Many sensible Americans are focusing their energy on the #NeverTrump movement. It’s easy to see why. Trump’s fascist rhetoric, nonsense ideas, and general douchebaggery are appalling and definitely worthy of some civil disobedience, but before you invest time and energy fighting Trump in the primary, you have to ask yourself how he differs from other Republicans.
Sure, Ted Cruz’s fierce ideology and John Kasich’s compassionate grandpa schtick sound a lot better than Trump’s pungent combination of arrogance and ignorance, but would a Trump presidency look much different than a Kasich or Cruz Administration? Not really.
Let’s take a point by point look at how the other Republican contenders are just as bad as the Donald.
Foreign Policy
Trump: “You would have to put boots on the ground. I would knock the hell out of them, but I’d put a ring around it and I’d take the oil for our country.” “We will not be ripped off anymore.”
Cruz
Ted Cruz’s foreign policy is basically lifted straight out of Dr. Strangelove. Bomb them all and let Ted sort ’em out.
At a December GOP Debate, as all of the candidates had a d–k-swinging contest over who could destroy an entire region of the world the fastest, Cruz talked of nuking the Middle East. He said, “I don’t know if sand can glow in the dark, but we’re going to find out.”
Kasich
Though Kasich hasn’t expressed an explicit interest in giving Middle Eastern deserts a neon green hue, he still advocates for a school yard bully foreign policy. He has said, “Mark my words … at some point it will require boots on the ground from the world to be able to deal with this problem.” If boots instead of bombs is “more realistic” to you, he’s your guy.
Economics
Trump: Cut taxes for the wealthy. Cut taxes on businesses. Do away with estate tax.
Cruz
A national flat tax is the centerpiece of Cruz’s economic plan, which would make aging war criminal Donald Rumsfeld and other rich jerks very happy.
At 83, I am close to losing hope that I will live to see a flat tax.
— Donald Rumsfeld (@RumsfeldOffice) April 18, 2016
His plan would certainly be shi–y for the rest of us. Under his plan, there’s a huge tax cut for the rich and a modest one for the middle class. The loss of revenue that would come from not taking money from the wealthy would be made up with a Value Added Tax on businesses (VAT). If you aren’t familiar with VAT, here is a nice diagram.
And, oh by the way, Cruz is also opposed to raising the minimum wage.
Kasich
Kasich’s economic plan is basically the same, just less insane. He wants to reduce regulation and lower taxes. This has been the plan of every Republican in recent memory, and though he isn’t as radical as Cruz or as bombastic as Trump, Kasich’s economic policy is functionally the same.
Women’s Issues
Cruz
Long an opponent of womens’ rights, Cruz has a long history of anti-woman policies formed with a combination of Medieval logic and a fear of cooties. He has gone on record saying that there is “no right more precious than the right to life” and has crafted and supported anti-abortion measures like those that John Oliver called out as bold-faced attempts to circumvent the Supreme Court.
Kasich
Like Cruz, Kasich is against all forms of abortion. He signed a law banning late-term abortions in 2011, signed a bill requiring ultrasounds for women seeking abortions, and pushed formal agreements between hospitals and clinics for abortion services. The result of these policies prompted women to flock to neighboring Michigan for women’s health services. As Ohio governor, Kasich has also cut funding for Planned Parenthood and rape crisis centers in his state.
Social Justice
Trump: “We have to give strength and power back to the police.” “I think that we should definitely disallow any Muslims from coming in.” “I’m just for traditional marriage.”
Cruz
Cruz has publicly stated that the Black Lives Matter movement is “embracing and celebrating the murder of police officers.” In addition to his inflammatory rhetoric, Cruz has taken active steps against issues near and dear to the African-American community, such as derailing criminal justice reform and gutting the Voting Rights Act.
Kasich
Unlike his opponents, Kasich has said “black lives matter,” but do his actions match his rhetoric? When asked about the high infant mortality rate among the Ohio Black community, Kasich said, “the community itself is going to have to have a better partnership with all of us to begin to solve that problem with infant mortality in the minority community, because we’re making gains in the majority community.” Under Kasich enacted welfare reforms, “the six counties with the highest rate of terminating food stamps for able-bodied, childless adults were all counties populated mostly by minorities.” If Black Lives Matter to John Kasich, he has a funny way of showing it.
Health Care
Cruz
Who could forget Ted Cruz’s dumbass Green Eggs and Ham speech during his anti-Obamacare filibuster?
