I was surprised recently as I was discussing why I am a Republican with another fellow conservative.
My surprise was in the fact that this person did not have any idea that each party established "platforms" or
ideals upon which they founded their political parties. She was surprised that the beliefs on issues that we both cared so deeply about
were treated so differently by Republicans and Democrats. I promised her that I would demonstrate those differences by studying
both Republican and Democratic platforms, both at the State and National level, and create this section of the website to display those
differences.
As we approach another Primary and Election, it is again vitally important that voters examine the differences in Parties and in candidates
in particular and identify and vote for those whose beliefs they share. I hope all of our readers share in this section, read the differences between Parties
and then thoughtfully choose wisely. Always better than being uninformed. Enjoy!
ABORTION
Democratic National Party Platform (pg 52)
The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right
to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all
efforts to weaken or undermine that right.
Nothing in Indiana State Democratic Platform
GOP National Platform
Maintaining The Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life
Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration
of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and
sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn
child has a fundamental individual right to life which
cannot be infringed. We support a human life
amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation
to make clear that the Fourteenth
Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.
We oppose using public revenues to promote or perform
abortion and will not fund organizations which
advocate it. We support the appointment of judges
who respect traditional family values and the sanctity
and dignity of innocent human life.
We have made progress. The Supreme Court
has upheld prohibitions against the barbaric practice
of partial-birth abortion. States are now permitted to
extend health-care coverage to children before birth.
And the Born Alive Infants Protection Act has
become law; this law ensures that infants who are
born alive during an abortion receive all treatment
and care that is provided to all newborn infants and
are not neglected and left to die. We must protect
girls from exploitation and statutory rape through a
parental notification requirement. We all have a
moral obligation to assist, not to penalize, women
struggling with the challenges of an unplanned pregnancy.
At its core, abortion is a fundamental assault
on the sanctity of innocent human life. Women
deserve better than abortion. Every effort should be
made to work with women considering abortion to
enable and empower them to choose life. We salute
those who provide them alternatives, including pregnancy
care centers, and we take pride in the tremendous
increase in adoptions that has followed
Republican legislative initiatives.
GOP State Platform
While recognizing the diversity of opinion among members of
our party, we support current Indiana law that says, “Childbirth
is preferred, encouraged, and supported over abortion” (IC 16-
34-1-1).
GAY MARRIAGE
DNC Platform
We support the full inclusion of all families, including same-sex couples, in the life of our nation,
and support equal responsibility, benefits, and protections. We will enact a comprehensive
bipartisan employment non-discrimination act. We oppose the Defense of Marriage Act and all
attempts to use this issue to divide us.
Nothing in State Platform
GOP National Platform
Because our children’s future is best preserved
within the traditional understanding of marriage, we
call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects
marriage as a union of
a man and a woman, so that
judges cannot make other
arrangements equivalent to
it. In the absence of a
national amendment, we
support the right of the people
of the various states to
affirm traditional marriage
through state initiatives.
Republicans recognize
the importance of having in the home a father and a
mother who are married. The two-parent family still
provides the best environment of stability, discipline,
responsibility, and character. Children in homes
without fathers are more likely to commit a crime,
drop out of school, become violent, become teen parents,
use illegal drugs, become mired in poverty, or
have emotional or behavioral problems. We support
the courageous efforts of single-parent families to
provide a stable home for their children. Children
are our nation’s most precious resource. We also
salute and support the efforts of foster and adoptive
families.
Republicans have been at the forefront of protecting
traditional marriage laws, both in the states
and in Congress. A Republican Congress enacted the
Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states
not to recognize same-sex “marriages” licensed in
other states. Unbelievably, the Democratic Party has
now pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act,
which would subject every state to the redefinition of
marriage by a judge without ever allowing the people
to vote on the matter. We also urge Congress to
use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist
federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the
nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and
California. We also encourage
states to review their
marriage and divorce laws in
order to strengthen marriage.
As the family is our
basic unit of society, we
oppose initiatives to erode
parental rights.
GOP State Platform
We support the millennia old concept of marriage as a
union between a woman and a man, and we agree with the
Republican leaders in the Indiana Senate and the Indiana House
of Representatives that any proposal to change that concept
should be decided by the people rather than the courts. We
believe that strong families are the foundation of virtue and that
such families bring forth citizens capable of self-government as
well as properly motivated public servants so essential for successful
democracy.
GUN CONTROL
DNC Platform
We recognize that the right to bear arms is an important part of the American tradition, and we
will preserve Americans’ Second Amendment right to own and use firearms. We believe that
the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation, but we know that what works in
Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact and enforce commonsense
laws and improvements – like closing the gun show loophole, improving our background
check system, and reinstating the assault weapons ban, so that guns do not fall into the hands of
terrorists or criminals. Acting responsibly and with respect for differing views on this issue, we
can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children
safe.
Nothing in State Platform
National GOP Platform
Republicans remain the party of vigorous action
against crime and the party that empowers the lawabiding
by protecting their right to keep and bear
arms for self-protection. Our national experience
over the past twenty years has shown that vigilance,
tough yet fair prosecutors, meaningful sentences,
protection of victims’ rights, and limits on judicial
discretion protect the innocent by keeping criminals
off the streets.
State GOP Platform
We understand and support the Second Amendment to the
United States Constitution that gives the “people” the right to
“keep and bear Arms,” which is to be construed as gun ownership
by lawful citizens.
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