Presidential election of 2012 - Essay Example

History and political science 12 November Presidential election Introduction The scoreboard of United s of America, consisting of the fifty states shows how votes were distributed among the peoples, and who they thought to be the most popular candidate. President Barack Obama won the elections with a total vote of 62,088,847 at a 50.6 percent, while his opponent Romney gathered 58,783,137 at 47.9% (BBC bbc.co.uk). However, the Republican Party in support of Romney managed to maintain control of the house representation at 233 seats, while the democrats were the majority in the senate representation with 53 seats (BBC bbc.co.uk). The 2012 U.S. elections came at a time that required special attention due to slow economic recovery, and the New Jersey Superstorm Sandy that gave people an opportunity to criticize the existing leadership. The catastrophe had called for the previous Obama government and Democratic Party to act wisely, maintain balance, and a good image before the nation that paid close attention. The quick move taken by the President Obama with the New Jersey governor, Chris Christie of the Republican Party to provide aid to the affected East Coast society, benefitted President Barack Obama in gathering support from people of New Jersey, for handling the emergency with integrity. During the last days of the campaign, the two presidential candidates had to perfect their actions and images towards the New Jersey disaster but as usual, it was up to the voter to decide how they related and viewed the actions of both candidates. The disaster seemed to be the last determinant of the voters’ motivation in support of their favorable candidate. Mitt Romney in his campaign marked the last Tuesday to the elections as ‘Storm Relief Events’ where he took blankets and food to the affected victims, while Obama rescheduled his activities on the following Wednesday, forfeiting the valuable time he would have had campaigning for his re-election, to focus on immediate management of the crisis, talking with the affected society and viewing the storm damage one on one (Fischer, spiegel.de). This strategy was well rewarded for Obama who Acquired 58 % of the votes in the state of New Jersey (“US election 2012” telegraph.co.uk). 1. Social Welfare Politics in North America have had along history with differentiated support of the leading political parties that seem to be divided along racial and religious voters. Certain people tend to be associated with Democratic Party and not republican, based on their religious belief and race which end up into political debates, and in turn affect the voting pattern. The 2012 U.S. elections had a major issue surrounding the personal religious identities of the two leading presidential candidates, which well connects with the divisive social issues within religious dimensions. According to Wade, the Republican Party has more support from the whites than black based on their catholic and protestant religious faith (thesocietypages.org). There was little support for the Republican from the blacks and religiously unaffiliated (see fig. 1). Fig. 1. Republican composition based on religion from Lisa Wade. ; “Religion and Race among Democrats and Republicans”; thesocietypages.org. 15 September, 2012; Web; 12 November, 2012. On the other hand, democrats have most of their stronghold from the societies dominated by black people and those religiously unassociated than in republican support (Wade thesocietypages.org ). Certain issues like permission of same sex marriages, the legality of abortion, inclusion of the word God on Parties platform and critical controversy of the Muslim video, set the differences between the parties and their support (see fig. 2). Fig. 2. Democrates composition based on religion from Lisa Wade. ; “Religion and Race among Democrats and Republicans”; thesocietypages.org. 15 September, 2012; Web; 12 November, 2012. Mitt Romney was initially satisfied by women making their decision on abortion, but following his believe, he admitted to been opposed to abortion in the debates as a moral stand, which could have led the huge support by the religious group than other non believers(“Romney on abortion,” candidate-comparison.org). Together with the opposition of same sex marriages, Romney strategy on the social welfare divided Obama’s re-elect voters. Romney however, advocates for equal rights and treatment even for the gay people in their marital status, as he re-affirmed to withdraw support of Planned Parenthood which the Democrats fully embrace. 2. Health Care In the previous term of President Barack leadership, the nation had begun to experience the benefits of the health care bill, which has continued to enable coverage for many uninsured Americans. Most of the people who have benefited from the Obama care are low income patients and families, who could then acquire affordable health insurance premiums. The nation was set to a possibility of free and affordable services, through reduced cost drugs and reducing costs for both the employer, and the employees on issues surrounding catastrophe illnesses. However, the insurance companies feel oppressed for been forced to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions in the population, regardless of their health status or history (“Make Health insurance,”change.gov). While the lower social-economic classes would definitely vote for Obama, Romney’s strategy was concerned with providing the insurance companies with a choice on whether to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions or not, and at the same time, come up with a better plan to expand protection of those people without having to face rejection (“2012 candidate comparison,”candidate-comparison.org). Romney tried to maintain balance with Obama care, by proposing the flexibility of insurance companies to cover patients with pre-existing conditions, on top of the existing health care act. The rich, influential groups who have interest on profits from heath sector, like the pharmaceuticals and insurance companies would support Romney, following his strategy to relieve them from an extra cost they have to incur over the period due to Medicare. 3. Tax plans Both Romney and Obama had a similarity on cutting the entire corporate tax rate, but their differences seemed to divide the society based on their income, and ability in such a slow economic recovery period. Obama’s strategy to maintain balance in the economy was by raising tax rates of wealth, and high income households to control revenue deficit, and raising taxes on investment flows, while Romney perceived that the reduction of interest rates and rewriting of the revenue law, would serve as basis to revive the economy (Gleckman, taxpolicycenter.org). This taxation strategy by Obama campaign puts off high income individuals, and investors who tend to vote for Republican candidate in favor of their economic security, while the low and moderate income earners opt for Obama due to the benefit of lengthened period of tax credit. 4. Unemployment The republican concern on the increase in unemployment rate gave a convincing power to the jobless voters, and most especially the young generation to divide their vote on Obama. Unemployment is so critical for any government beside USA, where many believe it cannot be eradicated. As the population grows day by day, there are increasing numbers of college leavers and new immigrants. It has proven difficult to control rate of unemployment in the U.S. by the government. Not even Romney could erase it through the tax reduction on investment plans. One of Obama’s campaign strategy, focused on improving rural communities’ business development and training that would see job creation through double exports program (“Economic issues,” 2012-presidential-candidates.findthedata.org). Romney’s strategy to woo population vote through the issue of increased joblessness, may have contributed to diffuse the resilient Obama support from the youth, though the democrats had already established their grounds with the young voters back in 2008. This group cannot be ignored as much as it faces the most difficulties in labor sectors. President Barack was able to win the elections through the numerous votes from the female, minority and young groups, even if the general voter turnout was lower than in 2008 (Zinhua, China.org.cn). Romney argued that the president had failed to create jobs for the U.S. population by citing the 8.1 percent rate of the unemployed, but Obama opposed his claim by reminding the nation of the previous thirty months his government had struggled to boost the private sector, that brought progressive job growth before the decline again, in the election period (Shear, Nytimes.com). Romney had promised more job opportunities as an agenda once elected. 5. Strategies on Public education and immigration Campaigns on students and their teachers’ welfare controversy stood between Obama and Romney. While Romney was in favor of the federal responsibility measures concerning No Child left behind law, Obama freed the states of the burden brought about by the law, as long as the states work to improve, and harmonize how the students within their jurisdiction are prepared and evaluated(“Where mitt Romney” foxnews.com). College students and especially those with low income are protected under Obama strategy, which gives them tax credit. Professions in teaching also have an assurance of more job creation, as more teachers in certain fields like sciences and mathematics would be absorbed in the industry to produce a more qualified, and competent workforce that the market needs. It is more obvious that this plan worked to attract youths especially those still in education program, low income individuals and families, and even the unemployed voters. Romney strongly advocated for federal control on public education. Romney’s policy on immigration was probably a bit harsh on the immigrants, if not reasonable to the listening states’ population; an act that would rather mean national biasness, towards the coming and existing immigrants in North America. As much as any other North American citizen would hope for the U.S. immigration control, secured employment positions, and other resources for the citizens. However, Romney’s opinion reduced the rights of the illegal immigrants on educational aspects, and legality of their status, pushing the immigrants’ voters to support Obama, for his viewed consideration on exempting deportation of children brought in as illegal immigrants (“Where mitt Romney,” foxnews.com). Conclusion Obama’s previous work in healthcare innovation was already an implemented strategy that worked for the low income earner to vote for him. Youths also offered him enough support for his democrat party, having identified with them since he took office in 2008, beside the tax credit for low income college student, and his interest to protect the immigrant young generation from deportation. The taxation plan for Obama in reducing the corporate tax rate is better than that of Romney, since it will not have to take people back to another process of rewriting the tax law, which would also require more resources. However, Obama lost votes from high income earners, and influential companies, while fighting for the welfare of low income group. The pro-choice strategy in planned child birth convinced women to support him, while part of the religious group votes slipped away from him. Of all the specified categories, Obama support for the general people social welfare divides the society into low income, and high income earners, whose votes were based on their interests. Works cited BBC. “Results.” bbc.co.uk. 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. Fischer Sebastian. “Chris Christe’s support could give president edge.” Spiegel.de. 31 October 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. < http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/hurricane-sandy-could-give-obama-campaign-decisive-boost-a-864472.html> Gleckman Haward. “The ten biggest differences.” taxvox.taxpolicycenter.org. 23 October 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. Now comparing Barack Obama Vs Mitt Romney: Economic Issues.” findthedata.org. 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. “Romney position on abortion.” 2012. candidate-comparison.org. n.d. Web. 12 November, 2012. “Shear Michael D. “Reviewing the Numbers as Candidate's Trade Words.” nytimes.com, 3 October 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. “US Election 2012.” telegraph.co.uk. n.d .Web. 12 November, 2012. Wade Lisa. “Religion and Race among Democrats and Republicans.” thesocietypages.org. 15 September, 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. “Where Mitt Romney and Barack Obama Stand on Key Issues.”latino.foxnews.com. 2 August, 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. Xinhua. “Voter turnout drops, more races settled in the US elections.”China.org.cn. 8 November 2012. Web. 12 November, 2012. “2012 candidate comparison.” 2 012. candidate-comparison.org. n.d. Web. 12 November, 2012. Read More