The document discusses several political issues in the United States and the typical positions of Democrats and Republicans on these issues. It provides background on the emergence of the Tea Party movement in response to government bailouts and increased spending. It then outlines the core beliefs of the Tea Party, which tend to be very conservative and favor smaller government. The document also summarizes where Democrats and Republicans generally stand on issues like abortion, gun control, the environment, taxes, healthcare, and LGBT rights.

1. Democrat or Republican?

2. Or Somewhere in Between?
• List of political parties in the United States
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3. Emergence of the Tea Party
• Emerged in 2009 after the bailout of the US’s
financial institutions(President Bush-2008), the
economic stimulus package(President Obama-
2009) and the new health care law(President
Obama-2010).
• The name is taken from the Boston Tea Party as
they protested against the British King at the
time
• Tends to be very conservative and libertarian in
nature

6. Core Beliefs of Tea Party
• Illegal Aliens Are Here illegally.
• Pro-Domestic Employment Is Indispensable.
• Stronger Military Is Essential.
• Special Interests Eliminated.
• Gun Ownership Is Sacred.
• Government Must Be Downsized.
• National Budget Must Be Balanced.

7. • Deficit Spending Will End.
• Bail-out And Stimulus Plans Are Illegal.
• Reduce Personal Income Taxes A Must.
• Reduce Business Income Taxes Is Mandatory.
• Political Offices Available To Average Citizens.
• Intrusive Government Stopped.
• English As Core Language Is Required.
• Traditional Family Values Are Encouraged.
• Common Sense Constitutional
• Conservative Self-Governance
• http://www.teaparty.org/about.php#beliefs

8. • Not all Democrats or Republicans agree on all
issues within their party
• Discuss media bias—Fox News vs CNN
• Where you live can effect what party you belong
to
• 2012 Electoral College Map-County by County

9. The Electoral College System
• Discuss setup
• Discuss weakness
• Discuss shifts in
the electorate

10. 1960 Election

11. 1964 Election

12. 2000 Election Map
Red-Republican—Blue-Democrat

13. 2004 Election Map

14. 2008 Election Map

15. 2012 Presidential Election

16. • Republicans are conservative
– favor traditional institutions and the status
quo
– favor laissez-faire system
• define
– favor a limited role for government in
society and believe that people should
help themselves, not rely on the
government
– favor lower taxes
– believe in the trickle-down theory
– Believe in rugged individualism

17. • Democrats are liberal
– favor change in society
– oppose government intervention into one’s private and
social life
– support regulations on economic activity and
businesses
– favor an active role for government in society
– believe that involvement – be it environmental
regulations against polluting or anti-discrimination
laws- can improve the quality of our lives
– willing to increase taxes to support programs

18. Abortion
• Democrat:
– Abortion is a woman’s right and should be
legal
• Republican:
– Abortion should be illegal and restricted by
government
– http://law.findlaw.com/state-laws/abortion/

19. Abortion Laws prior to 1973 Roe V. Wade Case
Red--Illegal.
Purple--Legal in cases of rape.
Blue-Legal in cases of danger to woman's health.
Green-Legal in cases of danger to woman's health, rape or incest, or likely damaged fetus.
Yellow-Legal upon request.

23. Pregnancy, Birth, Abortion, and Fetal Loss Rates Per
1,000 Women Aged 15--19 Years, by Race and Hispanic
Ethnicity

25. Parental Consent and
Notification Laws
• http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-
topics/abortion/parental-consent-
notification-laws-25268.htm

27. Flag Burning
• Democrat:
– Flag burning is political
speech and is
protected by the
Constitution
• Republican:
– Protect the flag from
burning by a
constitutional
amendment

28. Gun Control
• Democrats:
– Favor/Gun control is needed
• Republicans:
– Oppose/Gun control is unconstitutional
• NRA-ILA :: Gun Laws

29. Natural Environment
• Democrats:
– Strong regulations are needed to protect the
environment
• Republicans:
– Strong environmental laws harm the economy

30. Race Relations
• Democrats:
– Strong anti-discrimination laws are needed
– favor affirmative action
• Republicans:
– People and businesses can be trusted not to
discriminate
– Many oppose affirmative action
• Affirmative Action Timeline

31. Minimum Wage
• Democrats:
– Favor/Increase the minimum wage to help
workers
• Republicans:
– Oppose/Do not raise the minimum wage
because it hurts businesses
– http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774473.html

32. Healthcare
• Democrats:
– Government should require universal access to
healthcare
• Republicans:
– Private insurers are preferable to government
controlled system
The Affordable Care Act-March 2010
http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/healthcare-
overview#healthcare-menu

33. Taxes
• Democrats:
– Increase taxes on the wealthy to pay for
public programs
• Republicans:
– Cutting taxes for everyone helps the economy

34. 2012 Tax Brackets
Tax
rate
Single filers
Married filing jointly or
qualifying
widow/widower
Married filing
separately
Head of household
10% Up to $8,700 Up to $17,400 Up to $8,700 Up to $12,400
15% $8,701 - $35,350 $17,401 - $70,700 $8,701- $35,350 $12,401 - $47,350
25% $35,351 - $85,650 $70,701 - $142,700 $35,351 - $71,350 $47,351 - $122,300
28% $85,651 - $178,650 $142,701 - $217,450 $71,351 - $108,725 $122,301 - $198,050
33% $178,651 - $388,350 $217,451 - $388,350 $108,726 - $194,175 $198,051 - $388,350
35% $388,351 or more $388,351 or more $194,176 or more $388,351 or more

37. Military
• Democrats:
– Cut military spending; expand veteran’s
benefits; act in concert with other nations
and/or with support from NATO and the UN
• Republicans:
– Increase military spending; cut veteran’s
benefits; don’t be constrained by other nations
or by NATO and the UN

38. Death Penalty
• Democrats:
– Oppose/It is not a deterrent and innocent
people are in jeopardy
• Republicans:
– Favor/The death penalty is necessary and
effective

39. History
• Furman v. Georgia, (1972)
• In this case, the court found the death
penalty to be unconstitutional on the
grounds of cruel and unusual punishment
in violation of the 8th to the United States
Constitution.
• http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/
dpusa.htm

45. Gay Marriage
• Democrats:
– Favor-Gays rights and marriage are civil
rights
• Republicans:
– Oppose-Marriage is a sacred trust between a
man and woman

47. Update

48. Prayer in School
• Democrats:
– Oppose/Violation of the separation between
church and state
– Does not uphold “freedom of religion” if we
have school sponsored prayer
• Republicans:
– Favor/It is a religious right and our Christian
heritage

49. Prayer in School
• Declared unconstitutional in 1962 in the
case Engel vs. Vitale

50. Separation of Church and State
• “Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof…” 1st
Amendment
• Known as the Establishment Clause
• U.S. Supreme Court’s 1947 decision of
Everson v. Board of Education-Next Slide

51. • ‘”The establishment of religion’ clause of the First Amendment
means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal
Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which
aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over
another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to
remain away from church against his will or force him to
profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be
punished for entertain­ing or professing religious beliefs or
disbeliefs, for church attendance or non­attendance. No tax in
any amount, large or small, can be levied to sup­port any
religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called,
or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion.
Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or
secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organization
or groups and vice­versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause
against establishment of religion by law was intend­ed to erect
a ‘wall of separation between church and state’.”

52. War in Iraq/Afghanistan
• Democrats:
– Favored at first but criticized President Bush for messing it up.
– Wanted a defined exit strategy during the Bush years.
– President Obama withdrew all combat troops from Iraq in August
2010
– All US forces were out of Iraq at the end of 2011
– President Obama wanted to focus on Afghanistan-Sent 30,000
more troops 12-09.
– Started US withdrawl from Afghanistan in July 2011.
– Hopes to be out soon-2013-14
• Republicans:
– President Bush stated 8-21-06 that US would not leave Iraq until
the job is done.
– Admitted to mistakes in Iraq and says it will be a tough fight.
– Hoped Iraq’s new gov’t and people would eventually be stable
enough for US withdrawl.
– President Bush pulled 8,000 troops out in late 2008/early 2009.
– Afghanistan was not focused on as much after the Iraq invasion.
– Allowed Taliban and al-Qaeda to gain in power.