Interest Aggregation in the Current U.S. Republican

Party

Divisions within the Republican PartySocial Conservatives    • Pro-life• Opposed to same-sex

marriage

Capital Punishment• Generally support

stricter punishment and enforcement

Economic Conservatives• Favor free market

o  Laissez-faire system

• Personal responsibility over the welfare system

• Reduction in taxes as much as possible

Social and Economic Issues of Debate

Balancing the Budget

• The candidates are overall divided on the best way to balance the budget

• Tax Cuts

• Cut wasteful spending

• "Business Oriented“

• Bachmann suggested a "balanced budget" amendment to the constitution• This has been ruled out as unrealistic

because it could not pass the Senate or survive a Presidential veto

 

National Security: Immigration & Securing Borders

• Source of population growth and cultural change

• US-Mexico border = most frequently crossed international border

• Republican Party is in support of:– Tightening the Border– Setting up a fence across

the entire border– Preventing illegal

immigrants from receiving citizenship

National Security: War in Afghanistan and Iraq

  The War on Terror continues to be an important issue and is playing a large role in the 2012 election

The majority of candidates support continued fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq until the region is stable

Healthcare    All candidates want Democratic Health Care Reform Bill repealed Replace with "patient -centered" and free market approach to health care

Republican Candidates

 

Mitt Romney • Former Governor of Massachusetts

• Opponent of “Obamacare”, supports market-based reforms, and state-funded healthcare

• Government-run Security program is essential

• Increased legal immigration, decreased illegal immigration and amenities

• Supports maintaining troops in the Middle East

Newt Gingrich• Viewpoint on Social Security• believes that the system has

been broken for decades and thinks that instead of "reshuffling", "restructuring" is necessary 

• Viewpoint on National Security o supports putting up a fence,

securing the borders and enforcing the laws

o wants to continue fighting in Afghanistan and believes that part of the War on Terror involves fighting in Iraq

• Viewpoint on Healthcareo “Obamacare” is health care

"deformed": repeal & replace. o Medicaid/Medicare fraud: stop

paying the crooks

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-26-2012/indecision-2012---2012--a-space-oddity

Rick Santorum

• Viewpoint on Social Securityo  supports voluntary privatization of

Social Securityo  wants to raise retirement age

 • Viewpoint on National

Securityo strongly opposes the withdrawal of

troops from Afghanistan and Iraqo against granting rights to

immigrants, supports establishing a fence on the Mexican-American border

• Viewpoint on Healthcareo  strongly disapproves of

“Obamacare”, 1st executive order = repeal

o doesn't approve of prescription medicine coverage with Medicare

Ron Paul

 

• Doctor and Author, as well as US Congressman for 14th Congressional District of Texas

• Six-point plan to stop illegal immigration

• Foreign policy of non-intervention, neutrality, and independence

• Against Obamacare and for affordable insurance

Michele Bachmann

• leader of the Tea Party Caucus and US Representative from Minnesota

• Supports privatizing Social Security, repealing “Obamacare”, and introducing the Ryan Plan

• 4-Point Immigration Platform

• Supports continuing in the Middle East

Herman Cain • Born December 13, 1945 in Atlanta,

GA• CEO of Godfather's Pizza• Vice President of Pillsbury• Host of the Herman Cain Talk Show• Only candidate who isn't a politician • Nine Nine Nine - tax plan • On Social Security:

o Believes that instead of "reshuffling" Social Security, "restructuring" it is necessary

• On National Security:o Wants to secure border with fenceo Believes War on Terror involves

fighting in Iraq

• On Healthcare:o Wants to repeal and replace

“Obamacare” with free market approach

Rick Perry Governor of Texas • Reform Social Security

 • National Security

o Immigrationo Afghanistano Send troops back to Iraq

• Viewpoint on Healthcareo Wipe out “Obamacare”

Republican Party presidential primaries

Iowa

New Hampshire

South Carolina

Florida

What’s next?