While party platforms adopted at the conventions every four years are often lengthy, somewhat idealistic
and can be co-opted by special interests, they are the official set of principles that define a political party.
The Washington Post details the conservative shift of GOP Platforms from the 1960s up to 2012.
Not surprisingly, the watershed moment is 1980 when “The Republican Party declares war on
government overregulation.” By 1992, the platform explains that lowering taxes on the rich will lead to
job creation and declaring an opposition to any increase in taxes. Issues such as abortion and other
faith based topics are virtually non-existent before the 1980s. However, the GOP began to identify with
the Bible Belt religious base of voters. In 1980, the platform called for an amendment outlawing
abortion even though the 1976 platform said abortion was a “moral and personal issue” in which
Republicans disagree. In fact, the most dramatic shift might be from 1960, when Republicans went
from supporting unions, immigrants and the positive role of government to the 1964 platform that
bashed Democrats for being federal extremists and spoke repeatedly of faith. By 2012, the
conservative shift was evident in calls to privatize Medicare and Social Security, while it also
promotes radical ideas such as auditing the Federal Reserve and returning to the Gold Standard.
All that said, platforms represent politics and not governing. The 2012 GOP called for an
amendment to balance the budget which would be fiscally impossible considering the
2018 increase in military spending coupled with huge tax cuts.
and can be co-opted by special interests, they are the official set of principles that define a political party.
The Washington Post details the conservative shift of GOP Platforms from the 1960s up to 2012.
Not surprisingly, the watershed moment is 1980 when “The Republican Party declares war on
government overregulation.” By 1992, the platform explains that lowering taxes on the rich will lead to
job creation and declaring an opposition to any increase in taxes. Issues such as abortion and other
faith based topics are virtually non-existent before the 1980s. However, the GOP began to identify with
the Bible Belt religious base of voters. In 1980, the platform called for an amendment outlawing
abortion even though the 1976 platform said abortion was a “moral and personal issue” in which
Republicans disagree. In fact, the most dramatic shift might be from 1960, when Republicans went
from supporting unions, immigrants and the positive role of government to the 1964 platform that
bashed Democrats for being federal extremists and spoke repeatedly of faith. By 2012, the
conservative shift was evident in calls to privatize Medicare and Social Security, while it also
promotes radical ideas such as auditing the Federal Reserve and returning to the Gold Standard.
All that said, platforms represent politics and not governing. The 2012 GOP called for an
amendment to balance the budget which would be fiscally impossible considering the
2018 increase in military spending coupled with huge tax cuts.
- What have been the groups that have pushed the GOP to adopt more conservative policies?
- What were the most important elections that proved to the GOP its strategy was working politically?
- What are the most progressive elements of previous GOP platforms (see article)?
1. The Tea party has pushed the GOP to adopt more conservative policies due to their beliefs in the fundamental Constitution. The GOP values limiting the government and privatizing many industries.
ReplyDelete3. The previous GOP platforms that were more progressive occurred in 1960. GOP members supported immigrants, unions and government as a positive role. Then, in 1964, they criticized the Democratic party for being "federal extremists" and abandoned their beliefs that government can have a positive role.
1. In my opinion, groups like the NRA, Tea Party and the Democratic Party have influenced the Republican Party to shift more conservative in the last few decades. These groups have all been instrumental in influencing the party to become more focussed on governing based off what the Constitution says and also have united the party with religious people . In my opinion, the GOP has become more conservative (along with the Democratic Party becoming more liberal) because of how polarized politics has been for the last decade. The increased hostility has influenced people to take radical positions, changing the atmospheres of both parties.
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion, the most important elections that proved to the GOP their strategy was working were the '84, '92, and 2016 elections.
3. The GOP's old progressive elements include support of unions, immigrants and the federal government being an ally of the people. Also, their support of abortion was very progressive.
1. The Tea party has the largest rightward push on the GOP in recent years. During the 80s, the GOP moved rightward of its own volition, because it realized that they needed a new, more dedicated voter base, and religious voters were perfect for that role.
ReplyDelete2. The Reagan elections are the most important, as Reagan is archetypal conservative candidate. His economic policies like tax cuts and trickle down economics are still central to the GOP.
3. I can't access the article :( I don't know why, it sends me to some blogspot page?
Above is Andrew Cummings
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ReplyDeleteKarina Mori
What have been the groups that have pushed the GOP to adopt more conservative policies?
The Bible Belt voters have shifted the GOP to adopt a more faith-based platform, including support for prayers in school and even posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms. The Tea Party has also shifted the GOP substantially, mainly on economic policies like a two-thirds majority to raise taxes, but also social issues, such as same-sex marriage. These conservative groups influence the GOP to move further to the right and become more conservative, backing policies that the Republican party previously never had a stand on.
What were the most important elections that proved to the GOP its strategy was working politically?
The most important election that proved that the strategy of the GOP was working politically was 1980. President Reagan won the most electoral votes in all of American history, proving that the GOP's strategy to push the platform more conservative had succeeded.
What are the most progressive elements of previous GOP platforms?
The most progressive elements of previous GOP platforms are 1989-93 (Bush's presidency), when the GOP's platform was to enable more money towards reducing climate change and global warming. Another progressive element of the GOP platform is 1972, when they committed money and energy towards minority groups in the US.
CHARLIE CHAPMAN
ReplyDelete1. The Evangelical Christian community has pushed the GOP to adopt more socially conservative positions. This can be clearly seen on its opinion relating to abortion and its previous opposition to gay marriage.
2.The most important elections were 1980 and 2010. I think 1980 is important because it showed that America was receptive to more conservative policies. I also think 2010 is important because it showed the power of the Tea Party conservatives that were centered around the idea that government was bad.
3. Previously, the GOP's support of unions and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens was progressive. Also, it had a more progressive view on abortion,
1. The GOP experienced a conservative shift in the 1980’s as it began to support a new base, the Bible Belt religious voters. To support this new base the GOP adopted more conservative ideology such as supporting the pro-life movement and prayer in school. Prior to the 1980’s there was little to no mention of seeking abortion amendments until the GOP was pushed by this new base to become more conservative.
ReplyDelete2. The most important elections that proved the GOP’s strategy was working is the 1980 election because when Reagan became president it established ideals and policies that still influence the GOP today.
3. In 1968 the GOP platform took on progressive view by addressing the poor living conditions for minorities in slums who did have access to clean water or air due to pollution. Additionally, during this same time the GOP aimed to improve Social Security by lowering the coverage age to 65.
Julia Everson:
ReplyDelete1. The Republican Party was mostly influenced by religious voters and the Tea Party movement. I would say mostly by the religious voters, which is seen through the changes in the GOP planks. Before 1980, faith was almost never mentioned but after it suddenly became an integral part of their message. In abortion and same-sex marriage the GOP has shifted to the right to sustain the Bible Belt vote. For the influence of the Tea Party, the GOP has also made personal freedoms and anti-taxation more pronounced recently. This is seen through the outrage in response to Obamacare due to the resulting taxes.
Kate Linenbach:
ReplyDelete1. There have been multiple groups that have pushed the GOP to adopt more conservative policies. One of the these is the “Bible Belt” voters, who hold very religious values. These religious voters had a profound effect on the GOP, as evidenced by the fact that Republican beliefs concerning abortion drastically changed in just four years. Before 1980, the GOP considered abortion to be moral, but has targeted it ever since. The Tea Party has also had a significant effect on the GOP platform. It has pushed the platform towards more conservative values, such as studying the return to the gold standard and defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
2. The most important elections that proved to the GOP that its strategy was working politically were the elections of 1980 and 1988. In ‘80, Ronald Reagan ran with a conservative agenda, which was extremely effective due to the rise of the conservative Sunbelt. The election of ‘88 was also significant because it proved that the United States still wanted a conservative government. In ‘88, Republican George H. W. Bush won, which demonstrated that the Republican party was very successful when it adopted more conservative policies.
3. The most progressive elements of previous GOP platforms include advocating for civil rights and fighting for the rights of workers. In the 1960’s and 70’s, the GOP supported progressive employers who paid more liberally and more government spending in order to curb inflation and aid minorities. Furthermore, in 1960, Republicans supported unions and wanted to allow more immigrants into the United States. Finally, the GOP once advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment, which would have protected the rights for women.
EUGENIA ZHANG
ReplyDelete1. The GOP shifted right on economic issues in 2012 because of the influence from the rise of tea party activists. The tea party activists also influenced the GOP's beliefs on same-sex marriage. The GOP also adopted a more conservative ideology overall and more specifically a more religious platform. This was a result of the rising support of the Bible Belt religious voters which pushed for prayer in school and pro-life beliefs.
2. The most important election that supported the GOP's strategies was the 1980 Reagan election as it proved that the new ideologies of the GOP were working.
3. Previous GOP platforms had progressive views on abortion as well as unions and immigration. It supported the unions and also addressed the poor living conditions in parts of the US.
1. The White Evangelical base is one of the biggest groups to push for these modern "conservative" policies. While not all have specifically pushed it in the form of interest groups, the Republican Party clearly recognizes them as a massive part of their voter base, so as a result they cater towards them. This can be seen in their adoption of pro-life policies in regards to abortion. As many have also mentioned, the tea party has definitely moved the GOP towards more traditionally conservative stances, such as the gold standard and the definition of a marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
ReplyDelete2. I think the most important election was Reagan's 1980 election. At that point the GOP was splintered in their policies, but during that election, Reagan outlined clear policies and ideals that would persist for generations. Even today, Republicans admire Reagan as one of the greatest presidents, I think, because of his rebirth of the GOP's influence.
3. the article clearly states that the GOP was "socially moderate" and "environmentally progressive." The socially moderate part can be seen as the lack of massive support given by the GOP to the Evangelicals. Before they became a large part of their base, Republicans upheld the right to abortion. The GOP was also environmentally progressive at one point, seen by Theodore Roosevelt's campaign for saving parks and Nixon's recognition of environmental problems.
This was Vishu Prathikanti
Delete1. The Bible belt voters pushed it to adopt more conservative policies. They tend to push it to align more with their religious views. The tea party pushed it more economically and more conservatively with its negative views on homosexual marriage. These groups are pushing the GOP further to the left.
ReplyDelete2. The most important election was when Reagan became president in 1980. It proved the success of pushing the GOP platform more conservatively.
3. The most progressive elements of the previous GOP are supporting unions, views on abortion, and views on immigration.
from sarah elshenawy
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