GOP and its Presidential Primaries
- Marcelo Serafim
- Aug 24, 2023
- 3 min read
The GOP stands for the Grand Old Party, which is the informal name for the Republican Party. It is one of the two major political parties in the United States, the other being the Democratic Party. The GOP was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists who opposed the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which allowed for the potential expansion of chattel slavery into the western territories.
The GOP is generally considered to be a center-right party, and its platform is based on American conservatism. The party's core principles include limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and a strong national defense. The GOP has traditionally been the party of big business and the wealthy, but in recent years it has also made inroads with working-class voters.
A presidential primary is a series of elections held by each of the two major political parties in the United States to choose the party's nominee for president of the United States. The primaries are typically held in the months leading up to the general election, which is held on the first Tuesday in November.
GOP Debate 2024: A Night of Attacks and Accusations
Eight Republican presidential candidates faced off in Milwaukee on Wednesday night in the first debate of the 2024 election cycle. The debate was largely focused on attacking President Joe Biden and his policies, but there were also some heated exchanges between the candidates themselves.
One of the most notable moments of the debate came when former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley accused former Vice President Mike Pence of being "weak" on immigration. Pence responded by calling Haley a "liar" and saying that she was "not qualified" to be president.
Another heated exchange came when former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy clashed over the issue of abortion. Hutchinson said that he would support a nationwide ban on abortion, while Ramaswamy said that he would leave the issue up to the states.
The debate also featured several attacks on former President Donald Trump. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said that Trump was "a danger to our democracy," while former Ohio governor John Kasich said that Trump was "not fit to be president."
Despite the attacks, Trump remained the dominant force in the debate. He was mentioned more than any other candidate, and his name was invoked by several of the other candidates.
The debate did little to change the dynamics of the Republican primary race. Trump remains the frontrunner, but the other candidates are hoping to chip away at his lead. The next debate is scheduled to be held in September.
Questions:
What do you know about the GOP?
What were the main issues that were discussed during the debate?
What is a Primary election?
Do you think debates are important, why?
Who do you think will be the candidate for the GOP?
Vocabulary:
weak: not strong or powerful
lie: to say something that is not true
qualified: having the necessary skills or experience for a job
clash: to have a disagreement or argument
ban: to make something illegal
danger: a risk or threat
fit: suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose
dynamics: the way in which things change and interact
chip away: to gradually reduce something
memorable: something that is easy to remember
Phrasal Verb:
go after: to attack or criticize someone
Example: The candidates went after Trump several times during the debate.
American Idiom:
a loose cannon: someone who is unpredictable and dangerous
Example: Trump has been called a "loose cannon" by some of his critics.
English Grammar Tip:
When using the phrasal verb "invoke," the preposition "to" is necessary. For example, "The candidates invoked Trump's name to attack him."
Listening
Homework Proposal:
Watch the GOP debate and write a summary of the key moments.
Research the eight Republican presidential candidates and write a profile of each one.
Analyze the different strategies that the candidates used in the debate.
Write an opinion piece about who you think won the debate and why.
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