Explain the issues that have created the deepest divisions between the two major partes since 2008:
Point 1 - Aborton:
Arguably the biggest partsaa divide betweea the 2 major partes has beea with regards to abortoan
EX: IUD - Colorado → Democratc enators implemented an award-winning contraceptve programme in
the state, reducing teen pregnancy by 35%. When Republicans got voted into the senate, with Mark
Udall being replaced by Cory Gardner. The Republicans immediately rescinded the program and it was
made a top priority by Republicans.
EX: This year, over 300 regulatons were proposed in 45 states, due to the overwhelming Republican
Majority in the house
EX: In a week, where the TTP was being discussed, the war on I I + the PATRIOT act was due to expire,
GOP members made aborton + contracepton a top priority over this busy schedule - suggestng how
significant this is to the Republicans
Equally, Democrats are completely polarised on this issue and consistently vote in favour of aborton +
contracepton → shown in the ideological division on the subject of Obamass reversal of the Mexico City
Policy, which allowed govt funding to intnl family planning groups who performed abortons, citng
womenss right to choose.
Flair - The decline in BDD, who tend to hold more socially conservatve views, paves the way to more
ideological divisions between the 2 partes → BDD were the ones who made sure that ACA was watered
down + pressured Obama to extend the Hyde Amendment.
Point 2 - Fiscal Responsibility
Level of federal spending and taxaton – Republicans opposed the tmulus Package passed in 2009 and
there have been a series of confrontatons subsequently e.g. the raising of the debt ceiling, the
extension of the payroll tax ‘holidays and the extension of the Bush tax cuts.
the Dodd Frank Wall treet Reform Act, caused divisions over the role od the state in bailing out wall
street.
flair: some of these issues were intra-party as well as inter-party, i.e rohn Boehner came into conflict
with the Tea Party afer he ignored the hastert rule in favour of raising the debt ceiling.
Point 3 - Immigraton
DREAM Act - had strict provisions and would give path of citienship over 5 years to those born/moved
to America before 16 years old and graduated from high school -
2013 immigraton bill that was not allowed to reach the floor by rohn Boehner.
Obamass executve order - was highly controversial + many Republicans called for his impeachment for
overstepping his consttutonal jurisdicton on the mater.
EX: how me your papers in Ariiona, Republican state legislature implemented law which allowed
police to ask for proof of residence + identficaton at their command - later ruled unconsttutonal (U V
Ariiona)
Flair: If Obama so strongly believed in immigraton reform he would have passed it in his first term
when he controlled the House and the enate. It is argued that he tried to implement reform in the way
he did, to cause a fuss and thus gaining the approval of his voters, rather than a genuine partsan divide.
Point 4 - Healthcare:
Arguably Obamass signature policy as president was ACA - this created clear ideological divides:
Obamacare caused the government shutdown, because the republicans (Boehner upholding the hastert
rule) were opposed ideologically to the increasing role of the government in healthcare.
When the ACA was voted on, it was a clear party vote + the role of the BDD siding with the Democrats
helped to pass it → even though it was extremely ‘watered downs with the removal of the public
funding opton + the hyde amendment.
imilarly, Mit Romney ran as being a clear opponent of Obamacare, vocally dissentng from, even
though as Governor he implemented his own type of ‘RomneyCares
Point 1 - Aborton:
Arguably the biggest partsaa divide betweea the 2 major partes has beea with regards to abortoan
EX: IUD - Colorado → Democratc enators implemented an award-winning contraceptve programme in
the state, reducing teen pregnancy by 35%. When Republicans got voted into the senate, with Mark
Udall being replaced by Cory Gardner. The Republicans immediately rescinded the program and it was
made a top priority by Republicans.
EX: This year, over 300 regulatons were proposed in 45 states, due to the overwhelming Republican
Majority in the house
EX: In a week, where the TTP was being discussed, the war on I I + the PATRIOT act was due to expire,
GOP members made aborton + contracepton a top priority over this busy schedule - suggestng how
significant this is to the Republicans
Equally, Democrats are completely polarised on this issue and consistently vote in favour of aborton +
contracepton → shown in the ideological division on the subject of Obamass reversal of the Mexico City
Policy, which allowed govt funding to intnl family planning groups who performed abortons, citng
womenss right to choose.
Flair - The decline in BDD, who tend to hold more socially conservatve views, paves the way to more
ideological divisions between the 2 partes → BDD were the ones who made sure that ACA was watered
down + pressured Obama to extend the Hyde Amendment.
Point 2 - Fiscal Responsibility
Level of federal spending and taxaton – Republicans opposed the tmulus Package passed in 2009 and
there have been a series of confrontatons subsequently e.g. the raising of the debt ceiling, the
extension of the payroll tax ‘holidays and the extension of the Bush tax cuts.
the Dodd Frank Wall treet Reform Act, caused divisions over the role od the state in bailing out wall
street.
flair: some of these issues were intra-party as well as inter-party, i.e rohn Boehner came into conflict
with the Tea Party afer he ignored the hastert rule in favour of raising the debt ceiling.
Point 3 - Immigraton
DREAM Act - had strict provisions and would give path of citienship over 5 years to those born/moved
to America before 16 years old and graduated from high school -
2013 immigraton bill that was not allowed to reach the floor by rohn Boehner.
Obamass executve order - was highly controversial + many Republicans called for his impeachment for
overstepping his consttutonal jurisdicton on the mater.
EX: how me your papers in Ariiona, Republican state legislature implemented law which allowed
police to ask for proof of residence + identficaton at their command - later ruled unconsttutonal (U V
Ariiona)
Flair: If Obama so strongly believed in immigraton reform he would have passed it in his first term
when he controlled the House and the enate. It is argued that he tried to implement reform in the way
he did, to cause a fuss and thus gaining the approval of his voters, rather than a genuine partsan divide.
Point 4 - Healthcare:
Arguably Obamass signature policy as president was ACA - this created clear ideological divides:
Obamacare caused the government shutdown, because the republicans (Boehner upholding the hastert
rule) were opposed ideologically to the increasing role of the government in healthcare.
When the ACA was voted on, it was a clear party vote + the role of the BDD siding with the Democrats
helped to pass it → even though it was extremely ‘watered downs with the removal of the public
funding opton + the hyde amendment.
imilarly, Mit Romney ran as being a clear opponent of Obamacare, vocally dissentng from, even
though as Governor he implemented his own type of ‘RomneyCares
