Republicans in 2016: Some 'splainin' to do on the issues
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 Date: November 8, 2016 |
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July 20, 2016
By Rich Cohen
Note: This is a five-part series in which Rich Cohen examines the Republican nominee, the party, the convention, and the campaign. He will write a similar series for next week's Democratic convention.
When it comes to describing their views on major policy issues facing the nation, Donald Trump and the Republican Party are reminiscent of the characters in the classic 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy: Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz. Like the slap-dash comedienne, they need to do some explaining—or ‘splainin,’ in Desi’s shorthand. As described in the online Urban Dictionary, "A frequent theme on the show was [Arnaz] discovering an entangled deception of his wife's, whereupon he'd intone sternly to her: 'Lucy, I think you've got some 'splainin' to do.'"[1]
During the Republican primaries, Trump typically discussed how he would change federal policy only in the vaguest terms. More often than not, he has refused to be pinned down—by his supporters, by his opponents, by advocacy groups, by the news media, or by others.
Many Republican policy wonks—notably including House Speaker Paul Ryan—had hoped for months that they could use the GOP convention to wring commitments from Trump, with help from the party platform and speeches from the rostrum in the Quicken Loan Arena.
Trump appears likely to emerge from Cleveland without having done his ‘splainin.’ Although his party’s views on important issues often seem muddled or a mass of contradictions, he appears comfortable with the ambiguity. At their convention in Philadelphia next week, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats surely will launch their own efforts to pin down Trump and describe him in the least flattering terms. But the past year has shown that such efforts are not guaranteed to succeed. As a framework for the GOP dichotomy, here are the views on three key issues by Trump, Ryan’s "A Better Way" agenda that he issued last month with House Republicans, and the convention platform. Some details have been condensed from Ballotpedia’s extensive policy reviews.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
Donald Trump: Would repeal Obamacare, reduce barriers to the interstate sale of health insurance, institute a full tax deduction for insurance premium payments for individuals, make Health Saving Accounts inheritable, require price transparency, block-grant Medicaid to the states, and allow for more overseas drug providers through lowered regulatory barriers.
Paul Ryan: "Obamacare is making things worse by the day. It is driving up premiums and deductible costs for individuals, families, and businesses. It is forcing people off the plans they like. It is fueling waste, fraud, and abuse. And it cannot be fixed. …
"Our plan recognizes that people deserve more patient-centered care, not more bureaucracy. That means more choices, not more mandates. You should have the freedom and the flexibility to choose the care that’s best for you. Insurers should compete for your business, and treat you fairly—no matter what. You and your family should have access to the best lifesaving treatments in the world. And as you get older, Medicare should give you more choices too. At every step, you should be in the driver’s seat."
Platform: "It [Obamacare] must be removed and replaced with an approach based on genuine competition, patient choice, excellent care, wellness, and timely access to treatment. To that end, a Republican president, on the first day in office, will use legitimate waiver authority under the law to halt its advance and then, with the unanimous support of Congressional Republicans, will sign its repeal."
Taxes
- See also: 2016 presidential candidates on taxes
Donald Trump: Would cut taxes at all income levels, with the largest benefits, in dollar and percentage terms, going to the highest-income households; remove the federal income tax for individuals earning less than $25,000 and couples earning less than $50,000, reduce the highest individual income tax rate from 39.6 percent to 25 percent, and cut corporate taxes to no higher than 15 percent; and support significant business tax cuts.
Paul Ryan: "Simplicity and fairness. Our plan makes the tax code simpler, fairer, and flatter, so that it’s not only easier to do your taxes, but it’s also easier to have peace of mind at critical moments in life."
"Jobs and growth. Our plan makes it easier to create jobs, raise wages, and expand opportunity for all Americans."
"A service-first IRS. Our plan matches a simpler, fairer tax code with a simpler, fairer IRS that puts taxpayers first."
Platform: "We oppose tax policies that deliberately divide Americans or promote class warfare. Because of the vital role of religious organizations, charities, and fraternal benevolent societies in fostering generosity and patriotism, they should not be subject to taxation and donations to them should remain deductible. To guard against hyper-taxation of the American people in any restructuring of the federal tax system, any value added tax or national sales tax must be tied to the simultaneous repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, which established the federal income tax."
Immigration
Donald Trump: Wants strong borders, including a wall between the U.S. and Mexico; would form a deportation force to deport immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and require them to enter the country through a legal process should they wish to return; said immigrants from Mexico bring drugs and crime across the border and called them "rapists"; and supports rescinding Obama’s executive orders on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs.
Paul Ryan: "Secure the border and enforce our immigration laws by: Putting in place robust, layered defenses to stop unlawful entry. Gaining operational control and situational awareness across the entire border. Conducting enhanced screening of aliens seeking admission to the U.S. and bringing security vetting into the digital age. Developing the means to track illegal aliens within the United States. Detaining and removing criminal aliens and restoring overall immigration enforcement within the United States."
Platform: "America’s immigration policy must serve the national interest of the United States, and the interests of American workers must be protected over the claims of foreign nationals seeking the same jobs. … Illegal immigration endangers everyone, exploits the taxpayers, and insults all who aspire to enter America legally. We oppose any form of amnesty for those who, by breaking the law, have disadvantaged those who have obeyed it. …
"That is why we support building a wall along our southern border and protecting all ports of entry. The border wall must cover the entirety of the southern border and must be sufficient to stop both vehicular and pedestrian traffic."
When it comes to ‘splainin’ these policies and their inconsistencies, the election may be a crucial test of the voters’ views or how much they care.
Richard E. Cohen is a senior editor at Ballotpedia and a veteran congressional reporter. Among the books that he has written, he is chief author of The 2016 Almanac of American Politics.
See also
- Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
- Republican National Committee
- Republican National Convention, 2016
Footnotes
