I noticed that an earlier article I wrote comparing NY State Democrats and Republicans on several issues was getting considerable attention from people doing google searches for "Democrat vs. Republican." So, since we have an election today, I thought it worth reprising that piece with some added details. What are the main differences between Democrats and Republicans? Let's see: Issues: Democrats are ranked better by advocacy groups that push for veterans rights, disabled rights, national security, seniors' issues, environment, labor, and choice. Almost every NY State Democrat ranks better on all of these issues than every NY State Republican. Recently I wrote about an organization called Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) which has rated Republicans markedly lower than Democrats on issues of concern to soldiers and veterans. IAVA was founded in June 2004 and claims to be the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans. The gist is that Republicans pretty much suck on defense while Democrats are mostly rated well by IAVA. Many of us have known this ever since Republicans in Congress criticized Clinton for going after bin Laden and since Republicans called Clinton "obsessed with al-Qaeda." That alone was enough for me to see that Republicans could not deal with threats to America while Clinton actually prevented the Millenium Attacks. Republicans claim that was pure luck (yeah...right), but it still is markedly better than anything Bush has been able to muster. Even some top ranking Generals, previously life-long Republicans, agree that Republicans are failing on Defense, not to mention the 21 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who are so pissed they are running for Congress as Democrats and are vocally opposed to Bush's policies. But I now want to extend my analysis to look at ratings of NY State Republicans vs. Democrats on other issues. Below I have ratings on Defense (A through F, from IAVA; similar rankings can be found on the Disabled American Veterans website), Seniors issues (lifetime rating on a scale of 0-100 from Alliance for Retired Americans), environment (most recent ratings on a scale of 0-100, League of Conservation Voters, an organization), Labor issues (lifetime score from 0-100, AFL-CIO) and reproductive rights (lifetime score from 0-100, Planned Parenthood; similar rankings can be found at NARAL as well). This is a mix of so-called "right" and "left" issues, and in almost every case Republicans rank below Democrats. Feel free to distribute this info and use it on election day. Republicans: Peter King:Defense: C+; Seniors: 11; Environment: 8; Labor: 35; Choice: 0 Vito Fossella: Defense: C+; Seniors: 9; Environment: 17; Labor: 15; Choice: 0 Sue Kelly: Defense: C+; Seniors: 8; Environment: 92; Labor: 28; Choice: 82 John Sweeney: Defense: C+; Seniors: 14; Environment: 42; Labor: 35; Choice: 25 John McHugh: Defense: C+; Seniors: 20; Environment: 25; Labor: 45; Choice: 0 Sherwood Boehlert: Defense: C+; Seniors: 24; Environment: 83; Labor: 59; Choice: 100 James Walsh: Defense: C+; Seniors: 6; Environment: 58; Labor: 34; Choice: 0 Thomas Reynolds: Defense: C; Seniors: 2; Environment: 8; Labor: 12; Choice: 0 Randy Kuhl: Defense: D; Seniors: 10; Environment: 33; Labor: 33; Choice: 0 Pretty dismal ratings on these issues that Americans value. Makes you wonder just what their priorities are...oh, yeah, Halliburton and Exxon profits. Why do Republicans hate America? Democrats: Chuck Schumer: Defense: B+; Seniors: 96; Environment: 71; Labor: 92; Choice: 100 Hillary Clinton: Defense: A-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 71; Labor: 91; Choice: 100 Tim Bishop: Defense: A-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 92; Labor: 98; Choice: 100 Steve Israel: Defense: A-; Seniors: 81; Environment: 92; Labor: 82; Choice: 100 Carolyn McCarthy: Defense: A; Seniors: 88; Environment: 100; Labor: 84; Choice: 100 Gary Ackerman: Defense: B+; Seniors: 100; Environment: 92; Labor: 95; Choice: 100 Gregory Meeks: Defense: B; Seniors: 96; Environment: 83; Labor: 92; Choice: 100 Joe Crowley: Defense: A-; Seniors: 94; Environment: 92; Labor: 89; Choice: 75 Jerrold Nadler: Defense: B; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 99; Choice: 100 Anthony Weiner: Defense: B; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 93; Choice: 100 Edolphus Towns: Defense: B; Seniors: 93; Environment: 83; Labor: 97; Choice: 100 Major Owens: Defense: C; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 98; Choice: 100 Nydia Velasquez: Defense: B-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 92; Labor: 95; Choice: 100 Carolyn Maloney: Defense: A-; Seniors: 98; Environment: 92; Labor: 92; Choice: 100 Charles Rangel: Defense: A-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 94; Choice: 100 Joe Serrano: Defense: B-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 95; Choice: 100 Eliot Engel: Defense: A-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 98; Choice: 100 Nita Lowey: Defense: A; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 94; Choice: 100 Michael McNulty: Defense: A-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 95; Choice: 44 Maurice Hinchey: Defense: C+; Seniors: 100; Environment: 100; Labor: 99; Choice: 100 Brian Higgins: Defense: A-; Seniors: 100; Environment: 92; Labor: 87; Choice: 100 Louise Slaughter: Defense: B; Seniors: 100; Environment: 92; Labor: 97; Choice: 100 MUCH better, right? So, to those who see no difference between the two parties, I have to say I think you are full of it. I may not agree with all the Democrats all the time, and I particularly have problems with the likes of Towns, but by and large Democrats are much better on ALL the issues than Republiocans. Maybe Democrats can be weak at times, but to equate them with Republicans ignores the facts. Democrats are far more fiscally responsible. We run lower deficits and, under Clinton, actually started paying off the nataional debt! We had a SURPLUS under Clinton. Now we have the biggest debt ever. And this is not isolated, but rather part of a pattern. Here is a graph of the National Debt from Truman through today...shows the effect the 1920's "trickle down"/"supply side,"/failed economics of the current Republican Party. Now let's look at the pivotal issue of corruption. Corruption can be found in both parties. But Democratic corruption differs radically from Republican corruption in scale and impact, and often Democratic corruption is fought by Democrats, while Republicans protect even their most corrupt members. The Republicans seem to wallow in their corruption and cirlce the wagons around even their most corrupt members (e.g. DeLay, Ney, the Blunts...). In Brooklyn, the former corrupt head of the corrupt county committee was actually brought down by the Brooklyn DA, a FELLOW DEMOCRAT. DEMOCRATS brought down the corrupt head of the DEMOCRATIC party in Brooklyn. And this is not some kind of power play on he part of Brooklyn DA Hynes. He is at the end of his career and is not looking towards higher office. Republicans don't do this. They don't look at their own corrupt members and say: We will not tolerate this. Instead, they do everything they can to make excuses and shift blame. They FAIL to take responsibility for their own actions. Remember, the Republican leadership, including Hastert and Reynolds, PROTECTED Congressman Foley FOR SIX YEARS even though he was soliciting sex from a minor. They will tolerate ANY level of corruption within their ranks. Democrats fight against corruption even within their own ranks. There is also another difference. There is a reform movement from within the Democratic party fighting the corrupt party bosses. There are reform clubs, reform candidates and a constant struggle to clean up our own party. Howard Dean has introduced "Democracy Bonds" that give the state parties a source of funds from small donors, reducing the influence of big money interests. Democrats almost always support campaign finance reform while most Republicans oppose it. The Republicans seem soft on corruption. They tolerate corruption the same way they tolerated the treason of revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative. The simple fact of the matter is that BOTH parties can breed corruption, but Democrats are far less tolerant of corruption within their own party. The Republicans actually go out of their way to DEFEND their most corrupt members as if they are PROUD of them. Republicans are more tolerant of corruption than Democrats are. That is the bottom line. Finally, I refer you to a previous diary I wrote focusing on Democratic leadership since FDR, showing the contributions of Democratic Presidents to our society and some of their choices quotes...as compared with the current Republican party and their lack of ideas. Democrats vote better, are more fiscally responsible, are better at fighting corruption, and are better leaders than Republicans. THAT is why I am a Democrat.