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View from the Hill

The 2016 presidential candidates in tweets

The 2016 election is on the horizon (sort of). 

Thus far, the GOP presidential candidates have graced us twice with their televised debates. Next week, the Democrats get their chance to do the same.

In anticipation of the Democratic debate — and the fact that one of these people (or Joe Biden) is going to be the next leader of the free world — we thought it would be prudent to take a look at the policies of these presidential hopefuls. 

And where better to look than Twitter?

After some major Twitter-stalking, we've compiled notable tweets regarding these candidates' policies and placed them into categories corresponding to the political issue. 

All tweets have been posted within the last three months. In some cases not all candidates have tweeted about that issue within this time period.

Enjoy!

Healthcare:

Lincoln Chafee: Pro-Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), wants to move toward universal coverage.

Ted Cruz: (Like every Republican ever) wants to repeal Obamacare and instead implement market-based reforms. 

Carly Fiorina: Views Obamacare as "legislative overreach," instead advocates a competitive health insurance market.

Bobby Jindal: Wants to "repeal and replace" (ooh alliteration) Obamacare with a plan state health insurance program and health savings accounts. 

Marco Rubio: We'll let the tweet speak for itself. 

Foreign Policy:

Jeb Bush: Said the U.S. should flex its muscles where Syria is concerned.

Chafee: The U.S. should "disarm Syria with diplomacy."

Cruz: Is very (very) opposed to President Obama's recently secured nuclear deal with Iran, which aims to limit the nation's production of nuclear components. 

He has also said he condemns Bashar al-Assad's regime, but would not vote to strike Syria militarily.

Fiorina: Said she finds the Syrian refugee crisis "heartbreaking," but would not advise the U.S. open its borders to accept more refugees.

Graham: Wants to deploy 10,000 troops to Syria to battle the Islamic State (formerly known as ISIS or ISIL). 

Mick Huckabee: ......

Jindal: Said he still believes the U.S. should reject the Iran deal.

 

John Kasich: While he was one of the more moderate voices to comment on the Iran deal during the second GOP debate last month, Kasich has said he does not support the deal, though concedes there are several issues at stake.

George Pataki: Has called the Iran deal "bad for the civilized world."

Paul: Has blamed other Republicans in the party for the rise of the Islamic State, blaming "hawkish" members of the party who provided weapons in the regions "indiscriminately." 

Rubio: Not a fan of the Iran deal.

Rick Santorum: Also not a fan of the Iran deal.

Donald Trump: You know what, let's just assume none of the Republicans are fans of the Iran deal.

Economy:

Bush: Wants to "unleash American prosperity," (what does that mean, Jeb?).

Carson: Has outlined a pretty simple flat-tax program modeled after the Christian practice of tithing, because he said he believes, "God is a pretty fair guy."

Chafee: Like Bernie, wants to raise the minimum wage — but takes a more mitigated approach to overall tax reform.

Hillary Clinton: Also advocates raising the minimum wage, but has placed extra importance on wage equality, particularly for women. 

Cruz: Wants to....abolish the Internal Revenue Service?

Huckabee: So, you want to abolish the IRS — are you #TeamHuck or #TeamCruz?

Jindal: Said he wants to slash federal spending and focus on job-creation. 

Kasich: Kasich has repeatedly emphasized his record of balancing budgets as Gov. in Ohio — his platform seeks to bring that budget-busting to the federal level.

Pataki: Has said he wants to raise taxes for "fat cats" and hedge fund managers.

Paul: If you're good at math:

Bernie Sanders: A self-proclaimed democratic socialist, Sanders has said he wants to increase the minimum wage to $15 and subsidize costs of higher education. 

Trump: Recently released a tax plan that decreases taxes across the board.

Gun Control:

Carson: Is extremely pro-Second Amendment rights. 

Clinton: Has said the U.S. needs gun control, and American politicians need to rein in the idea that anyone can have a gun, anywhere.

Huckabee: Has said he strongly defends the Second Amendment and opposes new gun control laws. He's very much of the mindset that "guns don't kill people, people kill people."

Martin O’Malley: Has advocated for gun control reform, particularly in light of recent shootings.

Pataki: Has said states should ban assault weapons and require trigger locks, more consistent with Democratic than Republican principles.

Paul: Has voted consistently to uphold the Second Amendment to its fullest extent. 

Trump: Thinks that both the Republican and Democratic stance on gun control is "dumb," but lately has come out against it.

Immigration:

Carson: Wants the U.S. to adopt a guest-worker program similar to Canada's — giving guest-worker status to millions of undocumented workers without a criminal record.

Clinton: Has called for reform, those has not adopted a hard-line stance to illegal immigration. 

Cruz: Has repeatedly demanded stronger immigration reform. 

Fiorina: Opposes sanctuary cities and amnesty for illegal immigrants. 

Jindal: "We need high walls and a broad gate."

Sanders: Advocates a fair and humane immigration policy and has criticized current deportation policies. 

Santorum: Has adopted a hard-line stance on immigration — legal or otherwise. 

Trump: Build a wall. Make Mexico pay for it. Criticize anyone who doesn't think building a wall is a good idea. 

Energy:

Bush: Pro-Keystone XL pipeline. 

Graham: In fact, most of the GOP candidates support the Keystone XL pipeline. 

O’Malley: Has been opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline since the inception of the project. 

Rubio: Sassy and supportive of the pipeline. 

Trump: "No impact on environment."

Jim Webb: Is a strong proponent of energy independence.

Abortion and Planned Parenthood:

Bush: Has said he defunded Planned Parenthood while Gov. in Florida and if elected, will do the same as president.

Carson: Is pro-life. 

Clinton: Is a strong proponent of women's health, including abortion rights. Has come out in support of Planned Parenthood. 

Cruz: Is pro-life. 

Graham: is also pro-life and has a strong pro-life record in the U.S. Senate.

Huckabee: is (very) pro-life. 

Jindal: had a strong pro-life record during his tenure in Louisiana. 

O’Malley: is pro-choice and a strong supporter of women's health. 

Paul: has called for Planned Parenthood to be defunded. 

Rubio: Is pro-life. 

Sanders: Has come out very strongly in support of women's health and repeatedly emphasized a woman's right to her body.

Santorum: Wants American to be #blessed.

state@dailytarheel.com

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