REPUBLICANS VS. DEMOCRATS

American Political Parties

History

Opposing political parties first appeared during the debate over ratifying the Constitution Federalists vs. Anti-Fed.

Tradition Continues Platforms have changed

Jefferson (Democrat but Republican today)

Civil Rights Movement Two party domination

continues today Republicans vs.

Democrats

Third Party?

American history has seen brief formations of third parties Populist Party Progressive Party Bull Moose Party

None of them have stuck

3rd Parties today Green Party U.S. Marijuana Party Libertarian Party Tea Party

Party Platform

A political party platform is a list of actions which a party supports in order to appeal to a general public for the purpose for having their candidate voted into office Often deals with

controversial topics Each topic is called a

plank Abortion, Defense

spending, etc.

Republican ElephantRepublican Elephant Democratic DonkeyDemocratic Donkey

So…What’s the difference?

The Republican Platform (GOP)

Social ConservativesLaissez-Faire economicsFiscal Conservatism

Lower taxes for ALLPersonal responsibility

over welfare programsNotable Republicans

Ronald Reagan George Bush (both) Dwight Eisenhower Rush Limbaugh & Glenn

Beck (TV/Radio)

Voter Base Financial Sector, low

black vote, high income, military, higher ed. but few professors, older, straight, church goers, South, Midwest, Mountain West.

The Democratic Platform

Social LiberalismSocial Democracy

Greater Federal Gov’t Intervention

Progressive Taxation Different tax rates for

different tax bracketsLarger government to

serve people’s needsNotable Democrats

Bill Clinton Franklin Roosevelt John F. Kennedy Keith Olbermann &

Rachel Maddow (TV)

Voter Base Young professionals,

academia, organized labor, working class, women, LGBT, Minorities, Northeast, Great Lakes, and West Coast

Media Bias

Media has power to set cultural standards and shape political discourse

Media has challenge to be accurate and fair

Determining Bias Sources? Diversity? Who’s point of view? Double Standards? Unchallenged

Assumptions? Loaded Language?

News Reporter vs. News Commentator

News Reporter Present the news Little Bias because they

give no opinion Ex: Walter Cronkite,

Local News, Ron Burgandy

News Commentator Presents news from

certain view point Mixes opinion into

coverage Not necessarily their

opinion May use propaganda

(stats and info to influence people to support position)

Entertainers Ex: Bill O’Reilly,, Keith

Olbermann, Rush Limbaugh