from the presidential race, leaving open the option of running as an independent.
We summarize his book and debate pages below.
Vice President Joe Biden announced he would not enter the presidential race, ending months of speculation.
We summarize his book and debate pages below, too.
Sources: OnTheIssues archives
Click for more excerpts from Jim Webb and Joe Biden.
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First Democratic presidential primary debate: Oct. 13, 2015
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Five candidates meet in Las Vegas
An empty podium was made available for Vice President Joe Biden, if he chose to enter the race and attend the debate.
As a result of this debate, Jim Webb is considering switching to an Independent instead of a Democrat.
Sources: CNN 2015 Democratic primary debate
Click for more excerpts and analysis from the CNN Las Vegas debate.
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John Boehner (R-OH) resigns: Sept. 25, 2015
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Speaker of the House will leave Congress
Fond of saying “I’m a regular guy with a big job,” Speaker Boehner struggled almost from the moment he became speaker in 2011 to manage the challenges of divided government while holding together his fractious and increasingly conservative Republican members.
The tension has spilled over into the race for the Republican presidential nomination, in which several candidates have openly derided Republican leaders in Congress like Mr. Boehner.
Most recently, Mr. Boehner was trying to devise a solution to keep the government open through the rest of the year, but was under pressure from conservatives who told him that they would not vote for a bill that provided funding for Planned Parenthood.
The leading candidate to replace Mr. Boehner is Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the majority leader, who is viewed more favorably by the House’s more conservative members both for his willingness to bend to their will and for his cheerful manner.
OnTheIssues analysis:
- The pundits have focused on two aspects of Boehner's resignation:
- He arranged for Pope Francis to address Congress, considering it the culmination of his career, and took to heart the Pope's criticism.
- He wants to avoid the federal government shutdown coming next Thursday, Oct. 1, and his resignation makes a short-term deal more likely.
- OnTheIssues focuses on the disservice to Boehner's constituents, who elected him to serve out a full two years. His resignation will leave them without constituent services.
- The people of Ohio will now have to fund a special election for his replacement; such special elections cost millions of dollars.
Sources: OnTheissues archives and New York Times.
Click for John Boehner stances on the issues.
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Scott Walker (R-WI) withdraws presidential candidacy: Sept. 21, 2015
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Withdrawals leaves 15 major entrants on GOP side
Scott Walker has withdrawn his candidacy after falling in the polls after the second GOP debate.
Walker's super-PAC, Unintimidated PAC, had more than $20 million, placing him in the top echelon of GOP candidates in terms of financial backing.
The bulk of the money, $13.4 million, came from just four people.
Sources: OnTheissues archives and Mother Jones magazine (Sept. 21).
Click for Scott Walker (R,WI) stances on the issues.
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CNN Republican primary debate: Sept. 16, 2015
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Second debate of the primary season
Sixteen candidates took part in the CNN Republican primary debate -- as with the first debate, the field was split into two tiers.
OnTheIssues covers the two tiers of the debate equally -- excerpting candidates' remarks from both segments below.
Click on each candidate's name to see that candidate's full set of debate excerpts;
or click on an issue topic to see all of the candidates' views on that one topic.
Sources: CNN Two-Tier 2015 GOP primary debate
Click for more excerpts from the CNN Reagan Library debate.
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Rick Perry (R-TX) withdraws presidential candidacy: Sept. 11, 2015
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Withdrawals leaves 16 major entrants on GOP side
Rick Perry has withdrawn his candidacy after failing to gain traction in the GOP primary race. Related OnTheIssues links:
- Perry's 2010 memoir Fed Up!
- Perry's 2008 policy book On My Honor
- OnTheIssues' 2012 election book Perry vs. Romney On The Issues
- Mark Cuban still considering whether to run or not on Republican side.
- Joe_Biden still considering whether to run or not on Democratic side.
- Lawrence Lessig announces presidential campaign on Democratic side.
Sources: OnTheissues archives and our book Fed Up!.
Click for Rick Perry (R,TX) stances on the issues.
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Fox News/Facebook Republican primary debate: Aug. 6, 2015
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First debate of the primary season
Seventeen candidates took part in the Fox News/Facebook Republican primary debate -- so large a field that it was split into two tiers.
OnTheIssues covers the two tiers of the debate equally -- excerpting candidates' remarks from both segments below.
Click on each candidate's name to see that candidate's full set of debate excerpts;
or click on an issue topic to see all of the candidates' views on that one topic.
Sources: Fox News/Facebook Two-Tier 2015 GOP primary debate
Click for more excerpts from the Fox/Facebook debate.
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John Kasich (R-OH) and Jim Gilmore (R-VA) announce presidential candidacies: July 21 & July 30, 2015
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Governors of Ohio and Virginia are the last major entrants on GOP side
These two governors are the "last" major entrants in the GOP primaries because the first Republican primary debate will occur next week -- even though these two governors will not likely make the "top ten" cut for this first debate, the timing indicates that "announcement season" has ended and "debate season" has begun.
OnTheIssues will cover each GOP debate as it occurs -- including the comments made by candidates who did not make the cut for any particular debate -- and we will report summaries here.
| John Kasich's issues stances |
Jim Gilmore's issues stances |
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Kasich on Domestic Issues
- Crime policy: It's God's job to judge if punishment fits the crime
- Gun Rights: More parenting better than more gun laws
- School policy: Not enough money for public schools? Aw, give me a break!
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Gilmore on Domestic Issues
- Crime policy: Three strikes eligibility no grounds for stay of execution
- Gun Rights: Supporter of 2nd Amendment rights; Americans can be trusted
- School policy: Expand Algebra Readiness Initiative; hire more teachers
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Kasich on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: Raise severance tax on oil & gas from 20 cents upward
- Entitlement Reform: Matthew 25 commands us to aid the less fortunate
- Federal bailouts: Against ethanol subsidies, and all subsidies
- Free Trade: Voted YES on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements
- Tax policy: Eliminated the Ohio estate tax but hiked cigarette taxes
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Gilmore on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: Favors drilling ANWR and also drilling offshore
- Entitlement Reform: Maintain flexibility & funding levels for TANF block grants
- Federal bailouts: More banking oversight, even if it means bigger government
- Free Trade: Enforce trade law against subsidized Canadian lumber imports
- Tax policy: Signature achievement: effort to eliminate Virginia car tax
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Kasich on Social Issues
- ObamaCare: Accepted ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion statewide
- Abortion: Pro-life except rape & incest; supports litmus test
- Same-sex Marriage: Supports Amendment to prevent same sex marriage
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Gilmore on Social Issues
- ObamaCare: No federal pre-emption of employee health plan regulation
- Abortion: Abortion before 8 weeks not OK, but shouldn’t be prohibited
- Same-sex Marriage: Rated “F” by National Review on pro-gay issues
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Kasich on International Issues
- Homeland Security: Fire professor who said 9-11 victims brought on attack
- GWOT: Congressional debate before sending in ground troops
- Immigration Policy: Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers
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Gilmore on International Issues
- Homeland Security: Fighting terrorism too important for partisan politics
- GWOT: Fight war on terror like Cold War: on moral high ground
- Immigration Policy: No amnesty for illegals; control the border
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Sources: OnTheissues archives and John Kasich's memoir Stand For Something.
Click for John Kasich (R,OH) and Jim Gilmore (R,VA) stances on the issues.
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Scott Walker (R-WI) announces presidential candidacy: July 13, 2015
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Governor of Wisconsin is 17th major entrant on GOP side
Scott Walker enters the race as a frontrunner for the Tea Party faction.
We had so much feedback from our Gov. Christie analysis (June 30 below) that we will do the same for Gov. Walker: differentiating how his stances compared to other candidates from other GOP factions:
| Scott Walker's issues stances |
Other factions' candidate's issues stances |
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Walker on Domestic Issues
- Crime policy: Pass "castle doctrine": defend home with deadly force
- Gun Rights: Allow concealed carry as part of right to bear arms
- School policy: Choose schools based on objective info, not Common Core
- Voting reform: Prevent voter fraud: require voter ID at poll
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on Domestic Issues
- Crime policy: On "Stand Your Ground": Turn down the rhetoric (Ben Carson, populist faction)
- Gun Rights: For assault weapon ban, waiting period, & background check (Donald Trump, populist faction)
- School policy: Common Core is not a federal takeover (Jeb Bush, moderate centrist faction)
- Voting reform: Supports early voting; but voter ID also ok (Rand Paul, libertarian faction)
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Walker on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: Keep ethanol mandate until oil companies allow free market
- Entitlement Reform: Able-bodied must work or train to get food stamps
- Federal bailouts: Refused to participate in federal stimulus package
- Free Trade: Global opportunity: Get WI products out to the world
- Tax policy: Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: Let the market decide on ethanol in gasoline; end mandate (Jeb Bush, moderate centrist faction)
- Entitlement Reform: Shift federal social programs to church, family, & community (Mike Huckabee, religious right faction)
- Federal bailouts: Bank bailouts were needed to avoid financial unraveling (Jeb Bush, moderate centrist faction)
- Free Trade: 20% tax on all imported goods (Donald Trump, populist faction)
- Tax policy: No pledge on taxes; trade-offs on taxes means leadership (Jeb Bush, moderate centrist faction)
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Walker on Social Issues
- ObamaCare: No Medicaid expansion means no waiting list for poor
- Abortion: I'm proudly pro-life, but focus on fiscal issues
- Same-sex Marriage: 2013: same-sex marriage issue over; 2015: issue not settled
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on Social Issues
- ObamaCare: Expand Medicare, but no N.J. ObamaCare exchange (Chris Christie, moderate centrist faction)
- Abortion: I am actively PRO-LIFE not just quietly pro-life (Mike Huckabee, religious right faction)
- Same-sex Marriage: Gay marriage is settled in NJ, but keep debating nationally (Chris Christie, moderate centrist faction)
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Walker on International Issues
- Homeland Security: Terrorists are cowards who are afraid of freedom
- ISIS: US troops should fight ISIS alongside Kurds and Sunnis
- Immigration Policy: 2013: Comprehensive reform; 2015: no, that's amnesty
- PATRIOT Act: Ensure against radical Islamic terrorism on American soil
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on International Issues
- Homeland Security: We can't isolate ourselves within our shores; we must engage (Rick Perry, moderate centrist faction)
- ISIS: No US troops in Iraq, even against ISIS (Rand Paul, libertarian faction)
- Immigration Policy: Pray for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, not AZ law (Jeb Bush, moderate centrist faction)
- PATRIOT Act: The Patriot Act is intrusive; it's what the Founders feared (Rand Paul, libertarian faction)
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To summarize the definition of the GOP factions used above, which the pundits routinely talk about (keep in mind that candidates all want to appeal to more than one faction, and that factions overlap):
- Populist faction: Populists focus on enforcing morality as well as economic policy.
- Moderate centrist faction: Focused on working with Democrats to accomplish bipartisan goals.
- Religious right faction: Focused on morality and values (most prominently on social issues, but also on economic issues).
- Libertarian faction: Focused on freedom, and reduction of federal government power, including military power (this GOP faction is also represented by the Libertarian Party).
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Sources: OnTheissues archives and Walker's memoir Unintimidated.
Click for Scott Walker (R,WI) stances on the issues.
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Jim Webb (D-VA) announces presidential candidacy: July 2, 2015
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Former Virginia Senator is 5th major entrant on Democratic side
Jim Webb will run as a representative of the "moderate centrist faction", and perhaps as a southern "Blue Dog Democrat," so we will differentiate what that means compared to other candidates in other factions of the left:
| Jim Webb's issues stances |
Other Democratic factions' candidate's issues stances |
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Webb on Domestic Issues
- Campaign finance: Culture of corruption in Washington needs real reform
- Crime policy: Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance
- Gun Rights: Voted YES on allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains
- School policy: Public education levels the playing field
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Other candidates from other factions on the left, on Domestic Issues
- Campaign finance: Campaign reform in 1980s made more problems than it solved (Joe Biden, liberal establishment faction)
- Crime policy: Longtime advocate of death penalty, with restrictions (Hillary Clinton, DLC faction)
- Gun Rights: Gun at home more likely to cause injury than to defend home (Jill Stein, Green Party faction)
- School policy: Supports vouchers & charters, plus more public funding (Lincoln Chafee, progressive faction)
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Webb on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: Support alternative sources instead of drilling ANWR
- Free Trade: Enforce existing trade laws to create fair trade
- Welfare Reform: Voted YES on instituting National Service as a new social invention
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Other candidates from other factions on the left, on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: (All Democratic & liberal factions agree on supporting alternative energy sources to fight global warming)
- Free Trade: Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) creates more & better growth (Hillary Clinton, DLC faction)
- Welfare Reform: Partner with faith based community in empowerment zones (Hillary Clinton, DLC faction)
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Webb on Social Issues
- Abortion: Supports Roe v. Wade and abortion rights
- ObamaCare: Focus on health access, not on corporate profits
- Same-sex Marriage: Evolution on gay marriage has been good for the country
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Other candidates from other factions on the left, on Social Issues
- Abortion: (All Democratic & liberal factions agree on supporting reproductive rights for women)
- ObamaCare: Make health care a right, not a privilege (Bernie Sanders, progressive faction)
- Same-sex Marriage: (All Democratic & liberal factions agree on supporting same-sex marriage)
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Webb on International Issues
- Iran: Iran cooperated with US in Afghanistan, until “Axis of Evil”
- Foreign Policy: Focus on strategic threats like China, not Iraq
- Immigration Policy: Tamper-proof ID card; stricter enforcement against employers
- PATRIOT Act: Republicans are illegally wiretapping Americans
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Other candidates from other factions on the left, on International Issues
- Iran: (All Democratic & liberal factions agree on negotiating with and trying to understand Iran)
- Foreign Policy: (All Democratic & liberal factions agree on staying out of further intervention in Iraq)
- Immigration Policy: Pass the DREAM Act (allow illegal immigrant minors to stay) (Martin O`Malley, liberal establishment faction)
- PATRIOT Act: (All Democratic & liberal factions agree on reducing the powers of the PATRIOT Act)
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To summarize the definition of the factions on the left used above, which the pundits routinely talk about (keep in mind that candidates all want to appeal to more than one faction, and that factions overlap):
- Moderate centrist faction: Focused on working with Republicans to accomplish bipartisan goals.
- DLC (Democratic Leadership Council) faction: Bill Clinton called this the "Third Way;" critics call it "Republican Lite"
- Liberal establishment faction: Focused on economic issues (de-emphasizing most social issues).
- Blue Dog faction: Traditionally Southern conservatives, focused on issues of populist morality and military strength.
- Progressive faction: Focused on restricting power centers, for both wealthy individuals and corporations, or large governmental institutions like the military.
- Green Party: Anti-establishment and anti-bipartisanism (often agree with Democrats on policy but not on politics).
The most notable difference between the Democratic field and the Republican field (below, compared to Chris Christie) is that there are numerous issues on which all Democratic factions agree, but very few on which all Republican factions agree.
While all Republicans might agree if the GOP field were smaller, it is still true that all Democrats would still agree on the issues above if their field were bigger.
We even included the Green Party candidate to try to get more differentiation -- it's just not there!
In other words, there have come to be numerous defining issues on the left, on which there is universal agreement, but the Republican side has no such unanimous issues.
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Sources: OnTheissues archives and Christie's biography The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.
Click for Chris Christie (R,NJ) stances on the issues.
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Chris Christie (R-NJ) announces presidential candidacy: June 30, 2015
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Governor of New Jersey is 16th major entrant on GOP side
Chris Christie would have been a frontrunner for the GOP nominationm, but he has been hampered by the Bridgegate scandal -- the mainstream media will report plenty on that, so we won't.
The mainstream media will also report how Christie represents the "moderate centrist faction", so we will differentiate what that means compared to other candidates in other factions:
| Chris Christie's issues stances |
Other factions' candidate's issues stances |
|---|
Christie on Domestic Issues
- Campaign finance: Stricter limits on PAC campaign donations
- Crime policy: Bail reform package: jail violent offenders before trial.
- Gun Rights: Favors gun control measures from law-enforcement perspective.
- School policy: OpEd: Christie & federal No-Child-Left-Behind push teachers; but not students
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on Domestic Issues
- Campaign finance: Raise donor limit to largest self-donation, even if $5M (Mike Huckabee, religious right faction)
- Crime policy: Let convicted felons regain the right to vote (Rand Paul, libertarian faction)
- Gun Rights: New gun laws are ineffective, so don't pass them (Marco Rubio, Tea Party faction)
- School policy: Choose schools based on objective info, not federal Common Core (Scott Walker, Tea Party faction)
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Christie on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: Incentivize energy manufacturing & wind turbines
- Free Trade: Jersey to Jerusalem Trade Mission: led delegation to Israel
- Welfare Reform: Focus on income inequality drives America toward mediocrity
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on Economic Issues
- Energy policy: Replace crony capitalism with free-market strategy (Jeb Bush, Neocon faction)
- Free Trade: Focus on income inequality drives America toward mediocrity (Mike Huckabee, Tea Party faction)
- Welfare Reform: Shift federal social programs to church, family, & community (Mike Huckabee, religious right faction)
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Christie on Social Issues
- Abortion: I'm pro-life with exceptions; take it or leave it
- ObamaCare: Expand Medicare, but no N.J. ObamaCare exchange
- Same-sex Marriage: Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on Social Issues
- Abortion: I am actively PRO-LIFE not just quietly pro-life (Mike Huckabee, religious right faction)
- ObamaCare: Didn't accept additional Medicaid money from ObamaCare (Scott Walker, Tea Party faction)
- Same-sex Marriage: Right to gay sex implies right to bigamy, incest, & adultery. (Rick Santorum, religious right faction)
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Christie on International Issues
- Afghanistan: I'm not a nation-building guy; we've achieved Afghan goals
- Foreign Policy: New isolationism, & reducing anti-terrorism, is dangerous
- Immigration Policy: Path to citizenship in context of fixing broken system
- Middle East: Governors shouldn't offer opinions about Syria
- PATRIOT Act: Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections
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Other candidates from other GOP factions on International Issues
- Afghanistan: Stay in Afghanistan until security of our country is secure (Rick Santorum, Neocon faction)
- Foreign Policy: Against terror but first comes preserving the Constitution (Rand Paul, libertarian faction)
- Immigration Policy: No path to citizenship for 1.65 million illegals in Texas (Ted Cruz, Tea Party faction)
- Middle East: Saddam might have had WMD and got them to Syria before 2003 (Gov. Mike Huckabee, Neocon faction)
- PATRIOT Act: The Patriot Act is intrusive; it's what the Founders feared (Rand Paul, libertarian faction)
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To summarize the definition of the GOP factions used above, which the pundits routinely talk about (keep in mind that candidates all want to appeal to more than one faction, and that factions overlap):
- Moderate centrist faction: Focused on working with Democrats to accomplish bipartisan goals.
- Religious right faction: Focused on morality and values (most prominently on social issues, but also on economic issues).
- Tea Party faction: Focused on populist economic issues (glossing over most social issues).
- Neocon faction: Neo-conservatives focus on asserting America's exceptional role in the world, as expressed by military strength and international leadership.
- Libertarian faction: Focused on freedom, and reduction of federal government power, including military power (this GOP faction is also represented by the Libertarian Party).
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Sources: OnTheissues archives and Christie's biography The Inside Story of His Rise to Power.
Click for Chris Christie (R,NJ) stances on the issues.
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Bobby Jindal (R-LA) and Jill Stein (G-MA) both announce presidential candidacy: June 22-24, 2015
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Gov. Jindal announces on June 24; Dr. Stein announces on June 22
Bobby Jindal is the Governor of Louisiana, and has been considered a "rising star" in the Republican Party for several years, but the mainstream media only reports that he flubbed his big State of the Union response speech a few years ago, and that he barely registers in national polls.
Jill Stein was the Green Party nominee for president in 2012, and the mainstream media continues to refuse to report on the Green Party at all.
We summarize their issues stances below.
| Dr. Jill Stein's issues stances |
Gov. Bobby Jindal's issues stances |
|---|
Stein on Domestic Issues
- Gun Rights: Gun at home more likely to cause injury than to defend home
- Crime policy: Black Lives Matter: end racism & police militarization
- School policy: Mobilize to simply keep public education in existence
- Government Reform: Voter Bill of Rights: full public financing; paper ballots
- Welfare Reform: Right to affordable housing: expand rental & home assistance
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Jindal on Domestic Issues
- Gun Rights: Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC
- Crime policy: Open to method of execution but lethal injection ok
- School policy: I am for standards, but against Common Core
- Government Reform: If it's worth doing, then block-grant it to the states
- Welfare Reform: Feds obliged to care for those who can't care for themselves
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Stein on Economic Issues
- Mortgage Crisis: We are in state of emergency; not state of recovery
- Free Trade: International trade boards compromise American sovereignty
- Energy policy: Make wars for oil obsolete: 100% renewables by 2030
- Mortgage Crisis: We are in state of emergency; not state of recovery
- Tax policy: Fees and sales taxes hit lower and middle income hardest
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Jindal on Economic Issues
- Mortgage Crisis: Replace "obsession with zeroes" with growth strategy
- Free Trade: Voted NO on implementing CAFTA, Central America Free Trade
- Energy policy: Keystone pipeline creates jobs without environmental damage
- Tax policy: The more you pay in taxes the less you are free
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Stein on Social Issues
- ObamaCare: ObamaCare was step backward for goal of single payer
- Affirmative Action: Pay equity for women remains critical, despite some programs
- Abortion: Healthcare is a right, including women's reproductive rights
- Same-sex Marriage: First pro-gay-marriage candidate in first gay marriage state
- Family Values: Fund community youth programs for at-risk you
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Jindal on Social Issues
- ObamaCare: Market-based alternatives to top-down ObamaCare
- Affirmative Action: Rated 33% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance
- Abortion: Human life amendment: define "person" from conception
- Same-sex Marriage: Supports constitutional amendment to define marriage
- Family Values: Family values reduce poverty; war on poverty doesn't
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Stein on International Issues
- Homeland Security: Switch from bloated military to spending at home
- Middle East: Eliminate nuclear weapons in Middle East & whole world
- Foreign Policy: US should behave as member of world community, not world cop
- Immigration Policy: Extend DREAM Act beyond age 30
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Jindal on International Issues
- Homeland Security: Ill-advised to scale back missile defense
- Middle East: Prevent the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Foreign Policy: America is exceptional & should remain the greatest country
- Immigration Policy: We need a high walls and wide gate
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Sources: OnTheIssues.org archives.
Click for issue stances of Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA)
or Dr. Jill Stein (G-MA).
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Donald Trump (R-NY) announces presidential candidacy: June 16, 2015
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Previously ran for Reform Party nomination in 2000
Donald Trump appeals to populists and the Tea Party, but not to the party establishment nor the mainstream media.
The mainstream news media cannot be trusted in their coverage of Trump because they consider him a joke, but they treated Jesse Ventura's candidacy as a joke too, until he won and became the successful governor of Minnesota.
Trump is a prolific author, including Time to Get Tough and The America We Deserve.
His issue stances:
| Donald Trump's issues stances |
|---|
Domestic Issues
- Gun Rights: I am against gun control
- Crime policy: Capital punishment isn’t uncivilized; murderers living is
- Drug policy: Legalize drugs and use tax revenue to fund drug education
- Education policy: Bring on the competition; tear down the union walls
- Campaign Finance: Ban soft money; but allow unlimited personal contributions
Economic Issues
- Corporate Taxation: 0% corporate tax would create millions of jobs
- Income tax policy: 4 brackets; 1-5-10-15%; kill death tax & corporate tax
- Free Trade: 20% tax on all imported goods
- Energy policy: No Cap-and-Tax: oil is this country's lifeblood
- Welfare policy: Food stamps should be temporary; not a decade on the dole
Social Issues
- ObamaCare: Kill ObamaCare before it becomes a trillion-ton weight
- Abortion: I am now pro-life; after years of being pro-choice
- Same-sex Marriage: No gay marriage; no same-sex partner benefits
National Security Issues
- Defense Policy: 3% of GNP for military is too low
- Middle East: Stop Iran's nuclear programs by any & all means necessary
- Foreign Policy: China is our enemy; they're bilking us for billions
- Immgration Policy: Citizenship for illegal immigrants is a GOP suicide mission
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Sources: OnTheissues archives and Trump's policy book The America We Deserve.
Click for Donald Trump (R,NY) stances on the issues.
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Jeb Bush announces presidential candidacy: June 15, 2015
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Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) captures frontrunner status in Republican primary
Jeb Bush, the younger brother of former President George W. Bush and son of former President George H. W. Bush, announced his candidacy for the presidency today.
The mainstream media was abuzz with speculation about how Jeb would (or would not) deal with the "Bush legacy," without explaining what that means in terms of issue stances.
And Jeb himself mentioned his pedigree during his announcement speech: "Not a one of us deserves the job by right of... family narrative. It's nobody's turn," he asserted, without elaborating what that means for his presidential policies.
We summarize below Jeb's stances compared to those of his brother and his father, so you can decide for yourself if Jeb sufficiently differs or sufficiently will carry on George's policies:
George W. Bush Jr. on Social Issues
- Gay rights: Hard-core for traditional marriage
- Welfare: Replace welfare with self-help
- Conservation: Supports private land stewardship
- Stem Cells: Compromised on stem cells
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Jeb Bush on Social Issues
- Gay rights: Moderate for traditional marriage
- Welfare: Replace welfare with work
- Conservation: State-run conservation
- Stem Cells: Hard core against stem cells
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George H. W. Bush Sr. on Social Issues
- Gay rights: Moderate for gay rights
- Welfare: Replace welfare with enterprise zones
- Conservation: Personal conservation
- Stem Cells: (No stance on stem cells)
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Where Jeb Bush agrees with George W. Bush Jr. and George H. W. Bush Sr. on Social Issues:
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- All are hard-core pro-life
- All support faith-based social services
- All support character education
- All support abstinence education
- All support family values
- All support school vouchers
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George W. on Economic / Domestic Issues
- Affirmative Action: Affirmative access
- Health Care: Personal choice
- Mandatory Sentencing:Tough on crime
- Energy: Drill offshore
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Jeb on Economic / Domestic Issues
- Affirmative Action: Dismantle affirmative action
- Health Care: Oppose ObamaCare
- Mandatory Sentencing:Alternatives to punishment
- Energy: Don't drill offshore
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George Sr. on Economic / Domestic Issues
- Affirmative Action: No quotas
- Health Care: Optional Medicaid
- Mandatory Sentencing:Limit appeals
- Energy: Pioneered drilling offshore
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Where Jeb Bush agrees with George W. Bush Jr. and George H. W. Bush Sr. on Economic / Domestic Issues:
| | |
- All agree on tax cuts
- All agree on federal spending cuts
- All agree on gun rights
- All agree on pursuing War on Drugs
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Sources: OnTheissues archives
Click for Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R,FL) stances on the issues,
or President George W. Bush (R,TX) stances on the issues.
or President George H. W. Bush (R,TX) stances on the issues.
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Lincoln Chafee (I-RI) announces presidential candidacy: June 3, 2015
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Fourth major Democratic entrant
Governor Lincoln Chafee (I-RI) announced that he would run for president in 2016 in the Democratic primary.
Chafee was elected to the Senate as a Republican in 1999, and then elected to the Governor's office as an Independent in 2010.
We explore his issue stances:
| Lincoln Chafee's issues stances |
|---|
Domestic Issues
- Gun Control: Common sense adherence to the Second Amendment
- Crime: Focus on inmate skills & treatment
- War on Drugs: I doubt our culture would allow legalizing hard drugs
- Energy policy: ANWR: Let's leave just one place off limits
- ObamaCare: Bipartisanship is the key to reform Medicare
Economic Issues
- Corporate Welfare: Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore
- Tax Reform: I voted against every Bush tax cut favoring the wealthy
- Free Trade: Voted YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade
- Jobs policy: Increase the minimum wage
- Welfare Reform: Yes, government has a role in struggle against poverty
Social Issues
- Abortion: A woman should make her own reproductive decisions
- Same-sex Marriage: Longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community
- Campaign Finance: Restrict lobbyist gifts & disclose lobbyist info on Internet
- Environment: Proper respect for our natural world & vulnerable species
International Issues
- Foreign Relations: End prevailing attitude of arrogant reckless war
- Immigration policy: Supports legalization path & guest worker programs
- Homeland Security: No tapping of our phones without a warrant
- Middle East: Know your enemy: Al Qaeda wants US troops away from Mecca
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Sources: OnTheissues archives.
Click for Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I,RI) stances on the issues.
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