An ORF Monthly Monitor EDITORIAL NOTE ORF EVENT As the United States swings into election mode, ORF has Report based on an interaction with State Senator Ellen begun to closely monitor the developments. We bring Roberts from Colorado Legislature and State news updates; commentaries; opinion polls as well as Representative Paul Thissen, Minority Leader from statements, speeches and interviews by the Presidential Minnesota candidates. We also look at role of the Indian Diaspora and its positions on various issues and explore the THE FIELD potential implications of the elections for India. We A look at the Republican and Democrat candidates who welcome your feedback and comments. are running for their party’s nomination ANALYSES THE POLLS Gun Culture and US Elections Analysis of the popularity ratings of the presidential Monish Tourangbam nominees conducted by various news agencies Given the complexities in finding the balance between preventing rising mass shootings and an age-old STATEMENTS/INTERVIEWS American “common-sense” of owning guns, the fight Official statements and interviews by the candidates between gun control and gun ownership will continue to be a divisive issue in US politics and elections. DIASPORA WATCH News about the Indian American Diaspora in the elections Hillary Wins the Debate Hands Down Uma Purushothaman MEDIA REVIEW With her performance in the debate, Clinton has made What the media is reporting on the issues a great comeback, leaving behind at least for now the email controversy and other scandals. FURTHER READING A list of readings based on commentaries, journal articles and reports on the elections Marco Rubio: Return of the ‘Republican Saviour’? Sylvia Mishra Rubio’s strategy to emerge as the GOP nominee is focused on displaying strong debate performances and substantive policy speeches while gradually working on fundraising activities. 1 Analyses The NRA has been a ubiquitous feature of the gun control Gun Culture and US Elections debate, often being seen as that ultimate wall standing on the way to effective actions towards stricter gun Monish Tourangbam control laws in the United States. The money power of the group coupled with the loyalty and the political Gun rights, as rooted in the US Constitution’s second activism of the members apparently make it a formidable amendment, and gun control, reflective of rising gun- force against gun-control advocates. It reportedly has an related crimes in the United States has been a primary operating budget of some quarter of a billion dollars and issue in American politics. The tug of war is basically between 2000 and 2010, it spent fifteen times as much between those who argue gun ownership as a way of on campaign contributions as gun-control advocates did. defending oneself and others, and those who see owning Given the increasing number of gun-violence related guns as a ticket to rising violence. Moreover, the deaths in the US, it is ironic that the NRA website says, philosophy of gun rights has been constantly propagated “There’s never been a more important time to become a as one of individualism and liberty—core American member.”The group has aggressively created a fear values. It is also guided by a quintessential American psychosis among the people that the gun control disbelief in the government’s ability to come to one’s candidates were out to destroy the “sacrosanct” right to rescue at times of mortal danger. From the Columbine bear arms. High School Massacre in Colorado to the recent massacre at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, repeated But over the years, groups opposing the gun rights incidents of reckless gun ownership and its violent activism, and supporting gun control advocacy have also consequence has rocked American society and political increased their campaigns. For instance, Michael debates. However, American as well as observers abroad Bloomberg’s Super PAC, Independence USA, has spent seem resigned to the idea that the dust would soon settle millions backing gun-control candidates, and he has down and it will be business as usual. pledged fifty million dollars to the cause. Many of these campaigns are now directed to supporting candidates So, what are American politicians saying this election who call out for and fight for stricter screening and season on the divisive issue of gun control and gun background checks for gun buyers. Post the Oregon rights? How strong is the National Rifle Association’s massacre, President Obama pitched for tighter gun laws (NRA) influence to stem any substantive steps towards like never before, urging Americans to become “single gun control, and what do public opinion polls say? Will issue voters.” He said that helping elect officials who President Obama’s passionate call for stricter gun laws were sensitive towards the gun laws issue was the only from the pulpit bring any change, or will he go towards way to bring about some action in the Congress. the sunset in 2016 with having done practically nothing on this issue? According to President Obama, Americans should not elect officials who “oppose gun safety measures,” even if In the recently concluded Democratic debate in Las they were “great on other stuff.” Republican presidential Vegas, gun control was a major issue of debate. This is candidate Jeb Bush drew flak from President Obama for unlike previous election seasons when democratic referring to the Oregon mass shooting as “stuff happens.” candidates were more cautious about talking gun control “Look, stuff happens, there's always a crisis. And the for fear of losing rural white voters and some critical impulse is always to do something and it's necessarily the swing states like Ohio and Colorado. A general outrage right thing to do,” Bush said. Bush has an A+ rating from was seen at the continued inaction on restricting gun the NRA, like his fellow Republican opponent Ted Cruz. owners and gun manufacturers. Democratic Presidential Both have consistently opposed stricter gun laws.“The candidate Hillary Clinton said, “We have to look at the Second Amendment to the Constitution isn’t for just fact that we lose 90 people a day from gun protecting hunting rights, and it’s not only to safeguard violence….This has gone on too long and it's time the your right to target practice….It is a Constitutional right to entire country stood up against the NRA.” 2 protect your children, your family, your home, our lives, between gun control and gun ownership will continue to and to serve as the ultimate check against governmental be a divisive issue in US politics and elections. tyranny — for the protection of liberty,” said Cruz. (Monish Tourangbam is Assistant Professor at the While Democrats increasingly swear by the rising number Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, of Americans who support stricter gun laws, including Manipal University, Karnataka) barring convicted criminals and those with mental illness from buying guns, the debates regarding people’s support for gun control or gun rights are not that clear. While there seems to be increasing outcry against gun- Hillary Wins the Debate Hands Down related violence, people’s opinion seems to be more Uma Purushothaman complicated when it comes to seeing gun ownership as the cause for these incidents. Periodic public opinion One week before the first Democratic presidential debate polls give varying results regarding Americans’ support on 13 October held in Las Vegas, Nevada and hosted by for gun rights versus gun control. While a December 2014 CNN, opinion polls showed that 44 percent of registered Pew survey tilted the scale towards the former, a more voters viewed her favourably, with 51 percent seeing her recent mid-July 2015 survey slightly shifted the scale in an unfavourable light. A week after the debate, the towards the latter. Americans, in general, seem to think same polls showed that 47 percent of all registered that crime is rising in the country. But at the same time, voters say they view Clinton favourably, while 46 percent there seems to be a rising perception among this group see her unfavourably. Another poll showed that her that owning guns, and not controlling them, could make ratings had jumped by ten points after the debate. These them safer. As opposed to Americans previously citing stark figures reflect how well Hillary Clinton fared at the hunting as the main reason for owning guns, they now debate. increasingly cite protection as the main reason. Hillary Clinton’s campaign has been dogged by the email Responding to the surge of activism among the controversy as well as her role in the Benghazi attacks Democratic leaders on the need for gun control, NRA and the strong challenge from self professed Democratic spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said, “The only Socialist Bernie Sanders. However, her performance at problem with the Democrats anti-Second Amendment the debate and subsequently her testimony at the House strategy is that the vast majority of Americans disagree Benghazi Select Committee have catapulted her as the with them on this issue.” There seems to be hardly any clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. consensus emerging on the effectiveness of background checks to stem gun-related violence. Gun rights Five Democrats took the stage at the debate: Former advocates have branded the entire background checks Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Senator and system as not only flawed but unconstitutional as well, self proclaimed Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders, likening it to controversial initiatives like the prohibition former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, former or the war on drugs. On other hand, those who speak for Senator Jim Webb and former Rhode Island Governor gun control recognize the loopholes in the National and former Republican Lincoln Chafee. But the debate Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) run by was essentially between Clinton and Sanders.