It’s almost Louisiana’s turn in the presidential primary election. Before casting your ballots, read my analysis on each GOP candidate.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush:
If his last name was the only thing holding Bush back, he probably wouldn’t have such low poll numbers. Unfortunately, Bush is a weak politician, especially when he tries to fight Donald Trump. We can’t have a weak commander-in-chief if we want other countries to respect us. Now is the time for Bush to demonstrate those strengths.
Bush considers himself conservative, yet he supports Common Core, the ultimate government overreach in schools. Decisions on K-12 education belong to the states.
Bush appears to live in a fantasy land where he’s going head-to-head against Trump, even though Trump is in first place and Jeb is in fourth.
Jeb, you should worry about Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio before you try to take down the big guy.
Dr. Ben Carson:
The neurosurgeon’s soft-spoken attitude does little to downplay his intelligence. Unfortunately, intelligence doesn’t always make a good politician. His struggles on the campaign trail stem from using words the average American doesn’t understand.
Before writing Carson off, look at his credentials. He wants to repeal Obamacare like most GOP candidates, but he actually has a medical degree. He sees first-hand the problems with the health law.
Carson can bridge the racial divide in our country. He sees the person and not the skin color.
“You see, when I take someone to the operating room, I’m actually operating on the thing that makes them who they are,” Carson said. “The skin doesn’t make them who they are.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz:
Cruz is a Texan cowboy with good, old-fashioned morals. His religious views shape his rallies and speeches, which appeal to the majority of evangelical voters. However, his opposition to gay marriage and abortion divide him from many moderate voters. Cruz strongly supports the Constitution.
Many regard him as one of the most hated men in Washington, but he wears this title with honor.
“If you’re looking for someone to go to Washington, to go along to get along … then I ain’t your guy,” Cruz said.
If you’re worried about Cruz’s status as an American citizen, don’t. He is. To put the argument to rest, Cruz renounced his dual citizenship with Canada.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich:
Kasich is a moderate Republican with an unpronounceable name. His middle-ground approach to government translated to a second-place finish in New Hampshire.
He falls short of conservative values with his support of Common Core and lost his Tea Party support when he expanded Medicaid in Ohio.
Kasich supports defunding Planned Parenthood, but agrees government employees should comply with the Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. Beware: his beliefs walk that fine line between Democrat and Republican, meaning he might compromise on important decisions in order to make everyone happy.
Kasich surprised us once. Let’s see if he can pull another trick.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio:
This young senator brings energy to the campaign cycle. He beats former Sec. Hillary Clinton in almost every head-to-head poll, and he could win the Latino vote. His Cuban heritage connects him with voters of different backgrounds.
He might be young, but he has roughly 14 years of political experience under his belt. His youth could bring millennials back to the Republican Party.
Rubio wants to improve our military to better fight terrorism. He also wants to cut government spending and modernize legal immigration.
Regardless of what people say about him, Rubio will be president one day. His energy, ideas and life story provide him with the experience necessary to make an incredible commander-in-chief.
Donald Trump:
Trump easily takes on the economic turmoil America experiences. His outlandish comments drew in Americans angered by the broken political system. His disregard for being “politically correct” created a refreshing and much needed change in the political conversation.
Trump’s downfall is his habit of stretching the truth.
His new attacks are directed toward former President George W. Bush, blaming him for 9/11. The attacks devastated our country and Trump can’t justify playing the blame game on something this serious.
Trump has the experience and guts necessary to help our economic system. Unlike other politicians, Trump’s campaign is self-funded and isn’t controlled by special interest groups. He is well known for his quotes involving the words: “yuuuuuuge,” “stupid” and “build a wall.”
Charlie Bonacquisti is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Dallas, Texas.