Democrats trumping Republicans in race for 2016
When presidential candidates announce their candidacy for president, they are a much different candidate than they will be when Election Day actually rolls around.
Throughout the election cycle, candidates will adapt their stances on certain issues to boost their poll numbers. Although it’s still in its infancy, the 2016 presidential race features candidates adapting their positions, for both good and bad.
The Democrats have excelled in evolving their stances on issues. Currently the leading candidates are Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Both candidates have changed for the better due to the ideas being discussed among Democrats.
In August, Clinton rolled out a proposed plan to make college more affordable for students. This plan was unveiled after Sanders’ proposed a debt-free college plan in June. Sanders’ plan was met with great enthusiasm, and because of this Clinton was forced to adapt her stance.
Sanders has also improved his candidacy by adapting to the demand of the public. Sanders had a speech shut down by Black Lives Matter protesters in Seattle. They demanded Sanders clarify his stance on race. Shortly after, Sanders unveiled a detailed plan to combat racism on his website. Because of the issues being discussed in Democratic circles, the major candidates in the party have both substantially improved.
On the Republican side of the spectrum, Donald Trump has essentially become poison to conservative discourse. As the leading candidate, his ideas are the ones being discussed by Republican circles.
Some GOP candidates have been stooping down to his level. For example, candidate Scott Walker seems to be trying to capitalize on the renewed sense of American xenophobia spurred by Trump’s fear mongering.
While Trump expresses plans to build the so-called “Great Wall of Trump” along the Mexican border, Walker has deemed building a border wall along Canada is a “legitimate issue” which needs to be discussed.
Additionally, candidate Mike Huckabee said the Iran Nuclear Deal was “marching Israel to the oven,” in what can only be an effort to push Trump’s absurd statements out of the spotlight by being more disgusting than Trump is.
Healthy political discourse is not being achieved when candidates are racing to the bottom.
Other GOP candidates have come out in opposition to Trump. However, every time that a Republican uses their time to lambast Trump they choose not to discuss relevant issues. While it may benefit their campaign to oppose Trump, it does not benefit the American people.
Healthy political discourse is vital for a functioning democracy. If the Republicans hope to contend with the Democrats in 2016, they must respond to the issues the American people face. The Democrats have been able to effectively adapt and the Republicans have crashed and burned.
Only time will tell if the Republicans can salvage the wreckage, or if they will allow it to continue to smolder.
