Breaking down the rhetoric

Jessica Faz

The Signal

Political parties are characterized by their different stances on issues influencing elections.

The Republican Party, commonly called the Grand Old Party or GOP, is one of two major political parties in the United States. On the right end of the political spectrum, Republicans are considered fiscally and socially conservative and favor a limited role for government in society.

“The party supports personal responsibility over welfare programs; it is society’s role, rather than the government’s role, to assist those in need,” said Chris Elam, communications director for the Texas Republican Party.

Furthermore, Republicans are typically pro-life and oppose gun control laws, same-sex marriage and raising the minimum wage.

The Tea Party, a conservative movement associated with the Republican Party, is a network of community groups who believe the federal government is too big and too powerful. The protest movement has inserted itself into Republican Party politics, rather than run candidates as independents.

Common themes among tea party groups are deficit reduction, opposition to spending “earmarks,’’ reducing the size of government, eliminating mandates and repealing Obama’s health care expansion, said Felicia Cravens, founder of Houston Tea Party Society.

“The Republican Party comes closest for a potential vehicle to carry the Tea Party, but we don’t always support Republican candidates,” Cravens said. “We are about saying what we actually mean.”

The Democratic Party is the other major political party in the U.S.  On the left end of the political spectrum, Democrats tend to favor an active role for government. Democratic ideals, as stated in the 2010 Platform of the Texas Democratic Party, are “health care for all, a cleaner environment, quality education and expanding college opportunities.”

“Our platform states ‘Texas will not become Arizona,’” said Kristen Gray, communications director for the Texas Democratic Party. “Texas Democrats oppose any law that would, through its enforcement, result in discrimination.”

In addition, Democrats are typically pro-choice and support gun control laws, increase taxes on the wealthy, energy independence and gay rights.

The Libertarian Party, the third-largest political party in both Texas and the U.S., is against big government and believe the government’s only role is to protect its citizens against theft, violence and fraud, said Christie Pearson, gulf coast regional director of the Libertarian Party of Texas.

“Our party opposes Obamacare,” Pearson said. “We believe health care should be a free market. Immigration laws must be reformed. Work visas should be given to immigrants after they follow proper procedures subsequent to entering a valid port of entry. We believe in the right to bear arms.”

Libertarianism is the view that everyone has the right to live her life in any way she chooses as long as she respects other’s rights, Pearson said.

Nationally recognized as a political party since 2001, the Green Party of the U.S. is a voluntary association of state parties that emphasizes environmentalism, election reform and clean energy.

When explaining the party’s ideology, Green Party of Texas State Executive Committee member Alản Apurim points to the party’s 10 key values which include grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, decentralization and global responsibility and sustainability.

“We are very underfunded, refusing corporate bribery campaign funding, and understaffed,” Apurim said. “We also admonish people to not vote “straight ticket.’”







The Signal newspaper interviewed Hector De Leon, Harris County Director of Communication and Voter Outreach. De Leon shows viewers how to cast their ballots. The Signal broadcast reporter Diana Cotter and videographer William Garfield interviewed students around the University of Houston-Clear Lake campus and to find out what some of the top concerns are for Texas voters.