Republican/Democrat Comparison Chart

2003, updated 10-4-04 | Clearwater County Central Committee

[Delphinium]

ISSUE	REPUBLICAN POSITION	DEMOCRAT POSITION
War on Terror / Iraq	Root out and destroy terrorist groups wherever found! Nations that harbor or support terrorists "face the full wrath" of the United States. No “U.N. Permission Slip” required!	“Global Test” will be required seeking permission from foreign governments before any pre-emptive action protecting America… thus “Iraq is the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Role of Government:	Less government / less taxes	More government / more taxes
National Defense:	Increase USA defenses. Deploy Missile Defense System as soon as possible.	Increase global cooperation. Decrease USA defenses. No Missile Defense System...
United Nations:	Use UN as a tool of diplomacy only.	Uphold UN goals of global laws, global governance, and global army.
Health Care:	Maintain private health care with tax breaks to individuals.  Reform Medicare.	Nationalize health care. Expand Medicare in numerous ways.
Social Security:	Support option of putting part of payroll deductions into private investments.	Keep social security plan as-is and under full government control.
Natural Resources:	Review and develop plan to better utilize resources on 657 million acres of Public Lands. Increase domestic supplies of timber, coal, oil, and natural gas.	Prevent logging, mining, oil and gas drilling on public lands. Increase strict regulations to discourage logging, mining, oil and gas drilling on private property.
Abortion:	“The unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.” (Republican National Platform). No use of federal funds for abortions or stem cell research.  No "partial birth abortions".	Every woman has the "right" to choose to abort her unborn child, up to, and including, the moment of birth. Allow "partial birth abortions". Use federal funds for abortions and stem cell research.
Homosexuals:	Uphold definition of "marriage" as the legal union of one man and one woman. No special rights or benefits for homosexuals or lesbians. No homosexuals in the military.	Promote affirmative action for full inclusion of homosexual and lesbian families. Advocate special rights and benefits for homosexuals and lesbians.  Allow open homosexuality in the military.
Traditional Values:	Promote fair, traditional American values and work ethic.	Affirmative Action and special rights for minorities and "different points of view"
Statement of faith:	“We believe the strength of our nation lies with our Faith and Reliance on God our Creator” (Idaho Republican Platform)	(No mention of God in Idaho Democratic Platform)
Youth/Education:	Reduce federal influence in education. Return control to parents, teachers, and local school boards. Vouchers for private or home schooling. Return of voluntary school prayer. English as national language.	Continue expansion of federal control over education.  No vouchers for private or home schooling. No prayers in schools. Multi-lingual and multi-cultural education.
Crime:	Reduce crime by promoting no-frills prisons with productive work requirements. Deter all forms of crime by increasing penalties. Defend the Constitutional right of citizens to keep and bear arms.	Increase nationwide police forces. Enforce strict gun control for law-abiding citizens. Render additional punishments for “hate crimes” (crimes against certain minorities and homosexuals).
Environment:	Base environmental regulations upon peer-reviewed best science, not political agendas. Reject call for UN to create a "Stewardship Council" to oversee the global environment.	Exploit Endangered Species Act for non-use of natural resources from federal lands. Create “human free” corridors, replacing people with dangerous “endangered” predators (grizzlies, wolves, etc.). Support UN agenda on global environment and other international institutions.
Surplus Taxes:	Give surplus taxes back to the people.	Keep surplus taxes for increased government expenditures.
Private Property Rights:	“…support strong enforcement of the ‘takings’ clause to keep citizens secure in the use and development of their property… oppose any Federal regulation that would diminish a property owner's right to develop his property in a positive and productive way." (Idaho Republican Platform).	Increase regulations, control and taxation of development and production of natural resources generated from private property.   (Protection or support of private property rights is not mentioned in either the National or Idaho Democrat Platforms)

Sources: Democrat National Committee, Republican National Committee, Democrat National Platform, Republican National Platform, Idaho Democratic Platform, Idaho Republican Platform, National Federation of Republican Assemblies, and Intercessors for America

[JIM O]

I was at a college campus for a parents weekend on Sat / Sun and was surprised by the lack of the students educated thought as it relates to this election. The school is responsible for one of the larger polls and it put on a presentation which allowed us to hear many of the students positions.

I was shocked to hear many students that thought this election is about gay rights and abortion, I tried to make the point that those issues are not on the radar in this election and future Kerry is opposed to gay marriage yet he does not want the federal government involved which is meaningless as the votes do not exist for a constitutional amendment.

[Protagoras]

I would appreciate input?

It would be great,,,if it were true.

[Delphinium]

These are Idaho Republicans, most are conservatives.

Except for the rinos.

[diamond6]

As Sean Penn said in Fast Times: "AWESOME, TOTALLY AWESOME"!

[WhiteGuy]

I guess your republicans in Idaho are drastically different than the republicans in Washington DC.

I like your chart.

I'd like for any gop candidate to sign off on this approach prior to running.

[Delphinium]

Kerry is opposed to gay marriage yet he does not want the federal government involved which is meaningless as the votes do not exist for a constitutional amendment.

I don't believe that, he is saying that to get elected.

I was shocked to hear many students that thought this election is about gay rights and abortion

To many that is what the election is about.

My sister voted the first time when she saw the homosexuals marching against a congresswoman.

She isn't even a church goer, but hates the homosexual agenda.

[Delphinium]

We have tried to hold them accountable to our platform, but as long as Idaho has an open primary we have Rinos in office. Hopefully that will be changing soon.

[mtbopfuyn]

If Kerry gets elected, we won't recognize our country.

If Kerry gets elected, we won't have a country.

[Nice50BMG]

no mention of Kerry's brilliant idea to shut down the nuclear program?

Or to level the playing field with the Islamofascists by giving them nuclear material.

The Albright Doctrine says that the world will be safer when everyone has nukes, not just the superpowers.

[tazannie]

everyone but us, according to Kerry

[Ciexyz]

If Kerry gets elected, we won't have a country.

That's a pretty frightening thought! Our country will be so fragmented, we won't recognize it. It won't be the USA we know today.

[FreeKeys]

ANOTHER comparison test:

WHICH is the Democratic Party platform and which is the Communist Party USA platform? (yeah, it's a tough one) HERE: http://www.asmodeus-space.com/index.php?cont=platforms.inc

[kinsman redeemer]

ping