compare2012.returncontrol.comWhat Your Vote Means: A Side-by-Side Comparison of the 2012 Democratic and Republican Party Platform

What Your Vote Means, In Their Own Words A Side-by-Side Comparison of the 2012 Democratic and Republic Party Platform Documents More information about this project, including purpose and methodology, can be found at the bottom of the page. 2012 Democratic Party Platform 2012 Republican Party Platform Source Document 2012-National-Platform.pdf 2012GOPPlatform.pdf Abortion The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay. We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right. [p.18] We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and 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 or fund organizations which perform or advocate it and will not fund or subsidize health care which includes abortion coverage. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life. We oppose the nonconsensual withholding or withdrawal of care or treatment, including food and water, from people with disabilities, including newborns.... [p.14] We oppose the FDA approval of Mifeprex , formerly known as RU-486, and similar drugs....[p.34] Campaign Finance Our opponents have applauded the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United .... In stark contrast, we believe we must take immediate action to curb the influence of lobbyists and special interests on our political institutions. [p.12] [W]e support repeal of the remaining sections of McCain-Feingold , support either raising or repealing contribution limits, and oppose passage of the DISCLOSE Act or any similar legislation designed to vitiate the Supreme Court’s recent decisions protecting political speech in Wisconsin Right to Life v. Federal Election Commission and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. [p.19] Commerce: Minimum Wage We will raise the minimum wage, and index it to inflation. [p.10] Commerce: Small Businesses President Obama and the Democratic Party are committed to... tax cuts for small businesses that make new investments, hire more workers, or increase wages. [p.10] We will reform the tax code to allow businesses to generate enough capital to grow and create jobs.... [p.2] Commerce: China This administration has doubled the rate of trade cases brought against China by the last administration.... [p.10] The President is committed to continuing to fight unfair trade practices that disadvantage American producers and workers, including illegal subsidies, non-tariff barriers, and abuse of worker rights or environmental standards. [p.11] [A] Republican President will insist on full parity in trade with China and stand ready to impose countervailing duties if China fails to amend its currency policies. Until China abides by the WTO’s Government Procurement Agreement , the United States government will end procurement of Chinese goods and services. [p.13] Commerce: Unions Democrats believe that the right to organize and collectively bargain is a fundamental American value. [p.9] We will continue to vigorously oppose “ Right to Work ” and “paycheck protection” efforts, and so-called “ Save our Secret Ballot ” measures whenever they are proposed. [p.10] We will restore the rule of law to labor law by blocking “ card check ,” enacting the Secret Ballot Protection Act , enforcing the Hobbs Act against labor violence, and passing the Raise Act to allow all workers to receive well-earned raises without the approval of their union representative. We demand an end to the Project Labor Agreements ; and we call for repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act .... [p.8] We support the right of States to enact Right-to-Work laws.... [p.8] We will aggressively enforce the recent decision by the Supreme Court barring the use of union dues for political purposes without the consent of the worker. [p.8] Commerce: Women [W]e are committed to passing the Paycheck Fairness Act .... [p.10] Crime [We will continue] to invest in proven community-based law enforcement programs such as the Community Oriented Policing Services program.... We created the Federal Interagency Reentry Council in 2011.... We support local prison-to-work programs.... [p.20] [W]e enacted the Fair Sentencing Act .... [p.20] We have increased funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program over the last four years, and we will continue to expand the use of drug courts.... [p.20] We are committed to ending violence against women. We support reauthorizing the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act and oppose the proposals by Republicans in the House of Representatives.... [p.20] [W]e support mandatory prison sentencing for gang crimes, violent or sexual offenses against children, repeat drug dealers, rape, robbery and murder. We support a national registry for convicted child murderers. We oppose parole for dangerous or repeat felons. [p.37] In solidarity with those who protect us, we call for mandatory prison time for all assaults involving serious injury to law enforcement officers. [p.37] Federal criminal law should focus on acts by federal employees or acts committed on federal property – and leave the rest to the States. Then Congress should withdraw from federal departments and agencies the power to criminalize behavior....[p.38] Crime: Death Penalty We believe that the death penalty must not be arbitrary. DNA testing should be used in all appropriate circumstances, [and] defendants should have effective assistance of counsel.... [p.20] Courts should have the option of imposing the death penalty in capital murder cases. [p.37] Defense: Spending In our current fiscal environment, we must also make tough budgetary decisions across the board – and that includes within the defense budget. [p.29] Sequestration—which is severe, automatic, across-the-board cuts in defense spending over the next decade—of the nation’s military budget would be a disaster for national security.... [p.40] Defense: Gays in the Military The President’s record, from ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in full cooperation with our military leadership... reflects Democrats’ belief that all Americans deserve the same chance to... serve their country.... [p.17] We will enforce and defend in court the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in the Armed Forces.... [p.43] Defense: Women in the Military We support the advancement of women in the military.... We support military women’s exemption from direct ground combat units and infantry battalions. [p.43] Education [President Obama's] Recovery Act represented the largest education investment since President Johnson.... [p.3] We are committed to ensuring that every child in America has access to a world-class public education so we can out-educate the world and make sure America has the world’s highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. [p.5] [W]e have helped states and territories develop comprehensive plans to raise standards and improve instruction in their early learning programs and invested in expanding and reforming Head Start . [p.5] We support the innovations in education reform occurring at the State level based upon proven results. Republican Governors have led in the effort to reform our country’s underperforming education system, and we applaud these advancements. [p.35] We support... block grants and the repeal of numerous federal regulations which interfere with State and local control of public schools. [p.36] [W]e support the English First approach... [p.36] Education: Sex Education Democrats support evidence-based and age-appropriate sex education. [p.18] We renew our call for replacing “family planning” programs for teens with abstinence education....[p.36] Education: Student Loans [W]e doubled our investment in Pell Grant scholarships and created the American Opportunity Tax Credit worth up to ...