WRAP-UP ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM

Here is the last part of my series on the Republican Party Platform.  I know these party platforms are pretty dry material, but I think it's important for everyone to make an informed vote this fall.  One can't make an informed vote if he/she is not familiar with the party platforms.  I've gotten several nice comments about this series of posts, and I appreciate it.  Thank you all for taking the time to read.  I will continue with the series on another party.  I haven't chosen which one yet, but I think I'll stay with the same format and source, ON THE ISSUES.  Even though it's still long, the platforms are summed up in as concise a form as possible, and the voting analysis is excellent along with the graph.  It's the easiest to understand I've found.  I'll be making posts on other issues and events as they come up, so as to not only to get information out there, but so this will hopefully not be quite so boring.

VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (-5 points on Social scale)	Promote adoption & abstinence, not abortion clinic referrals: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Human Life Amendment to the Constitution: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Ethical research yes; embryo cells no; cloning no: Opposes topic 1 Ban abortion with Constitutional amendment: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Alternatives like adoption, instead of punitive action: Opposes topic 1 Reduce child welfare caseloads & encourage adoption: Neutral on topic 1 Bush will nominate conservative judges only: Neutral on topic 1
Strongly Opposes topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (+5 points on Economic scale)	Affirmative Access, without preferences or set-asides: Strongly Opposes topic 2 Women exempt from combat; “candid analysis” of military gays: Opposes topic 2 Achievement is basis for access to college: Opposes topic 2
Strongly Opposes topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (-5 points on Social scale)	Homosexuality is incompatible with military service: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Support the advancement of women in the military: Favors topic 3 States should not recognize gay marriage from other states: Strongly Opposes topic 3 States should not recognize gay marriage from other states: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Strong support for traditional definition of marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Let Boy Scouts exercise free speech (ok to ban gays): Opposes topic 3 Affirm traditional military culture&rebuild morale (no gays): Strongly Opposes topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-5 points on Social scale)	Support voluntary student-initiated prayer in school: Strongly Favors topic 4 Stop activist judges from banning Pledge & Ten Commandments: Favors topic 4 Strongly support voluntary student-initiated prayer: Strongly Favors topic 4 Support abstinence and fatherhood: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	Support the death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 8 Death penalty is an effective deterrent: Strongly Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-5 points on Social scale)	Best way to deter crime is to enforce existing laws: Strongly Favors topic 9 More victims rights and harsher penalties for certain crimes: Strongly Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Open more public land to hunting: Favors topic 10 No frivolous gun lawsuits, no gun licensing: Strongly Favors topic 10 Will protect right to bear arms: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (+5 points on Economic scale)	Government-run universal health care leads to inefficiencies: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Give individuals tools to manage their own health needs: Opposes topic 5 Allow customization of insurance, support health centers: Opposes topic 5 Lawyers should not hold physicians hostage: Opposes topic 5
Strongly Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+5 points on Economic scale)	Workers will have choice to invest their payroll taxes: Strongly Favors topic 6
Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+2 points on Economic scale)	Promote school choice and home-schooling: Favors topic 7 Limit role of federal government in education: Favors topic 7
Opposes topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (+2 points on Economic scale)	No Kyoto, no mandatory carbon emissions controls: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Provide tax incentives for energy production: Opposes topic 18 Encourage market-based solutions to environmental problems: Opposes topic 18 Recognize that people depend on land for livelihood: Neutral on topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-5 points on Social scale)	Jail time and school drug testing deters drug use: Strongly Favors topic 19 Clinton surrendered Drug War; cry out for drug-free schools: Strongly Favors topic 19 Aggressively pursue drug kingpins; include death penalty: Strongly Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+5 points on Economic scale)	Faith-based welfare grants equal with secular groups: Strongly Favors topic 20 Faith-based charities should help end child poverty: Strongly Favors topic 20
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+5 points on Economic scale)	Cut taxes to stimulate economy and help families: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Tax cuts & low interest rates lead to home ownership: Opposes topic 11 Repeal death tax & give tax break to care for elderly: Opposes topic 11 Encourage technology with funds for R & D, tax reform: Opposes topic 11 Tax reform will enable more poor to own a home: Opposes topic 11
Opposes topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (-3 points on Social scale)	Only legal immigrants, through tightly controlled borders: Opposes topic 12 Amnesty encourages illegal immigration: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Reform & toughen immigration system to emphasize family: Opposes topic 12 Focus immigration on needed skills: Neutral on topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Look to Latin American countries as key partners: Favors topic 13 U.S. should position itself to dominate trade: Favors topic 13 Promote free trade with America setting the standards: Favors topic 13
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-5 points on Social scale)	Provided Arm Forces better pay, treatment, and training: Strongly Favors topic 15 Restore health of defense industry; peace thru strength: Strongly Favors topic 15
No opinion on topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Favors topic 17: US out of Iraq (+2 points on Social scale)	Strengthen ties to Asia and promote democracy there: Favors topic 17 Help Africa with private sector and charitable investment: Favors topic 17 Reform U.N. to end abuse, unfairness, and abortion funding: Opposes topic 17 Promote peace, reduce threat of war, protect Israel: Favors topic 17

Republican Party is a Hard-Core Conservative. Click here for explanation of political philosophy.

Tags: Republican Party Platform, Presidential Elections, Vote, Conservative