Sam Butler 10/7/13 Period 2

Political Ideology Essay

Political Ideologies are different from political parties, but they are often confused. Political Parties elect candidates to run with their partys ticket, and political ideologies are beliefs that people have about certain political issues. The main two political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Democratic Party is often confused with the liberal ideology, and the Republican Party with the conservative ideology. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen is a liberal because hes prochoice on abortion, pro-gun control, and his belief that illegal immigrants should be able to obtain citizenship; former Republican president George Bush is a conservative because he is pro-life, anti-gun control, and against citizenship for illegal immigrants, and independent Angus King is a liberal independent because he is pro-choice, pro-gun control, and has a liberal outlook on immigration. Democrat Chris Van Hollen, a member of the US House of Representatives, is a perfect example of a liberal Democrat. Chris Van Hollen has a liberal ideology, and this is shown by his opinions on abortion, gun control, and immigration. In June of 2013, Representative Van Hollen voted against a bill that would prevent abortion after twenty weeks into pregnancy. In 2008, he also voted against a bill that would repeal portions of the D.C. firearm ban. Liberals, like Van Hollen, are opposed to peoples possession of guns, which is why Van Hollens vote shows his liberal ideology. Van Hollen also showed his liberal ideology when he voted to pass the DREAM act, an act that provides permanent residency to immigrants who graduate high school and entered the country as a minor. His vote shows that Van Hollen is a liberal because he supported a liberal immigration plan. Chris Van Hollen is an example of a liberal Democrat because he has liberal views on issues like abortion, gun control, and immigration. George W. Bush, US President from 2000-2008, is an example of a conservative Republican. His views on abortion, gun control, and immigration are all views that the average conservative has.

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President Bush spoke at a pro-life march in 2008 and frequently showed his support for the marchers during that speech. Bush showed his conservative ideology when he expressed his support for the prolife marchers, as a pro-life view of abortion is a conservative view. Bush also has a conservative view about guns, believing that Americans should have the right to own guns. In a 2004 Presidential debate, President Bush said I believe law-abiding citizens ought to be able to own a gun. Conservatives believe that citizens should have the right to own guns, and Bush showed that he, too, has this belief in his 2004 debate. The conservative opinion on immigration is that illegal immigrants should be deported because they did not follow the immigration process like so many did. President Bush showed his similar beliefs when, in May of 2006, he gave a speech on immigration reform, during which he called illegal immigrants a real problem who put pressure on public schools and bring crime to our communities. By mentioning these things, he showed that he believes illegal immigrants should be deported because they dont contribute to society. George W. Bush is the perfect example of a conservative Republican because of his views on abortion, guns, and immigration. Some congressmen, known as Independents, are neither Democrat nor Republican, though they generally lean more towards one political ideology than another. Angus King, an Independent senator from Maine, is more liberal than conservative when it comes to social issues like abortion, guns, and immigration. In a public statement, King said I am pro-choice. Pro-choice is the liberal view on abortion, and since King shares this view, he is liberal when it comes to abortion. Liberals views on guns are that people shouldnt have them, or at the very least the number of people who own guns should be minimized. Angus King showed that he agrees when he praised Obamas gun control plan in a statement he made on January 16th, 2013. Obamas plan included stricter background checks for gun purchasers as well as limits to how many bullets could be held in a magazine, both ideas endorsed by liberals. Angus King also shows that his beliefs lean toward liberal during a speech he made on an immigration reform

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bill in June, 2013. He showed his support for the bill because it provided an opportunity for citizenship to the illegal immigrants in America. Senator Angus King shows that, when it comes to social issues, he leans toward a liberal ideology. Democratic and liberal are often confused, just like Republican and conservative. Liberal and conservative are political ideologies, meaning they are belief systems that people have. Democrat and Republican are political parties, groups that hold conventions and support candidates for government positions. Chris Van Hollen is a good example of a democratic liberal because of his views on abortion, guns, and immigration. George Bush is an example of a conservative republican because of his views on abortion, guns, and immigration, which oppose those of Chris Van Hollen. Independent Angus King is a liberal when it comes to social issues like abortion, guns, and immigration, as his views on those issues are similar to those of Representative Chris Van Hollen. Chris Van Hollen is a good example of a liberal Democrat, George Bush is a conservative Republican, and Angus King is a liberal independent because of their views on abortion, guns, and immigration.

Sam Butler 10/7/13 Period 2 Bibliography Bush, George W. President Bush Addresses the Nation on Immigration Reform. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Bush, George W. "President Bush and Senator Kerry in the Third 2004 Presidential Debate." President Bush and Senator Kerry in the Third 2004 Presidential Debate: n. pag. Print. Cong. Rec. Statement of Angus King. 20 June 2013 Project Vote Smart. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.votesmart.org/>. Gonzalez, Roberto G., and Veronica Terriquez. "How DACA is Impacting the Lives of Those Who are Now DACAmented." Immigration Policy Center. American Immigration Council, n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/>. "Representative Christopher 'Chris' Van Hollen, Jr." Project Vote Smart. Project Vote Smart, n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.votesmart.org/>.

Sam Butler 10/7/13 Period 2 Works Cited

Bush, George W. President Bush Addresses the Nation on Immigration Reform. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Bush, George W. "President Bush and Senator Kerry in the Third 2004 Presidential Debate." President Bush and Senator Kerry in the Third 2004 Presidential Debate: n. pag. Print. Cong. Rec. Statement of Angus King. 20 June 2013 Project Vote Smart. Web. 8 Oct. 2013. <http://www.votesmart.org/>.

Sam Butler 10/7/13 Period 2 Critical Review of Websites 1. URL of the Website: http://votesmart.org/______________________________________________________ 2. Website Title: Project Vote Smart______________________________________________________________ 3. What organization and/or individual created this website? Project Vote Smart____________________________________________________ 4. Can you rely on this information? Yes Why or why not? Because its a non-profit organization committed to getting information to voters so they can___ vote for canidates whos opinions agree with theirs.____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Is the material: ___Primary/Original _X_Secondary/Derived? 7. When was this page written or last updated? It is updated constantly with new information._________________________________ 8. Rate this web page. excellent for the assignment ==================================================================== ==================================================================== 1. URL of the Website: http://immigrationpolicy.org/________________________________________________ 2. Website Title: Immigration Policy Center_______________________________________________________ 3. What organization and/or individual created this website? American Immigration Council____________________________________________________ 4. Can you rely on this information? Yes Why or why not? They are a reputable source because they are committed to strengthening America by honoring our immigrant history___________________________________________________________ 6. Is the material: _X_Primary/Original ___Secondary/Derived? 7. When was this page written or last updated? It is updated daily with new articles about immigration news.____________________________ 8. Rate this web page. good for the assignment ==================================================================== ====================================================================