An Apartment Divided: Our Endorsements
Haley and I are always asked who we support and why? While we didn’t want to use this blog to be biased towards any candidate, we also do take a lot of time and study each candidate to find who we believe to be the best for our party and country. As always, opinions are our own.
Ryan:
At some point in this primary each Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley, has been my favorite. Over the last year with dozens of speeches, multiple debates, and studying their policy proposals, I have decided that I am 100% with her, Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton brings a wealth of experience and realistic policies that I believe will continue to move this country in the right direction. She has great policies for the economy, college affordability, climate change, gun control, criminal justice reform, and one of the most important and underrated qualities foreign policy experience. Also, I love and respect the fact that she has stood next to the Democratic name and party for decades. She didn’t “become a Democrat” just to win a nomination.
I have enjoyed Bernie Sanders’ “revolution” and many of his policies, but those policies will never pass a Republican majority Congress. I don’t enjoy the idea of raising taxes on low-income families by nearly 9%. Raising taxes and closing the loophole on the super wealthy is much needed in this country, but raising taxes on families living in poverty is not needed. Also, Senator Sanders is extremely weak on guns, as his website doesn’t even take a stand on this issue. But I must say thank you Senator Sanders for shaking up politics and starting a new conversation. I also want to thank Martin O’Malley for putting Iowa first in his campaign. He was the first candidate I had an opportunity to share a beer with and talk issues. It is unfortunate that you never gained traction in Iowa.
Hillary has stood by the Democratic party for decades. Her experience is unbelievable and unmatched, and she can undoubtedly get things done. Additionally, she is the most experienced in foreign policy which is something our country is focused on right now. The fact that she can go to foreign countries, and sometimes hostile countries that look at women as second class citizens, and accomplish great things is extraordinary.
Haley:
Unlike Ryan, I have known who I’m supporting for president since the day he announced his candidacy. Marco Rubio has been one of my favorite politicians for years, and when he announced he was running it was like all my dreams were coming true (maybe I’m exaggerating… but not really). He is knowledgable and firm on foreign policy, understands how our economy and education systems need to change to succeed in the modern world, and he is young, authentic, and inspiring. His own personal story is the American dream, and he is the best one to preserve it.
It’s no secret the Republican party is currently experiencing a sort of “identity crisis.” Often young Republicans don’t relate to older Republicans, or far-right Republicans don’t relate to moderate Republicans. There’s the establishment and anti-establishment. It seems difficult to find a candidate all Republicans can agree on, someone who can bridge the widening divide in our party. Marco Rubio is that candidate. He is both solidly conservative and forward thinking. He is both untainted by Washington politics and experienced enough to know how to accomplish his goals. If Republicans are going to win the White House we need to firmly unite, and Marco is the candidate that can unite us.
Not to mention, he is the candidate most likely to beat Hillary Clinton. According to FiveThirtyEight, “If Republicans nominate Rubio, they would have an excellent chance to beat Clinton by broadening their party’s appeal with moderates, millennials and Latinos. The GOP would also have an excellent chance to keep the Senate, hold onto a wide margin in the House and enjoy more control of federal government than they have in over a decade.”
This election is bigger than the White House. It is about the House and the Senate and gubernatorial races. It is about advancing Republican policies and proving to the country what we already know: Republican principles will make a better nation. Marco is our best hope to move our country forward, starting with the White House.
Behind the scenes…
Ryan accidentally called me Hillary when we were writing this… so there’s that. Anyway, no surprise here but we don’t agree on the same candidate. It’s been a lively pre-caucus season in our apartment, and to be honest it’s been very hard to not be in Iowa while all of this is happening. While all of you Iowans are out caucusing and enjoying democracy at its finest, we will just be watching on TV in true Iowa fashion: with a Busch Light in hand. Family and friends, please take advantage of this moment and make Iowa matter. Go out and caucus and help keep Iowa relevant. If you have any last-minute caucus questions, check out our last blog post here. Thanks for reading, and see you next time.
