GOP candidates in review: Trump and Carson

Mallory Steffen, Contributing Writer

As the political game gears up for another round, Republicans face one of the densest fields of nominees in the history of their party. With all 17 major candidates vying for their place on Pennsylvania Avenue, the race tightens every day. Biweekly for the next several weeks, summaries of the GOP candidates will appear in the Bucknellian in preparation for the upcoming Iowa caucus in February. This week begins with Donald Trump and Ben Carson.

DONALD TRUMP

Website: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/

Home state: Queens,  N.Y.

Residence: Manhattan, N.Y.; Mar-a-Lago Club, Fla.; Bedford, N.Y.; Charlottesville, Va.; Beverly Hills, Calif.

Education: Fordham University, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Previous positions: Businessman (real estate)

Net worth: $4 billion

Stance on:

Abortion: Trump identified as pro-choice in July 2000, but has voiced his position of pro-life as of February 2011.

Same-sex marriage: Trump voiced himself against same-sex marriage, but considers it a “dead issue” after the Supreme Court decision in its favor.

Immigration: As he famously said in his presidential announcement: “I would build a great wall—and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me—and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border and I will have Mexico pay for that wall.” Trump stands against immigration in general, but specifically immigration from South and Central America.

Education: Trump is against the Common Core and supports cutting funding to the Department of Education.

Environment: Trump believes in fossil fuel use and that climate change is a hoax.

Gun Control: As of June 2015, Trump stands opposed to gun control.

Healthcare: In 2000, he stated his support for universal healthcare, though he opposed Obamacare legislation in 2011. Today, he asks for a repeal of the law and a more suitable replacement.

Economy: Trump has had little to say in regard to the economy, though he did have one remark regarding budget: “If debt reaches $24 trillion, that’s the point of no return.”

Alternate Sources: Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/profile/donald-trump/?list=billionaires), New York Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/donald-trump-vast-portfolio-private-homes-article-1.2305847), On the Issues (http://www.ontheissues.org/Donald_Trump.htm)

BEN CARSON

Website: https://www.bencarson.com/

Home state: Detroit, Mich.

Residence: Baltimore, Md.

Education: Yale University, University of Michigan Medical School

Previous positions: X-ray technician, bank teller, school bus driver, highway cleanup supervisor, steel factory crane operator, pediatric neurosurgery director

Net worth: $10 million

Stance on:

Abortion: As of January 2014, Carson supported banning abortions for convenience and as of May 2015, he stated his support of a ban on all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Same-sex marriage: Carson did not support the legalization of same-sex marriage, though he did support giving the LGBTQ community the rights they demanded. He now considers same-sex marriage law and does not appear to be looking to reverse this decision.

Immigration: Carson stated in February 2015 that he supported the effort to create a new, smoother path to citizenship for past and present immigrants.

Education: “When you educate a man, you liberate a man,” Carson said in May 2014. He vehemently opposes the Common Core standard, but also vehemently believes in the power of education.

Environment: Carson does not believe climate change to be a real force in play, and encourages putting the “distraction” to rest.

Gun Control: As of March 2013, Carson voiced concerns for semi-automatic weapons inside cities, though in February of the following year, he identified himself as “extremely pro-2nd Amendment.”

Healthcare: Carson strongly opposes Obamacare on the basis that it restricts the individual’s right to choose his or her healthcare.

Economy: In January 2014, Carson stated: “The free market works.” He has since seemingly continued to hold this belief.

Alternate Sources: MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/what-people-are-googling-about-ben-carson), On The Issues (http://www.ontheissues.org/Ben_Carson.htm), Celebrity Net Worth (http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-businessmen/business-executives/dr-ben-carson-net-worth/)

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