GOP Candidates Have Varied Records on Liberty
Across the country, students are gearing up for summer and completing their final exams. In addition, the 2016 presidential field is beginning to take shape, as new contenders are getting involved every day. With so many choices on the GOP side and the race in flux, it is important that primary voters know how these presidential aspirants measure up to one another. In the spirit of academia, let’s view the “report cards” for the some of the top candidates in the 2016 race in four key categories: economic liberty, personal liberty, foreign policy and honesty. Also, in the spirit of going “back to school,” these candidates’ report cards will be accompanied by pictures of them from their younger days.
1. Rand Paul: A
Economic Liberty: A
Personal Liberty: A-
Foreign Policy: A-
Honesty: A
At the top of the GOP class is Senator Rand Paul, who is easily one of the most principled candidates in the entire 2016 race. Paul has consistently opposed increases in the size of government, and he was the only person in the US Senate who proposed a budget amendment which would have resulted in a net cut in spending, even while giving neo-conservatives the increase in defense spending which they so desired.
He has also carved out a niche in speaking out against the negative effects of the Drug War and NSA spying. Paul has been markedly more “traditionally conservative” than his father on foreign policy, but he still remains the most staunch non-interventionist in the GOP primary field.
2. Ted Cruz: B+
Economic Liberty: A-
Personal Liberty: B
Foreign Policy: B+
Honesty: B
Senator Ted Cruz is pretty good on the issues considering the rest of the GOP, as he is a principled conservative who favors budget cuts and lower taxes. One of the only strikes against him on the economic front is that he refused to compensate for increases in defense spending with cuts to other areas as Rand Paul did. Cruz’s personal liberty score is hampered by his past desire for a federal ban on same-sex marriage, which has evolved into reinstating individual state bans, as well as his former belief that the President should enforce drug laws against states which have legalized marijuana. Cruz’s foreign policy is better than the rest of the GOP field other than Paul, but he still has hawkish instincts. In regards to his honesty, Cruz can at times come off as somewhat artificial, though he claims he has a strong commitment to liberty.
3. Rick Perry: B+
Economic Liberty: B+
Personal Liberty: B+
Foreign Policy: B-
Honesty: B+
It may be surprising for some to see Governor Perry so high in the GOP “class,” but his record tells the whole story. Perry is a proud “Tenth Amendment conservative,” believing that the states can almost always create better policy than the federal government. Governor Perry said in a 2011 debate that Ron Paul had persuaded him that the Federal Reserve is “at the root of a lot of the problems that we have,” and has a consistent record of supporting a Balanced Budget Amendment.
Perry has also been a strong voice in supporting the decriminalization of marijuana, also saying that states should be permitted to make that decision. The former Texas Governor has also expressed concerns about the NSA spying program, likening it to something that Communist China would do. One of the only visible negatives on Perry’s resume is his continued support for foreign interventionism, as he attacked fellow GOP candidate Rand Paul as “isolationist” in 2014.
4. Ben Carson: B
Economic Liberty: B
Personal Liberty: C+
Foreign Policy: B+
Honesty: B+
Ben Carson sounds like someone who is fairly conservative, but the fact that he has no political experience whatsoever is a large hindrance to him developing a coherent ideology. There is no doubt that Dr. Carson is extremely intelligent and well-versed in his area of practice (brain surgery), but it is likely that one of the reasons he has not been able to articulate his ideas very well is because it is not something that he has ever had to do before.
His statements concerning increasing gun control in urban areas, mandating vaccines, marijuana being a “gateway” drug and gay people in general make more sense if you view them as if they were discussed in the context of a “water cooler” conversation rather than in a presidential campaign. Carson does deserve credit for generally speaking in favor of the free market and against excessive foreign interventionism and the NSA spying program, but it just so often appears that he is in over his head.
5. Scott Walker: B-
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Economic Liberty: B
Personal Liberty: C+
Foreign Policy: B-
Honesty: B
Due to his status as a governor, many of Walker’s stances on federal issues remain a mystery. He is known to be staunchly conservative on economics and famously fought the public sector unions in Wisconsin. However, he has been open to allegations of “crony capitalism,” as he lobbied for state funding for the Milwaukee Bucks’ new NBA arena and subsidies to ethanol.
He has stated that he opposes the legalization of marijuana, calling it a “gateway” drug. On NSA spying, Walker has yet to take a pronounced position, stating that both sides make valid points. On foreign policy, Walker has not expressed a more nuanced ideology, but he has said that he would not rule out “boots on the ground” in Syria. On the issue of gay marriage, while he is personally against it, he has shown an interest in the libertarian approach of getting government out of the marriage business altogether.
6. Marco Rubio: C
Economic Liberty: A-
Personal Liberty: D
Foreign Policy: D
Honesty: C-
Considered an up-and-comer in the GOP, Marco Rubio has been fairly consistent in his support for free markets over crony capitalism, with the only apparent negatives on his record being his support for a large subsidy for the Florida Marlins’ MLB stadium in 2004 as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, support for sugar subsidies and a refusal to accept Senator Paul’s budget amendment, even though Paul’s proposal provided the same amount of defense spending as did Rubio’s.
Rubio has also indicated that he would use federal authority to “crack down” on states which have legalized marijuana, and refuses to answer if he personally used the drug. He has also said that he would permanently extend NSA surveillance, and on foreign policy, he’s as hawkish as it gets, as in 2012 he argued that the US should get involved in Syria and Iran in a military capacity.
7. Mike Huckabee: C-
Economic Liberty: B
Personal Liberty: D
Foreign Policy: C-
Honesty: D
Huckabee is in favor of ending the IRS and replacing it with the FairTax, but as Governor of Arkansas, he created several new taxes, resulting in a net increase during his tenure. In 2008, he spoke in favor of mandating one year of civilian military service and said he would be willing to ban smoking in all public places nationwide.
Huckabee supports an overwhelming infusion of “morality” into governance as, among other stances which reflect as much, he signed a same-sex marriage ban as governor. Huckabee also has an apparent hatred for libertarianism within the GOP, saying that such principles do not reflect “an American message.”
8. Jeb Bush: D
Economic Liberty: C-
Personal Liberty: F
Foreign Policy: D
Honesty: D
A member of the GOP’s “royal family,” during Bush’s time as Florida Governor, the budget grew by 27%, and in 2009, he stated that the bank bailouts were needed to prevent “financial unraveling.” Perhaps the most frightening part of Bush’s agenda is his reputation on civil liberties, as he has staunchly supported NSA spying, calling it the “best part” of the Obama Presidency.
He has also stood against medical marijuana and in favor of spending more money on the Drug War, even though he used drugs when he was younger. As Governor, he also worked to increase mandatory minimums, reduce Due Process rights and supported the death penalty. On foreign policy, Bush apparently wishes to continue the legacy of his brother, as he has stated the US should project “American determination and leadership.”
9. Chris Christie: D-
Economic Liberty: C-
Personal Liberty: F
Foreign Policy: F
Honesty: D
Christie supports NSA spying, saying that any critics of the program (particularly within the GOP) are “dangerous” and that they should talk to the families of 9/11 victims. Even though Christie has acknowledged that the War on Drugs has been a failure, he thinks that medical marijuana is merely a guise for full legalization, and that marijuana is a gateway drug.
He has also referred to non-interventionism as “isolationism” and has stated that the US should make clear to the world “what we stand for.” He has also shown an inclination toward crony capitalism, as he blocked Tesla from marketing its direct sales model in New Jersey. There is also significant question as to how Governor Christie used the funds allotted to his state in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
10. Rick Santorum: F
Economic Liberty: D
Personal Liberty: F
Foreign Policy: F
Honesty: D
Rick Santorum finishes at the bottom of the class, as he is the quintessential Bush-era Republican: he supports intrusive social conservatism, endless foreign entanglements and big government meddling in the economy. He supports increasing penalties for drug offenses and has been one of the most ardent supporters of an invasion of Iran.
As a Senator, he also supported a bailout of the steel industry in an act of protectionism. He voted in favor of the No Child Left Behind Act, saying that while he opposed the legislation, he voted for it because he had to “take one for the (GOP) team.” During his unsuccessful Senate re-election campaign in 2006, Santorum said that the public has no right to know about NSA spying, and that it is not an invasion of privacy.