Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have some striking similarities when it comes to their platforms. In fact, you might not be able to tell their positions apart on women's issues and climate change. But based on their passionate supporters, there are clearly positions that separate them. Those differences lie in the details of action. They might agree on the overall best direction for our country, but they have different plans on how to get there.
Clinton and Sanders also have different experience and track records. Sanders has remained fairly consistent throughout his career on issues like gay marriage and energy reform. Comparitively, Clinton has changed her position on several issues [1] — like the Iraq war and even gay marriage. Of course, Sanders is not completely innocent of flip-flopping. His record on gun control has evolved [2] during his tenure as senator. That's just a taste of the nuances invovled in their visions for America. To help you drill down the details, here's a breakdown of major topics — in GIFs, of course!
Foreign Policy
Perhaps the greatest differences between the two candidates are their positions on foreign policy. Clinton, whose experience is far greater than Sanders since she served as Secretary of State, argues for a no-fly zone in Syria, more training of Syrian rebels [3] to defeat ISIS, and the deployment of American Special Operation forces to support local military in the Middle East. Sanders is largely a pacificst and criticized Clinton's vote for the invasion of Iraq — despite the fact she has called her vote a "mistake." [4] Sanders does not support a no-fly zone in Syria and his policy would move away from any military involvement in the Middle East.
Campaign Finance Reform
Both candidates support overturning the controversial Citizens United Supreme Court verdict, which allows the well off to donate as much money as they want without disclosing the donation through super PACs. A super PAC can be a corporation or a private group of donors who are able to contribute an unlimited amount of money to political causes — but not directly to campaigns. Instead, super PACs can indirectly support candidates through ads. The Citizens United verdict specifically allowed corporations to act as people donating privately to campaigns. Clinton and Sanders both have stated they support legislation to overturn the Supreme Court case and as president they will only nominate justices who oppose the verdict. Bernie Sanders supports a move towards public funding of elections.
Gun Control
Both candidates support President Obama's call for sensible gun control reform [5]. Sanders and Clinton support expansion of background checks, closing the gun show purchase loophole, and banning assualt weapons. They differ slightly on one detail: Clinton supports legislation that allows victims of gun violence to sue the manufacturers, while Sanders voted for [6] the gun manufacturers to have immunity. Recently, Sanders has said he will sponsor legislation to repeal [7] this law.
Healthcare
Sanders and Clinton have different opinions on healthcare. Clinton supports Obama's Affordable Care Act and would build upon it; she also proposes modifications to the bill which would prevent pharmaceutical companies from hiking up the prices of vital drugs. Sanders supports a single-payer healthcare system [8] that would make access universal and paid for by taxes; he also supports the effort to curtail drug companies' price increases. Under Sanders's proposal, Medicare would be expanded, and it aims to lower costs for middle class families (he claims it would lower costs by at least $5,000).
Climate Change
Both candidates support moving America away from fossil fuel use and towards renewable energy. Sanders has a stronger stance on climate change and has called for ending fossil fuel company subsidies and tax breaks as well as taxing coal-producing power plants. Both candidates have called for installing solar panels in homes and have insisted climate change is one of the most pressing issues we will face in the near future. Clinton only recently spoke out against the Keystone Pipeline — a oil line between the United States and Canada that would promote drilling in the Arctic — while Sanders has always opposed it.
Immigration
Both candidates strongly support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, keeping families together, and closing private detention centers. Sanders and Clinton have expressed support for Obama's proposed DREAM legislation, which would allow undocumented immigrants to legally apply for residency while remaining in the United States. While Clinton supports Obama's existing proposal, Sanders would expand it so that immigrants have access to healthcare regardless of their legal status. Clinton has also come under fire for arguing that minors crossing the border should be sent home [9], while Sanders would grant them amnesty. Clinton has sponsored legislation in the past that has proposed healthcare and education to immigrants regardless of their legal status as well.
Justice Reform
Both candidates have expressed outrage at the failures of the American justice system. Sanders and Clinton agree on closing private prisons and reassessing mandatory minimums. Sanders calls for local governments to report deaths that occur in police custody and police shootings.
Education
Sanders believes a college education should be free and would use the money generated from taxing Wall Street speculation to fund free education. Clinton calls for free community college and free college education to those truly in need; she contends that Sanders's proposal for free college tuition is unrealistic and costly [10]. Clinton's case against Sanders's free college policy is that the wealthy should have to pay [11] for college if they are able to lessen the federal burden of cost. Both candidates believe students should graduate from college debt-free.
Wall Street
Sanders has built his campaign on bringing justice to corruption on Wall Street and holding banking institutions accountable for their past or future mistakes; he has proposed a tax on speculation and capping credit card interest rates at 15 percent. Sanders's proposals are much harsher than Clinton's, as he specifically calls for breaking up institutions [12] who are too big to fail. Clinton has been criticized for her close ties [13] to Wall Street; however, she also supports a strengthing of current regulations like Dodd-Frank, a fee on high-risk trading, and holding executives accountable for their crimes.
Women's Issues
Both candidates strongly support a woman's right to choose and have vowed to protect Planned Parenthood. Additionally, both candidates have proposed mandatory paid leave for new parents.
Death Penalty
Sanders is a vocal opponent of the death penalty, while Clinton supports the policy. Sanders stated that he doesn't believe the government should kill its citizens. However, Clinton has conceded that the death penalty has been unfairly applied and it should only be used in very rare [14], particularly egregious cases.
As the candidates face off in the battle for South Carolina, prepare for Sanders and Clinton to challenge each other particularly on foreign policy — which Clinton is considerably more experienced in — Wall Street, and healthcare.