General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIssueless Election 2016 - Where Are The Stories/Comparisons of Candidates?
The Democratic primary has started off with a focus on the issues, but recently as Hillary solidified her lead, the news media has begun to focus on process, polls and VP candidates. Of course, the Republican primary has been almost entirely issue-less with most of the focus on insults and the relative size of a candidate's anatomy. What is amazing is the absence of any comparisons or voter guides discussing where the candidates stand on the issues.
Sure, I can go to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center for a comparison of their tax proposals:
http://election2016.taxpolicycenter.org/
Likewise, there are some relatively unknown sites like on the issues, which really do not do a great job of organizing the information to allow a voter to easily compare candidates:
http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm
There are some exceptions, but they also have their shortcomings. PBS's comparison is a bit simplistic, since it just focuses on 10 issues:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/what-the-candidates-believe/
Likewise, the NY Times' presentation is pretty simplistic, though it is easy to skim through:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/candidates-on-the-issues.html?_r=0
Nonetheless, it is disheartening given the extreme nature of the Republican candidates that there is no real mainstream media presentation of what the candidate's stated positions are on the issues.
CompanyFirstSergeant
(1,558 posts)...we don't need no stinkin' issues.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)TomCADem is pointing out that there is no GUIDE to comparison of positions of the Dem versus GOP candidates and that there should be.
Likely there will be more in the GE. I'm looking forward to Trump's side.
CompanyFirstSergeant
(1,558 posts)Whatever that means.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... talks in weasel words, and looking at her past actions it's clear that her stances on the issues are mighty unpopular. Ergo, weasel words.
TomCADem
(17,390 posts)I get that supporters will attack their candidate's opponents, but where is the reporting of the candidate's stated positions? Where are the proposals beyond the recitation of slogans? Fighting for jobs. Break up the banks. Yada, yada, yada. Again, there are a few places to look, like CNN's candidate matchmaker:
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2016/politics/election-candidate-matchmaker/
Edit to add:
Just took the quiz and it has me:
1. Hillary Clinton.
2. Martin O'Malley.
3. Bernie Sanders.
I would have thought I would have had Bernie top two.
zalinda
(5,621 posts)1. Bernie
2. Martin
3. Hillary
TomCADem
(17,390 posts)I guess trying to sound as idiotic as possible: Climate change is a hoax, illegal immigration is the worst threat, no abortion even in cases of incest, etc.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)GummyBearz
(2,931 posts)Implying Hillary has some kind of issue? The email thing along with many others are RW conspiracies, she doesn't have any issues!!
TomCADem
(17,390 posts)I personally did not see O'Malley coming second, but I am glad that no Republicans were listed. How did you fare?
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2016/politics/election-candidate-matchmaker/
Which is who I am voting for. Sorry if the pun in my previous post was a little too hidden