American Political Parties REPUBLICANS VS. DEMOCRATS

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.

So…What’s the difference? Republican Elephant Democratic Donkey

The Democratic Donkey and the Republican Elephant Ever wondered what the story was behind these two famous party animals? The Democratic donkey was first associated with Democrat Andrew Jackson's 1828 presidential campaign. His opponents called him a jackass (a donkey), and Jackson decided to use the image of the strong-willed animal on his campaign posters. Democrats today say the donkey is smart and brave, while Republicans say the elephant is strong and dignified. The Republican elephant first appeared in a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874. Thomas Nast drew a donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of those animals, the elephant, was labeled “The Republican Vote.” That's all it took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.

The Republican Platform (GOP) Social Conservatives Laissez-Faire economics Fiscal Conservatism Lower taxes for ALL Personal responsibility over welfare programs Notable 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 Liberalism Social Democracy Greater Federal Gov’t Intervention Progressive Taxation Different tax rates for different tax brackets Larger government to serve people’s needs Notable 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 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